CBCA 2026 Book of the Year Award winners
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced the winners for the 2026 CBCA Book of the Year Awards.
The CBCA shadow judging winners – titles chosen by 332 groups of children voting on their top choices from the shortlists announced in March – were also announced simultaneously.
The winners, honour books and shadow judging winners in each category are:
Book of the year: Older readers (13–18 years)
- Darkest Night, Brightest Star (Barry Jonsberg, A&U Children’s)
Honour books
- Golden (Jade Timms, Text Publishing)
- Unhallowed Halls (Lili Wilkinson, A&U Children’s)
Shadow judging winner
- This Stays Between Us (Margot McGovern, Penguin)
Book of the Year: Younger Readers (7–12 years)
- Inked (Karen Wasson, illustrated by Jake A Minton, Figment Books)
Honour books
- Little Bones (Sandy Bigna, illustrated by Tamlyn Teow, University of Queensland Press)
- Run (Sarah Armstrong, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)
Shadow judging winner
- Run (Sarah Armstrong, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)
Book of the Year: Early Childhood (0–6 years)
- The Emperor’s Egg (Rae Tan, Lothian Children’s Books)
Honour books
- Derek (Anne Donaldson, illustrated by Matt Shanks, Little Hare)
- The Thing About Christmas (Jo Dabrowski, illustrated by Briony Stewart, Little Book Press)
Shadow judging winner
- Derek (Anne Donaldson, illustrated by Matt Shanks, Little Hare)
Picture Book of the Year (0–18 years)
- Once I Was a Giant (Zeno Sworder, Thames & Hudson)
Honour books
- Bob and Dob (Sean E Avery, Walker Books)
- Tiwi in Paris (Glen Farmer Illortaminni, Thames & Hudson)
Shadow judging winner
- Dear Broccoli (Jo Dabrowski, illustrated by Cate James, Affirm Kids)
Eve Pownall Award
- Peculiar Parents (Stephanie Owen Reeder, illustrated by Ingrid Bartkowiak, National Library of Australia Publishing)
Honour books
- Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles (Corey Tutt, illustrated by Ben Williams, A&U Children’s)
- A Loo of One’s Own (Eleri Harris, A&U Children’s)
Shadow judging winner
- The Thylacine and the Time Machine (Renée Treml, A&U Children’s)
Award for New Illustrator
- A Loo of One’s Own (Eleri Harris, A&U Children’s).
The winners announcement marks the beginning of Children’s Book Week, which will run from 22 to 28 August under the theme “Symphony of Stories”.
CBCA chair Jo Panckridge said, “The CBCA Book of the Year Awards are now in their 80th year, with our first award celebrated in 1946. Reflecting on 8 decades of advocacy for Australian children’s literature, we continue to celebrate the enduring and transformative power of stories for young readers.
“Our awards highlight the extraordinary talent of Australian authors and illustrators. Such skill in crafting stories that ignite curiosity, empathy, and joy is remarkable. This year I invite you to select your favourite book and read from our ‘Symphony of Stories’.”
More information about the CBCA Awards and this year’s winners is available on the CBCA website.
Category: Awards Local news
