Children's Book Council of Australia past Picture book winners

Following  my post about The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek I decided to look at the list of all the past CBCA winners, honour and short listed books. From these titles I have made a list of treasures - books that I would happily include in my library program, books that should still be in print, books that might be considered classics from the titles up to 1999. This is my personal list you are sure to see others you loved from the list.  I do hope to blog many of the titles I mention here over the coming weeks.

The Picture book of the Year award began in 1952 but no prize was award that year.  The first winner was in 1956 for the book Wish and the Magic Nut.  I have never seen this book but it would be interesting to compare it with a Koala by Claire Saxby illustrated by Julie Vivas which was an honour book from 2018.

Now we jump forward to books you might like to re-discover. You are sure to see some very familiar and famous names here. There are also names you will recognise from very recent short lists and awards. Treehouse fans might be surprised to see Terry Denton!

1978 John Brown Rose and the midnight cat by Jenny Wagner illustrated by Ron Brooks (Winner)
1978 The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch by David and Ronda Armitage (Highly Commended)

1979 The Oath of Bad Brown Bill by Stephen Axelsen (Commended)

1981 Mr Archimedes Bath by Pamela Allen (Commended)

1982 Sunshine by Jan Ormerod (Winner)
1982 Whistle up the Chimney by Nan Hunt illustrated by Craig Smith (Commended)
1982 A pet for Mrs Arbuckle by Gwenda Smyth illustrated by Ann James (Short listed)

1984 Possum Magic by Mem Fox illustrated by Julie Vivas (Highly Commended)
1984 The Magic Saddle by Christobel Mattingley illustrated by Patricia Mullins (Short listed)

1985 Arthur by Amanda Graham illustrated by Donna Gynell (Short listed)
1985 There's a sea in my bedroom by Margaret Wild illustrated by Jane Tanner (Short listed)
1985 Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox illustrated by Julie Vivas (Short listed)
1985 The Angel with the mouth organ by Christobel Mattingley (Short listed)

1986 Felix and Alexander by Terry Denton (Winner)
1986 Sebastian lives in a Hat by Thelma Catterwell illustrated by Kerry Argent (Short listed)

1987 Murgatroyd's Garden by Judy Zavos illustrated by Drahos Zak (Honour book)
1987 Animalia by Graeme Base (Honour book)

1988 Where the forest meets the sea by Jeannie Baker (Honour book)
1988 Tucking Mummy in by Morag Loh illustrated by Donna Rawlins (Short listed)

1989 Drac and the Gremlin by Allan Baillie illustrated by Jane Tanner (Winner)
1989 Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles illustrated by Rod Clement
1989 Mr Nick's Knitting by Margaret Wild illustrated by Dee Huxley

1990 The Very best of Friends by Margaret Wild illustrated by Julie Vivas (Winner)

1991 Greetings from Sandy Beach by Bob Graham (Winner)
1991 Counting on Frank by Rod Clement (Honour book)
1991 Scallywag by Jeanette Rowe (Short listed)

1992 Window by Jeannie Baker (Winner)
1992 Let the Celebrations begin by Margaret Wild illustrated by Julie Vivas (Short listed)

1993 Rose Meets Mr Wintergarten by Bob Graham (Winner)
1993 Grandad's Gifts by Paul Jennings illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe (Short listed)

1995 The Watertower by Gary Crew illustrated by Steven Woolman (Winner)
1995 Bamboozled by David Legge (Short listed)

1996 The story of Rosy Dock by Jeannie Baker (Honour book)
1996 Old pig by Margaret Wild illustrated by Ron Brooks (Short listed)

1999 The Rabbits by Gary Crew illustrated by Shaun Tan (Winner)
1999 Henry and Amy by Stephen Michael King (Short listed)