A Bakers Dozen – CBCA Notables 2019 my predictions

In US they have the Nerdies where children’s literature experts predict Caldecott and Newbery winners.  I thought I would follow a similar idea as we head towards the announcement of the CBCA notables.

Last year our Australian judges will have read over 400 titles. The structures of judging have changed in recent times to allow the judges to concentrate on one of the five categories – Early Childhood Picture Book, Picture Book of the Year, Book of the Year for Younger Readers, Book of the Year for Older Reader and the Eve Pownall award for Non Fiction. After all their reading the judges hold a meeting and select the six titles that will make the short list and a longer list, which includes these six, which is called the Notables List. Another new strategy implemented a couple of years ago was to announce the notable titles a few weeks prior to revealing the all-important short list.

I spend time each fortnight at a local Sydney children’s hospital. The major sponsor of the Book Bunker is Scholastic Australia and they kindly donate all their new titles. Yesterday I printed a list of the picture book additions to the library from January to December 2018.  I have found thirteen books that I think could make the Notables and later potentially the short list.  I only looked at picture books so these titles could fall into either picture book section – Early Childhood or Picture book of the Year.

The all new must have orange 430 by Michael Speechley

Backyard by Amanda Braxton-Smith illustrated by Lizzy Newcombe

Digby and Claude by Emma Allen illustrated by Hannah Sommerville

Drought by Jackie French illustrated by Bruce Whatley

Midnight at the library by Ursula Dubosarsky illustrated by Ron Brooks

Monsters by Anna Fienberg illustrated by Kim Gamble and Stephen Axelsen

It’s a story, Rory! By Frances Watts illustrated by David Legge

The last peach by Gus Gordon

Maya and Cat by Caroline Mageri

The pink hat by Andrew Joyner

Rainbow Bear by Stephen Michael King

When you’re going to the moon by Sasha Beekman illustrated by Vivienne To.

I decided to limit this list to thirteen titles but I also like the look of:

Wren by Katrina Lehman illustrated by Sophie Beer

Thimble by Rebecca Young illustrated by Tull Suwannakit

The silver sea by Alison Lester illustrated by Jane Godwin

Here are a couple of titles which might/should be listed for the Eve Pownall award

Waves: For those who came across the sea by Donna Rawlins, Heather Potter and Mark Jackson

Under the Southern Cross by Frane Lessac

The little stowaway: A true story by Vicki Bennett illustrated by Tull Suwannakit

Dingo by Claire Saxby illustrated by Tannya Herricks