Anticipating the Night of the Notables

 

Tonight (February 25, 2025) the CBCA judges will reveal the Notable titles which consist of up to 25 books in each of the five Book of the Year categories. In another literary competition a list like this might be called the Longlist but I do prefer the name Notable.  There are in fact six CBCA categories but New Illustrator only has a short list of six.

The exact wording from the CBCA rules states: Judges may decide on a Notables list of up to 25 books entered in each category. It is made of the best 25 books entered in each category, as judged by the category judge panel.

Of course I have not read every book that was submitted. Just t give you an idea of the volume of reading by the judges when I was a picture book judge (2021-2023) over the two years we were sent over 450 picture books to read and discuss.

Here are a few of my predictions in Younger Readers and Early Childhood/Picture Book of the Year.

Younger Readers

Entries in this category are books published for children in the age range from 7 to 12 years (lower to upper primary school level). Books in the category may be fiction, drama, graphic novels, illustrated text or poetry.

Leo and Ralph

Bravepaw

A Small collection of Happinesses

Something Somewhere

The Cave

The 113th Assistant Librarian

The Midwatch

All the Beautiful Things

The Lost History

The Kindness Project

Andromache Between Worlds

There are two books which I have also read which I think better fit the Older Readers category - Thunderhead by Sophie Beer and Laughter is the best ending by Maryam Master. 

As I write this post I have also started reading We do not Welcome our ten-year-old Overlord by Garth Nix. I am enjoying this science fiction story.

Other titles which might make the Younger Readers cut are Six Summers of Tash and Leopold by Danielle Binks; My Brother Finch by Kate Gordon; Cora seen and Heard by Zanni Louise; The Apprentice Witnesser by Bren McDibble; Esme in the Limelight by Kate Gordon; and To and Fro by Anton Clifford-Motop. I also wonder if the Verse Novel The Riding Gallery by Sally Murphy will be included. 

I keep seeing the series 11 Ruby Road being recommended but I have not yet read any of these books by Charlotte Barkla. And I also missed reading Small Acts by Kate Foster and Kate Gordon. 

Early Childhood or Picture Book category

Early Childhood: Entries in this category are books suitable in content and style for pre and beginning readers for children in the age range 0 to 6 years (pre-school and infant level). Books aim to introduce new concepts and/or vocabulary with particular attention on developing reading skills. This includes works of fiction, poetry, wordless, board and concept books. There is a strong sense of “show. don’t tell” throughout the book.

Picture Book: Entries in this category are books of the genre in which the text and illustrations achieve artistic and literary unity, and the story, theme or concept is enhanced and unified through the illustrations. A picture book can be written and illustrated by a sole creator or a collaborative effort between two or more creators. The text and illustrations work cohesively. In the case of wordless picture books, the illustrations alone successfully convey a cohesive story The illustrations are an integral part of or extend the meaning on the page. Books in this category can be suitable for any audience within the range 0 to 18 years

What stars are for

Listen Hippo

The Wobbly Bike

The Truck Cat

Bowerbird Brood

Tearaway Coach!

The Hidden Hat

Over or Under?

To Stir with Love

Imagine a Time

Three Dresses

Bernie thinks in Boxes

The Doll Box

Happy All Over

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Tooth Fairy

Other picture book possibilities: Words that taste like Home by Sandhya Parappukkaran illustrated by Michelle Pereira; The Garden of Broken Things by Freya Blackwood; Afloat by Kirli Saunders Illustrated by Freya Blackwood; and Nightwatch by Jodi Toering illustrated by Tannya Harricks (could be entered in Eve Pownall Non Fiction). I also read General waste by Michel Streich; 

In the Picture Book category Stickboy by Rebecca Young illustrated by Matt Ottley is sure to be a Notable.

I haven't seen these but they are on my to read list: Today by Robert Vescio illustrated by Felicity Byrne; Walking Together by Coral Vass illustrated by Dub Leffler; The Mosaic by Deborah Kelly illustrated by Nicki Johnson; When the Lights went out by Lian Tanner illustrate by Jonathan Bentley; and Not Scary, Jonathan by Peter Carnavas illustrated by Amanda Francey.