CBCA Book of the Year Shortlist 2026

Once again I was WRONG with my predictions in every category but especially for the Younger Readers category. In fact the book that I gave a five star review (Song of a Thousand Seas) didn't even make the list!  I am shocked. I have read and blogged only two of these: Little Bones; and Run. 

Here is the full list:

• Run, Sarah Armstrong (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing) 
• Something Terrible: Tim Tie-Your-Shoelaces, Sally Barton, illus by Christopher Nielsen (Walker) Read more here
• Little Bones, Sandy Bigna (University of Queensland Press) 
• Spirit of the Crocodile, Aaron Fa’aoso & Michelle Scott Tucker with Lyn White (Allen & Unwin)  Read more here
• The Paperbark Tree Committee, Karys McEwen (Text Publishing) Read more here
• Inked, Karen Wasson, illustrated by Jake A Minton (Figment Books) Read more here

Thank goodness my top two contenders are here - Once I was a Giant and Dawn. I did enjoy Dear Broccoli and I did predict Bob and Dob. I have talked about The Frog's first song in a previous post.

Here is the full list:

• Bob and Dob, Sean E Avery (Walker Books Australia) 
• Tiwi in Paris, Glen Farmer Illortaminni (Thames and Hudson Australia) Read more here
• Dear Broccoli, Cate James, text by Jo Dabrowski (Affirm Press)  
• Dawn, Marc Martin (Walker Books Australia)  
• The Frog’s First Song, Jason Phu, text by Jazz Money (University of Queensland Press) 
• Once I was a Giant, Zeno Sworder (Thames and Hudson Australia) 

New Illustrator is a great category because in the past people who have won** this category have gone on to make some wonderful books. The only one here I previously talked about was Beyond the Shore but I am keen to see many of the others.

Here is the full list:

• There’s a Prawn in Parliament House: The Kids’ Guide to Australia’s Amazing Democracy, Annabel Crabb, illustrated by First Dog on the Moon (Allen & Unwin) 
• A Loo of One’s Own, Eleri Harris (Allen & Unwin) 
• Peculiar Parents, Stephanie Owen Reeder, illustrated by Ingrid Bartkowiak (NLA Publishing) 
• The Thylacine and the Time Machine, Renée Treml (Allen & Unwin) 
• Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles, Corey Tutt, Ben Williams (Allen & Unwin) 
• Ningaloo, Tim Winton, illustrated by Cindy Lane (Fremantle Press) 

I am very happy to see The Emperor's Egg, The Thing about Christmas; and Derek in this selection. I am very keen to see the other titles. I previously talked about Worms are our friends by Toni D'Alia.

Here is the full list:

• The Thing About Christmas, Jo Dabrowski, illustrated by Briony Stewart (Little Book Press)  
• Derek, Anne Donaldson, illustrated by Matt Shanks (Little Hare) 
• Frogs Are Our Friends, Toni D’Alia, Madeline White (Bright Light) 
• My Nonno Loves, Adelle Frittitta, illustrated by Claudia Frittitta (Little Hare) Read more here
• The Colours of Home, Sally Soweol Han (Thames and Hudson Australia) Read more here
• The Emperor’s Egg, Rae Tan (Lothian Children’s Books) 

You can see all 36 shortlisted titles here. I do not read many YA books (Older Readers) but I was surprised Drift and The Foal in the Wire didn't make the cut. 

**Here is a list of previous winners (famous names) who won the New Illustrator:

• Kim Gamble The Magnificent Nose & Other Marvels
• Anne Spudvilas The Race
• Shaun Tan The Viewer
• Anna Pignataro I’m in the Sky and I Can’t Come Back
• Freya Blackwood Two Summers
• Anna Walker Santa’s Aussie Holiday 
• Andy Geppert (Tim Brown) Little Big Tree
• Andrew Joyner (Ursula Dubosarsky) The Terrible Plop
• Marc Martin A Forest
• Zeno Sworder This Small Blue dot
• Sally Soweol Han Tiny Wonders