CBCA Book of the Year 2025 Awards

How did I go with my predictions?
Image source (you can see all the winners here)

Younger Readers - YES I did pick the winner BUT NO I did not pick the honour titles (see below)

Early Childhood Picture book - I picked ALL three but in the wrong order

Picture Book of the Year - I picked ONE of the three but not the winner

All up it as been quite controversial year for me. I did not like three of the Younger Readers shortlisted titles but the judges awarded honours to two of them!  I was absolutely certain Afloat would win the Picture book category - at least it did get an honour. But what happened to A Leaf Called Greaf - this is a book that should travel beyond our shores to other English speaking countries such as US, Canada, and UK. It can stand up with the very best books about life and grief and sadness and healing - a spectacular book. I do hope it reaches an international audience. 

For the first time I attended a 'live' event where the winners were announced along with a celebration of another initiative run by the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) called shadow judging. I have mixed feelings about this program. These awards are designed to reward literary excellence. YES we do want our young readers to read and enjoy them and this might seem strange but this is not the main focus of the judging. The shadow judges (small teams of readers in a range of schools) read the six short listed books and then select their 'winner' based on criteria.

In contrast the 15 adult judges read hundreds of books and spend around 8 months reading, thinking, writing reports, and meeting to talk about the books. I worry that the hoopla over the shadow judging 'winners' detracts from the importance, and dare I say gravity, of the real awards. On the other hand I was impressed by the short reviews given by students at this event today - all of these students, who judged either Older Readers and Younger Readers, had very clearly thought deeply about the books and the themes and story structures. There were 12 Shadow Judges at the event today who each spoke for 3 minutes. There were 380 school teams - I am not sure if this is in NSW or across Australia. 

There was a loud cheer for Laughter is the best Ending and for The Truck Cat which I am sure every child there had enjoyed this year as the selected book for National Simultaneous Stort time. That means this book did have an extra special amount of exposure with our students in their schools and school libraries. I previously talked about Birdy, Spiro and South with the Seabirds.

Here are a few snippets of comments from the twelve students. I worked with some students from one of my local schools and I was thrilled to see the way her speech had incorporated ideas from every member of their Shadow Judging team.

Some comments by students:

• Narrative tension
• Another masterpiece
• Messy complicated relationships
• A book not just to be read - it is to be felt!
• Intriguing whirl-wind
• Relevant social commentary
• Evocative and realistic
• Cheeky humour
• Rich life lessons
• Real life situations
• Vivid portrayal of change
• Clever cover and word play in the title
• Resilience to cope with failure
• Easy to read and easy to follow the plot

Here are the 2025 honour titles:

One Dung Beetle

How to Move a Zoo

Afloat

These long-loved things

Some thoughts about the CBCA event today at the State Library of New South Wales:

• The lovely new auditorium holds 144 people. Unfortunately there were slightly too many people/students at the event and so adult visitors had to stand at the back. 
• Craig Silvey was one of the guest presenters but his contribution was via video. He did share the first chapter of his forthcoming sequel to Runt (CBCA Younger Readers winner in 2023). The new book is Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping.

• This does not matter at all but I did observe that of the twelve shadow judging student presenters most were from independent schools and only one was a boy. AND yippee it was the boy who bravely said his allocated book was not his favourite of the six Younger Readers short listed titles - his honesty was fabulous. (His choice was Laughter is the best Ending).

Here are the full details of the winners in the six categories (Source CBCA):

The Anatomy of a Book Review part one

 

Reviews of children's books allow us to keep up to date with new releases - but I wonder if reviewers are allowed to 'reject' poorly written or poorly produced or books that are not suitable for our children - books that will not enrich their lives. The topic of book reviews is, in my view, an important one. Reviews are of course, at their most basic level, just an expression of an opinion, but I am often shocked when I have read a book, that I would not share with any child or group in my school library, and it is given a glowing review in a journal or online. I have also previously discussed a related topic - celebrity authors. 

Our Australian Magpies magazine is celebrating 40 years of reviews and articles about children's books. Huge Congratulations! One of their long-time reviewers is retiring after 36 years of service. I love his words:

"Writing reviews never got easier over the years. I could never dash off a review. It takes time to ponder the book after the reading, to consider the story and its style of delivery, the context in which it was written, it place in the pantheon of children's literature. And it takes a lot longer to write the review, to be precise and clear in one's assessment, not to be trite." Kevin Steinberger

Here are some questions (and preliminary answers/ideas) that I have been pondering for some months. My specific focus here is on reviews of children's books with a main emphasis on Australian children's books:

Who reads book reviews?

Teacher-Librarians, Librarians (Public Libraries), some teachers, some parents, booksellers, authors and illustrators, library book supply companies (in Australia this is James Bennett) and journalists. Audience does matter. 

Where are book reviews found? (specifically in Australia)

Subscription magazines (Magpies), free online websites (Kids' Book Review), and some are sent to me as emails (Reading Time also available online for free). 

There are other children's book bloggers listed in a previous blog post. Or you could check out this list Feedspot list of the top 25 Australian Children's Book Review blogs. 

The issue of shrinking review space is sadly a reality - it is so rare now to see children's books mentioned in our major national newspapers.

What makes a "good" book review?

The key thing I think is having an open and honest opinion and being able to justify this. It is also important that the reviewer is widely read and has extensive field knowledge. "I value contributors .... who take a long-term view" Dr Belle Alderman.  The problem comes when reviewers (especially here in Australia) feel beholden to a publisher who has sent the reviewer a free copy of a new book. It is that old adage of 'don't bite the hand that feeds you' but this of course means some reviews have become of saccharine - it feels as though reviewers are 'not allowed' to say anything negative or even just analytical about a book. 

I also appreciate reviewers who, as Kevin Steinberger said in my quote above, avoid trite phrases and words such as "that rare and special thing; a book that will last."; "Strongly recommended ... "; "sure to be a favourite."

What are the useful parts of a book review?

A brief recap of the plot, a statement of 'judgement', possibly an age recommendation and extras links to any resources such as teacher notes, author/illustrator web pages, and other reviews. I also appreciate seeing the page count and people who use reviews for book purchasing are sure to make use of any bibliographic details such as publisher, ISBN, and date of publication. I also really appreciate reviews who inform me that a book has won an award and also suggest companion or similar titles.

The US reviewer Ms Yingling for example, is unfailingly honest and she even includes headings in every review - strengths, weaknesses and what I really think. I don't always agree with her assessments, but I thoroughly appreciate her honesty and depth of thinking. 

AND the most important part for me - I really need a photo of the book cover.

Here are a few examples of useful review comments from a recent publication:

"an insightful novel which examines imaginatively a 'what if' scenario but does not provide answers ... an inventive springboard for older primary school aged children ... "

"It is as if the collaborators have not decided which part of the primary school they are targeting."

"This stimulating book is full of surprises, and best of all, it will elicit discussion, even argument, among readers from about seven up."

"A few minor editorial errors do not mar this heart-warming and wise story ..."

"A thrilling first novel from best-selling adult fiction author ... " (this reviewer acknowledges the author has written other books)

CBCA 2025 Shortlist predictions Younger Readers and the picture book categories

The 2025 Book of the Year Award received 730 entries for 15 

 judges to assess. The longlist showcases the incredible work of 122 books,

 representing 31 publishers, 114 writers and 79 illustrators

The CBCA will announce the 2025 shortlists on Tuesday. There are six categories (Older Readers; Younger Readers; Early Childhood Picture Book; Picture Book of the Year; and the Eve Pownall award for Non Fiction plus one category for a New Illustrator which has no notables list). Six books will be announced in each category and then on 15th August the winners and two honour titles for each category will also be announced. 

I have been reading my way through the Notables for Younger Readers and the two picture book categories.  Here are my statistics (sampled means I read a chapter or two in a library):

Younger Readers Notables total books 25.  
I have read 11, blogged 10, and sampled 5 so I have 9 unread

Early Childhood Picture Book Notables total books 25. 

I have read 12, blogged 11 so I have 13 unread 

Picture Book of the Year Notables total books total books 25.

I have read 18, blogged 14 so I have 7 unread

I have included these statistics to show I have not read every book that made each 'long list'. I no longer work in a school library and so I was only able to read books I could borrow from the two libraries where I work as a volunteer along with a couple I couldn't resist buying. For each title I give a link to my blog post and a brief quote from the CBCA judges report.

Younger Readers - my six choices:

The Midwatch

"With strong female characters, a well-paced narrative, and a touch of

 humour, this book is sure to captivate readers."

Countdown to Yesterday

"A stunning novel that will resonate with anyone navigating change ... "

Small Acts

"This sensitively written and neuro-affirming text will resonate with child readers."

The Kindness Project

"A beautifully crafted verse novel that delves into the complexities of friendship 

and the way we perceive those around us"

Laughter is the Best Ending

"A compelling and immersive coming-of-age story ... "

The Other Shadow

"A heart-wrenching and unflinching portrayal of a family torn apart by grief and mental illness."

Here are my Picture Book of the Year choices (I put eight not six):

A Leaf called Greaf

"a picture book that handles its profound theme with artistic brilliance and sensitivity."

Then and Now

"The minimal yet masterfully crafted text creates emotional

 resonance through transformed meanings where the same sounds carry 

profoundly different weight across time and place."

Words that Taste Like Home

"The sumptuous production features an engaging cover and

 mango-patterned endpapers, which beautifully echo the grandmother's garden 

and the story's cultural roots."

Night Watch

"The text is sophisticated and

 descriptive with highly effective use of figurative language."

The Truck Cat

 "the nuanced exploration of loneliness and connection will resonate with readers of every age."

Three Dresses

"The significance of the three dresses and their use as a touchstone to

 tell the story is skilfully done."

These long-loved things

"The narrative's contemplative mood is enhanced by illustrations that demonstrate 

accomplished craftsmanship in character development and settings."

Listen, Hippo!

"A wonderful resource to talk to children about the power of talking and listening."

Here are the Early Childhood Picture (ages 0-6) books I enjoyed (plus Night Watch which is in two categories):

One Little Dung Beetle

"Exquisitely illustrated, entertaining and informative, this rhyming counting book introduces

 budding entomologists to ten beetles found across Australia. All design elements ... 

work cohesively in this highly engaging and accessible picture book."

How to Move a Zoo

 "This gentle retelling is further enhanced by evocative pencil and digital illustrations in a muted colour palette firmly establishing the setting and time in early twentieth – century Sydney."

Spiro

"The blend of deadpan humour in the written text and slapstick in the illustrations is masterful."

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Tooth Fairy 

"Witty, whimsical, and wonderfully imaginative, this enchanting guide to the world of tooth

 fairies is a treasure trove for every child who has ever lost a tooth."

The Wobbly Bike

 "Every design element has been carefully considered."

Happy all Over

"Happiness bubbles up and spills over every page of this lyrical picture book as a diverse troupe

 of small children play, pretend and take part in the everyday moments of life."

I mentioned this resource previously - Here are links to all the Reading Time reviews.

Reading the judges' comments (I am not trying to 'hedge my bets') I know some of my choices will be overlooked. I do expect the judges will include Stickboy by Matt Ottley; Afloat illustrated by Freya Blackwood and written by Kirli Saunders; and The Garden of Broken Things by Freya Blackwood. I did stretch my choices for the Picture Book Category to eight books - with the addition of these that means there are eleven possibilities for Picture Book of the Year shortlisting. 

Celebrating Two Million pageviews

Yesterday was World Book Day - a celebration in the UK and on that day my little blog, which began in 2008, tipped over to 2 million pageviews! To celebrate I visited a bookshop and picked up even more books for my huge 'to read' pile. I imagine you are not surprised that I went book shopping!

March Reading pile:

Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire by L.M. Wilkinson

I gave the first installment of this series five stars and I was absolutely certain Bravepaw would be a CBCA Notable Younger Readers title for 2025 but alas that didn't happen.

Publisher blurb for book two: Titch and Huckleberry are on an epic quest. They have followed their hearts ... right into the path of a terrifying swamp monster, and a village full of brainwashed squirrels! Maybe their hearts aren't to be trusted? Maybe Titch is just an ordinary little mouse and not Bravepaw after all ...? But Bravepaw or not, Titch is not about to give up. Can she defeat the greedy turtle controlling the squirrels, and discover what his glowing green gem has to do with the legend of Bravepaw and her quest to save Alluria?

Small Acts by Kate Gordon and Kate Foster

This book has been listed as a CBCA Younger Readers Notable title for 2025. I have had it on my shopping list for a while. I really like the cover. Kate Gordon won our IBBY Ena Noel award for new writers in 2016. Her book The Letterbox Tree has just been selected for the USBBY Outstanding International Books list.

Publisher blurb: Josh wants a friend but he doesn’t know how to find somewhere to belong … Ollie wants to express herself but doesn’t want to be noticed … Small Acts introduces two kids with great hearts who know that helping others can start with one small act of kindness. Josh has a plan to start with just that. So does Ollie. What Josh and Ollie don’t know yet is that they need each other to make their plans work.

Oscar's Lion by Adam Brown illustrated by Benji Davies

I am a huge fan of illustrator Benji Davies which is why I picked this book up in a bookstore last week. 

Publisher blurb: Oscar is a little terrified to find that a lion is going to be looking after him for the weekend. But when the lion lets him eat as many biscuits as he wants, and reads him his favourite story ten times, Oscar realises he might be on to something good. Soon, Oscar discovers that the lion can change into different animals and the pair find themselves having all kinds of adventures! But before the lion has to go, might he have one more amazing transformation up his sleeve?

Dragonkeeper by Carole Wilkinson

I won the movie tie-in of this book. I did previously read Dragonkeeper when it was first published.

Blurb from author page: Ancient China, Han Dynasty. A slave girl saves the life of an ageing dragon and escapes her brutal master. Pursued by a ruthless dragon hunter, the girl and the dragon make an epic journey across China carrying a mysterious stone that must be protected. This is the story of a young slave girl who believes she is not worthy of a name but finds within herself the strength and courage to make this perilous journey — and do what must be done.

Jed Greenleaf by Kieran Larwood illustrated by David Wyatt

Thanks to a local bookseller - Three Sparrows - for alerting me to this new book by Kieran Larwood. I am a huge fan of his Podkin One-ear series.

Publisher blurb: Albion city is governed by a puppet queen, secretly controlled by Lord Cromwell, and strange magic is afoot as six Guilds all compete to rule it. Although the Leaf Guild is the weakest, no one has reckoned with newcomer Jed Greenleaf’s extraordinary ability to transform into a half-tree, covered over with bark . . . he just needs to learn how to harness that power. Could he be the hero that the Guild needs to win at the Punchbowl tournament? It just might be that this year Jed can turn over a new leaf in the history books, and bring glory to the decaying Guild and peace to Albion . . .

How to sail to Somewhere by Ashleigh Barton

Ashleigh Barton talked about her newest book at the NSW CBCA Night of the Notables. Ashleigh read the first chapter of her book and the large audience were captivated.  I previously read several of her books - pop her name in my side bar.

Here is the blurb: Beatrice Glass - Bea - lives in a tiny fishing village that's sleepy all year until the summertime, when the tourists flock in and most of the locals leave. But summer is also when Bea's favourite person in the entire world, her fun and hilarious uncle, Byron, comes to stay. On their last day together the previous summer, Byron had given Bea an intriguing antique book containing a map of Somewhere, a mysterious island off the coast, and promised that next summer they'd sail to Somewhere together for their best adventure yet. That was last year. Now summer has arrived, but Byron hasn't. And now it looks like he never will.

Something like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango

I've had this verse novel on my shopping list for a while. I adore verse novels and this book has several star reviews.

Author blurb: Laura Rodríguez Colón has a plan: no matter what the grown-ups say, she will live with her parents again. Can you blame her? It’s tough to make friends as the new kid at school. And while staying at her aunt’s house is okay, it just isn’t the same as being in her own space. So when Laura finds a puppy, it seems like fate. If she can train the puppy to become a therapy dog, then maybe she’ll be allowed to visit her parents. Maybe the dog will help them get better and things will finally go back to the way they should be. After all, how do you explain to others that you’re technically a foster kid, even though you live with your aunt? And most importantly . . . how do you explain that you’re not where you belong, and you just want to go home?

Just under the clouds by Melissa Sarno

I am collecting books to share at a library conference later this year. I need titles that bridge upper primary grades through to lower high school.

Blurb: To climb a tree, always think in threes and you'll never fall. "Two feet, one hand. Two hands, one foot," Cora's father told her when she was a little girl. Now Cora is in middle school, her father is gone, her family is homeless, and Cora has to look after her younger sister, Adare, who needs a lot of looking after. When their room at the shelter is ransacked, Cora's mother brings them to an old friend's apartment, and Cora hopes this will be a place she can finally call home. When doubt seeps in, Cora makes an escape of her own and discovers something that will change how she sees her family and her place within it.

Our Sister Again by Sophie Cameron

As I mentioned I am collecting books for a presentation to a group of Teacher-Librarians. Part of my focus will be on books from other countries where they speak English - we are so lucky to be able to read the best books from Canada, UK, USA and New Zealand. This book comes from the UK.

Bookseller blurb: On a small island off the Scottish coast, Isla and her family are grieving the loss of her older sister Flora, who died three years ago. Then they're offered the chance to be part of a top-secret trial, which revives loved ones as fully lifelike AI robots using their digital footprint. Isla has her doubts about Second Chances, but they evaporate the moment the 'new' Flora arrives. This girl is not some uncanny close likeness; she is Flora - a perfect replica. But not everyone on their island feels the same. And as the threats to Flora mount, she grows distant and more secretive. Will Isla be able to protect the new Flora and bring the community back together?

Giraffe Island by Sofia Chanfreau and Amanda Chanfreau translated by Julia Marshall

I am always on the hunt for books that have been translated into English and Gecko Press always deliver fabulous titles. This is a book from Finland. I picked this up at Three Sparrows. 

Gecko Press blurb: Far away in the middle of the sea there is an island shaped like a giraffe. Nine-year-old Vega lives there with her father and grandfather—a gardener and former ringmaster. Their shed—the Paraphenalium—is filled with every possible thing you didn’t know you needed. Vega’s bathroom is home to a gray bear with shampoo-lathered fur, and every day she talks with the asphalt beaver and crosswalk zebra on the way to school. Her best friend is Nelson, who observes things others don’t notice and keeps a notebook of mysteries and facts. Vega and Nelson set out to save Vega’s father and find her mother in a search that leads them to a unique circus and unexpected answers.

Stitched up by Steve Cole and Little House by Katya Balen

These are both from the Barrington Stoke book series. They have titles for very young readers right up to books like these for readers aged 10+ (Little House) and 12+ (Stitched up).

Stitched up blurb: When twelve-year-old Hanh is offered a job as a shop assistant in Hanoi, she sees it as a chance to earn money to send back to her family living in poverty in rural Vietnam. But on her arrival in the city, she soon learns that the job offer was a lie and finds herself working in virtual slavery in an illegal garment factory. Life in this sweatshop is a daily hell of long hours, little rest, poor food and regular violence. Hanh is desperate to escape, but when an opportunity arises will she be able to find the courage to take a dangerous chance?

Little House blurb: Juno’s furious about being sent to stay with her grandfather for the summer. She’ll miss all the fun she and her friends had planned for the holidays. She’ll also miss her mum, but it’s her mum’s fault for leaving anyway. Then Juno discovers a long-forgotten little family in her grandfather’s attic. As she works to carefully craft a new home for them, can she learn to forgive her mum and understand her reasons for going away?