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2025 CBCA Book of the Year Awards – ShortlistsUnpublished

The annual CBCA Book of the Year Awards affirm the quality of some of Australia’s most creative people and provide a boost to their capacity to devote time to their craft. This list includes: Older Readers Shortlist, Younger Readers Shortlist, Early Childhood Shortlist, Picture Book of the Year Shortlist, Eve Pownall Award Shortlist & New Illustrator Shortlist.

Updated May 24, 2025

City of Belmont Ruth Faulkner Library

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A wreck of seabirds

Olson, Karleah

Paper Book

Both grappling with grief and loss, Briony and Ren are brought together in their hometown, where Ren has returned to care for his dying father and Briony remains hopeful of finding her missing sister, Sarah. Meanwhile, Sarah and her best friend Aria are hopelessly trapped on a remote island off the...

Comes the night

Carmody, Isobelle

Paper Book

A superb YA fantasy set in the near future, full of secrets, high stakes, peril, deceptions and dreamwalkers, from the internationally acclaimed and bestselling author of the Obernewtyn Chronicles and The Gathering.

I'm not really here

Lonesborough, Gary

Paper Book

A wonderful coming-of-age queer romance from the multi award-winning author of The Boy from the Mish. Jonah is the new kid in a country town. When he joins the local footy team to be closer to his crush, Harley, it feels like a fresh start - but he still has to navigate new friendships, an...

Into the mouth of the wolf

Gough, Erin

Paper Book

Part thriller, part queer romance, Into the Mouth of the Wolf is a stunning, CBCA Notable YA novel from the award-winning author of Amelia Westlake. ★ SHORTLISTED for Children's Book Council of Australia &...

The skin I'm in

Tisdell, Steph

Paper Book

'It was the beginning of everything. And the end of so much.' Layla is in her final year of school. It's the last year to make sure that the next major phase of her life begins correctly because she's got big plans.She just wants to be a normal teenager and to fit in but when her troubled cousin...

Mess up!

Stanton, Matt

Paper Book

The hilarious and unmissable new series about Gilbert, a boy whose best friend is an imaginary giant fluffy bunny called Fluff, from the creator who brought us The Odds, Funny Kid and Bored. Gilbert and Fluff have got themselves into an enormous mess! They have to...

Laughter is the best ending

Master, Maryam; Hicks, Astred

Paper Book

Zee is a loner. She likes to read Oscar Wilde and watch documentaries all day which, according to her parents, is not normal for 13 year olds. So they decide to send her on a five-day holiday camp, hoping she'll make 'at least one friend'.Now, Zee would rather take a bath in Tabasco sauce than...

Don't worry, Felix

Devezy, Yohann; Alice, Katherine; Bennett, Zoe

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy

Stewart, Briony.

Every single minute, of every single day, a child somewhere loses a baby tooth.But what happens to all those teeth?They are collected by the tooth fairy, of course! Or the tooth fairies - because there is more than just one tooth fairy. In fact, there are millions! Like us, they are all...

Spiro

McGregor, Anna

Paper Book

Spiro's formula for spidery success: 11% hunger to succeed (or actual hunger) 34% trying again and again ... and again! 53% giving it another shot And 2% spider silk. A hilarious tale of one spider's determined search for a decent meal from award winning author...

The Wobbly Bike

McCallum, Darren.

The wonderful wobbles of learning to ride a bike, set amidst the vibrant colour and culture of Australia's "top end". How do you fix a wobbly bike? Could it be the tyres, the terrain, or maybe it might be a new rider? A joyful, multi-layered story, celebrating the unique...

Afloat

Saunders, Kirli.

Paper Book

Roam the water with me. We are here to learn. Here to spin wisdom, to grow ... From award-winning Gunai author Kirli Saunders and seven-time CBCA-winner Freya Blackwood comes Afloat, a story told in a time of climate crisis. Against a...

The garden of broken things

Blackwood, Freya

Paper Book

From award-winning creator Freya Blackwood comes a beautifully tender story about curiosity and the joy of listening. One day, curious Sadie follows a cat into the tangled vines behind the lonely house at Number 9, Ardent Street. Deep in the undergrowth, past all the...

A leaf called Greaf

Canby, Kelly

Paper Book

Bear is all alone. His brothers and sisters have left him. Bear embraces his grief in the form of Greaf - the greenest, most beguiling leaf Bear has ever seen. Bear holds Greaf tight. But as the season wanes, Greaf changes, and so too does Bear. A poignant, lyrical story gently touching on the...

These long-loved things

Pyke, Josh

Paper Book

The truck cat

Frenkel, Deborah; Snell, Danny

Paper Book

The Truck Cat is a story about cats and humans, immigration and identity, and homes lost and found. With illustrations by multi-award-winning artist Danny Snell and words by acclaimed new writer Deborah Frenkel, The Truck Cat is the perfect book...

We live in a bus

Petzold, Dave

Paper Book

We live in a bus. She's called Gracie Joy Rufus Bean (we couldn't agree on a name). Gracie Joy Rufus Bean has six wheels and a door that opens when you push a button, tic-shhh! Join one family as they enjoy life on the road - camping under the stars, listening to...

Design & building on country

Page, Alison.

Paper Book

What do you need to know to prosper as a people for 65,000 years or more? Join designer and artist Alison Page alongside anthropologist and architect Paul Memmott as they share some of the incredible inventions created by the oldest continuing culture in the world. With...

Flora : Australia's most curious plants

McCartney, Tania

Paper Book

Age range 7 to 12 When it comes to flora, Australia is a land of diversity. From rainforests to deserts, mountains to the seashore, 90 per cent of our plant life is unique to this ancient land. Treasures like our wattles, eucalypts,...

South with the seabirds : follow four remarkable scientists to the edge of the world

McGeachin, Jess

Paper Book

The captivating true story of four remarkable scientists and their incredible journey to the sub-Antarctic, from CBCA award-winning author and illustrator Jess McGeachin.

Grow Big, Little Seed: A story about rainbow babies

Nanayakkara, Bec.

Paper Book

Grow Big, Little Seed is a tender, hopeful picture book about miscarriage and pregnancy after loss. Illustrated by the extraordinary papercut artist, Sarah Capon (@eyepicturedthis), it's perfect for...

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2025 CBCA Book of the Year Awards – ShortlistsUnpublishedShare

2025 CBCA Book of the Year Awards – ShortlistsUnpublished