CBCA Book of the Year - Notables 2023

Congratulations to all CBCA Book of the Year Notables Authors, Illustrators and Publishers for 2023.


Notable Books 2023 in PDF

Full List (PDF)


Book of the Year: Older Readers

Entries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for readers in their secondary years of schooling. Ages 13-18 years.

Note: Books in this category are for mature readers and some may deal with particularly challenging themes including violence and suicide. Parental guidance is recommended

Ask No Questions
Eva Collins
Puncher & Wattmann
ISBN: 9781922571342
Completely Normal (and Other Lies)
Biffy James
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
ISBN: 9781760508746
The Greatest Thing
Sarah Winifred Searle
Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781761067655
Interned
Pamela Rushby
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760653019
Invisibly Grace
Avery McDougall
Forty South Publishing
ISBN: 9780645292886
The Killing Code
Ellie Marney
Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781760526535
Libby Lawrence is Good at Pretending
Jodi McAlister
Wakefield Press
ISBN: 9781743059043
A Little Spark
Barry Jonsberg
Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781760526924
The Museum of Broken Things
Lauren Draper
Text Publishing
ISBN: 9781922458537
Neverlanders
Tom Taylor
ill. Jon Sommariva
Penguin Random House Australia
ISBN: 9781761049071
The Not So Chosen One
Kate Emery
Text Publishing
ISBN: 9781922458605
The Other Side of Tomorrow
Hayley Lawrence
Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781760976453
Scorpion Falls
Martin Chatterton
Ford Street Publishing Pty Ltd
ISBN: 9781922696090
Slipping the Noose
Meg Caddy
Text Publishing
ISBN: 9781922458544
The Stand In
Allison Rushby
Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781761290558
Triple Threat
Katy Warner
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
ISBN: 9781760509101
Unnecessary Drama
Nina Kenwood
Text Publishing
ISBN: 9781922458896
The Wearing of the Green
Claire Saxby
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760653583
We Who Hunt the Hollow
Kate Murray
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
ISBN: 9781760508920
What We All Saw
Mike Lucas
Penguin Random House Australia
ISBN: 9781761045936
Where You Left Us
Rhiannon Wilde
University of Queensland Press
ISBN: 9780702265600
Book of the Year: Younger Readers

Entries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for readers from the middle to upper primary years. 7-12 years.

Note: Some of the titles in this category may only be suitable for readers who are in the upper primary years as they contain mature themes, including violence. Parental guidance is recommended.

All Four Quarters of the Moon
Shirley Marr
Penguin Random House Australia
ISBN: 9781760899554
August & Jones
Pip Harry
Hachette Australia
ISBN: 9780734420350
Big Magic
Sarah Armstrong
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
ISBN: 9781760508432
The Book of Wondrous Possibilities
Deborah Abela
Penguin Random House Australia
ISBN: 9781761044021
The Bravest Word
Kate Foster
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760654719
Dusty in the Outwilds
Rhiannon Williams
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
ISBN: 9781760509507
Evie and Rhino
Neridah McMullin
ill. Astred Hicks
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760654207
Hedgewitch
Skye McKenna
Welbeck Publishing
ISBN: 9781801300087
The Jammer
Nova Weetman
University of Queensland Press
ISBN: 9780702265426
The Last Light Horse
Dianne Wolfer
ill. Brian Simmonds
Fremantle Press
ISBN: 9781760991302
Mikki and Me and the Out-of-Tune Tree
Marion Roberts
Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781760526795
Ming and Flo Fight for the Future
Jackie French
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9781460760208
No Words
Maryam Master
Pan Macmillan Australia
ISBN: 9781760983529
The Raven's Song
Zana Fraillon & Bren MacDibble
Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781761065798
Runt
Craig Silvey
Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781761067846
The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-bottomed Boat
Charlie Archbold
Text Publishing
ISBN: 9781922458520
The Travelling Bookshop : Mim and the Woeful Wedding
Katrina Nannestad
ill. Cheryl Orsini
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9780733341663
Waiting for the Storks
Katrina Nannestad
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9780733342271
The Way of Dog
Zana Fraillon
ill. Sean Buckingham
University of Queensland Press
ISBN: 9780702265563
We Run Tomorrow
Nat Amoore
ill. Mike Barry
Penguin Random House Australia
ISBN: 9781760897697
What About Thao?
Oliver Phommavanh
Penguin Random House Australia
ISBN: 9781760897161
What Snail Knows
Kathryn Apel
University of Queensland Press
ISBN: 9780702265464
The Wintrish Girl
Melanie La'Brooy
University of Queensland Press
ISBN: 9780702265631
Xavier in the Meantime
Kate Gordon
Riveted Press
ISBN: 9780645218091
Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon
Gabrielle Wang
Penguin Random House Australia
ISBN: 9781761046513
Book of the Year: Early Childhood

Entries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for children who are at pre-reading or early stages of reading. Ages 0-6 years.

Australian Animals Indigenous Discovery Big Book
Emily Bruce
ill. Leanne Mulgo Watson
Learning Media
ISBN: 9781922377432
Backyard Beasties
Helen Milroy
Fremantle Press
ISBN: 9781760991203
Beside the Sea
Kerri Day
ill. Jess Racklyeft
Windy Hollow Books
ISBN: 9780645323580
Bev and Kev
Katrina Germein
ill. Mandy Foot
Little Book Press
ISBN: 9780645027051
Clementine's Treasure
Annie White
New Frontier Publishing
ISBN: 9781922326577
Come Over to My House
Eliza Hull and Sally Rippin
ill. Daniel Gray-Barnett
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
ISBN: 9781761210082
The Echidna Near My Place
Sue Whiting
ill. Cate James
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760652401
Ella and the Useless Day
Meg McKinlay
ill. Karen Blair
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760653095
Emergency! Emergency! Vehicles to the Rescue
Rhiân Williams
ill. Tom Jellett
Wild Dog Books
ISBN: 9781742036106
The Garden on Red Gum Road
Phil Cummings
ill. Danny Snell
Little Book Press
ISBN: 9780645027075
How Do You Say I Love You?
Ashleigh Barton
ill. Martina Heiduczek
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9780733342172
Jack's Jumper
Sara Acton
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760654054
Jigsaw: A Puzzle in the Post
Bob Graham
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781529503319
Lionel and Me
Corinne Fenton
ill. Tracie Grimwood
New Frontier Publishing
ISBN: 9781922326607
Market Day
Carrie Gallasch
ill. Hannah Sommerville
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
ISBN: 9781760504076
My Shadow is Purple
Scott Stuart
Larrikin House
ISBN: 9781922503817
Please Handle With Care
Coral Vass
ill. Tull Suwannakit
New Frontier Publishing
ISBN: 9781922326652
Polly's Grand Party Plan
Jane Godwin
ill. Evie Barrow
Affirm Press
ISBN: 9781922400857
Rainbow Days
Margaret Hamilton
ill. Anna Pignataro
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
ISBN: 9781761210242
Ship Ahoy! Box Boy
Mal Webster
Windy Hollow Books
ISBN: 9780645323597
Snap!
Anna Walker
Scribble Kids' Books
ISBN: 9781922585387
Thank you rain!
Sally Morgan
ill. Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr
Magabala Books
ISBN: 9781922613646
This Little Joey
Renee Treml
Penguin Random House Australia
ISBN: 9781761046537
Where the Lyrebird Lives
Vikki Conley
ill. Max Hamilton
Windy Hollow Books
ISBN: 9780645323566
The Picture Book of the Year

Entries in this category should be outstanding books of the Picture Book genre in which the author and illustrator achieve artistic and literary unity or, in wordless picture books, where the story, theme or concept is unified through illustrations. Ages 0-18 years. (NB. Some of these books may be for mature readers).

11 Words for Love
Maxine Beneba Clarke
text. Randa Abdel-Fattah
Hachette Australia
ISBN: 9780734421203
Accidentally Kelly Street
Briony Stewart
Affirm Press
ISBN: 9781922848055
A Job for Kingsley
Gabriel Evans
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
ISBN: 9781761210211
Amma's Sari
Michelle Pereira
text. Sandhya Parappukkaran
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
ISBN: 9781760509910
Be Careful, Xiao Xin!
Sher Rill Ng
text. Alice Pung
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9781922033932
Crumbs
Shane DeVries
text. Phil Cummings
Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781760970086
Dirt by Sea
Tom Jellett
text. Michael Wagner
Penguin Random House Australia
ISBN: 9781760894061
Egg
Harrison Vial
text. Clare Atkins
University of Queensland Press
ISBN: 9780702265594
Farmhouse
Sophie Blackall
Hachette Australia
ISBN: 9780734421654
Frank's Red Hat
Sean E Avery
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760654283
Jigsaw: A Puzzle in the Post
Bob Graham
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781529503319
Jørn's Magnificent Imagination
Nicky Johnston
text. Coral Vass
EK Books
ISBN: 9781922539144
Koala Ark
Stephen Michael King
Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781761128257
My Strange Shrinking Parents
Zeno Sworder
Thames & Hudson Australia
ISBN: 9781760761233
Open Your Heart to Country
Jasmine Seymour
Magabala Books
ISBN: 9781922613769
Our Dreaming
Dub Leffler
text. Kirli Saunders
Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781742995113
Paradise Sands: A Story of Enchantment
Levi Pinfold
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781406383942
Piano Fingers
Caroline Magerl
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760652616
Summer Blue
Marjorie Crosby-Fairall
text. Trudie Trewin
Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781743837405
Tiny Wonders
Sally Soweol Han
University of Queensland Press
ISBN: 9780702263477
The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness
Matt Ottley
WestWords
ISBN: 9780648023852
What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say
Hilary Jean Tapper
text. Davina Bell
Hachette Australia
ISBN: 9780734421142
When You're Older
Judy Watson
text. Sofie Laguna
Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781760291341
Where?
Phil Lesnie
text. Jordan Collins
Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781760526382
Whisper on the Wind
Jess Racklyeft
text. Claire Saxby
Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781760526887
Eve Pownall Award

Entries in this category should be books which have the prime intention of documenting factual material with consideration given to imaginative presentation, interpretation and variation of style. Ages 0-18 years.

Note: Books in this category are for mature readers and some may deal with particularly challenging themes including violence and suicide. Parental guidance is recommended

A is for Australian Reefs
Frané Lessac
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760652258
Amazing Animal Journeys
Jennifer Cossins
Hachette Australia
ISBN: 9780734421432
Charlie's Swim
Edith Wright
ill. Charmaine Ledden-Lewis
Magabala Books
ISBN: 9781922613103
Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First Peoples
Isaiah Firebrace
ill. Jaelyn Biumaiwai
Hardie Grant Explore
ISBN: 9781741178166
DEEP: Delve into Hidden Worlds
Jess McGeachin
Welbeck Publishing
ISBN: 9781913519483
The Echidna Near My Place
Sue Whiting
ill. Cate James
Walker Books Australia
ISBN: 9781760652401
Grub
Sandra Severgnini
EK Books
ISBN: 9781922539267
The Happiest Boy on Earth
Eddie Jaku
ill. Nathaniel Eckstrom
Pan Macmillan Australia
ISBN: 9781760985608
Hello Every Body!
Samantha Curcio
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
ISBN: 9781760509903
In an Artist's Garden
Claire Orrell
Thames & Hudson Australia
ISBN: 9781760761479
Kind
Jess McGeachin
Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781761066047
The Marvellous Manner of Water
Philip Bunting
Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 9781760975180
Naturopolis
Deborah Frenkel
ill. Ingrid Bartkowiak
Storytorch Press
ISBN: 9780645191530
Oceans of Plastic: Understanding and Solving a Pollution Problem
Tracey Gray
CSIRO Publishing
ISBN: 9781486312573
Off to the Market
Alice Oehr
Scribble Kids' Books
ISBN: 9781925849790
On the Trail of the Plains-wanderer: A Precious Australian Bird
Rohan Cleave
ill.Julian Teh
CSIRO Publishing
ISBN: 9781486314478
Opal and Dart
Vianne Brain
ill. Clare Bradley
Forty South Publishing
ISBN: 9780645510119
Peregrines in the City
Andrew Kelly & Sue Lawson
ill. Dean A. Jones
Wild Dog Books
ISBN: 9781742036519
A Shorebird Flying Adventure
Jackie Kerin
ill. Milly Formby
CSIRO Publishing
ISBN: 9781486314492
Votes for Women! The story of Nellie, Rose and Mary
Mark Wilson
Hachette Australia
ISBN: 9780734420138
The Voyage of Whale and Calf
Vanessa Pirotta
ill. Samantha Metcalfe
CSIRO Publishing
ISBN: 9781486315109
Where Do Babies Come From?
Heath McKenzie
Lake Press Pty Ltd
ISBN: 9780655226680
Wild Australian Life
Leonard Cronin
ill. Chris Nixon
Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781760637224
Wonders Under the Sun
Tai Snaith
Thames & Hudson Australia
ISBN: 9781760762438
The World's Most Ridiculous Animals
Philip Bunting
Hardie Grant Children's Publishing
ISBN: 9781761210594