Presenting the 2020 CBCA Shortlist

The 2020 CBCA Shortlist is a treasure trove of some of the best Australian children's books published over the past year. In 2020, for the first time, we are offering a feast of resources for each of the CBCA Shortlisted titles, so you'll be able to dig deeper!

For comments and videos from authors and illustrators, Reading Time reviews, CBCA Judges' critiques, teaching notes and more,
CLICK ON THE BOOK COVER IMAGES BELOW...

Watch the special Shortlist announcement on Youtube

Download the 2020 Shortlist in PDF

Download the 2020 CBCA Judges' Report in 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 (NB: These books are for mature readers in this category and some deal with particularly challenging themes including violence and suicide. Parental guidance is recommended).

The Boy Who Steals Houses

Drews, C.G.

Hachette Australia

ISBN: 9781408349922

How It Feels to Float

Fox, Helena

Pan Macmillan Australia

ISBN: 9781760783303

Ghost Bird

Fuller, Lisa

University of Queensland Press

ISBN: 9780702260230

When the Ground is Hard

Nunn, Malla

Allen & Unwin

ISBN: 9781760524814

Four Dead Queens

Scholte, Astrid

Allen & Unwin

ISBN: 9781760524418

This Is How We Change the Ending

Wakefield, Vikki

Text Publishing

ISBN: 9781922268136

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. Ages 7-12 years.

The Little Wave

Harry, Pip

University of Queensland Press

ISBN: 9780702260476

The Thing About Oliver

Kelly, Deborah

Wombat Books

ISBN: 9781925563818

The Dog Runner

MacDibble, Bren

Allen & Unwin

ISBN: 9781760523572

Catch a Falling Star

McKinlay, Meg

Walker Books Australia

ISBN: 9781925381207

The Glimme

Rodda, Emily
Illus. McBride, Marc

Scholastic Australia

ISBN: 9781862919570

The Secrets of Magnolia Moon

Wyatt, Edwina
Illus. Quinn, Katherine

Walker Books Australia

ISBN: 9781760651541

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.

We're Stuck!

deGennaro, Sue

Scholastic Australia

ISBN: 9781760663476

One Runaway Rabbit

Metzenthen, David
Illus. Murphy, Mairead

Allen & Unwin

ISBN: 9781760523558

Bat vs Poss

Moses, Alexa
Illus. Tortop, Anil

Hachette Australia

ISBN: 9780734418388

When Billy Was a Dog

Murray, Kirsty
Illus. Blair, Karen

Allen & Unwin

ISBN: 9781760631826

My Friend Fred

Watts, Frances
Illus. Yi, A.

Allen & Unwin

ISBN: 9781760290948

Goodbye House, Hello House

Wild, Margaret
Illus. James, Ann

Allen & Unwin

ISBN: 9781743311103

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 Illusrations. Ages 0-18 years (NB. Some of these books may be for mature readers).

Note: Picture Books are listed by the Illustrator, followed by the author

Hello Lighthouse

Blackall, Sophie

Hachette Australia

ISBN: 9781408357392

Nop

Magerl, Caroline

Walker Books Australia

ISBN: 9781760651251

I Need a Parrot

McKimmie, Chris

Ford Street Publishing

ISBN: 9781925804287

Three

King, Stephen Michael

Scholastic Australia

ISBN: 9781760664053

The Good Son: A Story from the First World War, Told in Miniature

Ober, Jules
Coonan, Felicity
Text. Ober, Pierre-Jacques

Walker Books Australia

ISBN: 9781536204827

Tilly

Walker, Anna
Text. Godwin, Jane

Scholastic Australia

ISBN: 9781760663728

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.

The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals

Bayly, Sami

Hachette Australia

ISBN: 9780734419019

Searching for Cicadas

Gibbes, Lesley
Illus. Watson, Judy

Walker Books Australia

ISBN: 9781922244420

A Hollow is a Home

Mitchell, Abbie
Illus. Hicks, Astred

CSIRO Publishing

ISBN: 9781486308057

Wilam: A Birrarung Story

Murphy, Aunty Joy & Kelly, Andrew
Illus. Kennedy, Lisa

Walker Books Australia

ISBN: 9781925381764

Young Dark Emu: A Truer History

Pascoe, Bruce

Magabala Books

ISBN: 9781925360844

Yahoo Creek: An Australian Mystery

Riddle, Tohby

Allen & Unwin

ISBN: 9781760631451

CBCA Award for New Illustrator

This Award aims to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children's book Illusration. Ages 0-18 years.

Louie and Snippy Save the Sea

Cowan, Grant

Berbay Publishing

ISBN: 9780648529101

Paperboy

Macdonald, Bethany

Dirt Lane Press

ISBN: 9780648023869

Fly

McGeachin, Jess

Penguin Random House Australia

ISBN: 9781760892562

Cooee Mittigar: A Story on Darug Songlines

Watson, Leanne Mulgo

Magabala Books

ISBN: 9781925936865

Baby Business

Seymour, Jasmine

Magabala Books

ISBN: 9781925768671

Little Bird’s Day

Malibirr, Johnny Warrkatja

Magabala Books

ISBN: 9781925768923