Yep, it’s that time of year again. When the best books published in Australia for kids and teens are judged.

Check out the shortlist below. Drop into the library to collect your free activity booklet, and place free holds on any of the shortlisted titles.

The winners of all the categories will be announced 1pm Friday 15th August.

THE CHILDREN’S BOOK COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA AWARDS:

Book of the Year: Older Readers (NB: These books are for mature readers)
Pharaoh: the boy who conquered the Nile / Jackie French
The Ghost’s Child / Sonya Hartnett
Marty’s Shadow / John Heffernan
Love like Water / Meme McDonald
Black Water / David Metzenthen
Leaving Barrumbi / Leonie Norrington 

Book of the Year: Younger Readers

Sixth Grade Style Queen (not!) / Sherryl Clark & Elissa Christian
The Shaggy Gully Times / Jackie French & Bruce Whatley
Amelia Dee and the Peacock Lamp / Odo Hirsch
Winning the World Cup / David Metzenthen & Stephen Axelsen
The Key to Rondo / Emily Rodda
Dragon Moon / Carole Wilkinson 

Book of the Year: Early Childhood

Shhh! Little Mouse / Pamela Allen
Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley / Aaron Blabey
Cat / Mike Dumbleton & Craig Smith
The Trouble with Dogs! / Bob Graham
The Night Garden / Elise Hurst
Lucy Goosey / Margaret Wild & Ann James 
 

Picture Book of the Year

(Some of these picture books may be for mature readers).

The Peasant Prince / Anne Spudvilas & Li Cunxin,
The Island / Armin Greder
Ziba came on a Boat / Robert Ingpen & Liz Lofthouse
You and Me: Our Place / Dee Huxley & Leonie Norrington
Requiem for a Beast / Matt Ottley
Dust / Colin Thompson & 13 other illustrators

 Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
Australia’s Deadly and Dangerous Animals / Michael Cermak
Girl Stuff: Your Full-on guide to the Teen Years / Kaz Cooke
Kokoda Track: 101 Days / Peter Macinnis
The Antarctica Book: Living in the Freezer / Mark Norman
Parsley Rabbit’s Book about Books / Frances Watts

Ned Kelly’s Jerilderie Letter / Carole Wilkinson

Children’s Book Week runs from the 16th - 22nd August. For more information visit the Children’s Book Council of Australia website.