CBCA Book of the Year Awards 2025

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced the winners for the 2025 CBCA Book of the Year Awards. The CBCA shadow judging winners – titles chosen by 400 groups of children voting on their top choices from the shortlists announced in March – were also announced simultaneously.

Book of the year: Older readers
I’m Not Really Here (Gary Lonesborough, A&U Children’s)
Honour books
Birdy (Sharon Kernot, Text)
Into the Mouth of the Wolf (Erin Gough, HGCP)
Shadow judging
Birdy (Sharon Kernot, Text)

Book of the year: Younger readers
Laughter Is the Best Ending (Maryam Master, illus by Astred Hicks, Pan)
Honour books
Aggie Flea Steals the Show! (Tania Ingram, illus by Anne Yi, Scholastic)
Fluff: Mess Up! (Matt Stanton, ABC Books)
Shadow judging
Laughter Is the Best Ending (Maryam Master, illus by Astred Hicks, Pan)

Book of the year: Early childhood
The Wobbly Bike (Darren McCallum, illus by Craig Smith, Walker)
Honour books
How to Move a Zoo (Kate Simpson, illus by Owen Swan, A&U Children’s)
One Little Dung Beetle (Rhian Williams, illus by Heather Potter & Mark Jackson, Wild Dog)
Shadow judging
Spiro (Anna McGregor, Scribble)

Picture book of the year
The Truck Cat (Deborah Frenkel, illus by Danny Snell, Bright Light)
Honour books
Afloat (Kirli Saunders, illus by Freya Blackwood, Little Hare)
These Long-Loved Things (Josh Pyke, illus by Ronojoy Ghosh, Scholastic)
Shadow judging
The Truck Cat (Deborah Frenkel, illus by Danny Snell, Bright Light)

Eve Pownall Award
Always Was, Always Will Be (Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson, Magabala)
Honour books
Making the Shrine: Stories from Victoria’s War Memorial (Laura J Carroll, The Crossley Press)
South with the Seabirds (Jess McGeachin, A&U Children’s)
Shadow judging
Flora: Australia’s Most Curious Plants (Tania McCartney, NLA)
South with the Seabirds (Jess McGeachin, A&U Children’s)

CBCA Award for New Illustrator
Grow Big, Little Seed (Sarah Capon, written by Bec Nanayakkara, Bright Light).