Children's Book Council of Australia Book Awards. Literary Awards Australia.

2008 Winners | 2008 Other Shortlisted | 2007

The Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) is a volunteer run, not for profit, organisation that was established in 1945 and is comprised of individual members who are passionate about children's and young adult literature. They do a splendid job. As part of our appreciation we have been promoting the awards on our American and UK based sites so that the rest of the world can see what wonderful books our authors produce for children and young adults.

Their annual prizes are for books with an implied readership under the age of eighteen. The Short List in each category is announced April. The winners are announced in August. They are presented in fivecategories; links to 2008 shortlists:

* CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers
* CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers
* CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood
* CBCA Picture Book of the Year
* The Eve Pownall Award for Information Book

The Children's Book Council of Australia 2008 award winners. Entries praised as "rich with ground breaking material".

August 15th- The extraordinary author Sonya Hartnett (right), has won Book of the Year in the older readers category for The Ghost's Child the story of an old lady whose past is unravelled after she is visited by a young boy who is a ghost. Congratulations to one of our most succesful and best-loved authors.

In the Book of the Year younger readers category, Carole Wilkinson has won with the gorgeous Dragon Moon, the conclusion of her fantasy trilogy Dragon Keeper, which feature the adventures of a slave girl and an aging dragon.

Other winners for 2008:

Book of the Year, early childhood: Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blabey.Picture Book of the Year: Requiem for a Beast by Matt Ottley.
Eve Pownall Award for Information Books: Parsley Rabbit's Book about Books by Frances Watts

2008 Winner Older Readers Category
Hartnett, Sonya The Ghost's Child Viking, Penguin Group Australia

This is a beautiful story by Sonya Hartnett. A young child visits an elderly lady, unannounced and unbidden. He listens patiently, and sometimes with embarrassment, as Matilda, the lady, recounts stories from her life. Hartnett's novel is mythical and magical, and captures the essence of Matilda's life with insight and compassion. Feather, the free-spirited love of Matilda's life, is magical. A wonderful read!

Sonya Hartnett Biography - Sonya Hartnett on Wiki

2008 Winner Younger Readers Category
wilkinson_carole Wilkinson, Carole Dragon Moon, Black Dog Books dragon_moon_cover

Ancient China. Han Dynasty. Ping and Kai have travelled far, but their journey is not yet over. Danger stalks them. Ping must find Kai a safe place. But how?

When a hidden message from Danzi makes the way clear, Ping knows that once again the journey of a thousand li begins with a single step.

The triumphant conclusion to the multi-award-winning Dragonkeeper trilogy. Carole Wilkinson's Blog>>

2008 Picture Book of the Year ottley_matt

Ottley, Mat (right) t Requiem for a Beast Lothian, Hachette Livre Australia
Thompson, Colin and 13 other illustrators
Dust ABC Books

A boy goes on a journey of self-discovery as a stockman in Far North Queensland. In an exquisitely illustrated collage of memory and dreamscape, the boy confronts a huge, rogue bull and realizes he must acknowledge the errors of the past before he can fully embrace the future. CD of accompanying music composed by Matt Ottley. Authors website.

2008 Book of the Year, early childhood:

Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blabey

Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley are different in every way. Pearly Barley loves death-defying missions, solving mysteries, talking loudly and is a terrible show off. Charlie parsleyprefers reading in quiet places to jumping off buildings, is scared of everything and everyone and is painfully shy. Ages 3+. (SA: Reception - Year 2).

2008 Eve Pownall Award for Information Books: watts_frances

Parsley Rabbit's Book about Books by Watts, Frances (right)
Illus: Legge, David

Takes the reader on a hilarious and stimulating journey through the world of books. An absolute treasure of a book for children from 3 - 7 years.

2008 Other Shortlisted Book of the Year: Older Readers

pharaoh
(NB: These books are for mature readers)
French, Jackie Pharaoh: The Boy Who Conquered the Nile
Angus & Robertson,
HarperCollins Australia

Prince Narmer, first in line of succession, meets an oracle who changes his life. Ousted from the line by a disfiguring struggle with a crocodile, Narmer travels, learning much about faraway lands and his place in the world. Most of all, he learns what it means to be a true king and leader. Ages 10-14

love_like_water_cover McDonald, Meme Love Like Water Allen & Unwin metzenthen_david
Metzenthen, David (right) Black Water Penguin Books
Norrington, Leonie Leaving Barrumbi Omnibus / Scholastic Australia

Jay seemed as familiar as her own self. Other times he was as different as another language.Cathy arrives in Alice Springs from cattle country, looking for a new way to live. But new is a serious challenge for a girl who's used to being measured by her actions, not her feelings. Feelings are slippery, like water. Hard to hold onto.Jay is working for the local radio station, far from his own saltwater people, wary of this no-water country. He's searching for something, trying to survive.Margie is a wild city girl, up for a good time, confronted by a world she's never known and a friend she can't always understand.When lives collide at the heart of the country, no one stays unchanged.

2008 Other Shortlisted Book of the Year: Younger Readers

sixth_grade_queen_cover
Clark, Sherryl (left)
Illus: Christian, Elissa
Sixth Grade Style Queen (not!) Puffin, Penguin Group Australia

All the girls in Dawn’s class want to be style queens – except Dawn. She suspects she’s really an alien and sometimes she wishes the ship would come back and pick her up. But as her life starts to change, being (or not being) a style queen is the least of her worries.

Sixth Grade Style Queen (not) is an outstanding verse novel for upper primary aged readers which explores peer pressure and friendship, as well as family dynamics and marriage breakdowns. Dawn shares her story through a progression of free verse poems, a form which allows both intimate insight and humour. The reader is transported into the thought-processes of the narrator in a believable way. The text is accessible, and the form allows for brevity which will be attractive to reluctant readers.

shaggy_gully_times_cover
French, Jackie
Illus: Whatley, Bruce
The Shaggy Gully Times Angus & Robertson,
HarperCollins Australia

Look! Up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a wombat, a sheep and a dancing kangaroo – And they're on the front page of The Shaggy Gully Times!. The small bush town of Shaggy Gully is home to many animals, including local celebrities Mothball, Pete and Josephine. Pete the Sheep runs a successful hairdressing salon and Josephine is a renowned ballerina. Mothball is editor of the weekly newspaper, The Shaggy Gully Times.She also can't spell. This week's edition is jam–packed with exciting news of how a small town comes together to rescue some unfortunately animals from Mr Nasty's zoo. How did the rescue take place and will the newcomer animals fit into life in Shaggy Gully? Read all about this and other exciting news in the punniest newspaper ever! Ages 7+

hirsch_odo
Hirsch, Odo(right)Amelia Dee and the Peacock Lamp Allen & Unwin

Amelia Dee lives in the green house on Marburg Street, where a rare bronze lamp hangs outside her bedroom door. No one knows where it came from or how it got there. Only she, Amelia thinks, knows the secret that the lamp contains. Bu she's wrong.

When Mr Vishwanath introduces Amelia to the Princess Parvin Kha-Douri, the puzzle of the lamp becomes even deeper. Where has the princess seen it before? Why is she so bitter and angry? And most importantly, what should Amelia do about it?

In solving the mystery, Amelia risks revealing a secret of her own.

Odo Hirsch is at his enchanting best in this funny, poignant story full of memorable characters and resonant ideas. Fans of Antonio S and Hazel Green will love Amelia Dee.

Metzenthen, David
Illus: Axelsen, Stephen winning_theworld_cup_cover
Winning the World Cup (Aussie Nibbles) Puffin, Penguin Group Australia

There’s a big grassy paddock behind the new houses in our street. And in this paddock, just about every day after school, we play for the soccer World Cup.

It’s not the real World Cup played by soccer teams from all over the world. It’s our World Cup, played by kids who come from countries all over the world.

But now we all live here, in Australia, beside the paddock.

My name is Marco. My mum and dad are from Italy. And I love soccer!

Rodda, Emily The Key to Rondo Omnibus / Scholastic Australia

rondo
Important!
Turn the key three times only.
Never turn the key while the music is playing.
Never pick up the box while the music is playing.
Never close the lid until the music has stopped.
The old music box, with its strict rules, has been carefully handed down through Leo's family for hundreds of years. Painted scenes of villages, mysterious forests, a castle on a hill and a queen in a long blue gown decorate its sides. An astounding secret is hidden beneath its gleaming black lid. Now it is Leo's music box, and although he respects the rules, his least favourite cousin, Mimi Langlander, does not. When the rules are broken, Leo's ordered life is changed forever as he and Mimi plunge together into a thrilling quest in the fantastic world of Rondo.

2008 Other Shortlisted Book of the Year: Early Childhood

Allen, Pamela Shhh! Little Mouse Viking, Penguin Group Australia

Blabey, Aaron Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley Viking, Penguin Group Australia

cat_cover
Dumbleton, Mike
Illus: Smith, Craig
Cat Working Title Press

Graham, The Trouble with Dogs Walker Books

Hurst, Elise The Night Garden ABC Books

lucy_goosey_cover

Wild Margaret
Illus: James, Ann
Lucy Goosey
Little Hare Books

2008 Other Shortlisted Picture Book of the Year

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

Spudvilas, Anne
Text: Cunxin, Li
The Peasant Prince peasant_prince_cover
Viking, Penguin Group Australia

Greder, Armin The Island Allen & Unwin

Ingpen, Robert
Text: Lofthouse Liz
Ziba came on a Boat
Viking, Penguin Group Australia

Huxley, Dee
Text: Norrington, Leonie
You and Me: Our Place
Working Title Press

2008 Other Shortlisted Eve Pownall Award for Information Books

Cermak, Michael Australia’s Deadly and Dangerous Animals
Steve Parish Publishing

girl_stuff_cover
Cooke, Kaz Girl Stuff: A Full-on Guide to the Teen Years
Viking, Penguin Group Australia

Macinnis, Peter Kokoda Track: 101 Days Black Dog Books

Norman, Mark The Antarctica Book: Living in the Freezer
Black Dog Books

2007 Winners -

2007 Book of the Year: Older Readers
NOTE: These books are for mature readers

WINNER: Lanagan, Margo Red Spikes Allen & Unwin, 2006

HONOUR BOOKS
Cornish, D. M. Monster Blood Tattoo: Foundling Omnibus Books, Scholastic Australia, 2006
Dubosarsky, Ursula The Red Shoe Allen & Unwin, 2006

2007 Book of the Year: Younger Readers

WINNER: Bateson, Catherine Being Bee (Young Adult Fiction) University of Queensland Press, 2006

tuck_shop_kid

HONOUR BOOKS
Flynn, Pat Illus. Tom Jellett The Tuckshop Kid (Young Adult Fiction) University of Queensland Press, 2006
Laguna, Bird and Sugar Boy Penguin Group (Australia), 2006

2007 Book of the Year: Early Childhood

WINNER: Gleeson, Libby Illus. Freya Blackwood Amy and Louis Scholastic Press, Scholastic Australia, 200

HONOUR BOOKS
Costain, Meredith, Illus. Pamela Allen; Doodledum Dancing Viking, Penguin Group (Australia), 2006
Wild, Margaret, Illus. Deborah Niland; Chatterbox Viking, Penguin Group (Australia), 2006

2007 Picture Book of the Year
NOTE: Some of these books may be for mature readers

WINNER: Tan, Shaun The Arrival Lothian Books, 2006

HONOUR BOOKS
Rippin, Sally Text: David Metzenthen; The Rainbirds Lothian Books, 2006
Spudvilas, Anne Text: Margaret Wild Woolvs in the Sitee Viking, Penguin Group (Australia), 2006

2007 Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
NOTE: Some of these books are for mature readers

WINNER
Norman, Mark The Penguin Book: Birds in Suits Black Dog Books, 2006

HONOUR BOOKS
Davidson, Leon Red Haze: Australians & New Zealanders in Vietnam Black Dog Books, 2006
Fenton, Corinne Illus. Peter Gouldthorpe Queenie: One Elephant's Story Black Books

Historic Winners direct from Official CBCA Site