CBCA Book Award Notables 2022

Congratulations to all the Penguin and Puffin authors and illustrators who have made it onto the list of CBCA Notables this year.

Established in 1945, the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) is a not-for-profit, volunteer run organisation which aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians. The CBCA presents annual awards to books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children's literature. 

The 2022 CBCA Book Awards shortlist will be announced on Tuesday 29 March, and the winners and honours will be announced on Friday 19 August.

Book of the Year: Older Readers

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

This New York Times bestseller follows the eerie tale of Iris Hollow and her two sisters as they seek to discover what really happened on the night they went missing and returned with white hair and black eyes. A thriller-horror not for the faint of heart!

WATCH THE TRAILER • READ AN EXTRACT • THE UNSOLVED MYSTERIES THAT INSPIRED HOUSE OF HOLLOW • Q&A WITH KRYSTAL SUTHERLAND • TEACHERS’ NOTES

The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska

In a snow-cloaked kingdom, two wicked rivals secretly compete for the pure heart of a prince, only to discover they might be falling for each other instead. Now is a time for mischief and revelry.

READ AN EXTRACT • TOP 10 QUEER YA BOOKS OF 2021

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

From Australia’s #1 bestselling YA author comes a dark and thrilling new YA fantasy trilogy, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Sabaa Tahir. Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent the last decade fighting for survival in the notorious death prison, Zalindov. When the Rebel Queen is captured, Kiva takes her place in the Trial by Ordeal to fight for both their freedom.

WATCH THE TRAILER • READ AN EXTRACT • THE PRISON HEALER TRILOGY

Book of the Year: Younger Readers

Always by Morris Gleitzman

The much-anticipated final journey in the story of Felix, hero of Morris Gleitzman’s multi-award-winning Once, Then, After, Soon, Maybe and Now.

WATCH THE TRAILER • TEACHERS’ NOTES • THE FELIX COLLECTION

A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr

An exquisite, heartbreakingly beautiful gem of a novel for anyone who loved Wonder. Meixing Lim and her family have moved to the New House in the New Land, and as their fragile universe is rocked with tragedy, Meixing will need all her resilience and imagination to survive.

WATCH THE TRAILER • READ AN EXTRACT • BOOK CLUB NOTES • Q&A WITH SHIRLEY MARR • TEACHERS’ NOTES

Listen, Layla by Yassmin Abdel-Magied

What’s a queen to do when her summer plans go horribly wrong? A powerful, funny and timely novel for young readers by writer, broadcaster and award-winning social advocate, Yassmin Abdel-Magied.

READ AN EXTRACT • BOOK CLUB NOTES

Little Gem by Anna Zobel

When her spell at Witchcraft School goes wrong, Gem lands in an unfamiliar, empty cottage outside a strange, colourful down. Everyone in Ellsworth Pining thinks Gem is their new village witch. Gem might know a spell that can help them – if only she could get it right.

Q&A WITH ANNA ZOBEL • COLOURING PAGES • 5 REASONS WE LOVE LITTLE GEM • HOW TO DRAW LITTLE GEM

The Right Way to Rock by Nat Amoore

The rockin’ story of two new friends, one arts fiasco and a whole lot of music from the bestselling author of Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire and The Power of Positive Pranking.

READ AN EXTRACT

Book of the Year: Early Childhood

Train Party by Karen Blair

All aboard the train party! This delightful rhyming picture book captures all the fun of a preschooler’s train-themed birthday party at a miniature railway park.

TEACHERS’ NOTES

Picture Book of the Year

Bear and Rat by Christopher Cheng and Stephen Michael King

A powerful and uplifting story about a loving friendship, even through the hardest of times.

TEACHERS’ NOTES • WATCH THE READ ALOUD VIDEO • MEET THE CREATORS

Blue Flower by Sonya Hartnett and Gabriel Evans

A beautifully told picture book about self-esteem, resilience and the discovery that being different can be something wonderful.

TEACHERS’ NOTES • COLOURING PAGE • MEET THE CREATORS

Don’t Forget by Jane Godwin and Anna Zobel

Sometimes, we need to remember all the things we can do to be part of the world. Small things, like offering a smile. And bigger things, like hoping, dreaming and imagining.

TEACHERS’ NOTES • WATCH THE READ ALOUD VIDEO • MEET THE CREATORS

Frankie and the Fossil by Jess McGeachin

Frankie knows everything there is to know about dinosaurs. But when she ignores a sign at the museum and is followed home by a friendly fossil, Frankie finds there’s more to dinosaurs than she ever imagined.

WATCH THE TRAILER • ACTIVITY PACK

Eve Pownall Award

Masters of Disguise by Marc Martin

A gorgeous hide-and-seek extravaganza that showcases twelve of the most elusive animals on earth that use camouflage to disguise themselves.

ACTIVITY PACK