Fourteen Penguin and Puffin books have been selected for the CBCA Book Awards Notables list.
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
House of Hollow Krystal Sutherland
A New York Times Bestseller! An Instant Indie Bestseller! 'This dark, deliciously twisted novel has everything you could hope for as a reader – a brilliant concept, glamorous characters with secrets to hide, immersive world-building, and some of the finest writing I’ve seen in YA fiction. I’ll put it like this – I am obsessed with House of Hollow.’ Louise O'Neill, author of Printz Honor Book, Asking For It
Buy now
The Midnight Girls 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.
Buy now
The Prison Healer Lynette Noni
'Lynette Noni is a masterful storyteller. A must-read for any fantasy lover!' SARAH J. MAAS, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
Buy now
A Glasshouse of Stars Shirley Marr
An exquisite, heartbreakingly beautiful gem of a novel for anyone who loved Wonder, Lenny's Book of Everything, A Monster Calls or When You Reach Me.
Buy now
Listen, Layla 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.
Buy now
Little Gem Anna Zobel
An adorable and charming new children's series that is a sparkling gem of a read for anyone who loves Polly and Buster or Mummy Fairy and Me!
Buy now
The Right Way to Rock Nat Amoore
The rockin' story of two new friends, one arts fiasco and a whole lot of music.
Buy now
Train Party 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.
Buy now
Bear and Rat Christopher Cheng, Stephen Michael King
A powerful and uplifting story about loving friendship, even through the hardest of times.
Buy now
Blue Flower Sonya Hartnett, Gabriel Evans
A beautifully told picture book about self-esteem, resilience and the discovery that being different can be something wonderful. From award-winning author Sonya Hartnett, with stunning illustrations by Gabriel Evans.
Buy now
Don't Forget Jane Godwin, Anna Walker
A timely and uplifting picture book for 5+, reflecting on what’s important for each of us to remember, from the creative team that brought us All Through the Year and Today We Have No Plans.
Buy now
Frankie and the Fossil Jess McGeachin
A sweet and funny picture book for anyone who loves dinosaur fossils, friends and cheese sandwiches, by the acclaimed creator of Fly and The Lost Library.
Buy now
Masters of Disguise Marc Martin
A gorgeous hide-and-seek extravaganza that showcases twelve of the most elusive animals on earth that use camouflage to disguise themselves. A timely and beautiful non-fiction book for nature lovers of every stripe.
Buy now
We're excited to announce four of our authors have made it to the shortlist.
Congratulations to our five authors who have been longlisted for the awards.
The most popular books of the year, written by Australian authors.
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Bluey masks, Roald Dahl favourites, Friday Barnes, Ginger Meggs and more.
A sweet and funny picture book for anyone who loves dinosaur fossils, friends and cheese sandwiches.
Read the rainbow with new stories from Becky Albertalli, Tobias Madden, Krystal Sutherland, Alicia Jasinska and more.
A Glasshouse of Stars author on second-person narration, immigration and childhood fears.