2025 Children’s Book of the Year Awards

Reading has always been my passion. My aspirational goal as a child was to grow up and work with books. Imagine being surrounded by books every.single.day! And that’s exactly what I did! I completed a degree in English Literature, and then pivoted to an English teacher. Today, as an educator, I have the absolute privilege of inspiring others to love reading too.  Book Week has become one of the biggest celebrations at our school every year. 

The CBCA Australian Book Week will be celebrated from 16 – 23 August 2025, with the theme revealed as Book an Adventure. It is a week-long celebration where schools, libraries, bookshops and families celebrate children’s literature. It is one of my favourite weeks of the year. 

To celebrate the Week, I have rounded up the shortlisted books across three categories: Older Readers, Younger Readers and Early Childhood. The shortlist has been curated by the highly respected Children’s Book Council of Australia, ensuring that each book on the list is of the highest quality.

2025 Children’s Book of the Year Awards – Shortlist

2025 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Older Readers Shortlist

Book Week Awards | Older Reader Books

A Wreck of Seabirds |  Karleah Olson 

Birdy | Sharon Kernot 

Comes the Night | Isobelle Carmody 

I’m Not Really Here | Gary Lonesborough 

Into the Mouth of the Wolf | Erin Gough

The Skin I’m In | Steph Tisdell

2025 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Younger Readers

Younger Readers Book Week Awards

Aggie Flea Steals the Show | Tania Ingram, illustrated by A. Yi 

Fluff: Mess Up! | Matt Stanton

Laughter is the Best Ending | Maryam Master, illustrated by Astred Hicks 

Saskia Spark-Lee: Fundraiser Fail | Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg, illustrated by Sofya Karmazina 

Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger | Jackie French

To and Fro | Anton Clifford-Motopi

2025 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Early Childhood Shortlist

Book Week Awards Early Childhood Picture Books

Don’t Worry, Felix |  Yohann Devezy & Katharine Alice, illustrated by Zoe Bennett

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Tooth Fairy (And Some Things You Didn’t) | Briony Stewart 

How to Move a Zoo | Kate Simpson, illustrated by Owen Swan 

One Little Dung Beetle | Rhiân Williams, illustrated by Heather Potter & Mark Jackson 

Spiro | Anna McGregor 

The Wobbly Bike |  Darren McCallum, illustrated by Craig Smith

I will head back during Book Week to reveal the Winners from each category.

Books Lists to Review

Books for Science Week

Books for Busy Mums (July 2025)

20 Children’s Books About Gardening and Nature

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.