The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced its Book of the Year Awards shortlists for 2021. Congratulations to all the authors, illustrators, editors and publishers!

Here are the shortlists for each category:

Older Readers (for ages 13-18 years)

• The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough
• Girls in Boys’ Cars by Felicity Castagna
• How to Repaint a Life by Steven Herrick
• Terciel and Elinor by Garth Nix
• Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim
• Sugar Town Queens by Malla Nunn

Younger Readers (for ages 8-12 years)

• The Detective’s Guide to Ocean Travel by Nicki Greenberg
• Dragon Skin by Karen Foxlee
• Exit Through the Gift Shop by Maryam Master
• A Glasshouse of Stars by Shirley Marr
• Huda and Me by H. Hayek
• Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by Katrina Nannestad

Early Childhood (for ages 0-7 years)

• Amira’s Suitcase by Vikki Conley
• Jetty Jumping by Andrea Rowe
• Walk of the Whales by Nick Bland
• What Do You Call Your Grandma? by Ashleigh Barton
• When the Waterhole Dries Up by Kaye Baille
• Winston and the Indoor Cat by Leila Rudge

Picture Book of the Year (for ages 0-18 years)

• Blue Flower by Sonya Hartnett, illustrated by Gabriel Evans
• The Boy and the Elephant by Freya Blackwood
• Iceberg by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft
• The Inheritance by Armin Greder
• Just One Bee by Margrete Lamond & Anthony Bertini, illustrated by Christopher Nielsen
• Stellarphant by James Foley

Eve Pownall Award for Information Books (for ages 0-18 years)

• Book of Curious Birds by Jennifer Cossins
• The First Scientists: Deadly Inventions and Innovations from Australia’s First Peoples by Corey Tutt
• Heroes, Rebels and Innovators by Karen Wyld
• The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature by Sami Bayly
• Still Alive: Notes from Australia’s Immigration Detention System by Safdar Ahmed
• Walking in Gagudju Country: Exploring the Monsoon Forest by Diane Lucas & Ben Tyler

CBCA Award for New Illustrator (for ages 0-18 years)

• The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name illustrated by Michelle Pereira
• Everyday Wonders illustrated by Natala Graetz
• Great White Shark illustrated by Cindy Lane
• For Love illustrated by Christina Neri
• A Trip to the Hospital illustrated by Freda Chiu
• Walking in Gagudju Country: Exploring the Monsoon Forest illustrated by Emma Long

The winners for each category will be announced on Friday 19 August 2021. Find out more about the CBCA Awards here.