The CBCA notable books of 2021

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

The CBCA Awards were first presented in 1946 and are the longest-running book awards in Australia.

CBCA National Chair Wendy Rapee said it was a year when we needed stories more than ever, and our storytellers came through with a record-breaking number of tales offering touchstones of comfort and stepping stones to guide young Australians through tumultuous times.

Here are the notable books for each category.


Older Readers

Books in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and are appropriate in style and content for readers in their secondary years of schooling.

Find the full list of notables for this category here.

Younger Readers

Books in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and are appropriate in style and content for readers from the middle to upper primary years.

Find the full list of notables for this category here.

Early Childhood

Books in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and are appropriate in style and content for children who are pre-reading or early stages of reading.

Find the full list of notables for this category here.

Picture Book of the Year

These are outstanding books of the picture book genre in which the author and illustrator achieve artistic and literary unity or, in wordless picture books, where the story, theme or concept is unified through illustrations.

Find the full list of notables for this category here.

Eve Pownall Award for Information Books

These are books which have the prime intention of documenting factual material with consideration given to imaginative presentation, interpretation and variation of style.

Find the full list of notables for this category here.


The Notable Books acts as the longlist for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards. The shortlist will be announced on Tuesday 30 March and the winners on Friday 20 August. Find out more about the CBCA Awards here.

Cover image for Respect

Respect

Aunty Fay Muir,Sue Lawson

In stock at 6 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 6 shops