The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has announced its Book of the Year Awards shortlists for 2019. Congratulations to all the authors, illustrators, editors and publishers!

Here are the shortlists for each category.

Older Readers (for ages 13-18 years)

• Between Us by Clare Atkins
• Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein
• Lenny’s Book of Everything by Karen Foxlee
• Changing Gear by Scot Gardner
• The Bogan Mondrian by Steven Herrick
• The Art of Taxidermy by Sharon Kernot

Younger Readers (for ages 8-12 years)

• Brindabella by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by Andrew Joyner
• Leave Taking by Lorraine Marwood
• Black Cockatoo by Carl Merrison & Hakea Hustler
• The Slightly Alarming Tale of the Whispering Wars by Jaclyn Moriarty
• The Peacock Detectives by Carly Nugent
• His Name Was Walter by Emily Rodda

Early Childhood (for ages 0-7 years)

• Heads and Tails: Insects by John Canty
• The Dress-Up Box by Patrick Guest, illustrated by Nathaniel Eckstrom
• Rainbow Bear by Stephen Michael King
• Noni the Pony Rescues a Joey by Alison Lester
• Tricky’s Bad Day by Alison Lester
• Here Comes Stinkbug! by Tohby Riddle

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

• The Feather illustrated by Freya Blackwood, text by Margaret Wild
• The Mediterranean by Armin Greder
• Girl on Wire illustrated by Elise Hurst, text by Lucy Estela
• Chalk Boy illustrated by Mandy Ord, text by Margaret Wild
• The All New Must Have Orange 430 by Michael Speechley
• Cicada by Shaun Tan

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

• Bouncing Back: An Eastern Barred Bandicoot Story by Rohan Cleave, illustrated by Coral Tulloch
• The Happiness Box by Mark Greenwood, illustrated by Andrew McLean
• Waves by Donna Rawlins, illustrated by Mark Jackson & Heather Potter
• Make Believe: M.C. Escher for Kids by the National Gallery Victoria
• Our Birds: Ŋilimurruŋgu Wäyin Malanynha by Siena Stubbs
• Sorry Day by Coral Vass, illustrated by Dub Leffler

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

• Australian Birds by Matt Chun
• Grandma Z by Daniel Gray-Barnett
• Dingo illustrated by Tannya Harricks, text by Claire Saxby
• The Singing Seal illustrated by Allison Langton, text by Merv Lamington
• Carmichael’s Journey illustrated by Samantha Metcalfe, text by Shelly Fussell
• Red House, Blue House, Green House, Tree House! illustrated by Jane Reiseger, text by Jane Godwin

The winners for each category will be announced on 16 August. Find out more about the CBCA Awards here.