Children's Book Week is on in August! It's a time when we come together to dress-up as favourite book characters and discover the best youth literature of the past year.
Check out this year's top books for young readers as voted by the Children's Book Council of Australia. From the best books for young adults to celebrating incredible illustrators, these awards showcase the fantastic work happening in youth literature in Australia.
Reserve some tiles from the list below, and start planning your costumes to wear to our special storytimes.
Book Week Dress-up Storytimes, 11 am to 12 pm:
- Saturday 19 August, Ashburton Library
- Monday 21 August, Balwyn Library
- Tuesday 22 August, Greythorn Library
- Tuesday 22 August, Hawthorn Library
- Thursday 24 August, Ashburton Library
- Friday 25 August, Camberwell Library
Children's Book Week 2023 shortlisted titles
Book of the Year: Older Readers
Ask no questions by Eva Collins
Completely normal (and other lies)* by Biffy James
The greatest thing* by Sarah Winifred Searle
Neverlanders* by Tom Taylor
The other side of tomorrow by Hayley Lawrence
What we all saw* by Mike Lucas
Book of the Year: Younger Readers
August and Jones by Pip Harry
Evie and Rhino* by Neridah McMullin
The raven's song* by Zana Fraillon and Bren MacDibble
Runt* by Craig Silvey
Way of the dog* by Zana Fraillon
Xavier in the meantime by Kate Gordon
Book of the Year: Early Childhood
Jigsaw: a puzzle in the post by Bob Graham
Lionel and me by Corinne Fenton
Bev and Kev by Mandy Foot
Market day by Carrie Gallasch
Snap! by Anna Walker
Where the lyrebird lives by Vikki Conley
The Picture Book of the Year
Dirt by sea by Michael Wagner
Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall
Frank's red hat by Sean E Avery
My strange shrinking parents by Zeno Sworder
Our dreaming by Dub Leffler
Paradise sands by Levi Pinfold
Eve Pownall Award
A is for Australian reefs by Frane Lessac
Amazing animal journeys by Jennifer Cossins
Come together: things every Aussie should know about the first peoples by Isaiah Firebrace
DEEP: delve into hidden worlds by Jess McGeachin
Wild Australian life by Leonard Cronin
CBCA Award For New Illustrator
Australia: from dawn to dusk by Brentos
The best hiding place by Jane Godwin
Naturopolis by Deborah Frenkel
There's no such book by Jake A. Minton
Tiny wonders by Sally Soweol Han
We are Australians by Jandmarra Cadd
More information
To reserve a book, click the title and use your membership number and PIN to place a reservation. Titles with an asterisk (*) are also available from our eBook collection, find out more on our eBooks and audio books page.
Visit our Children’s storytimes and activities page for all our regular children’s programs. See our Literacy and reading resources for families page to find the best reading recommendations, literacy advice and programs for your child.