Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers

The Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers has been presented annually since 1946 by the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA). Note: from 1946 to 1986 this award was known as "Book of the Year".

The Award "will be made to outstanding books of fiction, drama, or poetry which require of the reader a degree of maturity to appreciate the topics, themes and scope of emotional involvement. Generally, books in this category will be appropriate in style and content for readers in their secondary years of schooling."CBCA Guidelines for Publishers

Award winners

1940s Year Author Title Publisher Ref. 1946, illustrated by Walter Cunningham John Sands 1947No award 1948 Shackleton's Argonauts: A Saga of the Antarctic Icepacks Angus and Robertson 1949No competition

1950s YearAuthor Title PublisherRef. 1950, illustrated by Charles Pont Whalers of the Midnight Sun Angus and Robertson 1951, illustrated by Rhys Williams Verity of Sydney Town Angus and Robertson1952, illustrated by Margaret SeniorJohn Sands1953, illustrated by Margaret HorderGood Luck to the RiderAngus and Robertson1953 and W. D. MartinAircraft of Today and TomorrowAngus and Robertson1954, edited by Henrietta Drake-Brockman, illustrated by Elizabeth DurackAustralian Legendary TalesAngus and Robertson1955 and Harold Arthur Lindsay, illustrated by Madeleine BoyceLongmans Green1956, illustrated by Margaret HorderAngus and Robertson1957 (ed.), illustrated by Nancy Parker Longmans Green1958Tiger in the BushOxford University Press1959, illustrated by Geraldine SpenceDevil's HillOxford University Press, illustrated by Brian KeoghSea MenaceConstable

1960s YearAuthor Title PublisherRef. 1960, illustrated by Clem Seale All the Proud Tribesmen Macmillan 1961, illustrated by Brian Wildsmith Tangara Oxford University Press1962 Rafferty Rides a Winner M. Parrish, London Hodder & Stoughton1963, illustrated by Margaret HorderConstable1964, illustrated by Geraldine SpenceOxford University Press1965, illustrated by Annette Macarthur-OnslowPastures of the Blue CraneOxford University Press1966, illustrated by Clem SealeAsh RoadAngus and Robertson1967, illustrated by Genevieve MelroseLansdowne Press1968, illustrated by Jennifer TuckwellTo the Wild SkyAngus and Robertson1969, illustrated by Victor G. AmbrusWhen Jays Fly to BarbmoOxford University Press

1970s YearAuthor Title PublisherRef. 1970 Uhu Ure Smith 1971 Bread and Honey Angus and Robertson 1972 Longtime Passing Angus and Robertson 1973, illustrated by Robert Micklewright Family at the Lookout Oxford University Press 1974 Hutchinson 1975No award 1976 Fly West Angus and Robertson 1977, illustrated by Malcolm Green The October Child Oxford University Press 1978 The Ice is Coming Hutchinson 1979, illustrated by Marianne Yamaguchi Hodder and Stoughton

1980s YearAuthor Title Publisher Ref. 1980 Displaced Person Hyland House 1981 Playing Beatie Bow Nelson Books 1982 Opal Books 1983 Master of the Grove Kestrel Books 1984 Hutchinson 1985 Hyland House 1986 Rigby 1987 All We Know Angus and Robertson 1988 So Much to Tell You Joy Street Books 1989 Beyond the Labyrinth Hyland House

1990s YearAuthor Title Publisher Ref. 1990 Came Back to Show You I Could Fly Viking Books 1991 Strange Objects Heinemann 1992 Eleanor Nilsson Viking Books 1993 Looking for Alibrandi Puffin Books 1994 Penguin Books Angel's Gate Heinemann 1995FoxspellHyland House 1996Pagan's VowsOmnibus Books 1997University of Queensland Press 1998Eye to EyePuffin Books 1999Deadly, Unna?Penguin Books

2000s YearAuthor Title Publisher Ref 2000 48 Shades of Brown Penguin Books 2001 Wolf on the Fold Allen and Unwin 2002 Forest Viking Books 2003 Macmillan Publishers 2004 Saving Francesca Viking Books 2005 Omnibus Books 2006 Random House 2007 Red Spikes Allen and Unwin 2008 The Ghost's Child Viking Books 2009 Tales from Outer Suburbia Allen and Unwin

2010s YearAuthor Title PublisherRef. 2010 Jarvis 24 Penguin Group 2011 Viking Books 2012 Allen & Unwin 2013 Sea Hearts Allen & Unwin 2014 Wildlife Pan MacMillan 2015 University of Queensland Press 2016CloudwishMacmillan Australia 2017One Would Think the DeepUniversity of Queensland Press2018, Fiona Wood, and Simmone HowellTake Three GirlsPan Macmillan2019Between UsBlack Inc.

2020s YearAuthor Title PublisherRef.2020This Is How We Change the EndingText Publishing2021Text Publishing2022Tiger DaughterAllen & Unwin2023NeverlandersPenguin Random House2024Grace NotesLothian Children’s Books2025I'm Not Really HereAllen & Unwin2026Darkest Night, Brightest StarAllen & Unwin

Commended books

1940s Year AuthorTitle Publisher1948 Ponny the Penguin Australasian Publishing Co. Beetles A'Hoy! Paterson's Press and W. D. Martin Angus and Robertson Bush Cobbers Australasian Publishing Co. John Sands

1950s YearAuthor Title PublisherRef.1959 Hutchinson Australian and New Zealand Ships of Today Angus and Robertson Exploring Australia Methuen Angus and Robertson

1960s YearAuthor Title PublisherRef.1960 Anzac Adventure Angus and Robertson Oxford University Press and H. A. Lindsay Rangatira Rigby1961 Doctor With Wings Brockhampton Silver Brumby's Daughter Hutchinson Lillipilly Hill Oxford University Press1962 Ure Smith Bodley Head Sun on the Stubble Rigby1964 Oxford University Press Threat to the Barkers Angus and Robertson Storm Boy Rigby1965 High and Haunted Island Oxford University Press Nelson Writers' Press Winged Skis Hutchinson Angus and Robertson Jamie's Summer Visitor Bodley Head1966 By the Sandhills of Yamboorah Deutsch Indonesian Journey Lansdowne Press Oxford University Press February Dragon Rigby1967 Hicks Smith Deutsch Cocky's Castle Angus and Robertson1968 Oxford University Press Mathinna's People Oxford University Press Blue Above the Trees Lansdowne Hicks Smith Midnite F. W. Cheshire1969Angus and RobertsonWood, Wire and FabricLansdowneCricket the Australian WayLansdowneWandjina: Children of the Dream TimeJacarandaLet the Balloon GoMethuen Hicks SmithChildren of the DesertNelsonI Own the RacecourseHutchinson

1970s YearAuthor Title PublisherRef.1970 Over the Bridge Hutchinson Six Days Between a Second Heinemann Collins Ombley-Gombley Angus and Robertson Finn's Folly Angus and Robertson Blue Fin Rigby1971James Cook, Royal NavyAngus and RobertsonAngus and RobertsonClimb a Lonely HillCollins1972HughieNelsonBrockhampton Press1973Everyday InventionsHutchinsonAngus and Robertson

See also

List of CBCA Awards List of Australian literary awards

External links CBCA Awards History

References