The winners of the 2025 Book of the Year Awards have been announced by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Here are the winners and honor books for each category:

OLDER READERS WINNER

I’m Not Really Here by Gary Lonesborough (releasing in US in March 2026)

OLDER READER HONOR BOOKS

Birdy by Sharon Kernot

Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough

YOUNGER READERS WINNER

Laughter Is the Best Ending by Maryam Master, illustrated by Astred Hicks

YOUNGER READERS HONOR BOOKS

Aggie Flea Steals the Show by Tania Ingram, illustrated by A. Yi

Fluff: Mess Up! by Matt Stanton

EARLY CHILDHOOD WINNER

The Wobbly Bike by Darren McCallum, illustrated by Craig Smith

EARLY CHILDHOOD HONOR BOOKS

How to Move a Zoo by Kate Simpson, illustrated by Owen Swan (available in US)

One Little Dung Beetle by Rhiân Williams, illustrated by Heather Potter & Mark Jackson

PICTURE BOOK WINNER

The Truck Cat illustrated by Danny Snell, text by Deborah Frenkel (available in US)

PICTURE BOOK HONOR BOOKS

Afloat illustrated by Freya Blackwood, text by Kirli Saunders (available in US)

These Long-Loved Things illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh, text by Josh Pyke

WINNER OF THE EVE POWNALL AWARD FOR INFORMATION BOOKS

Always Was, Always Will Be by Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson

HONOR BOOKS

Making the Shrine: Stories from Victoria’s War Memorial by Laura J. Carroll

South with the Seabirds by Jess McGeachin

NEW ILLUSTRATOR AWARD WINNER

Grow Big, Little Seed illustrated by Sarah Capon, text by Bec Nanayakkara (available in US)