The winners of the 2025 CBCA Book of the Year Awards have been announced. The awards are given by The Children’s Book Council of Australia and cover a wide age range. Here are the winners:

OLDER READERS

WINNER

I’m Not Really Here by Gary Lonesborough

HONOUR 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

HONOUR 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

HONOUR BOOKS

How to Move a Zoo by Kate Simpson, illustrated by Owen Swan

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

HONOUR BOOKS

Afloat illustrated by Freya Blackwood, text by Kirli Saunders

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

EVE POWNALL AWARD FOR INFORMATION BOOKS

WINNER

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

HONOUR BOOKS

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

South With the Seabirds by Jess McGeachin

NEW ILLUSTRATOR

WINNER

Grow Big, Little Seed illustrated by Sarah Capon, written by Bec Nanayakkara