Every year, the Children’s Book Council of Australia hands out its prestigious Book of the Year Awards — and every year, a new group of writers and illustrators earn the golden sticker that changes everything for a children’s book in this country. But 2026 is no ordinary year for the CBCA. This is the 80th anniversary of the awards, which were first presented in 1946, making this one of the most celebrated and significant ceremonies in the award’s history. The winners were announced live at the State Library of New South Wales on Friday, August 21, and across all six categories, the books that took home top honours are as diverse, moving, and beautifully crafted as any the awards have ever produced.
All the 2026 CBCA Book of the Year Winners at a Glance
Before diving into the stories behind the books, here is the full list of this year’s winners across every category:
| Category | Winner | Author / Illustrator | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Picture Book of the Year | Once I Was a Giant | Zeno Sworder | Thames and Hudson |
| Book of the Year: Older Readers | Darkest Night, Brightest Star | Barry Jonsberg | Allen & Unwin |
| Book of the Year: Younger Readers | Inked | Karen Wasson (author), Jake A Minton (illus.) | Figment Books |
| Book of the Year: Early Childhood | The Emperor’s Egg | Rae Tan | Lothian Children’s Books |
| Eve Pownall Award (Information Books) | Peculiar Parents | Stephanie Owen Reeder (author), Ingrid Bartkowiak (illus.) | — |
| Award for New Illustrator | A Loo of One’s Own | Eleri Harris | — |
Picture Book of the Year: Once I Was a Giant by Zeno Sworder
Zeno Sworder has done it again. The Melbourne-based author and illustrator claimed the Picture Book of the Year award for Once I Was a Giant, the story of a tree that is cut down and turned into a pencil — told from the pencil’s perspective as it recounts its life in a vast forest and the relationship it formed with a small wanderer who visited every year. The pencil eventually comes into the hands of an artist in the city, and through that artist, the story unfolds. Sworder, who grew up in Bendigo climbing trees and talking to them as a child, has described the book as something that “honours the relationship that people can have with different forms of life.” The CBCA judges called it “a wonderful mixture of the sophisticated and complex.” It is Sworder’s second Picture Book of the Year win, following My Strange Shrinking Parents in 2023, and his third CBCA award overall. The book had already won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for children’s literature and took out Book of the Year and Children’s Picture Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards earlier this year.
Book of the Year: Older Readers — Darkest Night, Brightest Star by Barry Jonsberg
Darwin author Barry Jonsberg took out the Older Readers award with Darkest Night, Brightest Star, a significant departure from his usually humorous style. The novel follows 13-year-old Morgan Pickford, a boy raised in a household dominated by toxic masculinity after his mother left when he was two. His father, obsessed with athletic achievement, pushes the unwilling Morgan into sport — specifically soccer — determined to make him a star. It is only through unexpected friendships outside the family — with a boy at school named Gray and an elderly woman living with dementia — that Morgan begins to understand what it actually means to be a man. Jonsberg, a former English teacher of 38 years and the author of more than 20 books, said the seed for the novel came from a real conversation his wife — also a teacher — overheard from a year 10 student who said he had always tried to please his father but didn’t think he ever would. The CBCA judges praised the book for its unflinching look at contemporary masculinity, calling it “heartbreaking, but hopeful.”
Book of the Year: Younger Readers — Inked by Karen Wasson & Jake A Minton
The Younger Readers category went to Inked, written by Karen Wasson and illustrated by Jake A Minton, published by Figment Books. The title has been one of the most talked-about books on the shortlist and its win caps what has been a strong year for the book with both critics and young readers. The combination of Wasson’s writing and Minton’s illustrations earned strong praise from the CBCA judges and positioned Inked as one of the standout children’s books of 2026.
Early Childhood Book of the Year — The Emperor’s Egg by Rae Tan
Taking out the Early Childhood award was The Emperor’s Egg by Rae Tan, published by Lothian Children’s Books. The Early Childhood category recognises books aimed at Australia’s youngest readers — typically ages birth to six — and winning in this space requires a rare combination of visual accessibility, emotional warmth, and storytelling clarity. Rae Tan’s win in this category adds to what has been a strong year for picture book and early childhood titles across the Australian publishing landscape, with the CBCA judges recognising the book’s ability to connect deeply with very young readers.
Eve Pownall Award and New Illustrator Award
The Eve Pownall Award for Information Books — which recognises outstanding non-fiction for young Australians — went to Peculiar Parents by Stephanie Owen Reeder, illustrated by Ingrid Bartkowiak. The award has been presented since 1988 and celebrates Australian information books of the highest literary merit. Meanwhile, the Award for New Illustrator recognised A Loo of One’s Own by Eleri Harris, a strong sign of the emerging talent coming through Australian children’s publishing. The New Illustrator Award is one of the most eagerly watched categories each year, as it often serves as an early indicator of the illustrators who will go on to shape Australian picture books for decades to come.
Why the CBCA Awards Matter More Than Ever
The 2026 CBCA Awards arrive at a moment when reading rates among young Australians — particularly teenagers — are declining, a trend that mirrors what is happening across the world. Barry Jonsberg, who has been writing books for young people for over two decades, has spoken openly about the concern, saying that if young people stop reading, “that’s nothing short of a tragedy.” Zeno Sworder echoed the sentiment, noting the vital role the CBCA plays in championing the work and encouraging students across Australia to discover books. The gold sticker that comes with a CBCA win has guided generations of young readers toward books that matter — past recipients include literary giants like Markus Zusak, Melina Marchetta, and Shaun Tan. For 80 years, that sticker has meant something. In 2026, it means as much as it ever has.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the 2026 CBCA Book of the Year Award winners?
The 2026 winners are: Once I Was a Giant by Zeno Sworder (Picture Book of the Year), Darkest Night, Brightest Star by Barry Jonsberg (Older Readers), Inked by Karen Wasson and Jake A Minton (Younger Readers), The Emperor’s Egg by Rae Tan (Early Childhood), Peculiar Parents by Stephanie Owen Reeder and Ingrid Bartkowiak (Eve Pownall Award), and A Loo of One’s Own by Eleri Harris (New Illustrator Award).
Q: What is the CBCA and why are the awards significant?
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1945 that presents annual awards to Australian children’s books of exceptional literary merit. They are considered the most influential and highly respected children’s literary awards in Australia, and the gold sticker awarded to winners is widely recognised as a mark of quality by readers, teachers, and librarians.
Q: How significant is the 2026 CBCA Awards year?
Very significant — 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the CBCA Book of the Year Awards, which were first presented in 1946. The winners were announced at a live event held at the State Library of New South Wales on August 21, 2026.
Q: Has Zeno Sworder won a CBCA Award before?
Yes. Once I Was a Giant is Zeno Sworder’s second Picture Book of the Year win — he previously won the same award in 2023 for My Strange Shrinking Parents. He also won the Award for New Illustrator earlier in his career, making 2026 his third CBCA Award overall.
Q: What is the Eve Pownall Award?
The Eve Pownall Award recognises outstanding Australian information books (non-fiction) for children. It was first presented by Eve Pownall’s family in 1988 and has been presented by the CBCA since 1993. In 2026, it was awarded to Peculiar Parents by Stephanie Owen Reeder and Ingrid Bartkowiak.
Q: Where can I find the 2026 CBCA shortlist and notable books?
The full shortlist and Notables list are available on the CBCA’s official website at cbca.org.au. The annual Notable Children’s Literature booklet is also published each year and is a recommended guide for parents, teachers, and young readers looking to discover quality Australian books.