Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture Book facts for kids

The Children's Book of the Year Award: Picture Book is a special prize given out by the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA). This award celebrates the best picture books created in Australia. It has been given out since 1955.

The award looks for amazing picture books where the writer and the artist work together perfectly. They want books where the words and pictures tell a story as one. Even books without words can win if their pictures tell a clear story or idea.

Award Winners: A Look Back

This award celebrates the best Australian picture books each year. Many talented authors and illustrators have won this prize. Here are a few examples from different decades.

Early Winners (1950s - 1970s)

The award started in 1955. Sometimes, no award was given if a book didn't quite fit the high standards.

• In 1956, Wish and the Magic Nut by Peggy Barnard and Sheila Hawkins won.
• 1958 saw Axel Poignant win for Piccaninny Walkabout, which used photographs.
• In 1965, Elisabeth MacIntyre won for Hugh's Zoo.
• Sly Old Wardrobe by Ivan Southall and Ted Greenwood won in 1969.
• A famous Australian song, Waltzing Matilda, won in 1971. It was written by A. B. Paterson and illustrated by Desmond Digby.
• The Bunyip of Berkeley's Creek by Jenny Wagner and Ron Brooks won in 1974. This book is still very popular.
• In 1976, Dick Roughsey won for The Rainbow Serpent. He was both the author and illustrator.
• Jenny Wagner and Ron Brooks won again in 1978 for John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat.

From the 1980s to the 2000s

Many well-known authors and illustrators received the award during these years.

• Jan Ormerod won in 1982 for her wordless book Sunshine.
• Pamela Allen won twice in a row, for Who Sank the Boat? in 1983 and Bertie and the Bear in 1984. She wrote and illustrated both.
• Graeme Base won in 1989 for The Eleventh Hour.
• In 1990, Margaret Wild and Julie Vivas won for The Very Best of Friends.
• Jeannie Baker won in 1992 for Window, a book known for its unique collage artwork.
• Gary Crew and Stephen Woolman won in 1995 for the spooky The Watertower.
• 1999 saw John Marsden and Shaun Tan win for The Rabbits.
• Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks won for Fox in 2001.
• Shaun Tan won again in 2007 for his amazing wordless book The Arrival.

Recent Winners (2010s - 2020s)

The award continues to highlight new and exciting picture books.

• Jeannie Baker won again in 2011 for Mirror, another beautiful collage book.
• Bob Graham won in 2012 for A Bus Called Heaven. He is a frequent winner.
• Shaun Tan won his third award in 2014 for Rules of Summer. He also won in 2019 for Cicada.
• In 2015, Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood won for My Two Blankets.
• Flight by Nadia Wheatley and Armin Greder won in 2016.
• The 2023 award went to My Strange Shrinking Parents by Zeno Sworder. He wrote and illustrated this book.

See also

• List of CBCA Awards
• List of Australian literary awards