This is an old revision of the document!
Picture Book of the Year 2021
Entries in this category should be outstanding books of the Picture Book genre in which the author and illustrator achieve artistic and literary unity or, in wordless picture books, where the story, theme or concept is unified through illustrations. Ages 0-18 years (NB. Some of these books may be for mature readers).
From 8 June to mid July, Story Box Library will be releasing two CBCA shortlisted titles each week from the Early Childhood, Picture Book and New Illustrator categories. https://storyboxlibrary.com.au/blog/get-excited-for-cbca-book-week-2021?fbclid=IwAR14mvkE7MUg3E-52fk5tAD2rbxJNVxnvxdQ0M0XqOmXutYPNTrha3BXFWE
Freya Blackwood The Unwilling Twin HarperCollins Publishers 9781460757536
- Themes: twins, the same and different, friends
- Video of Freya Blackwood introducing the story https://www.facebook.com/HarperCollinsChildrensBooksAustralia/videos/introducing-the-unwilling-twin-/350965276199171/
- Learn from play activities https://learnfromplay.com/resources/the-unwilling-twin/
- Readers' theatre performance
Philip Bunting Not Cute. Scholastic Australia 9781760972387
- Themes: Australian animals, acceptance
- Philip Bunting's website https://philipbunting.com/books/not-cute/
- The refrain “too cute” and response “not cute” could be used with a speech bubble to get audience participation while reading the story - perhaps split the group in half with each half calling out
- uncommon Australian animals feature - could they be recreated in craft activities?
- Reading Time review http://readingtime.com.au/not-cute/
Gabriel Evans Norton and the Bear Berbay Publishing 9780648785132
- Themes: identical and different, copying and imitation, dressing and clothes
- Gabriel Evan's website https://gabrielevansartist.com/books/norton-and-the-bear/
- Reading Time review http://readingtime.com.au/norton-and-the-bear/
Bob Graham Ellie’s Dragon Walker Books Australia 9781406387629
- Themes: growing, imaginary friends
Matt Ottley (text by Meg McKinlay) How to Make a Bird Walker Books Australia 9781925381894
- Meg McKinlay's website https://megmckinlay.com/books/picture-books/how-to-make-a-bird/
- Video: Matt Ottley on How to Make a Bird https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgwaYwm7_Nc
Felicita Sala (text by Maggie Hutchings) Your Birthday Was the Best! Affirm Press 9781925972535
Back to 2021 Book Week Forum