The Children's Book Council of Australia

24/09/2026

'Terry won the Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award for Felix and Alexander, a dark and touching story of blond boy Alexander, who lives in a Melbourne flat with a dog called Felix who can be relied on to laugh at his jokes.

When Alexander wanders off and gets lost, Felix searches for him, tears his coat as he squeezes through a metal fence and loses some of his stuffing along the way. Oh – so Felix is a toy dog? Once Felix too gets lost, the trail of stuffing leads him back home, like Hansel and Gretel’s white pebbles. There’s always a clever intertextual conversation going on, often with a belly laugh, sometimes a quiet giggle.'

The Australian children's literature world has lost one of its best and favourite. Terry Denton's talent, humour and heart has been a constant source of joy for decades, and for generations of readers big and small.

Terry Denton was wickedly funny, unpretentious and won multiple awards for his illustrations – and sold millions with Andy Griffiths. He will be dreadfully missed.

👉 Read the full story: https://theconversation.com/gentle-larrikin-terry-denton-famous-for-his-anarchy-with-andy-griffiths-made-reading-fun-292675

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19/09/2026

It's reading time! What's on your reading pile this week? 📚

You can sign up to get the CBCA Reading Time newsletter right to your inbox, with book reviews, children's book news, interviews and more ➡ https://readingtime.cbca.org.au/

12/09/2026

📚 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 👩‍💻

You'll need the ability to provide first-rate administrative support for the efficient running of the CBCA National Office – a small hybrid team based in Brisbane, and support for the remote National Board.

A friendly, reliable and professional self-starter with strong initiative and comfort working in a less structured environment, you will have strong people skills to liaise with the public, the National Board, Branches, paid staff, contractors and volunteers

A key responsibility will be the coordination of the National Board reporting including arranging teleconference meetings, agenda preparation in collaboration with the National Board Chair, scribing minutes and necessary follow-up of meetings.

Apply at Ethical Jobs ➡ https://bit.ly/46PYOqJ

10/09/2026

We're so grateful to Erstwilder for celebrating Australian children's literature through beautiful wearable art, and their generous support of the CBCA.

This year they helped bring Briony Stewart's Symphony of Stories characters to life. Their unique creations help book lovers like us wear our literary hearts on our sleeves during Book Week and beyond.

Lots of this year's collection has sold out, but don't miss out scooping up one for yourself: https://bit.ly/4yvP4hj

08/09/2026

We're looking for experienced children's literature professionals to join a judging panel for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards.

You would start in February 2027 for a two-year tenure, judging for the 2028 and 2029 Awards.

Applications close Friday 30 October 2026.

To learn more and apply, visit: https://cbca.org.au/judge-application

07/09/2026

Learn Play Thrive The Hub provide practical resources that support early childhood educators use quality picture books in their curriculum and to support story-inspired, play-based learning. Keep the spirit of Book Week going well beyond August.

Don't miss their new Little Library podcast mini-series out now!

➡ https://www.learnplaythrive.com.au/

03/09/2026

What happens when you catch the reading bug?

Award-winning illustrator Danny Snell reveals the inspiration behind the vibrant artwork for the 2027 CBCA Book Week theme, Catch the Reading Bug.

Watch now and step behind the scenes to discover the creativity, imagination and joy woven into this year's theme artwork 🐞📚

03/09/2026

🥁🥁🥁 Drum roll! Drum roll! Ta, da! 🥁🥁🥁

The 2027 CBCA Book Week theme is Catch the Reading Bug, illustrated by award-winning creative Danny Snell.

This is an the kind of extremely contagious bug you actually want to catch 🪰

So, what do you think would happen if you caught the reading bug? Well, it goes without saying that if you catch the reading bug, you develop a healthy fascination with books and reading. But surprisingly (and this is a little-known fact), you may also grow wings, just like the mysterious Reading Bug.

So, pick up a book and see if you can catch the reading bug. You never know ... you might also grow a beautiful set of wings to transport you somewhere special 🧚‍♂️🧚🧚‍♀️

We're looking forward to celebrating CBCA Book Week with you again in 2027!

01/09/2026

01/09/2026

🦟 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟰 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿.

🤔 Guess the theme

🎨 Our illustrator has recorded a video so you can see why this theme was chosen and what inspired his diverse characters.

And, just wait for the fabulous merchandise we are already designing.