The Children’s Book Council of Australia has just announced the 2025 CBCA Book of the Year Award Winners. Here are the judges' top picks for under-fives.               

BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

AUGUST 15, 2025

We always look forward to the CBCA Book of the Year Awards, because they give us a ready-made reading list to share with our little darlings. 

However, this year we’re especially excited, because the Awards are providing a glittery start to the 80th year of Children’s Book Week! 

This is a huge milestone, and to celebrate, there’s a special Birthday Book Adventure being held in every state and territory on Saturday, 23 August – which you’re invited to attend. 

And when it comes to your 2025 reading list, here are the very best books for pre-schoolers, as chosen by CBCA’s amazing judges. 

Happy reading, and happy birthday, Children’s Book Week! 

Picture Book of the Year 

WINNER: The Truck Cat, written by Deborah Frenkel, illustrated by Danny Snell   

HONOUR BOOKS: 

Afloat, written by Kirli Saunders, illustrated by Freya Blackwood  

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

Book of the Year: Early Childhood 

WINNER: The Wobbly Bike, written by Darren McCallum, illustrated by Craig Smith 

HONOUR BOOKS: 

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

One Little Dung Beetle, written by Rhian Williams, illustrated by Heather Potter and Mark Jackson 

CBCA Award for New Illustrator 

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

To see the Award-winning books for older children, click here. 

And we give a big congrats to the authors, illustrators and publishing houses who’ve created these amazing stories for children (and us grown-ups).