Since 1945 in Australia, the most anticipated week on the children’s book lovers’ calendar is the CBCA Book Week . This year the 2021 CBCA Book Week kicks off on Saturday 21st through to Friday 27th August (sadly to be held online due to COVID). But before the celebrations begin, the winners of the 2021 Book of the Year Awards are announced. Tune in Friday 20th of August for the 12:00 pm live announcement from the Library of South Australia, which anybody can join for free via this link.
I have previously written about the CBCA 2021 Book of the Year Award Shortlist here. You can also read more about each shortlisted book on CBCA website. Every one of the 36 books, across 6 categories, is already a winner in my eyes, but I confess to having a soft spot for a certain few and I’m excited to see if the jury feels the same.
While we all hold our collective breath for what follows the drumroll and “the winner is…” in tomorrow’s announcement, please take the time to admire the cover poster for this year’s 2021 CBCA Book Week. Designed by one of my favourite Australian illustrators, Shaun Tan, it celebrates the 2021 Book Week’s theme – “Old Worlds. New Worlds. Other Worlds”. Any world one can imagine has either been written about already or will undoubtedly be written about someday. Every one of these imaginary worlds is open to those who love to read and if that is you, then you are sure to discover…
Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life. They feed the soul. When writers make us shake our heads with the exactness of their prose and their truths, and even make us laugh about ourselves or life, our buoyancy is restored. We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping along with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and over again. It’s like singing on a boat during a terrible storm at sea. You can’t stop the raging storm, but singing can change the hearts and spirits of the people who are together on that ship.
Anne Lamott
If you’re trying to grow a reader be sure to browse the CBCA 2021 Book of the Year Award Shortlist for the best-in-print this year in Australia, then make your picks and get them hooked into reading!
CBCA Past Winners
- CBCA Picture Book of the Year
- CBCA Book of the Year Early Childhood
- CBCA Book of the Year Older Readers
- CBCA Book of the Year Younger Readers
- Eve Pownall Award
- CBCA Award for New Illustrator
How on earth do you stop yourself from buying all these lovely books?
Or do you read them from your local library, once they arrive?
Picture books are easy, I go through them all in book stores, sometimes before they even get to the CBCA shortlist (the Book of the Year Awards are for the books printed in the preceding year). Also, when son was younger and we frequented the local library I also read some of it there. With some fiction for older readers I purchase (for son) based on recommendations from CBCA team (I have a few friends there, following my tenure as the Treasurer of CBCA NSW branch…)