We’re thrilled to celebrate the winners of the CBCA Book of the Year Awards for 2024! These awards highlight the best in Australian children’s literature, and this year’s winners truly showcase the creativity and talent of our local authors and illustrators. At Learn From Play, we’re especially excited because we have created activities for each of these outstanding books to help you share them with your students and learners.
Book of the Year: Early Childhood
Winner: "Gymnastica Fantastica" by Briony Stewart
Published by Lothian Children’s Books, *Gymnastica Fantastica* takes the gold in the Early Childhood category. This lively and imaginative story is perfect for young readers, filled with dynamic characters and fun-filled gymnastics. We’ve got a range of activities to bring this energetic book to life in your classroom.
Honour Books: "Grace and Mr Milligan" by Caz Goodwin and Pip Kruger
Published by Marshall Cavendish International, *Grace and Mr Milligan* is a heartwarming tale about friendship and understanding. We’re proud to offer activities that help young readers explore the themes of this beautiful story.
Honour Books: "Bear & Duck are Friends" by Sue DeGennaro
From Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, *Bear & Duck are Friends* is a delightful story of an unlikely friendship. Our activities for this book encourage children to think about the meaning of friendship and how they can connect with others.
Shadow Judging Winner: "The Concrete Garden" by Graham Base
The shadow judging panel awarded *The Concrete Garden* by Graham Base as their top pick. This visually stunning book, with its rich illustrations and intriguing narrative, has inspired a collection of activities designed to captivate young minds and produce some artistic creations.
Picture Book of the Year
Winner: "Timeless" by Kelly Canby
Published by Fremantle Press, *Timeless* is the winner of the Picture Book of the Year category. This book takes readers on a journey through time, with illustrations that are as enchanting as the story itself. Our activities help students delve into the themes of this exceptional book both to create clocks and understand the high level word play used in this story.
Honour Book: "That Bird Has Arms" by Ronojoy Ghosh, Niharika Hukku, Kate Temple & Jol Temple
Another fantastic title from Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, *That Bird Has Arms* is both hilarious and thought-provoking. We’ve created activities that explore the humour and deeper messages within this charming book.
Shadow Judging Winner: "Every Night at Midnight" by Peter Cheong
The shadow judges selected *Every Night at Midnight* from Affirm Press as their favourite. This captivating tale, full of mystery and wonder, has inspired activities that will engage students’ imaginations and creativity.
Explore Our Activities
At Learn From Play, we believe in the power of great literature to inspire young minds. We’ve created activities for each of these award-winning books to help you share them with your students. Whether it’s exploring the imaginative worlds of *Timeless* and *Gymnastica Fantastica* or delving into the heartwarming tales of *Grace and Mr Milligan* and *Bear & Duck are Friends*, our resources are designed to enhance your teaching and make learning fun.
Check out our full range of activities for these award-winning books and bring the best of Australian children’s literature into your classroom. Congratulations to all the winners and honourable mentions—you’ve made a magical contribution to the world of children’s books!