{"product_id":"cbca-2026-book-of-the-year-shortlist-mega-bundle","title":"CBCA 2026 Book of the Year: Shortlist Mega Bundle","description":"\u003ch3\u003eCBCA BOOK WEEK: AUGUST 22-28 2026\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTheme: Symphony of Stories!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/cbca-2026-shortlist\/cbca-2026-shortlist-older-readers\" title=\"CBCA 2026 Shortlist Older Readers\"\u003eOlder Readers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEntries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for readers in their secondary years of schooling. Ages 13-18 years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: Books in this category are for mature readers and some may deal with particularly challenging themes including violence and suicide. Parental guidance is recommended.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/cbca-2026-shortlist\/cbca-2026-shortlist-younger-readers\" title=\"CBCA 2026 Shortlist Younger Readers\"\u003eYounger Readers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEntries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for readers from the middle to upper primary years. 7-12 years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: Some of the titles in this category may only be suitable for readers who are in the upper primary years as they contain mature themes, including violence. Parental guidance is recommended.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/cbca-2026-shortlist\/cbca-2026-shortlist-early-childhood\" title=\"CBCA 2026 Shortlist Early Childhood\"\u003eEarly Childhood\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEntries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for children who are at pre-reading or early stages of reading. Ages 0-6 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/cbca-2026-shortlist\/cbca-2026-shortlist-picture-book\" title=\"CBCA 2026 Shortlist Picture Books\"\u003ePicture Books\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEntries 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: Some of these books may be for mature readers.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/cbca-2026-shortlist\/cbca-2026-shortlist-information-book\" title=\"CBCA 2026 Shortlist Information Books\"\u003eInformation Books\u003c\/a\u003e (Eve Pownall Award)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEntries in this category should be books which have the prime intention of documenting factual material with consideration given to imaginative presentation, interpretation and variation of style. Ages 0-18 years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e Note: Books in this category are for mature readers and some may deal with particularly challenging themes including violence and suicide. Parental guidance is recommended.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/cbca-2026-shortlist\/cbca-2026-shortlist-new-illustrator\" title=\"CBCA 2026 Shortlist New Illustrator\"\u003eNew Illustrator\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis Award aims to recognise and encourage new talent in the field of Australian children's book illustration. Ages 0-18 years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis bundle includes the following \u003cstrong\u003e35 Shortlisted Books\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOLDER READERS\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDarkest Night, Brightest Star \u003c\/strong\u003e- Barry Jonsberg (Allen \u0026amp; Unwin)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGolden \u003c\/strong\u003e- Jade Timms (Text Publishing)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOf Flame and Fury \u003c\/strong\u003e- Mikayla Bridge (Macmillan Australia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThis Stays Between Us \u003c\/strong\u003e- Margot McGovern (Penguin Random House Australia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUnhallowed Halls \u003c\/strong\u003e- Lili Wilkinson (Allen \u0026amp; Unwin)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWe Saw What You Started \u003c\/strong\u003e- Carla Salmon (Pan Australia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eYOUNGER READERS\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInked \u003c\/strong\u003e- Karen Wasson, illustrated by Jake A Minton (Figment Books)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLittle Bones \u003c\/strong\u003e- Sandy Bigna (University of Queensland Press)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Paperbark Tree Committee \u003c\/strong\u003e- Karys McEwen (Text Publishing)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRun \u003c\/strong\u003e- Sarah Armstrong (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpirit of the Crocodile \u003c\/strong\u003e- Aaron Fa’aoso \u0026amp; Michelle Scott Tucker with Lyn White (Allen \u0026amp; Unwin)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTim Tie-Your-Shoelaces: Something Terrible #1 \u003c\/strong\u003e- Sally Barton, illustrated by Christopher Nielsen (Walker Books Australia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEARLY CHILDHOOD\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Colours of Home \u003c\/strong\u003e- Sally Soweol Han (Thames and Hudson Australia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDerek\u003c\/strong\u003e - Anne Donaldson, illustrated by Matt Shanks (Little Hare)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Emperor’s Egg \u003c\/strong\u003e- Rae Tan (Lothian Children’s Books)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFrogs Are Our Friends \u003c\/strong\u003e- Toni D’Alia, Madeline White (Bright Light)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMy Nonno Loves \u003c\/strong\u003e- Adelle Frittitta, illustrated by Claudia Frittitta (Little Hare) \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Thing About Christmas \u003c\/strong\u003e- Jo Dabrowski, illustrated by Briony Stewart (Little Book Press)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePICTURE BOOKS\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBob and Dob \u003c\/strong\u003e- Sean E Avery (Walker Books Australia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDawn \u003c\/strong\u003e- Marc Martin (Walker Books Australia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDear Broccoli \u003c\/strong\u003e- Cate James, text by Jo Dabrowski (Affirm Press)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Frog’s First Song \u003c\/strong\u003e- Jason Phu, text by Jazz Money (University of Queensland Press)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOnce I was a Giant \u003c\/strong\u003e- Zeno Sworder (Thames and Hudson Australia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTiwi in Paris \u003c\/strong\u003e- Glen Farmer Illortaminni (Thames and Hudson Australia)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eINFORMATION BOOKS (Eve Pownall Award)\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA Loo of One’s Own*\u003c\/strong\u003e - Eleri Harris (Allen \u0026amp; Unwin)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem style=\"color: red;\"\u003e*Shortlisted in 2 categories; this Shortlist Mega Bundle contains \u003cstrong\u003e1 copy only\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003eExtra copies can be ordered if required.\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCaution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles\u003c\/strong\u003e - Corey Tutt, Ben Williams (Allen \u0026amp; Unwin)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNingaloo\u003c\/strong\u003e - Tim Winton, illustrated by Cindy Lane (Fremantle Press)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeculiar Parents\u003c\/strong\u003e - Stephanie Owen Reeder, illustrated by Ingrid Bartkowiak (NLA Publishing)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThere’s a Prawn in Parliament House: The Kids’ Guide to Australia’s Amazing Democracy\u003c\/strong\u003e - Annabel Crabb, illustrated by First Dog on the Moon (Allen \u0026amp; Unwin)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Thylacine and the Time Machine\u003c\/strong\u003e - Renée Treml (Allen \u0026amp; Unwin)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNEW ILLUSTRATOR\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA Farm by the Sea \u003c\/strong\u003e- Jillian Packer (Berbay Publishing)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA Loo of One’s Own*\u003c\/strong\u003e - Eleri Harris (Allen \u0026amp; Unwin)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem style=\"color: red;\"\u003e*Shortlisted in 2 categories; this Shortlist Mega Bundle contains \u003cstrong\u003e1 copy only\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003eExtra copies can be ordered if required.\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBeing Indy \u003c\/strong\u003e- Estee Sarsfield, text by Zoe Gaetjens (WestWords Children’s)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBeyond the Shore \u003c\/strong\u003e- Mark Chester Harding, text by Kirli Saunders (Scholastic Press)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePrayer for a River \u003c\/strong\u003e- Uncle Glenn Loughrey, text by Andrew Kelly \u0026amp; Uncle Glenn Loughrey (Wild Dog Books)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSave the Gum Trees, Bees and Big Blue Seas \u003c\/strong\u003e- Luke John Matthew Arnold (Scholastic Press)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Network Educational Australia","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47652601430242,"sku":"CBCA2026-SMEGA","price":728.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0404\/8358\/6213\/files\/CBC2026-SMEGA_bac96e05-ed80-47ec-bc1b-516c049f45d9.jpg?v=1775530806","url":"https:\/\/network-ed.com.au\/products\/cbca-2026-book-of-the-year-shortlist-mega-bundle","provider":"Network Educational Australia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}