The Shortlist for the CBCA Children’s Book of the Year Awards was announced today. You can see the list at the new look CBCA Website, or you can read it here:

THE 2008 SHORT LIST
Book of the Year: Older Readers
(NB: These books are for mature readers)
French, Jackie Pharaoh: the boy who conquered the Nile Angus & Robertson,
HarperCollins Australia
Hartnett, Sonya The Ghost’s Child Viking, Penguin Group Australia
Heffernan, John Marty’s Shadow Omnibus / Scholastic Australia
McDonald, Meme Love like Water Allen & Unwin
Metzenthen, David Black Water Penguin Books
Norrington, Leonie Leaving Barrumbi Omnibus / Scholastic Australia

Book of the Year: Younger Readers
Clark, Sherryl Illus: Christian, Elissa Sixth Grade Style Queen (not!) Puffin, Penguin Group Australia
French, Jackie Illus: Whatley, Bruce The Shaggy Gully Times Angus & Robertson,HarperCollins Australia
Hirsch, Odo Amelia Dee and the Peacock Lamp Allen & Unwin
Metzenthen, David Illus: Axelsen, Stephen Winning the World Cup Puffin, Penguin Group Australia
Rodda, Emily The Key to Rondo Omnibus / Scholastic Australia
Wilkinson, Carole Dragon Moon Black Dog Books

Book of the Year: Early Childhood
Allen, Pamela Shhh! Little Mouse Viking, Penguin Group Australia
Blabey, Aaron Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley Viking, Penguin Group Australia
Dumbleton, Mike Illus: Smith, Craig Cat Working Title Press
Graham, Bob The Trouble with Dogs! Walker Books
Hurst, Elise The Night Garden ABC Books
Wild Margaret Illus: James, Ann Lucy Goosey Little Hare Books

Picture Book of the Year
Some of these picture books may be for mature readers. (Arranged by illustrator)
Spudvilas, Anne Text: Cunxin, Li The Peasant Prince Viking, Penguin Group Australia
Greder, Armin The Island Allen & Unwin
Ingpen, Robert Text: Lofthouse Liz Ziba came on a Boat Viking, Penguin Group Australia
Huxley, Dee Text: Norrington, Leonie You and Me: Our Place Working Title Press
Ottley, Matt Requiem for a Beast Lothian, Hachette Livre Australia
Thompson, Colin and 13 other illustrators Dust ABC Books

Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
Cermak, Michael Australia’s Deadly and Dangerous Animals Steve Parish Publishing
Cooke, Kaz Girl Stuff: Your Full-on guide to the Teen Years Viking, Penguin Group Australia
Macinnis, Peter Kokoda Track: 101 Days Black Dog Books
Norman, Mark The Antarctica Book: Living in the Freezer Black Dog Books
Watts, Frances Illus: Legge, David Parsley Rabbit’s Book about Books ABC Books
Wilkinson Carole Illus: Jones, Dean Ned Kelly’s Jerilderie Letter Black Dog Books

Each year I look forward to the release of the Shortlist and to the list of Notable Books, and to the subsequent discussion of these titles which follows. I love hearing which books people loved and which ones they didn’t – and, of course, why. There are lots of books on the list this year which I have not read, so I can see I have some catching up to do.
In the meantime, congratulations to all the creators who have made the list for 2008. What a wonderful achievement.