The State Library of NSW provided a stunning backdrop for our Senior Library Shadow Judging group’s visit to the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards ceremony. Over the past term, our Shadow Judges have been reading and evaluating a selection of shortlisted titles for older readers. They then discussed the books together and voted on which titles they felt deserved the Book of the Year Award, a process that mirrors the official judging and gives young people a voice in these prestigious awards.

At the ceremony, Anna Lim (Year 7) presented a review of A Wreck of Seabirds by Karleah Olson to the packed auditorium, impressing the audience with her evocative description of the story and its appeal.

Our students also had the opportunity to hear reviews from other schools, gaining fascinating insight into different perspectives on the books we had considered. They were then the first in Australia to hear this year’s official award winners, alongside the selections made by Shadow Judges from across the country. The event concluded with a reading and live drawing presentation from Eleri Harris, author of the new picture book A Loo of One’s Own , which tells the little-known story of Australia’s first female parliamentarians and the challenges they faced in a male-dominated workplace. Eleri also shared her journey to becoming a writer and illustrator.

The ceremony was an inspiring celebration of books, readers, and the talents of Australian authors and illustrators. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the CBCA Book of the Year Awards, and being in the State Library, surrounded by fellow book lovers, was a wonderful way to begin our celebration of Book Week 2025.