Children’s Book Week® Resources
The Children’s Book Council of Australia
The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) brings children and books together through its annual Children’s Book Week® and Book of the Year awards. Children’s Book Week 2026 will be held from Saturday 22 August to Friday 28 August 2026. Find out more about CBCA’s Children’s Book Week on their website.
Last year the CBCA turned 80 in Australia and there were big celebrations across Australia. This year is another 80th annivesrary. It is 80 years since the very first award in 1946 was presented to West Australian author Leslie Rees for his book The Story of Karawingi the Emu illustrated by Walter Cunningham.
Once again CBCA have developed some wonderful new merchandise to help you celebrate Children’s Book Week® and made changes to their E-store to make it easier to find the resources you need. This year’s merchandise is designed by Briony Stewart.
Sun Project: Illuminating Children’s Literature — Shadow Judging. This project enables groups of young people across Australia to judge the CBCA Book of the Year Shortlist alongside the CBCA judging panel. These groups participate in a critical conversations and respond creatively. To stay up to date with registration information and critical key dates, or to learn more about the popular program, please sign up to the Sun Project mailing list on their website.
The Ipswich District Teacher-Librarian Network Publication
Of course, don’t forget there are a lot of other ideas in our annual IDTL Network Children’s Book Week publication. We always compile links to other online resources for the authors, illustrators, publishers, teachers’ notes, videos and reviews but you will also find other items relating to our publication added to this site.
Cover design by Anil Tortop
Interactive Online Jigsaw – based on the cover of our 2026 publication. Inside the 2025 book are some ideas on how to use this jigsaw creator to explore the covers of the shortlisted books.
Other Resources
- PETAA guides for shortlisted books, access requires a subscription
- Madison’s Library – Book Week Links
- Costume Ideas on Pinterest
- Aussie Book Week Facebook Group
- Story Box Library – Readings of shortlisted books available by subscription
- Story Box Library – CBCA Book Week resources
- ZART Book Week 2026 – online course $150
- Poem written by Mike Lucas – Symphony of Stories
Learn From Play create a number of resources to celebrate CBCA Book Week. Some are available for free and some via subscription. Visit the Learn from play website for more information.
Performances based on Children’s Book Week
Books to Life “Tony Bones” Appleby B.E. – This year’s Books To Life show will be announced in March. They have toured nationally since 2001.
Meerkat Productions – specialising in adapting and bringing to life children’s literature for live performances in schools.
Resources from 2025
Interactive Online Jigsaw – based on the cover of our 2025 publication. Inside the book this year are some ideas on how to use this jigsaw creator to explore the covers of the shortlisted books.
- Story Box Library – Readings of 2025 shortlisted books available by subscription
Resources from 2023
- Book Week poem supplied by Mike Lucas| Mike reading the Poem
- Story Box Library – Free resources
- Learn From Play create a number of resources to celebrate CBCA Book Week. Some are available for free and some via subscription. Visit the Learn from play website for more information.
****Answers to Cryptic Clues Puzzle Page in our book.
Resources from 2022
Dreamcatchers
In the theme pages this year one of our ideas uses dream catchers. Here is a different set of instructions for making dreamcatchers created by one of our contributors. They were created by high school students.
Compilation of display and competition ideas to celebrate Book Week
List from IDTL Network
Display idea – CBCA Shortlist cloud bunting – CBCA Shortlist Cloud Bunting.
Competition Ideas
- Rocket Competition .docx
- Small World Dream Jar Competition .docx
- Dreaming is reading with eyes open Book Mark Competition .docx
How to Fold Mini-books
How to fold mini-books (43 KB) Instructions for folding mini-books to go with the IDTL Net Book Week publication.
Secret Codes – Answers to Secret Codes Puzzles p.11 of the 2022 Book Week Publication
Jigsaw Puzzle using the cover illustration from our book
This is the cover of our book as a 20 piece puzzle. (Link to the 20 piece puzzle. | Link to 40 piece puzzle)
Resources from 2021
Additional resources and activities
Book Nook Weblinks (114 KB)
This is a list of weblinks on the topic of Book Nooks, referring to the Dsiplay Ideas pages in our 2021 Book Week publication.
History of the Book – Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds (161 KB)
Explore the History of the Book – Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds. Imagine what the future might hold.
Resources from 2020
When planning a Book Week parade in 2020, there are specific ideas in our book and a link to a playlist on Spotify. This is the link to the Spotify Playlist from the book.
On page 3 of the IDTLNet Book Week publication there are ideas for curious creatures real and imagined. There is a link to the web showing what animals would look like if they had eyes in the front of their heads. Here is an additional link to a YouTube video (30secs) showing what birds would like if they had arms. Another alternative video on the same topic of birds with arms.
Page 4 of the IDTLNet Book Week publication includes idea on writing songs for the CBCA Book Week theme. We commisioned Sue Lewin to write a song for us to share with you. You can read the words here and download and listen to the song here. Musicians: Madeline Hagon (cello), Sue Lewin (guitar percussion and voice) produced by Marly Lüske of Alchemix Recording West End.
Book Week Jigsaw Puzzle 20 pieces embeded above or for something a bit hard try the 40 piece one.
Book Week Jigsaw Puzzle 40 pieces
Additional resources and activities
Curious Creatures Song (15 KB)
Words written by Sue Lewin for the CBCA Book Week theme 2020, comissioned by the Ipswich District Teacher-Librarian Network
Creature Features (527 KB)
Creature Features – Body parts to be used with Stop Motion collage activity in the 2020 Book Week publication by IDTL Network
Stop Motion Studio Explained (1330 KB)
This set of instructions it to accompany the Curious Creatures Stop Motion collage activity in the 2020 Book Week publication by IDTL Network
Curious Facts or Wild Fiction Answer Page (691 KB)
Curious Facts or Wild Fiction Answer Page for Page 10 or the 2020 Book Week publication.
Word Search answer sheet (687 KB)
Answers for Word Search on p.15 of our 2020 Book Week publication.
Bookmarks by Grace Eastwood (565 KB)
The reverse side can be where students list, draw or collage what they are – curious and wild about, what creatures they want to know about, what their mind muses on. They can add their name into the colouring in side, laminate. Collage side up – students guess their colleagues from the clues they’ve put into the collage.
Visit our Archives Page for Class Resources earlier than 2020