Upcoming Events

2021 Readers Cup - Year 5/6 Competition

Teams of four students together read a set of books, and then compete with other school teams to answer quiz questions from the books. Readers Cup competitions challenge students to read widely, work collaboratively in a team and continue developing a love of reading.

More details are available on the 2021 Readers Cup Entry Form. 

Registration closes:          30 August 2021                  

Register schools:               Register and pay via TRYBOOKING or complete and submit the 2021 Readers Cup Entry Form.

                                          CBCA ACT Members - Free

                                          Non-members - $44 per team

Readers Cup

Students start reading:     6 September 2021

When:                               20 October 2021 5-8pm (please arrive 15 minutes early)

Where:                              Radford College, Mulford Junior School, RA Young Hall

CBCA 2021 Book of the Year Announcement Ceremony - COVID CANCELLED

Due to Canberra going into lockdown, sadly we've had to cancel this event. Please see our home page for details of CBCA NSW's online event on the same date.

Watch children perform, meet local authors and illustrators, while perusing the display of Shortlisted books.

Announcement at midday.

When: Friday 20 August 11.30am-12.30pm 

Where: Theatre, National Library 

Past Events

And the Winner could Be...

Come and learn about the possible Winners and Honour Books for the 2021 CBCA Book of the Year Awards.

When:               Wednesday 16 June 2021, 6.30pm-9.00pm

Where:              ALIA House, Napier Close, Deakin

Teachers:         Certificates provided for teacher identified Professional Development

Register:          All attending must register via Trybooking here.

CBCA members - $5

Non-members   - Early bird by 1 June $15 or by 15 June $20 (or join here before the event and register at the member rate)

CBCA ACT Branch AGM & 2021 Laurie Copping Award Announcement

Join the CBCA ACT committee and members at the CIT Restaurant for the 2021 Annual General Meeting.

During the meeting, all positions are declared vacant, and a 2021 committee is appointed.

Honored to have Emeritus Professor Belle Alderman as our special guest speaker.

We will also announce the recipient of the 2021 Laurie Copping Award.

Between all this excitement we will be treated to a 3-Course set dinner. 

The CIT Restaurant was chosen in support of culinary students studying at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT).

CBCA 2021 Book of the Year Award Shortlist Announcement

Come celebrate the announcement of the CBCA Shortlist!

Special guest speaker Rosemary Thomas will share her passion and knowledge as the past CBCA Book of the Year Awards coordinator.

We also have local author Lisa Fuller to talk about her Honour Book Ghost Bird for the 2020 CBCA Awards in the Older Readers category.

Entry includes drinks (wine/champagne and non-alcoholic beverages) and nibbles.

Books will, of course, be available to purchase on the night.

Night of the Notables - Notables Announcement and Professional Discussion

Share the excitement of the release of the 2021 CBCA BOTYA Notables list. Raise your glass to those on the list and discuss the chosen books. Register for the event using the form here or via Trybooking.

A certificate of attendance will be provided to all attendees, for 2 hours of teacher identified PL.

When: Tuesday 23rd February 2021 6.30 pm

Where: ALIA House

Event media:

Announcing the CBCA Notables List for 2021

The Children’s Book Council of Australia today kicked off its quest for Book of the Year by announcing the Notables List.

At the CBCA ACT Notables Night there was cheering and clinking of glasses to celebrate and congratulate listed creators and publishers.

We are particularly proud of our local Canberra Notables: Nicole Godwin, Tania McCartney, Gina Newton, Stephanie Owen Reeder and Rhian Williams.

CBCA ACT Dinner

Come celebrate the 2020 CBCA Book of the Year Awards, announced at noon on 16 October, over dinner that evening.

A great opportunity to toast the winners and reconnect with fellow members (and to join/renew with CBCA ACT if you haven’t yet done so).

When:    Friday, 16 October 2020 at 6.30pm

Where:  Olim’s Hotel (Mercure Canberra), Corner of Ainslie and Limestone Avenues, Braddon

              * Dinner will be via the Olim’s Bistro menu (each person to order and pay on the night) but served in the (private) Carlton Room. 

Volunteers End of Year Celebration

The dedicated volunteers at the National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature would like to invite CBCA ACT members to an End of Year Celebration, to thank you for your support and contributions

Max Brown will be showcasing & talking about the artworks Where’s Jessie by Anne Spudvilas

and Tricky’s Bad Day by Alison Lester

When: Friday 15 November 2019 4.30pm – 6.00pm

Where: Training Room 1, Level A, Library University of Canberra

Government House Open Day

CBCA ACT President, Julie Long, and members of the committee, represented CBCA at the recent Government House Open Day, held on Saturday 12 October 2019 in Canberra. They met many visitors and were able to chat to them about the work of the CBCA. A lucky few were also winners of some impressive book packs.

His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, are both patrons of the CBCA.

Bob Graham Writer, Artist

From first draft to award winning book: 
A talk by Rowan Simpkin with an artwork conservation discussion by Max Brown

White gloves will be provided to allow participants to
handle unique material.

When: September 25, 2019   -   4.30 – 6.00pm

Location: ALIA House

9 Napier Close
Deakin
Canberra, ACT 2600 Australia + Google Map

Further information HERE.

13th National Conference

Our 13th National Conference was held in beautiful Canberra in 2019.

The rich and varied program of ‘And Now They’re Laughing’ highlighted the outstanding contribution made by writers of humour to Australian children’s literature and to children’s literacy – and much more.

Special guests and presenters included:

Morris Gleitzman, Bruce Pascoe, Jeannie Baker, Bren MacDibble, Matt Stanton, Zana Fraillon, Leigh Hobbs, Emily Rodda, Aunty Fay Muir PLUS The Great Debate: THAT YA FICTION IS TOO SERIOUS featuring High School Students vs Publishers.

And back by popular demand, our regular drawcards: Book Launches, Trade Display, Dymocks Bookshop, Book Signings and tons of opportunties for networking with the who's who of Australian Children's literature - writers, illustrators, publishers, teachers, librarians, booksellers and our wonderful CBCA members from across Australia.