2024 CBCA Book of the Year Notable

Best Suited 9+Years
The evacuation from Gallipoli of Australian and New Zealand troops was a logistically incredible undertaking. The exhausted young men were to slip away by ship in the dead of night.
But…Someone needed to remain behind to cover for their fellow soldiers. This was a mission that almost certainly meant death.
Would it be you?
Would you volunteer to be the last man out?
And so, the rivalry begins. Who will be chosen to stay on until the end?
Who will hold fast to the last to allow tens of thousands to slip away silently from Gallipoli?
Only the fittest, the most gallant and capable will be chosen. The pick of the whole force, we are told. And the message is clear: the rear guard of honour will be killed or captured.
The rear party, the most daring men of all, doomed.
John Alexander Park grew up in England and served in Africa, the Afghan War, and the Boxer Rising before settling in Australia. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914 sparked The Great War – or World War I. On 1st March 1915, John joined the Australian Army in Sydney and was promoted to Sergeant before being assigned to the 19th Battalion. He was 36 years old and a seasoned serviceman when he arrived at Gallipoli.

And he was the last man out.

Best Suited 8+ Years
Grace and her mother have moved from Broome to a real-life castle, steeped in literary history, and Grace has discovered that she can slip back in time to previous incarnations of the castle. But this time, when Grace travels back in time, she has to help find two sisters who were supposed to be staying at the castle and have been kidnapped along the way. During her travels, she has the good fortune to meet Beatrix Potter, J.M. Barrie and May Gibbs. It seems the castle has been home to a good many adventures over the years! Now Grace just has to figure out how she and her family fit into the castle’s storied past.

Best Suited 8+ Years
When twelve-year-old Grace trades her tropical home in Western Australia for a faraway castle, Victorian costumes and a village trapped in time she thinks it’s the fresh start she desperately needs. But unsolved problems have a way of following … A map of the castle’s secret passages sends Grace on a time-travelling mystery that will challenge her very existence and all that she loves. Can Grace save herself as well as her family? And how will some of her favourite children’s authors help her on her quest?

Best Suited 5 – 8 years
Dinosaurs are back, and on the loose! It’s up to D-Bot Squad to catch them. Hunter Marks knows everything there is to know about dinosaurs. But does he know enough to pass the computer game test and make it into top-secret D-Bot Squad?

Best Suited 5 – 8 years
Dinosaurs are back, and on the loose! It’s up to D-Bot Squad to catch them. There’s a pterodactyl on the loose and Hunter must catch it. Dino Corp is depending on him. Will the d-bot he made be up for the job?

Best Suited 5 – 8 years
Dinosaurs are back, and on the loose! It’s up to D-Bot Squad to catch them. When Hunter finds himself high in the sky in the clutches of a quetzalcoatlus, he knows he needs help. Who can free him? And will it be in time to catch a mega flying dinosaur?

Best Suited 5 – 8 years
Dinosaurs are back, and on the loose! It’s up to D-Bot Squad to catch them. Hunter thinks he’s built the perfect d-bot for hunting down a fully grown stegosaurus – an enormous, slow-moving fart machine. But things don’t always go to plan…

Best Suited 5 – 8 years
Dinosaurs are back, and on the loose! It’s up to D-Bot Squad to catch them. Hunter and Charlie have made the best double d-bot, to catch an argentinosaurus. But they have a new friend to save first!

Best Suited 5 – 8 years
Dinosaurs are back, and on the loose! It’s up to D-Bot Squad to catch them. Hunter and his team dive deep under the sea to catch five kronosauruses. But soon they become the meat in a giant squid and krono sandwich…

Best Suited 5 – 8 years
Dinosaurs are back, and on the loose! It’s up to D-Bot Squad to catch them. Dinosaurs are running wild all over the place! Hunter and his team must hatch their best plan yet. But that’s not the only thing hatching…

Best Suited 5 – 8 years
Dinosaurs are back, and on the loose! It’s up to D-Bot Squad to catch them.
Hunter, Charlie and Ethan must save the last and wildest of all the dinosaurs – the T-rex! Will the team finally find out where all the dinosaurs came from?

Best Suited 5-7 Years
Bella really wants to take lessons at Miss tweedle’s Ballet School. When Dad says no, Bella’s barnyard friends hatch some plans to help her. Can the animals and Bella convince Dad to change his mind?

Best Suited 5-7 Years
Bella Dancerella was born to dance! She even dances with her animal friends in her very own barnyard ballets. But Bella dreams of being a real ballerina – a beautiful ballerina dancing on the stage!
Bella’s wish comes true and she joins Miss tweedle’s Ballet School, but things aren’t at all what she expected. Will Bella continue with her ballet lessons? And what magical secrets will she discover in the farmhouse attic?

Best Suited 5-7 Years
Bella Dancerella was born to dance! She even dances with her animal friends in her very own barnyard ballets. But Bella dreams of being a real ballerina – a beautiful ballerina dancing on the stage!
Miss tweedle’s Ballet School is putting on a performance of SWAN LAKE and concert night is fast approaching. Can Bella learn all her steps in time? And how will a magical tiara from the attic help her?

Best Suited 5-7 Years
Bella Dancerella was born to dance! She even dances with her animal friends in her very own barnyard ballets. But Bella dreams of being a real ballerina – a beautiful ballerina dancing on the stage!
the ballet test is looming and everyone is practising hard, but Bella’s become too distracted. She’s in the attic looking for magic amongst her mother’s things. Will she pass her test? And who is the evil queen haunting Bella in her dreams?

Best Suited 5-7 Years
It’s fair day! Bella has entered lots of competitions and she’s the purple fairy on Miss tweedle’s ballet float for the big parade. Can Bella’s mum’s lucky white ribbon help Bella at the fair? And will the ballet talent scout spot her on the parafe float?

Best Suited 5-7 Years
When dad and Bella go to Paris, Bella joins rehearsals for the Nutcracker and thinks all her Christmases have come at once! But why is the ballet company searching for Bella on Christmas Eve? And what magic exists within Bella’s Christmas gift from Dad?

Best Suited 5-7 Years
Bella’s dreams of becoming a ballerina on stage come true when she unlocks her mum’s magical jewellery box, which transports Bella to the extraordinary ballet lands of tututopia!

It’s opening night of the Cinderella ballet and the fairy godmother’s magic wand has gone missing! How will she transform Cinderella without it? And can Bella solve the mystery of the missing wand in time to save the ballet?

Best Suited 5-7 Years
Bella’s dreams of becoming a ballerina on stage come true when she unlocks her mum’s magical jewellery box, which transports Bella to the extraordinary ballet lands of tututopia!

Everyone is ready for the Beauty and the Beast ballet – everyone except Beauty! She’s lost in the enchanted forest. Can Bella’s tiara charm help her find Beauty in time? And how will she break the evil spell that has been cast over the Kingdom of Enchantment?

Best Suited 5-7 Years
In the magical land of Tututopia, an evil spell has turned the Firebird ballet’s prince to stone and locked all the princesses inside their own castle. Can Bella rescue the prince and princesses in time for the ballet performance? And what will she do about the missing firebird?

Best Suited 5-7 Years
When Bella touches the magic lamp charm, she travels instantly to the Kingdom of Genies. There, Bella finds herself in a race against time to rescue Aladdin, find his magic lamp and save the princess! With a genie by her side, will Bella be able to save the day?

Best Suited 5-7 Years
A spell book has gone missing in Tututopia, but when Bella travels through the mirror to help, her friends go through with her! Can Bella keep them safe from the evil spells of Carabosse? And how will they wake Sleeping Beauty in time for the ballet?

Best Suited 5-7 Years
Bella Dancerella was born to dance! She even dances with her animal friends in her very own barnyard ballets. But Bella dreams of being a real ballerina – a beautiful ballerina dancing on the stage!

Miss tweedle’s Ballet School is putting on a performance of SWAN LAKE and concert night is fast approaching. Can Bella learn all her steps in time? And how will a magical tiara from the attic help her?

Best Suited 6-10 Years
Welcome to the crazy, fun-filled world of Harriet Clare’s Secret Notebooks – where you help Harriet solve all her mega-huge and awesomely nutty problems!

Harriet’s best friend, Indie, won’t talk to her any more. It’s all because Harriet accidentally ruined Indie’s school dress. Soon it will be Indie’s birthday and Harriet plans to give Indie a special present to show her that she still wants to be friends – Harriet just needs a chance to show she is sorry.

Best Suited 6-10 Years
Harriet has her three best friends over for an unbirthing birthday sleepover. They have a lot of fun playing a Truth or Dare game with cards. Her friends reveal one secret each and they all pinkie swear never to tell anyone. So how is it that the next day at school all the other kids know their secrets? Harriet’s friends accuse her of being the one who broke the pinkie swear. They are angry and Harriet is upset. But was it Harriet’s fault after all?

Best Suited 6-10 Years
It’s dance concert week which is OH. MY. GOSH exciting. There’s moves to learn, costumes to wear, and as always, Harriet can’t seem to keep out of trouble! Help Harriet as she tries to mend misunderstandings with friends and overcome anxiety-inducing worry-bugs to perform on stage.

Best Suited 6-10 Years
School is out for the summer and Harriet is totally jumping-up-and-down-squealing excited because she is off to camp. But when she arrives, things don’t go to plan. Harriet is homesick, nervous about making new friends, and needs your help to fix the worry-bugs!

Best Suited 6-10 Years
Join Harriet as she puts on her super sleuthing hat to solve a mystery at a haunted hotel where there are mermaids, spooky caves, and ghost stories. This is a fun, new, and exciting adventure with Harriet laugh-out-loud moments.

Best Suited 6-10 Years
The Harriet Clare series is unique in newly independent children’s fiction. In the sixth instalment of this popular series, Christmas Fair, join Harriet as she spends the holiday season with all her besties!

Here’s a little taste from your friend Harriet:

“OH. MY. GOSH. I love Christmastime sooo, sooo much! I wish it was Christmas Eve right this very minute! NO! NO! NO! NO! Actually, I don’t wish this. Oh, well, maybe I do. No, I don’t! OH! I might. ARRRRGH!

The thing is, I want Christmas Eve to come but I don’t want it to be over! So, I want it but I don’t want it! Do you ever feel like that? I do all the time for everything that’s worth looking forward to – birthdays, sleepovers, decorating the Christmas tree even! Ours looks so pretty in the front window of the lounge room tonight, though. ECLARE and I decorated it last night and now it’s all over. SEE what I mean!”

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a border guard charged with keeping Earth safe from the beasts of Beastium. Kai and his dogbot battle buddy, B.C., must battle hard if they are to defeat the ever-mutating beasts. Was Kai right to choose the Torpedo Cross Bow to battle the water beast? Will it work against toxic jellyfish? Will it be enough to take on a wave attack?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a border guard charged with keeping Earth safe from the beasts of Beastium. Kai and his dogbot battle buddy, B.C., must battle hard if they are to defeat the ever-mutating beasts. Can Kai get past the fire-fly splats? Will his Foam Blaster hose down the fire beast’s fire-ball attack?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a border guard charged with keeping Earth safe from the beasts of Beastium. Kai and his dogbot battle buddy, B.C., must battle hard if they are to defeat the ever-mutating beasts. Kai must face the beast from the rock world. Will he need more than his X-Archer T10 to win against the hurl attacks?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a border guard charged with keeping Earth safe from the beasts of Beastium. Kai and his dogbot battle buddy, B.C., must battle hard if they are to defeat the ever-mutating beasts.

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a Border Guard. He must battle beasts to keep Earth safe.
Things have changed in Beastium. There are new beasts. Combo beasts. Will Kai and his Sludge-Bot be able to stop the mud beast?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a Border Guard. He must battle beasts to keep Earth safe.
Things have changed in Beastium. There are new beasts. Combo beasts. Will Kai and his Jet-Charge be able to stop the storm beast?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a Border Guard. He must battle beasts to keep Earth safe.
Things have changed in Beastium. There are new beasts. Combo beasts. Will Kai and his Sub-Skate be able to stop the Ice Beast?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a Border Guard. He must battle beasts to keep Earth safe.
Things have changed in Beastium. There are new beasts. Combo beasts. Will Kai and his Jet-Drill be able to stop the lava beast?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a Border Captain. He must battle beasts to keep Earth safe.
There are more beasts in Beastium. Mega-mutants. Kai needs help. He must build a team. He must choose a battle partner.
Can Kai and Will win against the ice mega-mutant?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a Border Captain. He must battle beasts to keep Earth safe.
There are more beasts in Beastium. Mega-mutants. Kai needs help. He must build a team. He must choose a battle partner.
Can Kai and Jay win against the lava mega-mutant?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a Border Captain. He must battle beasts to keep Earth safe.
There are more beasts in Beastium. Mega-mutants. Kai needs help. He must build a team. He must choose a battle partner.
Can Kai and Akin win against the mud mega-mutant?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a Border Captain. He must battle beasts to keep Earth safe.
There are more beasts in Beastium. Mega-mutants. Kai needs help. He must build a team. He must choose a battle partner.
Can Kai and Ying win against the water mega-mutant?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a border guard and beast battler.
Things have changed again in Beastium. There are new beasts. Bigger, stronger beasts. Mutants.
Kai must mix things up. Can he win against the storm mutant?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a border guard and beast battler.
Things have changed again in Beastium. There are new beasts. Bigger, stronger beasts. Mutants.
Kai must mix things up. Can he win against the air mutant?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a border guard and beast battler.
Things have changed again in Beastium. There are new beasts. Bigger, stronger beasts. Mutants.
Kai must mix things up. Can he win against the rock mutant?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
Kai Masters is a border guard and beast battler.
Things have changed again in Beastium. There are new beasts. Bigger, stronger beasts. Mutants.
Kai must mix things up. Can he win against the water mutant?

Best Suited 6-12 Years
The Battle Files give young readers tips from the world and battles of Boy vs Beast and contain everything they need to know about beast battling in the air.

The battles with the beasts of Beastium continue. The BMC needs its Border Guards to be better prepared now more than ever. Discover what you should take, what to look out for and how to battle beasts and win!

Best Suited 6-12 Years
The Battle Files give young readers tips from the world and battles of Boy vs Beast and contain everything they need to know about beast battling on the land.

The battles with the beasts of Beastium continue. The BMC needs its Border Guards to be better prepared now more than ever. Discover what you should take, what to look out for and how to battle beasts and win!

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Planet Polare’s ice is melting and the alien life forms are in danger. When SC Star Girl is sent to investigate with her roommate SC Supernova she discovers that not all the dangers come from hairy aliens or strange planets. Can they work together to save the planet and its alien frozellas?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks is the newest student to join the SEAS Space Agent program. Does First Year Space Cadet Star Girl have what it takes to save space – one planet at a time?

Planet Plantagan’s air is being polluted and the vine aliens are suffering. When Space Cadets Star Girl and Comet XS are sent to investigate they get themselves into a tangle. Can they trust each other enough to save the planet and its vine aliens?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks is the newest student to join the SEAS Space Agent program. Does First Year Space Cadet Star Girl have what it takes to save space – one planet at a time?

Planet Aquare’s underwater world is being poisoned and the aquamantas are getting sick. When SC Star Girl is sent with her buddy SC Astron Girl to help they discover that looks can be deceiving. Can they find the source of the poison and stop it in time to save the planet and its alien aquamantas?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks is the newest student to join the SEAS Space Agent program. Does First Year Space Cadet Star Girl have what it takes to save space – one planet at a time?

Planet Rednessis has been plunged into darkness and the reptaliens are turning on each other. When SC Star Girl is sent with her two besties to find out why they learn that being kept in the dark can be destructive. Can the cadets sort themselves out in time to save the planet and its reptaliens?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks is the newest student to join the SEAS Space Agent program. Does First Year Space Cadet Star Girl have what it takes to save space – one planet at a time?

Planet Chimparos is heading for a population crisis and the chimpares are losing their homes. When Space Cadets Star Girl and Neuron Star are sent to investigate they discover that there’s no place like home. Can they find out what is causing the over-crowding problem and save the planet and its alien chimpares?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks is the newest student to join the SEAS Space Agent program. Does First Year Space Cadet Star Girl have what it takes to save space – one planet at a time?

Planet Megamarsh is being destroyed by toxic waste and the megamons are not happy. When SC Star Girl is sent to investigate with SC Red Giant she finds out that it’s not only deadly waste that can be toxic. Can she survive the toxic dumping long enough to save the planet and its alien megamons?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks is the newest student to join the SEAS Space Agent program. Does First Year Space Cadet Star Girl have what it takes to save space – one planet at a time?

Planet Botanicus has been struck by a strange and sudden drought and the purple-eyed trappers are drying up. When Space Cadets Star Girl, Star Cluster and White Dwarf are sent to find out why, things get a little too hot to handle. Can they shut down the heat on Botanicus in time to save the planet and its alien purple-eyed trappers?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks is the newest student to join the SEAS Space Agent program. Does First Year Space Cadet Star Girl have what it takes to save space – one planet at a time?

Planet Savannator is losing its grasslands and the savasaurs are vanishing. When SC Star Girl is sent to investigate with three other cadets she knows they are in for a hairy ride. Can the cadets work together as a team to find the missing savanasaurs and stop the destruction of this planet?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks has made it into the captains year of the SEAS Space Agent program. Does Second Year Space Captain Star Girl have what it takes to save space – one planet at a time?

The Planet Cavernellus caves are being bleached and the alien babies are no longer hatching. When Space Captains Star Girl, Comet XS and Asteroid are sent to investigate things get a little batty. Can they survive an alien attack long enough to save the planet and its alien vampescas?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks has made it into the captains year of the SEAS Space Agent program. Does Second Year Space Captain Star Girl have what it takes to save space – one planet at a time?

An evil force has struck planet Perilenda and the skunettas are disappearing. When Space Captains Star Girl and Supernova 1 are sent to investigate they soon learn that seeing isn’t always believing. Can they see through the evil tricks in time to save the alien skunettas?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks has made it into the captains year of the SEAS Space Agent program. Does Second Year Space Captain Star Girl have what it takes to save space – one planet at a time?

Planet Molteyser’s springs are losing their minerals and the brontoneysers are getting sick. When Space Captains Star Girl, Galactic 6 and Star Cluster are sent to investigate they find there’s more than just hot springs letting off steam. Can they keep their cool and save the planet and its alien brontoneysers?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks has made it into the captains year of the SEAS Space Agent program. Does Second Year Space Captain Star Girl have what it takes to save space – one planet at a time?

The GDC’s alien community is in danger and needs help. When Space Captain Star Girl and three other captains are sent on a rescue mission to the GDC’s space station they know it’s make or break. Can they break the evil spell; make it to agent year and save the alien community?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks is in her final year at the space agent boarding school, SEAS. Does Third Year Space Agent-in-Training Star Girl have what is tales to save space – one planet at a time?

Planet Catlabrator is awash with water and the catralabs are drowning. When Space Agent Star Girl is sent to investigate with SA Asteroid she learns that some mission buddies are more trouble than they’re worth. Can she work with Asteroid to save the planet and its alien catralabs?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks is in her final year at the space agent boarding school, SEAS. Does Third Year Space Agent-in-Training Star Girl have what is tales to save space – one planet at a time?

Planet Petalbeet is being attacked by pests and the beetbugs and losing their food source. When Space Agent Star Girl is sent to investigate with two other agents she discovers the beetbugs aren’t the only ones with the pest problem. Can the agents work together to save the planet and its alien beetbugs?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks is in her final year at the space agent boarding school, SEAS. Does Third Year Space Agent-in-Training Star Girl have what is tales to save space – one planet at a time?

And evil force has arrived on Planet Oceanella and the seadons’ wings are disappearing. When Space Agent Star Girl is sent to investigate with her two best buddies they find that it’s not only the seadons that must face this evil. Can the agents put a stop to the GDC mission and rescue the alien seadons before it’s too late?

Best Suited 7-9 Years
Adelaide Banks is in her final year at the space agent boarding school, SEAS. Does Third Year Space Agent-in-Training Star Girl have what is tales to save space – one planet at a time?

It is graduation week at SEAS and when Space Agents Neuron Star, Comet XS and Shooting Star are called to rescue the shelluscas on Planet Molluscara they know that it is not only the aliens who need rescuing. Can the agents find the source of the deadly fire and smoke in time to rescue the alien shelluscas and one of their own.

Best Suited 8+ Years

Best Suited 8+ Years

Best Suited 8+ Years

Best Suited 8+ Years

Best Suited 8+ Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Beast Suited 8+ Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Best Suited 8+ Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Best Suited 8+ Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Best Suited 8+ Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Best Suited 8+Years

Best Suited 8+Years