2025 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) shortlists

2025 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) shortlists have been announced. The awards are presented for achievements in bringing Australian books to readers. Of special interest are:

The John Marsden Book of the Year for Older Children (ages 13+)

Anomaly, Emma Lord (Affirm Press)
Comes the Night, Isobelle Carmody (Allen & Unwin)
Eleanor Jones Can’t Keep a Secret, Amy Doak (Penguin)
The Girl with No Reflection, Keshe Chow (Penguin, Penguin Random House Australia)
Immortal Dark, Tigest Girma (Lothian Children’s Books, Hachette Australia)
My Family and Other Suspects, Kate Emery (Allen & Unwin)

Book of the Year for Younger Children (ages 7–12)

The 113th Assistant Librarian, Stuart Wilson (Penguin, Penguin Random House Australia)
All the Beautiful Things, Katrina Nannestad (ABC Kids, HarperCollins Publishers)
Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria, LM Wilkinson, illus by Lavanya Naidu (Albert Street)
The Lost Book of Magic, Amelia Mellor (Affirm Press)
The Midwatch, Judith Rossell (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)
Wurrtoo, Tylissa Elisara, illus by Dylan Finney (Lothian Children’s Books, Hachette Australia)

Children’s Picture Book of the Year (ages 0–6)

The Cheeky Toddler Alphabet, Davina Bell, illus by Jennifer Falkner (Lothian Children’s Books, Hachette Australia)
Fairy Beach, Sheila Knaggs, illus by Jennifer Falkner (Affirm Press)
To Stir with Love, Kate Mildenhall, illus by Jess Racklyeft (Simon & Schuster Australia)
The Truck Cat, Deborah Frenkel, illus by Danny Snell (Bright Light, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)
Over or Under?, Pip Harry, illus by Hilary Jean Tapper (Lothian Children’s Books, Hachette Australia)
Yanga Mother, Cheryl Leavy, illus by Christopher Bassi (UQP, University of Queensland Press)