On Saturday, July 25 inside the glorious Global Change Institute at University Queensland in Brisbane we celebrated in style alongside some of our shortlisted creators, judges, local children’s literature legends and champions, and several of our generous sponsors.

Here are the winners, selected by our child judges from across Australia and New Zealand.

Picture Book Winner 2026:

Bapa’s Last Canoe

Written by Maree McCarthy Yoelu and illustrated by Samantha Campbell

Published by Magabala Books

Chapter Book Winner 2026:

Sunny & Shadow

Written and illustrated by Helen Milroy

Published by Fremantle Press

Middle Grade Winner 2026:

Wurrtoo: The Wombat Who Fell in Love With the Sky

Written by Tylissa Elisara and illustrated by Dylan Finney

Published by Hachette Australia