Overview

• Darren McCallum drew on his daughter Summer’s childhood phrase “wobbly bike” and honed the story through the Northern Territory’s Octopus writing workshop over several years.
• Illustrator Craig Smith collaborated with Larrakia elder Richie Fejo to portray a multicultural suburban Darwin setting and highlight the role of grandparents.
• The Children’s Book Council of Australia jury reviewed 730 entries from 555 writers and 368 illustrators to select this year’s winners.
• Nearly 4,000 children participated as shadow judges alongside experts, choosing their favourite titles and deepening youth engagement in the awards process.
• The announcement coincided with the CBCA’s 80th anniversary and the launch of Children’s Book Week, shining a spotlight on regional voices in Australian children’s literature.