SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator Awards 2026 Winners and Judges' Report

The SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator Awards recognise the talent of published Australian children’s illustrators, in visual narrative for picture books and graphic novels from early childhood to young adult. The Award is managed by SCBWI Australia East and is funded by the Copyright Agency.

There are two categories – Established and Emerging Illustrator Awards for Australian Illustrators with prize money to assist an illustrator with the creation of a new visual narrative picture book or graphic novel.

Judging Criteria

1. Originality of the intended project 

2. Creativity of the intended project

3. Artistic and literary merit of the applicant’s body of work (assessed on grounds of stylistic and thematic achievement as demonstrated by portfolio and support material)

4. Ability of applicant to create an excellent narrative with a significant visual component (as demonstrated by portfolio and support material) which may be textual and visual, or visual alone (wordless).

Our stupendous judges for 2026 are:
Rebecca McRitchie—Publisher at Penguin Random House
Frané Lessac—Award Winning Author and Illustrator
Paige Terlip—co-founder of Starling Literary + Media

SCBWI is so excited to have such wonderful and hugely talented publishing professionals for this incredible award. So let’s get to the winners!

SCBWI Judges’ Report 2026 by Rebecca McRitchie, Frané Lessac, Paige Terlip

General Comments

There was an abundance of creativity and talent in the submissions. The portfolios showed a lot of range and styles, and we had quite a lively discussion picking the winners. We took into account originality, creativity, artistic and literary merit and the ability of the applicant to create an excellent narrative with a significant visual component. We found that all of the winners and shortlisted candidates demonstrated strength in all categories and were standouts amongst the submissions. It was an incredibly difficult decision to narrow down to our top choices, but in the end we could imagine these winning projects sitting on bookshelves. The artists’ portfolios also showcased their individual styles and the breadth of talent that was undeniable. Congratulations to the winners!

Established Illustrator Award

FIRST PRIZE: Sara Acton

The judges are thrilled to award the first prize award to Sara Acton for ‘Blue’. The manuscript is strong, as is Sara’s fantastic portfolio. Using deceptively simple-looking lines and watercolours, Sara gives her characters expressive personalities with laugh-out-loud humour. The judges enjoyed the market comps and cover design sample which shows great insight to where the proposed book would sit on bookshelves.

SECOND PRIZE: Karen Blair

The judges loved Karen Blair’s ‘Stop, Wind!’. There is a lot of charm in the narrative and the story feels original. The illustration sample has a lot of warmth and a beautiful, simple story arc, while also providing some gentle humour. And Karen’s creative use of pictorial typography is a clever addition to the story's visual narrative.

THIRD PRIZE: Michelle Conn

The judges really enjoyed the emotion and visual storytelling in ‘Little Boat.’ There is a nostalgic quality to the narrative, but with a commercial approach to the art that made it feel on-market. The storyboard and supporting material is incredibly strong and considered, helping frame the setting and mood of the narrative.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Ross Morgan

The judges liked the unique style and detail in Ross’s illustrations. The characters are quirky and full of personality. His art also clearly conveys the narrative and whimsy of his wordless picture book.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Annabelle Hale

The judges gravitated toward the originality and child appeal in Annabelles’s manuscript and portfolio. Her style feels both timeless and on-market, and her supporting materials perfectly blended humor and heart.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Anna McGregor

The judges applaud the personality and charm in Anna’s anthropomorphic concept. The themes and narrative present empathy in a child-friendly manner, with eye-catching art.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Binny Talib

The judges were struck by Binny’s unique style, which has a sense of childlike wonder and whimsy. Her portfolio and supplemental material showed a sense of layered storytelling through art and narrative.

Emerging Illustrator Award

FIRST PRIZE: Bindy James

Bindy’s illustrations make excellent use of colour and space. Non-fiction picture books are vital for young children, and Bindy’s manuscript and illustrations skillfully combine factual information with an engaging fictional storytelling arc.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Susan Joy Lu

Parents, caregivers and young children can easily connect to Susan’s well-researched storyline alongside her delightful illustrations. Her vivid palette and joyfully painted creatures will delight readers.

Congratulations to all the winners!

SCBWI Australia East would like to thank
the Copyright Agency for funding this Award.

Crystal Kite Winner and Honor Book for Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania Announced

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) proudly announces the winners and honor recipients of the 2026 Crystal Kite Awards, recognising outstanding books created by SCBWI members across fifteen international regions. 

Unique among literary honors, the Crystal Kite Awards are peer-voted, making them a meaningful accolade within the children’s book community.

Each winning title showcases exceptional storytelling, imaginative illustration, and creative excellence, representing the very best of children’s literature produced by SCBWI members worldwide.

See the all winner and honor recipients HERE.

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Winner—Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania

Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West

Jacinta Liu & Freda Chiu

A joyous celebration of multicultural identity and the many ways our grandparents shape who we are, from debut Chinese-Australian author Jacinta Liu and acclaimed illustrator Freda Chiu. I have two grandmothers. One with brown eyes, and one with blue eyes. One makes dumplings, and one bakes bread. They are my grandmothers. One lives in the East, and one lives in the West. Read More

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Honor—Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania

Emmie Builds Something New

Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

In the enchanting world of Emmie, the attic is more than just a storage space—it’s her kingdom! Surrounded by dusty forgotten treasures, Emmie is a clever inventor who transforms ordinary objects into extraordinary machines, each one a testament to her creativity and engineering prowess. But when a mischievous black-and-white cat intrudes upon her realm, Emmie must put her skills to the test. Determined to reclaim her domain, she devises increasingly inventive contraptions to outsmart her furry foe. Read More and Here

Debut PB for Sarah Lang and Hannah Charig

Congratulations to author, Sarah Lang and illustrator, Hannah Charig on the publication of

Willow’s Woodland Worry

a hardback PB, for readers aged 4-9, published by The Mindful Mama Space.

Willow is a woodland squirrel, who wakes up feeling anxious on the day of her birthday party. The noise, the commotion and being the centre of attention is all too much. She would much rather stay in her cosy bed, high up in her treehouse. But along comes a mystical, magical shapeshifting owl, who helps her navigate her worries throughout the day to build her inner strength and self-belief.

Written by a paediatric Occupational Therapist, this rhyming picture book was created to help children (and adults), who find celebrations and life, a little overwhelming. This gentle story helps readers understand and accept themselves, whilst offering practical, sensory and mindfulness strategies that they can use in their everyday lives.

Purchase this heart-warming and beautifully illustrated story HERE.