Young voices are welcome here
Read what the Shadow Judges are saying ...Welcome to our 2023 Sun Project: Shadow Judging Season
We’re excited to announce that registration has opened for participation in the 2023 season.
To register follow the link below to the CBCA online eStore, fill out the form, then follow the prompts through to payment.
On payment you will receive a digital welcome pack full of program information. An email from Shadow Judging staff will within 24-48 hours containing your groups’ log in information to this Shadow Judging portal.
To register your group or organisation:
- You must be a current CBCA Branch Member
- Complete the registration form found by following the Register button
- Complete payment of $50 (inc GST)
- Receive your Shadow Judging portal login details
And you are away!
Helpful startup information
If you have multiple groups that wish to participate, remember to register for each group.
You must register for one group at a time. Each registration is connected to a single vote, and access to a single category within the Shadow Judging portal.
You will receive a tax invoice invoice on payment
Our online store is currently set up to accept payment by credit card and other online payment options only. You will receive a an invoice on payment to assist in reconciling corporate credit cards.
Your access to the Shadow Judging portal will follow payment
For groups returning from the 2022 program you may be able to reinstate your old password. However the Shadow Judging staff will ensure that your previous account is refreshed and ready to use for you on payment. Groups that are new to the program, your access details will be emailed within 24-48 hours of receiving payment.

Stay up to date with the 2023 Judging Program
Read what the shadow judges had to say …

Let’s get the 2023 conversation started.
See the winners in the all the categories of the CBCA Shadowers’ Choice Awards for 2022.
Young voices are welcome here
The CBCA Book of the Year Awards connect young people to great literature. During CBCA Book Week we celebrate reading for pleasure and applaud our awarded books.
Our Sun Project: Shadow Judging is an exciting addition to our annual calendar. We invite young voices from groups across Australia to join the conversation about our annual Shortlist and choose their own winners. They will be announced at the end of CBCA Book Week at the first ever Shadowers’ Choice Awards (26 August).
Creating a group of ‘shadowers’ is a powerful way to connect young readers with the shortlisted books in a safe space where their opinions and responses can be heard.
Interested adults, classroom teachers, teacher librarians and public librarians are invited to take on the role of group facilitators to support these young voices in this exciting project.
What is the Sun Project


A vibrant network of young readers, from emerging to young adult, will dive deeply into our Shortlist, express their opinions and share their responses as judges ‘shadowing’ our own CBCA judges. They will use the CBCA Book of the Year Awards criteria to reflect on literary values and to champion their choices. Within their groups they will collaborate and develop their own creative response to a chosen book then share this with the wider community.
Each group will focus on one of five categories: Older Readers, Younger Readers, Early Childhood, Picture Book, or the Eve Pownall Information Book. Every group, and their facilitator, will be supported by a mentor from their state-based CBCA branch.
What is Shadow Judging?
The Shadow Judging program is an exciting addition to CBCA’s annual calendar. We are inviting young voices from across Australia to join the conversation about the books on our annual Shortlist and choose their winners to be announced at the end of CBCA Book Week at their own Shadowers’ Choice Awards.