And the winner is ...

... and so do the CBCA judges after another tough year!

Another year, another list, and from that list an even smaller list of booky awesomeness. Book lovers watch the CBCA Award announcement with keen little owl eyes, and it always provokes its shares of contention and controversy. Here are this year's winners and honour books:

Older Readers Book of the Year 2011

NOTE: These books may be for mature readers

WINNER Hartnett, Sonya – The Midnight Zoo, Viking Books, Penguin Group (Australia)

HONOUR Crowley, Cath – Graffiti Moon, Pan Macmillan Australia

HONOUR MacLeod, Doug – The Life of a Teenage Body-Snatcher, Penguin Books, Penguin Group (Australia)

Younger Readers Book of the Year 2011

NOTE: These books are intended for independent younger readers

WINNER Carmody, Isobelle – The Red Wind, Viking Books, Penguin Group (Australia)

HONOUR Bauer, Michael Gerard – Just a Dog, Omnibus Books, Scholastic Australia

HONOUR Branford, Anna, Illus: Davis, Sarah – Violet Mackerel's Brilliant Plot, Walker Books

Early Childhood Book of the Year 2011

NOTE: Intended for children in the pre-reading to early reading stages

WINNER Ormerod, Jan, Illus: Blackwood, Freya – Maudie and Bear, Little Hare Books

HONOUR Champion, Tom Niland & Niland, Kilmeny, Illus: Niland, Deborah, The Tall Man and the Twelve Babies, Allen & Unwin

HONOUR Norrington, Leonie, Illus: Huxley, Dee – Look See, Look at Me, Allen & Unwin

Picture Book of the Year 2011

NOTE: Intended for an audience ranging from birth to 18 years. Some books may be for mature readers

JOINT WINNER Baker, Jeannie – Mirror, Walker Books

JOINT WINNER Greenberg, Nicki – Hamlet, Allen & Unwin

HONOUR Bancroft, Bronwyn – Why I Love Australia, Little Hare Books

HONOUR Riddle, Tohby – My Uncle's Donkey, Viking Books, Penguin Group (Australia)

Eve Pownall Book of the Year 2011

NOTE: Intended for an audience ranging from birth to 18 years. Some books may be for mature readers

WINNER Ursula Dubosarsky, Illus: Riddle, Tohby - The Return of the Word Spy, Viking Books, Penguin Group (Australia)

HONOUR Brooks, Ron – Drawn From the Heart: A Memoir, Allen & Unwin

HONOUR One Arm Point Remote Community School – Our World: Bardi Jaawi: Life at Ardiyooloon, Magabala Books

Now, it's over to you! What do YOU think of this year's list? Let us know. We love a bit of debate and controversy!!!