A Blooming Success for Katrina Nannestad!

We’re thrilled to celebrate Festival favourite Katrina Nannestad, whose delightful novel Frances Bloom has been shortlisted for the 2026 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Award for Younger Readers.

Beloved for her warm humour, memorable characters and heart-filled storytelling, Katrina once again captures young readers with Frances Bloom, a charming and insightful story that has resonated with children, families and educators alike.

The CBCA Younger Readers shortlist recognises books that combine literary quality with strong appeal for emerging independent readers, and Frances Bloom is a standout among this year’s selections.

We congratulate Katrina on this well‑deserved recognition and look forward to welcoming her to the Festival to share her stories and creative insights with our audiences.