Each year the Canadian Science Writers’ Association (CSWA) offers two book awards to honour outstanding contributions to science writing – one intended for and available to children/middle grades ages 8-12 years, and the other intended for and available to the general public for books that were published in Canada during the previous calendar year. This year the CSWA received a record number of entries in both categories. Entries were judged on the basis of initiative, originality, scientific accuracy, clarity of interpretation and value in promoting a better understanding of science by the public. The winners will be presented with their awards during the CSWA’s annual conference in Toronto at the awards banquet on June 7th. The winner in the children’s category is Dirty Science: 25 Experiments with Soil by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone, illustrated by Lorenzo Del Bianco (Scholastic Canada).

Dirty Science: 25 Experiments with Soil is filled with fun, easy experiments and the lively illustrations that readers have come to expect from the team behind Scary Science: 25 Creepy Experiments and Snowy Science: 25 Cool Experiments. Budding scientists discover all the fun things you can do with dirt. There’s more to dirt than, well, dirt. In fact, don’t call it dirt to a scientist undefined it’s soil! Soil can tell you a lot about where you live and what’s going on behind, or beneath, the scenes.

Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone are international award-winning and best-selling authors of over 70 children’s science books and science toys and kits. Leslie Johnstone is also head of a high school science department. Shar Levine currently serves on the board of directors for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Shar is also a frequent guest speaker and demonstrator in schools and at educational conferences.

For more information, please contact:

Janice Benthin | Executive Director | Canadian Science Writers’ Association
Tel: (800) 796-8595 | Facebook | Twitter