The winners of the 2010 Atlantic Book Awards were announced on April 14, 2010 at the Alderney Landing Theatre in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Over 200 of the region’s writers, illustrators, book publishers and readers celebrated the 33 nominees and recipients of 13 different literary prizes at the 2010 Atlantic Book Awards. CBC Radio host Costas Halavrezos and Newfoundland playwright, comedian and author Berni Stapleton guided the festive event with panache and lots of laughs. The winners of the Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children’s Literature and the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration are listed below.

Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children’s Literature
Presented by Sara Smith, sister of Ann Connor Brimer

The Present Tense of Prinny Murphy
Written by Jill MacLean
Published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside

A sequel to The Nine Lives of Travis Keating, this novel follows lovable young Prinny as she deals with her mother’s addiction and the school bullies. Also nominated were New Brunswick authors Valerie Sherrard, for Tumbleweed Skies (Fitzhenry & Whiteside), and Darlene Ryan for Five More Minutes (Orca Book Publishers).

Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration
Presented by Libby Creelman of the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation

What Colour is the Ocean?
Written by Gary Collins and Maggie Rose Parsons
Illustrated by Scott A. Keating
Published by Flanker Press

Keating’s art provides a beautiful backdrop through this four-season look at the sea. Also nominated were Kathy (HildaRose) Kaulbach for Johnny and the Gipsy Moth (Tuckamore Books) and Marie Moore for Cape Breton Wonders (Cape Breton University Press).

In addition to the book awards, Trudy Carey, co-founder and manager for 31 years of Woozles Bookstore (retired) and dedicated volunteer, was awarded the Mayor’s Award for Cultural Achievement in Literature. Carey’s contribution to reading and literacy in Nova Scotia has been invaluable.

The 2010 Atlantic Book Awards & Festival continues until Sunday with events in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

For a complete list of all winners, please visit www.atlanticbookawards.ca