Young winners from Burlington (ON), Caledon (ON), Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton (ON),
Kinburn (ON), Ottawa, Scarborough (ON), Winnipeg
TORONTO ~ May 8, 2013 — The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is excited to announce the winners of the Book Week 2013 Writing Contest for Kids & Teens. Close to 1,500 entries were received from young writers in every province and territory across the country.
The national contest is a much-anticipated part of TD Canadian Children’s Book Week — the largest celebration of Canadian books for young people in Canada, which is happening now (Saturday, May 4 to Saturday, May 11, 2013).
The winner from each grade will receive a $250 gift certificate for the bookstore of his or her choice. Two honourable mentions from each grade category will also receive $50 gift certificates.
The winning stories and honourable mentions can be read online at www.bookweek.ca.
The WINNERS of the Book Week 2013 Writing Contest are:
GRADE 4:
Alexis Hilts of Edmonton, Alberta for Yorky the Terrier
GRADE 5:
Miguel Castro of Scarborough, Ontario for The Curse
GRADE 6:
Izzah Muhammad of Calgary, Alberta for One Word
GRADE 7:
Mackenzie Hauch Krueger of Kinburn, Ontario for Papadum
GRADE 8:
Maya Schwartz of Winnipeg, Manitoba for Viola
GRADE 9:
Kirsten Marquez of Burlington, Ontario for Untitled
GRADE 10:
Lia Codrington of Ottawa, Ontario for Doucement
GRADE 11:
Katarina Wex of Caledon, Ontario for Living with Anorexia
GRADE 12:
Evelyna Kay of Hamilton, Ontario for Kendra’s Stranger
The Book Week 2013 Writing Contest is a wonderful opportunity for young writers, says Grade 10 judge Sylvia McNicoll: “Awarding prizes is not the primary goal, because if that were true there would only be a couple of winners. Each young writer who enters goes through the process of creating, polishing and submitting, knowing they will be read. The real purpose is to encourage the creative reaching of Canadian kids. In this way the contest entrants are all winners.”
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre would like to congratulate this year’s winners and honourable mentions, and thank the judges for their dedication to reading and evaluating this year’s submissions.
About the Canadian Children’s Book Centre:
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre is a national, not-for-profit organization founded in 1976. We are dedicated to encouraging, promoting and supporting the reading, writing and illustrating of Canadian books for young readers. Our programs, publications, and resources help teachers, librarians, booksellers and parents select the very best for young readers. For more information, please visit www.bookcentre.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Shannon Howe Barnes
Program Coordinator
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre
Tel: 416.975.0010 x 227
shannon@bookcentre.ca