Communication-Jeunesse (CJ) and the Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2024 Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse is Les saumons de la Mitis, written by Christine Beaulieu and illustrated by Caroline Lavergne. The prize, supported by TD Bank Group, offers $50,000, which the author and illustrator share, while Éditions de la Bagnole, the winning publisher, will receive $2,500 for promotional purposes. An additional $10,000 will be shared among the four remaining finalists for their contributions to Canadian children’s literature.
“Congratulations to the winners, who are truly worthy of this prestigious honour. Your non-fiction picture book is simply exceptional! It will awaken the curiosity of the young readers who have the chance to discover it. Thank you to Éditions de la Bagnole for publishing this work and submitting it for this year’s prize,” says Anne Gucciardi, Director of Communication-Jeunesse. “Congratulations to the creators of the four other nominated titles, as well as to their publishers, who talentedly explore a richness of themes and forms in our country's French-language children's literature.”
Communication-Jeunesse and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre would like to thank TD Bank Group for offering the country’s largest literary prize—which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary—for creators of French-language children's literature in Canada.
“Reading is the greatest gift we can give children. Each story helps to awaken their curiosity, stimulate their imagination and support them in their development and success in school. TD is therefore delighted to present the 2024 Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse to Christine Beaulieu and Caroline Lavergne. Congratulations, and thank you for bringing this gift to life, and into our homes,” says Laurence Levy, Senior Vice President, Branch Network, Quebec Region, TD Canada Trust.
“The Canadian Children’s Book Centre congratulates the winners—Christine Beaulieu, Caroline Lavergne, their publisher Éditions de la Bagnole—and all the finalists of the Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse for their outstanding books,” says Stephanie Wells, CCBC Executive Director. “We are pleased to partner with Communication-Jeunesse to deliver this prize and are appreciative of TD Bank Group’s support of this impactful award through the TD Ready Commitment.”
A total of $62,500 in prize money was awarded today. Last week, the CCBC celebrated the winners of its English-language awards. Author Jean E. Pendziwol and illustrator Todd Stewart took home the top honour, winning the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award for their picture book Skating Wild on an Inland Sea. Presented for the first time this year as part of the CCBC Book Awards, Quebecois creators Paul Tom, Mélanie Baillairgé and translator Arielle Aaronson were honoured with the Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award for Alone: The Journeys of Three Young Refugees. The original French version, Seuls, was the recipient of the Prix TD in 2023. The night’s other winners included Shannon Bramer, Irene Luxbacher, Abdi Nazemian, Jessica Outram, Nicki Pau Preto, Jack Wong, Thọ Phạm and Sandra McTavish. For more details, click here.
Congratulations once again to Christine Beaulieu and Caroline Lavergne, and to the remaining finalists of this year’s Prix TD!
Les saumons de la Mitis
Written by Christine Beaulieu (Montreal, QC)
Illustrated by Caroline Lavergne (Saint-Denis-de-Brompton, QC)
Éditions de la Bagnole
Non-fiction / for ages 9 and up
“In Christine Beaulieu and Caroline Lavergne's Les saumons de la Mitis, the story takes us back in time, long before Jacques Cartier's arrival, to explore the relationship between the First Nations and their environment. As we turn the pages, we are brought back to present time through various colonizations and hydroelectric dams, whose impacts on ecosystems are still visible today. This reflection on the interconnectedness between animals, nature and human activity encourages a collective awareness. Thanks to superb illustrations and a rich text, the story takes us on a journey between past and present, immersing us in the perspective of the salmon and the history that surrounds it.”
The Prix TD honour books include:
Alerte : culottes meurtrières, written and illustrated by Elise Gravel (Éditions Scholastic)
La couleur de ma difference, written by Mc Knoell Alexis (Héritage jeunesse)
Le Cumulus machinus, written by Ugo Monticone, illustrated by Orbie (la courte echelle)
Taches d’huile, written by Jonathan Bécotte, illustrated by Enzo (Éditions Québec Amérique)
To learn more about each of the finalists, click here.
JURY MEMBERS: Barbada, Drag Queen, presenter and teacher; Valérie Comte M.S.I., school librarian; Suzane Hétu, pedagogical consultant (retired); Julien Leclerc, elementary pedagogical advisor, Centre de services scolaire de Montréal; Jennifer Poupart, strategic communications and marketing advisor, Raffin Bookstore and Publications SDM.