Last week the Ontario Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Foundation announced the shortlists for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards. Two prizes of $6,000 each—one for picture books and one for YA/middle grade—are presented annually to recognize artistic excellence in writing and illustration in English-language Canadian children's literature. The winners are selected by two juries of young readers. This year, students from Birch Cliff Heights Public School in Scarborough, Ontario, will select the winning titles.
The nomination committee who selected this year's shortlists included Becky Dixon, librarian, Niagara Falls Public Library; Rabia Khokhar, teacher, Toronto District School Board, and equity and education consultant; and Christie Vella, teacher-librarian, Toronto District School Board. The shortlisted titles are below. The winners will be announced in June.
Children's Picture Book Award
Fighting Words, written by Leonarda Carranza, illustrated by Erika Medina (Annick Press)
I Want to Read All the Books, written and illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
The Little Regent, written by Yewande Daniel-Ayoade, illustrated by Ken Daley (Owlkids Books)
Métis Like Me, written by Tasha Hilderman, illustrasted by Risa Hugo (Tundra Books)
One Giant Leap, storyline and illustrations by Thao Lam (Owlkids Books)
Young Adult/Middle Grade Award
Fledgling, written by S.K. Ali (Kokila/Penguin Random House)
Is There a Boy Like Me?, written by Kern Carter (Scholastic Canada)
The New Girl, written and illustrated by Cassandra Calin (Graphix/Scholastic)
The Shape of Lost Things, written by Sarah Everett (HarperCollins Publishers)
Today I Am: 10 Stories of Belonging, edited by Jael Richardson (Scholastic Canada)
The Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards were established in 1976 by Sylvia Schwartz to honour her sister, Ruth, a respected Toronto bookseller. In 2004, the family renamed the award to include both sisters. The prize is administered by the Ontario Arts Foundation with support from the Ontario Arts Council, which manages the nomination and jury process. For a complete list of past winners, click here.
For more information, contact:
Shoshana Wasser
Associate Director of Public Affairs and Communications
Ontario Arts Council
swasser@arts.on.ca
Bruce Bennett
Executive Director
Ontario Arts Foundation
bbennett@oafdn.ca