The winners of the 2025 City of Victoria Book Prizes were announced on November 18, 2025 at an event hosted by Lieutenant Governor Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia at Government House. Victoria author Uma Krishnaswami was awarded the City of Victoria Children’s Book Prize for her middle-grade novel, Birds on the Brain (Groundwood Books). Krishnaswami receives $5,000 as part of the award. The jury citation is below.
"Birds on the Brain reunites a delightful trio of friends as they tackle a project—the national bird count—they truly believe in. The children work hard, with ingenuity and a sense of purpose that shows young readers that kids really can make a difference in their communities. Author Uma Krishnaswami successfully captures the voices of her young characters in a story told with great sense of humour, exuberance, and accomplishment."
To view the remaining finalists, click here.
For more information, victoriabookprizes.ca.