Announcing the winners of the 2024 BC and Yukon Book Prizes

On September 28, the West Coast Book Prize Society announced the winners of the 40th annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. Prizes are awarded annually to recognize the achievements of BC and Yukon authors, illustrators, and publishers. Award winners are selected through a juried system, with five finalists in each prize category, including the winner selected in each prize category. The winners of the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize and the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize are listed below.

Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize

Hopeless in Hope by Wanda John-Kehewin (HighWater Press)

"We fell in love with this story of trauma and pain, resilience and love, and determination and hope. As well as being a compelling and beautifully written book, it is also an important one–one that tells a much needed story with compassion, understanding, and deep respect for its characters and their communities and histories. Without ever falling into didacticism, this is a book that also has a lot to teach, sharing an important part of our history and giving young readers deeper insight into the lives of an Indigenous family living with the intergenerational impact of residential schools.  The utterly believable main character and her pitch-perfect first-person voice had us engaged from the first pages, and as her story unfolded, she and her family completely captured–and broke, and mended–our hearts. We loved the way poetry was woven into this novel, and the way these words and characters stayed with us long after we closed the book.”

Jurors: Lucy Dow, Emily Seo, Robin Stevenson

Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize

My Baba’s Garden,  written by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith (Neal Porter Books)

“My Baba’s Garden is a beautiful exploration of a young boy’s daily visits with his Polish grandmother, based on Jordan Scott’s own childhood. Although the boy does not always understand what his Baba does, or why, the poetic text and gouache-and-watercolor illustrations let readers interpret interactions and images in their own way. Scott’s quiet storytelling combined with Smith’s rich, warm, and gentle illustrations, culminate in an introspective narrative that celebrates intergenerational relationships and the power of communication that transcends language barriers. This is a picture book that resonates with children and adults alike!”

Jurors: Caroline Adderson, Rob Bittner, Nancy Vo

To view the finalists in these categories, click here. For more information, visit bcyukonbookprizes.com.