Seuls by Paul Tom and Mélanie Baillairgé wins the 2023 Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Montreal (November 6, 2023)—Communication-Jeunesse (CJ) and the Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) are pleased to announce that the 2023 Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse has been awarded to Seuls, written by Paul Tom, illustrated by Mélanie Baillairgé and published by Éditions la courte échelle. The prize, supported by TD Bank Group, offers $50,000, which the author and illustrator share, while their publisher receives $2,500 for promotional purposes. An additional $10,000 is shared between the creators of the four remaining finalists for their contribution to Canadian children's literature.
A short interview with Paul Tom and Mélanie Baillairgé was produced for the video which unveils the winning title. A recording of the ceremony is available on CJ’s YouTube channel, as well as on Bibliovideo, the CCBC’s YouTube channel.
"Thank you to Paul Tom and Mélanie Baillairgé, who deserve this prestigious award for such a touching and necessary story, and thanks also to Éditions la courte échelle for publishing this work and submitting it to this year’s Prix TD," said Stéphane Masquida, Executive Director, Communication-Jeunesse. “Congratulations as well to the creators of the four finalist titles and their publishers, who skillfully explore diverse themes and forms in French-language children’s literature in this country.”
Communication-Jeunesse and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre would like to thank TD Bank Group for offering the largest literary prize for creators of French-language children's literature in Canada.
“At TD, it's always an honour for us to support children's authors and illustrators who help pass on the love of reading to children," says Sylvie Demers, President, Quebec Division, TD Bank Group. “I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Paul Tom and Mélanie Baillairgé, winners of the 2023 Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse for Seuls. Moving and poignant, this book sheds light on the reality of these young people—sometimes still children—who find refuge in this country without their families, and how it brings out the strength and resilience in them. Bravo!"
“Congratulations to Paul Tom and Mélanie Baillairgé,” says Urve Tamberg, President of the CCBC’s Board of Directors. “Seuls begins with a powerful dedication: To the children who come here. To the parents who stay there. This unforgettable book features three relatable characters who hail from three different places: Iran, Uganda and Burundi. As we follow the realistic and harrowing journeys of Afshin, Alain and Patricia as they arrive in Canada, they are indeed alone. Yet they are also comforted by old family memories and helpful new people they meet. These reflections and connections light a spark of hope just when everything seems dark and unknown. Each year, more than 400 minors arrive alone in Canada requesting refugee status. Seuls should be recommended reading, not just for young people, but for anyone who wishes to understand the traumatic experience of a child who immigrates without a parent, and the courage and resiliency that are born because of it. Stunningly illustrated and written in a raw-yet-engaging voice, this poignant book is unputdownable.”
A total of $62,500 in prize money was awarded today. Two weeks ago, the CCBC celebrated the winners of their English-language prizes. The highlight of the evening was debut author Kim Spencer winning all three prizes for which her novel, Weird Rules to Follow, was nominated for—the Jean Little First-Novel Award, the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction of Young People and the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. Carey Newman and Kirstie Hudson’s The Witness Blanket won the 25th Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction. Acclaimed author-illustrator Matthew Forsythe won the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award for Mina, and debut novelists Zoulfa Katouh and Deborah Falaye were awarded the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award and the Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy—Katouh for As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow and Falaye for Blood Scion.
Congratulations to Paul Tom and Mélanie Baillairgé and to all the finalists of the Prix TD!
Watch the video unveiling of the 2023 Prix TD winner here.
Seuls
Written by Paul Tom (Montreal)
Illustrated by Mélanie Baillairgé (Montreal)
Éditions la courte échelle
for ages 9 and up
This documentary-style graphic novel is based on the true story of three young asylum seekers who arrived in Canada without their parents, just as 400 minors do every year. Their testimonies open a window onto a journey filled with obstacles and sacrifices, but above all, one with courage and resilience.
In the words of the jury: "The reality of young refugees is a subject we rarely hear about, and even less so in such a humane way. Thanks to Paul Tom's words and Mélanie Baillairgé's illustrations, Seuls makes this difficult but essential theme accessible to young people, and enables them to better understand—through the experiences of the three protagonists—the reality of thousands of other people who have come to Canada to find freedom and security. What better values to pass on to the next generation than openness to others and empathy?"
Prix TD honour books include:
Dans les souliers d’Amédée, written by Véronique Lambert and illustrated by Éléna Comte (Éditions Fonfon)
Gloria sort du moule, written by Guylaine Guay and illustrated by Bach (Éditions de la Bagnole)
Mélie quelque part au milieu, written by Mylène Goupil (Éditions Québec Amérique)
Toucher les étoiles, written by Frédérick Wolfe (Leméac Éditeur)
For more details on the honour books, click here. To view the video presenting the finalist titles, click here
JURY MEMBERS: Sandrine Bourget-Lapointe, bookseller; Eugenia Doval, library technician; Dayani Giguère, primary teacher and blogger; Takwa Souissi, journalist and blogger; Francis Thibeault, school librarian.
For more information, please contact:
Prix TD — Francophone component (communications)
Sandrine Gagné
Consultant
Morin Relations Publiques
sandrine@morinrp.com
(438) 873-2909
morinrp.com
Prix TD — Francophone component (organization)
Stéphane Masquida
Executive Director
Communication-Jeunesse
s.masquida@cjqc.ca
(514) 823-0702
communication-jeunesse.qc.ca
Prix TD — Anglophone component (organization)
Tara Mandarano
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre
416-975-0010 ext. 2
tara@bookcentre.ca
About the Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse
The Prix TD is the most generous prize offered each year to creators of Canadian children’s literature. It recognizes excellence in Canadian children’s literature by awarding a $50,000 cash prize to a French-language book deemed to have made a significant contribution to excellence in Canadian children’s literature. The publisher of the winning book receives $2,500 for promotion and publicity. An additional $10,000 is shared amongst the creators of the four remaining finalists for their contribution to Canadian children’s literature.
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 bookcentre.ca.
About Communication-Jeunesse
Communication-Jeunesse is a national non-profit cultural organization that was founded in 1971 to promote and appreciate Quebec and Franco-Canadian literature aimed at young people age 0 to 17. The vitality of the organization is largely based on the quality of its associative life and the commitment of its members has been at the heart of its operations since its creation. The members of Communication-Jeunesse enrich its actions and promote its development with as much rigor as energy. For more information, please visit communication-jeunesse.qc.ca.
About TD Global Corporate Citizenship
TD has a long‐standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, The Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1 billion (US $775 million) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow—Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through The Ready Commitment, TD aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident—not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit td.com/thereadycommitment.
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