Category: author

On November 21, 2012, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) announced the winners of its six major Canadian children’s book awards – the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, John Spray Mystery Award, and the inaugural Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy.

The winners were announced at a gala event at The Ritz-Carlton in Toronto. Swanky!

Garvia Bailey of CBC Radio’s Big City, Small World was the fabulous host of the night. She’s funny, entertaining, and keeps the energy in the room going – we hope she returns next year!

Tundra had a few finalists up for awards that night. The Dragon Turn by Shane Peacock and Stones for My Father by Trilby Kent were nominated for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. “Scribbling Women” by Marthe Jocelyn for the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, The Case of the Missing Deed by Ellen Schwartz and The Dragon Turn by Shane Peacock were also nominated for the John Spray Mystery Award.

In the end, it came down to the big award…

The jury members of the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award this year were:

• Gail Hamilton, Manitoba Chair, Best Books for Kids & Teens and former CCBC Regional Officer, teacher-librarian and Library Learning Resources Consultant, Manitoba Department of Education;
• Carol-Ann Hoyte, children’s poet and Assistant Librarian, Selwyn House School;
• Kathleen Martin, writer, editor, and President, Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia;
• Judith Saltman, Associate Professor, School of Library, Archival and Information Studies, and Chair of the Master of Arts in Children’s Literature Program, University of British Columbia; and
• Larry Swartz, Instructor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) and author of Good Books Matter.

Thank you to this year’s jury members! We know that being a juror isn’t easy, there are so many great Canadian children books to read, review, and evaluate. It’s already a tough enough job to narrow it down to five finalists!

Tim Hockey, President & CEO of TD Canada Trust, had the honour to reveal Stones for My Father by Trilby Kent as the winner of the 2012 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award! Yay!!!

The jury comments were: “A riveting book about the Anglo-Boer war at the turn of the last century and Canada’s place in it… Kent draws her characters and the landscape around them in penetrating prose… Today’s children will develop heartfelt admiration and respect for Corlie Rioux. Though this young heroine struggles with the loss of parental love, a special friendship, and her home, she holds steadfast, brave, and true and emerges a survivor… At times raw, but always gripping, this novel packs an emotional punch.”

You can also check out what readers said during the Stones for My Father Blog Tour last year!

Trilby takes the podium to deliver her grateful thank you speech!

Congratulations to all the winners:

• Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy: What Happened to Serenity? by PJ Sarah Collins
• John Spray Mystery Award: Charlie’s Key by Rob Mills
• Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People: The Hangman in the Mirror by Kate Cayley
• Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction: Loon by Susan Vande Griek, illustrated by Karen Reczuch
• Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award: Without You by Geneviève Côté

What a night! Thank you to the great team at the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, the CBC, to all the jury members, the finalists, and to friends and family who show tremendous support for Canadian children’s literature!

We were live tweeting last night, so check instagram for photos and follow the hashtag #kidslitawards!