Anyone who is worried that young people are becoming less interested in books needs only to look to the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards. Not only do the awards celebrate the great writing for young people happening in Canada, but they are the only Canadian literary award where student juries work together to choose the winning books. This year, students at Scarborough Village Alternative Public School in Toronto will select the winning titles. Five students in grades 3 and 4 will select the recipient(s) of the Children’s Picture Book Award, while five students in grades 7 and 8 will select the recipient of the Young Adult/Middle Reader Award.
The Schwartz Children’s Book Awards are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. The shortlists for both awards contain some heavy hitters in children's writing, including Dennis Lee, Susin Nielson and Eric Walters, who has the distinction of being featured on both shortlists for different books.
Children’s Picture Book Award Shortlist:
A Boy Asked the Wind by Barbara Nickel, illustrated by Gillian Newland (Red Deer Press)
Melvis and Elvis by Dennis Lee, illustrated by Jeremy Tankard (HarperCollins Canada Ltd.)
Mr. Postmouse’s Rounds by Marianne Dubuc (Kids Can Press)
Some Things I’ve Lost by Cybèle Young (Groundwood Books)
Today Is the Day by Eric Walters, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes (Tundra Books)
Young Adult/Middle Reader Award Shortlist:
Cut Off by Jamie Bastedo (Red Deer Press)
The Dogs by Allan Stratton (Scholastic Canada Ltd.)
Regenesis by Eric Walters (Doubleday Canada)
We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen (Tundra Books)
Young Man With Camera by Emil Sher (Scholastic Canada Ltd.)
A winner in each category will receive $6,000 in recognition of artistic excellence. Winners will be announced on June 22, 2016.
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