Last night, I had the privilege of attending the 2012 Canadian Children’s Literature Awards, held at the glamorous Ritz-Carlton hotel in downtown Toronto. How did I score an invite? In addition to being a member of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, which puts on the annual gala, I also volunteered for the CCBC as part of the Young Adult Jury to choose books for the fall 2012 edition of its publication Best Books for Kids and Teens. I am happy to support the CCBC and all the great work they do throughout the year to promote Canadian children’s authors and illustrators. I had an excellent time at the awards ceremony and would like to thank the CCBC for putting on such a great event. ou can find out more about the CCBC here. As for the awards themselves, the winners were:
TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award
Winner: Stones for My Father by Trilby Kent (Tundra Books)
Short list:
The Dragon Turn by Shane Peacock (Tundra Books)
No Ordinary Day by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books)
Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World by Susan Hughes (Owlkids Books)
Seal Song by Andrea Spalding with illustrations by Pascal Milelli (Orca Books)
Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award
Winner: Without You, written and illustrated by Geneviève Côté (Kids Can Press)
Short list:
Cinnamon Baby by Nicola Winstanley, with illustrations by Janice Nadeau (Kids Can Press)
Picture a Tree by Barbara Reid (North Wind Press/Scholastic Canada)
Pussycat. Pussycat, Where Have You Been? by Dan Bar-el with illustrations by Rae Maté (Simply Red Books)
Small Saul by Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press)
Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction
Winner: Loon by Susan Vande Griek with illustrations by Karen Reczuch (Groundwood Books)
Short list:
Beyond Bullets: A Photo Journal of Afghanistan by Rafal Gerszak with Dawn Hunter (Annick Press)
Biomimicry: Inventions Inspired by Nature by Dora Lee with illustrations by Margot Thompson (Kids Can Press)
Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World by Susan Hughes (Owlkids Books)
Scribbling Women: True Tales from Astonishing Lives by Marthe Jocelyn (Tundra Books)
Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People
Winner: The Hangman in the Mirror by Kate Cayley (Annick Press)
Short list:
I’ll Be Watching by Pamela Porter (Groundwood Books)
Shot at Dawn by John Wilson (Scholastic Canada)
This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel (HarperCollins Canada)
The Whole Truth by Kit Pearson (HarperCollins Canada)
John Spray Mystery Award
Winner: Charlie’s Key by Rob Mills (Orca Books)
Short list:
The Case of the Missing Deed by Ellen Schwartz (Tundra Books)
The Dragon Turn by Shane Peacock (Tundra Books)
Held by Edeet Revel (Annick Press)
True Blue by Deborah Ellis (Pajama Press)
Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy
Winner: What Happened to Serenity? by P.J. Sarah Collins (Red Deer Press)
Short list:
Dreamline by Nicole Luiken (Great Plains Teen Fiction)
Hunted by Cherly Rainfield (WestSide Books)
Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier (Puffin Canada)
Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston (HarperCollins Canada)
What the Librarian Did 