Toronto, April 27, 2010 – The 2010 short list for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards was revealed today. The winners of the2010 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awardswill be announced at Huttonville Public School, 2322 Embleton Road in Brampton, at 1 p.m. on May 26, 2010.
ABOUT THE BOOKS
This year’s shortlists represent some of Canada’s best known children’s books authors, and some newcomers. The books themselves focus on engaging themes, including memory, nature and identity.
Children’s Picture Book Award Category
Perfect Snow
By Barbara Reid (Toronto, ON)
Illustrations by Barbara Reid
North Wind Press, an imprint of Scholastic Canada
When Stella was Very, Very Small
By Marie-Louise Gay (Outremont, QC)
Illustrations by Marie-Louise Gay
Groundwood Books
Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion
By Jane Barclay (Pointe-Claire, QC)
Illustrations by Renné Benoit (St.Thomas, ON)
Tundra Books
Scaredy Squirrel at Night
By Mélanie Watt (Laval, QC)
Illustrations by Mélanie Watt
Kids Can Press
The Imaginary Garden
By Andrew Larsen (Toronto, ON)
Illustrations by Irene Luxbacher
Kids Can Press
Young Adult/Middle Reader Award Category
Vanishing Girl: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Third Case
By Shane Peacock (Baltimore, ON)
Tundra Books
The Present Tense of Prinny Murphy
By Jill MacLean (Bedford, NS)
Published in Canada by Fitzhenry & Whiteside
earthgirl
By Jennifer Cowan (Toronto, ON)
Groundwood Books
The Mealworm Diaries
By Anna Kerz (Toronto, ON)
Orca Books Publishers
The Awakening
By Kelley Armstrong (Aylmer, ON)
Doubleday Canada
ABOUT THE AWARDS
∑ The two awards, of $6,000 each, recognize artistic excellence in writing and illustration in Canadian children’s literature. They are awarded annually.
∑ The winners are selected by two juries of young readers. This year’s jurors are students at Huttonville Public School in Brampton, ON.
∑ Five grade 3 and 4 students will choose the author and illustrator for the children’s picture book award.
∑ Five students in grades 7 and 8 willselect the recipient of the young adult/middle reader award.
∑ The two juries run in April, and the winners will be announced at an event to be held at Huttonville Public School on May 26, 2010.
John Degen, Literature Officer at the Ontario Arts Council states, ìthe Schwartz Awards encourage students to develop and refine their literacy skills with great Canadian books, and the jury process provides them a wonderful opportunity to debate ideas and have fun with their peers. I am always impressed with how seriously our young jurors take their responsibility to choose a winner.î
Janet Stubbs, the Ontario Arts Foundation’s Executive Director adds, ìthe Schwartz Awards give these young readers an appreciation of literature and an opportunity to engage in discussion about ideas and issues raised in the books.î
∑ The Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards were established in 1976 by Sylvia Schwartz in memory of her sister, Ruth Schwartz, a respected Toronto bookseller. In 2004, their family renamed the awards to honour both sisters.
∑ The administration of these awards is shared by the Ontario Arts Foundation, the Ontario Arts Council, which manages the jury process and the Ruth Schwartz Foundation which funds the awards. Candidates are nominated by the Canadian Booksellers Association and members of the Awards Committee. The Awards Committee also selects the short list for the student juries.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES
GeneviËve Vallerand, Communications Coordinator, Ontario Arts Council
416-969-7434/1-800-387-0058, ext. 7434 | gvallerand@arts.on.ca
ONTARIO ARTS FOUNDATION INQUIRIES
Janet Stubbs, Executive Director
416-969-7413 | jstubbs@arts.on.ca
The Ontario Arts Foundation (OAF) offers donors effective and creative opportunities for charitable giving – helping to build a foundation for the arts in Ontario. OAF works with donors to build lasting endowments in support of the arts – a gift for this generation and the next.
The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is the province of Ontario’s primary funding body for professional arts activity. Since 1963, the OAC has played a vital role in promoting and assisting the development of the arts and artists for the enjoyment and benefit of Ontarians.
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