Toronto, June 13, 2025 – The 2025 winners of the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards were announced today during a school assembly at Birch Cliff Heights Public School in Scarborough, Ont. The winners were selected by two juries of young readers from the school – a jury of grade 4 students selected the recipient of the Children’s Picture Book Award, and a jury of grade 8 students selected the recipient of the Young Adult / Middle Reader Award.
The student jurors were chosen for their love of reading, their willingness to work in a consensus-building environment, and to reflect the school community. Each student read the shortlisted books individually, then worked with their group to collectively decide on a winner. This process makes it a unique literary award in Canada.
WINNER OF THE CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK AWARD CATEGORY
The Little Regent
by Yewande Daniel-Ayoade (Calgary, Alta.)
illustrations by Ken Daley (Kitchener, Ont.)
Owlkids Books
ABOUT THE BOOK
After the king of a West African village dies, his eight-year-old daughter Abioye is made the temporary ruler, or regent, until a new king is chosen. The chiefs scoff at this decision – a little girl can’t be regent! Even Abioye herself doubts whether she’s up to the task. But her late father’s words of wisdom comfort and guide her: Those who will rule must first learn to serve. Author Yewande Daniel-Ayoade draws on Yoruba traditions and culture to craft a highly original, uplifting feminist fable.
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“Abioye is an excellent role model for kids and adults – she made her kingdom WAY happier,” said the student jurors who selected this book for the award. “Being a ruler is not an everyday thing, but helping others in the community is.” They also noted that the illustrations are beautiful, “especially the clothes showing pretty, traditional West African fabric and colours. That was a really good way show the culture.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yewande Daniel-Ayoade is a Nigerian-Canadian author whose children’s love for princesses inspired her to write this book. When she is not working as a management consultant, Yewande can be found cooking, baking, singing or playing board games. Yewande lives in Calgary, Alta. with her husband and five children.
Ken Daley’s art and illustrations are inspired by his African-Caribbean heritage, and he has exhibited his work in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. Ken has illustrated numerous children’s books and received an Américas Award Honor Book and a Kirkus Best Picture Book for Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings.
WINNER OF THE YOUNG ADULT / MIDDLE READER AWARD CATEGORY
The New Girl
by Cassandra Calin (Montreal, Que.)
Scholastic Canada Ltd.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Lia and her family are waiting to board a flight across the Atlantic, leaving behind family, friends, and Romania – the only home Lia has ever known. Now Lia is thrust into a world where everything is different: her home, her language, and even her body. With so many changes happening at once, Lia struggles with schoolwork, has trouble communicating with classmates, and has no idea how to manage her unpleasant periods. Will she ever feel like herself again? Inspired by the author’s own immigration experience, The New Girl is a comically charming story about change and acceptance.
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The student jurors were very enthusiastic in their support for The New Girl, stating, “We definitely recommend this book and want to read more from this author!” As they noted, “This story is realistic and relatable, with really great lessons about making and keeping friends in a new country and culture. Lia’s struggles with self-doubt make her character and the story come to life. At the same time, the illustration style is adorable, bubbly and makes you feel positive!”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cassandra Calin is a cartoonist and humorist best known for her semi-autobiographical webcomic series, Cassandra Comics, in which she talks about her life with curly hair, high expectations, and other daily problems. Originally from Romania, Cassandra immigrated to Canada when she was a child and later earned her BA in graphic design from L’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). The New Girl is her long-form graphic novel debut.
ABOUT THE RUTH AND SYLVIA SCHWARTZ CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARDS
- The Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards were established in 1976 by Sylvia Schwartz in memory of her sister, Ruth, a respected Toronto bookseller. In 2004, the family renamed the awards to honour both sisters.
- Two awards of $6,000 each are presented annually to recognize artistic excellence in writing and illustration, traditionally or self-published, in English-language Canadian children’s literature.
- OAF administers the awards with the support of OAC, which manages the nomination and jury process.
- See the full details on the award and the complete list of past laureates.
MEDIA INQUIRIES
Shoshana Wasser, Associate Director of Public Affairs and Communications, OAC
swasser@arts.on.ca
ONTARIO ARTS FOUNDATION INQUIRIES
Bruce Bennett, Executive Director, OAF
bbennett@oafdn.ca
The Ontario Arts Foundation (OAF) is passionately committed to building long-term support for the arts in Ontario. In 2023-2024, the OAF paid $4.6 million in endowment income and $500,000 in awards and scholarships.
For more than 60 years, the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has played a vital role in promoting and assisting the development of the arts for the enjoyment and benefit of Ontarians. The OAC reached 27.4 million people through events and arts education activities across the province in 2021-22. In 2023-24, OAC invested its grant program budget of $53.3 million in 219 communities across all 124 Ontario ridings, providing 2,149 grants to individual artists and 1,043 grants to organizations.
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