Toronto, May 12, 2016 – The 2016 shortlist for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards was announced today. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Schwartz Children’s Book Awards – the only Canadian literary award where student juries work together to choose the winning books.
This year’s winners will be chosen by student juries from Toronto’s Scarborough Village Alternative Public School. The announcement will take place during a school assembly on Wednesday, June 22, 2016.
ABOUT THIS YEAR’S SHORTLIST
The Children’s Picture Book category takes readers on journeys around the world, through a village of animals, and into the realm of our imagination. The Young Adult / Middle Reader category includes stories of surprising friendships, tensions with parents, and overcoming unexpected challenges.
ABOUT THE RUTH AND SYLVIA SCHWARTZ CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARDS
The two awards, of $6,000 each are presented annually to recognize artistic excellence in writing and illustration in English-language Canadian children’s literature. The winners are selected by two juries of young readers, which this year are students at Scarborough Village Alternative Public School in Toronto, Ontario. Five students in grade 3 and 4 will select the recipient(s) of the Children’s Picture Book Award. Five students in grade 7 and 8 will select the recipient(s) of the Young Adult / Middle Reader Award.
CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK AWARD CATEGORY | YOUNG ADULT / MIDDLE READER | ||
| A Boy Asked the Wind |
| Cut Off |
 | Melvis and Elvis |  | The Dogs |
 | Mr. Postmouse’s Rounds |  | Regenesis |
 | Some Things I’ve Lost |  | We Are All Made of Molecules |
 | Today is the Day |  | Young Man with Camera
|
QUOTES
“We are delighted to mark the 40th anniversary of the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards in 2016. Over the years, this award has honoured so many outstanding Canadian children’s authors and illustrators – all while giving the student jurors an opportunity to develop their critical thinking and teamwork skills.”
Peter Caldwell, Director and CEO at the Ontario Arts Council
“In this milestone year, we recognize the impact the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards have had on Canadian children’s literature over the last 40 years. As we look to the next 40 years, we look forward to continuing to celebrate the work of Canada’s remarkable children’s authors and illustrators.”
Alan Walker, the Ontario Arts Foundation’s Executive Director
LEARN MORE
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, the family renamed the awards to honour both sisters. The Ontario Arts Foundation (OAF) administers the awards with the support of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), which manages the nomination and jury process. These awards are funded through the Ruth Schwartz Foundation. To celebrate the award’s 40th anniversary, the OAF and OAC are doing an online countdown of all past laureates.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES
Shoshana Wasser, Communications Coordinator, Ontario Arts Council
416-969-7434 /1-800-387-0058, ext. 7434 | swasser@arts.on.ca
ONTARIO ARTS FOUNDATION INQUIRIES
Alan Walker, Executive Director, Ontario Arts Foundation
416-969-7413 | awalker@arts.on.ca
The Ontario Arts Foundation (OAF) is passionately committed to building long-term support for the arts in Ontario. In 2014-2015, the OAF paid over $2.8 million in endowment income and $275,000 in awards and scholarships.
For more than 50 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. In 2014-2015, the OAC funded 1,709 individual artists and 1,078 organizations in 204 communities across Ontario for a total of $52.1 million.
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