Prix Ruth et Sylvia Schwartz de littérature jeunesse : annonce des lauréats 2012

Toronto, 31 mai 2012– Le nom des lauréates 2012 des prix Ruth et Sylvia Schwartz de littérature jeunesse a été annoncé aujourd'hui à la Parkdale Junior and Senior Public School, lors d’une assemblée d’élèves qui s’est déroulée dans une atmosphère de fête. La liste des finalistes comprenait des auteurs du pays entier, de Newman’s Cove (Terre-Neuve) à Victoria (Colombie-Britannique).

FAITS

• Susan Vande Griek et Karen Reczuch remportent pour la première fois un prix Ruth et Sylvia Schwartz de littérature jeunesse. Kit Pearsonen a déjà remporté un en 1997 pour son livre Awake and Dreaming.

• Les candidats sont proposés par un comité de sélection composé d’un libraire, d’un bibliothécaire et d’un critique de livres pour enfants. Le comité de 2012 se composait de Deirdre Baker, critique littéraire et professeure de littérature enfantine (Toronto, Ont.), Tammy Grieve, libraire indépendante (Belleville, Ont.), et Wendy Nancoo, bibliothécaire d’une bibliothèque publique (Windsor, Ont.).

• The winners were selected by two juries of young readers at l'école élémentaire publique Parkdale. Students in grades 2 and 3 chose the winning author and illustrator of the children’s picture book award. The recipient of the young adult / middle reader award was chosen by students in grade 8.

CITATIONS

Student jurors in grades 2 and 3 remarked on Loon’s themes and illustrations, noting the book “taught us about the life cycle of the loon, and their environment.” Some jurors continued, “the detailed artwork looked like real life, and the colours and textures were beautiful.”

Student jurors in grade 8 said the following about Kit Pearson’s The Whole Truth: “The characters were so believable – it felt like you were stepping back in time. [I] fell in love with it within the first few pages.”

À PROPOS LES PRIX

• The two awards, of $6,000 each, recognize artistic excellence in writing and illustration in English-language Canadian children’s literature. They are awarded annually. The winners are always selected by two juries of young readers, making this a unique literary award in Canada. The jury process allows the students to hone their critical skills while working together to reach consensus. Each reader must evaluate the books individually, then join with the others in deciding upon the recipients.

POUR EN SAVOIR PLUS

• 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 administers the awards with the support of the Ontario Arts Council, which manages the nomination and jury process. These awards are funded through the Ruth Schwartz Foundation. See the list of previous laureates.