Toronto, April 22, 2015 – The 2015 short list for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards was announced today. The 2015 winners will be selected by students of Alexander Muir / Gladstone Avenue Junior and Senior Public School and will be announced there on Friday, May 15, 2015.
ABOUT THIS YEAR’S SHORTLIST
The Children’s Picture Book category includes tributes to the spirit of invention, the world of emotions, and the possibility of magic in the darkest of places. The Young Adult / Middle Reader category includes the stories of mystery and suspense, hope in the face of injustice and chasing big dreams.
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 Alexander Muir / Gladstone Avenue Junior and Senior 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 Brush Full of Colour: The World of Ted Harrison |
| Audrey (cow) |
 | The Magician of Auschwitz |  | The Boundless |
 | The Most Magnificent Thing |  | Julian |
 | Nancy Knows |  | Lord and Lady Bunny – Almost Royalty! |
 | Starring Me and You |  | Moon at Nine |
QUOTES
“The Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards continue to be a special way to acknowledge the work of Canada’s remarkable children’s authors and illustrators. Each shortlisted book is discussed and debated by a student jury, who then work together to choose a winner. It’s a great way for these young people to develop their critical thinking skills, not to mention a love of reading.”
Peter Caldwell, Director and CEO at the Ontario Arts Council
“We hear time and time again from Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award winning authors at how moved they are by the insight and sophistication shown in the school-age jurors. These awards have a profound impact on all involved, and we thank the Ruth Schwartz Foundation and the Ontario Arts Council for helping make these awards such a memorable experience for all.”
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 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.
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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
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 2013-2014, the OAC funded 1,737 individual artists and 1,095 organizations in 223 communities across Ontario for a total of $52.1 million.
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