Toronto, April 12, 2017 – The 2017 shortlist for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards was announced today. The Schwartz Awards are 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 Burlington’s Frontenac Public School. The announcement will take place during a school assembly on Friday, May 19, 2017.
ABOUT THIS YEAR’S SHORTLIST
This year’s shortlisted authors and illustrators are a diverse, accomplished group. They include astronaut Chris Hadfield and award-winning novelist Lisa Moore. The Children’s Picture Book category includes stories that will help young readers connect with their families, their neighbours, and the world around them. The Young Adult / Middle Reader nominees focus on relationships – new ones being formed, old ones being tested, and protagonists’ relationships with themselves.
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CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK AWARD CATEGORY |
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The Darkest Dark |
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A Family is a Family is a Family |
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Harry and Walter |
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If I Had A Gryphon |
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The Night Gardener |
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YOUNG ADULT / MIDDLE READER |
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A Boy Named Queen |
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Flannery |
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Lucky Jonah |
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OCDaniel |
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Sea Change |
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 Frontenac Public School in Burlington, 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 of the Young Adult / Middle Reader Award.
QUOTES
“Now into its fourth decade, this unique award program has given hundreds of Ontario students the opportunity to work collaboratively to choose the best new works of Canadian children’s literature. I’d like to congratulate all of this year’s shortlisted authors and illustrators, not to mention the students themselves – they always impress us with their excellent attitude and keen sense of responsibility.”
Peter Caldwell, Director and CEO at the Ontario Arts Council
“Awards, made possible through private philanthropy, provide artists with affirmation and recognition for their work. We are delighted that through the generosity of the Ruth Schwartz Foundation, these awards are able to encourage authors and illustrators on a personal and creative level – and help inspire young readers through a love of reading.”
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. Click here to see the full list.
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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 2015-2016, the OAF paid over $3.0 million in endowment income and $300,000 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 2015-2016, the OAC funded 1,676 individual artists and 1,125 organizations in 209 communities across Ontario for a total of $50.5 million.
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