Canadian Children and Young Adult Book Awards Data-Base
The list below contains some 35 Canadian awards that we cover. You will find details about recent winners, shortlists and links to official sites. Enjoy.
yours in literature - Kevin Parker - (aka Award Tragic) site publisher
Alberta Children’s Book of the Year Award - Canada
Presented annually by Alberta Community Development, the Writers Guild of Alberta and the Book Publishers Association of Alberta, is given to the Alberta-based publisher producing thebest children’s or young adult book, including fiction, non-fiction and picture books - more
Alcuin Society Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada
Since 1981 the Alcuin Society has sponsored the Alcuin Society Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada. It is the only national competition that recognizes and celebrates fine book design in Canada. Each year, publishers submit books to a panel of expert judges, who give the Alcuin Society Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada -more
Amelia Frances Howard Gibbon Illustrator’s Award - Canada
A highly regarded Canadian book award started in 1971 in honor of Amelia Frances Howard Gibbon who was the creator of the first Canadian children's picture book. Given by the, award is presented to the illustrator of an outstanding children's book published during the previous calendar year. The illustrator must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada and the book must be suitable for children up to age fourteen and be published in Canada. Given by Canadian Association of Children's Librarians (CACL)- - more
The Nova Scotia Library Association presents Ann Conner Brimer Book Award during Canadian Children's Book Week in November to recognize excellence in writing. The $1000 prize is given to the author of a children's book which has made an outstanding contribution to children's literature in Atlantic Canada. The winning author must be alive and residing in Atlantic Canada at time of nomination - more
Established in 1984 and named after the nom de travail of Canada's official hangman, Arthur Ellis Best Juvenile Crime Award are awarded annually by the Crime Writers of Canada. Crime Writers of Canada is Canada's national professional association of published authors of crime, detective, espionage, mystery, suspense and thriller fiction - both novels and short stories, true crime and genre. The book must be published within the preceding year by a Canadian resident, regardless of nationality, or a Canadian writer living abroad. In 1993, a category for best juvenile mystery was included -more
Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award - Canada
presented annually by the Canadian Association of Children's Librarians to the author of an outstanding children's book published during the previous calendar year. The book must be suitable for children up to age fourteen and have been published in Canada by an author who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada. (Christopher Paul Curtis' , Elijah of Buxton, won in 2008) - more
Canadian Library Association Young Adult Canadian Book Award - Canada
Established in 1980 by the Young Adult Caucus of the Saskatchewan Library Association and is administered by the Young Adult Services Group (YASIG). This prize is awarded to the author of an outstanding English language book for young adults (ages 13-18) published in the preceding calendar year - more
Chocolate Lily Young Readers’ Choice Award - Canada
The BC Chocolate Lily Young Readers’ Choice Award encourages grade school students to read some of the best fiction by British Columbia’s children’s authors and illustrators. There are two categories: Best Picture Book, as voted by students in kindergarten through grade 3, and Best Chapter Book/Novel, chosen by readers in grades 4 through 8. The winners of the Chocolate Lily are presented at a gala in May - more
Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize - Canada
A new award category that has been added to the British Columbia Book Prize Program. The prize is presented to the author and illustrator of the best children’s picture book by a British Columbia or Yukon resident. This new award creates two categories for children’s books - the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature prize will now cover only non-illustrated works - more
Diamond Willow Award - Canada
The Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice Awards – the Willow Awards – are granted annually to the authors of Canadian children’s books voted by students as the best of those nominated in the designated categories for books suitable for grades 4-6 - more
Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award - Canada
Established in 1985 following the death of Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver, one of Canada's pre-eminent book illustrators. In her will, Cleaver left a fund of $10,000 dollars for an award to be given annually in recognition of outstanding artistic talent in a Canadian picture book. The recipient receives a cheque for $1,000 dollars and a certificate - more
Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People - Canada
Awarded annually to reward excellence in the writing of an outstanding work of historical fiction for young readers, by a Canadian author, published in the previous calendar year. In 2008, the value of the prize was increased from $1,000 to $5,000.The award winner is decided by a jury selected by the Canadian Children's Book Centre. All books written by Canadian citizens or landed immigrants are eligible for consideration - more
Golden Eagle Children’s Choice Book Award - Canada
given annually to an Alberta writer whose juvenile fiction book was selected by children in Grades 4 through 7 from schools in southern Alberta.The competing books are selected by a committee comprised of librarians from both schools and public libraries - more
Governor General’s Literary Awards - Canada
Up to four Children's Prize awards can be given each year, one each to an English language writer, a French language writer, an illustrator of an English language book, and an illustrator of a French language book. In 2007, in honour of the Canada Council’s 50th anniversary, the award prize was increased from $15,000 to $25,000. In addition, publishers of winning titles receive $3,000 for the promotion of the prize-winning book. Non-winning finalists each receive $1,000. The panel of judges is appointed by The Canada Council and prizes are presented each year along with the other Governor General's Literary Awards - more-
Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award - Canada
A program designed to promote reading among children in grades 4-6 and – like the Silver Birch, Red Cedar and other children’s choice awards – to recognize the reading preferences of young readers. Children read from a list of 10 fiction and 10 non-fiction English-language titles and cast their votes in April -more
Information Book Award - Canada
The Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award is given to a book that arouses interest, stimulates curiosity, captures the imagination, and fosters concern for the world around us. The award's aim is to recognize excellence in Canadian publishing of non-fiction for children. The criteria include accuracy, clarity, imaginative approach, appropriateness of organization and format, and sensitivity to ethnocentric and gender biases - more-
IODE Book Award, Municipal Chapter of Toronto - Canada
Intended to encourage the publication of books for children between the ages of 6 and 12 years. The award and accompanying cash prize of $1,000 are given annually to either an illustrator or an author of a book judged to contribute to children’s reading, and is chosen by a Committee set up by the Municipal Chapter of Toronto IODE. The award-winner must be a Canadian citizen, resident in Toronto or the surrounding area, and the book must be published in Canada. This award is announced in February, annually - more
Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award - Canada
Established in 1991 by the Manitoba School Library Association. It is presented to the Canadian children’s book that receives the most votes by children from grades 5-8 involved in the program. Participants must read at least 3 titles from a pre-selected list - more
Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award - Canada
Established in 2006, honours excellence in the illustrated picture book format. The $10,000 prize is awarded annually. To be eligible, the book must be an original work in English, aimed at children ages three to six, written and illustrated by Canadians and first published in Canada. Eligible genres include fiction, non-fiction and poetry - more
National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award - Canada
Established in 1985,the National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award of $3,000 is given to the best English-language book published in the previous calendar year by a Canadian and published in Canada. The work must contain at least 500 words of text, be suitable for children aged 13 and under and may be in any category, with the exception of fairy tales, anthologies and adaptations. The winner will be chosen by a six-member panel of judges, which includes two recognized specialists in the field of children’s literature. The award may be divided between two people. The prize is generally announced in May - more
Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction - Canada
Canada’s non-fiction books for young people are internationally renowned for the superb quality of their text, illustration and design. The Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction was established by the Fleck Family Foundation and the Canadian Children's Book Centre on May 17, 1999 to recognize and raise the profile of these exceptional non-fiction books
The $10,000 Norma Fleck Award is the largest of its kind in Canadian children’s books and is considered to be one of Canada’s most prestigious literary prizes - more
Ottawa Book Awards - Canada
Coordinated through the Office of Cultural Affairs. The awards recognize published books of literary excellence, written by local authors residing in Ottawa. From 1986 to 2003, the awards alternated annually between the categories of fiction and non-fiction. As of 2004, the awards will include submissions in both English and French. A prize of $2,500 will be awarded in each of the following four categories: English fiction, English non-fiction, French fiction and French non-fiction. Children’s books are eligible for submission - more
Pacific Northwest Library Association’s Young Reader’s Choice Award - Canada
The oldest children’s choice award in Canada and the US. It is the only regional award chosen by children of the two countries. The award was established in 1940 by a Seattle bookseller, the late Harry Hartman, who believed every student should have an opportunity to select a book that gives him or her pleasure. Nominations are taken only from children, teachers, parents and librarians in the Pacific Northwest - Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington- more
R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature - Canada
This annual R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature competition, run-by the Writers Guild of Alberta, recognizes excellence in writing by an author who has been resident in Alberta for at least twelve of the previous eighteen months. The winner receives a leather-bound copy of his/her book and a $500 cash award. The award alternates yearly between picture and chapter books - more
Red Cedar Book Award - Canada
Program encourages students in Grades 4 - 7 in British Columbia to read Canadian fiction and non-fiction titles. Each year, a Red Cedar Award is presented to one fiction and one non-fiction book which receive the most votes from children in the program. The first award was presented in May of 1998. To be included in the program, a book must have been: written by and illustrated by a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant who has lived in Canada for at least two years; published two calendar years before the nomination date; published by a recognized publisher and available in print; recognized by other reviewers of Canadian children’s literature; and recognized as being of general interest to students in grades 4 to 7. Winners are announced annually in May - more
Red Maple Award - Canada
The Ontario Library Association’s annual Red Maple Award was first presented in 1998. This award is open to Canadian authors writing at the Grade 7-8 level, who have been published within the last two years. Originally established to honour fiction books, in 2005 the award was expanded to include a non-fiction category. The winner is selected by Ontario’s young readers. In 2008, the official sponsor of the Red Maple Award reading program will be S & B Books - more
Rocky Mountain Book Award - Canada
An Alberta-based readers’ choice program which invites students in grades 4-7 to choose the best book from a shortlist of exemplary Canadian literature. The books submitted must have been published in the last two years in Canada. The winner receives a Gold medal specially designed for the Rocky Mountain Book Award. The winning author is also asked to tour the province of Alberta - more
Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award - Canada
Prior to 2004, this award was known as the Ruth Schwartz Children’s Book Award. It was established in 1976 by Sylvia Schwartz in honour of the late Ruth Schwartz, a respected Toronto bookseller. In 2004, the Schwartz family decided to rename the awards – the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards to honour Sylvia, a well-known photographer in Toronto from 1940s to the early 1960s, who specialized in children’s portraiture. This prize recognizes authors and illustrators who demonstrate artistic excellence in Canadian children’s literature- more
Saskatchewan Book Awards - Canada
Established in 1993, Saskatchewan Children's Literature Book Award celebrates the achievements of Saskatchewan authors and publishers while helping to promote their books. Leading up to the awards, shortlist readings help promote nominated books. The awards gala is usually held in late November more
Science in Society Book Award - Canada
Administered by the Canadian Science Writers’ Association to honour outstanding contributions to science writing. Competitors must be Canadian citizens or residents of Canada and entries, in either French or English, must have been published in Canada during the current calendar year. A prize of $1,000 is awarded to the winner - more
Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize - Canada
Awarded annually as part of the British Columbia Book Prize program to the best children's book published in the previous year written by a writer who has been resident in British Columbia (or the Yukon) for three of the previous five years, published anywhere in the world. Deadline for submissions is December 1st, annually. Funded by the BC government, the prize carries a cash value of $2,000- more
Silver Birch Award - Canada
Established in 1994, the Silver Birch Award is part of a reading program developed by the Ontario Library Association’s Libraries Advance Ontario Project. Originally the program was for Ontario children in grades 4, 5 and 6 - more-
TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award - Canada
On October 28, 2004 the Canadian Children’s Book Centre and the TD Bank Financial Group announced the establishment of a brand-new annual, children’s book award, the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award for the most distinguished book of the year. “Distinguished” is defined as marked by conspicuous excellence and/or eminence, individually distinct and noted for significant achievement with excellence in quality - more
Vicky Metcalf Award for Children’s Literature - Canada
Sponsored by the George Cedric Metcalf Foundation, was originally administered by the Canadian Authors Association and is now presented by the Writer’s Trust of Canada. The $15,000 cash prize is awarded to a Canadian writer (citizen or landed immigrant) who has produced a body of work (at least four books) that, in the opinion of the judges, demonstrates the highest literary standards. The award is announced and presented at the Great Literary Awards held each Spring in Toronto- more
White Pine Award - Canada
A provincial reading program for high school students sponsored by the Ontario Library Association. Students read 10 nominated Canadian young adult books and vote for their favourite book. In 2008, the official sponsor of the White Pine Award reading program will be S & B Books. The award was previously sponsored by National Book Service (NBS) - more
