Toronto, April 24, 2012 – The 2012 short list for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards was revealed today. The 2012 winners will be announced at Toronto’s Parkdale Junior and Senior Public School, 78 Seaforth Ave. at 1:00 p.m. on May 31, 2012.
ABOUT THE 2012 BOOKS
This year's short list represents some of Canada's best-known children's book authors and some new names. The Children's Picture Book category showcases diverse illustration and story styles, ranging from stories of migration, adventures on two wheels, tales of mischievous animal characters, to picturesque evocations of Canadian flora and fauna. The Young Adult / Middle Reader category challenges its jury with historical novels and stories from abroad, as well as thrilling mysteries and a celebration of women authors.
CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
AWARD CATEGORY | YOUNG ADULT / MIDDLE READER
AWARD CATEGORY |
 Along a Long Road
By Frank Viva
(Toronto, ON)
HarperCollins
Publishers Ltd.
|  No Ordinary Day
By Deborah Ellis (Simcoe, ON)
House of Anansi and Groundwood Books
|
 The Vole Brothers
By Roslyn Schwartz
(Montreal, QC)
Owlkids Books
|  Scribbling Women
By Marthe Jocelyn
(Toronto, ON)
Tundra Books
|
 Picture a Tree
By Barbara Reid
(Toronto, ON)
Scholastic Canada
|  Blink & Caution
By Tim Wynne-Jones (Perth, ON)
Candlewick Press
|
 Loon
By Susan Vande Griek
(Halifax, NS)
Illustrations by Karen Reczuch (Acton, ON)
House of Anansi and Groundwood Books
|  That Fatal Night
By Sarah Ellis (Vancouver, BC)
Scholastic Canada |
|  Migrant
By Maxine Trottier (Newman's Cove, NL)
Illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault (Montreal, QC)
Groundwood Books
|  The Whole Truth
By Kit Pearson (Vancouver, BC)
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. |
ABOUT THE AWARDS
- 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 selected by two juries of young readers. This year’s jurors are students at Parkdale Junior and Senior Public School in Toronto. The award recipients will be announced at the school on May 31, 2012.
- Five students in grade 2 and 3 will choose the author and illustrator for the Children’s Picture Book award.
- Five students in grade 8 will select the recipient of the Young Adult / Middle Reader award.
QUOTES
Peter Caldwell, Director and CEO at the Ontario Arts Council states, “Young readers discuss and debate the work of Canadian authors and illustrators, select the winner of The Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Awards and have fun in the process. What more could we ask from a childrens' book awards program?”
Alan Walker, the Ontario Arts Foundation’s Executive Director adds, “Through the foresight of Sylvia Schwartz, who first established the awards, and the ongoing generosity of the Ruth Schwartz Foundation who fund them, these wonderful annual awards continue to bring joy and recognition to young readers and authors alike. We are thrilled to be a part of their rich tradition.”
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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The Ontario Arts Foundation (OAF) works with arts patrons to build long-term support for the arts in Ontario.
The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is the province of Ontario’s main funding body for professional arts activity. Since 1963, the OAC has played a vital role in promoting and assisting the development of the arts and artists for the enjoyment and benefit of Ontarians. In 2010-2011, the Ontario Arts Council funded 1,720 individual artists and 1,057 organizations in 223 communities across Ontario for a total of $52.3 million.
MEDIA INQUIRIES
Geneviève Vallerand
Communications Coordinator
Ontario Arts Council
416-969-7434
1-800-387-0058, ext. 7434
gvallerand@arts.on.ca
ONTARIO ARTS FOUNDATION INQUIRIES
Alan Walker
Executive Director
416-969-7413
awalker@arts.on.ca