Toronto, March 8, 2000 - The finalists for the Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award were announced today. (See below.) This national award - one for a children's picture book and one for a young adult/middle reader book - recognizes authors and illustrators from across Canada who demonstrate artistic excellence in children's literature.
Two juries of schoolchildren from Givins/Shaw Public School in Toronto, Ontario will choose the winners. The students will announce the winners on Canada Book Day, April 27, at Mabel's Fables, a children's book store at 2030 Bloor Street West in Toronto.
The young adult/middle reader book category is judged by students in grades 7 and 8. The winning author will receive a $2,000 prize. Students in grades 3 and 4 will award the $3,000 children's picture book prize, which is split between the author and illustrator.
The Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award was established in 1976, by The Ruth Schwartz Foundation, in honour of the late Ruth Schwartz, a respected Toronto bookseller. The administration of this award is shared by the Ontario Arts Council which selects the juries, the Ontario Arts Council Foundation, and the Canadian Booksellers Association whose members select the short list of books.
This year's award announcement will be part of the fifth annual Canada Book Day celebrations taking place across the country. Canada Book Day is organized by publishers, booksellers, authors and The Writer's Trust with the assistance of government and corporate supporters.
Short List for the 2000 Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Award
Picture Books
· Boy of the Deeps, written and illustrated by Ian Wallace. Groundwood Books.
· Claire's Gift, written by Maxine Trottier and illustrated by Rajka Kupesic. Scholastic Canada.
· Dreamstones, written by Maxine Trottier and illustrated by Stella East. Stoddart Kids.
· Stella, Star of the Sea, written and illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay. Groundwood Books.
· Stormy Night, written and illustrated by Michèle Lemieux. Kids Can Press.
Young Adult/Middle Reader Books
· Alone at Ninety Foot, by Katherine Holubitsky. Orca Book Publishers.
· Being with Henry, by Martha Brooks. Groundwood Books.
· Dahling, If You Luv Me, Would You Please, Please Smile, by Rukhsana Khan. Stoddart Kids.
· The Hydrofoil Mystery, by Eric Walters. Penguin Canada.
· Sunwing, by Kenneth Oppel. HarperCollins Publishers.
OAC Media Contact: Kirsten Gunter, Manager of Communications
Tel: (416) 969-7403. Toll-free outside of Toronto: 1-800-387-0058, ext. 7403.
E-mail: kgunter@arts.on.ca