In 1987 the Canada Council's Children's Literature Prizes were renamed The Governor General's Literary Awards. 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. All books for young people written or illustrated by a Canadian citizen in the previous year are eligible, whether published in Canada or abroad.

2008 Winners

		Children’s Literature - Text John Ibbitson, Washington (D.C.), formerly of Ottawa and Toronto, The Landing. (Kids Can Press) A superbly crafted story, The Landing takes us to the Ontario Muskoka region of the 1930s. As an interpretation of a place and time and a young man’s coming-of-age, it never falters. It is a novel as timeless as the music and the adolescent imagination that lie at its centre.              Will Ben ever escape the Landing? The hardscrabble farm on the shores of Lake Muskoka can't generate a living, so Ben's Uncle Henry sells goods and gas to cottagers from the dock known as Cooks Landing. It had never been much of a living and since the Depression hit, it's even less. Ben's thinking a lot these days, and it's making him miserable. He's thinking about how unfair it is that his uncle only cares about work. He's thinking about what he really wants to do: play the violin. These days, he's lucky to snatch the odd bit of practice between chores, playing to the chickens in the henhouse. A new job fixing up the grand old cottage on nearby Pine Island seems at first to be just one more thing to keep Ben away from his violin. After he meets the island's owner, Ben changes his mind. Ruth Chapman is a cultured and wealthy woman from New York who introduces Ben to an unfamiliar, liberating world. After Ben plays violin for Ruth and her admiring friends, it only makes him more desperate to flee. Then, during a stormy night on Lake Muskoka, everything changes. Amazon.ca | Abe Books Canada | Chapters.Indigo.ca ||Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Powells books amazon uk | blackwell uk| books direct uk| borders uk | countrybookshop uk| Foyles || qbd books au | seek books au|nile books au | fishpond books au||fishpond nz| the nile Books nz | Back to top
		Sylvie Desrosiers, Longueuil, Quebec, Les trois lieues. (Les éditions de la courte échelle) Sylvie Desrosiers has written a profoundly moving story about the difficult relationship between a father and son. The book takes us on an extraordinary adventure in the far North, a place where magic is closely connected to reality. A gentle reflection on courage, forgiveness, life, love and death.
		Children’s Literature – Illustration Stéphane Jorisch, Montreal, The Owl and the Pussycat, text by Edward Lear. (Kids Can Press) Light, poetic, playful, imaginative, bizarre and ingenious illustrations match the text superbly. Stéphane Jorisch’s art brings new colour and depth to this well-known poem. Sit down in an armchair with this book and let it transport you into its magical world. Visions in Poetry is an innovative and award-winning series of classic poems re-interpreted for today's readers by outstanding contemporary artists in distinctively beautiful editions. The sixth Visions in Poetry book is The Owl and the Pussycat, a nonsense poem by Edward Lear, brilliantly illustrated by Stephane Jorisch. The artist's vision begins in a segregated world where different species never mix and everyone hides behind a mask. Against this backdrop an aristocratic owl from Owl Heights and a bohemian pussycat from the other side of the tracks find each other. They escape society's disapproval by sailing in their pea green boat to "the land where the bong-tree grows," a utopia of mismatched creatures living together, their masks doffed for good. Jorisch's playful and fantastic interpretation, inspired in part by Lear's own illustrations as well as the films of Fellini, the art of Miro and The Beatles' Yellow Submarine, is a celebration of love and an exhilarating journey that takes us beyond the quirky charm of this favourite poem. Back to top
		Janice Nadeau, Montreal, Ma meilleure amie, text by Gilles Tibo. (Québec Amérique) Janice Nadeau uses a quiet, sober approach to illustrate the delicate subject of death. Her brushstroke evokes ashes and dust, and the restrained use of colour imbues Ma meilleure amie with an emotional charge that goes straight to the heart.

 

2008 Shortlist-21st October

Children's Literature - Text

Alma Fullerton, Midland (Ontario), Libertad.

John Ibbitson, Washington (D.C.), formerly of Ottawa and Toronto, The Landing.

Dianne Linden, Edmonton, Shimmerdogs.

Shenaaz Nanji, Calgary, Child of Dandelions.

Mariko Tamaki, Toronto, Skim.

Children's Literature - Illustration

Isabelle Arsenault, Montreal, My Letter to the World and Other Poems, text by Emily Dickinson.

Josee Bisaillon, Saint-Hubert (Quebec), The Emperor's Second Hand Clothes, text by Anne Millyard.

Matt James, Toronto, Yellow Moon, Apple Moon, text by Pamela Porter.

Stephane Jorisch, Montreal, The Owl and the Pussycat, text by Edward Lear.

Kim LaFave, Roberts Creek (British Columbia), Shin-chi's Canoe, text by Nicola I. Campbell.    

French Children's Literature - Text

Camille Bouchard, Saint-Marcel-de-l'Islet (Quebec), Trente-neuf.

Sylvie Desrosiers, Longueuil (Quebec), Les trois lieues.

Charlotte Gingras, Morin-Heights (Quebec), Ophelie.

Francois Gravel, Montreal, Sales crapauds.

Carole Tremblay, Montreal, Fred Poulet enquête sur une chaussette.

French Children's Literature - Illustration

Philippe Béha, Montreal, Les pays inventes, text by Henriette Major.

Stéphane Jorisch, Montreal, Un cadeau pour Sophie, text by Gilles Vigneault

Marie Lafrance, Montreal, Le sorcier amoureux, text by Mireille Levert.

Caroline Merola, Montreal, Quand le chat est parti, text by Caroline Merola.

Janice Nadeau, Montreal, Ma meilleure amie, text by Gilles Tibo.

 

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