The Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award is 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. A French category was added in 2002. In 2007, the French category was expanded to inclu
de both French fiction and French non-fiction. The winners are announced in May. The award takes its name from the aboriginal word for tamarack or larch, a tree that grows in all four Atlantic provinces.
2009 - 2010
Winners:
Dog Lost by Ingrid Lee (Scholastic (Chicken House), 2008) for English Fiction
Gotcha!: 18 Amazing Ways to Freak Out Your Friends by David Acer (Kids Can Press, 2008) for English Non-Fiction
Le cimetière de Boisvert by Tina Landry (Francophonie, 2008) for French Fiction
Délirons avec Léon - Spécial Olympiques by Annie Groovie (Courte échelle, 2008) for French Non-Fiction
Shortlist: Roman Anglaise; Documentaire Anglaise ; Roman Française ; Documentaire Française (pdfs).
2008-2009 Hackmatack English and French Selection Lists
| 2008 | English Fiction | Julie Lawson No Safe Harbour: The Halifax Explosion Diary of Charlotte Blackburn. Markham, ON: Scholastic Canada, 2006. |
| 2008 | English Non-fiction | Kathy Kacer Hiding Edith. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2006. |
| 2008 | French Fiction | Denis M. Boucher Le monstre du Lac Baker. Moncton, NB: Éditions de la Francophonie, 2006. |
| 2008 | French Non-fiction | Melvin Gallant Ti-Jean-le-Rusé. Illustrated by Michel Duguay. Moncton, NB: Bouton d'or Acadie, 2006. |
| 2007 | English Fiction | Pamela Porter The Crazy Man. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2005. |
| 2007 | English Non-fiction | Elizabeth MacLeod Harry Houdini: A Magical Life. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2005. |
| 2007 | French Fiction | Diane Bergeron L’atlas perdu. Illustrated by Sampar. Saint-Lambert, QC: Soulières Éditeur, 2004. |
| 2007 | French Non-fiction | Annie Groovie Léon et les expressions. Montreal: Les Éditions de la Courte Échelle, 2004. |
| 2006 | Fiction | Natale Ghent No Small Thing. Toronto: HarperTrophy Canada, 2004. |
| 2006 | Non-fiction | Linda Bailey Adventures in the Ice Age. Illustrated by Bill Slavin. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2004. |
| 2006 | French | Diane Carmel Léger La butte à Pétard. Illustrated by Michel Léger. Moncton, NB: Bouton d'or Acadie, 2004. |
| 2005 | Fiction | Deborah Ellis Mud City. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2003. |
| 2005 | Non-fiction | Diane Swanson Tunnels! Toronto: Annick Press, 2003. |
| 2005 | French | Alain M. Bergeron Zak, le fantôme. Saint-Lambert, QC: Soulières éditeur, 2003. |
| 2004 | Fiction | Alan Cumyn The Secret Life of Owen Skye. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2002 |
| 2004 | Non-fiction | Karen Levine Hana’s Suitcase. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2002. |
| 2004 | French | Lucia Cavezzali Opération Juliette. Montreal: Les Éditions Hurtubise HMH, 2002. |
| 2003 | Fiction | Deborah Ellis The Breadwinner. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2000. |
| 2003 | Non-fiction | Linda Bailey Adventures with the Vikings. Illustrated by Bill Slavin. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2001. |
| 2003 | French | Marthe Pelletier Chante pour moi, Charlotte. Illustrated by Rafael Sottolichio. Montréal: Les Éditions de la Courte Échelle, 2001. |
| 2002 | Fiction | Sharon E. McKay Charlie Wilcox. Toronto: Stoddart Kids, 2000. |
| 2002 | Non-fiction | Vivien Bowers Wow Canada! Exploring This Land From Coast to Coast to Coast. Toronto: Owl Books/Greey de Pencier, 1999. |
| 2002 | French | François Barcelo Premier trophée pour Momo de Sinro. Montreal: Les Éditions Québec Amérique Jeunesse, 2000. |
| 2001 | Fiction | Kathy Kacer The Secret of Gabi’s Dresser. Toronto: Second Story Press, 1999. |
| 2001 | Non-fiction | Andy Turnball and Debora Pearson By Truck to the North: My Arctic Adventure. Toronto: Annick Press, 1998. |
| 2000 | Fiction | Kenneth Oppel Sunwing. Toronto: HarperCollins, 1999. |
| 2000 | Non-fiction | Sheree Fitch If You Could Wear My Sneakers. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 1997 |
