The Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, 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.

Charles Baillie, retired Chairman and CEO of the TD Bank Financial Group, established the prize as a gift to his wife, Marilyn Baillie. As an award-winning children’s book author and an Early Learning specialist, Marilyn is involved in and passionate about this field.

About Marilyn Baillie

Marilyn Baillie has had many careers including nursery school teacher, lecturer at the Royal Ontario Museum, interior designer in New York City, magazine and book editor, publishing consultant and children’s book author. She currently lives in Toronto and Vermont with her husband.

Marilyn has travelled extensively with her family including adventures in Egypt, Kenya, the Galapagos and Papua New Guinea. She is an avid bird watcher and naturalist, which complement the environmental themes in her books. Marilyn is also a former editor of Chickadee magazine.

In addition to authoring OWL’s Amazing Things Animals Do series – Side by Side, Wild Talk, Time to Eat and Little Wonders – Marilyn’s previous credits include editing and compiling Science Surprises, More Science Surprises, and writing Magical Fun, all from Owl.

2008 Marilyn Baillie Winner

7th November- Frieda Wishinsky and Marie-Louise Gay, have won the $10,000 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award for Please, Louise! (Groundwood Books).

Please, Louise!
Written by Frieda Wishinsky
Illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
Groundwood Books

“A superb book that combines the themes of sibling conflict and "be careful what you wish for!"… Text and illustrations work together magnificently in this tender story of Jake, who wishes his younger sister Louise would just "go away!"… Please, Louise! is whimsical, touching, and evocative of the freedom and liveliness of childhood.”

Buy book from Amazon.ca | Abe Books Canada | Chapters.Indigo.ca

2008 MARILYN BAILLIE PICTURE BOOK AWARD ($10,000) Shortlist

Sponsored by A. Charles Baillie

Lickety-Split
Written by Robert Heidbreder
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Kids Can Press

“Hold on to your hats! Heidbreder takes us lickety-split and ziggety-zag through a tour-de-force of wordplay perfect for reading aloud… Inventive illustrations not only capture the energy and bounce of the verbal acrobatics, but add their own humour and drive this wildly original picture book to its rip-roaring conclusion.”

My New Shirt
Written by Cary Fagan left- - Authors website
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Tundra Books

“David loves his bubbie, but not the birthday gift she gives him every year… Through Fagan’s rich language, the dreaded white shirt and the reader find themselves on a colourful romp through garden mud, a hair salon and a bowl of borscht… In the mock style of an old photo album, Petričić's inimitable illustrations bring to life the slap-stick humour and the charming warmth of this family story.”

Pink
Written by Nan Gregory -right
Illustrated by Luc Melanson
Groundwood Books

“The intensity of wanting something out of reach has never been so vividly portrayed as in Gregory's eloquent text and Melanson's pink-infused illustrations which capture the pain of longing and the warmth of family love in a powerful portrayal of a young girl’s hard-won realization that though she can’t have what she wants, maybe what she has is what matters most.”

Super Handyman: The Master of Tools
Written and illustrated by Barroux
Translated by Jane Macaulay
Published by Smith, Bonappétit & Son

“Fabulously creative and uniquely illustrated, this story of a regular dad who becomes transformed into ‘Super Handyman’ when he enters his work shed has huge appeal for anyone who has ever looked up to a parent for their seeming super-human skill... Artist Barroux proves that his charming storytelling is a match for his unique palette and layered, textured artwork.”

JURY MEMBERS: Brenda Halliday, librarian, book reviewer and sessional lecturer, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto; Judi McCallum, training coordinator, Markham Public Library; and Joanne Schwartz, children's librarian, Lillian H. Smith, Toronto Public Library.

Buy book from Amazon.ca | Abe Books Canada | Chapters.Indigo.ca

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