Established in 1985,the National Chapter of Canada IODE Violet Downey Book Award of $3,000 is given to the best English-language book published in the previous calendar year by a Canadian and published in Canada. The work must contain at least 500 words of text, be suitable for children aged 13 and under and may be in any category, with the exception of fairy tales, anthologies and adaptations. The winner will be chosen by a six-member panel of judges, which includes two recognized specialists in the field of children’s literature. The award may be divided between two people. The prize is generally announced in May.
2009
Winner: Before Green Gables - Budge Wilson Age 12+
Runners-Up
Afrika, by Colleen Craig. Colleen Craig Age 12+
Death in the Air Shane Peacock Age 12+
Leaving Fletchville Rene Schmidt Age 8+
Star Climber Kenneth Oppel Age 12+
Voyageur Eric Walters Age 8+
War Brothers Sharon McKay Age 12+
2008 Winner- Eye of the Crow by Shane Peacock, Tundra Books
2008 Other Shortlisted
Schooled by Gordon Korman, Scholastic
Elijah of Buxtonby Christopher Curtis, Scholastic
Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel, Harper Collins
Rex Zero, King of Nothing by Tim Wynne-Jones, Groundwood
| 2007 | Eric Walters Shattered. Toronto: Viking Canada, 2006. | |
| 2006 | Rachna Gilmore The Sower of Tales. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2005. | |
| 2005 | Anne Dublin Bobbie Rosenfeld: The Olympian Who Could Do Everything. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2004 | |
| 2004 | Sarah Ellis The Several Lives of Orphan Jack. Illustrations by Bruno St-Aubin. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2003. | |
| 2003 | Karen Levine Hana’s Suitcase. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2002. | |
| 2002 | Brian Doyle Mary Ann Alice. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2001. | |
| 2001 | Sharon McKay Charlie Wilcox. Toronto: Stoddart Kids, 2000. | |
| 2000 | Katherine Holubitsky Alone at Ninety Foot. Victoria: Orca Book Publishers, 1999. | |
| 1999 | Gayle Friesen Janey's Girl. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1998. | |
| 1998 | Celia Barker Lottridge Wings to Fly. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 1997. | |
| 1997 | Janet McNaughton To Dance at the Palais Royale. St. John’s: Tuckamore Books, 1996. | |
| 1996 | Jean Little His Banner Over Me. Toronto: Penguin Books Canada, 1995. | |
| 1995 | Sarah Ellis Out of the Blue. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 1994. | |
| 1994 | Kit Pearson The Lights Go On Again. Toronto: Viking Kestrel, 1993. | |
| 1993 | Julie Johnston Hero of Lesser Causes. Toronto: Lester Publishing, 1992. | |
| 1992 | Sheryl McFarlane Waiting for the Whales. Illustrated by Ron Lightburn. Victoria: Orca Book Publishers, 1991. | |
| 1991 | Michael Bedard Redwork. Toronto: Lester & Orpen Dennys, 1990. | |
| 1991 | Barbara Smucker Incredible Jumbo. Markham, ON: Viking, 1990. | |
| 1990 | Paul Yee Tales From Gold Mountain. Illustrated by Simon Ng. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 1989. | |
| 1988 | Donn Kushner A Book Dragon. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1987. | |
| 1987 | Janet Lunn Shadow in Hawthorn Bay. Toronto: Lester & Orpen Dennys, 1986. | |
| 1986 | Marianne Brandis The Quarter Pie Window. Erin, ON: The Porcupine's Quill, 1985. | |
| 1985 | Mary Ellen Lang-Collura Winners. Saskatoon: Western Producer Prairie Books, 1984. |
