2016/2017 Willow Awards nominees announced

Established in 2001, the Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice (SYRCA) awards, the Willow Awards, encourage reading by nominating a variety of Canadian titles in three categories. Young readers can participate in the reading programs through their schools and public libraries, selecting their favourite from one list. The Willow Awards are truly conferred according the choices of Saskatchewan's young readers.

These nominees were announced in 2016, will be voted on in 2017, awarded in 2017 and will be called the 2016/2017 nominees by some and 2016 Willows by others. It's a little confusing.

The nominated titles for the three Willow Awards i.e., Shining Willow, Diamond Willow and Snow Willow are detailed below.

For those books written for readers in Kindergarten to Gr. 3

The 2016/2017 Shining Willow nominees are:

Clover's Luck 
Written by Kallie George

Illustrated by Alexandra Bolger

HarperCollins

Dojo Daycare
Written and illustrated by Chris Tougas

Owlkids 

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear
Written by Lindsay Mattick

Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

Hurry Up, Ilua!
Written and illustrated by Nola Helen Hicks

Inhabit Media

If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur
Written by Linda Bailey

Illustrated by Colin Jack

Tundra 

InvisiBill 

Written by Maureen Fergus

Illustrated by Dušan Petričić

Tundra

Kyle Goes Alone 
Written by Jan Thornhill

Illustrated by Ashley Barron

Owlkids

Today Is the Day 
Written by Eric Walters 

Illustrated by Engenie Fernandes

Tundra

When Santa Was a Baby 
Written by Linda Bailey

Illustrated by Geneviève Godbout

Tundra

A Woodpecker's Tale

Written and illustrated by Sean Cassidy

Fitzhenry & Whiteside

For those books written for readers of Gr. 4 to 6

The 2016/2017 Diamond Willow nominees are:

Audrey (cow)
Written by Dan Bar-el
Tundra

Finding Grace
Written by Becky Citra
Second Story Press

Friend or Foe: The Whole Truth about Animals That People Love to Hate
Written by Etta Kaner

Illustrated by David Anderson

Owlkids

Frostbite Hotel
Written by Karin Adams

Lorimer

Lost in the Backyard
Written by Alison Hughes

Orca Book Publishers

Masterminds
Written by Gordon Korman 

Scholastic

Rain Shadow
Written by Valerie Sherrard 

Fitzhenry & Whiteside

Seven Dead Pirates 

Written by Linda Bailey 

Tundra

Speechless
Written by Jennifer Mook-Sang 

Scholastic Canada

28 Tricks for a Fearless Grade 6
Written by Catherine Austen

Lorimer

For those books written for readers in Gr. 7 to 9

The 2016/2017 Snow Willow nominees are:

The Dogs 
by Allan Stratton 

Scholastic Canada

Enslavement 

by Melinda Friesen

Rebelight Publishing 

Fragile Bones
by Lorna S. Nicholson

Clockwise Press 

The Gospel Truth
by Caroline Pignat 

Red Deer Press

Julian 
by William Bell

Doubleday Canada

The Unquiet Past 

by Kelley Armstrong

Orca Book Publishers

Walking Home 
by Eric Walters

Doubleday Canada

We Are All Made of Molecules 
by Susin Nielsen

Tundra 

Young Man With Camera
by Emil Sher 

Scholastic

Zomboy
by Richard Scrimger

HarperTrophy

Because these nominees were announced last year, young readers have already been reading and choosing their favourites.  Winners will be announced at the Willows Gala on May 4.