Okay, I am going to try to get ahead of the book awards game now and post the
recently announced nominees for the Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Awards, also known as the Willow Awards.
Congratulations to authors and illustrators and their publishers on these nominations.
For those books written for readers in Kindergarten to Gr. 3
The Shining Willow Finalists are:
Awรขsis and the World-Famous Bannock
Written by Dallas Hunt
Illustrated by AmandaStrong
Highwater Press
Reviewed here
Boxitects
Written and illustrated by Kim Smith
HarperCollins
Reviewed here
Emma’s Gems
Written by Anne Renaud
Illustrated by Leanne Franson
Peanut Butter Press
How to Give Your Cat a Bath In Five Easy Steps
Written by Nicola Winstanley
Illustrated by John Martz
Tundra Books
Karate Kakapo
Written by Loredana Cunti
Illustrated by Stacy Curtis
Kids Can Press
Princess Puffybottom...and Darryl
Written by Susin Nielsen
Illustrated by Olivia Chin Mueller
Tundra Books
Reviewed here
Robert Bateman: The Boy Who Painted Nature
Written by Margriet Ruurs
Illustrated byRobert Bateman
Orca Book Publishers
Sergeant Billy: The True Story of the Goat Who Went to War
Written by Mireille Messier
Illustrated by Kass Reich
Tundra Books
The Silence Slips In
Written by Alison Hughes
Illustrated by Ninon Pelletier
Orca BookPublishers
Triceratops Stomp
Written and illustrated by Karen Patkau
Pajama Press
Reviewed here
For those books written for readers of Gr. 4 to 6
The Diamond Willow Finalists are:
Acting Wild: How We Behave Like Birds, Bugs and Beasts
Written by Maria Birmingham
Illustrated by Dave Whamond
Owlkids Books
Camp Average
Written by Craig Battle
Owlkids Books
The Collected Works of Gretchen Oyster
Written by Cary Fagan
Tundra Books
Girl of the Southern Sea
Written by Michelle Kadarusman
Pajama Press
Reviewed here
Harvey Comes Home
Written by Colleen Nelson
Pajama Press
Reviewed here
Missing Mike
Written by Shari Green
Pajama Press
Reviewed here
My Deal With the Universe
Written by Deborah Kerbel
Scholastic Canada
Reviewed here
A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying
Written by Kelley Armstrong
Puffin Canada
Tales Beyond the Brain
Written by Jeff Szpirglas
Illustrated by Steven P. Hughes
Orca Book Publishers
Too Young to Escape: a Vietnamese Girl Waits to be Reunited with Her Family
Written by Van Ho and Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Pajama Press
Reviewed here
For those books written for readers in Gr. 7 to 9
The Snow Willow Finalists are:
Broken Strings
Written by Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer
Penguin Random House
The Center of the Universe
Written by Ria Voros
Kids Can Press
Reviewed here
Don’t Tell the Nazis (also titled
Don't Tell the Enemy)
Written by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Scholastic Canada
Reviewed here
Funny You Don’t Look Autistic
Written by Michael McCreary
Annick Press
The Journey of Little Charlie
Written by Christopher Paul Curtis
Scholastic Canada
Reviewed here
The Justice Project
Written by Michael Betcherman
Orca Book Publishers
Sadia
Written by Colleen Nelson
Dundurn Press
Reviewed here
Safe Harbour
Written by Christina Kilbourne
Dundurn Press
This Place: 150 Years Retold
Written by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Sonny Assu, BrandonMitchell, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, David A. Robertson, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, Jen Storm, Richard Van Camp, Katherena Vermette and Chelsea Vowel
HighWater Press
Illustrated by Scott B. Henderson, Kyle Charles, Natasha Donovan, GMB Chomichuk, Ryan Howe, Jen Storm, Tara Audibert and Andrew Lodwick
Reviewed here
Trail of Crumbs
Written by Lisa J. Lawrence
Orca Book Publishers
It may seem a long
wait until voting begins next winter but it's a perfect time to start and with
so many great reads here that I'm sure time will fly quickly!
Congratulations to all nominees!
