2019/2020 Willow Awards: Winners announced

 

Here are the winners of the 2019 Willow Awards, also known as the Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Awards. The finalists were announced in the spring of 2019 and young readers selected their favourites this year.  

And the winners, as chosen by young readers in Saskatchewan, are....drum roll, please.... 

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

 Sir Simon: Super Scarer
Written and illustrated by Cale Atkinson
Tundra Books

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

The House Next Door
Written by Joel A. Sutherland
Scholastic Canada

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

Aftermath 

Written by Kelley Armstrong

Penguin Random House

Congratulations to the winners!

2018/2019 Willow Awards: Nominees and Winners

 

Here are the nominees and the winners of the 2018 Willow Awards, also known as the Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Awards. Announced in the spring of 2018, young readers read and then selected their favourites the following year. 

The Branch
Written by Mireille Messier
Illustrated by Pierre Pratt
Kids Can Press

Underneath the Sidewalk 
Written by Claire Eamer
Illustrated by Thomas Gibault
North Winds Press (Scholastic Canada)

Carson Crosses Canada 
Written by Linda Bailey
Illustrated by Kass Reich
Tundra

When Planet Earth Was New
Written by James Gladstone
Illustrated by Katherine Diemert
Owlkids

Heartwood Hotel: A True Home 
Written by Kallie George
Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
HarperCollins

When the Trees Crackle with Cold: a Cree Calendar
Written by Bernice Johnson-Laxdal and Miriam Körner
Illustrated by Miriam Körner
Your Nickel's Worth

A Horse Named Steve 
Written and illustrated by Kelly Collier
Kids Can Press

When We Were Alone 
Written by David A. Robertson
Illustrated by Julie Flett
HighWater Press

Malaika’s Costume  
Written by Nadia L. Hohn
Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher
Groundwood

Where Will I Live? 
Written by Rosemary McCarney
Second Story Press

And the winner is....

 Underneath the Sidewalk

Written by Claire Eamer 

Illustrated by Thomas Gibault 

North Winds Press (Scholastic Canada)

Adventure on Whalebone Island 
Written by M.A. Wilson
Rainy Bay Press

Laura Monster Crusher 
Written by Wesley King
Puffin Canada

The Bonaventure Adventures 
Written by Rachelle Delaney
Puffin Canada

Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess 
Written by Shari Green
Pajama Press

Half-truths and Brazen Lies: An Honest Look at Lying 
Written by Kira Vermond
Illustrated by Clayton Hanmer
Owlkids

Mary Anning’s Curiosity 
Written by Monica Kulling
Groundwood 

Hannah and the Magic Eye 
Written by Tyler Enfield
Yellow Dog (Great Plains)

The Theory of Hummingbirds
Written by Michelle Kadarusman
Pajama Press

Kings of the Court 
Written by Alison Hughes
Orca

The Tragic Tale of the Great Auk
Written and illustrated by Jan Thornhill
Groundwood

And the winner is....

 Laura Monster Crusher

Written by Wesley King 

Puffin Canada

Dominion
Written by Shane Arbuthnott
Orca

The Skeleton Tree 
Written by Iain Lawrence
Tundra

Ghost Boys
Written by Shenaaz Nanji
Mawenzi House Publishers

Summer’s End 
Written by Joel A. Sutherland
Scholastic Canada

Hit the Ground Running 
Written by Alison Hughes
Orca

The Valiant 
Written by Lesley Livingston
HarperCollins

Optimists Die First 
Written by Susin Nielsen
Tundra

The Winnowing 
Written by Vikki VanSickle
Scholastic Canada

Short for Chameleon 
Written by Vicki Grant
HarperTrophy Canada

Yellow Dog
Written by Miriam Körner
Red Deer Press

And the winner is....

Yellow Dog 

Written by Miriam Körner 
Red Deer Press

2017/2018 Willow Awards: Finalists and Winners

The Willow Awards are the Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice Awards. Each spring, short-lists are announced and young readers vote for their favouries the following year. Hence, I dated this group the 2017/2018 Willow Award. Because I didn't get this list out on time, I'm going to also post the winners.

The Shining Willow Finalists were:

The Darkest Dark
Written by Chris Hadfield and Kate Fillion
Illustrated by Terry and Eric Fan
Tundra Books

Frank and Laverne
Written by Dave Whamond and Jennifer Stokes
Illustrated by Dave Whamond
Owlkids Books

French Toast
Written by Kari-Lynn Winters
Illustrated by Francois Thisdale
Pajama Press

Haggis and Tank Unleashed: Digging for Dinos
Written by Jessica Young
llustrated by James Burks
Scholastic

If I Had A Gryphon
Written by Vikki VanSickle
Illustrated by Cale Atkinson
Tundra Books

In the Red Canoe
Written by Leslie A. Davidson
Illustrated by Laura Bifano
Orca

Ocean Animals from Head to Tail
Written by Stacey Roderick
Illustrated by Kwanchai Moriya
Kids Can Press

The Owl and the Lemming
Written by Roselynn Akulukjuk
Illustrated by Amanda Sandland
Inhabit Media

Sky Pig
Written by Jan L. Coates
Illustrated by Suzanne Del Rizzo
Pajama Press

Who Broke the Teapot?!
Written and illustrated by Bill Slavin
Tundra

THE WINNER IS

Frank and Laverne

Written by Dave Whamond and Jennifer Stokes
Illustrated by Dave Whamond
Owlkids Books

The Diamond Willow Finalists were:

Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard
Written by Jonathan Auxier
Penguin Group Canada

Worms for Breakfast: How to Feed a Zoo
Written by Helaine Becker
OwlKids

A Boy Named Queen
Written by Sara Cassidy
Groundwood Books

Myles and the Monster Outside
Written by Philippa Dowding
Dundurn

I Am Not a Number
Written by Jenny Dupuis and Kathy Kacer
Illustrated by Gillian Newland
Second Story Press

Hand in Hand
Written by Jean Little
Scholastic Canada

Bittersweet
Written by Winnie Mack
Scholastic Canada

Tank & Fizz: The Case of the Slime Stampede
Written by Liam O’Donnell
Illustrated by Mike Deas
Orca Book Publishers

Pandas on the Eastside
Written by Gabrielle Prendergast
Orca Book Publishers

Heart of a Champion
Written by Ellen Schwartz
Tundra Books

THE WINNER IS

I Am Not a Number

Written by Jenny Dupuis and Kathy Kacer

Illustrated by Gillian Newland

Second Story Press

The Snow Willow Finalists were:

The Hill
Written by Karen Bass
Pajama Press

Transferral
Written by Kate Blair
Dancing Cat Books

Icarus Down
Written by James Bow
Scholastic Canada

Julia Vanishes
Written by Catherine Egan
Doubleday Canada

The Pain Eater
Written by Beth Goobie
Second Story Press

In the Swish
Written by Dawn Green
Red Deer Press

Rodent
Written by Lisa J. Lawrence
Orca Book Publishers

The Pact
Written by Amanda West Lewis
Red Deer Press

Movers
Written by Meaghan McIsaac
Tundra Books

Lucky Jonah
Written by Richard Scrimger
HarperTrophy Canada

THE WINNER IS

The Pain Eater

Written by Beth Goobie

Second Story Press

Congratulations to all nominees and winners!

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.