The Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize is a new award category that has been added to the British Columbia Book Prize Program. The prize is presented to the author and illustrator of the best children’s picture book by a British Columbia or Yukon resident. This new award creates two categories for children’s books - the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature prize will now cover only non-illustrated works.
Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize 2010
Supported by Kate Walker and Company
Judges: Rae Maté, Phyllis Simon, Maggie de Vries
Winner! Maggie Can’t Wait
by Frieda Wishinsky
Illustrated by Dean Griffiths
Publisher: Fitzhenry & Whiteside
Maggie can’t wait to show her friends the picture of her soon-to-be adopted sister, but she is mortified by their reaction. Maybe the baby is as ugly as they say. Maybe her parents shouldn’t adopt that baby after all. But could it be that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? A delightful sequel to Give Maggie a Chance, Maggie Can’t Wait again features the little girl with the big imagination as she dreads the arrival of a new adopted sister and learns how easy it is to make up her own mind. Frieda Wishinsky is the author of many children’s books, including Jennifer Jones Won’t Leave Me Alone, The Man Who Made Parks and Nothing Scares Us. In 1999, Frieda was shortlisted for a Governor General’s Award for Each One Special. She lives in Toronto. Dean Griffiths is an illustrator and computer graphics animator from Duncan.
Bubble Homes and Fish Farts
by Fiona Bayrock
Illustrated by Carolyn Conahan
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Bubbles are for popping, fishing, talking-and for sailing, keeping warm, and even shooting hoops! Who knew animals used bubbles in so many ways? Learn how the water spider builds an underwater bubble home, how snapping shrimp pop bubbles to scare other animals, and how dolphins play with bubbles as if it’s a game. Whether they are riding, breathing, or making bubbles, one thing is for sure-animals use bubbles in amazing ways. Real-world science meets tongue-in-cheek humor to describe how animals use bubbles. Lighthearted conversational text is accompanied by delightful full-bleed watercolour illustrations. Fiona Bayrock has written fifteen books and numerous articles and stories for children. She lives in Chilliwack. Carolyn Conahan is the staff illustrator for Cricket magazine and lives in Portland, Oregon.
Ella’s Umbrellas
by Jennifer Lloyd
Illustrated by Ashley Spires
Publisher: Simply Read Books
Ella has every umbrella under the rainbow from aquamarine to jellybean green. Her umbrellas fill up the entire house. Aunt Stella from Katmandu is coming to visit and Ella’s mom demands that Ella get rid of her umbrellas. But Ella wants to keep her precious possessions. Brought to life through rhythmic text and watercolor illustrations, this is the perfect book to cheer anyone up on a drizzly day. Jennifer Lloyd is a kindergarten teacher in Blainville, Quebec, and is the author of One Winter Night and Looking for Loons. Ashley Spires is the illustrator of A Bloom of Friendship: The Story of the Canadian Tulip Festival, which was nominated for the Silver Birch Award, the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award and the 2007 Red Cedar Award.
On My Walk
by Kari-Lynn Winters
Illustrated by Christina Leist
Publisher: Tradewind Books
Mothers and toddlers end up being caught in a summer rainstorm on their walk through Vancouver streets. The simple text, combined with onomaoeic words and beautiful illustrations, is great for reading aloud. Beautifully illustrated by Christina Leist, this simple story will be a fun bedtime read for everyone. This is Kari-Lynn’s fourth book for young children. Her books have been nominated for the BC Book Prize, the Chocolate Lily Award and Ontario’s Blue Spruce Award. Born and raised in Germany, Christina Leist now lives in Vancouver. Before becoming a full-time illustrator, she worked in advertising as an art director and graphic designer. She is the illustrator of Baad Animals, The Graveyard Hounds and Jack the Bear.
Vanishing Habitats
by Robert Bateman with Nancy Kovacs
Illustrated by Robert Bateman
Publisher: Scholastic Canada / Madison Press
In Vanishing Habitats, artist and naturalist Robert Bateman shares his love and knowledge of the world’s habitats. Through his paintings and stories, he describes the threats facing all kinds of animals, ranging from Snow Monkeys, Jaguars, and Bison to exotic birds such as Roseate Spoonbills and Burrowing Owls. He explains why these animals and their homes are in danger and describes what steps can be taken to save them. Good science and fine art in the form of Bateman’s iconic paintings of wildlife combine to offer a visually stunning assessment of the fate of deserts, grasslands, boreal, tropical and old-growth forests and the denizens of each. Robert Bateman’s dedication as a naturalist and artist has allowed him to transfer his abilities to children’s books. Vanishing Habitats, Polar Worlds, Birds of Prey and the bestselling Backyard Birds showcase his artistic talent and commitment to nature’s preservation. He lives on Salt Spring Island. Nancy Kovacs has worked as co-author or editor on all four of Robert Bateman’s children’s books. She lives in Georgetown, Ontario.
Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize 2009 Winner
Supported by Kate Walker and Company
Judges: Ron Jobe, Kari-Lynn Winters, and Bonne Zabolotney
Winner: The King Has Goat Ears
by Katarina Jovanovic
Illustrated by Philippe Beha
Publisher: Tradewind Books
Have you ever had a secret that you knew you shouldn’t share, but the burden of keeping silent was so great you just had to let it out? This is the struggle that Igor, the young apprentice of Miro (the only barber left in the kingdom), experiences after he cuts King Boyan’s hair, and astutely responds to the king that his prominent, goat ears “look just fine.“ Released back to his village, it is not Igor’s intention to betray the king’s secret to his subjects. And so, in a creative turn that draws upon an ancient Serbian folktale, author Katarina Jovanovic (who now resides in Vancouver but who worked for many years in children’s programming for Serbian radio) relieves Igor of the burden of his secret by having him dig a hole in a meadow, shout his secret into it, and cover up the hole again. Surely this can’t be good for Igor.
Other finalists
Good-bye Marianne: A Story of Growing Up in Nazi Germany
by Irene N. Watts
Illustrated by Kathryn E. Shoemaker
Publisher: Tundra Books
In Good-bye Marianne, life for eleven-year-old Marianne Kohn, a young Jewish girl, begins to crumble. First there was the burning of the neighbourhood shops. Then her father, a mild-mannered bookseller, must leave the family and go into hiding. No longer allowed to go to school or even sit in a café, Marianne’s only comfort is her beloved mother. This fictional account of hatred and racism speaks volumes about both history and human nature. Irene Watts was one of the 10,000 Jewish children who were sent from Nazi Europe to Britain in the Kindertransport rescue operation in 1938; her moving autobiographical novel personalizes what it was like to be a Jewish child in Berlin at the time.
Polar Worlds: Life at the ends of the earth
by Robert Bateman
Publisher: Scholastic Canada Ltd.
Through fascinating images and illustrations, Robert Bateman provides us with a window to the animals of our poles. Discover arctic wolves, polar bears, penguins, whales, seals and more. You will be fascinated by the great facts and Robert Bateman’s rich paintings and sketches.
Rosie and Buttercup
by Chieri Uegaki
Publisher: Kids Can Press
From the perfectly paired creative team who brought you the bestselling Suki’s Kimono comes a charming picture book about two sisters. Before Buttercup came along, Rosie’s life was blessed. Her schedule was filled with dance and voice lessons. Best of all, she didn’t have to share her pet crickets, Eenie and Meenie, with anybody. Things get so bad that Rosie decides to give her little sister away — to a good home, of course. But as she says good-bye to Buttercup forever, Rosie can’t ignore a squeezy feeling in her chest. Rosie and Buttercup addresses sibling problems and brings to light that, while a younger sister can sometimes be a pain, having a little sister around can be loads of fun.
Stanley At Sea
by Linda Bailey
Publisher: Kids Can Press
It’s picnic time in the park — but not for Stanley. He knows he’s not supposed to beg, but his people are always eating. And Stanley is always hungry! After he’s told to “get,” Stanley wanders down by the river where he runs into Alice, Nutsy and Gassy Jack. Soon their keen noses lead them to a delicious treat on a small boat with no people in sight. When the boat’s mooring comes loose, they float away with the current down the river, under a bridge and then out to sea!
| 2008 |
Ahoy, mateys! Let's hop a ship and sail away! On a hot summer day, a wish transforms an urban backyard into a place of breezy high-seas adventure. As our bold Captain and Skipper ride the salty waves, they encounter a beastly sea monster, buried treasure, a scurvy pirate crew, lovely mermaids and more. The creative pair who brought you the acclaimed I Wished for a Unicorn offer up another celebration of the boundless distances a childhood wish can travel. With rich, spirited illustrations and sparkling rhymes that beg to be repeated, A Sea-Wishing Day is a spellbinding voyage into the imagination. Anchors aweigh! 2008 Other Shortlisted The Day It All Blew Away Elf the Eagle Jeffrey and Sloth Pink |
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| 2007 | Maggie de Vries Tale of a Great White Fish: A Sturgeon Story. Illustrated by Renné Benoit. Vancouver: Greystone Books, 2006. | |
| 2006 | Tanya Lloyd Kyi The Blue Jean Book: The Story Behind the Seams. Toronto: Annick Press, 2005. | |
| 2005 | Marilynn Reynolds Goodbye to Griffith Street. Illustrated by Renné Benoit. Victoria: Orca Book Publishers, 2004. | |
| 2004 | Linda Bailey Stanley’s Party. Illustrated by Bill Slavin. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2003. | |
| 2003 | Annette LeBox Salmon Creek. Illustrated by Karen Reczuch. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2002. |
2008 Winner: Robert Heidbreder A Sea
-Wishing Day. Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton (right). Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2007.