2025 CCBC Book Awards: Winners announced

On Monday, October 27, 2025, a gala event was held to announce the winners of this year's English-language Canadian Children's Book Awards of the Canadian Children's Book Centre. (The press release of the announcement is posted here.) From a fine list of nominees, the following winners were selected by juries of their peers from the kidCanLit world. 

Here now are the winners of the following English-language awards:

• Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award ($20,000)
• Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People ($5,000)
• Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction ($10,000)
• Amy Mathers Teen Book Award ($5,000)
• Jean Little First-Novel Award ($5,000)
• Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy ($5,000)
• Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award ($2,500)

• • • • • • •

 

Congratulations to all winners!

• • • • • • •

 

Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award: WINNER 

 

SOS Water

Written and illustrated by Yayo 
Tradewind Books

 

• • • • •

Geoffrey Bilson Award for 

Historical Fiction for Young People:   WINNER

 

Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams

Written by Shari Green 
Andrews McMeel Publishing

 

 

• • • • •

 

Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children's Non-fiction :   WINNER

 

Meet Jim Egan (Scholastic Canada Biography)

Written by Elizabeth MacLeod 
Illustrated by Mike Deas 
Scholastic Canada

 • • • • •

Amy Mathers Teen Book Award:   WINNER

 

Age 16

Written and illustrated by Rosena Fung
Annick Press

• • • • •

Jean Little First-Novel Award:   WINNER   

 

Alterations

Written and illustrated by Ray Xu 
Union Square Kids

• • • • •

 

Arlene Barlin Award 

for Science Fiction and Fantasy:   WINNER 

 

The Headmasters

Written by Mark Morton
Shadowpaw Press

 

 

 

 

• • • • •

 

Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award:   WINNER

  

Hummingbird / Aamo-binashee

Written and illustrated by Jennifer Leason 
Anishinaabemowin translation by Norman Chartrand and Jennifer Leason 
Orca Book Publisher

 

 

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2025 CCBC Book Awards: Finalists announced

From https://bookcentre.ca/blogs/industry-news/finalists-announced-for-the-2025-ccbc-book-awards

On Wednesday, August 17, 2025, the Canadian Children's Book Centre, our nationally-renowned authority on all things related to youngCanLit, announced the finalists for the 2025 English-language Canadian Children's Book Centre Awards. (See their website announcement here with videos of shortlists on Bibliovideo. A pdf is also available.) These awards celebrate picture books, historical fiction, YA, debut novels, science fiction and fantasy, and more. Over the years, the awards have changed, some discontinued and some transitioned (e.g., the long-awarded Norma Fleck award for Canadian children's non-fiction will now be sponsored to honour Sharon Fitzhenry). Still, this year's seven awards are a sampling of the extraordinary books for young people created by Canadian authors and illustrators. They are a great resource for exceptional reads from 2024 to 2025.

 

This year, the children's book awards include the following: 

• Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award ($20,000) 
• Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People ($5,000)
• Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction ($10,000)  
• Amy Mathers Teen Book Award ($5,000) 
• Jean Little First-Novel Award ($5,000) 
• Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy ($5,000)
• Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award ($2,500)

• • • • • • •

 

Here are the short lists for each award category, as announced by the Canadian Children's Book Centre:

 

Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award

Supported by A. Charles Baillie

This award honours excellence in illustrated English picture books for children ages 3-8 and written and illustrated by Canadians.

A Face Is a Poem
Written and illustrated by Julie Morstad 
Tundra Books

I’m Afraid, Said the Leaf
Written by Danielle Daniel 
Illustrated by Matt James 
Tundra Books

It Bears Repeating
Written by Tanya Tagaq 
Illustrated by Cee Pootoogook 
Tundra Books

Mad at Dad
Written and illustrated by Janie Hao
Kids Can Press

Reviewed here 

SOS Water
Written and illustrated by Yayo 
Tradewind Books

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People 

Supported by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Bilson Endowment Fund

This is given annually to reward excellence in the writing of an outstanding work of historical fiction for young readers by a Canadian author.

Age 16
Written and illustrated by Rosena Fung 
Annick Press

Eyes on the Ice
Written by Anna Rosner 
Groundwood Books

The Go-Between
Written by Jennifer Maruno 
Red Deer Press

Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams
Written by Shari Green 
Andrews McMeel Publishing

Wings to Soar
Written by Tina Athaide 
Charlesbridge Move

Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction

Supported by the Fitzhenry Family Foundation 

It honours excellence in Canadian children’s non-fiction books for Grades 4-12 (ages 8-18).  

All Consuming: Shop Smarter for the Planet (Orca Think)

Written by Erin Silver 
Illustrated by Suharu Ogawa 
Orca Book Publishers

 

The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey (Orca Biography)
Written by Chad Soon and George Chiang
Illustrated by Amy Qi 
Orca Book Publishers

 

Lost at Windy River: A True Story of Survival
Written by Trina Rathgeber 
Illustrated by Alina Pete 
Coloured by Jillian Dolan 
Orca Book Publishers

 

Meet Jim Egan (Scholastic Canada Biography)
Written by Elizabeth MacLeod 
Illustrated by Mike Deas 
Scholastic Canada

Reviewed here

 

You Can Be an Activist: How to Use Your Strengths & Passions to Make a Difference (CitizenKid)
Written by Charlene Rocha and Mary Beth Leatherdale 
Illustrated by Drew Shannon 
Kids Can Press 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amy Mathers Teen Book Award

Supported by Accelerate360 Canada

This award honours excellence in fiction written in English for teens or young adults (ages 13-18) by a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. 

Age 16
Written and illustrated by Rosena Fung 
Annick Press

And Then There Was Us
Written by Kern Carter 
Tundra Books

A Constellation of Minor Bears
Written by Jen Ferguson 
Heartdrum

Fledgling (The Keeper's Records of Revolution, Book 1)
Written by S.K. Ali 
Kokila

For She Is Wrath
Written by Emily Varga 
Wednesday Books

 

The Lightning Circle
Written by Vikki VanSickle 
Illustrated by Laura K. Watson 
Tundra Books 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jean Little First-Novel Award

Supported by Teresa James

This award recognizes the achievements of a first-time Canadian children’s novel written for ages 8-12. 

Alterations
Written and illustrated by Ray Xu 
Union Square Kids

Maya Plays the Part
Written by Calyssa Erb 
Annick Press

Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom (Secrets of Ravensbarrow, Book 1)
Written and illustrated by Braden Hallett
Annick Press

 

 

 

 

 

Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy

Supported by Elly Barlin-Daniels

This award, in honour of the sponsor's sister Arlene Barlin, is given to recognize excellence in Canadian children’s speculative fiction.

Fledgling (The Keeper's Records of Revolution)
Written by S.K. Ali 
Kokila

The Headmasters
Written by Mark Morton 
Shadowpaw Press

Lockjaw
Written by Matteo L. Cerilli 
Tundra Books

Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities
Written by Casey Lyall 
Greenwillow Books

Reviewed here

Where the Dark Stands Still
Written by A.B. Poranek 

Margaret K. McElderry Books 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award

Supported by Rocky Mountain Book Award and Alice Chase 

It is awarded annually to a Canadian children’s title written for an elementary school-aged audience in Grades 4-6 (Ages 9-12) exemplifying Richard’s guiding principles of compassion, kindness, humanity, environmentalism, inclusivity, and connection to the land.

Hummingbird / Aamo-binashee
Written and illustrated by Jennifer Leason 
Anishinaabemowin translation by Norman Chartrand and Jennifer Leason 
Orca Book Publisher

I Wonder About Worlds: Discovering Planets and Exoplanets
Written by James Gladstone 
Illustrated by Yaara Eshet 
Owlkids Books

Mighty Scared: The Amazing Ways Animals Defend Themselves
Written by Erin Silver 
Illustrated by Hayden Maynard 
Orca Book Publishers

A Song for the Paper Children
Written by Christopher Tse 
Plumleaf Press

Reviewed here 

Two Pieces of Chocolate
Written by Kathy Kacer 
Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard 
Second Story Press

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The winners of these awards will be announced on October 27, 2025 at a ticketed event in Toronto. 

 

2024 Canadian Children's Book Centre Awards: English-language winners announced

Last night, a gala event was held to announce the winners of this year's English-language Canadian Children's Book Awards. From a fine list of nominees, the following winners were selected by juries of their peers from the kidCanLit world. (The French-language award will be announced on November 6, 2024.) 

In addition to the award announcements, two other important announcements were made.  First, the selection for the TD Grade One Book Giveaway was revealed. The following picture book will be gifted to all children in Grade 1 this fall. 

 

Violet Shrink

Written by Christine Baldacchino
Illustrated by Carmen Mok
Groundwood Books
978-1-77306-205-1
32 pp.
Ages 3-7

2020

Reviewed here

The second announcement is that of a new award. For 25 years, non-fiction books were awarded the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction. Next year, a new non-fiction award, the Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction will award $10,000 to an exceptional book of non-fiction for young people.

Here now are the winners of the following English-language awards:

• TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award ($50,000)
• Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award ($20,000)
• Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People ($5,000)
• Amy Mathers Teen Book Award ($5,000)
• Jean Little First-Novel Award ($5,000)
• Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy ($5,000)
• David Booth Children’s and Youth Poetry Award ($3,500)
• Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award ($2,500)

• • • • • • •

 

Congratulations to all winners!

• • • • • • •

 

 

TD Canadian Children's 

Literature Award:   WINNER

 

Skating Wild on an Inland Sea 

Written by Jean E. Pendziwol
Illustrated by Todd Stewart
Groundwood Books

 

 

• • • • •

 

Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award: WINNER 

 

When You Can Swim

Written and illustrated by Jack Wong
Orchard Books (Scholastic)

 

• • • • •

Geoffrey Bilson Award for 

Historical Fiction for Young People:   WINNER

 

Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold

Written by Jessica Outram
Second Story Press

 

 

• • • • •

Amy Mathers Teen Book Award:   WINNER

 

Only This Beautiful Moment

Written by Abdi Nazemian 

Balzer + Bray

• • • • •

 

Jean Little First-Novel Award:   WINNER 

The Cricket War

Written by Thọ Phạm and Sandra McTavish
Kids Can Press

• • • • •

 

 

 

 

Arlene Barlin Award 

for Science Fiction and Fantasy:   WINNER 

 

Bonesmith 

 (House of the Dead, Book 1)

Written by Nicki Pau Preto
Margaret K. McElderry Books

 

 

• • • • •

 

 

 

 

David Booth Award for Children's and Youth Poetry :   WINNER

 

Robot, Unicorn, Queen: Poems for You and Me

Written by Shannon Bramer
Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher
Groundwood Books

 

 

• • • • •

 

 

 

Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award:   WINNER

 

Alone: The Journeys of Three Young Refugees

Written by Paul Tom
Illustrated by Mélanie Baillairgé
Translated by Arielle Aaronson
Groundwood Books 

 

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