2026 Ann Connor Brimer Award for Atlantic Canadian Children's Literature: Shortlist announced

 

Yesterday, the shortlist for the Ann Conner Brimer Award, one of the Atlantic Book Awards, was announced. This award, established in 1992 and administered by the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia and supported by Gavin Brimer, son of the teacher, researcher and bookseller for whom the award is named, celebrates outstanding contributions to writing for Atlantic Canadian young people, and comes with a $5,000 prize. 

 

Congratulations to the following titles and their authors on being shortlisted for this award.

 

Bertie Stewart Is Perfectly Imperfect

Written by Melanie Mosher

Nimbus Publishing

192 pp.

Ages 7–11

2024 

 

Joe and the Wreck of the Tribune

Written by Jacqueline Halsey

Nimbus Publishing

176 pp.

Ages 8–12 

2025 

 

The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall

Written by Charis Cotter

Tundra Books 

392 pp.

Ages 9–12 

2025 

The Newest Gnome

Written by Lauren Soloy

Tundra Books 

72 pp.

Ages 3–7 

2025 

 

Our Ancestor's Kitchen

Written by Willie Poll

Illustrated by Shaikara David 

Annick Press

36 pp.

Ages 4–7 

2025 

 

 

 Winners of all Atlantic Book Awards, including the Ann Connor Brimer Award, will be announced on Thursday, June 4, 2026 in Halifax.

 

 

 

Atlantic Book Awards' 2012 winners announced

In St. John's Newfoundland last night, the winners of the Atlantic Book Awards for 2012 were announced.

Of the nine Atlantic Book Awards, three awards are specific for children's and YA literature. A fourth award was won by a young adult book and has been included here as well.  The winners in these award categories are listed below.

Ann Connor Brimer Award 

for Children’s Literature

WINNER

The Year Mrs. Montague Cried

by Susan White 

Acorn Press

Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award 

for Excellence in Illustration

WINNER

There were Monkeys in My Kitchen

Illustrated by Sydney Smith

Written by Sheree Fitch

Nimbus Publishing

 

Margaret and John Savage 

First Book Award

WINNER

The Town That Drowned 

by Riel Nason

Goose Lane Editions

The Bruneau Family Children’s/Young Adult Literature Award

WINNER

Jack and the Manger

by Andy Jones

Running the Goat Books & Broadsides

 Congratulations  and  Félicitations

Atlantic Book Awards: 2012

Last night, at a literary fundraiser that featured author Alexander Macleod speaking with other CanLit authors, the Atlantic Book Awards Society announced the shortlists of nominated titles for its nine different book prizes.

The Atlantic Book Awards and Festival will be held May 10-17, 2012, comprising of numerous free events in all Canadian Atlantic provinces, and will culminate with an awards ceremony on May 17 in Newfoundland.

To get more information about the Atlantic Canada Book Awards and this year's nominated titles, go to http://www.atlanticbookawards.ca/2012-atlantic-book-awards-and-festival-shortlist/


The nine Atlantic Book Awards are:

• Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children’s Literature

• APMA Best Atlantic-Published Book Award, sponsored by Friesens

• Dartmouth Book Award for Non-fiction in Memory of Robbie Robertson, presented by the Kiwanis Club of Dartmouth

• Democracy 250 Atlantic Book Award for Historical Writing

• Jim Connors Dartmouth Book Award (Fiction), presented by Boyne Clarke

• Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration

• Margaret and John Savage First Book Award

• Newfoundland and Labrador Book Award for Fiction

• The Bruneau Family Children’s/Young Adult Literature Award

Congratulations go out to all authors, illustrators and publishers.

If you've been reading CanLit for LittleCanadians, you know I always like to emphasize books for younger readers.  Here are the Atlantic Book Awards nominations of books and author/illustrators for young readers: 

Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children’s Literature

Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret
by Vicki Grant
HarperCollins Canada

Chasing Freedom
by Gloria Ann Wesley
Roseway Publishing

The Year Mrs. Montague Cried
by Susan White 
Acorn Press









Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration

Thank You for My Bed
Illustrated and written by Doretta Groenendyk
Acorn Press

A Day with You in Paradise
Illustrated by Patsy MacKinnon  
Written by Lennie Gallant
Nimbus Publishing

There were Monkeys in My Kitchen
Illustrated by Sydney Smith
Written by Sheree Fitch
Nimbus Publishing


 




Margaret and John Savage First Book Award

The Town That Drowned 
by Riel Nason
Goose Lane Editions









The Bruneau Family Children’s/Young Adult Literature Award

Jack and the Manger
by Andy Jones
Running the Goat Books & Broadsides

Edge of Time
by Susan M. MacDonald
Breakwater Books

Dragon Seer’s Gift 
by Janet McNaughton
HarperCollins Canada