Here are the finalists for the 2023 Governor General’s Literary Award for young people’s literature — illustrated books.
The Governor General’s Literary Awards are one of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious literary prizes.
The prizes, administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, are awarded in seven English-language categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, young people’s literature — text, young people’s literature — illustration, drama and French-to-English translation. Seven French-language awards are also given out in the same categories.
The Canada Council for the Arts is a partner of the CBC Literary Prizes.
Each winner will receive $25,000. The winners will be announced on Nov. 8, 2023.
The young people’s literature — illustrated books category was assessed by Marianne Ferrer, Lee Edward Födi and Mahak Jain.
You can see the finalists in all seven categories here.
Get to know the young people’s literature — illustrated books finalists below.
Boobies is a humorous picture book about the blue-footed Booby, a bird. It’s also a quirky look at how mammals feed their young — and where the milk comes from. Boobies sparks curiosity as it teaches young readers the wonders of human and animal diversity.
Boobies is for ages 3 to 8.
Nancy Vo was born on the prairies and now lives in Vancouver. She studied fine arts and architecture, and now works as a facility planner and a picture-book maker. She is the author and illustrator of the first two books in the Crow Stories trilogy.
When the kindergarteners get into their class on the first day of school, they have no idea who their teacher is. Their only clue is that it says “Mr. S” on the chalkboard. They’ll have to figure it out together!
Monica Arnaldo has written and illustrated several picture books. She was born in Ontario and now lives in Quebec.
Still This Love Goes On is a picture book about the power of love and of Cree traditions. It is an artful look at how love will always live on, across time, geography and generations.
Singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie’s long career includes an expansive catalogue of music, art and work in activism. Hey Little Rockabye was her first children’s picture book, published in 2020. Sainte-Marie’s claims to Indigenous ancestry are being contradicted by an investigation by CBC’s Fifth Estate.
Julie Flett has illustrated several picture books including Richard Van Camp’s Little You and We Sang You Home, Monique Gray Smith’s My Heart Fills with Happiness and David A. Robertson’s On the Trapline. She also is the creator behind the picture book Birdsong.
The Skull is a macabre picture book for folktale fans. It tells the story of a brave girl named Otilla who finds herself lost in a dark forest. She stumbles upon a lonely house, with a skull as her host. The two of them are both afraid of something. Can she save them both?
Jon Klassen is a Canadian author and illustrator. His books include I Want My Hat Back, This is Not My Hat and We Found a Hat and he has also frequently collaborated with American author Mac Barnett on books like Triangle, The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse, Sam and Dave Dig a Hole and Circle.
Q32:47Jon Klassen on his bestselling children’s picture books
Featured VideoJon Klassen is a big name in the world of children’s picture books. His bestselling works include “I Want My Hat Back” and “This Is Not My Hat.” Now, as Jon prepares to release his latest book, “The Skull,” he opens up to Tom about his early influences, when he first realized he could draw, and how he created his signature style that defined his illustration career.
When You Can Swim is a picture book that encourages children to overcome their fears of the water. In the book, an adult explains to a young girl the joys and surprises of swimming.
When You Can Swim is for ages 4 to 8.
Jack Wong is a Halifax-based author and illustrator who was born in Hong Kong but grew up in Vancouver. When You Can Swim is his first book.