Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children (1947-2016)
Background
Description/criteria as of 1980
"This annual award was established in 1946 for a children's book by a Canadian citizen or resident. The award's former name was the English Medal Award of the Canadian Association of Children's Librarians. From its establishment until 1950, the award was given for a book written in English. For a number of nears after 1950, awards were made for both English and French books. Awards could be made to both in the same year, or one could be given without the other. Currently the award is given only for books in English. The award, a silver medal, is presented at the June conference of the Canadian Library Association." (Weber, Olga S. and Stephen J. Calvert. Literary and Library Prizes. 10th ed. New York: R.R. Bowker, 1980).
Description/criteria as of 1998
"This medal is awarded by the Canadian Association of Children's Librarians for outstanding children's books published during a calendar year and written by a Canadian or resident of Canada." "Presented by the Canadian Association of Children's Librarians, a section of Canadian Association of Public Libraries." (Canadian Library Association. Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award for Children [Bookmark]. Ottawa: Canadian Library Association, [1998?].)
Description/criteria as of 2016
The book must be published in Canada during the previous calendar year.
It must be written by a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
The text must be an act of creative (i.e., original) writing (i.e., fiction, poetry, narrative, non-fiction, retelling of traditonal literature).
It must be written in English or be translated into English.
It must appeal to children up to and including age 12.
("Book of the Year for Children Award." cla.ca as captured by the Internet Archive's Way Back Machine for June 1, 2016, accessed April 6, 2017. https://web-beta.archive.org/web/20160601125706/http://cla.ca/cla-at-work/awards/book-of-the-year-for-children-award/)
The award is also known as:
Book of the Year for Children Award
CLA Book of the Year for Children Award
English Medal Award of the Canadian Association of Children's Librarians
Award Winners
Unless otherwise noted, the archive copies represent the books as first issued (first edition, first printing) in Canada.
Unless otherwise noted, all copies original to the archive bear the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award sticker.
1947
Haig-Brown, Roderick L. Starbuck Valley Winter. Toronto: Collins, 1946.
(First published New York: Morrow, 1943; London: Collins, 1944.)
Archive copy: London: Collins, 1965, c1944. (The Evergreen Library). Ex-library.
1948
No award given
1949
Dunham, Mabel. Kristli's Trees. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1948.
Archive copy: 2nd printing, 1950. Ex-library.
1950
Lambert, Richard S. Franklin of the Arctic: A Life of Adventure. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1949.
Archive copy: 3rd printing, 1958. No dust jacket. Ex-library.
1951
No award given
1952
Clark, Catherine Anthony. The Sun Horse. Toronto: Macmillan Company of Canada, 1951.
Archive copy: 3rd printing, 1966. Ex-library.
1953
No award given
1954
No award given to an English language title
Gervais, Emile. Le vénérable François de Montmorency-Laval. Montréal: Comité des fondaterus de l'Église canadienne, [1952].
Archive copy: None.
1955
No award given
1956
Riley, Louise. Train for Tiger Lily. New York: Viking Press, 1954.
Archive copy: Toronto: Macmillan Company of Canada, 1967. Ex-library.
1957
Macmillan, Cyrus. Glooskap's Country and Other Indian Tales. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1955.
Archive copy: 5th impression, 1967. Ex-library.
1958
Mowat, Farley. Lost in the Barrens. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1956.
Archive copy: Trade paperback edition. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1984
1959
Hayes, John F. The Dangerous Cove: A Story of the Early Days in Newfoundland. Vancouver: Copp Clark Publishing Co., 1957.
Archive copy: Ex-library.
Flamme, Hélène. Un drôle de petit cheval. Montréal: Éditions Leméac, 1957.
Archive copy: None.
1960
Barbeau, Marius. Retold by Michael Hornyansky. The Golden Phoenix and Other French-Canadian Fairy Tales. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1958.
Archive copy: Paperback edition. The Golden Phoenix and Other Fairy Tales from Quebec. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1980.
Daveluy, Paule. L'Été enchanté: roman. Montréal: Éditions de l'Atelier, 1958.
Archive copy: None.
1961
Toye, William. The St. Lawrence. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1959.
Archive copy: Ex-library.
Gauvreau, Marcelle. Plantes vagabondes. Montréal: Centre de psychologie et de pédagogie, 1957.
Archive copy: None.
1962
No award given to an English language title
Aubry, Claude. Les isles du roi Maha Maha II: "Conte fantaisiste canadien." Québec: Editions du Pélican, 1960.
Archive copy: None.
1963
Burnford, Sheila. The Incredible Journey. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1961.(Also published: Boston: Little, Brown, 1961.)
Archive copy: Coronet edition, 1963. With new illustrations, 1976. Thirty-second impression, 1985.
Daveluy, Paule. Drôle d'automne: roman pour adolescents. Québec: Editions du Pélican, 1961.
None.
1964
Haig-Brown, Roderick L. The Whale People. London: Collins, 1962.
Archive copy: Don Mills, Ont.: Totem Books, 1982,
Archive copy: None.
1965
Reid, Dorothy M. Tales of Nanabozho. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1963.
Archive copy: second impression, 1966. Ex-library.
Aubry, Claude. Le loup de Noël. Montréal: Éditions Centre de psychologie et de pédagogie, 1962.
Archive copy: None.
1966
Houston, James. Tikta'liktak: An Eskimo Legend. Don Mills, Ont.: Longmans Canada, 1965.
Archive copy: Ex-library.
McNeill, James. The Double Knights: More Tales from Round the World. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1964.
Archive copy: London: Oxford University Press, 1965. Ex-library.
Corriveau, Monique. Le wapiti: roman. Québec: Éditions Jeunesse, 1964.
Archive copy: None.
Maillet, Andrée. Le chêne des tempêtes. Ottawa: Éditions Fides, 1965.
Archive copy: None.
1967
Harris, Christie. Raven's Cry. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1966.
Archive copy: Canadian Favourites edition, 1973, reprinted 1981.
1968
Houston, James. The White Archer: An Eskimo Legend. Don Mills, Ont.: Longmans Canada, 1967.
Archive copy: Ex-library.
Mélançon, Claude. Legendes indiennes du Canada. Montreal: Editions du jour, 1967.
Archive copy: None.
1969
Hill, Kay. And Tomorrow the Stars: The Story of John Cabot. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1968.
Archive copy: Ex-library.
1970
Fowke, Edith. Sally Go Round the Sun: 300 Songs, Rhymes and Games of Canadian Children. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1969.
Archive copy: reprinted 1981 with new subtitle: Three Hundred Children's Songs, Rhymes and Games.
1971
Toye, William. Cartier Discovers the St. Lawrence. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1970.
Archive copy: Paperback edition. Likely a reprint as it has on rear cover: "Winner in 1971 of the Book-of-the-Year Award of the Canadian Association of Children's Librarians."
1972
Blades, Ann. Mary of Mile 18. Montreal: Tundra Books, 1971.
Archive copy: None.
Added copy: Cloth version transferred from the TMU Library open stacks
1973
Nichols, Ruth. The Marrow of the World. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1972.
Archive copy: School edition. Toronto: Gage Educational Publishing, 1977. 4th printing 1985.
1974
Cleaver, Elizabeth. The Miraculous Hind: A Hungarian Legend. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston of Canada, 1973.
Archive copy: As above.
Added archive copy: French translation: La Biche miraculeuse: Une légende hongroise. Montéal: Les Editions HRW, 1973. Autographed by Cleaver.
1975
Lee, Dennis. Alligator Pie. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1974.
Archive copy: 10th printing, July 1984.
1976
Richler, Mordecai. Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1975.
Archive copy: Seal edition. Toronto: Seal Books, 1981. 2nd printing November 1982.
Added copy of 1st Canadian edition (McClelland and Stewart, 1975) Acquired from David Mason Books, Nov. 2016.
1977
Harris, Christie. Mouse Woman and the Vanished Princesses. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1976.
Archive copy: None.
Added copy: First ed. as above. Inscribed by the author on front free end-paper. Embossed crest of former owner on t.p. Acquired from Russell Books, Victoria, BC. March 2017.
1978
Lee, Dennis. Garbage Delight. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1977.
Archive copy: 6th printing, 1984.
1979
Major, Kevin. Hold Fast. Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1978.
Archive copy: None.
Added copy: 3rd printing,1980. Pbk. rebound for library use. Transferred from TMU Library open stacks.
1980
Houston, James. River Runners: A Tale of Hardship and Bravery. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1979.
Archive copy: Middlesex: Penguin Books, [1982?]. (Puffin Books)
1981
Kushner, Donn. The Violin-Maker's Gift. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1980.
Archive copy: As above.
1982
Lunn, Janet. The Root Cellar. Toronto: Lester & Orpen Dennys, 1981.
Archive copy: None.
Added copy: New York: Puffin Books, [1996]. 18th printing. Transferred from TMU Library open stacks.
Added copy: [Toronto]: Seal Books, 2001. Second printing of this ed. On cover: 20th anniversary edition. Acquired from Doug Miller Books, Toronto, Jan. 2017.
Additional copy: Markam: Puffin Books, 1983. Part of the Children's Literature Archive (Toronto Metropolitan University)
1983
Doyle, Brian. Up to Low. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1981. (A Groundwood Book)
Archive copy: 2nd printing, 1983. Inscribed by the author.
1984
Hudson, Jan. Sweetgrass. Edmonton: Tree Frog Press, 1984.
Archive copy: Autographed by the author.
1985
Little, Jean. Mama's Going to Buy You a Mockingbird. Markham: Viking Kestrel, 1984.
Archive copy: As above.
Added copy: Markham, Ont.: Puffin Books, 1985, reprinted 1988 (third time in 1988). Acquired from Willow Books, Toronto, Jan. 2017.
1986
Taylor, Cora. Julie. Saskatoon: Western Producer Prairie Books,1985.
Archive copy: Inscribed by the author.
1987
Lunn, Janet. Shadow in Hawthorn Bay. Toronto: Lester & Orpen Dennys, 1986.
Archive copy: None.
Added copy: Transferred from the TMU Library open stacks. This work also won the 1987 Young Adult Canadian Book Award.
Additional copy: Toronto: Seal Books, 2001.
1988
Pearson, Kit. A Handful of Time. Markham: Viking Kestrel, 1987.
Archive copy: Inscribed by the author.
1989
Doyle, Brian. Easy Avenue. Toronto: Douglas & McIntyre, 1988. (A Groundwood Book)
Archive copy: None.
Added copy: 1st ed., cloth with dust jacket. Acquired from Doug Miller Books, Dec. 2016.
Added copy: First paperback ed., 1990, 2nd printing 1993. Acquired from Allison the Bookman, North Bay, ON. Dec. 2016.
1990
Pearson, Kit. The Sky is Falling. Markham: Viking Kestrel, 1989.
Archive copy: As above.
Added copy: Toronto: Puffin Canada, 1991. Twenty-first printing. Acquired from Doug Miller Books, Toronto, Dec. 2016.
Added copy: Toronto: Puffin Canada, 2007. First printing of this ed. Title page and cover include series: Guests of War Book One. Acquired from Doug Miller Books, Toronto, Jan. 2017.
1991
Bedard, Michael. Redwork. Toronto: Lester & Orpen Dennys, 1990.
Archive copy: None.
Added copy: Toronto: Lester Publishing, 1992. Acquired from Allison the Bookman, North Bay, ON. Dec. 2016.
1992
Major, Kevin. Eating Between the Lines. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 1991.
Archive copy: As above.
1993
Lottridge, Celia Barker. Ticket to Curlew. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1992. (A Groundwood Book)
Archive copy: Inscribed by the author.
Additional copy: 1st paperback edition, 1994.
1994
Wynn-Jones, Tim. Some of the Kinder Planets. Toronto: Douglas & McIntyre, 1993. (A Groundwood Book)
Archive copy: 1st mass market ed., 1993. Inscribed by the author.
1995
Taylor, Cora. Summer of the Mad Monk. Vancouver: Greystone Books, 1994.
Archive copy: As above.
1996
Trottier, Maxine. The Tiny Kite of Eddie Wing. Toronto: Stoddart, 1995.
Archive copy: As above.
1997
Doyle, Brian. Uncle Ronald. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1996. (A Groundwood Book)
Archive copy: Inscribed by the author.
Added copy: Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1997. First mass market edition, reprinted 1998. Acquired from Doug Miller Books, Toronto, Jan. 2017.
1998
Oppel, Kenneth. Silverwing. Toronto: HarperCollins Publishers, 1997.
Archive copy: 1st edition, 5th printing 1998.
1999
Wynne-Jones, Tim. Stephen Fair: A Novel. Toronto: Douglas & McIntyre, 1998. (A Groundwood Book)
Archive copy: 1st mass market edition, 1999.
2001
Gregory, Nan. Wild Girl & Gran. Red Deer, Alta.: Red Deer Press, 2000. (Northern Lights Books for Children)
Archive copy: Inscribed by the author.
2002
Little, Jean. Orphan at My Door: The Home Child Diary of Victoria Cope. Markham: Scholastic Canada, 2001. (Dear Canada)
Archive copy: As above.
2003
Levine, Karen. Hana's Suitcase: A True Story. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2002.
Archive copy: Sixth printing, 2003. Inscribed by the author.
2004
Doyle, Brian. Boy O'Boy. Toronto: Douglas & McIntyre, 2003. (A Groundwood Book)
Archive copy: Second paperback printing, 2003.
2005
Carter, Anne Laurel. Last Chance Bay. Toronto: Penguin Canada, 2004.
Archive copy: Autographed by the author.
2006
Porter, Pamela. The Crazy Man. Toronto: Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, 2005.
Archive copy: Inscribed by the author.
2007
Dyer, Hadley. Johnny Kellock Died Today. Toronto: HarperTrophyCanada, 2006.
Archive copy: 2nd printing, Inscribed by the author.
2008
Curtis, Christopher Paul. Elijah of Buxton. Markham: Scholastic Canada, 2007.
Archive copy: Autographed by the author.
2009
Carter, Laurel Anne. The Shepherd's Granddaughter. Toronto: Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, 2008.
Archive copy: Inscribed by the author.
2010
Hartry, Nancy. Watching Jimmy. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2009.
Archive copy: Inscribed by the author.
2011
Oppel, Kenneth. Half Brother. Toronto: HarperCollins Publishers, 2010.
Archive copy: Inscribed by the author. This work also received the 2011 Young Adult Book Award.
Additional copy: London: Corgi Books, 2015.
2012
Pearson, Kit. The Whole Truth. Toronto: HarperCollins Publishers, 2011.
Archive copy: Inscribed by the author.
2013
Nielsen, Susin. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2012.
Archive copy: 3rd printing, 2013. Inscribed by the author.
2014
Stratton, Allan. Curse of the Dream Witch. Toronto: Scholastic Canada, 2013.
Archive copy: Inscribed by the author.
2015
Auxier, Jonathan. The Night Gardener: A Scary Story. Toronto: Puffin, 2014.
Archive copy: Autographed by the author.
2016
Oppel, Kenneth. The Nest. Toronto: HarperCollins Publishers, 2015.
Archive copy: First Canadian edition, 2nd printing. Autographed by the author. No award sticker.
Additional copy: New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young People, 2015.