The Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards, established in 1976 as the Ruth Schwartz Children's Book Awards, is a Canadian literary award for children's books. From 1976 until 1993, a single award was presented annually. Beginning in 1994, two awards were presented: one for children's picture book (C) and one for young adult and middle-grade novel (YA/MG). In 2008, the prize increased from to .
The award was established by Sylvia Schwartz in honour of her sister, Ruth, a Toronto bookseller. The award was renamed in 2004 to honour both Ruth and Sylvia. Recipients are nominated by a committee consisting of a bookseller, a librarian and a children's book reviewer, with winners selected among the nominees by juries of young readers from an Ontario public school. The Ontario Arts Foundation and the Ontario Arts Council facilitate award administration.
Recipients
1976-1999 +Award winners and finalists YearCategory Author Title Publisher Result 1976N/A Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded FangMcClelland & StewartWinner1977N/AMcGraw-Hill RyersonWinner1978N/A, by Frank NewfieldGarbage DelightMacMillanWinner1979N/AHold FastStoddartWinner1980N/ADays of TerrorPenguin Books CanadaWinner1981N/AGroundwood BooksWinner1982N/A, by Marsha HewittOne Proud SummerWomen's PressWinner1983N/AJasminGroundwood BooksWinner1984N/A, by Ken NuttZoom at SeaGroundwood BooksWinner1985N/AMama's Going to Buy You a MockingbirdPenguin Books CanadaWinner1986N/A, by Michael MartchenkoThomas' SnowsuitAnnick PressWinner1987N/AHave You Seen Birds?Scholastic Canada .Winner1988N/AWestern ProducerWinner1989N/A, by Kim LaFaveAmos's SweaterGroundwood BooksWinner1990N/ABad BoyGroundwood BooksWinner1991N/AForbidden CityDoubledayWinner1992N/A, by Harvey ChanRoses Sing on New SnowGroundwood BooksWinner1993N/ASomething from NothingDoubledayWinner1994C, by Vladyana KyrkorkaNorthern Lights: The Soccer TrailsAnnick PressWinnerYA/MGHarperCollins CanadaWinner1995C, by Heather CollinsKids Can Press .WinnerYA/MGAdam and Eve and Pinch-MeLester PublishingWinner1996CTundra BooksWinnerYA/MGOut of the DarkGroundwood BooksWinner1997C, by Harvey ChanGhost TrainGroundwood BooksWinnerYA/MGAwake and DreamingPenguin Books CanadaWinner1998C, by Laura Fernandez and Rick JacobsonJeremiah Learns to ReadScholastic Canada .WinnerYA/MGBone DanceGroundwood BooksWinner1999C, by Harvey ChanMusic for the Tsar of the SeaGroundwood BooksWinnerYA/MGWar of the EaglesOrca Book PublishersWinner
2000s +Award winners and finalists YearCategory Author Title Publisher Result 2000CStella, Star of the SeaGroundwood BooksWinnerYA/MGSunwingHarperCollins CanadaWinner2001C, by Sean CassidyFitzhenry & Whiteside .WinnerYA/MGHarperCollins CanadaWinner2002C, by Stéphane JorischOma's QuiltKids Can Press .WinnerYA/MGSeven for a SecretGroundwood BooksWinner2003C, by Martin SpringettFitzhenry & WhitesideWinnerYA/MGParvana's JourneyGroundwood BooksWinner2004CNorth Winds Press / Scholastic CanadaWinnerYA/MGBoy O'BoyGroundwood BooksWinner2005CMonkey BusinessKids Can PressWinnerYA/MGAirbornHarperCollins CanadaWinner2006CCarambaGroundwood BooksWinnerYA/MGSkybreakerHarperCollins CanadaWinner2007CScaredy SquirrelKids Can PressWinnerYA/MGI Am A TaxiGroundwood BooksWinner2008CSim 1 Read BooksWinner, by Cynthia NugentFinalistGrumpy BirdFinalistFinalistScaredy Squirrel Makes a FriendFinalistYA/MGDarkwingHarperCollins CanadaWinnerDancing Through the Snow FinalistElijah of Buxton FinalistFinalistRex Zero, King of Nothing Finalist2009CChester's Back!Kids Can PressWinnerYA/MGLibertadFitzhenry & WhitesideWinner 2010s +Award winners and finalists YearCategory Author Title Publisher Result 2010C, by Renné BenoitProud as a Peacock, Brave as a LionTundra BooksWinnerYA/MGVanishing Girl: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Third CaseTundra BooksWinner2011CChester's MasterpieceKids Can PressWinnerYA/MGHalf-BrotherHarperColIins CanadaWinner2012C, by Karen ReczuchLoonHouse of Anansi / Groundwood BooksWinnerYA/MGHarperColIins CanadaWinner2013C, by Marie LafranceKids Can PressWinnerYA/MGTundra BooksWinner2014CLoula is Leaving for AfricaKids Can PressWinner, by Richard Cole Finalist, by Dušan PetričićFinalist, by Isabelle ArsenaultOnce Upon a Northern Night FinalistRead Me a Story, Stella FinalistYA/MGDoubleday CanadaWinnerLittle Red LiesFinalistUltraFinalist, by Isabelle ArsenaultJane, the Fox and MeFinalistSorrow's Knot Finalist2015C, by Gillian NewlandSecond Story PressWinner and Katherine GibsonPajama PressFinalistKids Can PressFinalistNancy Knows by Tundra BooksFinalistStarring Me and You Kids Can PressFinalistYA/MGHarperColIins CanadaWinner, by Tatjana Mai-WyssAudrey (Cow) TundraFinalistJulianDoubleday CanadaFinalistLord and Lady Bunny: Almost Royalty! Groundwood BooksFinalistMoon at Nine Pajama PressFinalist2016CMr. Postmouse's RoundsKids Can PressWinnerYA/MGWe Are All Made of MoleculesTundra BooksWinner2017CSimon & SchusterWinner, by The Fan BrothersTundra BooksFinalist, by Qin LengGroundwood BooksFinalist, by Qin LengHarry and Walter Annick PressFinalist, by Cale AtkinsonIf I Had a Gryphon Tundra BooksFinalistYA/MGOCDanielPaula Wiseman BooksWinnerGroundwood BooksFinalistFlannery Groundwood BooksFinalistLucky Jonah HarperCollins CanadaFinalistSea Change Tundra BooksFinalist2018C, by Gabrielle GrimardStolen WordsSecond St. PressWinnerYA/MGPenguin TeenWinner2019C, by Joe MorseGo Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous HeroesTundra BooksWinner, by Eva CampbellAfricvilleGroundwood BooksFinalistMustafaGroundwood BooksFinalist, by Lenny LishchenkoInhabit MediaFinalist, by Leslie RedheadIsland in the Salish SeaOrca Book PublishersFinalistYA/MGSadiaDundurn PressWinnerFire SongAnnick PressFinalistNo Fixed AddressTundraFinalistPlanet GriefOrcaFinalistVery RichPuffin CanadaFinalist 2020s +Award winners YearCategory Author Title Publisher Result 2020C, by Annie BoulangerLili MacaroniPajama PressWinnerYA/MGPuffin CanadaWinner2021C, by Claudia DávilaFast FriendsScholastic Canada .WinnerYA/MGSara and the Search for NormalSimon & Schuster / Paula Wiseman BooksWinner2022C, by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-SteckleyMii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I KnowGroundwood PressWinner, by Lynn ScurfieldHold That Thought! Owlkids BooksFinalist, by Qin LengGroundwood BooksFinalist, by Julie FlettOn the Trapline Penguin Random HouseFinalist, by Josée BisaillonOut into the Big Wide Lake Tundra BooksFinalistYA/MGFireflyDCBWinnerChildren of the Fox Tundra BooksFinalistHarperCollins/Balzer + BrayFinalistSunny Days Inside and Other Stories Groundwood BooksFinalistTremendous Things Penguin Random HouseFinalist2023C, by Maggie ZengThis is the Boat That Ben BuiltPajama PressWinner and Gabrielle Prince, by Carla JosephBe a Good AncestorOrca BooksFinalist, by Aliya GhareJourney of the Midnight Sun Orca Book PublishersFinalist and Mykaell Blais, by Elise GravelPink, Blue, and You!: Questions for Kids about Gender StereotypesAnne Schwartz BooksFinalistKids Can PressFinalistYA/MGRoad of the LostMargaret K. McElderry Books / Simon & SchusterWinnerAggie Morton, Mystery Queen: The Seaside Corpse Tundra BooksFinalistEight DaysScholastic Canada .FinalistForever BirchwoodHarperCollins Publishers FinalistHaunted Canada: The Third Terrifying CollectionScholastic Canada Finalist2024C, by Elise GravelNutshimit: In the WoodsScholastic Canada .WinnerYA/MGSimon & Schuster Winner2025C, by Ken DaleyOwlkids BooksWinner, by Erika MedinaFighting Words Annick PressFinalistI Want to Read All the BooksSimon & Schuster Books for Young ReadersFinalist, by Risa HugoMétis Like MeTundra Books/Penguin Random House CanadaFinalistOne Giant LeapOwlkids BooksFinalistYA/MGScholastic Canada .WinnerFledgling: The Keeper's Records of RevolutionKokila/Penguin Random HouseFinalistIs There a Boy Like Me? Scholastic CanadaFinalistHarperCollinsFinalist (editor)Today I Am: 10 Stories of BelongingScholastic CanadaFinalist2026C, by Miki SatoChidori: A Story of One Thousand BirdsPajama PressWinner, by Nicole NeidhardtDreaming AlongsideOrca Book PublishersFinalist, by Maren VsetulaGrandma Can Make Anything Inhabit MediaFinalistRa! Ta! Ma! Cue!Annick PressFinalist, by Ellie ArscottSecond Story PressFinalistYA/MGWe Bury NothingDCB Young Readers / Cormorant BooksWinnerBest of All Worlds Penguin Teen CanadaFinalistI Won't Feel This Way Forever Orca Book PublishersFinalistRobot Island Tundra Books/Penguin Random House CanadaFinalist, by Athena GubbeInhabit MediaFinalist
References