The New Brunswick Book Awards, established in 2016, are annual Canadian literary awards presented by the Writers Federation of New Brunswick (WFNB) and The Fiddlehead to honour literary works created by authors and illustrators of New Brunswick. Awards are presented in five categories: the Alice Kitts Memorial Award for picture books, the Books for Youth and Young Adult Award for middle grade and young adult books, Mrs. Dunster's Fiction Prize for adult novels, the WFNB Nonfiction Award for nonfiction, and the Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize for poetry. Winners receive a cash prize.
To be eligible for the awards, authors must be New Brunswick residents, defined as living in New Brunswick for three of the previous five years, with at least 50 percent residency per year. For books with more than one contributor, only one author needs to meet this requirement. Further, books must have been written or illustrated by a person (not a large language model) and published in print for the first time within the past year.
Awards
Alice Kitts Memorial Award The Alice Kitts Memorial Award for Excellence in Picture Book Writing, established in 2017, is presented annually for picture books written by authors from New Brunswick. The award honours New Brunswick author and artist Alice Kitts. The award sponsored by Kitts' children.
For a picture book to be eligible for the award, it must be written by an author who resides in New Brunswick; the illustrator does not need to reside in New Brunswick. Additionally, the book must be geared toward readers ages three to six, be between 24 to 48 pages in length, and have a maximum of 1000 words. Both fiction and nonfiction books are eligible. +Award winners and shortlists Year Author Title Result 2017, illustrated by Josée BisaillonWinner, illustrated by Jean-Luc TrudellMy Two GrandmothersShortlistSea Glass SummerShortlist2018, Colleen Landry, and Beth WeatherbeeTake off to TantramarWinner, illustrated by Emily BrownNew Song for HermanShortlistHenrietta's NightlightShortlist2019, illustrated by Lucy ElridgeIf a Horse Had WordsWinnerMahtoqehs JourneyShortlistThere Be Pirates! Shortlist2020-21We Wear Masks Winner, illustrated by Tamara Thibaux-HeikaloWatcha Doin'?ShortlistMi'kmaq Alphabet BookShortlist2022, illustrated by Nathasha PilotteDisaster at the Highland Games Winner, translated by Joe Wilmot, and illustrated by Georgia LesleyGa's The TrainShortlist, illustrated by Adam OehlersShortlist2023, illustrated by Daniel MiyaresMidnight & MoonWinner, illustrated by Kathryn DurstPugs Cause Traffic JamsShortlistTrucksShortlist2024, illustrated by Briony May SmithWinnerApli'kmuj's Journey Shortlist, illustrated by Tara AudibertMoonbeamShortlist2025-26, illustrated by Kristina JonesWinner, illustrated by Airen MacMasterMorgan MooseShortlist, illustrated by Byron EggenschwilerShortlist
Books for Youth and Young Adult Award Originally titled the Books for Young Readers Award, the Books for Youth and Young Adult Award was first presented in 2025 to honour middle grade and young adult novels and nonfiction books. Eligible books must be traditionally or self-published within the previous calendar year. The award is sponsored by J.D. Irving. +Award winners and shortlists Year Author Title Result 2025WinnerProject HumanShortlist, Colleen Landry, and Beth Weatherbee; illustrated by Odette BarrFollow the Goose Butt to Prince Edward Island Shortlist2026What to Do When You Don't Know What to DoWinnerHappenstanceShortlistShortlist
Mrs. Dunster's Fiction Prize The Mrs. Dunster's Fiction Prize, first awarded in 2016, is presented annually for fictional books published by a New Brunswick resident. Eligible works can include novels and short story collections written by a single author. The award is sponsored by Mrs. Dunster's. +Award winners and shortlists Year Author Title Result 2016WinnerEntropicShortlistKnife Party at the Hotel EuropaShortlist2017Willem de Kooning's PaintbrushWinnerBistroShortlistAll the Things We Leave BehindShortlist2018Taapoategl & PalletWinnerHome ComingShortlistCaplin ScullShortlist2019Through Sunlight and ShadowsWinnerEnid StrangeShortlistHeadliner Shortlist2020Itzel I: A Tlatelolco Awakening WinnerSymphony No. 3ShortlistFear of DrowningShortlist2021Waiting Under Water WinnerCzech TechnoShortlistYou Were Never HereShortlist2022WinnerShortlistBirdspellShortlist2023Apastoral: A MistopiaWinnerShortlistShortlist2024CocktailWinnerBlacklionShortlistStanding on NeptuneShortlist2025NachzehrerWinnerFeltShortlistShortlist2026Puppet WinnerSomething Happened in CarltonShortlistExtinctionShortlist
WFNB Nonfiction Award The WFNB Nonfiction Book Prize, first awarded in 2016, is presented annually for nonfiction books published by a New Brunswick resident. The award is sponsored by the family of Ann Brennan, a founding member of the WFNB. +Award winners and shortlists Year Author Title Result 2016What is Government Good At?WinnerShortlistBoss Gibson: Lumber King of New BrunswickShortlist2017Shadow of DoubtWinnerLetters from Beauly: Pat Hennessy and the Canadian Forestry Corps in Scotland, 1940-1945ShortlistLucy Jarvis: Even Stones Have LifeShortlist2018WinnerShortlistApron StringsShortlist2019Pipe DreamsWinner2020Sourcebooks for Our Drawings: Essays and Remnants WinnerFeminist City: A Field GuideShortlist and Joshua GreenSlow Seconds: The Photography of George Thomas TaylorShortlist2021Restigouche: The Long Run of the Wild River WinnerTeaching at the Top of the WorldShortlistMeadowlands: A Chronicle of the Scovil FamilyShortlist2022Senior Management, Parenting my ParentsWinnerMemories on the Bounty: A Story of Friendship, Love, and AdventureShortlist and Bonnie HuskinsJust the Usual Work: The Social Worlds of Ida Martin, Working-Class DiaristShortlist2023Brit Happens* Or Living the Canadian DreamWinnerTouch Anywhere to BeginShortlistTake the Long Way HomeShortlist2024Mary Pratt: A Love Affair with Vision Winner and Natalie Hyde, illustrated by David JardineMore than Words: Navigating the Complex World of CommunicationShortlistCracking the Nazi Code: The Untold Story of Canada's Greatest Spy Shortlist2025, James W. Wheaton, Keith Helmuth, Daryl Hunter, and Nicholas N. SmithTappan Adney: From Birchbark Canoes to Indigenous RightsWinner and Lauren BeckMitji – Let's Eat! Mi'kmaq Recipes from Sikniktuk ShortlistSpeaking Truth to Canadians About Their Public ServiceShortlist2026Breakaway – The PWHL and the Women who changed the GameWinner ()ShortlistShortlist
Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize The Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize, first awarded in YEAR, is presented annually for books of poetry published by a New Brunswick resident. The award is sponsored by The Fiddlehead. +Award winners and shortlists Year Author Title Result 2016CrossoverWinnerNot Even LaughterShortlistElectric AffinitiesShortlist2017WinnerShortlistBased on Actual EventsShortlist2018Everything We Love Comes Back to Find UsWinnerFlying the TruckShortlistHuman MisunderstandingShortlist2019Bec & CallWinner, translated by Jo-Anne ElderTo Live and Die in ScoudoucShortlistThat Light Feeling Under Your FeetShortlist2020VirgaWinnerBelated Bris of the Brainsick ShortlistOur Latest in Folktales Shortlist2021Waiting for the Small Ship of DesireWinnerKeeping Count ShortlistShortlist2022Myself a Paper ClipWinnersulphurtongueShortlistShortlist2023Almost BeautyWinnerThis is a Stick-UpShortlistWild Apples: A Dialogue with ThoreauShortlist2024Soft InheritanceWinnerTumbling for Amateurs ShortlistShortlist2025Van Gogh's GrasshopperWinnerFamily Band ShortlistFlak JacketShortlist2026metadata from a changing climateWinner
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