Canadian Library Association Announces 2009 Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award Winner and Honour Books

(Ottawa, April 8, 2009) - The Canadian Library Association / Association Canadienne des Bibliothèques is pleased to announce the 2009 winner and honour books for the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award. The award is generously sponsored by Library Services Centre.

The winner is Mattland (Annick) illustrated by Dusan Petricic and written by Hazel Hutchins and Gail Herbert. Honor books include Thing Thing (Random House) illustrated by Nicolas Debon and written by Cary Fagan, and Jenneli’s Dance (Theytus) illustrated by Chris Auchter and written by Elizabeth Denny.

Mattland beautifully captures the transformative power of collaborative play. Protagonist Matt has moved to an ugly, muddy neighbourhood, littered with cast-off building materials and with no other children in sight. He begins to create a fictional place called “Mattland,” with items that he finds around him, and soon a shy but smiling girl comes to join him. When bad weather threatens Mattland, help arrives in the form of many other children, and Matt’s acceptance in the neighbourhood is assured.

An honourable mention goes to Thing Thing, a story about an unusual stuffed toy thrown out a sixth floor window of the posh Excelsior Hotel by spoiled birthday boy Archibald Crimp. Thing Thing sees much on his dizzying journey to the ground – each floor he passes presents its own wonderfully illustrated story, filled with charming details – before he meets a happy ending in the arms of an affectionate baby in a stroller.

An honourable mention also goes to Jenneli;s Dance, illustrated by Chris Auchter and written by Elizabeth Denny. Auchter, a Haida illustrator and animator, has created appealingly humorous caricatures of young Metis dancer Jenneli and her beloved Grandma Lucee, who encourages Jenneli to enter a jigging contest at the Lakeside Fair. Despite her misgivings, Jenneli wins the contest and discovers for the first time that she is good at something.

A complete list of the shortlisted titles is available on the CLA web site at www.cla.ca.

The Amelia Francis Howard-Gibbon Award is presented by the Canadian Association of Children's Librarians, a section of the Canadian Association of Public Libraries (CAPL). This award was established in 1971 and is presented annually to the illustrator of an outstanding children's book published during the previous calendar year. To merit consideration the book must be suitable for children up to age 12 and have been published in Canada.The award will be presented at the Book Award reception held on May 30, 2009. The ceremony will be held during the CLA National Conference being held from May 29-June 1, at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.

The Canadian Library Association/Association canadienne des bibliothèquesis Canada’s largest national and broad-based library association, representing the interests of public, academic, school and special libraries, professional librarians and library workers, and all those concerned about enhancing the quality of life of Canadians through information and literacy.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the 2009 Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Book Award Committee:

Evette Berry, Calgary Public Library, Chair

Elizabeth Thornley, Ottawa Public Library

Delilah Deanne Cummings, London Public Library

Linda Mireau, Kelowna Public Library

Joy Huebert, Greater Victoria Public Library

Lisa Weaver, Toronto District School Board

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Media Contact: Media contact:

Evette Berry, Chair
Librarian
CalgaryPublic Library
403-260-2717
evette.berry@calgarypubliclibrary.com

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