PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Canadian Library Association/Association canadienne des bibliothèques Announces 2008 Book of the Year Award for Children Shortlist

The Canadian Association of Children’s Librarians, Section of the Canadian Association of Public Libraries, a Division of the CLA/ACB is pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2008 Book of the Year Award for Children.

This award recognizes a Canadian author of an outstanding book published in Canada in 2007, which appeals to children up to and including age 12.

The winner of the award, and the Honour Books, will be announced prior to the  CLA/ACB National Conference & Tradeshow held in Vancouver from May 21 -24.  The award will be presented at the conference on May 22.

The finalists for the 2008 CLA Book of the Year Award for Children, in alphabetical order by author, are:

Becca at Sea by Deidre Baker (Groundwood Books)
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis (Scholastic Canada)
Jakeman by Deborah Ellis (Fitzhenry and Whiteside)
Baboon by David Jones (Annick Press)
Schooled by Gordon Korman (Scholastic Canada)
Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel (HarperCollins Canada)
Eye of the Crow by Shane Peacock (Tundra Books)
A Perfect Gentle Knight by Kit Pearson (Penguin)
Porcupine by Meg Tilly (Tundra Books)
Rex Zero King of Nothing by Tim Wynne-Jones (Groundwood Books)

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the 2007-2008 CLA Book of the Year Award for Children Committee:

Jasmine Loewen, Canmore Public Library, Chair
Helen Kubiw, Aberfoyle Public School, Guelph
Maureen Plomske, Kitchener Public Library
Alexandra Yarrow, Ottawa Public Library

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For immediate release
For more information contact:  Jasmine Loewen, 403-678-2468