The Governor General's Award for English-language children's writing is a special Canadian award. It celebrates one Canadian writer each year for the best children's book written in English. This award is part of the larger Governor General's Awards for Literary Merit, which also includes awards for French-language books and for illustrators. The Canada Council helps manage these important awards.
This award has been known as a Governor General's Award since 1987. However, there was an award for "Juvenile" (young people's) literature from 1949 to 1958. Then, in 1975, four new "Children's" awards were created by the Canada Council. So, a prize for English-language children's writing has been given out every year since 1975.
Early Awards for Young People's Books (1949–1958)
The very first Governor General's Awards for books started in 1936. An award specifically for a "juvenile" book was added in 1949. This award was given out every year until 1958. During these ten years, it was one of five awards in the program, all for English books.
Juvenile fiction winners, 1949–1958
| Year |
Author |
Title |
| 1949 |
Lambert, Richard S.Richard S. Lambert |
Franklin of the Arctic |
| 1950 |
Dickie, DonaldaDonalda Dickie |
The Great Adventure |
| 1951 |
Hayes, John F.John F. Hayes |
A Land Divided |
| 1952 |
McPhedran, MarieMarie McPhedran |
Cargoes on the Great Lakes |
| 1953 |
Hayes, John F.John F. Hayes |
Rebels Ride at Night |
| 1954 |
Campbell, Marjorie WilkinsMarjorie Wilkins Campbell |
The Nor'westers |
| 1955 |
Wood, KerryKerry Wood |
The Map-Maker |
| 1956 |
Mowat, FarleyFarley Mowat |
Lost in the Barrens |
| 1957 |
Wood, KerryKerry Wood |
The Great Chief |
| 1958 |
Sharp, Edith L.Edith L. Sharp |
Nkwala |
Some writers who won this award also won another important prize, the Canadian Library Association award for children's books. This happened for Richard Lambert in 1949 and Farley Mowat in 1958.
Canada Council Children's Literature Prizes (1975–1986)
In 1975, the Canada Council started four new yearly awards. Each award was for $5000 and recognized the best English and French children's books by Canadian writers and illustrators. These "Canada Council Children's Literature Prizes" became part of the "Governor General's Awards" in 1987. They are still given out today. The English-language writing prize has been awarded every year since 1975.
Canada Council Children's Literature Prize winners, 1975–1986
| Year |
Author |
Title |
| 1975 |
Freeman, BillBill Freeman |
Shantymen of Cache Lake |
| 1976 |
Paperny, MyraMyra Paperny |
The Wooden People |
| 1977 |
Little, JeanJean Little |
Listen for the Singing |
| 1978 |
Major, KevinKevin Major |
Hold Fast |
| 1979 |
Smucker, BarbaraBarbara Smucker |
Days of Terror |
| 1980 |
Harris, ChristieChristie Harris, illus. by Douglas Tait |
The Trouble with Princesses |
| 1981 |
Hughes, MonicaMonica Hughes |
The Guardian of Isis |
| 1982 |
Hughes, MonicaMonica Hughes |
Hunter in the Dark |
| 1983 |
O'Huigin, SeanSean O'Huigin |
The Ghost Horse of the Mounties |
| 1984 |
Hudson, JanJan Hudson |
Sweetgrass |
| 1985 |
Taylor, CoraCora Taylor |
Julie |
| 1986 |
Lunn, JanetJanet Lunn |
Shadow in Hawthorn Bay |
Several writers who won these Canada Council prizes also received the Canadian Library Association award for children's books. For example, Kevin Major won in 1979, Cora Taylor in 1986, and Janet Lunn in 1987. Janet Lunn's book Shadow in Hawthorn Bay (1986) even won two CLA awards!
Governor General's Awards for Children's Literature (Writing)
Since 1987, the award for English-language children's writing has been given under the "Governor General's" name. Many of the winning books have also received other awards, like the CLA Book of the Year for Children or the CLA Young Adult Book Award.
Winners from 1987 to 1999
Award winners, 1987–1999
| Year |
Author |
Title |
Result |
| 1987 |
Nyberg, MorganMorgan Nyberg |
Galahad Schwartz and the Cockroach Army |
Winner |
| Katz, Welwyn WiltonWelwyn Wilton Katz |
False Face |
Finalist |
| Kushner, DonnDonn Kushner |
A Book Dragon |
| McRae, RussellRussell McRae |
Going to the Dogs |
| 1988 |
Katz, Welwyn WiltonWelwyn Wilton Katz |
The Third Magic |
Winner |
| Brooks, MarthaMartha Brooks |
Paradise Café and Other Stories |
Finalist |
| Doyle, BrianBrian Doyle |
Easy Avenue |
| Little, JeanJean Little |
Little by Little |
| 1989 |
Wieler, DianaDiana Wieler |
Bad Boy |
Winner |
| Pearson, KitKit Pearson |
The Sky Is Falling |
Finalist |
| Roe, Eliane CorbeilEliane Corbeil Roe |
Circle of Light |
| 1990 |
Bedard, MichaelMichael Bedard |
Redwork |
Winner |
|
| Andrews, JanJan Andrews |
The Auction |
Finalist |
|
| Doyle, BrianBrian Doyle |
Covered Bridge |
|
| Katz, Welwyn WiltonWelwyn Wilton Katz |
Whale Singer |
|
| 1991 |
Ellis, SarahSarah Ellis |
Pick-Up Sticks |
Winner |
|
| Brooks, MarthaMartha Brooks |
Two Moons in August |
Finalist |
|
| Carrier, RochRoch Carrier |
A Happy New Year's Day |
|
| Little, JeanJean Little |
Stars Come Out Within |
|
| Reid, MontyMonty Reid |
The Last Great Dinosaurs |
|
| 1992 |
Johnston, JulieJulie Johnston |
Hero of Lesser Causes |
Winner |
|
| Buffie, MargaretMargaret Buffie |
My Mother's Ghost |
Finalist |
|
| Ibbitson, JohnJohn Ibbitson |
1812: Jeremy and the General |
|
| King, ThomasThomas King |
A Coyote Columbus Story |
|
| Pearson, KitKit Pearson |
Looking at the Moon |
|
| 1993 |
Wynne-Jones, TimTim Wynne-Jones |
Some of the Kinder Planets |
Winner |
|
| Dale, MitziMitzi Dale |
Bryna Means Courage |
Finalist |
|
| Houston, James ArchibaldJames Archibald Houston |
Drifting Snow: An Arctic Search |
|
| Matas, CarolCarol Matas |
Daniel's Story |
|
| Sterling, ShirleyShirley Sterling |
My Name Is Seepeetza |
|
| 1994 |
Johnston, JulieJulie Johnston |
Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me |
Winner |
|
| Ellis, SarahSarah Ellis |
Out of the Blue |
Finalist |
|
| Matas, CarolCarol Matas |
The Burning Time |
|
| McGugan, JimJim McGugan |
Josepha: A Prairie Boy's Story |
|
| Roberts, KenKen Roberts |
Past Tense |
|
| 1995 |
Wynne-Jones, TimTim Wynne-Jones |
The Maestro |
Winner |
|
| Goobie, BethBeth Goobie |
Mission Impossible |
Finalist |
|
| Hutchins, HazelHazel Hutchins |
Tess |
|
| Katz, Welwyn WiltonWelwyn Wilton Katz |
Out of the Dark |
|
| Wieler, DianaDiana Wieler |
RanVan A Worthy Opponent |
|
| 1996 |
Yee, PaulPaul Yee |
Ghost Train |
Winner |
|
| Andrews, JanJan Andrews |
Keri |
Finalist |
|
| Boyd, DavidDavid Boyd |
Bottom Drawer |
|
| Chan, GillianGillian Chan |
Glory Days and Other Stories |
|
| Gillmor, DonDon Gillmor |
The Fabulous Song |
|
| 1997 |
Pearson, KitKit Pearson |
Awake and Dreaming |
Winner |
|
| Foggo, CherylCheryl Foggo |
One Thing That's True |
Finalist |
|
| Heneghan, JamesJames Heneghan |
Wish Me Luck |
|
| Jam, TeddyTeddy Jam |
The Fishing Summer |
|
| Nichol, BarbaraBarbara Nichol |
Dippers |
|
| 1998 |
Lunn, JanetJanet Lunn |
The Hollow Tree |
Winner |
|
| Friesen, GayleGayle Friesen |
Janey's Girl |
Finalist |
|
| Johnston, JulieJulie Johnston |
The Only Outcast |
|
| McNaughton, JanetJanet McNaughton |
Make or Break Spring |
|
| Withrow, SarahSarah Withrow |
Bat Summer |
|
| 1999 |
Gilmore, RachnaRachna Gilmore |
A Screaming Kind of Day |
Winner |
|
| Gillmor, DonDon Gillmor |
The Christmas Orange |
Finalist |
|
| McNamee, GrahamGraham McNamee |
Hate You |
|
| Valgardson, W. D.W. D. Valgardson |
The Divorced Kids Club and Other Stories |
|
| Wishinsky, FriedaFrieda Wishinsky |
Each One Special |
|
Winners from 2000 to 2009
Award winners, 2000–2009
| Year |
Author |
Title |
Result |
Ref. |
| 2000 |
Ellis, DeborahDeborah Ellis |
Looking for X |
Winner |
|
| Brooks, MarthaMartha Brooks |
Being with Henry |
Finalist |
|
| McKay, Sharon E.Sharon E. McKay |
Charlie Wilcox |
|
| Oberman, SheldonSheldon Oberman |
The Shaman's Nephew |
|
| Thornton, DuncanDuncan Thornton |
Kalifax |
|
| 2001 |
Slade, ArthurArthur Slade |
Dust |
Winner |
|
| Doyle, BrianBrian Doyle |
Mary Ann Alice |
Finalist |
|
| Goobie, BethBeth Goobie |
Before Wings |
|
| Johnston, JulieJulie Johnston |
In Spite of Killer Bees |
|
| Toten, TeresaTeresa Toten |
The Game |
|
| 2002 |
Brooks, MarthaMartha Brooks |
True Confessions of a Heartless Girl |
Winner |
|
| Cumyn, AlanAlan Cumyn |
The Secret Life of Owen Skye |
Finalist |
|
| Ellis, DeborahDeborah Ellis |
Parvana's Journey |
|
| Lekich, JohnJohn Lekich |
The Losers' Club |
|
| Levine, KarenKaren Levine |
Hana's Suitcase |
|
| 2003 |
Huser, GlenGlen Huser |
Stitches |
Winner |
|
| Ellis, SarahSarah Ellis |
The Several Lives of Orphan Jack |
Finalist |
|
| Haworth-Attard, BarbaraBarbara Haworth-Attard |
Theories of Relativity |
|
| Major, KevinKevin Major |
Ann and Seamus |
|
| Palmer, JuddJudd Palmer |
The Maestro |
|
| 2004 |
Oppel, KennethKenneth Oppel |
Airborn |
Winner |
|
| Leavitt, MartineMartine Leavitt |
Heck Superhero |
Finalist |
|
| McKay, SharonSharon McKay |
Esther |
|
| Palmer, JuddJudd Palmer |
The Wolf King |
|
| Zhang, AngeAnge Zhang |
Red Land, Yellow River: A Story from the Cultural Revolution |
|
| 2005 |
Porter, PamelaPamela Porter |
The Crazy Man |
Winner |
|
| Chalifour, FrancisFrancis Chalifour |
After |
Finalist |
|
| Nickel, BarbaraBarbara Nickel |
Hannah Waters and the Daughter of Johann Sebastian Bach |
|
| Nyoka, GailGail Nyoka |
Mella and the N'anga: An African Tale |
|
| Selvadurai, ShyamShyam Selvadurai |
Swimming in the Monsoon Sea |
|
| 2006 |
Gilkerson, WilliamWilliam Gilkerson |
Pirate's Passage |
Winner |
|
| Alexis, AndréAndré Alexis |
Ingrid and the Wolf |
Finalist |
|
| Huser, GlenGlen Huser |
Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen |
|
| Toten, TeresaTeresa Toten |
Me and the Blondes |
|
| Wilson, BudgeBudge Wilson |
Friendships |
|
| 2007 |
Lawrence, IainIain Lawrence |
Gemini Summer |
Winner |
|
| Brewster, HughHugh Brewster |
Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose: The Story of a Painting |
Finalist |
|
| Curtis, Christopher PaulChristopher Paul Curtis |
Elijah of Buxton |
| Wilson, JohnJohn Wilson |
The Alchemist's Dream |
| Wiseman, EvaEva Wiseman |
Kanada |
| 2008 |
Ibbitson, JohnJohn Ibbitson |
The Landing |
Winner |
|
| Fullerton, AlmaAlma Fullerton |
Libertad |
Finalist |
|
| Linden, DianneDianne Linden |
Shimmerdogs |
|
| Nanji, ShenaazShenaaz Nanji |
Child of Dandelions |
|
| Tamaki, MarikoMariko Tamaki |
Skim |
|
| 2009 |
Pignat, CarolineCaroline Pignat |
Greener Grass: The Famine Years |
Winner |
|
| Hrdlitschka, ShelleyShelley Hrdlitschka |
Sister Wife |
Finalist |
|
| Jennings, SharonSharon Jennings |
Home Free |
|
| Stevenson, RobinRobin Stevenson |
A Thousand Shades of Blue |
|
| Wynne-Jones, TimTim Wynne-Jones |
The Uninvited |
|
Winners from 2010 to 2019
Award winners, 2010–2019
| Year |
Author |
Title |
|
Ref. |
| 2010 |
Phillips, WendyWendy Phillips |
Fishtailing |
Winner |
|
| Denman, K. L.K. L. Denman |
Me, Myself and Ike |
Finalist |
|
| Fairfield, LesleyLesley Fairfield |
Tyranny |
|
| McMurchy-Barber, GinaGina McMurchy-Barber |
Free as a Bird |
|
| Rainfield, CherylCheryl Rainfield |
Scars |
|
| 2011 |
Moore, ChristopherChristopher Moore |
From Then to Now: A Short History of the World |
Winner |
|
| Coates, Jan L.Jan L. Coates |
A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk |
Finalist |
|
| Ellis, DeborahDeborah Ellis |
No Ordinary Day |
|
| Oppel, KennethKenneth Oppel |
This Dark Endeavour |
|
| Wynne-Jones, TimTim Wynne-Jones |
Blink & Caution |
|
| 2012 |
Nielsen, SusinSusin Nielsen |
The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen |
Winner |
|
| Hartman, RachelRachel Hartman |
Seraphina |
Finalist |
|
| Kerbel, DeborahDeborah Kerbel |
Under the Moon |
| Palmer, JuddJudd Palmer |
The Umbrella |
| Stratton, AllanAllan Stratton |
The Grave Robber's Apprentice |
| 2013 |
Toten, TeresaTeresa Toten |
The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B |
Winner |
|
| Brenna, BeverleyBeverley Brenna |
The White Bicycle |
Finalist |
|
| Peacock, ShaneShane Peacock |
Becoming Holmes |
| Pendziwol, Jean E.Jean E. Pendziwol |
Once Upon a Northern Light |
| Sherrard, ValerieValerie Sherrard |
Counting Back from Nine |
| 2014 |
Reid, RazielRaziel Reid |
When Everything Feels Like the Movies |
Winner |
|
| Auxier, JonathanJonathan Auxier |
The Night Gardener |
Finalist |
|
| Choyce, LesleyLesley Choyce |
Jeremy Stone |
| Qitsualik-Tinsley, RachelRachel Qitsualik-Tinsley and Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley |
Skraelings |
| Tamaki, MarikoMariko Tamaki |
This One Summer |
|
| 2015 |
Pignat, CarolineCaroline Pignat |
The Gospel Truth |
Winner |
|
| Bar-el, DanDan Bar-el |
Audrey (cow) |
Finalist |
|
| Groth, DarrenDarren Groth |
Are You Seeing Me? |
|
| Nielsen, SusinSusin Nielsen |
We Are All Made of Molecules |
|
| Sher, EmilEmil Sher |
Young Man with Camera |
|
| 2016 |
Leavitt, MartineMartine Leavitt |
Calvin |
Winner |
|
| Everett, MikaelaMikaela Everett |
The Unquiet |
Finalist |
|
| Johnston, E. K.E. K. Johnston |
A Thousand Nights |
|
| Kent, TrilbyTrilby Kent |
Once, in a Town Called Moth |
|
| Wynne-Jones, TimTim Wynne-Jones |
The Emperor of Any Place |
|
| 2017 |
Dimaline, CherieCherie Dimaline |
The Marrow Thieves |
Winner |
|
| Hughes, AlisonAlison Hughes |
Hit the Ground Running |
Finalist |
|
| Johnston, AviaqAviaq Johnston |
Those Who Run in the Sky |
|
| Stratton, AllanAllan Stratton |
The Way Back Home |
|
| Younge-Ullman, DanielleDanielle Younge-Ullman |
Everything Beautiful Is Not Ruined |
|
| 2018 |
Auxier, JonathanJonathan Auxier |
Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster |
Winner |
|
| Curtis, Christopher PaulChristopher Paul Curtis |
The Journey of Little Charlie |
Finalist |
|
| Mather, Janice LynnJanice Lynn Mather |
Learning to Breathe |
|
| Mattick, LindsayLindsay Mattick and Josh Greenhut |
Winnie's Great War |
|
| Smith, HeatherHeather Smith |
Ebb & Flow |
|
| 2019 |
Bow, ErinErin Bow |
Stand on the Sky |
Winner |
|
| Francis, BrianBrian Francis |
Break in Case of Emergency |
Finalist |
|
| Farrell Holler, SueSue Farrell Holler |
Cold White Sun |
|
| Kadarusman, MichelleMichelle Kadarusman |
Girl of the Southern Sea |
|
| Treggiari, JoJo Treggiari |
The Grey Sisters |
|
Winners from 2020 to Present
Award winners, 2020–present
| Year |
Author |
Title |
Result |
Ref |
| 2020 |
Walters, EricEric Walters |
The King of Jam Sandwiches |
Winner |
|
| Cassidy, SaraSara Cassidy |
Nevers |
Finalist |
|
| Horvath, PollyPolly Horvath |
Pine Island Home |
| Nelson, ColleenColleen Nelson and Tara Anderson |
Harvey Holds His Own |
| Robertson, David A.David A. Robertson |
The Barren Grounds |
| 2021 |
Dowding, PhilippaPhilippa Dowding |
Firefly |
Winner |
|
| Treggiari, JoJo Treggiari |
Peter Lee's Notes from the Field |
Finalist |
|
| Jennings, SharonSharon Jennings |
Unravel |
| Sambury, LiselleLiselle Sambury |
Blood Like Magic |
| Sylvester, BasilBasil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester |
The Fabulous Zed Watson! |
| 2022 |
Ferguson, JenJen Ferguson |
The Summer of Bitter and Sweet |
Winner |
|
| Ellis, DeborahDeborah Ellis |
Step |
Finalist |
|
| Levy, JoanneJoanne Levy |
Sorry for Your Loss |
| Ravel, EdeetEdeet Ravel |
A Boy Is Not a Ghost |
| Story, KateKate Story |
Urchin |
| 2023 |
Sarah Everett |
The Probability of Everything |
Winner |
|
| Michelle Kadarusman |
Berani |
Finalist |
|
| Zoulfa Katouh |
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow |
| Iain Lawrence |
Fire on Headless Mountain |
| Kim Spencer |
Weird Rules to Follow |
| 2024 |
Li Charmaine Anne |
Crash Landing |
Winner |
|
| Cherie Dimaline |
Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix |
Finalist |
|
| Shari Green |
Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams |
| June Hur |
A Crane Among Wolves |
| Kristy Jackson |
Mortified |
Related Awards
