Manitoba Book Awards facts for kids

Manitoba Book Awards/Les Prix du livre du Manitoba are the top yearly book awards in Manitoba, Canada. They started in 1988. A special event is usually held in April in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to celebrate the best books written and published in Manitoba during the past year.

Different awards are given out each year, as some are only presented every two years. The awards are put on by two groups: the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers and the Manitoba Writers' Guild. Some of the awards include:

• The Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book (for new writers)
• The Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction (for novels and short stories)
• The Carol Shields Award for best Winnipeg book
• The Mary Scorer Award for Best Book by a Manitoba Publisher
• The Alexander Kennedy Isbister Award for Non-Fiction (for factual books)
• The McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award

Famous past winners include Miriam Toews, David Bergen, Joan Thomas, W.P. Kinsella, and Carol Shields.

Celebrating Manitoba's Best Books

The Manitoba Book Awards are a big deal for writers and publishers in the province. They help shine a light on the amazing stories, poems, and factual books created right here in Manitoba. Winning one of these awards is a huge honour and helps more people discover these great books.

Awards for Young People

One of the special awards is the McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award. This award actually has two parts:

• One for older readers (around 12-15 years old)
• One for younger readers (under 12)

This shows how important it is to encourage reading and writing for all ages in Manitoba!

What Kinds of Books Win?

The awards cover many different types of books. Here are just a few examples of categories:

• Fiction: These are made-up stories, like novels.
• Non-Fiction: These are factual books, like biographies or history books.
• Poetry: Books filled with poems.
• Best First Book: For authors who are publishing their very first book.
• Book Design: This award celebrates how beautiful and well-designed a book is, not just the words inside.
• Illustrated Books: For books that have great pictures or drawings.
• Books by Manitoba Publishers: This award supports local publishing companies.

Past Award Winners (Examples)

Many talented writers and artists have won Manitoba Book Awards over the years. For example, in 2007, Faith Johnston won several awards for her non-fiction book A Great Restlessness. In 2009, David Bergen won the Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction and the McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award for his novel The Retreat. More recently, in 2021, David Robertson won for his memoir Black Water. These awards highlight the diverse and rich literary talent found in Manitoba.