The Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada’s Information Book Award is given annually to a book that arouses interest, stimulates curiosity, captures the imagination, and fosters concern for the world around us. The award’s aim is to recognize excellence in Canadian publishing of children’s nonfiction. The criteria include accuracy, clarity, imaginative approach, appropriateness of organization and format, and sensitivity to ethnocentric and gender biases.
Eligible titles must be written in English by a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant and have been published in the calendar year prior to the award being granted. Each year the book award committee identifies a list of 10+ titles that have been judged as the best of the preceding year. They then adjudicate the list and select an award winner and an honour book. The winning title is announced in late fall, and the award presented within the first three months of the following year (typically at the Celebrate event in January). The winning author and the illustrator receive award certificates and share a prize of $1000.
CRITERIA
- The book must be written in English by a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant and must be published by a Canadian publisher during the calendar year previous to the award being granted.
- All information/nonfiction trade books are eligible for consideration with the exception of poetry, plays, and folklore.
- Text books will not be considered for this award.
- Individual books within a series will be considered but a series as a whole is not eligible for the award.
- Revisions and reprints of previously published works are not eligible for the award.
- The book will be judged on the basis of the quality of its literary style, illustrations, design, and construction as well as:
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- Accuracy of facts and explanations
- Coverage and perspective of the content
- Clarity of text and illustration
- Unique imaginative approach to the topic
- Appropriateness of organization
- Appropriateness of format
- Appropriateness of concept/content for the intended audience
- Sensitivity to culture and gender
- Quality of back matter (index, glossary, source notes
Previous winners and honour books
Nomination Process & Fee
The Information Book Award requires a $25 submission fee for each nominated title. Click on the link below for further instructions and to choose a payment option. Submission deadline for 2022 nominations is December 1, 2021.
Please direct questions to the Information Book Award Chair at infobookaward@gmail.com