The Governor General’s Literary Awards celebrate literature and inspire everyone to read books by creators from Canada. Here’s a selection of English-language children’s literature finalists! Winners will be announced on Nov. 16, 2022.
kā-āciwīkicik / The Move by Doris George
A magical children’s picture book, written in Cree and English, depicts the transformation of a barren landscape into a rich natural world where an elderly couple can spend their remaining days. Ages 4-8.
Mina by Matthew Forsythe
From the creator of the acclaimed and beloved Pokko and the Drum comes an emotionally resonant picture book about trust, worry, and loyalty between a father and daughter. Ages 4-8.
The Sour Cherry Tree by Naseem Hrab and Nahid Kazemi
The Sour Cherry Tree is an authentic look at death and loss centred on a child’s experiences, both strikingly whimsical and matter-of-fact. Drawing on the Iranian-Canadian author’s childhood memories, this tender meditation on grief, love, and memory is culturally specific and universally relatable. Ages 4-8.
A Boy Is Not a Ghost by Edeet Ravel
In this sequel to the award-winning A Boy Is Not a Bird, a boy is exiled to Siberia during World War II. Based on a true story. Ages 9-12.
Sorry for Your Loss by Joanne Levy
Evie's used to being surrounded by death; her family runs a Jewish funeral home. When she meets Oren, a boy who was in a horrific car accident that killed both his parents, she is determined to find a way to help him deal with his loss. Ages 9-12.
Step by Deborah Ellis
In this series of short stories, children around the world turn eleven and take a step into their futures, each one changing in big and small ways. Ages 9-12.
The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson
Lou, a Métis girl, grapples with rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth. Ages 13+.
