The Canadian Library Association has revealed the shortlists for this year’s children’s, YA, and illustrated book awards. The lists feature the best English-language books by Canadian authors published in Canada in 2011, as decided by three award committees comprised of library staffers from across the country.

(It’s worth noting that four out of five titles on Q&Q‘s 2011 books of the year list for young readers are among the nominated books.)

Book of the Year for Children Award:

• When Apples Grew Noses and White Horses Flew: Tales of Ti-Jean by Jan Andrews; DuÅ¡an Petričić, illus. (Groundwood Books)
• No Ordinary Day by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood)
• That Boy Red by Rachna Gilmore (HarperCollins Canada)
• Howl by Karen HoodCaddy (Dundurn Press)
• Dragon Seer’s Gift by Janet McNaughton (HarperCollins Canada)
• From Then to Now: A Short History of the World by Christopher Moore (Tundra Books)
• The Tiffin by Mahtab Narsimhan (Dancing Cat Books)
• Dragon Turn by Shane Peacock (Tundra)
• The Whole Truth by Kit Pearson (HarperCollins Canada)
• Empire of Ruins by Arthur Slade (HarperCollins Canada)

Young Adult Book Award:

• The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong (Doubleday Canada)
• All Good Children by Catherine Austen (Orca Book Publishers)
• Fanatics by William Bell (Random House Canada)
• The Woefield Poultry Collective by Susan Juby (HarperCollins Canada)
• Once Every Never by Lesley Livingston (Puffin Canada)
• My Beating Teenage Heart by C.K. Kelly Martin (Doubleday Canada)
• The Town that Drowned by Riel Nason (Goose Lane Editions)
• This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel (HarperCollins Canada)
• Karma by Cathy Ostlere (Razorbill Canada)
• Held by Edeet Ravel (Annick Press)

Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award:

• Along a Long Road by Frank Viva (HarperCollins Canada)
• Cinnamon Baby by Janice Nadeau, illus.; Nicola Winstanley (Kids Can Press)
• A Few Blocks by Cybèle Young (Groundwood)
• The Legend of the Fog by Danny Christopher, illus.; Qaunaq Mikkigak and Joanne Schwartz (Inhabit Media)
• Migrant by Isabelle Arsenault, illus.; Maxine Trottier (Groundwood)
• My Name is Elizabeth! by Matthew Forsythe, illus.; Annika Dunklee (Kids Can)
• Picture a Tree by Barbara Reid (North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada)
• The Qalupalik by Joy Ang, illus.; Elisha Kilabuk (Inhabit)
• Slimon the Slug by Bonnie Bews, illus.; Susan Elizabeth Ross (Yellow Toadstool Press)
• Small Saul by Ashley Spires (Kids Can)

The winning titles will be announced April 15 and the awards will be presented on May 31 at a reception during the 2012 CLA National Conference and Trade Show in Ottawa.