Frieda Wishinsky

National women’s charitable organization IODE has released the shortlist for its annual Violet Downey Book Award, honouring English-language children’s books of 500 words or more published in Canada over the past year:

• Karen Bass; Uncertain Soldier (Pajama Press)
• Jennifer Mook-Sang; Speechless (Scholastic Canada)
• Kevin Sands; The Blackthorn Key (Simon & Schuster Canada)
• Allan Stratton; The Dogs (Scholastic Canada)
• Frieda Wishinsky; Willow Dawson, illus.; Avis Dolphin (Groundwood Books)

The winner will receive a prize of $5,000 at IODE Canada’s national annual meeting at the Lambton Golf and Country Club in Toronto on May 27.