Canadian Children’s Book Centre 2025 awards finalists announced

The finalists for the 2025 CCBC Book Awards have been announced. Handed out by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, the seven awards celebrate exceptional books for young people.

The shortlisted titles are:

Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award ($2,500)

Hummingbird / Aamo-binashee by Jennifer Leason (Orca Book Publishers)
I Wonder About Worlds: Discovering Planets and Exoplanets by James Gladstone and Yaara Eshet, ill. (Owlkids Books)
Mighty Scared: The Amazing Ways Animals Defend Themselves by Erin Silver and Hayden Maynard, ill. (Orca Book Publishers)
A Song for the Paper Children by Christopher Tse (Plumleaf Press)
Two Pieces of Chocolate by Kathy Kacer and Gabrielle Grimard, ill. (Second Story Press)

Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy ($5,000)

Fledgling: The Keeper’s Records of Revolution by S.K. Ali (Kokila/Penguin Random House)
The Headmasters by Mark Morton (Shadowpaw Press)
Lockjaw by Matteo L. Cerilli (Tundra Books/Penguin Random House Canada)
Waking the Dead and Other Fun Activities by Casey Lyall (Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins)
Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek (Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon &Schsuter)

Jean Little First-Novel Award ($5,000)

Alterations by Ray Xu (Union Square Kids/Hachette Book Group)
Maya Plays the Part by Calyssa Erb (Annick Press)
Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom: Secrets of Ravensbarrow by Braden Hallett (Annick Press)

Amy Mathers Teen Book Award ($5,000)

Age 16 by Rosena Fung (Annick Press)
And Then There Was Us by Kern Carter (Tundra Books/PRHC)
A Constellation of Minor Bears by Jen Ferguson (Heartdrum/HarperCollins)
Fledgling: The Keeper’s Records of Revolution by S.K. Ali (Kokila/PRH)
For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga (Wednesday Books/Macmillan Publishers)
The Lightning Circle by Vikki VanSickle and Laura K. Watson, ill. (Tundra Books/PRHC)

Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People ($5,000)

Age 16 by Rosena Fung (Annick Press)
Eyes on the Ice by Anna Rosner (Groundwood Books)
The Go-Between by Jennifer Maruno (Red Deer Press/Sutherland House)
Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams by Shari Green (Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Wings to Soar by Tina Athaide (Charlesbridge Move)

Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction ($10,000)

All Consuming: Shop Smarter for the Planet by Erin Silver and Suharu Ogawa, ill. (Orca Book Publishers)
The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey by Chad Soon and George Chiang; Amy Qi, ill. (Orca Book Publishers)
Lost at Windy River: A True Story of Survival by Trina Rathgeber and Alina Pete, ill.; Jillian Dolan, colours (Orca Book Publishers)
Meet Jim Egan by Elizabeth MacLeod and Mike Deas (Scholastic Canada)
You Can Be an Activist: How to Use Your Strengths & Passions to Make a Difference by Charlene Rocha and Mary Beth Leatherdale; Drew Shannon, ill. (Kids Can Press)

Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award ($20,000)

A Face Is a Poem by Julie Morstad (Tundra Books/PRHC)
I’m Afraid, Said the Leaf by Danielle Daniel and Matt James, ill. (Tundra Books/PRHC)
It Bears Repeating by Tanya Tagaq and Cee Pootoogook (Tundra Books/PRHC)
Mad at Dad by Janie Hao (Kids Can Press)
SOS Water by Yayo (Tradewind Books)