This prize is awarded in even-numbered years to a picture book with text or a book for beginner readers, and in odd-numbered years to a longer chapter book or a book for middle grade or young adult readers.
2020
Sponsored in memory of Janet Savage BlachfordWinner

shortlisted
Jury
Alan Cumyn
Shauntay Grant
Deanna Smith
2019
Sponsored in memory of Janet Savage BlachfordWinner

shortlisted
Jury
Gillian O'Reilly
Matthew Skelton
Sarah Tsiang
2018
Sponsored in memory of Janet Savage BlachfordWinner

shortlisted
Jury
Matt McCarney (Greensfeild Park)
Nadia Hohn (Toronto)
Ellen Schwartz (Burnaby)
2017
Sponsored by Janet and John BlachfordWinner

shortlisted
Jury
Catherine Austen
Lisa Doucet
Raziel Reid
2016
Sponsored by Janet and John BlachfordWinner

shortlisted
Jury
Gary Barwin
Rhonda Batchelor
Heather Phipps
2014
Sponsored by Janet and John BlachfordWinner

shortlisted
Jury
Penny Fransblow
Robert Priest
Farida Zaman
2013
Winner

shortlisted
Jury
JonArno Lawson
Horace I. Goddard
Alice Kuipers
Maya Munro Byers
2012
Winner

shortlisted
Jury
Nick Thran
Lori Joy Smith
Sigmund Brouwer
2011
Sponsored by Babar BooksWinner

shortlisted
Jury
Shannon Babcock
Sarah Ellis
Anne Fine
2010
Sponsored by Babar BooksWinner

shortlisted
Jury
Danny McAuley
Wendy Wayling
Tim Wynne-Jones