The shortlists for the 2021 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards have been announced by the Ontario Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Foundation. The awards are the only Canadian award that uses student jurors who work together to choose the winning books. The books are all written and illustrated by Canadian authors. The winning books will be announced later in June. Here are the titles in the shortlists:

CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK CATEGORY

Fast Friends by Heather M. O’Connor, illustrated by Claudia Dávila

Golden Threads by Suzanne Del Rizzo, illustrated by Miki Sato

A Last Goodbye by Elin Kelsey, illustrated by Soyeon Kim

My Ocean Is Blue by Darren Lebeuf, illustrated by Ashley Barron

Violet Shrink by Christine Baldacchino, illustrated by Carmen Mok

YOUNG ADULT/MIDDLE READER CATEGORY

I Will See You Again by Lisa Boivin

The King of Jam Sandwiches by Eric Walters

Me and Banksy by Tanya Lloyd Kyi

My Long List of Impossible Things by Michelle Barker

Sara and the Search for Normal by Wesley King