2014 Children's Book Centre Awards Finalists
By 49thShelf
Branded by the Pink Triangle
A history of the persecution of gay men by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust. When the Nazis came to power in Europe, the lives of homosexuals came to be ruled by fear as raids, arrests, prison sentences and expulsions became the daily reality. When the concentration camps were built, homosexuals were imprisoned along with Jews. The pink triangle, sewn onto prison uniforms, became the symbol of their persecution. This book combines historical research with first-person accounts and individual …

The Man with the Violin
Who is playing that beautiful music in the subway? And why is nobody listening?
This gorgeous picture book is based on the true story of Joshua Bell, the renowned American violinist who famously took his instrument down into the Washington D.C. subway for a free concert. More than a thousand commuters rushed by him, but only seven stopped to listen for more than a minute. In The Man with the Violin, bestselling author Kathy Stinson has woven a heart-warming story that reminds us all to stop and a …

Once Upon a Northern Night
Once Upon a Northern Night has received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal.
In this exquisite lullaby, the beauty and wonder of a northern winter night unfold, with images of a soft snowfall, the wild animals that appear in the garden, the twinkling stars, the gentle rhythm of the northern lights and the etchings of frost on the window pane.
As the young child sleeps, wrapped in a downy blanket, a snowflake falls, and then another and another. The poem descr …

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B
Two-time Governor General's Award nominee Teresa Toten is back with a compulsively readable new book for teens!
When Adam meets Robyn at a support group for kids coping with obsessive-compulsive disorder, he is drawn to her almost before he can take a breath. He's determined to protect and defend her--to play Batman to her Robyn--whatever the cost. But when you're fourteen and the everyday problems of dealing with divorced parents and step-siblings are supplemented by the challenges of OCD, it' …

Fox and Squirrel
A big friendship triumphs over small differences in this irresistible story from the author and illustrator of Chicken, Pig, Cow!
When Fox and Squirrel get together, Squirrel can only see their differences. Squirrel is small and Fox is big; Squirrel lives in a nest and Fox in a burrow; Squirrel likes the day and Fox, the night. But as their friendship grows, Fox gently points out that their differences are good, and more than that, they have many things in common too. Even Squirrel begins to see …

How To
This imaginative ehow to' book explores whimsical ways of doing a host of different tasks, including ehow to wonder', ehow to see the breeze', and ehow to be brave'. With evocative text and images by award-winning illustrator Julie Morstad, this book will bring wonder into the lives of all ages.

My Name Is Blessing
Based on the life of a real boy, this warm-hearted, beautifully illustrated book tells the story of Baraka, a young Kenyan boy with a physical disability. Baraka and eight cousins live with their grandmother. She gives them boundless love, but there is never enough money or food, and life is hard --love doesn't feed hungry stomachs or clothe growing bodies, or school keen minds. Baraka is too young, and, with his disability, needs too much, and she is too old. A difficult choice must be made, a …

Where Do You Look?
Where do you look for glasses? On a shelf? Or on a face?
In this playful exploration of homonyms, readers will discover the fun they can have with language. Is a wave at a beach? Or at a train station? Is a trunk in a garden? Or on an elephant? Kids will love the juxtaposition of words and meanings, and the detailed collage illustrations will have them coming back again and again.
The mother and daughter team of Marthe and Nell Jocelyn know where to look for a story: Not in a skyscraper, but in t …