Montreal, August 6, 2008 - The Canadian Children’s Book Centre and TD Bank Financial Group are proud to announce the finalists of the 2008 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards for the most distinguished books of the year. This annual award recognizes excellence in Canadian children’s literature with $20,000 for the most distinguished book written in English and $20,000 for the most distinguished book written in French.

“Starting to read at an early age is an important first step in living a happy and healthy life. That’s why children’s authors are so important - they help introduce the wonderful world of reading to young Canadians,” said Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair and Literacy Champion, TD Bank Financial Group. “In recognition of their good work, we have set up a children’s literature award that is among Canada’s most prestigious literary prizes. We’re giving back to our homegrown talent by awarding them with a $20,000 cash prize so they can continue to follow their dreams and author children’s books that inspire us all.”

This year’s nominated titles will captivate the hearts and imaginations of children and adults everywhere. Readers will be introduced to characters such as the young Sherlock Holmes and the crime-ridden streets of 1867 inner-city London; 11-year-old Elijah, the first African Canadian child to be born into freedom in Buxton, Ontario, a settlement for runaway slaves; and a young girl named Kate who is fraught with jealousy after being selected by artist John Singer Sargent to be a model for a painting.

“At the Canadian Children’s Book Centre we encourage the reading, writing and illustrating of Canadian books for young readers, and what better way to do that than to recognize rising authors with a highly regarded award such as the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award,” said Charlotte Teeple, Executive Director, The Canadian Children’s Book Centre. “We are proud to be joining efforts with TD on this exciting journey to reward our talented Canadian children’s authors.”

All books, in any genre, written by a Canadian for children ages one through 12 were eligible for the awards. Entries were judged on the quality of the text and illustrations and the book’s overall contribution to literature. The winner of the English-language award will be announced at a gala at The Carlu in Toronto on November 6, 2008.

The English-language finalists for the 2008 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, with jury comments, are as follows:

Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose: The Story of a Painting
By Hugh Brewster with paintings by John Singer Sargent
Kids Can Press
“An outstanding information book… Beautifully written and produced, with a fine balance of illustration, biographical and historical detail and insight into the creative process, all through the viewpoint of a child whose humanity makes it true.”

Darkwing
By Kenneth Oppel
HarperCollins Publishers
“Darkwing continues Oppel’s reputation for creating textured, engrossing animal societies that win generations of fans. The exceptional writing is filled with descriptive details, emotive connotations and visual sightings that give a richly plotted, fact-filled glimpse into this prehistoric world.”

Elijah of Buxton
By Christopher Paul Curtis
Scholastic Canada
“Tears of laughter and sadness commingle as Curtis immerses readers in the daily happenings of the nineteenth century Ontario community of Buxton whose inhabitants are slaves who have escaped from the United States. This novel engagingly and dramatically brings to life a little known segment of Canadian history.”

Eye of the Crow: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His First Case
By Shane Peacock
Tundra Books
“Historical fiction at its finest! The plot, speculating on the childhood adventures of Sherlock Holmes, is well-constructed, fast paced and embedded with details. Superb characterization is accompanied by witty dialogue and the author’s love of vivid descriptive words.”

Please, Louise!
By Frieda Wishinsky
Illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
Groundwood Books
“A gem of a picture book delighting in the warm relationship between brother and younger sister. Lively watercolours explode across the pages adding detail and humour to the powerful simplicity of the text. The words sing as they are read!”

The 2008 English jury members were Maya Munro Byers, owner, Livres Babar Books, Montreal; Theo Heras, Children’s Literature Resource Collection Specialist, Lillian H. Smith Library, Toronto Public Library; Dr. Dave Jenkinson, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba; Ron Jobe, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia; and Norene Smiley, author, Pugwash, Nova Scotia.

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About The Canadian Children’s Book Centre
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is a national, not-for-profit organization, founded in 1976 to encourage, promote and support the reading, writing and illustrating of Canadian books for young readers. The CCBC’s programs, publications and resources help teachers, librarians, booksellers and parents select the very best for young readers. For more information visit www.bookcentre.ca.

TD Community Giving: Making a Difference Together
Children’s health, literacy and education, and the environment are the three main areas of focus for community giving at TD. Flagship programs within these areas include: TD Children’s Hospital Fund; TD Friends of the Environment Foundation; TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup; TD Canadian Children’s Book Week; TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership; and the TD Summer Reading Club. With support from customers and employees, TD is also involved with a host of national, regional and local causes benefiting diversity, arts and culture and other community programs. In 2007, TD donated $33 million to more than 2,000 organizations across Canada.

For more information contact:

Charlotte Teeple, Executive Director
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre
416-975-0010
charlotte@bookcentre.ca

Matthew Cram
TD Bank Financial Group
416-983-1514
matthew.cram@td.com

Jill Quinn
GCI Group on behalf of TD and the CCBC
416-486-5906
jquinn@gcigroup.com