Ruth Schwarz Shortlist

Picture Books

Good Night Sam by Marie Louise Gay (Groundwood Books)
A story of pre-schooler Sam and his sister Stella, familiar from Marie Louise Gay's earlier stories of the siblings. Good Night Sam finds Stella patiently searching the house for Fred, Sam's pet, so that Sam can get to sleep. Gay's soft mauves and blues of night capture the mood, and observant children will find the little dog hidden in every picture.

Lighthouse: A Story of Remembrance by Robert Munsch, ill. Janet Wilson (North Winds Press/Scholastic)
One night Sarah wakens her father and asks him to take her to the lighthouse, just as his father had taken him. Once there she tosses a flower she had saved from her grandfather's funeral and makes a vow to return one day with her own child.

Pippin the Christmas Pig by Jean Little ill. Werner Zimmerman (North Winds Press/Scholastic)
The animals in the barn tell Pippin the pig the Christmas story. Upset, Pippin demands to know what the pigs did for the Child. The other animals scoff at her, pigs are not important to the story. Pippin sets off in a bitter snowstorm vowing never to return to the barn and the other animals.As she makes her way through the wind and snow she comes upon a woman battling through the vicious weather with a little girl in her arms. Pippin puts aside her own troubles and leads the mother back to the warmth of the barn.

Suki"s Kimono by Chieri Uegaki ill. by Stephane Jorisch (Kids Can Press Ltd)
When Suki sets off for her first day at school she is determined to wear the kimono her grandmother gave her on her last visit. Her two elder sisters are afraid everyone will laugh and they pretend they do not know her, but once in class Suki shares with her classmates the street festival she went to with her grandmother and,to the delight of her class, demonstrates a Japanese dance.

The Subway Mouse by Barbara Reid (North Winds Press/Scholastic)
Gifted illustrator Barbara Reid uses her plasticene art to tell the story of little mouse. Born into a family of mice who have lived for generations in the subway tunnels, he determines to set out and find if "Tunnel's End" really exists and what is there- a mouse epic.

Young Adult/ Middle Reader Books

Ann and Seamus by Kevin Major (Groundwood Books)
This is an historical novel written in poetic form. In 1828 Ann Harvey, her father and brother, came upon the wreck of an Irish immigrant ship.
Ann's courage and strength as an oarsman saved more than 160 passengers
who were stranded on the rocks. Major portrays this actual event in a novel made up of alternating poems where Ann's poems interact with those of Seamus, a fictional survivor of the wreck.

Boy O'Boy by Brian Doyle (Groundwood Books)
Boy O'Boy is set in the last days of World War 11. Martin O'Boy does not have an easy life with the many troubles at home; but he does have a best friend, a cat, and a hero who lives next door, when he is not at war. Martin is, however, in some danger. He and his friend Billy have joined the church choir, and the organist appears to becoming very fond of Martin.

Mud City by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books)
The final act of her Afghanistan trilogy has Deborah Ellis following the adventures of Parvana's friend, Shauzia. Dreaming of making her way to the sea, and from there to France and the Eiffel Tower, Shauzia only makes it to Peshawar and the hazards of being homeless and destitute.

Run by Eric Walters (Penguin)
Eric Walters introduces the figure of Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope through the experiences of Winston.Young Winston is in trouble once again and is sent to spend time with his father, a journalist. The father is following up what he believes is a human interest story about a young man trying to run across the country. Winston meets Terry Fox and is inspired by his marathon.

The Several Lives of Orphan Jack by Sarah Ellis (Groundwood Books)
Jack lives at the Opportunities School for Orphans and Foundlings, avoiding trouble. When his chance comes he gladly leaves the school for the wide open world and adventure. Jack loves language and carries around with him a battered old dictionary which comes in useful when he realises he has a gift for selling promises, hunches and whims. He is an "ideas peddler".