Jury’s comment

“This book captivates the mind, whether or not we like horror. Along the way, and long after reading it, it lives on the form of a stubborn spine-tingling sensation you want to brush off like an imaginary beast. Jocelyn Boisvert brings a sure-handed mastery of the horror genre to her tale. Trapped in their narrative web, readers will be hard-pressed to put down this little jewel. The graphic content is both compelling and effective, the descriptions embellished in a way that makes your blood run cold, with a touch of humour there to relieve the angst. A book that sinks its hooks into you and doesn’t let go.”

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Photo credit: Emmanuelle Roberge

Jury’s comment

“This book brings a delicate realism to bear on a rare but essential subject in children’s literature: the adoption of a shelter animal. Inspired by the real-life experience of author-illustrator Catherine Braun-Grenier, this deeply moving tale highlights the life of a dog scarred by mistreatment. Little by little, Hugo overcomes his initial reluctance and accepts the love of a patient and understanding family; he learns to trust people again and goes on to live a full life. The illustrations embody a depth of feeling and accurately reflect Hugo’s emotions with stunning power. This book evokes empathy and celebrates resilience and second chances—and it stays with us long after we’ve read the last page.”

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Photo credit: Catherine Braun-Grenier

Jury’s comment

“In this touching novel, Fanny Britt does a remarkable job of conveying the ups and downs of adolescence, while imparting us with the magic of her quest for independence. Every summer, Bernadette finds herself at the family cottage in Kamouraska, far from her day-to-day life. Beset with deep-seated anxiety and bothered by a mother she does not understand, Bernadette has the chance to discover spaces that give her a sense of freedom and nourish her adolescence. Fanny Britt’s writing, always precise and sensitive, deftly takes us into Bernadette’s heart and mind, and we never want to leave.”

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Photo credit: Justine Latour

Jury’s comment

“There are certain things that should never happen. A fish drowning. A cousin, young, strong and beloved, who dies, leaving us to disentangle the conflicting emotions that we can scarcely understand. The young narrator shares his thoughts during the funeral for Loïc, the teenage cousin he loves so much. Drawing on words that ring true and are both powerful and full of restraint, Mélodie Bujold-Henri and Jean-Guy Forget steer the reader through the whirlwind of emotions troubling him—from anger to sadness and uncontrollable laughter. The result is a text that is magnificent, one that can be read several times to appreciate its inherent poetry.”

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Photo credits: Chantale Lecours

Jury’s comment

“Set firmly in the hockey-crazed Québec of the 1960s, this book by Stéphane Laporte and Jacques Goldstyn introduces readers to a child who dreams of skating like his idols on the Bleu Blanc Rouge. When at last he receives a pair of skates as a gift, a physical disability comes along to thwart his desire to take to the ice. Drawing on a rich history and illustrations chock full of detail, this book delivers a message not often seen in children’s literature: The adage “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” does not always hold true. Surrounded by the enduring love of his family, the child learns to live with his abilities and to respect his limitations.”

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Photo credits: Chantale Lecours (Jacques Goldstyn)

Jury’s comment

“There are all kinds of families at Charlotte’s school. Some have 2 fathers, others have a mother and a grandma, while others still have a father and a mother. Charlotte, for her part, has a father—a punk father, no less! He is distracted and tattooed, and he paints huge canvasses. The little girl loves him tenderly, though at times she feels embarrassed at the way people look at him. A book filled with tenderness, where the gaze that the little girl brings to rest on her father is conveyed in a child’s words, and where Iris Boudreau’s magnificent watercolours, which teem with life, underscore the softness and humour of Pascal Girard’s text.”

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Photo credits: R. Beaulieu (Iris Boudreau) and Iris Boudreau (Pascal Girard)

Jury’s comment

“This unique and highly imaginative novel by author Pénélope Bourque is like a breath of fresh air for children’s literature in Québec. The metaphorical narrative, featuring an ogre’s house, can be interpreted in different ways, depending on the readers’ perceptions and life experiences. The main character, a little girl, embodies a great fragility and emotional intelligence. A deftly written, disquieting novel that will leave no one indifferent.”

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Photo credit: Charles Lafrance

Jury’s comment

“Lily and her grandfather share a mutual adoration, and their bond deepens with each advancing year. At a time when his body and mind are abandoning him, the grandfather decides to set out on a great journey. Yvan DeMuy draws on a fitting and poetic language to address medical aid in dying through a child’s eyes, with humanity and love. Janou-Ève LeGuerrier’s captivating illustrations echo the reading, alternating between emptiness and fullness to reflect a life that is losing its meaning, in contrast to the added significance taken on by the upcoming voyage. A magnificent book in which the author pairs a mastery of language with a sensitivity to address a timely subject.”

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Jury’s comment

“Two brothers, Jo and Popol, navigate the radiant innocence of childhood in the bay at Les Cayes, Haiti in the 1940s. We follow them through their adolescence, and then their adult lives when, as physicians, they emigrate to Québec. This luminous graphic novel highlights the little-known history of a benighted Haiti through the experience of new immigrants to Québec. Catherine Fouron’s work embodies a great sensitivity and nuance, while Pascal Blanchet’s sunny illustrations transport us directly to the Caribbean in this universal story that transcends ages and hearts.”

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Photo credit: Julia Pagé (Catherine Fouron)

Jury’s comment

“On a sunlit afternoon, a little girl and her grandfather are picking cherries when the following question arises: “Are you going to die soon?” This book approaches the issue of death with humour, levity and originality. Rather than evoke grief, Jean Leroy’s story presents the end of life as a natural subject worthy of curiosity. The exchanges between the grandfather and his granddaughter are suffused with love, understanding and sincerity. Olivier Dutto’s warm and colourful illustrations support this approach, which tries to defuse the drama around the subject; in its place, the author invites us to reflect and enter into a dialogue on this universal subject, which is an inextricable part of life itself.” 

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