Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award

 

Read the biographical details of these books here

Every year, IBBY Canada presents the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award to a Canadian illustrator in recognition of outstanding artistic talent in a Canadian picture book.

They have selected from 131 books submitted by 36 publishers, the illustrators of the 10 finalist books depict stories that add to our understanding of the world around us. Whether through nature, culture or imagination. The illustrations range from whimsical and delicate to rich brushwork to bold graphic elements and are sure to engage and inspire their readers.

The Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award is administered by a committee of three members of the Canadian section of the International Board on Books for Young People so I expect the 2026 finalists and perhaps previous winners will be on display at the 2026 IBBY Congress in Ottawa.

The award is named after Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver. She bequeathed a $10,000 legacy as a basis for an award to be given to an outstanding illustrator of a picture book. The recipient receives $1000 and a certificate. Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver, Born 7 February 1939 in Montréal; died 27 July 1985 in Montréal, was a prominent writer and illustrator of children’s books. She is probably best known for the Enchanted Caribou and for illustrating The Loon’s Necklace.

Published in 1977: According to Canadian Indian legend, when an old man's sight was restored 

by Loon he gave the bird his precious shell necklace as a reward. 

That is why the loon has a white collar and speckles on its back.

Past Winners of the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award

2023 – Todd Stewart, Skating Wild On An Inland Sea 

2022 – Dena Seiferling, Night Lunch 

2021 – Gérard DuBois, À qui appartiennent les nuages?

2020 – Marie-Louise Gay, The Three Brothers

2019 – Rachel Wada, The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden

2018 – Julie Morstad, Bloom 

2017 – Julie Kraulis, A Pattern for Pepper

2016 – Isabelle Arsenault, Louis parmi les spectres

2015 – Sydney Smith, Sidewalk Flowers 

2014 – Pierre Pratt, Stop, Thief! 

2013 – Julie Morstad, How To

2012 – Isabelle Arsenault, Virginia Wolf

2011 – Cybèle Young, A Few Blocks

2010 – Julie Flett Owls See Clearly at Night: A Michif Alphabet

2009 – Oleg Lipchenko, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

2008 – Christine Delezenne, La Clé

2007 – Stéphane Jorisch, The Owl and the Pussycat

2006 – Kady MacDonald Denton, Snow

2005 – Geneviève Côté, The Lady of Shalott

2004 – Stéphane Poulin, Un chant de Noël

2003 – Pierre Pratt, Where’s Pup?

2002 – Janie Jaehyun Park, The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon

2001 – Marie-Louise Gay, Stella, Queen of the Snow

2000 – Michèle Lemieux, Stormy Night

1999 – Kady MacDonald Denton, A Child’s Treasury of Nursery Rhymes

1998 – Pascal Mileli, Rainbow Bay

1997 – Harvey Chan, Ghost Train

1996 – Janet Wilson, Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt

1995 – Murray Kimber, Josepha: A Prairie Boy’s Story

1994 – Leo Yerxa, Last Leaf First Snowflake to Fall

1993 – Barbara Reid, Two by Two

1992 – Ron Lightburn, Waiting for the Whales

1991 – Paul Morin, The Orphan Boy

1990 – Ian Wallace, The Name of the Tree

1989 – Eric Beddows, Night Cars

1988 – Stéphane Poulin, Can You Catch Josephine?

1987 – Barbara Reid, Have You Seen Birds?

1986 – Ann Blades, By the Sea: An Alphabet Book