Congratulations to author and illustrator Matt James! His illustrated children’s book The Funeral is a 2019 Ezra Jack Keats Award Honor winner.

Deborah Pope, Executive Director of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, said, “It is a joy and a privilege each year to recognize and support new writers and illustrators who create beautiful and entertaining books that reflect the childhood experiences of our diverse population. The Ezra Jack Keats Award brings greater attention to artists who, like Ezra, seek to inspire all children to achieve their full potential.”

We couldn’t be happier to see David Chariandy’s brilliant novel Brother on the Canada Reads 2019 shortlist! Lisa Ray will be defending Chariandy’s second novel in the debates which will air from March 25-28, 2019.⠀

From CBC Books, “Rooted in Chariandy’s own experience growing up as a person of colour in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, the novel is a beautiful meditation on discrimination, agency, grief and the power of human relationships.”⠀

The 2018 Cleaver Award finalists have been announced and we are thrilled to see The Funeral from WCA author and illustrator Matt James, and Bloom from author/illustrator duo Kyo Maclear and Julie Morstad are on the list!

The prize is presented by the International Board on Books for Young People, Canadian section, with prize money awarded in trust from the estate of Canadian illustrator Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver. The winner will be announced Feb. 21, 2019.

Bahasa language rights to Najwa Zebian’s NECTAR OF PAIN to Grasindo. The deal was arranged by Maxima Creative Agency with Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Hilary McMahon.

Malayalam rights to Barbara Gowdy’s THE WHITE BONE to Saikatham Books. The deal was arranged by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.

Russian rights to B. Brett Finlay and Jessica Finlay’s THE WHOLE-BODY MICROBIOME to Exmo. The deal was arranged by Synopsis Literary Agency with Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of John Pearce.

Rohinton Mistry’s A FINE BALANCE to Guomai Culture & Media (simplified Chinese, arranged by Andrew Nurnberg Associates Beijing), to Artkonekt Publishing (Macedonian, arranged by PLIMA Literary Agency), and to Saikatham Books (Malayalam) with Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Bruce Westwood.

Scholastic have renewed their license for English-language educational simplification rights to Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI. The deal was arranged by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.

Wydawnictwo Albatros have renewed their license for Polish rights to Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI.  The deal was arranged by Graal Literary Agency with Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.

Arabic rights to Alice Kuipers’s LIFE ON THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR to Al Arabi and Malayalam rights to Saikatham Books. The deal was arranged by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.

Kathryn Lane of Dundurn Press has acquired North American English rights to blogger Nellwyn Lampert’s EVERY BOY I EVER KISSED, a candid memoir that explores how surprisingly difficult it was for the liberated millennial to lose her virginity. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated with deal, with publication slated for fall 2019.

We’re thrilled for WCA author’s Bill Gaston, Elizabeth Hay, and Darrel J. McLeod, on making the 18th RBC Taylor Prize shortlist.

From the Jury:

Just Let Me Look at You by Bill Gaston
“This is a quiet, meditative and tender-hearted exploration of childhood injury and its legacy across generations.”

All Things Consoled by Elizabeth Hay 
“Tender, witty and brutally honest, the book tears open the cloak of shared secrecy to bare the dynamics of a family — the fears, sibling rivalries, joys, disappointments and grievances that have lain unacknowledged through the decades.”

Mamaskatch by Darrel J. McLeod
“A torturously-beautiful memoir of growing up in a world of violence and family trauma. McLeod’s writing is lyrical and offers a powerful examination of contemporary issues, from sexual self-identification to the scars of residential school to the contemporary search for reconciliation.

You can meet the finalists at a free 90-minute Round Table Discussion with the shortlisted authors at the Harbourfront Centre, hosted by Toronto Star Books Editor, Deborah Dundas, on Thursday February 28, 2018 at 7pm presented by the Toronto International Festival of Authors; and the Ben McNally Authors Brunch on Sunday March 3rd, at the Omni King Edward Hotel in downtown Toronto (for tickets, please contact Ben McNally Books at (416) 361-0032 or visit benmcnallybooks.com).

We’re delighted for David Chariandy, one of ten writers longlisted for the 2019 PEN Open Book Award. His long-awaited second novel Brother explores questions of masculinity, family, race, and identity. Finalists will be announced in January.