A children’s book written by a Cloverdale author has been shortlisted for a 2015 BC Book Prize.
Stop, Thief! By Heather Tekavec and illustrator Pierre Pratt, is nominated for the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize, presented to the best illustrated book written for children.
It’s nominated in one of seven categories in this year’s prizes. Winners of the 31st annual awards will be announced at the Lt.-Governor’s BC Book Prizes Gala in Vancouver on April 25.
Tekavec is also one of the shortlisted authors who are touring the province, reading in schools and at public venues during the month of April.
Stop, Thief (Kids Can Press) is her ninth book.
It tells the story of Max, a dog who sets out to find out who’s stealing the farmer’s fruits and veggies. Is it a tiny blue bug? Or, are the real thieves hiding in plain sight?
Tekavec says she first fell in love with children’s literature while working as a preschool teacher. Illustrator Pierre Pratt has illustrated more than 50 books for kids. He lives in Montreal and Lisbon.
In the Children’s Literature category, Stop, Thief! is shortlisted along with Norman, Speak! by Caroline Adderson and illustrated by Qin Leng (Groundwood Books); Dolphin SOS, by Roy Miki and Slavia Miki, illustrated by Julie Flett (Tradewind Books); The Most Magnificent Thing, written and illustrated by Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press), and Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin, by Chieri Uegaki, and illustrated by Qin Leng (Kids Can Press).
Other categories include fiction, non-fiction, British Columbia, poetry and non-illustrated children’s literature.
The BC Book Prizes were established in 1985 and celebrate B.C. writers and publishers.
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