New Brunswick Book Awards

The New Brunswick Book Awards, established in 2016,[1] are annual Canadian literary awards presented by the Writers Federation of New Brunswick (WFNB) and The Fiddlehead to honour literary works created by authors and illustrators of New Brunswick. Awards are presented in five categories: the Alice Kitts Memorial Award for picture books, the Books for Youth and Young Adult Award for middle grade and young adult books, Mrs. Dunster's Fiction Prize for adult novels, the WFNB Nonfiction Award for nonfiction, and the Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize for poetry. Winners receive a CA$500 cash prize.[2]

To be eligible for the awards, authors must be New Brunswick residents, defined as living in New Brunswick for three of the previous five years, with at least 50 percent residency per year. For books with more than one contributor, only one author needs to meet this requirement. Further, books must have been written or illustrated by a person (not a large language model) and published in print for the first time within the past year.[3]

Awards

Alice Kitts Memorial Award

The Alice Kitts Memorial Award for Excellence in Picture Book Writing, established in 2017, is presented annually for picture books written by authors from New Brunswick. The award honours New Brunswick author and artist Alice Kitts. The award sponsored by Kitts' children.[3]

For a picture book to be eligible for the award, it must be written by an author who resides in New Brunswick; the illustrator does not need to reside in New Brunswick. Additionally, the book must be geared toward readers ages three to six, be between 24 to 48 pages in length, and have a maximum of 1000 words. Both fiction and nonfiction books are eligible.[3]

Award winners and shortlists[3]
Year Author Title Result Ref.
2017 Jennifer McGrath, illustrated by Josée Bisaillon The Snow Knows Winner [4]
Diane Carmel Leger, illustrated by Jean-Luc Trudell My Two Grandmothers Shortlist
Heidi Jardine Stoddart Sea Glass Summer Shortlist
2018 Odette Barr, Colleen Landry, and Beth Weatherbee Take off to Tantramar Winner
Paul McAllister, illustrated by Emily Brown New Song for Herman Shortlist
Whitney Alice Henrietta's Nightlight Shortlist
2019 Kelly Cooper, illustrated by Lucy Elridge If a Horse Had Words Winner
Braelyn Cyr Mahtoqehs Journey Shortlist
Joann Hamilton-Barry There Be Pirates! Shortlist
2020-21 Marla LeSage We Wear Masks Winner
Kim Renton, illustrated by Tamara Thibaux-Heikalo Watcha Doin'? Shortlist
Shyla Augustine Mi'kmaq Alphabet Book Shortlist
2022 Riel Nason, illustrated by Nathasha Pilotte Disaster at the Highland Games Winner [5]
Jodie Callaghan, translated by Joe Wilmot, and illustrated by Georgia Lesley Ga's The Train Shortlist [6]
Leo LaFleur, illustrated by Adam Oehlers The Errand: The Queen Shortlist [6]
2023 Kelly Cooper, illustrated by Daniel Miyares Midnight & Moon Winner [7]
Jennifer McGrath, illustrated by Kathryn Durst Pugs Cause Traffic Jams Shortlist
Masen Grasse Trucks Shortlist
2024 Sara O'Leary, illustrated by Briony May Smith The Little Books of the Little Brontës Winner [8][9]
Braelyn Cyr Apli'kmuj's Journey Shortlist [10]
Gail Francis, illustrated by Tara Audibert Moonbeam Shortlist [10]
2025-26 Jennifer McGrath, illustrated by Kristina Jones The Pony and The Starling Winner [11]
Kimothy Stewart, illustrated by Airen MacMaster Morgan Moose Shortlist [12]
Riel Nason, illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler The Little Ghost Quilt's Winter Surprise Shortlist [12]

Books for Youth and Young Adult Award

Originally titled the Books for Young Readers Award, the Books for Youth and Young Adult Award was first presented in 2025 to honour middle grade and young adult novels and nonfiction books.[2][13] Eligible books must be traditionally or self-published within the previous calendar year. The award is sponsored by J.D. Irving.[13]

Award winners and shortlists[13]
Year Author Title Result Ref.
2025 Valerie Sherrard An Unbalanced Force Winner [14]
Bea Waters Project Human Shortlist [15][16]
Odette Barr, Colleen Landry, and Beth Weatherbee; illustrated by Odette Barr Follow the Goose Butt to Prince Edward Island Shortlist [15][16]
2026 Evan Jones What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do Winner [11]
Thomas Chamberlain Happenstance Shortlist [12]
Erik Gingles The Nomies & The Surface Protocol Shortlist [12]

Mrs. Dunster's Fiction Prize

The Mrs. Dunster's Fiction Prize, first awarded in 2016, is presented annually for fictional books published by a New Brunswick resident. Eligible works can include novels and short story collections written by a single author. The award is sponsored by Mrs. Dunster's.[17]

Award winners and shortlists[17]
Year Author Title Result Ref.
2016 Beth Powning A Measure of Light Winner
R. W. Gray Entropic Shortlist
Mark Anthony Jarman Knife Party at the Hotel Europa Shortlist
2017 Kerry Lee Powell Willem de Kooning's Paintbrush Winner [4]
Roger Moore Bistro Shortlist
Riel Nason All the Things We Leave Behind Shortlist
2018 Peter J. Clair Taapoategl & Pallet Winner
Wayne Curtis Home Coming Shortlist
M. T. Dohaney Caplin Scull Shortlist
2019 Raymond Fraser Through Sunlight and Shadows Winner
Meghan Rose Allen Enid Strange Shortlist
Susan White Headliner Shortlist
2020 Sarah Xarar Murphy Itzel I: A Tlatelolco Awakening Winner
Chris Eaton Symphony No. 3 Shortlist
Susan White Fear of Drowning Shortlist
2021 Riel Nason Waiting Under Water Winner [5]
Mark Anthony Jarman Czech Techno Shortlist
Kathleen Peacock You Were Never Here Shortlist
2022 Beth Powning The Sister's Tale Winner [5][18]
Amber McMillan The Running Trees Shortlist [6]
Valerie Sherrard Birdspell Shortlist [6]
2023 Lee D. Thompson Apastoral: A Mistopia Winner [7]
Meghan Rose Allen The Summer the School Burned Down Shortlist
Valerie Sherrard A Bend in the Breeze Shortlist
2024 Lisa Alward Cocktail Winner [8][9]
Luke Francis Beirne Blacklion Shortlist [10]
Valerie Sherrard Standing on Neptune Shortlist [10]
2025 Nelson Keane Nachzehrer Winner [14]
Mark Blagrave Felt Shortlist [15]
Vanessa C. Hawkins A Child to Cry Over Shortlist [15]
2026 Bob Stutt Puppet Winner [11]
Pierre C. Arseneault Something Happened in Carlton Shortlist [12]
Michael Simon Extinction Shortlist [12]

WFNB Nonfiction Award

The WFNB Nonfiction Book Prize, first awarded in 2016, is presented annually for nonfiction books published by a New Brunswick resident. The award is sponsored by the family of Ann Brennan, a founding member of the WFNB.[19]

Award winners and shortlists[19]
Year Author Title Result Ref.
2016 Donald Savoie What is Government Good At? Winner
Nicholas Guitard The Lost Wilderness Shortlist
David Sullivan Boss Gibson: Lumber King of New Brunswick Shortlist
2017 Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon Shadow of Doubt Winner [4]
Melynda Jarratt Letters from Beauly: Pat Hennessy and the Canadian Forestry Corps in Scotland, 1940-1945 Shortlist
Roslyn Rosenfeld Lucy Jarvis: Even Stones Have Life Shortlist
2018 Rachel Bryant The Homing Place Winner
Tony Robinson-Smith The Dragon Run Shortlist
Jan Wong Apron Strings Shortlist
2019 Jacques Poitras Pipe Dreams Winner
2020 Danny Jacobs Sourcebooks for Our Drawings: Essays and Remnants Winner
Leslie Kern Feminist City: A Field Guide Shortlist
Ronald Rees and Joshua Green Slow Seconds: The Photography of George Thomas Taylor Shortlist
2021 Philip Lee Restigouche: The Long Run of the Wild River Winner
Odette Barr Teaching at the Top of the World Shortlist
Virginia Bliss Bjerkelund Meadowlands: A Chronicle of the Scovil Family Shortlist
2022 Martha Vowles Senior Management, Parenting my Parents Winner [5]
Janet Coulter Sanford Memories on the Bounty: A Story of Friendship, Love, and Adventure Shortlist [6]
Michael Boudreau and Bonnie Huskins Just the Usual Work: The Social Worlds of Ida Martin, Working-Class Diarist Shortlist [6]
2023 James Mullinger Brit Happens* Or Living the Canadian Dream Winner [7]
Mark Anthony Jarman Touch Anywhere to Begin Shortlist
Jon Claytor Take the Long Way Home Shortlist
2024 Anne Koval Mary Pratt: A Love Affair with Vision Winner [8][9]
Valerie Sherrard and Natalie Hyde, illustrated by David Jardine More than Words: Navigating the Complex World of Communication Shortlist [10]
Jason Bell Cracking the Nazi Code: The Untold Story of Canada's Greatest Spy Shortlist [10]
2025 C. Ted Behne, James W. Wheaton, Keith Helmuth, Daryl Hunter, and Nicholas N. Smith Tappan Adney: From Birchbark Canoes to Indigenous Rights Winner [14]
Margaret Augustine and Lauren Beck Mitji – Let's Eat! Mi'kmaq Recipes from Sikniktuk Shortlist [15]
Donald J. Savoie Speaking Truth to Canadians About Their Public Service Shortlist [15]
2026 Karissa Donkin Breakaway – The PWHL and the Women who changed the Game Winner [11]
Ian LeTourneau (ed.) A Great Cloud of Witnessing – the Arts Journalism of Nancy Bauer Shortlist
D. Bruce Hughes Stroke of Luck: Music, Medicine and a Miraculous Recovery Shortlist

Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize

The Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize, first awarded in YEAR, is presented annually for books of poetry published by a New Brunswick resident. The award is sponsored by The Fiddlehead.[20]

Award winners and shortlists[20]
Year Author Title Result Ref.
2016 M. Travis Lane Crossover Winner
Phillip Crymble Not Even Laughter Shortlist
Michael Pacey Electric Affinities Shortlist
2017 M. Travis Lane The Witch of the Inner Wood Winner [4]
Wayne Clifford The Exile's Papers Shortlist
Robert Moore Based on Actual Events Shortlist
2018 Allan Cooper Everything We Love Comes Back to Find Us Winner
Wayne Clifford Flying the Truck Shortlist
Kathy Mac Human Misunderstanding Shortlist
2019 Jenna Lyn Albert Bec & Call Winner
Herménégilde Chiasson, translated by Jo-Anne Elder To Live and Die in Scoudouc Shortlist
Kayla Geitzler That Light Feeling Under Your Feet Shortlist
2020 Jennifer Houle Virga Winner
Lucas Crawford Belated Bris of the Brainsick Shortlist
Matthew Gwathmey Our Latest in Folktales Shortlist
2021 Allan Cooper Waiting for the Small Ship of Desire Winner
M. Travis Lane Keeping Count Shortlist
Emily Skov-Neilsen The Knowing Animals Shortlist
2022 Triny Finlay Myself a Paper Clip Winner [5]
Rebecca Salazar sulphurtongue Shortlist [6]
Jane Tims a glimpse of water fall Shortlist [6]
2023 Sue Sinclair Almost Beauty Winner [7]
Amber McMillan This is a Stick-Up Shortlist
Michael Pacey Wild Apples: A Dialogue with Thoreau Shortlist
2024 Fawn Parker Soft Inheritance Winner [8][9]
Matthew Gwathmey Tumbling for Amateurs Shortlist [10]
Allan Cooper The Face of Everything Shortlist [10]
2025 Michael Pacey Van Gogh's Grasshopper Winner [14]
Matthew Gwathmey Family Band Shortlist [15]
Gerald Arthur Moore Flak Jacket Shortlist [15]
2026 Ian LeTourneau metadata from a changing climate Winner [11]

References

  1. ↑ Robertson, Becky (6 October 2016). "Awards: New Brunswick Book Awards adds BFYP prize‚ announces judges". Quill and Quire. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 Berki, Attila (5 September 2024). "New Brunswick Book Awards adds new prize for middle grade and young adult books". Quill and Quire. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "The Alice Kitts Memorial Award". The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Robertson, Becky (26 May 2017). "Kerry Lee Powell, Bobbi-Jean McKinnon among New Brunswick Book Award winners". Quill and Quire. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Berki, Attila (10 June 2022). "2022 New Brunswick Book Awards winners". Quill and Quire. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fisher, James M. (28 May 2024). "Shortlisted Titles Announced for New Brunswick Book Awards". The Miramichi Reader. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "New Brunswick Book Awards 2023 winners announced". Quill and Quire. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Winners of the 2024 New Brunswick Book Awards announced". Quill and Quire. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Lisa Alward and Fawn Parker among winners of the 2024 New Brunswick Book Awards". CBC Books. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "2023–24 New Brunswick Book Awards shortlists announced". Quill and Quire. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Beirne, Luke (3 June 2026). "Nancy Bauer and Karissa Donkin among winners of 2026 New Brunswick Book Awards". CBC Books. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Berki, Attila (2 April 2026). "New Brunswick Book Awards 2026 shortlists announced". Quill and Quire. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 "Books for Young Readers". Writers Federation of New Brunswick. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Berki, Attila (2 June 2025). "New Brunswick Book Awards winners announced". Quill and Quire. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Berki, Attila (21 March 2025). "New Brunswick Book Awards shortlists announced". Quill and Quire. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  16. 1 2 "Shortlists announced for the New Brunswick Book Awards". The Canadian Children's Book Centre. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  17. 1 2 "The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick - Mrs. Dunster's Fiction Prize". Writers Federation of New Brunswick. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Beth Powning among this year's New Brunswick Book Award winners". CBC Books. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  19. 1 2 "The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick - The WFNB Nonfiction Award". Writers Federation of New Brunswick. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  20. 1 2 "The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick - The Fiddlehead Poetry Book Prize". Writers Federation of New Brunswick. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
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