Jillian Tamaki, Kelley Armstrong, Janice Lynn Mather among Canadian Children's Book Centre finalists

The Canadian Children's Book Centre has revealed the 2019 finalists for their annual slate of awards celebrating literature for young readers.

Jillian Tamaki is a finalist for the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, a $20,000 prize, for her debut children's book They Say Blue. The book won the 2018 Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — illustration and is also a finalist for the 2019 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award, a $50,000 prize.

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Marie-Louise Gay is also a nominee for both the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award and TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. She's up for the picture book Mustafa, the story of a boy making his way in a new country.

Shauntay Grant and Eva Campbell are Marilyn Baillie finalists for their collaboration Africville, the story of a girl exploring her roots in the historic Nova Scotia community. Their book was a 2018 finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — illustration.

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For The Funeral, writer and illustrator Matt James makes his second consecutive appearance on the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award shortlist. He won in 2018 alongside Paul Harbridge for When the Moon Comes.

Jami Gigot completes the Mailyn Baillie Picture Book Award shortlist with Seb and the Sun, the story of a boy whose optimism warms the hearts of those around him.

Merrie-Ellen Wilcox is a finalist for the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction, a $10,000 prize, for her book After Life. The book, which explores the different traditions and beliefs around death, is also nominated for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award this year.

Wab Kinew and Joe Morse are Norma Fleck finalists for Go Show the World, which tells the stories of Indigenous heroes through history. The book was a finalist for the 2018 Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — illustration.

Kelley Armstrong's new YA novel Aftermath has picked up two nominations — one for the $5,000 John Spray Mystery Award and one for the $5,000 Amy Mathers Teen Book Award.

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Janice Lynn Mather's Learning to Breathe is among the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award nominees as well. The novel was shortlisted for the 2018 Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — text.

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Christopher Paul Curtis is shortlisted for the Geoffrey Bilson Historical Fiction for Young People Award, a $5,000 prize. He's a finalist for The Journey of Little Charlie, which was also on the 2018 Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — text shortlist.

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The winners will be announced on Oct. 15, 2019.

Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award ($20,000) finalists

• Africville by Shauntay Grant, illustrated by Eva Campbell
• The Funeral by Matt James
• Mustafa by Marie-Louise Gay
• Seb and the Sun by Jami Gigot
• They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki

The jury panel for this prize is comprised of Jim Martella, Janis Nostbakken and Itah Sadu.

Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction ($10,000) finalists

• After Life by Merrie-Ellen Wilcox
• Bat Citizens by Rob Laidlaw
• Go Show the World by Wab Kinew, illustrated by Joe Morse
• Trash Revolution by Erica Fyvie, illustrated by Bill Slavin
• Turtle Pond by James Gladstone, illustrated by Karen Reczuch

The jury panel for this prize is comprised of Fatma Faraj, Erin Grittani and Larry Swartz.

Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People ($5,000) finalists

• Don't Tell the Enemy by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
• The Journey of Little Charlie by Christopher Paul Curtis
• Miles to Go by Beryl Young
• Piper by Jacqueline Halsey
• The Sound of Freedom by Kathy Kacer

The jury panel for this prize is comprised of Ray Fernandes, Carol-Ann Hoyte and Dr. Eric M. Meyers.

Amy Mathers Teen Book Award ($5,000) finalists:

• Aftermath by Kelley Armstrong
• Easy Prey by Catherine Lo
• A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena
• The House of One Thousand Eyes by Michelle Barker
• Learning to Breathe by Janice Lynn Mather

The jury panel is comprised of Roxanne Deans, Tracey Schindler and Joel A. Sutherland.

John Spray Mystery Award ($5,000) finalists:

• Aftermath by Kelley Armstrong
• Call of the Wraith by Kevin Sands
• The Case of the Firebane Folly by Liam O'Donnell, illustrated by Mike Deas
• Sadie by Courtney Summers
• Wolfe in Shepherd's Clothing by Angie Counios & David Gane

The jury panel is comprised of Nancy Cooper, Diana Krawczyk and Helen Kubiw.