By Marilyn MacPherson and Tina Cousins
What do Silverwing, In Flanders Fields: The Story of the Poem by John McCrae, The Breadwinner, and Ha! Ha! Ha! 1000+ Jokes, Riddles, Facts, and More have in common? Well, they are not only informative, much beloved Canadian kidlit, authored, illustrated, and published in Canada, each title has received the Red Cedar Book Award (RCBA). Hmm, just what is the Red Cedar Book Award you ask?
What is this Red Cedar Book Award?
The RBCA follows the young readers’ choice award (YRCA) model. This means that kid readers decide the titles that they would like to see win the award, rather than adults determining the outcome. Similar to other YRCA’s that span the nation, the RCBA is based provincially serving kids, families, and educators across British Columbia. And while more traditionally-run YRCAs focus on readers in schools, RBCA expanded its scope so that any child, whether in or outside a school system can participate in the Award. This change stemmed from a revamp of RBCA’s values. Literacy has been, and will continue to be, at the heart of the award, so this question needed to be answered, “How can RBCA support literacy for all kids across the province?”
The answer to this is that in 2019, RCBA was opened up to kids across the province regardless of school affiliation. Currently, RCBA is for readers in public, private, and home schools as well as independent readers, readers in organisations such as the Girl Guides of Canada and public libraries through-out the province. This expansion of scope also supports RBCA’s mission to be a learning-commons for kids, families, and educators across British Columbia to discover, connect, and be inspired by Canadian literature written for kids.
I haven’t heard of the award. Is it new?
Great question! The first award was given in 1998. Bernice Thurman Hunter took home the RBCA in the fiction category for Amy’s Promise. Linda Granfield’s, In Flanders Fields: The Story of the Poem by John McCrae, illustrated by Janet Wilson took home the RBCA in the non-fiction category. However, the seeds for RBCA were sown two years earlier in 1996 by Wayne Swanson. As Wayne describes in the original RBCA proposal:
“When I attended this year’s (Silver Birch, 1996) luncheon as one of the children’s book authors, I saw the authors mobbed for their autographs – as if they were rock stars or sports heroes. I was thoroughly inspired and you like to see B.C. children participating in a children’s choice award program.” Wayne Swanson, Proposal: A Children’s Choice Book Award for British Columbia, August 1996.
In order to get RBCA going, Wayne first needed to create a non-profit society. This was a practical move as it allowed for the raising of funds and on October 29, 1996, the Young Reader’s Choice Awards Society of B.C. (YRCASBC) incorporated under the province’s Society Act. Along with Wayne, there were four other literacy advocates sitting on the board of directors: Allison Haupt, Russ McMath, Emiko Morita, and Kit Pearson. Oh, to be a fly on the wall during the first meetings – the energy and passion for literacy must have been like a super-nova!
This award piques my interest! So, how does all of this work?
There are a few steps to being part of the RCBA program and here they are:
- Check out the “Be a Red Cedar Reader” page on the RBCA website.
- RBCA asks that you register so we can keep track of the number of participants.
- Take a look at the fiction and non-fiction shortlists. These shortlists are created by two teams made up of public and teacher-librarians, teachers, and book industry professionals. These shortlists are used not only for the RCBA, but also as “best books” to buy for school and other libraries. They are trusted lists and serve to represent a broad range of reading interests and levels.
- Download available resources from the “Resources” page. These resources are designed so that they can be easily printed out making them more accessible to participants.
- Start reading!
- RCBA runs from September to June and you can join anytime.
- RBCA does not require a minimum nor maximum number of books to be read. If a reader decides that the one book that they have read is their favourite, then that is the book they vote for.
- You can purchase some or all of the books for your library, but RBCA recognizes that budgets may be a challenge. All the books that RCBA chooses are available at public libraries through-out the province.
- Collect the titles that you vote for and then submit online. Voting takes place in May.
RBCA is geared towards kids whose age would put them in grades 4-7. It is not a program designed to teach kids how to read. Rather, RCBA’ s vision is to support an engaged, excited, and educated province-wide Red Cedar Book Award community. A very important way that RBCA embodies this vision is by offering the program for no cost to participants.
Oh, I don’t know if I have the time to run a book club.
RCBA is very flexible in how you run the award. You don’t have to run a formal book club. There are many forms that RCBA can take in your classroom or even in your own home. Here are a few suggestions:
- Set up a display of RCBA books. We do have resources including a printable poster and stickers (email RCBA) to help you with your display. Having this display will highlight not only RCBA, but also the authors, illustrators, and publishers who are creating such amazing Canadian kidlit.
- Host an RBCA book review contest. Have your kids write book reviews and then vote on the favourite review. RCBS is all about fun and challenges, so we hold that reviews can be anything that reflects what the reader’s opinion is. During COVID, reviews were posted on our website, and one of the most enjoyable and succinct was this review:
“If you want to learn more about beavers, this is the book for you.”
- Create reading challenges. In Prince George, Tina Cousins has taken this to a new level!
- Use RCBA titles for classroom read-out-loud periods.
These are but a few suggestions. RCBA is very flexible about how the award is used at home or in the classroom. The intent of RCBA is to introduce kids, educators, and families to Canadian kidlit and there are very few professionals as creative as teachers in supporting literacy. (Yes, an unabashed shout-out to the profession!)
Wait, what’s happening in Prince George?
School District 57 – Prince George hosts an annual Red Cedar Battle of the Books. All schools with students in Grades 5-7 are eligible, including the two middle school programs, as well as students from the Conseil Scolaire Francophone school and the independent schools in the area. Last year even saw a team from one of SD57’s remote communities – students from Mackenzie travelled two hours to get to the competition! Students compete in teams of 3 to answer questions based on the books. The winning students receive gift certificates to a local independent bookstore and there are plenty of door prizes to be won. This encourages them to read the Red Cedar nominees and be informed when it comes time to vote for their favourite.
Why should kids read RCBA books?
Screens. After-school activities. Reading is boring. I only read graphic novels. RBCA understands that books and kids can be like oil and water. In 1996, when the YRCASBC came into being, it had 3 goals:
- Encourage students in grades 4-7 to read more.
- Create an awareness of Canadian books and authors.
- Develop children’s ability to judge published works.
Since 1996, RCBA realized that one more goal was needed and this is:
- It must be child-centered
This goal was added as RCBA wanted to keep the award for kids. This means that when books are selected for the shortlists, they are chosen with this question in mind:
“Is this a book that kids will want to read, or is it a book that an adult would want kids to read?”
RCBA also wants kids to be able to read stories that reflect their own lived experiences. The RCBA shortlists have included books covering topics such as child abuse, diaspora, and gender identity. As well, the YRCASBC embeds in its mission statement the following values:
- Intellectual freedom: Children have the right to read what they want to read.
- Literacy: Reading is the basis of discovery, growth, and life-long learning.
- Celebration: We believe that reading is fun and empowering.
- Diversity: We respect and embrace the Red Cedar Book Award’s community and each member’s lived experience.
- Inclusiveness: We foster an environment in which all ways of knowing are respected and valued.
So why should kids read RCBA books? Well, they will see themselves and their experiences reflected in the stories. They will get to learn about how other kids live. They will come to understand how the world around impacts them and how they impact the world.
For RCBA, one of the most important reasons is that many kid’s voices are dismissed or overlooked. RCBA is an opportunity for kids to express themselves, be heard, and understand that their opinion matters. Learning how to speak up is a skill that will support kids through-out their life and RCBA is supportive of a kid’s truth.
I have heard rumours about the award. What is the future of RCBA?
RCBA and YRCASBC are both run by volunteers. In 2026/27, YRCASBC will be celebrating its 30th year of incorporation by highlighting the titles that have won the RCBA. Have these titles stood the test of time?
RCBA will also be reflecting if it is standing the test of time. Over 30 years, many changes have occurred in education and the Canadian publishing industry. RCBA is looking forward to seeing how it can adapt to this new landscape. We encourage you to reach out and help RCBA plan its next 30 years.
To learn more about RCBA, please visit the RCBA website, www.redcedaraward. You can also find RCBA on Facebook and Instagram.
Marilyn MacPherson is the president of YRCASBC and a public librarian. Years ago, as a school trustee in Jasper, Alberta, Marilyn founded a writer-in residence program which introduced kids and the community to local authors like Jan Truss, W. O. Mitchell, and Rudy Wiebe. It was this experience that kindled her passion for children’s literacy and promoting Canadian kidlit. In her free time, Marilyn likes to bike and read, but not at the same time!
Tina Cousins (she/her) moves through the world in big ways. She is the 2024 award winner of the BC Teacher-Librarian Association’s Val Hamiliton Lifetime Achievement, a Union Activist, a proud Auntie, a Karaoke Singer and an all-round fun seeker! If you have any questions, please email me tcousins@sd57.bc.ca