Melanie Florence, Francois Thisdale win TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award

Toronto-based aboriginal writer Melanie Florence and Quebec-based illustrator Francois Thisdale have won the $30,000 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award.

Florence, who is of Cree and Scottish heritage, was awarded the prize along with Thisdale at a gala in Toronto on Nov. 17 for “Missing Nimama,” published by Clockwise Press.

Florence’s debut picture book tells the story of a young mother — one of many missing indigenous women — watching over her small daughter from afar as the girl experiences key milestones in her life.

The 12th annual award recognizes the most distinguished English-language children’s book of the year, and is one of the largest prizes in Canadian children’s literature.

The winner of the $5,000 TD Fan Choice Award is “The Nest” by Toronto-based Kenneth Oppel, who was born in Port Alberni, B.C.

Note to readers: A previous version of this story, originally published on Nov. 17, didn’t acknowledge Francois Thisdale as a co-winner of the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award.