Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award shortlist includes 3 P.E.I. authors
Maggie Brown | CBC News | Posted: April 19, 2016 9:00 AM | Last Updated: April 19, 2016
Island nominations 'really encouraging' says author
Three P.E.I. authors have been shortlisted from books from across the country for a Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award.
Dave Atkinson was nominated for his book Wereduck, Orysia Dawydiak for Kira's Secret and Sharon McKay for The End of the Line.
I think the literacy level is going down, I think the attention span is going down. — Sharon McKay, Author, The End of the Line
Shortlisted books are selected from across the country and are voted on by thousands of Atlantic Canadian children from Grades 4 to 6 who are members of Hackmatack reading groups.
It is unusual to have three of the 10 authors shortlisted in the English Fiction category come from the Island, Hackmatack officials said.
"I think it's really encouraging," said Dawydiak.
"I think that target audience, they need more books at that age. There are picture books and the YA [young adult] groups … and there's that gap in between."
'Publishers are responding'
Atkinson said he sees more authors targeting certain age groups with their books.
"There have always been really fun books aimed at this age of kid, but I just think that's an area that people are focussing on more now. So publishers are responding to that need I guess," he said.
When it comes to the impact of technology on young people and their reading habits, Atkinson said he's heard from kids who still love to read.
The Hackmatack program is an amazing example of how to get kids more engaged with reading, adds McKay.
"I think the literacy level is going down, I think the attention span is going down," she said.
"If we're going to attack this, if it's a war and literacy is our goal for a child, a young adult, I think it takes four things: I think it takes community, I think it takes schools, it's government and family."
McKay points to the Nova Scotia government's purchase of Hackmatack titles for schools as an example of a success.
The Hackmatack awards will be given out April 29 in Moncton, N.B.