Bolen Books Children's Book Prize

Shortlist & Winners

In March 2008, Bolen Books and the Victoria Book Prize Society established the $5000 Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize. When the prize was announced, Mel Bolen, owner of Bolen Books, said,

“Children’s books are adjudicated for the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize and their quality and variety is acknowledged. However, we felt that it was difficult for the many fine children’s books published in the region to compete with adult literature. We hope to address this problem by establishing this prize.”

A spokesperson for the Victoria Book Prize Society said,

“…books for children and youth comprised the largest category among entrants in the 2007 competition for the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. VBPS anticipates even more interest once publishers are aware there is a specific prize for works for children and youth.”

The 2009 Prize was presented at a gala ceremony at the Union Club in Victoria on October 14, 2009 at 7:30 in the evening. Penny Draper won the prize for her book Graveyard of the Sea.

Here is the list of entries for the 2009 prize.

Bolen Children’s Book Prize Finalists 2009