Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration
Lillian Shepherd, a long-time buyer for The Book Room in Halifax and life-long lover of books, died suddenly in 1997. Customers and authors visiting The Book Room were always put at ease by Lillian's ready smile and laughter, but her love of life shone through most clearly when she spoke of her husband Fred and their two daughters, Lynn and Cynthia. In 2002, Lillian’s legion of friends and colleagues from Halifax, Lunenburg, and Bermuda created the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award to applaud the book that combines Lillian’s love for illustrated children’s books and her affinity for locally produced work.
In 2003, the inaugural award was given to Susan Tooke for Full Moon Rising. Subsequent winners have been Geoff Butler for Ode to Newfoundland, Peter Rankin for Making Room, Jeffrey C. Domm for Atlantic Puffin: Little Brother of the North, and Brenda Jones for Skunks for Breakfast. Last year, Richard Rudnicki won for Gracie: The Public Gardens Duck. The $500 prize is now funded by the Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association and the Atlantic Provinces Publishers' Representatives.
Watch for this seal--a sign of excellence in Atlantic Canadian writing and publishing.
