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PRESS RELEASE

THE CANADIAN NATIONAL Section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY Canada) is pleased to announce that the winner of this year's Frances E. Russell Award is Krista V. Johansen, for her project "Recent Trends in Canadian Children's Fantasy: Beyond Window Dressing?" Johansen proposes to examine and articulate current trends in Canadian children's fantasy, considering fantasies published since 2000 in the context of post-Harry Potter publishing, and in the light of earlier Canadian fantasies. Part of Johansen's larger study of Canadian children's fantasy, this focussed discussion will result in an article suitable for publication in a journal of children's literature. The jury felt that Johansen's project was likely to shed useful illumination on a developing field in Canadian children's literature. Her previous publications, scholarly background, and passion for her subject all indicate that the results of her research will be rewarding reading. Krista Johansen's reviews and articles on children's fantasy have been published in Resource Links since 2000. She is also the author of several works of fiction for children, including the Pippin picture books (Pippin Takes a Bath, Pippin and the Bones,and Pippin and Pudding, Kids Can Press) and The Serpent Bride: From Medieval Danish Ballads. Her most recent work of fiction, Torrie and the Pirate-Queen, is to be published by Annick Press in 2005. Krista lives in Sackville, NB. (For more information about Krista Johansen, see www.pippin.ca)

Krista Johansen was presented with her award at the Sackville Library on April 14th during the launch of her new book Torrie and the Pirate-Queen.

The Frances E. Russell Award was established by the late Marjorie Russell in memory of her sister, a longtime supporter of IBBY Canada. The $1,000 grant is intended to support IBBY Canada's mission "to initiate and encourage research in young people's literature in all its forms" and is given in support of research for a publishable work (a book or a paper) on Canadian children's literature. Past winners include Joanna Emery, André Gagnon, Ronald A. Jobe, Carole H. Carpenter, Sydell Waxman, and Françoise Lepage.

For more information about the Frances E. Russell Award, please write to info@IBBY Canada.org.

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