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IBBY AWARDS

Frances E. Russell Grant

The Frances E. Russell Grant was established by the late Marjorie Russell in memory of her sister, Frances E. Russell, 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.

Works of the following nature are eligible:

1. Studies of individual authors and their work, especially if they are considered in their socio-historical context.
2. Comparative studies of two or more authors, which illuminate their stylistic differences, or consider their social and historical approaches.
3. Subject/Genre overviews, for example, Canadian fantasy or historical fiction, etc.
4. Biographical studies of Canadian children's authors or illustrators.
5. Studies of Canadian illustrators and their work.
6. Related subjects including contemporary theoretical approaches to the study of Canadian children's literature.
7. Research for children's fiction or non-fiction based on Canadian topics or subjects.

Three copies of each proposal, which should include a project synopsis and curriculum vitae, are required. The competition is open to Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. A jury, appointed by IBBY Canada, will select the successful applicant.

For more information, please contact:
Deirdre Baker
Frances E. Russell Grant Chair
IBBY Canada c/o The Canadian Children's Book Centre
Toronto Public Library
Northern District Branch
Suite 101, 40 Orchard View Blvd.
Toronto, ON M4R 1B9
russell@ibby-canada.org

IBBY Canada is now accepting submissions to the 2008 Frances E. Russell Grant. See press release: English/French.

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Recipients of the Frances E. Russell Grant 2007 – Gail Edwards and Judith Saltman* 2006 – Michelle Mulder** 2005 – Michelle Cobban 2004 – Krista V. Johansen 2003 – Joanna Emery 2002 – Lynn Westerhout 2001 – Françoise Lepage 2000 – Sydell Waxman 1999 – Mavis Reimer and Anne Rusnak 1998 – No grant given 1997 – Carole Carpenter 1996 – Suzanne Pouliot 1995 – Jean Stringam 1991 – Linda Granfield 1990 – Judy Arter 1989 – David Jenkinson 1988 – Dr. Ronald A. Jobe 1987 – Joan Weller 1986 – Judith Saltman 1985 – André Gagnon 1984 – Jacques La Mothe 1983 – Shirley Wright 1982 – Dr. Catherine Ross/ Dr. Corrine Davies

*See press release: English/French.

**See article.

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Frances Russell Extends to Australia

IN 1997 I WAS the happy recipient of the Frances E. Russell Grant to undertake a study of "Folklore in Canadian Children's Literature in English." Among other things, this research showed very clearly that folklore has been an important discourse of identity in our children's literature, as is especially evident in the ways and extent to which it has been enlisted to construct a multicultural identity after the official adoption of this cultural policy in 1971. Indeed, the growth and specific directions of the evolution of English-language Canadian children's literature owe a great deal to the multicultural policy and the publishing initiatives it spawned.

I have presented my research results in several papers at different academic conferences, most recently (and with the assistance of a grant from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council) at the meeting of the Association for Canadian Studies in Australia and New Zealand in Wollongong, New South Wales on July 2. My paper there was entitled "Reconstructing Identity: Children's Literature and Multiculturalism."

It was possible for me to be at the ACSANZ meeting in part because I am now in Australia on a Harold B. White Fellowship at the National Library of Australia in Canberra – an amazing opportunity and situation for research. My project here is entitled "Constructing and Reconstructing Identity: Folklore in Australian Children's Literature." This study is a direct outgrowth of my research funded by the Frances E. Russell Award in that I am exploring folklore as a discourse of identity here, doing the Australian component of what has become an international comparative study. Last summer I was funded by York University to undertake a similar study in South Africa, entitled "A Discourse of Identity: Folklore in South African Children's Literature in English.

While I suppose I could possibly continue travelling the English-speaking world on this study, I think this extension to Australia will provide more than enough to prepare a comparative analysis of the role of folklore in reconstructing national identity following the adoption of a multicultural policy. This resulting book will illuminate the commonalities as well as differences in the significance attached to folklore and to children's literature as cultural discourses; the variations in the definitions, implementation and realization of multiculturalism; and the implications with respect to national and personal identity in contemporary multicultural societies.

Meanwhile, some of the Canadian results will appear early in 2001 on a web-site devoted to analyses of the children's books in English that consist of, include or are otherwise based on folklore. A monograph analysing the Canadian situation will appear shortly after, followed by works specifically on the relevant South African, and finally on the Australian, children's literature.

I am deeply grateful to IBBY Canada for providing the means to get this research snowball going!

Cheers from Down Under.

– Carole Carpenter
former Frances E. Russell Grant Chair

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