IBBY Canada Sydney Smith Hans Christian Andersen Award Presentation Announcement
Sydney Smith was honoured as the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award winner (for illustration) during the 39th IBBY World Congress in Trieste, Italy.
At the official presentation of the Hans Christian Andersen Awards on August 31, Smith gave an emotional and heartfelt thank you to the over 700 Congress attendees from around the globe. He also spoke of the “power of the illustrator” in not only enhancing a story’s text but sometimes even challenging the words on the page. Many agreed that Smith’s speech was a highlight of the event and a proud moment for the IBBY Canada delegation.
Sydney Smith receiving HCA Award
Nominated by IBBY Canada, Smith is the first Canadian to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award in its nearly 70-year history.
He is the author-illustrator of Small in the City (Neal Porter Books/Groundwood Books), which was the winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award for Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books and CILIP’s Kate Greenaway Medal, and Do You Remember? (Neal Porter Books/Groundwood Books), winner of the Boston Globe – Horn Book Award. IBBY Canada’s nomination package also highlights Smith’s illustrations for Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson (Groundwood Books), The White Cat and the Monk by Jo Ellen Bogart (Groundwood Books), Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz (Groundwood Books), and I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott (Neal Porter Books).
The Andersen Awards, sometimes referred to as the “little Nobel,” recognize authors and illustrators whose complete works have made a lasting and significant contribution to children’s literature. Smith was recognized alongside Austrian author Heinz Janisch, the winner of the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award (for writing).
IBBY Canada Sydney Smith Hans Christian Andersen Award Presentation Announcement
At the official presentation of the Hans Christian Andersen Awards on August 31, Smith gave an emotional and heartfelt thank you to the over 700 Congress attendees from around the globe. He also spoke of the “power of the illustrator” in not only enhancing a story’s text but sometimes even challenging the words on the page. Many agreed that Smith’s speech was a highlight of the event and a proud moment for the IBBY Canada delegation.
Nominated by IBBY Canada, Smith is the first Canadian to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award in its nearly 70-year history.
He is the author-illustrator of Small in the City (Neal Porter Books/Groundwood Books), which was the winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award for Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books and CILIP’s Kate Greenaway Medal, and Do You Remember? (Neal Porter Books/Groundwood Books), winner of the Boston Globe – Horn Book Award. IBBY Canada’s nomination package also highlights Smith’s illustrations for Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson (Groundwood Books), The White Cat and the Monk by Jo Ellen Bogart (Groundwood Books), Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz (Groundwood Books), and I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott (Neal Porter Books).
The Andersen Awards, sometimes referred to as the “little Nobel,” recognize authors and illustrators whose complete works have made a lasting and significant contribution to children’s literature. Smith was recognized alongside Austrian author Heinz Janisch, the winner of the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award (for writing).
Congratulations, Sydney!
Submitted by Kirsten Brassard and Fred Horler
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