News

Each year the OLA Best Bets Committee selects the top Canadian picture books, fiction and non-fiction for children, and fiction for teens. Books are selected on the basis of their literary merit as well as their appeal to the intended audience. Illustrations are also considered in the case of graphic novels. The following list, which highlights books published in 2011, was featured at last week's Ontario Library Association Superconference.

It is with deep sadness that we announce that Joyce Barkhouse passed away from heart disease on February 2, 2012 in Bridgewater, Lunenburg County (Nova Scotia). After graduating from Kings County Academy, Barkhouse attended the Provincial Normal College in Truro and became and elementary school teacher. She went on to teach in both the Maritimes and Montreal. As a teacher, she noticed the lack of Canadian reading material for children and so began her career in writing for children.

Barkhouse was one of Nova Scotia's finest writers for children and her works include Anna's Pet and Pit Pony. In 2007, she was named to the Order of Nova Scotia, and in 2009, to the Order of Canada.