Alumnus Wins Literary Prize

The $25,000 prize—one of the largest cash prizes for children's literature—was given by The Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) and TD Bank Financial Group. The book's publisher, HarperCollins Canada Ltd., will receive an additional $2,500 for further promotional purposes.

"As an exciting spy thriller for young audiences, Arthur Slade's The Hunchback Assignments embodies the creativity and dedication to children's literature we hope to encourage with the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award," says Frank McKenna, deputy chair, TD Bank Financial Group and TD's literacy champion. "It's well known that developing a love for reading at an early age can help create a lasting relationship with books. The Hunchback Assignments is that electrifying, page-turning story we need to keep our young readers engaged."

After receiving his English degree from the U of S, Slade spent several years writing advertising and now writes fiction full-time. He is the author of the Canadian Chills series of books, Dust (which won the Governor General's award in 2001), Tribes, and Monsterology.