06/05/2026
✨ Congratulations to Lauren Soloy, winner of the 2026 Ann Connor Brimer Award for Atlantic Canadian Children’s Literature for her book THE NEWEST GNOME (Tundra Books)!
The Ann Connor Brimer Award for Atlantic Canadian Children’s Literature (a $5,000 prize administered by the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia) is presented annually to an Atlantic author for a book of fiction or non-fiction that was written for children. It was awarded last night at the Atlantic Book Awards gala at the Halifax Central Library.
Of the winning title, the jury said:
“The real joy of this book is the sheer joy of it! The Newest Gnome is an enchanting mix of fact and fantasy where a community of odd little beings revel in the natural world and invite readers to do so alongside them. We meet gnomes not quite like any we may have seen before.
There is a story here—a gnome named Grolly Maru arrives in The Pocket and is welcomed by all the other gnomes. But alongside the story, are transcendent moments of poetry, wordless graphic spreads, lovingly elucidated lists, and stunning text-over-art pages worthy of poster-sized wall prints.
The book itself strains to contain the loving depictions of curiosity, community and colloquy. There are lists: different kinds of animal eggs, spirals that appear in nature, and even things that can be worn as hats if you are small enough to sport a dandelion puff on your head. There is also a dessert recipe, a lullaby, and even gnome calisthenics.
Soloy has created a world all her own, and in introducing readers to the world of The Pocket she also has much to tell us about our own.”
Congratulations and 🎉
