The Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award is given to a book that arouses interest, stimulates curiosity, captures the imagination, and fosters concern for the world around us. The award's aim is to recognize excellence in Canadian publishing of non-fiction for children and young people ages 5-to-15 years. The criteria include accuracy, clarity, imaginative approach, appropriateness of organization and format, and sensitivity to ethnocentric and gender biases.
The book, written in English by a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, must have been published the calendar year previous to the award being granted. A national committee based in Vancouver sends out a selective list of 24+ titles that have been judged across Canada as the best of the preceding year. The Roundtables consider this preliminary list and ballott and send back their recommendations, resulting in 5 to 7 finalists. A majority of Roundtables make time at their first fall meeting to discuss the finalists and vote on their choices which are collated into one vote per Roundtable. The winning book is announced in time for Canadian Children's Book Week in November. The author and the illustrator of the winning book receive award certificates and share a cash prize of $1000.