At their recent annual meeting, IODE Canada announced the winner of the 2026 IODE Violet Downey Book Award for Children's Literature. This year's prize was awarded to author Cary Fagan for his novel Robot Island, published by Tundra Books.
Established in 1984, with the first award being presented in 1985, the annual prize is awarded to the best English-language book containing at least 500 words of text, preferably with Canadian content, in a category suitable for children aged 13 and under. A panel composed of IODE members and specialists in the field of children’s literature selects the award-winning book each year.
To revisit the 2026 shortlist, click here.
For more information, visit iode.ca.
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About Robot Island
Forced into stealing valuable books from a rich widow, Willis takes refuge on an abandoned island populated by robots in this new middle-grade novel by acclaimed writer Cary Fagan.
It isn't bad enough that Willis has to live with his cold uncle Tod in a dusty old house of used books. He can't even spend time with his friends Harrison and Galaxi because of the nasty after-school jobs his uncle makes him take on. But then his uncle asks him to visit an old widow lady in the mansion on the hill.
To his surprise, Willis likes Mrs. Shorthouse and even the books they read together (Little Women, Great Expectations). Meanwhile, taking a rowboat ride, Willis discovers an abandoned town from the 1950s populated by square-headed robots. What is the connection between Mrs. Shorthouse and Robot Island? What will happen after the police find out that Willis has been stealing rare books from the mansion? And when Willis turns on the electricity and the robots of Robot Island come to life, will they turn out to be friends or enemies?