Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award shortlist includes 3 P.E.I. authors

Three P.E.I. authors have been shortlistedfrom books from across the countryfor a Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award.

Dave Atkinson was nominatedfor his book Wereduck, Orysia Dawydiak for Kira's Secret and Sharon McKay for The End of the Line.

I think the literacy level is going down, I think the attention span is going down. Sharon McKay, Author,The End of the Line

Shortlisted books areselected from across the country and are voted on by thousands of Atlantic Canadian children from Grades 4 to 6 who are members of Hackmatack reading groups.

It is unusual to have three of the 10 authors shortlisted in the English Fiction category come from the Island,Hackmatackofficialssaid.

"I think it's really encouraging," saidDawydiak.

"I think that target audience, they need more books at that age. There are picture books and the YA [young adult] groups and there's that gap in between."

'Publishers are responding'

Atkinson said he sees more authors targeting certain age groups with their books.

"There have always been really fun books aimed at this age of kid, but I just think that's an area that people are focussing on more now. So publishers are responding to that need I guess," he said.

When it comes to the impact oftechnologyon young people and their reading habits, Atkinson saidhe's heard from kids who still love to read.

The Hackmatack program is an amazing example of how to get kids more engaged with reading, adds McKay.

"I think the literacy level is going down, I think the attention span is going down," she said.

"If we're going to attack this, if it's a war and literacy is our goalfor a child, a young adult, I think it takes four things:I think it takes community, I think it takes schools, it's government and family."

McKay points to theNova Scotia government's purchase of Hackmatack titles for schoolsas an example of a success.

TheHackmatack awards will be given outApril 29 in Moncton, N.B.