Toronto writer Kenneth Oppel's Silverwing series is set in a fantasy world of bats. (Steve Carty)

Canadian children's writer Kenneth Oppel has won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for the fourth time.

Oppel won for his novel Darkwing, part of the Silverwing series of books for young adults and middle readers, all fantasy novels set in a world of bats.

"It's the kind of book you read under the covers with a flashlight at night," said one of the young jurors who judged the book awards.

Oppel, a Toronto-based writer and father of three, is currently working on a sequel to his book Skybreaker.

This year, juries of readers were drawn from Ryerson Community School in Toronto. The youngest jurists chose The Boy From the Sun as their favourite in the picture book category.

Created by first-time winner Duncan Weller of Thunder Bay, Ont. , it is about a boy with a glowing yellow head that resembles the sun who guides three sad children through the forest to lift their spirits.

The jury said they "loved how the colour changes as the children become happier."

One young juror said, "It made me feel happy."

Each author wins $6,000, after the Ruth Schwartz Foundation increased the prize pot this year.

The two awards recognize artistic excellence in writing and illustration in Canadian children's literature.