October 16, 2025

2026 Forest of Reading® nominees: Blue Spruce, Silver Birch Express, Silver Birch Fiction


Here is the first grouping of 2026 nominees from the nine Forest of Reading® awards of the Ontario Library Association:
  • Blue Spruce: picture books for JK to Grade 2
  • Silver Birch Express: fiction and non-fiction for Grades 3 and 4
  • Silver Birch Fiction: fiction for Grades 3 to 6




BLUE SPRUCE™





 
 
Bannock in the Hammock
Written by Masiana Kelly
Illustrated by Amiel Sandland
Inhabit Media


The Beat of the Dragon Boat
Written by Christina Matula
Illustrated by Nicole Wong
Sleeping Bear Press


Fox and the Mystery Letter
Written and Illustrated by Alex G. Griffiths
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books


The Friendship Blanket
Written by Leonarda Carranza
Illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina
Scholastic Canada
Reviewed here 


The Girl Who Loved Poutine

Written by Lorna Schultz Nicholson
Illustrated by Rachel Qiuqi
Sleeping Bear Press
Reviewed here

The Great Dinosaur Sleepover
Written by Linda Bailey
Illustrated by Joe Bluhm
Tundra Books


It’s Okay, Just Ask
Written by Monique Leonardo Carlos
Illustrated by Salini Perera
Owlkids Books


The Most Magnificent Team
Written and illustrated by Ashley Spires
Kids Can Press
Reviewed here


Patty Dreams
Written by Nadia L. Hohn
Illustrated by Sahle Robinson
Owlkids Books


The Weedflower
Written by Elizabeth Davaze
Illustrated by Marianne Ferrer
Owlkids Books
Reviewed here









SILVER BIRCH EXPRESS





Barefoot Skateboarders
Written by Rina Singh
Illustrated by  Sophie Casson
Orca Book Publishers
 

The Big Splash
(Julia On the Go!)
Written by Angela Ahn
Illustrated by Julie Kim
Tundra Books 
 

Chomp-O-Rama: The Strange Ways That Animals Eat

Written by Maria Birmingham
Illustrated by Kyle Reed
Owlkids Books 
 

Dogs vs. Humans: A Showdown of the Senses

Written by Stephanie Gibeault
Illustrated by Bambi Edlund
Owlkids Books 
 

Every Little Bit Olive Tran

Written by Phuong Truong
Second Story Press
 

The Great Puptective #2: Purranormal Activity

Written and illustrated by Alina Tysoe
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
 

The League of Littles
Written by Casey Lyall
Illustrated by Sara Faber
Greenwillow Books
 

Plant Attack! The Fascinating Ways Flora Defends Itself

Written by Erin Silver
Illustrated by Julie McLaughlin
Orca Book Publishers 
 

Salma Speaks Up

Written by Danny Ramadan
Illustrated by Anna Bron
Annick Press 


This Is How A Ball Rolls: The Science of Wobbling, Bouncing, Spinning Balls

Written by Heather Tekavec
Illustrated by Suharu Ogawa
Kids Can Press









SILVER BIRCH FICTION


The Anxious Exile of Sara Salt

Written by Gabrielle S. Prendergast
Orca Book Publishers
 

Bea Mullins Takes a Shot

Written by Emily Deibert
Random House Books for Young Readers
 

Benny on the Case

Written by Wesley King 
Simon & Schuster 
 

The City of Lost Cats

Written by Tanya Lloyd Kyi
Tundra Books 
 

Comic Shift

Written by Ted Staunton
Scholastic Canada
 

Death by Whoopee Cushion

Written by Vicki Grant
Tundra Books 
 

Ghosts of Gastown

Written by Jessica Renwick
Yellow Dog 
 

The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents

Written by Nickie Pau Preto
Viking Books for Young Readers
 

Spirit Service

Written by Sarena Nanua and Sasha Nanua
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 
 

Taxi Ghost

Written and illustrated by Sophie Escabasse
Random House Graphic 







•••••••••••••••••••••••

Nominees for the other programs can be linked from below:


 

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