On Tuesday, August 15, 2026, the Canadian Children's Book Centre announced the finalists for its 2026 English-language book awards. (See their website for an announcement of finalists.) These awards celebrate picture books, historical
fiction, YA, poetry, and more. Over
the years, the awards have changed, some discontinued and some
transitioned (e.g., the long-awarded Norma Fleck award for
Canadian children's non-fiction is now sponsored to honour Sharon
Fitzhenry). Still, this year's six awards are a sampling of the
extraordinary books for young people
created by Canadian authors and illustrators. They are a great resource
for exceptional reads from 2025 to 2026.
This year, the children's book awards include the following: - Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award ($20,000)
- Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction ($10,000)
- Amy Mathers Teen Book Award ($5,000)
- Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award ($5,000)
- David Booth Children’s and Youth Poetry Award ($3,500)
- Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People ($3,000)
• • • • • • •
Here are the short lists for each award category, as announced by the Canadian Children's Book Centre:
Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award
Supported by A. Charles Baillie
This
award honours excellence in illustrated English picture books for
children ages 3-8 and written and illustrated by Canadians.
Everybelly
Written and illustrated by Thao Lam Groundwood Books
Ins and Outs
Imagined by Elizabeth Withey
Illustrated by Salini Perera Orca Book Publishers
Written and illustrated by Julie Flett
Greystone Kids
The One About the Blackbird
Written by Melanie Florence
Illustrated by Matt James
Tundra Books
Rock
Written by Laurel Croza
Illustrated by Matt James
Groundwood Books
Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children's Non-FictionSupported by the Fitzhenry Family Foundation
This award honours excellence in Canadian children’s non-fiction books for Grades 4-12 (ages 8-18).
Game Changers: Stories of Hijabi Athletes From Around the World
Written by Charlene Smith
Illustrated by Natalya Tariq
Orca Book Publishers
Never Silent: A Hiroshima Survivor's Story
Written by Setsuko Thurlow and Kathy Lowinger Illustrated by Michelle Theodore
Annick Press
Ours to Tell: Reclaiming Indigenous Stories
Written by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger
Annick Press
The Sustainable School: A Journey Through Time and Energy
Written by Erica Fyvie Illustrated by Scot Ritchie
Kids Can Press
The True Story of Vanilla: How Edmond Albius Made History (Orca Biography)
Written by Ann Richards
Illustrated by Arden Taylor
Orca Book Publishers
Amy Mathers Teen Book Award
Supported by Canadian Children's Book Centre
This
award honours excellence in fiction written in English for teens or
young adults (ages 13-18) by a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
of Canada.
Among Ghosts
Written by Rachel Hartman
Penguin Teen CanadaWritten by Léa Taranto
Arsenal Pulp Press
The Fragments that Remain
Written by Mackenzie Angeconeb
DCB Young Readers
He’s So Possessed with Me
Written by Corey Liu
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Songs for Ghosts
Written by Clara Kumagai Penguin Teen Canada
You Started It
Written by Jackie Khalilieh (Markham, ON)Tundra Books
Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award
Supported by Alice Chase
This award is given annually to a Canadian children’s title written for an
elementary school-aged audience in Grades 4–6 (Ages 9–12) exemplifying
Richard’s guiding principles of compassion, kindness, humanity,
environmentalism, inclusivity, and connection to the land.
Akemi's Song
Written by Joanne Kwok
Illustrated by Yiting Hui
Plumleaf Press
Fantastic Lou: Little Comics from Real Life
Written and illustrated by Qin Leng
Tundra Books
kisēwātisi / Be Kind
Written by Elizabeth Merasty
Illustrated by Brie Phillips
Woodland Cree translation by Edie Venne
Your Nickel's Worth Publishing
Little Moments in a Big Universe
Written and illustrated by Todd Stewart
Owlkids Books
Oasis
Written and illustrated by Guojing
Godwin Books
David Booth Children's and Youth Poetry Award
Supported by Shelley Stagg Peterson
Honouring the late David Booth, former Professor Emeritus at OISE, this award recognizes excellence in Canadian youth poetry.
The Lightning Circle
Written by Vikki VanSickle
Illustrated by Laura K. Watson Tundra Books
Lights at Night
Written by Tasha Hilderman
Illustrated by Maggie Zeng
Tundra Books
A Pond, a Poet, and Three Pests
Written by Caroline Adderson
Illustrated by Lauren Tamaki
Groundwood Books
Reasons to Look at the Night Sky
Written by Danielle Daniel
Tundra Books
Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams
Written by Shari Green
Andrews McMeel Publishing
This Is a Tiny Fragile Snake
Written by Nicholas Ruddock
Illustrated by Ashley Barron
Groundwood Books
Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People
Supported by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Bilson Endowment Fund
This
is given annually to reward excellence in the writing of an outstanding
work of historical fiction for young readers by a Canadian author.
I Won't Feel This Way Forever
Written by Kim Spencer
Orca Book Publishers
Joe and the Wreck of the Tribune
Written by Jacqueline Halsey
Nimbus Publishing
Saving Wolfgang
Written by Gregor Craigie
Orca Book Publishers
Seabird
Written by Michelle Kadarusman
Pajama Press
A Storm Unleashed
Written by Carol Matas
Scholastic Canada
📚📚📚
The
winners of these awards will be announced on October 26, 2026 at a
ticketed event in Toronto.
Written by Laurel Croz
Written by Corey Liu 
Written and illustrated by Guojing 
Written by Shari Green 
Written by Kim Spencer 
