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™
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
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Nominees for the other programs can be linked from below:
