Here is the first grouping of 2023 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™
Abuelita and Me
Written by Leonarda Carranza
Illustrated by Rafael Mayani
Annick Press
Are You a Cheeseburger?
Written and illustrated by Monica Arnaldo
Katherine Tegen Books
Be a Good Ancestor
Written by Leona Prince
Illustrated by Carla Joseph
Orca Book Publishers
Orca Book Publishers
Bharatanatyam in Ballet Shoes
Written by Mahak Jain
Illustrated by Anu Chouhan
Annick Press
Friends are Friends, Forever
Written by Dane Liu
Illustrated by Lynn Scurfield
Henry Holt & Co.
Granny’s Kitchen
Written by Sadé Smith
Illustrated by Ken Daley
Feiwel and Friends
Feiwel and Friends
Meena’s Mindful Moment
Written by Tina Athaide
Illustrated by Åsa Gilland
Page Street Kids
Rodney Was a Tortoise
Written by Nan Forler
Illustrated by Yong Ling Kang
Tundra Books
A Sky-Blue Bench
Written by Bahram Rahman
Illustrated by Peggy Collins
Pajama Press
That’s Not My Name!
Written and illustrated by Anoosha Syed
Viking Books for Young Readers
SILVER BIRCH EXPRESS
Alina in a Pinch
Written and illustrated by Shenaaz Nanji
Second Story Press
Bear in the Family
Written by Eric Walters
Illustrated by Olga Barinova
Orca Book Publishers
Crimson Twill: Witch in the City
Written by Kallie George
Illustrated by Birgitta Sif
Candlewick
Flipping Forward and Twisting Backward
Written by Alma Fullerton
Illustrated by Sarah Mensinga
Peachtree
Kaleidoscope of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life: Their Colors and Patterns Explained
Written and illustrated by Greer Stothers
Wide Eyed Editions
Pink, Blue, and You! Questions for Kids about Gender Stereotypes
Written and illustrated by Elise Gravel with Mykaell Blais
Random House Children’s Books, Anne Schwartz Books
The Strangest Thing in the Sea: And Other Curious Creatures of the Deep
Written by Rachel Poliquin
Illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler
Kids Can Press
Tâpwê and the Magic Hat
Written by Buffy Sainte-Marie
Illustrated by Buffy Sainte-Marie and Michelle Alynn Clement
Greystone Kids
This is What I’ve Been Told / Mii yi gaa-bi-wiindmaagooyaan
Written and illustrated by Juliana Armstrong
Medicine Wheel Education
Who’s Looking? How Animals See the World
Written by Carol Matas
Illustrated by Cornelia Li
Orca Book Publishers
SILVER BIRCH FICTION
Butt Sandwich and Tree
Written by Wesley King
Paula Wiseman Books
Forever Birchwood
Written by Danielle Daniel
Harper Trophy Canada
Living with Viola
Written and illustrated by Rosena Fung
Annick Press
Meranda and the Legend of the Lake
Written by Meagan Mahoney
OwlKids Books
Sneaks
Written by Catherine Egan
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Stealing Home
Written by J. Torres
Illustrated by David Namisato
Kids Can Press
The Stone Child (The Misewa Saga, Book Three)
Written by David A. Robertson
Puffin Canada
Swim Team
Written and illustrated by Johnnie Christmas
HarperAlley
The Undercover Book List
Written by Colleen Nelson
Pajama Press
Reviewed here
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor
Written by Xiran Jay Zhao
Margaret K. McElderry
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Nominees for the other programs can be linked from below:
