Forest of Reading

06/01/2026

A true advocate for reading and champion of the Forest of Reading, Amy was a dedicated White Pine Committee member as well as a moderator on the Teen Committee during its first two years.

Amy, you will be so missed by the Forest of Reading and book-loving community.

It is with deep sadness that we share with you that our dear friend Amy Mathers passed away on May 21, 2026. Amy's kindness, positive outlook, and sense of humour are an inspiration to us and to the book community as a whole.

Learn more at https://bookcentre.ca/blogs/industry-news/in-memoriam-amy-mathers

05/22/2026

2026 White Pine Teen Committee List Now Available

The Forest of Reading White Pine Teen Committee has put together the BEST summer reading list! In other words, your TBR pile is about to grow!

Readers in grades 9-12 simply must check out these titles by some incredible authors and illustrators!
Author June Hur
Kelley Armstrong

View the full list by visiting https://bit.ly/49ZXrrq

Feiwel and Friends Second Story Press Tundra Books ABRAMS Books ECW Press McClelland & Stewart Little, Brown Books for Young Readers DCB

05/21/2026

2026 Red Maple Kid Committee List Now Available

The Forest of Reading Red Maple Kid Committee has put together a summer reading list that's perfect for readers aged 12-14.

A big thank you to each of the avid readers on this committee for their hard work!

Ready to dive into one (or two, or three!) of these terrific titles?

View the full list by visiting https://bit.ly/49d9ilI

Congratulations to each of the authors and illustrators part of this list! Your titles were chosen by kids, for kids!
Marty Chan, Author Catherine Egan Susan Currie Lorna Schultz Nicholson Michelle Kadarusman Children's Author David A. Robertson

Penguin Teen Canada Orca Book Publishers Scholastic Canada Common Deer Press DCB Pajama Press HarperCollins Canada Tundra Books

05/21/2026

2026 Silver Birch Kid Committee List Now Available

The Forest of Reading Silver Birch Kid Committee has put together a summer reading list that you don’t want to miss out on! With 13 titles recommended for young readers in grades 3-6, there’s a little something for everyone.

Which of these unique books will your young readers dive into first?

View the full list by visiting https://bit.ly/4dWFlZN

We’re thrilled to be recognizing so many great authors and illustrators with this list!!
Mei Yu Marty Chan, Author Jay Odjick Sarah Mensinga Andrée Poulin Kristy Jackson Writes

JIMMY Patterson Orca Book Publishers Union Square & Co. DCB Annick Press Putnam Books Scholastic Canada ABRAMS Books Groundwood Books HarperCollins Canada

05/19/2026

Some of the most impactful books for young readers are about ordinary people navigating real-life struggles. One example of such a title is The Anxious Exile of Sara Salt, a 2026 Forest of Reading Silver Birch Fiction nominee.

Keen to learn more about this book AND the author who wrote it? We thought so!

Check on Teachers on Call interview with G.S/Gabrielle Prendergast here:

Explore Gabrielle Prendergast’s The Anxious Exile of Sara Salt, a Silver Birch Fiction nominee about anxiety, advocacy, empathy, and finding your voice.

05/18/2026

After an amazing week of Festival fun, we still have so much to celebrate!

Today we're showing up in your feed to highlight one of our fantastic 2026 nominees, who took home the title of Blue Spruce Honour Book.

Which nominee could it be?! The Weedflower, written by Elizabeth Davaze and illustrated by Marianne Ferrer.

Learn more about The Weedflower by checking out an exclusive interview between Teachers on Call and Elizabeth Davaze.

Explore The Weedflower by Elizabeth Davaze, a 2026 Forest of Reading nominee celebrating nature, curiosity, resilience, and environmental science for young readers.

05/17/2026

Which program is the country's largest recreational reading initiative for kids?

The Forest of Reading, of course!

This year, the Forest had 154,000 readers ranging from kindergarten to high school, participating across 9 different programs. Those readers then had the opportunity to vote for their favourite titles.

Curious to know which of the Forest's 2026 nominees won for their award category? Check out this article by CBC Books:

The program is Canada's largest annual recreational reading initiative where children and young adults pick their favourite authors and illustrators.

05/16/2026

If you've been following along with the Forest of Reading festivities this week, you'll know that we announced the 2026 winners as chosen by young readers themselves! 🎉

Did you know that 128,000+ readers voted this year across nine programs? Pretty incredible.

Check out a recent article from Quill & Quire highlighting them all! We're so thrilled for all of this year's nominees, honour books and winners. Congratulations again, everyone!

The two-day event, which had an in-person and digital component, was hosted by Hamilton teen and book-club host Ainara Alleyne.

05/15/2026

This week has been an absolute whirlwind with a Forest of Reading Festival schedule filled to the brim with amazing presentations from our nominees, interactive workshops, author signings, and unforgettable award ceremonies. 💚

We were thrilled to have our friends at Teachers on Call join us at this year's Festival to meet so many of our nominees, whom they had interviewed throughout the year!

Take a look for more Festival highlights AND the full list of 2026 award winners and honour books that we announced this week.

Discover the 2026 Forest of Reading winners! See the full list, event highlights, and author interviews from Canada’s largest youth reading festival.

05/14/2026

A round of applause to:
Yellow Cedar Award Winner: A Sick History of Medicine: A Warts-And-All Book Full of Fun Facts and Disgusting Discoveries written by Jelena Poleksic and illustrated by Ellastrated ! Neon Squid

Yellow Cedar honour books: Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes That Dot Our Planet written by .rutherford.3 & Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep written by ! Abrams Kids Orca Book Publishers



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Annonce du lauréat du prix Yellow Cedar : A Sick History of Medicine: A Warts-And-All Book Full of Fun Facts and Disgusting Discoveries écrit par Jelena Poleksic et illustré par Ella Kasperowicz !

Félicitations aux livres distingués par du prix Yellow Cedar : Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes That Dot Our Planet écrit par Geo Rutherford et Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep écrit par Mark Leiren-Young !