Add Canadian Authors and Illustrators to Your Library with 2024 Forest of Reading Nominees

Attention readers of all ages, the latest lineup for the Forest of Reading program has been revealed. Teachers on Call’s online and home tutors love Canada’s largest recreational reading initiative to create a meaningful experience for student readers of all levels. Whether your child is an advanced or reluctant reader, or somewhere in-between, we hope they become lifelong ones! Not only does the Forest of Reading program celebrate literacy, but Canadian books specifically and the people who create them. Building a library collection that represents the best our country has to offer can be as simple as looking to the Forest of Reading nominees. To that end, to make it easy for teachers and parents to curate or update their classroom and home libraries, we’ve assembled the 2024 Forest of Reading nominated titles into one easy list. Happy reading!

Encouraging students to read for fun has countless benefits. One of them being it can help your children perform well in school, and even do better on tests. Check out this Forbes article with a current study suggesting this here. If you are as excited about inspiring a love of reading as the Teachers on Call in-person and online tutoring team, you will want to check out the Forest of Reading program. We covered it extensively last school year with Hooked on Books interviews with Forest of Reading nominees and winners to get a glimpse into the creative process and how their messages can be used to enhance school curriculum and conversations with students.

Our online and home tutoring service highly recommends encouraging students to sign up for the reading program through their school, or simply following along independently. To help you get started, our team has rounded up the full list of nominated titles for 2024 from all 10 categories. They represent 6 categories for students in English and 3 in French, as well as 1 grouping for adults. So, make a date with your child to visit your local library or bookstore, and get ready to read!

Full List of Forest of Reading 2024 Nominated Books from 10 Categories

2024 Blue Spruce Award™ Nominees for JK-Grade 2 picture books

• Benny the Bananasaurus Rex - Written by Sarabeth Holden, Illustrated by Emma Pedersen, Published by Inhabit Media Inc.
• Cocoa Magic - Written by Sandra Bradley, Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard, Published by Pajama Press
• Dear Street - Written by Lindsay Zier-Vogel, Illustrated by Caroline Bonne-Müller, Published by Kids Can Press
• Garden of Lost Socks - Written by Esi Edugyan, Illustrated by Amélie Dubois, Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
• How to Party Like A Snail - written by Naseem Hrab, Illustrated by Kelly Collier, Published by Owlkids Books
• The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship - Written by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali, Illustrated by Hatem Aly, Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• My Fade is Fresh - Written by Shauntay Grant, Illustrated by Kitt Thomas, Published by PRHC Penguin Workshop
• My Name is Saajin Singh - Written by Kuljinder Kaur Brar, Illustrated by Samrath Kaur, Published by Annick Press
• Princess Pru and the Ogre on the Hill - Written by Maureen Fergus, Illustrated by Danesh Mohiuddin, Published by Owlkids Books
• The Words We Share - Written and Illustrated by Jack Wong, Published by Annick Press

2024 Silver Birch Express Award® Nominees for Grades 3-4, fiction, non-fiction

• Boobies - Written and Illustrated by Nancy Vo, Published by Groundwood Books
• Deep, Deep Down - Written by Lydia Lukidis , Illustrated by Juan Calle Velez, Published by Capstone Editions
• The Journal of Anxious Izzy Parker - Written by Alma Fullerton, Illustrated by Beena Mistry, Published by Second Story Press
• Mehndi Boy - Written by Zain Bandali, Illustrated by Jani Balakumar, Published by Annick Press
• The Nguyen Kids 3: The Mystery of the Painted Fan - Written by Linda Trinh , Illustrated by Clayton Nguyen, Published by Annick Press
• Rock? Plant? Animal? How Nature Keeps Us Guessing - Written by Etta Kaner, Illustrated by Brittany Lane, Published by Owlkids
• The Salma Series 3: Salma Writes a Book - Written by Danny Ramadan, Illustrated by Anna Bron, Published by Annick Press
• The Secret Pocket - Written by Peggy Janicki, Illustrated by Carrielyn Victor, Published by Orca Book Publishers
• The Skull (Canadian Edition): A Tyrolean Folktale - Written and Illustrated by Jon Klassen, Published by Candlewick
• Tadpoles - Written and Illustrated by Matt James, Published by Neal Porter Books

2024 Silver Birch Fiction Award® Nominees for Grades 5-6, fiction

• Apartment 713 - Written by Kevin Sylvester, Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
• Berani - Written by Michelle Kadarusman, Published by Pajama Press
• The Big Sting - Written by Rachelle Delaney, Published by Tundra Books
• The Boy Who Woke the Sun - Written by A.T. Woodley and Illustrated by Mike Deas, Published by Red Deer Press
• The Case of the Rigged Race (A Mighty Muskrats Mystery) - Written by Michael Hutchinson, Published by Second Story Press
• Gnome is Where Your Heart Is - Written by Casey Lyall, Published by Greenwillow (An imprint of HarperCollins)
• Jude Saves the World - Written by Ronnie Riley, Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd.
• PAWS: Mindy Makes Some Space - Written by Nathan Fairbairn and Illustrated by Michele Assarasakorn, Published by Razorbill
• Swept Away: Ruth Mornay and the Unwanted Clues - Written by Natalie Hyde, Published by DCB Young Readers/Cormorant Books
• The Umbrella House - Written by Colleen Nelson, Published by Pajama Press

2024 Yellow Cedar Award Nominees for Grades 5-8, non-fiction

• Animal Eyes: How Creatures See and How Their Eyes Have Adapted to Their World - Written by Françoise Vulpé, Published by Firefly Books
• Becoming Bionic and Other Ways Science is Making Us Super - Written by Heather Camlot, Illustrated by Victor Wong, Published by Owlkids Books
• The Honour Song - Kepmite'taqney Ktapekiaqn - Le chant d'honneur - Written by George Paul , Illustrated by Loretta Gould, Published by Bouton d’or Acadie
• IsThisAnOlogy? - Written by Amanda Dorothy Jean Bulman and Ruth Lawerence, Illustrated by Leon Chung, Published by Breakwater Books Ltd.
• Meet Buffy Sainte-Marie - Written by Elizabeth MacLeod, Illustrated by Mike Deas, Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd.
• Mi'kmaw Moons: The Seasons in Mi'kma'ki - Written by Cathy LeBlanc and David Chapman,  Illustrated by Loretta Gould, Published by Formac Publishing Company Limited
• Mountain of Fire: Into the Heart of Volcanoes - Written by Julie Roberge, Illustrated by Aless MC, Published by Orca Book Publishers
• The Raven Mother - Written by Hetxw’ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson), Illustrated by Natasha Donovan, Published by HighWater Press
• The Science & Superpowers of Seaweed - Written by Amanda Swinimer, Published by Harbour Publishing
• Why Humans Build Up: The Rise of Towers, Temples and Skyscrapers - Written by Gregor Craigie, Illustrated by Kathleen Fu, Published by Orca Book Publishers

2024 Red Maple Award™ Nominees for Grades 7-8, fiction

• Autumn Bird and the Runaway - Written by Melanie Florence and Richard Scrimger, Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd.
• Beatrice and Croc Harry - Written by Lawrence Hill, Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
• A Bucket of Stars - Written by Suri Rosen, Published by Scholastic Canada
• The Druid's Call (Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves Prequel) - Written by E.K. Johnston, Published by Random House Worlds
• The Fort - Written by Gordon Korman, Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd.
• Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix - Written by Cherie Dimaline, Published by Feiwel & Friends
• The Last Saxon King - Written by Andrew Varga, Published by Imbrifex Books
• Seeker of the Fox: Thieves of Shadow, Book Two - Written by Kevin Sands, Published by Puffin Canada
• Simon Sort of Says - Written by Erin Bow, Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd.
• Squire - Written by Nadia Shammas, illustrated by Sara Alfageeh, Published by Quill Tree Books, HarperAlley (imprints of HarperCollins)

2024 White Pine Award™ Nominees for Grades 9-12, fiction

• As Long As the Lemon Trees Grow - Written by Zoulfa Katouh, Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Dragging Mason County - Written by Curtis Campbell, Published by Annick Press
• Funeral Songs for Dying Girls - Written by Cherie Dimaline, Published by Tundra Books
• Iz the Apocalypse - Written by Susan Currie, Published by Common Deer
• Mall Goth - Written by Kate Leth, Published by Simon & Schuster Canada
• Of Light and Shadow - Written by Tanaz Bhathena, Published by Penguin Teen
• Only This Beautiful Moment - Written by Abdi Nazemian, Published by Balzer + Bray (imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.)
• Pieces of Me - Written by Kate McLaughlin, Published by MacMillan, St Martin Press
• Then Everything Happens At Once - Written by M-E Girard, Published by HarperTeen (imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.)
• Those Pink Mountain Nights - Written by Jen Ferguson, Published by Heartdrum (imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.)

2024 Evergreen Award™ Nominees for adult, English, fiction / non-fiction

• Adrift - Written by Lisa Brideau, Published by Sourcebooks
• The Berry Pickers - Written by Amanda Peters, Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
• The Burden of Exile: A Banned Journalist's Flight from Dictatorship - Written by Aaron Berhane, Published by Dundurn Press
• Dancing in Small Spaces: One Couple's Journey with Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia - Written by Leslie A. Davidson, Published by Touchwood Editions
• Far Cry - Written by Alissa York, Published by Penguin Random House Canada
• Fire Weather: The Making of A Beast - Written by John Vaillant, Published by Penguin Random House Canada
• Girlfriend on Mars - Written by Deborah Willis, Published by Penguin Random House Canada
• Silver Nitrate - Written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Published by Penguin Random House Canada
• The Story of Us - Written by Catherine Hernandez, Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
• Superfan: How Pop Culture Broke My Heart - Written by Jen Sookfong Lee, Published by Penguin Random House Canada

Prix Peuplier 2024 Liste de finalistes

Albums, moins de texte, sujets simples, convenant parfaitement à la lecture à haute voix

• Amadou et le 15 aout - Par Samira Farhoud et illustré par Jean-Luc Trudel, Publié par Bouton d’or Acadie
• C'est mon corps! - Par et illustré par Élise Gravel, Publié par Scholastic
• Congé pour papa - Par Nicole Poirier et illustré par Isabelle Léger, Publié par Bouton d’or Acadie
• Dans les souliers d’Amédée - Par Véronique Lambert et illustré par Éléna Comte, Publié par Fonfon
• Les gros problème de Noah - Par Antony Antoniou et illustré par Baptiste Amsallem, Publié par Bayard
• Une histoire s’il te plaît!!! - Par Anne Renaud et illustré par Sophie Pa, Publié par La courte échelle
• L'oiseau rouge - Par et illustré par Élodie Duhameau, Publié par Les 400 coups
• On se tait s’il vous plaît! - Par Andrée Poulin et illustré par Audrey Malo, Publié par Québec Amérique
• Papa est une princesse - Par Dana Blue et illustré par Catherine Petit, Publié par Boomerang
• Pas de chevaux dans la maison! - Par Mireille Messier et illustré par Anna Bron, Publié par Orca Book Publishers

Prix Mélèze 2024 Liste de finalistes

Courts romans, des albums plus avancés, des documentaires ou des BD. Le vocabulaire et le temps de verbes sont peu complexes.

• À quoi servent les moustiques? - Par Pierre- Alexandre Bonin et , illustré par Lucille Danis Drouot, Publié par Auzou
• Alerte: culottes meurtrières! Fausses nouvelles, désinformation et théories du complot - Par Élise Gravel et illustré par Élise Gravel, Publié par Scholastic
• La chambre numéro 7 - Par Martine Latulippe et illustré par Isabelle Malenfant, Publié par La courte échelle
• Clan 01 QG pour quartier général - Par Marc Beaudet, et Illustré par Marc Beaudet, Publié par Édito
• Je ne m’appelle pas Coco! - Par Pierrette Dubé et illustré par Lucile Danis Drouot, Publié par Bayard
• Je t’écris de mon lit - Par Maude Nepveu -Villeneuve et illustré par Agathe Bray-Bourret, Publié par Les 400 coups
• Kellan et les papillons du cœur - Par Dïana Bélice et illustré par Audrey Jadaud, Publié par Dominique et compagnie
• Mina et sa bête - Par Caroline Merola et illustré par Caroline Merola, Publié par La courte échelle
• Morane adoooore parler! - Par Emilie Ouellette et illustré par Lidia-Ntombo Lulendo, Publié par Québec Amérique
• Orbie, dessine-moi un billibouton - Par Frédérick Wolfe et illustré par Orbie, Publié par Fonfon

Prix Tamarac 2024 Liste de finalistes

Romans de 100 à 250 pages, texte plus petit avec peu ou pas d’illustrations, des albums avec un sujet mature, des documentaires ou des BD. Le vocabulaire et le temps de verbes sont complexes.

• L'antre des rebelles - Par Caroline Auger et, illustré par Gabrielle Morrisseau, Publié par Isatis
• As-tu peur du loup? - Par Véronique Drouin et, illustré par Lucille Danis Drouot, Publié par Bayard
• La balance du vide - Par Julien Leclerc, Publié par Héritage jeunesse
• La fin du monde est pour demain - Par André Marois, Publié par Bayard
• Gloire 01 Le hip-hop dans le sang - Par Isabelle Roy, Publié par Hurtubise
• Le jeu qui voulait ma peau - Par Magali Laurent,  Publié par Bayard
• Mathéo à contre-courant - Par Pierre-Alexandre Bonin, Publié par Hurtubise
• Opération mange-gardiens: Non au gaspillage alimentaire! - Par Joan Sénéchal et illustré par Yves Dumont, Publié par Isatis
• Parfois mon cœur reste accroché au trapèze - Par Geneviève Dufour, Publié par Bayard
• Zipolaris: La nuit des morloups - Par J.L. Blanchard, Publié par Fides

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Our online and home tutoring team at Teachers on Call hope you are excited to hit the books. Remember to check out our website as Hooked on Books interviews with Forest of Reading creators will be resuming this school year!