Forest of Reading 2025 Nominees: Recognizing Canadian Authors and Illustrators

It’s that time of year again when Canadian readers of all ages should make room on their bookshelves. The 2025 Forest of Reading Nominees are here! The Forest of Reading aims to inspire a love of reading in people of all ages and reading abilities, while supporting programs in schools and libraries and celebrating Canadian authors, illustrators, and literature. A mission that our tutoring team at Teachers on Call wholeheartedly supports. This long anticipated, curated list recognizes some of the greatest Canadian authors and illustrators of the year and the books that readers, nationwide, are loving. Dive into this year's lineup and explore the amazing stories and creators that have been unveiled!

The Forest of Reading, Canada's largest recreational reading initiative, is back to ignite young readers' love for books. Encouraging children to fall in love with reading opens up a world of imagination, adventure, and learning. From enchanting stories to captivating characters, books spark curiosity and inspire creativity. Reading together can create cherished moments, foster bonding, and enhance language skills. By providing a diverse selection of books that resonate with their interests, reading helps children discover the joy of storytelling and the power of words. Our in-person and online tutoring team at Teachers on Call encourages you to nurture their passion for reading and watch as they embark on lifelong adventures through the pages of books!

The nominated books cover a total of 10 categories, six for students in English and three in French covering different grade levels, as well as one category for adults. Ten titles made the list for each category and were selected by the committees of library practitioners. This spring, students across the country will have the exciting opportunity to vote for their favourite titles, choosing the winners of this celebrated program. So, whether your child is an avid reader or just looking to form new reading habits, this Forest of Reading Nominee List has something for everyone. Check out the full list below!

Full List of Forest of Reading 2025 Nominated Books 

2025 Blue Spruce Award™ Nominees for JK-Grade 2 picture books

• Asha and the Toymaker – Written, Illustrated by Sakshi Mangal, Published by Kids Can Press 
• The Blue Bowl – Written and illustrated by Flo Leung, Published by Owlkids Books 
• Harold the Iceberg Melts Down – Written by Lisa Wyzlic, Illustrated by Rebecca Syracuse,Published by Feiwel and Friends 
• If You See a Bluebird – Written by Bahram Rahman, Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard, Published by Pajama Press 
• The Little Regent – Written by Yewande Daniel-Ayoade, Illustrated by Ken Daley, Published by Owlkids Books

• Lost Stick – Written and illustrated by Anoosha Syed, Published by Viking Books for Young Readers 
• Mandeep's Cloudy Days – Written by Kuljinder Kaur Brar, Illustrated by Samrath Kaur, Published by Annick Press 
• More Than Words: So Many Ways to Say What We Mean – Written and illustrated by Roz MacLean, Published by Henry Holt & Co 
• Still My Tessa – Written by Sylv Chiang, Illustrated by Mathias Ball (he/they), Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd. 
• When the Stars Came Home – Written by Brittany Luby, Illustrated by Natasha Donovan, Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

2025 Silver Birch Express Award® Nominees for Grades 3-4, fiction, non-fiction 

• Always Beginning: The Big Bang, the Universe, and You – Written by Candace Savage, Illustrated by Rachel Wada, Published by Greystone Kids 
• Birds on the Brain – Written by Uma Krishnaswami, Illustrated by Julianna Swaney, Published by Groundwood Books 
• Dragon on the Loose – Written by Marty Chan, Illustrated by Grace Chen, Published by Orca Book Publishers 
• Ghost Girl – Written by Brooke Carter, Illustrated by Alyssa Waterbury, Published by Orca Book Publishers 
• Lost & Found: Based on a True Story – Written and illustrated by Mei Yu, Published by Union Square Kids 
• Odd Couples: A Guide to Unlikely Animal Pairs – Written by Maria Birmingham, Illustrated by Raz Latif, Published by Owlkids Books 
• Operation Cupcake: How Simple Machines Work - Written and illustrated by Bambi Edlund, Published by Kids Can Press 
• The Salma Series 03 Salma Joins the Team – Written by Danny Ramadan, Illustrated by Anna Bron, Published by Annick Press 
• Sarah Ponakey, Storycatcher and Âhâsiw's Forest Powwow – Written by Sita Macmillan, Illustrated by Azby Whitecalf, Published by Annick Press 
• Whales and Us: Our Shared Journey – Written by India Desjardins, Translated by David Warriner, Illustrated by Nathalie Dion, Published by Orca Book Publishers 

2025 Silver Birch Fiction Award® Nominees for Grades 5-6, fiction 

• Asking for a Friend – Written by Ronnie Riley, Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd. 
• Bertie Stewart is Perfectly Imperfect – Written by Melanie Mosher, Published by Nimbus Publishing 
• Eerie Tales from the School of Screams – Written and illustrated by Graham Annable, Published by First Second 
• Game Face – Written by Shari Green, Published by Groundwood Books 
• Gamerville – Written and illustrated by Johnnie Christmas, Published by HarperAlley 
• Iggy Included – Written by Deborah Kerbel, Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd 
• The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage:  The Breakout Chronicles 01 – Written by David A. Robertson, Published by HighWater Press
• The Legendary Mo Seto 01 – Written by A.Y. Chan, Published by Aladdin / Simon & Schuster  
• Mortified – Written by Kristy Jackson, Illustrated by Rhael McGregor, and Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. 
• Scarewaves- Written and illustrated by Trevor Henderson, Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd.

2025 Yellow Cedar Award Nominees for Grades 5-8, non-fiction

• The Halifax Explosion: 6 December 1917, at 9:05 in the Morning – Written by Afua Cooper, Illustrated by Rebecca Bender, Published by Plumleaf Press 
• Haunted Canada Graphic Novel 01: Four Terrifying Tales – Written by Joel Sutherland, Illustrated by Hannah Barrett, David Bishop, Matt Salisbury, and Jenn Woodall, Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd. 
• Little by Little: You Can Change the World – Written by Sonya Ballantyne, Illustrated by Rhael McGregor/ Toben Racicot, Published by Portage & Main Press/HighWater Press 
• The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey – Written by Chad Soon/ George Chiang, illustrated by Amy Qi, Published by Orca Book Publishers 
• Owls: Who Gives A Hoot? - Written by Frances Backhouse, Published by Orca Book Publishers

• Queer History A-Z: 100 Years of LGBTQ+ Activism - Written by Robin Stevenson, Illustrated by Vivian Rosas, Published by Kids Can Press 
• See It, Dream It, Do It: How 25 People Just Like You Found Their Dream Jobs – Written by Colleen Nelson/ Kathie MacIsaac, Illustrated by Scot Ritchie, Published by Pajama Press 
• Think Like A Goat: The Wildly Smart Ways Animals Communicate, Cooperate and Innovate – Written by Lisa Deresti Betik, Illustrated by Alexander Mostov, Published by Kids Can Press 
• Trailblazing Life of Viola Desmond: A Civil Rights Icon – Written by Rachel Kehoe with Wanda Robson, Illustrated by Chelsea Charles, Published by Orca Book Publishers 
• Welcome to AI: What Is Artificial Intelligence and How Will It Change Our Lives – Written by Matthieu Dugal, Illustrated by Owen Davey, Published by Wide Eyed Editions/Quarto

2025 Red Maple Award™ Nominees for Grades 7-8, fiction

• 40 Days in Hicksville - Written by Christina Kilbourne, Published by DCB Young Readers 
• Book of Screams 01 – Written by Jeff Szpirglas, Illustrated by Steven P. Hughes, Published by Orca Book Publishers 
• Call me Al – Written by Wali Shah and Eric Walters, Published by Orca Book Publishers 
• The Cricket War – Written by Thọ Phạm and Sandra McTavish, Published by Kids Can Press 
• Escape to Ponti – Written by Brian Slattery, Illustrated by Antonio Javier Caparo, Published by Red Deer Press

• Hopeless in Hope – Written by Wanda John- Kehewin, Published by HighWater Press 
• The Outsmarters – Written by Deborah Ellis, Published by Groundwood Books Ltd. 
• Tig – Written by Heather Smith, Published by Tundra Books 
• Today I Am: 10 Stories of Belonging - Edited by Jael Richardson, Written by Marty Chan, Rosena Fung, Michael Hutchinson, Chad Lucas, Angela Misri, Mahtab Narsimhan, Danny Ramadan, Jael Richardson, Liselle Sambury, and Brandon Wint, Published by Scholastic Canada Ltd. 
• Why We Play With Fire – Written by Giselle Vriesen, Illustrated by Shin-Yeon Moon, Published by Row House Publishing, Inc.

2025 White Pine Award™ Nominees for Grades 9-12, fiction

• Gorgeous Gruesome Faces – Written by Linda Cheng, Published by Roaring Brook 
• Little Moons – Written by Jen Storm, Illustrated by Ryan Howe, Nickolej Villiger, and Alice RL, Published by HighWater Press 
• Lockjaw – Written by Matteo L. Cerilli, Published by Tundra Books 
• Pillow Talk – Written by Stephanie Cooke, Illustrated by Mel Valentine Vargas, Published by HarperAlley 
• The Space Between Here & Now – Written by Sarah Suk, Published by Quill Tree Books

• Sweetness in the Skin – Written by Ishi Robinson, Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd. 
• Takedown – Written by Ali Bryan, Published by DCB Young Readers 
• Where the Dark Stands Still - Written by A.B. Poranek, Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books 
• Who We Are in Real Life – Written by Victoria Koops, Published by Groundwood Books 
• Zombie Apocalypse Running Club – Written by Carrie Mac, Published by Crown Books for Young Readers/ Penguin

Prix Peuplier 2025 Liste de finalistes

• La coiffure d'une princesse – Par Marie-Aliette Forge, et illustré par Amélie-Anne Calmo, Publié par Les Éditions les Malins 
• Dernière heure : la déconfiture du lièvre - Par Robert Soulières, et illustré par Sans Cravate/ Éric Chouteau-Tissier, Publié par Fonfon 
• Le dessin trop mignon – Par Roxane Brouillard, et illustré par Cathon (Catherine Lamontagne-Drolet), Publié par Fonfon 
• Éli Labaki et les gouttes de pluie – Par Diya Lim (Rashmi Lim Hoye Yee), et illustré par Jean-Luc Trudel, Publié par Bouton d'or Acadie 
• Hugo – Par Catherine Braun-Grenier, et illustré par Catherine Braun-Grenier, Publié par Fonfon 
• Jamais trop tôt pour Arnaud - Par Liliane Boucher, et illustré par Zoë Robertson, Publié par Bayard Canada Livres 
• Lucien supersensible – Par Marie-Eve Leclerc-Dion, et illustré par Anne-Julie Dudemaine, Publié par Québec Amérique 
• Les réfugiés du billot creux – Par Louis Émond, et illustré par Laurence Dechassey, Publié par Éditions de la Bagnole 
• Si j'avais su… - Par Geneviève Desprès, et illustré par Geneviève Desprès, Publié par Les 400 coups 
• Soleil et Lilou - Par Lucie Papineau, et illustré par Florence Sabatier, Publié par Gründ Québec 

Prix Mélèze 2025 Liste de finalistes

• Blanche comme un drap – Par Chloé Varin, et illustré par Rémi Allen, Publié par Fonfon 
• Le Cumulus Machinus – Par Ugo Monticone, et illustré par Orbie (Marie-Ève Tessier-Collin), Publié par la courte échelle 
• Encore une histoire de pets - Par Sarah Lalonde, et illustré par Catherin (Catherine Plante), Publié par la courte échelle 
• Gros en bibitte – Par Jocelyn Boisvert, et illustré par Francis Léveillée, Publié par Bayard Canada Livres 
• La louve et l'enfant – Par Stéphanie Boyer, et illustré par Laura Vandal, Publié par Soulières éditeur 
• Ntangu – Par Malika Tirolien, et illustré par Kiara Thompson, Publié par Fonfon 
• Petite plante deviendra monstre - Par Émilie Rivard, et illustré par François Samson-Dunlop, Publié par Bayard Canada Livres 
• Peut-on manger ses crottes de nez? 20 faits sur le corps - Par Pierre-Alexandre Bonin, et illustré par Lucile Danis Druot, Publié par Auzou Quebec 
• Reste assise, Éloise - Par Nancy B.-Pilon, et illustré par Marish Papaya, Publié par Québec Amérique 
• Le tiroir des bas tout seuls - Par Orbie (Marie-Ève Tessier-Colin), Orbie (Marie-Ève Tessier-Colin), et illustré par, Publié par Les 400 coups

Prix Tamarac 2025 Liste de finalistes

• Comme un popcorn à retardement - Par Nadine Descheneaux, Publié par Soulières éditeur 
• Déménager au ciel - Par Mélodie Bujold-Henri et Jean-Guy Forget, Publié par la courte échelle 
• Héros malgré lui – Par Frédérick Wolfe, et illustré par Kuizin Studio (Christine Battuz), Publié par Bayard Canada Livres 
• L'homme aux araignées - Par Jocelyn Boisvert, Publié par la courte échelle 
• Je n'aurai plus jamais peur des migrations – Par Sarah Bertrand-Savard, Publié par la courte échelle 
• Lili-Jade 01 Pro des animaux – Par Audrée Archambault, et illustré par Simone Duchesne, Publié par Éditions de la Bagnole 
• Le manoir Hillcrest – Par Sandra Dussault, et illustré par Martin Côté, Publié par la courte échelle 
• Mucha 01 Le chemin risqué de l'élue - Par Josée Bournival, Publié par Édito 
• Noël à contretemps – Par Joanie Boutin, Publié par la courte échelle 
• Semer des soleils – Par Andrée Poulin, et illustré par Enzo (Enzo Lord Mariano), Publié par la courte échelle

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The Teachers on Call online and in-person tutoring team can’t wait for you to explore the pages of this years’ nominated books! Get ready for our Hooked on Books series, where we’ll be chatting with some of the amazing authors nominated for the 2025 Forest of Reading Awards. Stay tuned—you won’t want to miss it! Interested in reading about past Forest of Reading nominees? Check out our list of the 2024 Forest of Reading nominees.