Forest of Reading reveals chosen books for 2023 program — students across Canada will choose the winners

Books written by Elise Gravel, David A. Robertson and Buffy Sainte-Marie are among the nominated titles for the Forest of Reading's 2023 award programme. 

Hosted each spring, the Forest of Reading is Canada's largest annual recreational reading program where children and young adults pick their favourite authors and illustrators. 

In 2020, 2021 and 2022, the award celebrations were presented in partnership with CBC Books in a virtual format due to the global pandemic.

According to the organization, the in-person events will resume again in 2023.

In 2022, more than 270,000 readers across the country participated in the program, selecting 100 nominated titles, written and illustrated by more than 125 nominees. Canadian students from kindergarten to high school are encouraged to read from a selection of shortlisted books and vote for their favourites.

A total of nine categories — six English and three French — reflecting different reading levels and genres are recognized. Each category has 10 nominated titles.

The 10 finalists in each category are chosen by a committee of library practitioners. 

Montreal author and illustrator Gravel is nominated in the Silver Birch Express Award category for Pink, Blue, And You!.

The illustrated book, created by Gravel and collaborator Mykaell Blais, explores issues relating to gender roles, acceptance, and stereotyping.

• Elise Gravel is committed to creating books that help children change the world

Winnipeg author Robertson is nominated in the Silver Birch Fiction Award category for The Stone Child.

The third book in the Narnia-inspired Indigenous middle-grade fantasy series The Misewa Saga, The Stone Child is a race against time as the young protagonists battle mystical creatures and explore new lands.

• 'Write what you're passionate about.' David A. Robertson's advice for his younger self

Musician and author Sainte-Marie is nominated in the Silver Birch Express category for Tâpwê and the Magic Hat. 

Featuring illustrations by Michelle Alynn Clement, Tâpwê and the Magic Hat is a chapter book by Indigenous icon Sainte-Marie involving oral histories and traditions. Set on a prairie reserve, Tâpwê receives a mysterious gift from Kokhom — a magical hat that comes with its own set of surprises. Tâpwê goes on a trip featuring trickster characters and adventure. 

• Buffy Sainte-Marie's new children's book Tâpwê and the Magic Hat draws on the wisdom of Indigenous elders

Details about voting will be announced later. The winners will be revealed in spring 2023.

The Forest of Reading program is organized by the Ontario Library Association. The program began in 1995.

There is also an adult program, the Evergreen Award, which is run by libraries in the summer. The nominees for the Evergreen Award will be announced in February.

You can see all the finalists in the six English-language categories below.

Blue Spruce Award

The Blue Spruce Award is for picture books for readers in kindergarten to Grade 2.

The 2023 nominees are:

• Abuelita and Me by Leonarda Carranza, illustrated by Rafael Mayani
• Are You a Cheeseburger? by Monica Arnaldo
• Be a Good Ancestor by Leona Prince and Gabrielle Prince, illustrated by Carla Joseph
• Bharatanatyam in Ballet Shoes by Mahak Jain, illustrated by Anu Chouhan
• Friends are Friends, Forever by by Dane Liu, illustrated by Lynn Scurfield
• Granny's Kitchen by Sadé Smith, illustrated by Ken Daley
• Meena's Mindful Moment by Tina Athaide, illustrated by Åsa Gilland
• Rodney Was a Tortoise by Nan Forler, illustrated by Yong Ling Kang
• A Sky-Blue Bench by Bahram Rahman, illustrated by Peggy Collins
• That's Not My Name! by Anoosha Syed

The 2022 winner was Harley the Hero by Peggy Collins.

Silver Birch Express Award

The Silver Birch Express Award is for fiction or nonfiction for readers in Grades 3-4.

The 2023 nominees are:

• Alina in a Pinch by Shenaaz Nanji
• Bear in the Family by Eric Walters, illustrated by Olga Barinova
• Crimson Twill by Kallie George, illustrated by Birgitta Sif
• Flipping Forward and Twisting Backward by Alma Fullerton, illustrated by Sarah Mensinga
• Kaleidoscope of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life by Greer Stothers
• Pink, Blue, And You! by Elise Gravel with Mykaell Blais
• The Strangest Thing in the Sea by Rachel Poliquin, illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler
• Tâpwê and the Magic Hat by Buffy Sainte-Marie, illustrated by Michelle Alynn Clement
• This is What I've Been Told: Mii yi gaa-bi-wiindmaagooyaan by Juliana Armstrong
• Who's Looking? How Animals See the World by Carol Matas, illustrated by Cornelia Li

The 2022 winner was Mellybean and the Giant Monster by Mike White.

Silver Birch Fiction Award

The Silver Birch Fiction Award is for fiction for readers from Grades 3-6.

The 2023 nominees are:

• Butt Sandwich & Tree by Wesley King
• Forever Birchwood by Danielle Daniel
• Living with Viola by Rosena Fung
• Meranda and the Legend of the Lake by Meagan Mahoney
• Sneaks by Catherine Egan
• Stealing Home by J. Torres, illustrated by David Namisato
• The Stone Child by David A. Robertson
• Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas
• The Undercover Book List by Colleen Nelson
• Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao

The 2022 winner was Deadman's Castle by Iain Lawrence.

Yellow Cedar Award

The Yellow Cedar Award is for nonfiction for readers in Grades 4-8.

The 2023 nominees are:

• Amazing Athletes by Marie-Claude Ouellet, translated by Phyllis Aronoff and Howard Scott
• Arab Fairy Tale Feasts by Karim Alrawi and Sobhi and Tamam al-Zobaidi, illustrated by Nahid Kazemi
• Can You Believe It? by Joyce Grant, illustrated by Kathleen Marcotte
• Fred & Marjorie by Deborah Kerbel, illustrated by Angela Poon
• Growing Up Trans, edited by Dr. Lindsay Herriot and Kate Fry
• The Hanmoji Handbook by Jason Li, An Xiao Mina and Jennifer 8. Lee, illustrated by Jason Li
• The Science of Song by Alan Cross, Emme Cross & Nicole Mortillaro, illustrated by Carl Wiens
• Sky Wolf's Call by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger
• Snoozefest by Tanya Lloyd Kyi, illustrated by Valéry Goulet
• The Witness Blanket by Carey Newman and Kirstie Hudson

The 2022 winner was Wild Outside by Les Stroud, illustrated by Andrew P. Barr.

Red Maple Award

The Red Maple Award is for fiction for readers in Grades 7-8.

The 2023 nominees are:

• Batter Royale by Leisl Adams
• The Bear House by Meaghan McIsaac
• Eight Days by Teresa Toten
• Let the Monster Out by Chad Lucas
• On the Line by Paul Coccia and Eric Walters
• The Ribbon Leaf by Lori Weber
• Sorry For Your Loss by Joanne Levy
• Children of the Fox by Kevin Sands
• Under the Iron Bridge by Kathy Kacer
• Walking in Two Worlds by Wab Kinew

The 2022 winner was The King of Jam Sandwiches by Eric Walters.

White Pine Award

The White Pine Award is for fiction for readers in high school.

The 2023 nominees are:

• Blood Scion by Deborah Falaye
• Daughter by Kate McLaughlin
• Decoding Dot Grey by Nicola Davison
• I am Not Starfire by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Yosji Yoshitany
• Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao 
• A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
• River Mermaid by Christy Goerzen
• The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson
• Twice as Perfect by Louisa Onome
• Wrong Side of the Court by H. N. Khan

The 2022 winner was What Unbreakable Looks Like by Kate McLaughlin.