Reading · CBC | Kitchener-Waterloo News

CBC Kids Reads is back! This year’s edition of “Canada Reads for kids" is now in its fourth year.

From a chicken who believes she's a dinosaur, to a "boo-boo" looking for his new home, to a bee who likes her alone time, the 15 Canadian picture books on this year's longlist all inspire joy.

The 2026 longlist is:

At The Rescue Cat Café by Anna Humphrey, illustrated by Kari Rust
Beautiful Black Boy by Sophia Robinson, illustrated by Ken Daley
Bob the Boo-Boo by Mélina Schoenborn, illustrated by Sandra Dumais
Colette: The Solitary Bee by Jean-François Sénéchal, illustrated by Pascale Bonenfant
Do Not Turn the Page by Jane Blondie, illustrated by Marcus Cutler
The Fawn by Etua Snowball, illustrated by Shuggie Crossland
I Need Pants by Susan Sweet, illustrated by Cailin Doherty
If You Were Here by Kathy Stinson, illustrated by Maya McKibbin
The Interrupted Plans of Mango and Nan by Hala Tahboub
Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) by Linda Bailey, illustrated by K-Fai Steele
Monster Mender by Christine Baldacchino, illustrated by Ilona Iske
The One About the Blackbird by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Matt James
Raven's Ribbons written by Tasha Spillett, illustrated by Daniel Ramirez
Sarabeth’s Garage by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Nadia Alam
You Can’t Tame a Tiger by Stephanie Ellen Sy, illustrated by Julien Chung

The shortlist of five books in the running to be crowned this year’s literary champion will be revealed on Sept. 24.

The winning book will be announced in a special TV broadcast on Oct. 19, on CBC TV, CBC Gem and on the CBC Kids YouTube channel. The CBC Kids Reads TV special will be recorded at the Central Library in Whitby, Ont. An audience of kids and families will vote for the winning book.

CBC Kids Reads began in 2023, as a program to highlight and celebrate Canadian picture books and inspire an early love of reading.

Last year's winner was Mad at Dad by Janie Hao, a picture book about exploring big feelings and managing anger in healthy ways.

Learn more about the 15 books on the CBC Kids Reads 2026 longlist below.

At The Rescue Cat Café by Anna Humphrey, illustrated by Kari Rust

Left, an illustrated book cover. Multiple cats sit and walk on a red arm chair. Upper right, a woman with long grey hair smiling. Lower right, a woman with short brown hair smiling. — At the Rescue Cat Café is a picture book by Anna Humphrey, lower right, illustrated by Kari Rust, upper right. (Owlkids, Brooklyn Bailey)

At the Rescue Cat Café, an eclectic mix of cats with colourful personalities — from the handsome Henry to the mysterious Ming — await their forever homes. This picture book reminds us of the beautiful and heartwarming bond that can be formed between humans and animals.

At the Rescue Cat Café is for ages 4 to 7.

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Anna Humphrey is the author of the Bee & Flea series, the Clara Humble series and the Megabat series. Humphrey lives in Kitchener, Ont.

Kari Rust is the author and illustrator of The House at the End of the Road and Tricky. She lives in Vancouver.

Beautiful Black Boy by Sophia Robinson, illustrated by Ken Daley

Left, a man in green hat. Middle, an illustrated book cover with a young boy laying in bed. Right, a woman in a black and white shirt smiling. — Beautiful Black Boy is a picture book by Sophia Robinson, right, illustrated by Ken Daley, left. (Scholastic Canada, Liz Bradley/Elizabeth & Jane Photography)

Sophia Robinson’s Beautiful Black Boy is a poetic-style picture book about self-love. The story celebrates the strength, bravery and joy of Black boyhood.

Beautiful Black Boy is for ages 4 to 8.

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Robinson has been an elementary school teacher for over 20 years. She was born and raised in Ontario.

Ken Daley is an artist and illustrator. His previous works include Joseph’s Big Ride, Jayden’s Impossible Garden and A Feast for Joseph. He lives in Tilsonburg, Ont.

Bob the Boo-Boo by Mélina Schoenborn, illustrated by Sandra Dumais

The cover of the picture book Bob the Boo-Boo, showing a large red boo-boo with a surprised face holding a band-aid in front of them. The book's creators are also featured. — Bob the Boo-Boo is a picture book by Mélina Schoenborn, left, illustrated by Sandra Dumais, right. (Chantale Lecours, Kids Can Press, Sylvain Dumais)

In the picture book Bob the Boo-Boo, Bob meets a young boy who’s fallen off his bike and hurt himself. When the boy agrees for Bob to be his boo-boo, Bob jumps on eagerly. The two spend many wonderful days together but they soon start to realize that boo-boos and boys aren’t meant to stay together forever. Or can they?

Bob the Boo-Boo is for ages 3 to 7.

Mélina Schoenborn is a writer and ceramic artist living in Montreal. She is also the author of Squirrels! This is Not a Book about Dinosaurs.

Sandra Dumais is a Montreal-based children's book writer and illustrator. Her previous books include the Farm Crimes! series and illustrating Oliva Wrapped in Vines and The Fossil Whisperer.

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Colette: The Solitary Bee by Jean-François Sénéchal, illustrated by Pascale Bonenfant

Left, an illustrated picture book of a bee sitting in a red flower. Upper left, a woman smiling. Lower left, a man with brown hair. — Colette: The Solitary Bee is a picture book by Jean-François Sénéchal, lower right, illustrated by Pascale Bonenfant, upper right. (Milky Way Picture Books, Chantale Lecours, Julie Durocher)

Collette is perfectly happy to be on her own. She enjoys her own company more than anyone else's and loves going on solo adventures. In Collette: The Solitary Bee, she starts to learn that maybe even the most solitary bees need other insects around.

Colette: The Solitary Bee is for ages 3 to 7.

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Jean-François Sénéchal is a writer from Saint-Lambert, Que. His book Les avenues was the French language winner of the 2021 Governor General's Literary Award for Young people's literature — text and in 2017 Sénéchal won the Joseph S. Stauffer Prize for literature.

Pascale Bonenfant is an illustrator and a professor of graphic design who has illustrated numerous books, including Oops by Julie Massy and Le parapluie jaune, by Lili Chartrand. She lives in Québec City.

Do Not Turn the Page by Jane Blondie, illustrated by Marcus Cutler

Left, a woman with glasses. Middle, an illustrated picture book with a young boy with dirt all over him. Right, a man in a blue button up. — Do Not Turn The Page is a picture book by Jane Blondie, left, illustrated by Marcus Cutler, right. (North Winds Press)

Charlie does not want to take a bath so whatever you do, do not turn the page! In Do Not Turn the Page, readers take control of the story. With every turn of the page, Charlie moves closer and closer to the bathtub – objecting and pleading with readers to let him play outside again.

Do Not Turn the Page is for ages 3 to 8.

Jane Blondie is a drama and dance teacher who lives in Toronto. Do Not Turn the Page is her debut picture book.

Marcus Cutler is the illustrator of Three Canadian Pigs and Travel Guide for Monsters Part Deux: A Canadian Adventure. He is also the author and illustrator of I Do Not Eat Children.

The Fawn by Etua Snowball, illustrated by Shuggie Crossland

Left, a man in a grey shirt smiling. Middle, an illustrated book cover of a young boy walking with a fawn. Right, a woman in a pink shirt. — The Fawn is a picture book by Etua Snowball, left, illustrated by Shuggie Crossland, right. (Inhabit Books)

Etua Snowball’s picture book The Fawn follows a young boy and a fawn who become friends after an encounter with a herd of caribou. The two spend the summer together, picking berries and exploring nature. But when they get an unexpected visitor, the boy learns he must learn to say goodbye to his new furry friend.

The Fawn is for ages 6 to 8.

Snowball is an Inuk author, actor, sculptor and artist. He lives in Kuujjuaq, Que.

Shuggie Crossland is an illustrator and animator. They have a bachelor's degree in animation from Sheridan College.

I Need Pants! by Susan Sweet, illustrated by Cailin Doherty

Left, an illustrated book cover of a yellow fish smiling. Upper right, a woman with blonde hair. Lower right, a woman with black hair. — I Need Pants is a picture book by Susan Sweet, upper right, illustrated by Cailin Doherty, lower right. (Owlkids)

Fish wants to wear pants, but Octopus points out that Fish can’t wear pants. Fish doesn’t even have legs! In I Need Pants!, Octopus worries the other sea creatures will make fun of Fish and his bold fashion choices. But once Fish starts strutting around the ocean floor, Octopus is willing to try on a few pairs of pants of his own and learns about the joys of dressing the way you want to.

I Need Pants is for ages 3 to 8.

Susan Sweet is a writer and a clinical child psychologist. She currently lives in Toronto.

Cailin Doherty is a Toronto-based illustrator who specializes in 2D work. I Need Pants! is her debut picture book.

If You Were Here by Kathy Stinson, illustrated by Maya McKibbin

Upper left, a woman with black hair. Lower left, a woman with glasses and tied back hair. Right, an illustrated book cover pf a young girl crouched down. She has a stick in hand, drawing in the sand and animals and forest are behind her. — If You Were Here is a picture book by Kathy Stinson, lower left, illustrated by Maya McKibbin, upper left. (Maya McKibbin, Trina Koster, Greystone Books)

If You Were Here is a picture book that explores the emotions around missing a loved one. Readers follow along as a child sets out to explore the environment around them, but it feels like someone important is missing. The child wishes they could be there on the journey.

If You Were Here is for ages 3 to 7.

Kathy Stinson is a writer from Rockwood, Ont. Her other picture books include Boogy & Tee and Twinkle & Hew, Levi's Gift and The Rock and the Butterfly.

Maya McKibbin is a Two-Spirited Ojibwe Irish filmmaker, illustrator and indie game artist.

The Interrupted Plans of Mango and Nan by Hala Tahboub

Left, an illustrated book cover of young boy and an elderly woman hanging on to a hose. A giant ice cream cone is behind them. Right, a woman with brown hair. — The Interrupted Plans of Mango and Nan is a picture book by Hala Tahboub. (Clarion Books, Jumana Badran)

All Mango and his grandmother Nan want is a summer ice cream cone. But instead, they end up on a topsy-turvy adventure that leads them all over town. The Interrupted Plans of Mango and Nan is a story about learning that sometimes canceled plans are best served with sprinkles and a cherry on top.

The Interrupted Plans of Mango and Nan is for ages 4 to 8.

Hala Tahboub is a children's book writer and illustrator. Tahoub currently lives in Montreal.

Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) by Linda Bailey, illustrated by K-Fai Steele

An illustrated book cover of a chicken with its wings on its hips and chin up and two photos of women — Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) is a book by Linda Bailey, middle, and K-Fai Steele, right. (Tundra Books, Maurice Verkaar, Chris Ward)

Despite living in a chicken coop, Lena the Chicken has always known she’s a ferocious dinosaur. When a sneaky weasel starts wrecking chaos in the coop, it’s up to Lena to defend her family and to get these scaredy chickens to finally stand up for themselves. When a science fair project from one of the farm people shows that chickens are the closest living relatives to dinosaurs, Lena’s family starts to see that maybe they all are dinosaurs!

Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) is for ages 3 to 7.

Linda Bailey is a children's writer living in Vancouver. Her other works include If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur, Princess Versus Dinosaurs and The Great Dinosaur Sleepover which won a Forest of Reading Award, the Blue Spruce Award.

K-Fai Steele is the author and illustrator of A Normal Pig and All Eyes on Ozzy!. Steele has also illustrated other books, including Does a Bulldozer Have a Butt? and Doe.

Monster Mender by Christine Baldacchino, illustrated by Ilona Iske

Left, a woman with pink hair. Middle, an illustrated book cover of an old woman cradling the face of a dragon. Right, a woman with brown curly hair. — Monster Mender is a picture book by Christine Baldacchino, left, illustrated by Ilona Iske, right. (Groundwood Books)

Dot treats bruises and burns and sore throats for all sorts of creatures — dragons, krakens, gryphons and more. But when a sea serpent who's been feeling blue approaches Dot, she feels stumped. In Monster Mender, Dot learns about the healing power of true friendship.

Monster Mender is for ages 3 to 6.

Christine Baldacchino is a Toronto-based writer. Her previous books include Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, illustrated by Isabella Malenfant and Violet Shink, illustrated by Carmen Mok.

Ilona Iske is a concept artist and illustrator. Monster Mender is her first picture book.

The One About the Blackbird by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Matt James

In The One About the Blackbird, a little boy is taught to play the guitar by his grandfather. Years go by and the boy is now an adult and his grandfather has dementia. The boy visits him and plays their favourite song — "the one about the blackbird" — on the guitar. A heartwarming picture book that shows the intergenerational connections created between a grandson and his grandfather through a love of music.

The One About Blackbird is for ages 4 to 8.

Melanie Florence is a Toronto-based writer of Cree and Scottish heritage. Her previous books include Missing Nimâmâ, which won the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award in 2016 and the 2017 Forest of Reading Golden Oak Award and Stolen Words, which won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award.

Matt James is an illustrator and a writer, based in Toronto. He illustrated the picture books I Know Here and Rock by Laurel Croza, Yellow Moon, Apple Moon by Pamela Porter and The Stone Thrower by Jael Ealey Richardson. He also wrote and illustrated Tadpoles, Nice Try, Charlie! and The Funeral.

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From a chicken channeling its inner dinosaur, to raising dragon eggs in P.E.I., to a teen fauxmance, The Next Chapter’s children’s book panel is back with a new holiday reading list. Writer and broadcaster Bee Quammie and CBC books producer Lucy Mann share six books to engage readers from pre-school to high school. Books discussed on this week's show include:Lena the Chicken (But Really A Dinosaur!) by Linda Bailey, illustrated by K-Fai SteeleThe One About the Blackbird by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Matt JamesFresh Start by Gale Galligan Kindred Dragons by Sarah MensingaYou Started It by Jackie KhaliliehSongs for Ghosts by Clara Kumagai

Raven’s Ribbons by Tasha Spillett, illustrated by Daniel Ramirez

Upper left, a woman with long black hair. Lower left, a man with long grey hair. Right, an illustrated book cover. A young girl and an elderly woman hold hands dancing. — Raven’s Ribbons is a picture book by Tasha Spillett, top left, illustrated by Daniel Ramirez, bottom left. (Owlkids)

In Raven's Ribbons, Raven asks his grandmother if he can wear a ribbon skirt to a round dance. His grandma sews Raven a rainbow skirt of his own to wear to the next dance. A picture book celebrating gender expression through an Indigenous lens.

Raven’s Ribbons is for ages 4 to 7.

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Tasha Spillett is an educator, writer and poet. Her previous work includes the picture books, I Sang You Down from the Stars and Beautiful You, Beautiful Me, which was a contender on CBC Kids Reads 2023, and the graphic novel Surviving the City. Spillett lives in Treaty 1 territory, Man.

Daniel Ramirez is a fine artist and a descendant of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan.

Sarabeth’s Garage by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Nadia Alam

an illustrated picture book of a little girlin overalls in a garage. Author and illustrator headshots. — Sarabeth's Garage is a picture book by Melanie Florence, upper right, and illustrated by Nadia Alam, lower right. (Tundra Books)

In Sarabeth’s Garage, Sarabeth loves cars and when her dad teaches her how to fix them. Sarabeth’s grandmother doesn’t approve of this, but when her car is making weird noises, Sarabeth is the one who knows what to do.

Sarabeth’s Garage is for ages 3 to 7.

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Nadia Alam is a Bangladeshi Canadian illustrator based in Toronto. She is the illustrator of The Wishing Machine, Awake, Asleep, Mauntie and Me, and The House Without Lights.

You Can’t Tame a Tiger by Stephanie Ellen Sy, illustrated by Julien Chung

Left, an illustrated book cover. A young boy sits on a white tigers head. Upper right, a woman with brown hair smiling. Left, a man with glasses smiling. — You Can't Tame a Tiger is a picture book by Stephanie Ellen Sy, upper right, illustrated by Julien Chung, lower right. (Owlkids, Adler Broncher)

A young boy adores his pet tiger Imran, but can't help wishing that Imran looked like a regular tiger. In You Can't Tame a Tiger, the boy tries to paint Imran orange with black stripes to impress the other kids. But Imran is a confident animal, and he doesn't want a makeover. The boy learns an important lesson in letting others be themselves.

You Can't Tame a Tiger is for ages 4 to 7.

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Stephanie Ellen Sy is a Filipino Chinese Canadian author originally from Hong Kong. Her first picture book was A Roof! Sy currently lives in Vancouver.

Julien Chung is a New York Times bestselling illustrator of 20 children's books, including This is a Dog Book! He lives in Montreal.

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