FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Toronto (October 26, 2026)—The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is excited to announce the winners for six of its children’s book awards. Earlier tonight in a ceremony held at DoubleTree by Hilton’s downtown Toronto location, these books and their creators were recognized for outstanding literary achievement. In total, $46,500 in prize monies was awarded tonight.
Tonight’s winners include:
- He’s So Possessed with Me, written by Corey Liu (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), won the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award ($5,000).
- Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams, written by Shari Green (Andrews McMeel Publishing), won the David Booth Children’s and Youth Poetry Award ($3,500).
- I Won’t Feel This Way Forever, written by Kim Spencer (Orca Book Publishers), won the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People ($3,000).
- Oasis, written and illustrated by Guojing (Godwin Books), won the Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award ($5,000).
- The True Story of Vanilla: How Edmond Albius Made History, written by Ann Richards, illustrated by Arden Taylor (Orca Book Publishers), won the Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction ($10,000).
- Rock, written by Laurel Croza, illustrated by Matt James (Groundwood Books), won the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award ($20,000).
This year the 2026 CCBC Book Awards honour six unique awards, recognizing excellence in Canadian literature for kids and teens. The finalist and winning titles include non-fiction, poetry, picture books, graphic novels, and fiction for teens and middle-graders—truly something for everyone. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the authors, illustrators and translators,” says Stephanie Wells, CCBC Executive Director.
“We are grateful for the wonderful Canadian children's book community who continue to support the CCBC’s work, including tonight’s event sponsors, Friesens and Tinlids. I would also like to acknowledge A. Charles Baillie, the Fitzhenry Family Foundation, Shelley Stagg Peterson, and Alice Chase—for helping us elevate Canadian books and their creators through the awards they support.”
Returning winners include Shari Green, Kim Spencer, Laurel Croza and Matt James. Green's Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams was honoured last year with the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People. Three years ago, Spencer's debut novel Weird Rules to Follow—the prequel to I Won't Feel This Way Forever—pulled of a hat-trick, winning the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, the Jean Little First-Novel Award, and the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. And lastly, Croza and James, the winning duo behind Rock, previously won the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award in 2011 for their collaboration on I Know Here. James is now a three-time winner of the Baillie prize, having also won in 2018 for his work in When the Moon Comes by author Paul Harbridge.
Below is the full list of prizes presented, with comments from the jurors. To download a PDF of this press release, click here. For a complete list of the shortlisted titles, click here. Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists!
For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Wells
Executive Director
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre
416 975-0010 ext. 1
stephanie@bookcentre.ca
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Amy Mathers Teen Book Award ($5,000)
Supported by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre and individual donors
He’s So Possessed with Me
Written by Corey Liu (Vancouver, BC)
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
"A masterfully crafted plot that highlights true character growth and rich metaphorical depth. He's So Possessed with Me strips away the sugar-coated faerie romance illusion to expose a darker reality beneath... A perfect, punchy blend of sharp-witted dialogue and supernatural suspense pulses throughout this truly distinctive allegorical horror novel about abusive relationships... Liu has a finger on the pulse of what it’s like to “lose” a friend when they have moved on romantically, but he also understands what it’s like to fight for the friendship... The power of platonic friendships is at the beating heart of this fresh, funny and fierce debut."
JURY MEMBERS: Fatma Faraj, Junior School Teacher-Librarian, Branksome Hall; Linda Ludke, Collections Management Librarian, London Public Library; Lili Sun, Librarian Consultant, Eastern Shores School Board.
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David Booth Children’s and Youth Poetry Award ($3,500)
Supported by Shelley Stagg Peterson
Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams
Written by Shari Green (Campbell River, BC)
Andrews McMeel Publishing
"Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams has it all: love, grief, family drama, and even a church with a voice of its own... The evocative and taut free verse underscores the tension of living through a fraught political moment... This gripping tale sheds light on life in 1980s East Germany and speaks to the power of music, as well as to the importance of standing up for what is right and speaking out against what is not... Through her riveting poetry, Shari Green gives new relevance to a chapter in history whose echoes can still be felt today, if only we choose to pay attention."
JURY MEMBERS: Khodi Dill, author, educator and spoken word artist; Theo Heras, children's author, children's librarian (retired), and children's literature advocate; Carol-Ann Hoyte, children's poet and former school librarian.
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Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People ($3,000)
Supported by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Bilson Endowment Fund
I Won't Feel This Way Forever
Written by Kim Spencer (Prince Rupert, BC)
Orca Book Publishers
"Kim Spencer’s follow-up to Weird Rules to Follow is a quiet but emotionally impactful exploration of grief, identity, family, and resilience... Spencer offers readers a beautifully rich and evocative exploration of Indigenous family and intergenerational relationships through the eyes of Mia, a young girl navigating life in 1980s British Columbia... Mia’s experiences are both relatable and informative... In each short chapter Mia shares snapshots of her life, from her close relationship with her grandmother and a fractured friendship with a former BFF, to a new, bourgeoning understanding of her Indigenous culture and heritage... Poetic, beautiful passages and insights scattered throughout the text captures voice so well... A heartwarming story of a family pulling together and taking care of each other in a time of grief."
JURY MEMBERS: Dr. Rob Bittner, children's and YA literature specialist, and Past-President of the Association for Library Service to Children (2024-2025); Ray Fernandes, Program Officer, Nova Scotia Dept. of CCTH, and former children’s librarian; Tracey Schindler, reviewer and former teacher; Gail de Vos (chair), author, storyteller and Adjunct (Associate) Professor, School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta.
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Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award ($5,000)
Supported by Alice Chase
Oasis
Written and illustrated by Guojing (Surrey, BC)
Godwin Books
"Oasis takes readers on an emotional journey in which every character is challenged to learn, adapt, and grow. By weaving timeless truths into a future-set narrative, Guojing creates a story that feels both imaginative and deeply human, while the unmatched illustrations and text work together to create an experience greater than the sum of its parts... This is one of those rare books in which the illustrations do far more than support the narrative—they are the narrative... At its heart is the tender bond between siblings JieJie and DiDi, whose love and devotion are portrayed with such authenticity that readers feel every moment of their journey. Inspired by China's "left-behind children," the novel offers a poignant reflection on family separation, resilience, and sacrifice... The story's ability to connect lessons from the past with a vision of the future gives it both depth and relevance, making it a significant contribution to contemporary children's literature."
JURY MEMBERS: Michelle Dimnik, retired teacher, and founding member, Rocky Mountain Book Award: An Alberta Children's Choice Book Award; Aaron Fitchett, Principal, Lethbridge School Division; Ruth McMahon, librarian.
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Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction ($10,000)
Supported by the Fitzhenry Family Foundation
The True Story of Vanilla: How Edmond Albius Made History
(Orca Biography)
Written by Ann Richards (London, ON)
Illustrated by Arden Taylor (Brantford, ON)
Orca Book Publishers
“The remarkable story of Edmond Albius, an enslaved boy whose ingenuity transformed the vanilla industry. Blending botany, history, and the legacy of racism, this compelling biography is brought to life with colourful, expressive illustrations that shine a light on a little-known chapter of the past… The book not only teaches young readers about a story that has been buried in history, but it also educates us on topics such as the global history of vanilla and how pollination works. This book explores an overlooked aspect of history and will leave readers impressed that someone so young could make such a monumental discovery… Richards should be commended for how neatly she interweaves Edmond’s story, never shying away from the harsh realities of his life… Arden Taylor’s illustrations are also to be highlighted—they beautifully bathe the text in warm natural hues that embody the lush flora and fauna of the island, especially the richness of the vanilla plant, and vividly show what island life was like during this time period.”
JURY MEMBERS: Jeffrey Canton, children's book reviewer, The Globe & Mail; Haneefa Corbie, Middle School Department Head, Selwyn House School; Colette Poitras, Métis librarian.
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Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award ($20,000)
Supported by A. Charles Baillie
Rock
Written by Laurel Croza (Toronto, ON)
Illustrated by Matt James (Toronto, ON)
Groundwood Books
“A deceptively simple story with surprising depth that quietly delivers a powerful message about bullying and self-confidence without ever feeling didactic... Knowing who you are and staying true to that identity are core to this tale of a rock that is being verbally assailed by a flock of noisy seagulls, one in particular, that are seeking to diminish the rock’s sense of self-esteem... Striking artwork and carefully chosen design elements, from textured cover to character-specific fonts and symbolic endpapers, make for a memorable picture book worthy of repeat readings... Readers, you have probably guessed who wins in the end. Who knew that a rock could be so edgy?”
JURY MEMBERS: Dr. Dave Jenkinson, Professor Emeritus, Children’s & YA Literature, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba, and former Editor, CM: Canadian Review of Materials; Jade Lee, elementary teacher-librarian, Vancouver School Board; Janis Nostbakken, children's media specialist.
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About the Canadian Children’s Book Centre
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre is a national, not‐for‐profit organization founded in 1976. We are dedicated to encouraging, promoting and supporting the reading, writing and illustrating of Canadian books for young readers. Our programs, publications, and resources help teachers, librarians, booksellers and parents select the very best for young readers.