The shortlists for the 2025-2026 Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award were announced last week. Each year, thousands of children in Grades 4-6 read from the selection of outstanding Canadian books and vote for their favourite English and French titles. The finalists in each category are listed below.
English-language Fiction
Fairest of All: A Graphic Novel, written by Sarah Mlynowski, illustrated by Anu Chouhan (Graphix/Scholastic)
Is There a Boy Like Me?, written by Kern Carter (Scholastic Canada)
The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage, written by David A. Robertson (HighWater Press)
Lisette of Louisbourg, written by Margaret Mackay (Bradan Press)
Maya Plays the Part, written by Calyssa Erb (Annick Press)
Pet Tales, written Heidi Tattrie Rushton (Trap Door Books)
Salma Joins the Team, written by Danny Ramadan, illustrated by Anna Bron (Annick Press)
Songs in the Sea, written and illustrated by Pheilm Martin (Breakwater Books)
Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom, written and illustrated by Braden Hallett (Annick Press)
Tig, written by Heather Smith (Tundra Books)
English-language Non-Fiction
All Consuming: Shop Smarter for the Planet, written by Erin Silver, illustrated by Suharu Ogawa (Orca Book Publishers)
The Kids Book of Black History in Canada, written by Rosemary Sadler, illustrated by Arden Taylor (Kids Can Press)
The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey, written by Chad Soon and George Chiang, illustrated by Amy Qi (Orca Book Publishers)
Lost at Windy River: A True Story of Survival, written by Trina Rathgeber, illustrated by Alina Pete, coloured by Jillian Dolan (Orca Book Publishers)
Making Sense of Dogs: How Are Furry Friends Experience the World, written by Stephanie Gibeault, illustrated by Raz Latif (Owlkids Books)
Meet Jim Egan, written by Elizabeth MacLeod, illustrated by Mike Deas (Scholastic Canada)
Mighty Scared: The Amazing Ways Animals Defind Themselves, written by Erin Silver, illustrated by Hayden Maynard (Orca Book Publishers)
She is Hope for Wildlife: The Story of Wildlife Rescuer Hope Swinimer, written by Wanda Baxter, illustrated by Leah Boudreau (Nimbus Publishing)
Walls: The Long History of Human Barriers and Why We Build Them, written by Gregor Craigie, illustrated by Arden Taylor (Orca Book Publishers)
Your Story Matters: A Surprisingly Practical Guide to Writing, written by Richard Scrimger, illustrated by D. McFadzean (Tundra Books)
French-language Fiction
Les aventuriers des mondes perdus : Le trésor de Jordanie, written by Élizabeth Turgeon (Héritage jeunesse)
Le bunker de la peur, written by Carolyn Chouinard (Anzou Quebec)
La créature de la Petitcodiac, written by Denis M. Boucher, illustrated by Paul Roux (Bouton d'or acadie)
Forte comme Naïla, written by Nancy B.-Pilon, illustrated by Marish Papaya (Québec Amérique)
Fou du hockey : Le camp d’entraînement, written by Alain M. Bergeron, illustrated by Caroline Soucy (Anzou Quebec)
Héros du Mont Dragon t.1 : Ozlow et le sanctuaire elfique, written by Louis Patalano and Thomas Wilson, illustrated by Thomas Wilson (Éditions Gladius International)
L’horrible cabane dans l’arbre, written by Mika, illustrated by Sabrina Gendron (Boomerang Éditeur Jeunesse)
Le pêcheur à l’aimant, written by Émilie Demers, illustrated by Catherine Petit (Éditions Alaska)
Poppy : Le déménagement #01, written by Dïana Bélice, illustrated by Annie Sechao
(Andara Éditeur)
Sam SiXmoineauX orthogaffeur !, written and illustrated by Danielle Loranger (Bouton d'or acadie)
French-language Non-Fiction
L’Alzheimer racontée aux enfants, written by Priska Poirier, illustrated by Jean Morin (Éditions de Mortagne)
La dépoussièreuse enquête sur les monstres marins, written by Annie Richard (En quête)
Les extraterrestres existent-ils vraiment ?, written by Pierre-Alexandre Bonin, illustrated by Lucile Danis Drouot (Anzou Quebec)
Le fan club des microbes, written and illustrated by Elise Gravel (Les 400 coups)
Je n’aurai plus jamais peur des migrations, written by Sarah Bertrand-Savard (La courte échelle)
La petite robe rouge, written by Julie Gagnon and Julie Pellissier-Lush, illustrated by Emma Hassencahl-Perley (Bouton d'or acadie)
Le p’tit avion du Nunavik, written by Isabelle Larouche, illustrated by Isabelle Charbonneau (Grand Élan)
Savais-tu? Corps 1 : Les pets, written by Michel Quintin, illustrated by Freg (Éditions Michel Quintin)
Villes et villages, written by Émilie Rivard, illustrated by Valérie Desrochers (Québec Amérique).
To learn more visit, hackmatack.ca.