Best Books Selections Committees

Expert committees of educators, booksellers and school and public librarians from across Canada have handpicked the materials featured in Best Books for Kids & Teens. Committees look for excellence in writing and illustration. Most importantly, these committees focus on selecting materials that will appeal to children and young adults.

We thank these committee members for generously donating their time and expertise.

 

BEGINNING READERS, EARLY CHAPTER BOOKS, MIDDLE YEARS HI-LO, TEEN HI-LO

Madison Cumbaa (Chair) (she/her)
Teacher-Librarian
Position of Responsibility (Equity)
Toronto District School Board
Toronto, ON

Elizabeth Coats (she/her)
Library Technician
Halton Catholic District School Board
Milton, ON
Sandra Pan (she/her)
Teacher
Toronto District School Board
Toronto, ON

Mackenzie Polak (he/him)
Vice Principal
Winona Drive Senior Public School
Toronto District School Board
Toronto, ON



GRAPHIC NOVELS

Scott Robins (Chair) (he/him)
Children's Services Specialist
Don Mills District Branch, Toronto Public Library
Toronto, ON
Fatma Faraj (she/her)
Junior School Teacher-Librarian
Branksome Hall
Toronto, ON
Linda Ludke (she/her)
Collections Management Librarian
London Public Library
London, ON
Rebecca Roach (she/her)
Itinerant Resource Teacher
Alternative Schools (West)
Toronto District School Board
Toronto, ON



JUNIOR & INTERMEDIATE FICTION #1

Clare Gorman (Chair) (she/her)
Teacher-Librarian (Retired)
Toronto, ON
Dr. Cristina Guerrero (she/her/ella)
Professor
Bachelor of Child and Youth Care Program
Faculty of Social and Community Services
Humber Polytechnic
Toronto, ON
Rabia Khokhar (she/her)
Teacher
Toronto District School Board
Co-Chair, Blue Spruce Selection Committee
PhD Candidate
Toronto, ON
Dr. Christine Monson (she/her)
Teacher-Librarian
Toronto District School Board
Toronto, ON



JUNIOR & INTERMEDIATE FICTION #2

Gigi Nadeau (Chair) (she/her/elle)
Librarian (Retired)
Riverside School Board
Saint-Hubert, QC
Kristie Bridges (she/her/elle)
Teacher
Riverside School Board
Saint-Hubert, QC
Judith Munger (she/her/elle)
Librarian
Eastern Townships School Board
Sherbrooke, QC

Francine Tessier
English and Science Consultant
Riverside School Board
Saint-Hubert, QC



NON-FICTION

Sandra Stockall (Chair)
EAL Tutor
Subject Coordinator (Retired)
Anglophone East School District
Moncton, NB

Barbara Gebuhr
Teacher and Principal (Retired)
Anglophone East School District
Canadian International School of Beijing
Midway, NB

Bryna Dickson Roper
District Education Support Teacher, EAL
Anglophone East School District
Moncton, NB
Angela Trueman
Early Years Principal and Educational Support Teacher – Resource (Retired)
Anglophone East School District
Moncton, NB



PICTURE BOOKS

Rachel Seigel (Chair)
Author
Book Reviewer
Sales Manager
Page Two Publishing
Toronto, ON
Sara Chan (she/her)
Teacher
Toronto District School Board
Toronto, ON
Wendy Burch Jones (she/her)
Teacher-Librarian
Toronto District School Board
President
Ontario School Library Association
Toronto, ON
Colleen Nelson
Author
Teacher
Pembina Trails School Division
Winnipeg, MB



YOUNG ADULT FICTION #1

Gail Hamilton (Chair)
Teacher-Librarian (Retired)
East St. Paul, MB
Dr. Dave Jenkinson
Professor Emeritus
Faculty of Education
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB
Tamara Opar
Youth Services Librarian (Retired)
Winnipeg, MB
Harriet Zaidman
Children's and freelance writer
Teacher-Librarian (Retired)
Children's Book Columnist
Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg, MB



YOUNG ADULT FICTION #2

Lisa Doucet (she/her)
Manager
Woozles
Halifax, NS
Dr. Vivian Howard (she/her)
Associate Professor (Retired)
School of Information Management
Dalhousie University
Halifax, NS
Sandy Seth (she/her)
Teacher
Halifax Independent School
Halifax, NS

Valerie Sherrard (she/her)
Author
Miramichi, NB