Canada's Favourite Kids' Books Nominations

The votes coming in!

Canadians are voting for their favourite Canadian kids' books through the CCBC's 50th anniversary FUNdraiser—Canada's Favourite Kids' Books campaign.

The donate to nominate FUNdraiser allows participants to nominate up to four Canadian kids’ books* with a donation to the CCBC. We're compiling the list of nominees as they come in. Come back regularly for the updated list!

Need inspiration? Check out the list below or:

our list of 50 Must-Read Canadian Picture Books
our list of 50 Must-Read Canadian Middle-Grade Books
our list of 50 Must-Read Canadian Young Adult Books
Best Books for Kids & Teens
Canadian Children’s Book News
Accessible Books Bank

Make sure your favourites are counted AND support Canadian authors and illustrators through our programs. Let's make Canadian kids' books a topic of conversation this year.

* nominated titles must be written or illustrated by Canadian citizens, permanent residents or First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples of the land that is now called Canada and suitable for ages 0-18.

Age 16 written and illustrasted by Rosena Fung Annick Press, 2024	The Agony of Bun O'Keefe written by Heather Smith Penguin Teen Canada, 2017	*Airborn* written by Kenneth Oppel HarperCollins Canada, 2004
Alice, I Think written by Susan Juby HarperTrophy Canada, 2003	Alis the Aviator: An ABC Aviation Adventure written by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail illustrated by Kalpna Patel Tundra Books, 2019	All the Water on Earth written by Rochelle Strauss illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight Kids Can Press, 2026
Alligator Pie written by Dennis Lee illustrated by Frank Newfeld Macmillan of Canada, 1974	Amazing Women in Canada: Jean Augustine written by Wanda Taylor Beech Street Books, 2025	Amos's Sweater written by Janet Lunn illustrated by Kim LaFave Groundwood Books, 1998
Angel Square written by Brian Doyle Groundwood Books, 1984	Anna Maria & Maestro Vivaldi written by Jan L. Coates illustrated by Francois Thisdale Red Deer Press, 2022	Anne of Green Gables written by L.M. Montgomery LC Page & Co., 1908
Apartment 713 written and illustrated by Kevin Sylvester HarperCollins Publishers, 2022	Aunt Pearl written by Monica Kulling illustrated by Irene Luxbacher Groundwood Books, 2019	Awake and Dreaming written by Kit Pearson Viking Canada, 1996
The Balloon Tree written and illustrated by Phoebe Gilman North Winds Press/Scholastic, 1984	The Bare Naked Book written by Kathy Stinson illustrated by Heather Collins Annick Press, 1986	Be a Good Ancestor written by Leona Prince and Gabrielle Prince illustrated by Carla Joseph Orca Book Publishers, 2022
Being with Henry written by Martha Brooks Groundwood Books, 1999	Berani written by Michelle Kadarusman Pajama Press, 2022	Bibi and the Bull written by Carol Vaage illustrated by Georgia Graham Red Deer College Press, 1995
Bifocal written by Deborah Ellis and Eric Walters Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2007	Birdsong written and illustrated by Julie Flett Greystone Kids, 2019	Boobies written and illustrated by Nancy Vo Groundwood Books, 2022
*The Breadwinner* written by Deborah Ellis Grounwood Books, 2000	Bud, Not Buddy written by Christopher Paul Curtis Delacorte Press, 1999	The Bus Ride written and illustrated by Marianne Dubuc Kids Can Press, 2015
Cells: An Owner's Handbook written and illustrated by Carolyn Fisher Beach Lane Books, 2019	Children of the SS Atlantic: The Lives Lost to One of History's Worst Maritime Disasters written by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail Nimbus Publishing, 2026	A Child's Treasury of Nursery Rhymes illustrasted by Kady MacDonald Denton Kids Can Press, 1998
Clover written by Nadine Robert translated by Nick Frost and Catherine Ostiguy illustrated by Qin Leng Milky Way Picture Books, 2022	A Coyote Columbus Story written by Thomas King illustrated by Ken Monkman Groundwood Books, 1992	The Crazy Man written by Pamela Porter Groundwood Books, 2005
A Dance Through the Seasons written by Leona Prince illustrated by Carla Joseph WaveMaker Press, 2021	Danica dela Torre: Certified Sleuth written by Mikaela Lucido illustrated by Joanna Cacao Annick Press, 2024	Danica dela Torre: Dream Detective written by Mikaela Lucido illustrated by Joanna Cacao Annick Press, 2025
The Dog Who Wouldn't Be written by Farley Mowat illustrated by Paul Galdone Little, Brown & Co., 1957	Dust written by Arthur Slade HarperCollins Publishers, 2001	Ellen's Book of Life written by Joan Givner Groundwood Books, 2008
Emily of New Moon written by L.M. Montgomery McClelland & Stewart, 1923	Ephemia Rimaldi: Circus Performer Extraordinaire written by Linda DeMeulemeester Red Deer Press, 2023	Everything Beautiful is Not Ruined written by Danielle Younge-Ullman Razorbill, 2017
Everything on a Waffle written by Polly Horvath Groundwood Books, 2001	Faster Than Wind written by Steve Pitt Dundurn Press, 2009	Flying High on PEI: Prince Edward Island and Canada’s First Transatlantic Flight written by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail illustrated by Jennifer DesRoche Acorn Press, 2026
Fox Magic written by Beverley Brenna Red Deer Press, 2017	Freddie the Flyer written by Fred Carmichael and Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail illustrated by Audrea Loreen-Wulf Tundra Books, 2023	The Funeral written and illustrated by Matt James Groundwood Books, 2018
Ghost Train written by Paul Yee illustrated by Harvey Chan Groundwood Books, 1996	Ghostlight written by Kenneth Oppel Puffin Canada, 2022	The Girl and the Wolf written by Katharena Vermette illustrated by Julie Flett Theytus Books, 2019
The Good Fight written by Ted Staunton illustrated by Josh Rosen Scholastic Canada, 2021	Goodnight, Canada written and illustrated by Andrea Beck North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada, 2012	The Great Number Rumble: A Story of Math in Surprising Places written by Cora Lee and Gillian O'Reilly illustrated by Lil Crump Annick Press, 2016
*The Grover School Pledge* written by Wanda Taylor HarperCollins Publishers, 2023	Grumpy Bird written and illustrated by Jeremy Tankard Scholastic Press, 2007	Harvey written by Hervé Bouchard translated by Helen Mixter illustrated by Janice Nadeau Groundwood Books, 2010
Head to Toe Spaghetti and Other Tasty Poems written by David Booth illustrated by Les Drew Rubicon Publishing, 2015	The Heathens and the Dragon: A 13th-Century Adventure written by Kate A. Boorman Thistledown Press, 2023	Here So Far Away written by Hadley Dyer HarperCollins Publishers, 2018
The Hockey Sweater written by Roch Carrier translated by Sheila Fischman illustrated by Sheldon Cohen Tundra Books, 1979	How Pizza Came to Our Town written and illustrated by Dayal Kaur Khalsa Tundra Books, 1989	How to Be a Goldfish written by Jane Baird Warren Scholastic Canada, 2022
I Know Here written by Laurel Croza illustrated by Matt James Groundwood Books, 2010	*I Miss Franklin P. Shuckles* written by Ulana Snihura illustrated by Leanne Franson Annick Press, 1998	I Want a Dog written and illustrated by Dayal Kaur Khalsa Tundra Books, 1987
I Want My Hat Back written and illustrated by Jon Klassen Candlewick Press, 2011	I Want to Read All the Books written and illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2024	If I Had a Gryphon written by Vikki VanSickle illustrated by Cale Atkinson Tundra Books, 2016
I'm Longer Than You! An Epic Contest of Measurement written and illustrated by Carolyn Fisher Kids Can Press, 2025	In Flanders Fields: The Story of the Poem by John McCrae written by Linda Granfield illustrated by Janet Wilson Stoddart Kids, 1995	It Fell From the Sky written and illustrated by The Fan Brothers Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021
It Happened on Sweet Street written by Caroline Adderson illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch Tundra Books, 2020	Jelly Belly written by Dennis Lee illustrated by Juan Wijngaard Macmillan of Canada, 1983	Jessie's Island written by Sheryl McFarlane illustrated by Sheena Lott Orca Book Publishers, 1992
Jillian Jiggs written and illustrated by Phoebe Gilman Scholastic-TAB, 1985	Josepha: A Prairie Boy's Story written by Jim McGugan illustrated by Murray Kimber Red Deer Press, 1994	The King of Jam Sandwiches written by Eric Walters Orca Book Publishers, 2020
The Last Train: A Holocaust Story written by Rona Arato Owlkids Books, 2013	Last Week written by Bill Richardson illustrated by Emilie Leduc Groundwood Books, 2022	The Liszts written by Kyo Maclear illustrated by Júlia Sardà Tundra Books, 2016
Little Brown Girl written by Leona Prince illustrated by Paige Pettibon Strong Nations Publishing, 2026	Little Voice written by Ruby Slipperjack Coteau Books, 2001	Lizzy and the Cloud written and illustrated by The Fan Brothers Simon & Schuster Canada, 2022
Looking at the *Moon* written by Kit Pearson Viking Canada, 1991	Love You Forever written by Robert Munsch illustrated by Sheila McGraw Firefly Books, 1986	The Low Life: Five Great Tales from Up and Down the River written by Brian Doyle Groundwood Books, 1999
The Maestro written by Tim Wynne-Jones Groundwood Books, 1995	Mary Ann Alice written by Brian Doyle Groundwood Books, 2001	Meet Me on Love Street written by Farah Heron Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025
Megiddo's Shadow written by Arthur Slade HarperTrophy Canada, 2006	Monster Science: Could Monsters Survive (and Thrive!) in the Real World written by Helaine Becker illustrated by Phil McAndrew Kids Can Press, 2016	Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress written by Christine Baldacchino illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant Groundwood Books, 2014
The Most Magnificent Thing written and illustrated by Ashley Spires Kids Can Press, 2014	*The Mystery of the Missing Emerald* written by Robert Thomas Allen Little, Brown & Co., 1963	The Name of the Tree: A Bantu Tale written by Celia Barker Lottridge illustrated by Ian Wallace Groundwood Books, 1989
The Nest written by Kenneth Oppel illustrated by Jon Klassen HarperCollins Canada, 2015	Night Cars written by Teddy Jam illustrated by Eric Beddows Groundwood Books, 1991	The Night Gardener written by Jonathan Auxier Puffin Canada, 2014
Nightmare Jones written by Shannon Bramer illustrated by Cindy Derby Groundwood Books, 2025	No Fixed Address written by Susin Nielsen Tundra Books, 2018	One Can written by Lana Button and Eric Walters illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant Groundwood Books, 2025
One Tiny Bubble: The Story of Our Last Universal Common Ancestor written by Karen Krossing illustrated by Dawn Lo Owlkids Books, 2022	Out of the Ice: How Climate Change is Revealing the Past written by Claire Eamer illustrated by Drew Shannon Kids Can Press, 2018	Owls in the Family written by Farley Mowat Little, Brown & Co., 1961
The Paper Bag Princess written by Robert Munsch illustrated by Michael Martchenko Annick Press, 1980	The Paper Boat: A Refugee Story written and illustrated by Thao Lam Owlkids Books, 2020	The Peacemaker: Thanadelthur written by David A. Robertson illustrated by Wai Tien HighWater Press, 2014
Perfect Snow written and illustrated by Barbara Reid Scholastic Canada, 2009	The Plain Janes written by Cecil Castellucci illustrated by Jim Rugg Little, Brown Ink, 2020	Plain Kate written by Erin Bow Scholastic Canada, 2011
Pokko and the Drum written and illustrated by Matthew Forsythe Beach Lane Books, 2019	A Prairie Boy's Summer written and illustrated by William Kurelek Tundra Books, 1975	The Present Tense of Prinny Murphy written by Jill MacLean Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2009
Pride Puppy written by Robin Stevenson illustrated by Julie McLaughlin Orca Book Publishers, 2021	The Queen's Shadow: A Story About How Animals See written and illustrated by Cybèle Young Kids Can Press, 2015	The Quiet Book written by Deborah Underwood illustrated by Renata Liwska Clarion Books, 2010
The Ranger written and illustrated by Nancy Vo Groundwood Books, 2019	A Recipe for Rhyme and Rescue written by Wanda Taylor HarperCollins Publishers, 2024	Red is Best written by Kathy Stinson illustrated by Robin Baird Lewis Annick Press, 1982
The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen written by Susin Nielsen Tundra Books, 2012	Remember Who You Are written by Leona Prince and Gabrielle Prince illustrated by Sara General Orca Book Publishers, 2025	Rhinos for Lunch and Elephants for Supper! written by Tololwa M. Mollel illustrated by Barbara Spurll Oxford University Press, 1991
*The Rock and the Butterfly* written by Kathy Stinson illustrated Brooke Kerrigan Orca Book Publishers, 2024	Rodney Was a Tortoise written by Nan Forler illustrated by Yong Ling Kang Tundra Books, 2022	The Root Cellar written by Janet Lunn Lester & Orpen Dennys, 1981
Sammy and the Headless Horseman written by Rona Arato Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2016	Scaredy Squirrel written and illustrated by Mélanie Watt Kids Can Press, 2006	The Scorpion Rules written by Erin Bow Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2015
A Second Is a Hiccup written by Hazel Hutchins illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton North Winds Press/Scholastic, 2004	"Scribbling Women": True Tales from Astonishing Lives written by Marthe Jocelyn Tundra Books, 2011	The Secret Office written by Sara Cassidy illustrated by Alyssa Hutchings Orca Book Publishers, 2024
Seven for a Secret written by Mary C. Sheppard Groundwood Books, 2001	Shadow in Hawthorn Bay written by Janet Lunn Lester & Orpen Dennys, 1986	Sidewalk Flowers written by JonArno Lawson illustrated by Sydney Smith Groundwood Books, 2015
Silverwing written by Kenneth Oppel HarperCollins Publishers, 1997	Sing a Song of Mother Goose compiled and illustrated by Barbara Reid Scholastic Canada, 2005	Skating Wild on an Inland Sea written by Jean E. Pendziwol illustrated by Todd Stewart Groundwood Books, 2023
Skim written by Mariko Tamaki illustrated by Jillian Tamaki Groundwood Books, 2008	The Sky's the Limit! Canadians Who Blazed a Trail in Aviation written by Wanda Taylor Nimbus Publishing, 2025	Small in the City written and illustrated by Sydney Smith Groundwood Books, 2019
Snow Belongs to No One written and illustrated by Tin-An Chen Tin-An Chen, 2026	The Snow Cat written and illustrated by Dayal Kaur Khalsa Tundra Books, 1999	Solomon's Tree written by Andrea Spalding illustrated by Janet Wilson Orca Book Publishers, 2002
Something from Nothing written and illustrated by Phoebe Gilman Scholastic Canada, 1992	Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox written and illustrated by Danielle Daniel Groundwood Books, 2015	Sorry for Your Loss written by Joanne Levy Orca Book Publishers, 2021
The Spelling Bee written and illustrated by Tin-An Chen Tin-An Chen, 2026	The Stamp Collector written by Jennifer Lanthier illustrated by François Thisdale Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2012	Stand on the Sky written by Erin Bow Scholastic Canada, 2019
*Stanley's Party* written by Linda Bailey illustrated Bill Slavin Kids Can Press, 2003	*Stella, Star of the Sea* written and illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay Groundwood Books, 1999	The Story Box written by Monica Hughes HarperCollins Canada, 1998
The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim written by E.K. Johnston Carolrhoda Lab, 2014	A Stronger Home written by Katrina Chen and Elaine Su illustrated by Delphie Côté-Lacroix Orca Book Publishers, 2025	The Subway Mouse written and illustrated by Barbara Reid Scholastic Canada, 2003
Summer Feet written by Sheree Fitch illustrated by Carolyn Fisher Nimbus Publishing, 2022	The Sun Will Come Out written by Joanne Levy Orca Book Publishers, 2021	Tadpoles written and illustrated by Matt James Neal Porter Books, 2023
Teddy Rabbit written by Kathy Stinson illustrated by Stéphane Poulin Annick Press, 1988	There is a Book Inside of Me written and illustrated by Tin-An Chen Tin-An Chen, 2026	This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall written by Gordon Korman Scholastic Canada, 1978
This Is Not My Hat written and illustrated by Jon Klassen Candlewick Press, 2012	This One Summer written by Mariko Tamaki illustrated by Jillian Tamaki Groundwood Books, 2014	Thomas' Snowsuit written and Robert Munsch illustrated by Michael Martchenko Annick Press, 1985
Tig written by Heather Smith Tundra Books, 2024	Today written and illustrated by Julie Morstad Simply Read Books, 2016	Toes in My Nose: And Other Poems written by Sheree Fitch illustrated by Sydney Smith Nimbus Publishing, 2016
Too Much Scream (Screen) Time written and illustrated by Tin-An Chen Tin-An Chen, 2026	Tough Like Mom written by Lana Button illustrated by Carmen Mok Tundra Books, 2021	Town Is by the Sea written by Joanne Schwartz illustrated by Sydney Smith Groundwood Books, 2017
Tumbleweed Skies written by Valerie Sherrard Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2009	Under Attack (Kidnapped from Ukraine, Book 1) written by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch Scholastic Inc., 2025	Up to Low written by Brian Doyle Groundwood Books, 1989
The Very, Very Far North written by Dan Bar-el illustrated by Kelly Pousette Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2019	Waiting for the Whales written by Sheryl McFarlane illustrated by Ron Lightburn Orca Book Publishers, 1991	Waltraut written by Gabriele Goldstone Wandering Fox, 2024
We All Play / kimêtawânaw written and illustrated by Julie Flett Greystone Kids, 2021	We Are All Made of Molecules written by Susin Nielsen Tundra Books, 2015	Weekend Dad written by Naseem Hrab illustrated by Frank Viva Groundwood Books, 2020
What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses? written by Richard Van Camp illustrated by George Littlechild Children's Book Press, 1998	When We Were Alone written by David A. Robertson illustrated by Julie Flett HighWater Press, 2016	When You Can Swin written and illustrated by Jack Wong Orchard Books/Scholastic, 2023
The White Stone in the Castle Wall written by Sheldon Oberman illustrated by Les Tait Tundra Books, 1995	Why Humans Build Up: The Rise of Towers, Temples and Skyscrapers written by Gregor Craigie illustrated by Kathleen Fu Orca Book Publishers, 2022	Wicked Nix written by Lena Coakley HarperCollins Publishers, 2018
Wild Girl and Gran written by Nan Gregory illustrated by Ron Lightburn Red Deer Press, 2000	The Wind Has Wings: Poems from Canada compiled by Mary Alice Downie and Barbara Robertson illustrated by Elizabeth Cleaver Oxford University Press, 1968	Witchward Bound written by Erin Bow Scholastic Canada, 2026
With Malice written by Eileen Cook Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016	The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs written and illustrated by Phoebe Gilman Scholastic Canada, 1988	*A World of Kindness* edited by Ann Featherstone illustrated by Suzanne Del Rizzo, Brian Deines, Kim LaFave, Tara Anderson, Wallace Edwards, Manon Gauthier, Rebecca Bender, Dean Griffiths and François Thisdale Pajama Press, 2018
Wow Canada! Exploring This Land From Coast to Coast to Coast written by Vivian Bowers illustrated by Dianne Eastman and Dan Hobbs Maple Tree Press, 2007	Year of the Carrot written by Madeleine Hart Second Story Press, 2025	Yippee's Gold Mountain written by Raquel Rivera Red Deer Press, 2017
Zoom at Sea written by Tim Wynne-Jones illustrated by Eric Beddows Groundwood Books, 1983