2014 Forest of Reading® nominees: Blue Spruce and Silver Birch

Today, the Ontario Library Association announced the nominated titles for the 2013-2014 Forest of Reading® readers' choice awards. This popular literacy program is designed to cultivate a love of reading for people of all ages, from JK to adult.  For those of us who love reading, it's a great opportunity to focus on new Canadian literature.  For those of us who teach, we know that...

...a print-rich environment leads to more reading and free voluntary reading is the best predictor of comprehension, vocabulary growth, spelling and grammatical ability and writing style  (Michele Lonsdale, Impact of School Libraries on Student Achievement: A Review of the Research: Report for the Australian School Libraries Association, 2003)

The Forest of Reading® already connects over 250,000 readers across Ontario and beyond.  Ask your school library or public library about the Forest of Reading®.  If they're registered, great!  If they're not, ask them, "Why not?"

In a series of three posts, I'll list the nominees for the following programs that were announced today:

• Blue Spruce™: K to Grade 2 reading level
• Silver Birch® Express: Grades 3-4 reading level
• Silver Birch® Fiction: Grades 5-6 reading level
• Silver Birch® Non-fiction: Grades 5-6 reading level
• Red Maple™ Fiction: Grades 7-8 reading level
• Red Maple™ Non-fiction: Grade 7-8 reading level
• White Pine™ Fiction: Grades 9-12 reading level
• Golden Oak™: Adult learners
• Le Prix Tamarac: les titres en français
• Le Prix Tamarac Express: les titres en français
• Le Prix Peuplier: les albums français

A Good Trade
by Alma Fullerton
Illustrated by Karen Patkau
Pajama Press

I Dare You Not To Yawn
by Hélène Boudreau
Illustrated by Serge Bloch
Candlewick Press

If You Hold A Seed
by Elly MacKay
Running Press

In The Tree House
by Andrew Larsen
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Kids Can Press

Mr. Zinger's Hat
by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Tundra Books

Oddrey
by Dave Whamond
Owlkids Books

Sky Color
by Peter H. Reynolds
Candlewick Press

This Is Not My Hat
by Jon Klassen
Candlewick Press

Uncle Wally's Old Brown Shoe
by Wallace Edwards
Orca Book Publishers

Willow Finds A Way
by Lana Button
Illustrated by Tania Howells
Kids Can Press

And The Winner Is...Amazing Animal Athletes
by Etta Kaner
Illustrated by David Anderson
Kids Can Press

Ava and the Little Folk
by Neil Christopher and Alan Neal
Illustrated by Jonathan Wright
Fitzhenry & Whiteside

Buzz About Bees
by Kari-Lynn Winters
Fitzhenry & Whiteside

Cryptic Canada: Unsolved Mysteries From Coast To Coast
by Natalie Hyde
Illustrated by Matt Hammill
Owlkids Books

Danny Who Fell In A Hole
by Cary Fagan
Groundwood Books

Jason's Why
by Beth Goobie
Red Deer Press

The Secret of the Village Fool
by Rebecca Upjohn
Illustrated by Renné Benoit
Second Story Press

The Gargoyle at the Gates
by Philippa Dowding
Dundurn

The Stamp Collector
by Jennifer Lanthier
Illustrated by François Thisdale
Fitzhenry & Whiteside

When I Get Older: The Story Behind "Wavin' Flag"
by K'Naan with Sol Guy
Illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
Tundra Books

 

Curse of the Dream Witch
by Allan Stratton
Scholastic Canada

Eldritch Manor

by Kim Thompson

Dundurn

Neil Flambé and the Tokyo Treasure
by Kevin Sylvester
Simon & Schuster

Nobody’s Dog

by Ria Voros
Scholastic Canada

 

Record Breaker
by Robin Stevenson
Orca Book Publishers

 
The Awesome, Almost 100% True Adventures Of Matt & Craz
by Alan Silberberg
Aladdin

 

The Hypnotists
by Gordon Korman
Scholastic Canada

The Metro Dogs Of Moscow
by Rachelle Delaney
Puffin Canada

Ultra
by David Carroll
Scholastic Canada

Yesterday's Dead
by Pat Bourke
Second Story Press

Saving Lives & Changing Hearts: Animal Sanctuaries and Rescue Centers
by Rob Laidlaw
Red Deer Press

Draw Out The Story: Ten Secrets to Creating Your Own Comics
by Brian McLachlan
Illustrated by Brian McLachlan
Owlkids Books

Learn to Speak Film: A Guide to Creating, Promoting, and Screening Your Movies
by Michael Glassbourg
Illustrated by Jeff Kulak
Owlkids Books

Off To Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World
by Susan Hughes
Owlkids Books

One Step at a Time: A Vietnamese Child Finds Her Way
by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Pajama Press

Our Rights: How Kids Are Changing the World
by Janet Wilson
Second Story Press

Robbers!: True Stories of the World's Most Notorious Thieves
by Andreas Schroeder
Illustrated by Rémy Simard
Annick Press

The World In Your Lunch Box: The Wacky History and Weird Science of Everyday Foods
by Claire Eamer
Illustrated by Sa Boothroyd
Annick Press

Warriors and Wailers: One Hundred Ancient Chinese Jobs You Might Have Relished or Reviled
by Sarah Tsiang
Illustrated by Martha Newbigging
Annick Press

Weird Zone: Sports
by Maria Birmingham
Illustrated by Jaime Bennett
Owlkids Books











Remaining nominees are listed here:

Red Maple, White Pine and Golden Oak

Le Prix Tamarac and Le Prix Peuplier