The Ontario Arts Council and Ontario Arts Foundation have released the 2026 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award shortlists.

The annual awards, which come with a $6,000 prize each, recognize artistic excellence in writing and illustration in English-language Canadian picture books and middle grade/young adult literature.

Nominated in the picture book category are:

• Chidori: A Story of One Thousand Birds by Jennifer Maruno and Miki Sato, ill. (Pajama Press)
• Dreaming Alongside by Monique Gray Smith and Nicole Neidhardt, ill. (Orca Book Publishers)
• Grandma Can Make Anything by Susan Avingaq and Maren Vsetula; Amiel Sandland, ill. (Inhabit Media)
• Ra! Ta! Ma! Cue! by Howie Shia (Annick Press)
• The Warmest Blanket in the World by Tamara Levine and Ellie Arscott, ill. (Second Story Press)

Nominated titles in the young adult/middle grade category are:

• Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel (Penguin Teen Canada)
• I Won’t Feel This Way Forever by Kim Spencer (Orca Book Publishers)
• Robot Island by Cary Fagan (Tundra Books/Penguin Random House Canada)
• The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston and Athena Gubbe, ill. (Inhabit Media)
• We Bury Nothing by Kate Blair (DCB Young Readers/Cormorant Books)

The nomination committee was composed of Andrei Iorga, teacher librarian at Birch Cliff Heights Public School in Toronto; Stephen Davidson, co-owner of The Spaniel’s Tale Bookstore in Ottawa; and Danielle Big Canoe Snake, children’s library programmer at Chippewas of Rama First Nation Public Library.

Student juries from Brock Public School in Toronto will choose the winning titles. The winners will be announced in June.