The winners of the 2026 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards were revealed on June 22. Each of the winners receives $6,000 for “artistic excellence in writing and illustration in English-language Canadian children’s literature.”

Two juries comprised of young readers from Brock Public School in Toronto selected the winners.

The winner in the children’s picture book category was Chidori: A Story of One Thousand Birds by Jennifer Maruno and Miki Sato, ill. (Pajama Press).

“We really connected to this story. It is sad and thoughtful, and told in a way that makes it easy to imagine what happened to Hana’s family. We especially loved how she painted her mother’s rock as a special way to remember ‘their spot’ and a thousand birds to soar through the air,” said the student jurors in the press release. “The collage art is so original and matched the story perfectly. The textures created a feeling and made us want to touch the pictures.”

In the young adult/middle reader category the winner was We Bury Nothing by Kate Blair (DCB Young Readers/Cormorant Books).

“We loved uncovering the mysteries in both time periods. It was surprising to learn about German prisoners of war’s lives in Canada. It gave us a better understanding of different perspectives and the negative power of propaganda,” said the student jurors. “The moral and ethical problems that Erich and Keira grapple with made them feel really human. This book was impossible to put down.”

The winners were chosen from shortlists announced earlier in May.

The Ontario Arts Foundation, with the support of the Ontario Arts Council, administers the awards.