Massive congrats to the five Transatlantic clients whose books were honoured at Forest of Reading Awards this year! Organized by the Ontario Library Association, the Forest of Reading Awards are the largest recreational reading program in Canada. The nominated titles are chosen by school and library staff, and since October 2019, over 270,000 children have read nominated books, which include Canadian fiction and non-fiction books by English and French-language authors. Almost 120,000 readers voted in the 2020 program.
Anna Humphrey and Kass Reich won the Silver Birch Express for MEGABAT (Tundra Books)! Megabat is a sweet and hilarious chapter book about a boy and a bat, two unlikely friends who bond over loneliness, jellyrolls and Darth Vader. Anna Humphrey is represented by Amy Tompkins, and Kass Reich is represented by Fiona Kenshole.
THE REPTILE CLUB by Maureen Fergus and illustrated by Elina Ellis (Kids Can Press) is a Blue Spruce Honour Book. Popular, award-winning author Maureen Fergus’s playful laugh-out-loud picture book is about a boy who starts a new club at school. No students show up to the first meeting, but a crocodile and anaconda and a gecko do. Maureen is represented by Fiona Kenshole.
Rachel Poliquin’s BEAVERS: A SUPERPOWER FIELD GUIDE (HMH Books for Young Readers), illustrated by Nicholas John Frith, was a Yellow Cedar Honour Book. Beavers, the first book in the new middle-grade nonfiction Superhero Field Guide series by Rachel Poliquin and award-winning illustrator Nicholas John Frith, is a delightfully informative, laugh-out-loud full-color look at the most unsuspecting of animal heroes, perfect for readers who like their facts served with a large dose of humor. Rachel is represented by Amy Tompkins.
IN THE KEY OF NIRA GHANI by Natasha Deen was a Red Maple Honour Book. In The Key of Nira Ghani follows a Guyanese who girl must find the balance between her parents’ “old world” expectations and traditions while pursuing her dream of being a great trumpeter in this contemporary, coming-of-age story, written by an #OwnVoices author. Natasha is represented by Amy Tompkins.
To see the full list of winners, please visit: http://www.accessola.org/web/OLA/Forest_of_Reading/OLA/Forest_of_Reading/Forest_of_Reading.aspx?hkey=e913abbb-1687-438d-bc68-64eda110aeb1