As CBC’s great Canadian book debate, Canada Reads, returns for its 22nd edition later this month, a new generation of book lovers are encouraged to participate in the literary celebration with CBC KIDS READS, also running March 27 – 30. All week long, young audiences are invited to join CBC Kids hosts Tony and Janaye, as well as Gary the Unicorn, Mr. Orlando, Cottonball and Makeup Monster, as they share their six favourite Canadian picture books and celebrate the love of reading.
With a focus on equity-deserving authors based across Canada, the selected books showcase inclusion, self-love and kindness. In addition to the defenders’ videos for their individual books, CBC KIDS READS week will see literacy-focused programming and music videos air during the CBC Kids weekday morning block on CBC TV and CBC Gem from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. local time. The videos will also be available on CBC Kids’ social media platforms including CBC Kids YouTube.
The six selected finalists are listed below, with reaction videos from the respective authors. Unlike the original iteration of Canada Reads, there is no winner declared - all of the selected titles are recognized as equally powerful and rewarding for young readers.
*Photos of the CBC Kids hosts with their selected books can be found here.*
| Cottonball | What's My Superpower? |
Author: Aviaq Johnston
Illustrator: Tim Mack |
| Gary | I Can, Too! |
Author: Karen Autio
Illustrator: Laura Watson |
| Janaye | Beautiful You, Beautiful Me |
Author: Tasha Spillett-Sumner
Illustrator: Salini Perera |
| Makeup Monster | Pink is for Everybody |
Author: Ella Russell Illustrator: Udayana Lugo |
| Mr. Orlando | My Name is Saajin Singh |
Author: Kuljinder Kaur Brar
Illustrator: Samrath Kaur |
| Tony | Thunder and the Noise Storms |
Author: Jeffrey Ansloos & Shezza Ansloos
Illustrator: Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley |
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About CBC Kids
CBC Kids’ mandate is to inform, enlighten and entertain Canadian kids from ages 2 to 13 and their caregivers on CBC TV, CBC Gem, cbckids.ca and cbckidsnews.ca as well as on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Tanya Koivusalo, CBC PR
