IBBY Canada has announced the five Canadian titles nominated to the 2026 IBBY Honour List, a biennial selection of outstanding, recently published books, honouring writers, illustrators and translators from IBBY member countries.
English – Text
Simon Sort of Says, written by Erin Bow (Scholastic Canada)
English to French Translation
Like a Hurricane, written by Jonathan Bécotte, translated by Jonathan Kaplansky (Orca Book Publishers); translation of Comme un ouragan (Héritage jeunesse)
Illustration
When You Can Swim, written and illustrated by Jack Wong (Orchard Books/Scholastic)
French – Text
Une bulle en dehors du temps, written by Stéfani Meunier (Leméac Éditeur)
French to English Translation
Le chandail orange de Miya, written by Wanda John-Kehewin, illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina, translated by Christiane Duchesne (Éditions de l’Isatis); translation of Miya Wears Orange (HighWater Press)
The Canadian titles were selected by two IBBY Canada committees. The English-language committee was co-chaired by Nadine King and Maral Maclagan, with committee members Patti McIntosh and Colette Poitras. The French-language committee consisted of co-chairs Josiane Polidori and Nátali de Mello.
The Honour List diplomas will be presented to the recipients at the 40th IBBY World Congress, which is taking place in Ottawa from August 6-9, 2026. During Congress the entire Honour List will be on display, and following Congress, seven parallel sets of the books circulate around the world at exhibitions during conferences and book fairs. Permanent collections of the IBBY Honour List books are kept in Munich, Zurich, Bratislava, St. Petersburg, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Tucson.
For more information, visit ibby-canada.org.