The shortlist for the 2026 edition of CBC Kids Reads were announced earlier today. The five titles—listed below—were selected from a longlist of 15 Canadian picture books. The winner will be announced on a special TV broadcast on October 19, on CBC TV, CBC Gem, and on the CBC Kids YouTube channel at 9 am local time (9:30 am in New Brunswick and Newfoundland). The CBC Kids Reads TV special will be recorded at the Central Library in Whitby, Ontario. An audience of kids and families will vote for the winning book.
CBC Kids Reads Shortlist
Beautiful Black Boy, written by Sophia Robinson, illustrated by Ken Daley (Orchard Books/Scholastic)
I Need Pants!, written by Susan Sweet, illustrated by Cailin Doherty (Owlkids Books)
The Interrupted Plans of Mango and Nan, written and illustrasted by Hala Tahboub (Clarion Books)
Sarabeth’s Garage, written by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Nadia Alam (Tundra Books)
You Can’t Tame a Tiger, written by Stephanie Ellen Sy, illustrated by Julien Chung (Owlkids Books)
For more details, click here.