The winners of the 2026 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award were announced yesterday at the Paul O’Regan Hall of Halifax Central Library. Across Atlantic Canada, children in Grades 4-6 read from the shortlist of 40 titles (20 French and 20 English) and vote for their favourite in each category. In the weeks leading up to the ceremony, seven authors conducted virtual visits with schools and libraries across the Maritimes, reaching multiple provinces at once. The winners are listed below.
English-language Fiction (tie)
Songs in the Sea, written and illustrated by Pheilm Martin (Breakwater Books)
Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom, written and illustrated by Braden Hallett (Annick Press)
English-language Non-Fiction
She is Hope for Wildlife: The Story of Wildlife Rescuer Hope Swinimer, written by Wanda Baxter, illustrated by Leah Boudreau (Nimbus Publishing)
French-language Fiction (tie)
Fou du hockey : le camp d’entraînement, written by Alain M. Bergeron, illustated by Caroline Soucy (Auzou Quebec)
L’horrible cabane dans l’arbre, written by Mika, illustrated by Sabrina Gendron (Boomerang Éditeur Jeunesse)
French-language Non-Fiction
Le fan club des microbes, written and illustrated by Elise Gravel (Éditions les 400 coups)
The shortlisted titles for the 2026-2027 awards program will be announced on June 1, 2026.
For more information, visit hackmatack.ca.