The Blue Spruce Award is an award in the Ontario Library Association (OLA) Forest of Reading Awards. The Blue Spruce Award celebrates English-language Canadian picture books for grades Kindergarten to grade 2 (ages 5–8) every year. Out of ten nominated books in each category students must read a minimum of five to vote for their favourite. The winner is chosen by the most popular book in all participating libraries, schools, groups, etc. The Blue Spruce Award was established in 2002. A French-language version of the Forest of Reading prize for picture books is Le prix Peuplier.
Award winners
2002–2009 +Award winners and finalists, 2002–2009 Year Author(s) Illustrator(s) Title Result2002Valerie CoulmanRogé GirardWhen Pigs FlyWinnerLinda BaileyAlan Daniel, Lea Daniel,and Heather CollinsThe Best Figure Skater in the Whole Wide WorldFinalistPaulette BourgeoisStephane JorischOma's QuiltSarah EllisKim LaFaveBig BenSheree FitchJanet WilsonNo Two SnowflakesTomson HighwayJohn RomboughCaribou SongJonathan LondonPaul MorinWhat the Animals Were Waiting ForAndrea SpaldingLeslie Elizabeth WattsIt's Raining, It's PouringMargriet RuursBarbara SpurllEmma's Cold DayMike UlmerMelanie RoseM is for Maple2003Matthew M. NapierMelanie RoseZ is for ZamboniWinnerWallace EdwardsAlphabeastsFinalistMarie-Louise GayStella, Fairy of the ForestCelia GodkinWhen the Giant StirredTroon HarrisonZhong-Yang HuangCourage to FlyRobin MullerBadger's New HouseMarilynn ReynoldsDon KilbyThe Name of the ChildJoanne TaylorSusan TookeFull Moon RisingJan ThornhillThe RumorFrieda WishinskyDean GriffithsGive Maggie a Chance2004Linda BaileyBill SalvinStanley's PartyWinnerJane Barclay, Kathryn ColeJanice DonatoHow Hot Was It?FinalistKarleen BradfordLeslie Elizabeth WattsYou Can't Rush a CatAnne Laurel CarterRose CowlesThe F TeamValerie CoulmanRogéSink or SwimPhoebe GilmanJillian Jiggs and the Great Big SnowShenaaz NanjiChum McLeodAn Alien in My HouseSusin Nielsen-FernlundLouise-Andrée LalibertéHank and FergusBarbara ReidThe Subway MouseVlasta van KampenIt Couldn't Be Worse2005Robert HeidbrederBill Slavin & Esperanca MeloDrumheller Dinosaur DanceWinnerAubrey DavisDuesan PetriecicBagels from BennyFinalistDorothy Joan HarrisKim LaFaveA Very Unusual DogHazel J. HutchinsRuth OhiThe Sidewalk RescueLynn ManuelKasia CharkiCamels Always DoSheryl McFarlaneChrissie WysotskiThis is the DogGilles TiboBruno St-AubinToo Many Books!Maxine Trottier & Brian DeinesOur Canadian FlagTroy WilsonDean GriffithsPerfect ManChieri UegakiStéphane JorischSuki's Kimono2006George ElliottAndrej KrystoforskiThe Boy Who Loved BananasWinnerSean CassidyGummytoesFinalistSarah EllisKim LaFaveBen Over NightMarie-Louise GayStella, Princess of the SkyMaureen HullLeanne FransonRainy Days with BearHazel J. HutchinsRuth OhiBeneath the BridgeLaura LangstonLindsey GardinerMile-High Apple PieStehpanie Simpson McLellanDianna BonderLeon's SongEvan SolomonBill SlavinBigbeard's HookSheri RadfordChristine TrippPenelope and the Humongous Burp2007Mélanie WattScaredy SquirrelWinnerLinda BaileyBill SlavinStanley's Wild RideFinalistLili Chartrand, Susan OuriouRogé GirardTaming Horrible HarryDon GillmorMichael MartchenkoSophie and the Sea MonsterSusan HughesStephane PoulinEarth to AudreyRuth OhiClara and the BossySheri RadfordChristine TrippPenelope and the MonstersMargriet RuursSean CassidyWake Up, Henry Rooster!Colleen SydorPascale ConstantinCamilla ChameleonGilles TiboBruno St-AubinWhere's My Hockey Sweater?2008Melanie WattScaredy Squirrel Makes a FriendWinnerBarbara ReidFox Walked AloneFinalistJeremy TankardGrumpy BirdMargriet RuursRon BrodaIn My BackyardLinda BaileyBill SlavinThe Farm TeamKari-Lynn WintersBen HodsonJeffery and SlothRebecca UpjohnRenne BenoitLily and the Paper ManHazel HutchinsMaria van LieshoutThe ListFrieda WishinskyMarie-Louise GayPlease, Louise!Debby WaldmanCindy RevellA Sack Full of Feathers2009Mélanie WattChesterWinnerCarolyn BeckAndrea BeckButtercup's Lovely DayFinalistChris MizzoniClancy with the PuckAnne Cottringer & Alex T. SmithEliot Jones, Midnight SuperheroPamela HickmanGeraldo ValéroIt's Moving Day!Rachna GilmoreLeslie Elizabeth WattsMaking Grizzie GrowHazel Hutchins & Gail HerbertDusan PetricicMattlandLinda BaileyBill SlavinStanley At SeaCary FaganDusan PetricicMy New ShirtDan Bar-elJohn MandersSuch a Prince
2010–2019 +Award winners and finalists, 2010–2019 Year Author(s) Illustrator(s) Title Result2010Jeremy TankardBoo Hoo BirdWinnerTim BeiserRachel BermanBradley McGoggFinalistRobert Heidbreder & Rae MateCrocodiles PlayBeth CruikshankLynn JohnstonFarley Follows His NoseKatarina JovanovicPhilippe BehaThe King Has Goat EarsKenneth OppelSteve Johnson & Lou FancherThe King's TasterLinda BaileyBill SlavinStanley's Beauty ContestValerie SherrardDavid JardineThere's a Cow Under My BedMarie-Louise GayWhen Stella Was Very, Very SmallFrieda Wishinsky & Kady MacDonald DentonYou're Mean, Lily Jean2011Dave WhamondMy Think-A-ma-JinkWinnerNicholas OldlandBig Bear HugFinalistSharon JenningsAshley SpiresC'mere, Boy!Mélanie WattHave I Got a Book for You!Andrew LarsenIrene LuxbacherThe Imaginary GardenChristina LeistJack the BearBarbara Reid & Ian CryslerPerfect SnowJane BarclayRenne BenoitProud as a Peacock, Brave as a LionTania Duprey StehlikVanja Vuleta JovanovicVioletLana ButtonTania HowellsWillow's Whispers2012Rebecca BenderGiraffe and BirdWinnerSarah TsiangQin LengA Flock of ShoesFinalistHeather McLeodBrooke KerriganKiss Me! (I'm a Prince!)Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas & Wangari MaathaiThe Little HummingbirdNicholas OldlandMaking the Moose Out of LifeHeather Hartt-SussmanGeneviève CôtéNoni Says NoDavid Ward & Brian DeinesOne Hockey NightMarie-Louise GayRoslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!Ashley SpiresSmall SaulLinda BaileyBill SlavinStanley's Little Sister2013Martin SpringettIsobel SpringettKate and PippinWinnerNicholas OldlandThe Busy BeaverFinalistRebecca BenderDon't Laugh at a GiraffeCary FaganGeneviève CôtéElla May and the Wishing StoneHeather Hartt-SussmanGeorgia GrahamHere Comes Hortense!Jane BarclayEsperança MeloJoJo the GiantAshley SpiresLarfÉmilie RivardAnne-Claire DelisleReally and TrulyKevin SylvesterSplintersElin KelseySoyeon KimYou Are Stardust2014Dave WhamondOddreyWinnerAlma FullertonKaren PatkauA Good TradeFinalistHelene BoudreauSerge BlochI Dare You Not to YawnElly MacKayIf You Hold a SeedAndrew LarsenDusan PetricicIn the Tree HouseCary FaganDusan PetricicMr. Zinger's HatPeter H. ReynoldsSky ColorJon KlassenThis is Not My HatWallace EdwardsUncle Wally's Old Brown ShoeLana ButtonTania HowellsWillow Finds a Way2015Maureen FergusMike LoweryThe Day My Mom Came to KindergartenWinnerRoy MacGregorGeneviève DesprésThe Highest Number in the WorldFinalistRuth OhiKenta and the Big WaveAnne VillenueveLoula is Leaving for AfricaKathy StinsonDusan PetricicThe Man with the ViolinChristine BaldacchinoIsabelle MalenfantMorris Micklewhite and the Tangerine DressAshley SpiresThe Most Magnificent ThingJessica YoungCatia ChienMy Blue is HappyDave WhamondOddrey and the New KidFrank VivaYoung Frank, Architect2016Linda BaileyDavid HuyckIf Kids Ruled the WorldWinnerElly MacKayButterfly ParkFinalistMichael MonizThe Cardinal and the CrowColleen SydorBrooke KerriganFishermen Through and ThroughSandra BradleySara PalaciosHenry Holton Takes the IceAlma FullertonBrian DeinesIn a Cloud of DustSangeeta BhadraMarion ArbonaSam's Pet TemperHeather TekavecPierre PrattStop, Thief!Claudia DávilaSuper Red Riding HoodNancy Wilcox RichardsTom GoldsmithWe're All Friends Here2017Terry Fan & Eric FanThe Night GardenerWinnerShane PeacockSophie CassonThe Artist and MeFinalistKyo MaclearMarion ArbonaThe Good Little BookKathy StinsonQin LengHarry and WalterVikki VanSickleCale AtkinsonIf I Had a GryphonMaureen FergusDusan PetricicInvisiBillHazel HutchinsDusan PetricicSnap!Danielle DanielSometimes I Feel Like a FoxLinda BaileyBill SlavinStanley at SchoolWillow DawsonThe Wolf-Birds2018Jess KeatingMarta Álvarez MiguénsShark LadyWinnerMireille MessierPierre PrattThe BranchFinalistChris Hadfield & Kate FillionThe Darkest DarkShelly BeckerEda KabanEven Superheroes Have Bad DaysKari-Lynn WintersFrancois ThisdaleFrench ToastLauri Holomis, Glen Gretzky, Wayne GretzkyKevin SylvesterGreatCarolyn Huizinga MillsBrooke KerriganLittle Boy Who Lived Down the DrainBree GalbraithJosee BisaillonMilo and GeorgieRoselynn AkulukjukThe Owl and the LemmingAndrew LarsenMike LoweryA Squiggly Story2019Pierre Collet-DerbyBarnaby Never ForgetsWinnerJessica Scott KerrinQin LengThe Better Tree FortFinalistJean LittleJoel WeissmannHarry's HiccupsBelle DeMontSonja WimmerI Love My PurseLeanne ShirtliffeLorenzo MontatoreI Love Sharks, Too!Zachary HymanJoe BluhmThe Magician's SecretDeborah KerbelSuzanne Del RizzoSun DogKari RustTrickyAviaq JohnstonTim MackWhat's My Superpower?Cale AtkinsonWhere Oliver Fits
2020–2025 +Award winners and finalists, 2002–2009 Year Author(s) Illustrator(s) Title Result2020Andrée PoulinFélix GirardThat's Not Hockey!WinnerAnne Renaud & Leanne FransonEmma's GemsFinalistRebecca BenderGiraffe and Bird Together AgainKit Pearson & Katherine FarrisGabrielle GrimardThe Magic BoatHeather SmithBrooke KerriganA Plan for PopsKerry Lyn SparrowGuillaume PerreaultSheep, Sheep!Andrew LarsenAnne VilleneuveMe, Toma and the Concrete GardenMarie-Louise GayMustafaMaureen FergusElina EllisThe Reptile ClubHelaine BeckerOrbieSloth at the Zoom2021Mike BoldtBad DogWinnerPeter H. ReynoldsBe You!FinalistKim SmithBoxitectsHeather O'Connor & Claudia DavilaFast FriendsSherry J. LeeCharlene ChuaGoing Up!Rina SinghEllen RooneyGrandmother SchoolSennah YeeElaine ChenMy Day with Gong GongIbtihaj Muhammad, S. K. AliHatem AlyThe Proudest BlueDanny RamadanAnna BronSalma the Syrian ChefHazel Hutchins & Gail HerbertDusan PetricicThe Truth About Wind2022Peggy CollinsHarley the HeroWinnerSara de WallErika Medina48 Grasshopper EstatesFinalistBonnie Sherr KleinÉlisabeth Eudes-PascalBeep Beep BubbleNhung N. Tran-DaviesRavy PuthThe DollBahram RahmanGabrielle GrimardThe Library BusNadia L. HohnIrene LuxbacherMalaika's SurpriseAlma FullertonNo More PlasticStephanie Simpson McLellanZoe SiThe Sorry Life of Timothy ShmoeJeffrey Ansloos & Shezza AnsloosJoshua Mangeshig Pawis-SteckleyThunder and the Noise StormsMonique Gray SmithNicole NeidhardtWhen We Are Kind2023Monica ArnaldoAre You a Cheeseburger?WinnerLeonarda CarranzaRafael MayaniAbuelita and MeFinalistLeona Prince & Gabrielle PrinceCarla JosephBe a Good AncestorMahak JainAnu ChouhanBharatanatyam in Ballet ShoesDane LiuLynn ScurfieldFriends Are Friends, ForeverSadé SmithKen DaleyGranny's KitchenTina AthaideÅsa GillandMeena's Mindful MomentNan ForlerYong Ling KangRodney Was a TortoiseBahram Rahman & Peggy CollinsA Sky-Blue BenchAnoosha SyedThat's Not My Name!2024Sarabeth HoldenEmma PedersenBenny the Bananasaurus RexWinnerSandra BradleyGabrielle GrimardCocoa MagicFinalistLindsay Zier-VogelCaroline Bonne-MullerDear StreetEsi EdugyanAmélie DuboisGarden of Lost SocksNaseem HrabKelly CollierHow to Party Like a SnailIbtihaj Muhammad & S. K. AliHatem AlyThe Kindest RedShauntay GrantKitt ThomasMy Fade is FreshKuljinder Kaur BrarSamrath KaurMy Name is Saajin SinghMaureen FergusDanesh MohiuddinPrincess Pru and the Ogre on the HillJack WongThe Words We Share2025Anoosha SyedLost StickWinnerSakshi MangalAsha and the ToymakerFinalistFlo LeungThe Blue BowlLisa WyzlicRebecca SyracuseHarold the Iceberg Melts DownBahram RahmanGabrielle GrimardIf You See a BluebirdYewande Daniel-AyoadeKen DaleyThe Little RegentKuljinder Kaur BrarSamrath KaurMandeep's Cloudy DaysRoz MacLeanMore Than WordsSylv ChiangMathias BallStill My TessaBrittany LubyNatasha DonovanWhen the Stars Came Home
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