Forest of Reading

Even though this year's program wrapped dup in April, I'd like to take some time to talk about the Forest of Reading program. Each year, the Ontario Library Association offers 7 reading programs that encourage people of all ages in their love of reading. All Ontarians/Canadians are invited to participate via their local public or school library. More than 250,000 readers across Canada, mainly Ontario, participate each year. The culmination of the program is an amazing two-day awards event attended by more than 8,000 guests and all of the nominated authors/illustrators called the ‘Festival of Trees™’.

Here are the reading programs:

For younger readers:
Blue Spruce™Awards Reading Program (primary–grade 2 picture books)
Silver Birch® Awards Reading Program (grades 3–6 fiction, non-fiction)
Silver Birch Express™ Awards Reading Program (grades 3–4 fiction, non-fiction)
Red Maple™ Awards Reading Program (grades 7–8 fiction, non-fiction)
White Pine™ Awards Reading Program (high school fiction)
Le Prix Tamarack™ (french fiction, non-fiction grades 3–6)

For Adults:
Golden Oak™ Awards Reading Program (adults learning to read; ESL, fiction)
Evergreen™ Award Reading Program (adults of any age, fiction)

For each program, readers are encouraged to read all or a selection of the books, and then vote on their favourite.

How are books chosen for the 'Forest of Reading'?

This program celebrates Canadian books and author/illustrators. Titles selects must be written by a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant. They must be commercially available in Canada. Books are available from participating school and public libraries.

Here is a link to the Blue Spruce (Kindergarten-Grade 2) books that were nominated for 2010:
http://www.accessola.com/forest2010/BlueSpruce/

Boo Hoo Bird by Jeremy Tankard was the 2010 Blue Spruce winner.













For more information, go to
http://www.accessola.com/ola/bins/content_page.asp?cid=92-2884