Media Mentions – Forest of Reading

Forest in the Media

The Festival and the Forest of Reading have been covered by major media outlets, including the Globe and Mail, the National Post, CTV News, Global News, Toronto Star, CBC, CHOQ FM, L’Express, and Le Métropolitan.

For media inquiries, please contact communications@accessola.com.

Past Media Coverage of the Forest:

2025:

Teachers on Call – Hooked on Books Interviews (Fall 2024-Spring 2025)

2024:

Missed the 2024 Award Ceremonies? Watch Now
May 30, 2024. Transatlantic Agency. “THE FOREST OF READING COMMITTEE HAS RELEASED THEIR 2024 SUGGESTED READING LIST AND TITLES FROM FOUR TRANSATLANTIC CLIENTS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED!“
May 25, 2024. CanLit for LittleCanadians. “2024 Forest Kid Committees: Summer Reading Lists.“
May 22, 2024. Forest of Reading News Release. “2024 Forest of Reading® Winners Announced.“
May 16, 2024. PTBO Today. “‘The 48’: Don’t miss events in Peterborough and area.“
May 16, 2024. Quill & Quire. “2024 Forest of Reading winners announced.“
May 16, 2024. CBC Books. “Sarahbeth Holden, Kevin Sylvester and Gordon Korman among winners of 2024 Forest of Reading Awards.“
May 1, 2024. Peterborough Public Library. “Forest of Reading Celebration.“
April 19, 2024. Haliburton County Public Library. “Forest of Reading Voting.“
April 19, 2024. Brockville Public Library. “Forest of Reading Junior Book Club (Grades JK – 2).“
April 14, 2024. London Library. “Forest of Reading is Canada’s largest recreational reading program for kids and teens.“
April 11, 2024. 88.5FM The Lake. “Forest of Reading Story Time.“
April 9, 2024. Niagara This Week. “Forest of Reading is in full swing at Niagara Falls Public Library.“
March 18, 2024. Sault This Week. “What’s on?“
March 1, 2024. CanLit for LittleCanadians. “2024 Forest of Reading® Kid and Teen Committees: Applications now being accepted.“
February 24, 2024. Brockville Public Library. “Forest of Reading Senior Book Club (Grades 3 – 6).“
February 21, 2024. Just Sayin’ Caledon. “CPL: Books on Teen Relationships.“
February 13, 2024. Sault This Week. “What’s on?“
February 12, 2024. voicEd Radio. “Reading Program Engagement.“
February 2, 2024. CBC Books. “Kitchener author Erin Bow wins major American children’s literature award.“
February 1, 2024. CBC Books. “The Last Saxon King by Andrew Varga.“
January 26, 2024. CBC Books. “Basil Sylvester to judge 2024 First Page student writing challenge.“

2023:

December 20, 2023. Oxford County Library. “Forest of Reading 2024.“
December 18, 2023. Sault This Week. “What’s on?“
November 22, 2023. The Fort Frances Times. “Love Them For Who They Are.“
November 21, 2023. Spectrum Magazine. “Forest of Reading.“
November 21, 2023. Calgary Citizen. “From medicine to mythical creatures: The inspiring story of local author Meagan Mahoney.“
November 21, 2023. Sault This Week. “What’s on?“
November 15, 2023. The Signal. “Halifax illustrator Jack Wong’s debut book invites readers for a plunge in nature.“
November 3, 2023. Teachers on Call. “Add Canadian Authors and Illustrators to Your Library with 2024 Forest of Reading Nominees.“
October 28, 2023. Bradford Today. “NATASHA’S NOOK: I Read Canadian, Eh!?“
October 23, 2023. Sault This Week. “What’s on?”
October 17, 2023. CBC Books. “Forest of Reading reveals chosen books for 2024 — students across Canada to choose winners.”
October 16, 2023. Quill & Quire. “The 2024 Forest of Reading nominees are revealed.”
July 10, 2023. insauga.com. “Help decide Evergreen Award winner by reading nominated books at Halton Hills library.”
June 12, 2023. Winnipeg Free Press. “Nelson nabs young readers’ top honours.”
May 24, 2023. CBC Books. “Students across Canada chose these 9 books as the 2023 Forest of Reading Award winners.”
May 18, 2023. CBC Books. “Short story is ‘the ultimate prose’ for Clark Blaise.”
May 18, 2023. CBC Books. “Entering the CBC Poetry Prize? 22 tips from writers who know what it takes!“
May 18, 2023. Forest of Reading News Release. “2023 Forest of Reading® Winners Announced at Annual Forest of Reading Awards.“
April 22, 2023. Bradford Today. “NATASHA’S NOOK: Time to vote for Forest of Reading awards.“
April 5, 2023. Orillia Matters. “Local volunteer still teaching children 25 years after retirement.”
March 30, 2023. The Belleville Intelligencer. “Belleville Library provides a Forest of Reading.”
March 30, 2023. Bradford Today. “The Forest of Reading 2023.”
March 29, 2023. The Daily Press. “What’s on?”
March 24, 2023. Halton Hills Public Library. “Forest Fridays.”

2022:

November 20, 2022. Canadian School Libraries Journal. “In Praise of the Forest of Reading®”.
October 18, 2022. CBC Books. “Forest of Reading reveals chosen books for 2023 program — students across Canada will choose the winners.”
October 18, 2022. Canada Today. “Forest of Reading unveils selected books for the 2023 program – students across Canada will select the winners.”
October 24, 2022. CBC Books. “Mary Lawson wins Forest of Reading Evergreen Award for novel A Town Called Solace.”
October 15, 2022. CanLit for LittleCanadians. “2023 Forest of Reading® nominees announced.”
October 14, 2022. The Canadian Children’s Book Centre. “Forest of Reading® Nominated Titles Announced.”
October 14, 2022. Quill & Quire. “The 2023 Forest of Reading nominees are revealed.”
May 25, 2022. CanLit for Little Canadians. “2022 Forest Kid and Teen Committees Summer Reading Lists.”
May 19, 2022. CBC Books. “Students across Canada chose these 9 books as the 2022 Forest of Reading Award winners.”
May 19, 2022. Quill & Quire. “2022 Forest of Reading Awards close with final round of winners.”
May 19, 2022. Forest of Reading News Release. “2022 Forest of Reading® Winners Announced at Virtual Edition of the
Forest of Reading Awards.”
May 18, 2022. Tundra Books. “The 2022 Forest of Reading® Winners and Honour Books.”
May 18, 2022. Quill & Quire. “Forest of Reading Awards announces second round of winners.”
May 17, 2022. CBC Books. “See the winner announcements on Day Two of the 2022 Forest of Reading Festival.“
May 16, 2022. CBC Books. “See the winner announcements on Day One of the 2022 Forest of Reading Festival.”
April 17, 2022. The Kincardine Record. “Bruce County Public Library brings Forest of Reading program to county.”
April 08, 2022. Clinton News Records. “Bruce County Public Library brings the Forest of Reading program to Bruce County.”
April 06, 2022. TPL:Kids. “Spring into the Forest of Reading!”
April 04, 2022. Hub Owen Sound. “Forest of Reading program comes to Bruce County.”
January 28, 2022. Idea Exchange. “Forest of Reading 2022.”
January 13, 2022. The Belleville Intelligencer. “Forest of Reading Award nominees announced.”

2021:

May 10, 2021. CBC Books. “CBC Books partners with Forest of Reading Festival to celebrate the 2021 awards online.”
May 13, 2021. Christian Science Monitor. “At this reading festival, kids pick the winners and authors are rock stars.”
May 18, 2021. Quill and Quire. “Forest of Reading Awards kicks off three-day ceremony, announcing first round of winners.”
May 19, 2021. Guelph Today. “Guelph author wins Forest of Reading award.”
May 19, 2021. Quill and Quire. “Forest of Reading Awards announces second round of winners.”
May 20, 2021. CBC Books. “Students across Canada chose these 9 books as the 2021 Forest of Reading Award winners.”
May 23, 2021. Guelph Mercury Tribune. “Guelph author wins Forest of Reading prize.”
June 5, 2021. Winnipeg Free Press. “Literary forest sprouts plenty of prizes.”

2020:

February 11, 2020. Quill and Quire. “Forest of Reading Festival may be a casualty of ongoing education labour dispute.”
March 6, 2020. Quill and Quire. “Forest of Reading Festival cancelled due to low ticket sales amid Ontario teacher strike.”
March 20, 2020. The Belleville Intelligencer. “LIBRARY LINE: Forest of Reading encourages love of reading.”
May 14, 2020. Toronto Public Library Blog. “2020 Forest of Reading brings Author Nominees to You!”
May 25, 2020. CBC Books. “CBC partners with Forest of Reading Festival to bring 2020 award ceremonies online.”
May 25, 2020. Quill and Quire. “Forest of Reading winners will be announced at an online ceremony.”
June 2, 2020. CBC Books. “Here are the Blue Spruce Award nominees: 10 great Canadian books for readers in kindergarten to Grade 2.”
June 3, 2020. CBC Books. “Here are the 2020 Silver Birch Express Award finalists: 10 great Canadian books for readers in Grades 3-4”
June 4, 2020. CBC Books. “Here are the 2020 Silver Birch Fiction Award finalists: 10 great Canadian books for readers in Grades 3-6.”
June 6, 2020. Winnipeg Free Press. “Translated book awards’ short lists revealed.”
June 9, 2020. CBC Books. “Here are the 2020 Yellow Cedar Award finalists: 10 great Canadian books for readers in Grades 4-8.”
June 10, 2020. CBC Books. “Here are the 2020 Red Maple Award finalists: 10 great Canadian books for readers in Grades 7-8.”
June 11, 2020. CBC Books. “Here are the 2020 White Pine Award finalists: 10 great Canadian books for readers in high school.”
June 15, 2020. Locus Magazine. “2020 Forest of Reading Award Nominees.”
June 16, 2020. CBC Books. “Here are the 2020 Forest of Reading winners, honouring Canadian books for school-aged children.”
June 16, 2020. Locus Magazine. “Nobel Wins Silver Birch.”
June 16, 2020. The Canadian Children’s Book Centre. “2020 Forest of Reading® Winners Announced at Virtual Edition of the Forest of Reading Festival.”
June 17, 2020. Quill and Quire. “Winners announced for student-voted Forest of Reading, MYRCA awards.”
October 15, 2020. Canadian Teacher Magazine. “2021 Forest of Reading® Nominated Titles Announced.”
October 15, 2020. CBC Books. “Forest of Reading reveals chosen books for 2021 program — students across Canada will choose the winners.”
October 15, 2020. CBC Books. “Here are the 2021 Blue Spruce Award finalists: 10 great Canadian books for readers in kindergarten to Grade 2.”
October 15, 2020. CBC Books. “Here are the 2021 Red Maple Award finalists: 10 great Canadian books for readers in Grades 7-8.”
October 15, 2020. CBC Books. “Here are the 2021 Silver Birch Express Award finalists: 10 great Canadian books for readers in Grades 3-4.”
October 15, 2020. CBC Books. “Here are the 2021 Silver Birch Fiction Award finalists: 10 great Canadian books for readers in Grades 3-6.”
October 15, 2020. CBC Books. “Here are the 2021 White Pine Award finalists: 10 great Canadian books for readers in Grades 9-12.”
October 15, 2020. CBC Books. “Here are the 2021 Yellow Cedar Award finalists: 10 great Canadian books for readers in Grades 4-8.”
October 15, 2020. Quill & Quire. “The 2021 Forest of Reading nominations shine a light on the best in Canadian kidlit.”
October 16, 2020. Guelph Today. “Guelph author’s children’s book exploring fads nominated for book award.”
October 26, 2020. Transatlantic Agency Blog. “Five Transatlantic Titles Shortlisted For The 2020 OLA Forest of Reading!”

2019:

The 2020 Forest of Reading nominations shine a light on the best in Canadian kidlit, Quill & Quire, October 16, 2019
Reading for Pleasure … And a Chance to Vote for the Best, Observer Xtra, August 1, 2019
Celebrating students’ love of reading, The Oshawa Express, May 21, 2019
Claudia Larochelle remporte le prix Peuplier, Radio-Canada, May 17, 2019
Students, authors, and award-winners come together at this year’s Festival of Trees, Quill & Quire, May 16, 2019
Linwood Barclay’s middle-grade novel Chase among Forest of Reading winners, CBC Books, May 15, 2019
What’s in the magic box? . (an article in Korea about the Blue Spruce program), The Korea Times Daily, February 6, 2019

2018:

Monique Gray Smith’s YA book Speaking Our Truth nominated for Forest Of Reading award, CBC Books, October 12, 2018
Heather Smith, Eric Walters, and Kevin Sylvester receive multiple Forest of Reading nominations, Quill & Quire, October 11, 2018
Festival of Trees shines celebrity spotlight on children’s authors, The Globe and Mail, September 4, 2018
The Forest of Reading at Sudbury’s libraries, The Sudbury Star, May 20, 2018
Live Broadcast from the Festival of Trees, CHOQ FM, May 18, 2018
The 2018 Forest Festival of Trees draws a big crowd of young readers, Quill and Quire, May 16, 2018
Our Lady of Fatima School participated in nation-wide Forest of Reading Program, Eliot Lake Standard, May 9, 2018
Library events encourage literacy in exciting ways, Airdrie City View, May 3, 2018
Ma branche préférée » le livre pour enfants qualifié au Prix Peuplier, CHOQ FM, April 23, 2018
How aware of literary awards are Canadian book buyers?, BookNet Blog, April 4, 2018
LIBRARY LINE: Battle of the Books for youth, The Intelligencer, April 2, 2018
Throw everything on the page and go from there’: Wesley King on why writing is like a treasure hunt, CBC Books, March 14, 2018
Richardson to read at Mission Library, Mission City Record, March 9, 2018

2017:

Cherie Dimaline: Hopes and dreams in the apocalypse, The Toronto Star, November 6, 2017
Cherie Dimaline wins the $50,000 Kirkus Prize for YA lit, Quill and Quire, November 3, 2017
Why Vikki VanSickle writes for her 11-year-old self, CBC Books, November 1, 2017
Watts: Sudbury’s library a lot more than just books, Sudbury Star, October 22, 2017
Gord Downie, songwriter, dies at 53, Quill and Quire, October 18, 2017
Chris Hadfield, Gord Downie among Forest of Reading’s 108 nominees for 2018 awards, CBC Books, October 17, 2017
OLA announces 2018 Forest of Reading nominees, Quill and Quire, October 16, 2017
What to read, what to read? Durham kids weigh in on Ontario summer book list, Clarington This Week, July 17, 2017
ADSB students took part in Canada’s largest recreational reading program, Sault Online, May 31, 2017
2017 Forest of Reading winners announced!, CanLit for Canadians, May 19, 2017
Forest of Reading Celebrates Invades Powerade Centre, Brampton Guardian, May 18, 2017

2016:

OLA announces 2017 Forest of Reading nominees, Quill and Quire, October 20, 2016
Local students venture into the Forest of Reading, Soo Today, February 22, 2016

Past Media Coverage of the Festival:

Radio-Canada, May 17, 2019: Claudia Larochelle remporte le prix Peuplier
Quill & Quire, May 16, 2019: Students, authors, and award-winners come together at this year’s Festival of Trees
CTV Kitchener, May 8, 2019: Festival of Trees segment (26:00-26:42)
The Globe and Mail, September 4, 2018: “Festival of Trees shines celebrity spotlight on children’s authors
CHOQ FM, May 18, 2018: CHOQ FM Live Broadcast from the Festival of Trees
Global TV, The Morning Show, News Hour, and News Final, May 17, 2016: Sponsored Spot That Ran Two Weeks Before the Toronto Festival (May 17)
National Post, May 23, 2014. Seeding reading at the Festival of Trees.
CHOQ FM (May 17, 2016), Radio Interview with Forest of Reading Nominee Mireille Messier (in French)
Quill and Quire (May 19, 2016), Article: Awards: Forest of Reading
Global TV: The Morning Show (May 19, 2016),Video: TV Interview with Silver Birch Non-Fiction Winner Joel A. Sutherland
Radio-Canada (May 19, 2016), Article: Le Festival des arbres bat son plein à Toronto
CBC Books (May 19, 2016), Article: Gordon Korman, Allan Stratton and Jeyn Roberts win Forest of Reading Awards
L’Express (May 22, 2016),Article: Le Festival Des Arbres De Toronto Nomme Ses Gagnants
Radio-Canada (May 25, 2016), Festival des arbres : la littérature jeunesse à l’honneur
TBNewsWatch.com (May 1, 2015), Article: Authors connect with potential young fans in annual Festival of Trees
Rogers TV London (May 8, 2015),Video: Canadian authors highlight Festival of Trees 2015
CP24 Breakfast Television (May 8, 2015), Video: Swimmer Annaleise Carr releases new book
CBC Radio Canada (May 12, 2015), Audio: Culture : Le Festival des arbres de passage à Toronto (in French)
Metro News Toronto (May 13, 2015), Article: Literary loves
Snapd Toronto, Article: Toronto Festival of Trees
North Bay Nugget (April 29, 2014), Article: “Authors, students celebrate joy of reading”
CTV News Northern Ontario (April 29, 2014), Article: “North Bay readers”
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (April 29, 2014), Article: Celebrate the joys of reading with Canada’s most popular children’s literary festival, Forest of Reading® Festival of Trees
ParrySound.com (May 2, 2014), Article: Festival of Trees celebrates reading
NorthumberlandNews.com (May 2, 2014), Article: Three cheers for reading
CTV News London (May 12, 2014), Article: “Avid young readers flock to ‘Festival of Trees’”
Quill and Quire (May 16, 2014), Article: “Forest of Reading announces winners”

Past Festival of Trees Slideshows & Photos:

2016 – Toronto (English/French), London, Sault Ste. Marie
2015 – Toronto, French Festival, Thunder Bay, London
2014 – Toronto, Ottawa, London, Thunder Bay, Parry Sound, North Bay
2013 – Toronto May 15 & May 16 , Thunder Bay, Parry Sound, North Bay
2012 – Toronto, Thunder Bay
2011 – Toronto
2010 – Toronto
2009 – Toronto
2008 – Toronto