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Encouraging Canadian Readers, Celebrating Canadian Authors
The Ontario Library Association created the Forest of Reading® Program to encourage a love for reading in Canadians of any age while promoting Canadian books and authors.

The program advocates for Canadian authors by selecting only titles written by Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. Publishers submit books for consideration, and ten titles are chosen for each group in the Forest of Reading® by a select group of practicing and teaching librarians.

Reading Programs for Everyone
Consisting of eight reading programs, divided by age group, the Forest of Reading® offers participants a list of titles to read throughout each year’s program. Participants cast votes as to their favourite selections and the winning author is presented with an award at an awards ceremony at the Festival of Trees™ each May at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto.

The eight programs in the Forest of Reading® are:

For Children:

• Blue Spruce™ Awards Reading Program: Picture books for children in primary to grade 2
• Silver Birch® Awards Reading Program: Fiction and non-fiction books for children in grades 3 to 6
• Silver Birch Express™ Awards Reading Program: Fiction and non-fiction books for children in grades 3 and 4
• Red Maple™ Awards Reading Program: Fiction and non-fiction books for young adults in grades 7 and 8
• White Pine™ Awards Reading Program: Fiction for high school students
• Le Prix Tamarack™: French fiction and non-fiction for grades 3 to 6

For Adults:

• Golden Oak™ Awards Reading Program: For adults learning to read, including English as a Second Language (ESL) and fiction
• Evergreen™ Award Reading Program: Fiction for adults of any age

Benefits of the Forest of Trees®
The Forest of Trees® programs promote literacy for Canadians of all ages. Over a quarter of a million Ontarians take part each year through their schools and local public libraries.

Authors and publishers gain exposure and readership through their participation in the Festival of Trees™, the largest literary event in Canada for children and young readers. Nearly 7,000 students attend the two-day event.

Learn more about the Forest of Trees® Programs on the OLA website.