CBC Kids Reads is back! 6 Canadian picture books in the running to be crowned this year's champion

As CBC's great Canadian book debate,Canada Reads, returns for its 23rdedition, so does another book debate show,albeit one for younger book lovers CBC Kids Reads.

Young audiences are invited to join CBC Kids hosts Tony, Janaye, Gary the Unicorn, Mr. Orlando, Cottonball and Mosey as they showcase their favourite Canadian picture books from March 2-7,during the CBC Kids weekday morning block on CBC TV and CBC Gem.

The2024CBC Kids Readscontenders are:

• Cottonball champions More Than Wordsby Roz MacLean
• Gary the Unicorn champions Still My Tessa bySylv Chiang, illustrated byMathias Ball
• Janaye champions My Hood's Not Big Enough byAija Aiofe Komangapik
• Mosey champions Asha and the Toymaker bySakshi Mangal
• Mr. Orlando champions When the Ocean Came to Town by Sal Sawler, illustrated byEmma FitzGerald
• Tony champions Awsis and the World-Famous Bannock by Dallas Hunt, illustrated by Amanda Strong

All week long, the six picture books will be celebrated in the run-up to the full lengthCBC Kids Reads Special, which airs March 7 at 8:10 a.m. local time.During the special, each contender willpresentthrough dance, song, baking andart why their picture book should be crowned this year's winner!

Kids from across Canada also weigh-in on which book should be named the 2024 CBC Kids Readschampion.There will even be a visit fromAnn Pornel, host ofThe Great Canadian Baking Show,allin celebration of reading!

Cottonballchampions More Than Words

There are somany words Cottonball can use to describe her CBC Kids Reads pick, More Than Words. Purrrfect! Cat-tastic! Meowsome! But like Cottonball learned from her story, our friends can communicate in lots of different ways, such aswords, actions, sounds, sign language andtechnology. But remember, the best part about communicating is being understood. We all need to be ready to listen. Cottonball is thrilled to share her book pick and said, "meet you cool cats at the communication station!"

Meet you cool cats at the communication station!- Cottonball

Roz MacLean is a B.C.-based visual artist, writer and illustrator of children's books. Some of her other works include Violet's Cloudy Day and The Body Book.

Gary the Unicorn champions Still My Tessa

Being yourself is awesome! Gary the Unicorn loves to be his super silly and super sparkly self every day! But it's important that our friends and loved ones can be themselves too that's why Gary picked Still My Tessa, a book about practicing with pronouns, and accepting people for who they are. He's excited to share his book with you, because "it feels like a warm hug for the heart!"

It feels like a warm hug for the heart!- Gary the Unicorn

Sylv Chiangis a teacher and a children's book author. She wrote the middle-grade series, Cross Ups, which includes the booksRising Star,Anyone's Game andTournament Trouble.Still My Tessa is Chiang's first picture book. She grew up in Toronto and now lives in Pickering, Ont.

Mathias Ball isa trans-identified illustrator from Goderich, Ont.Other picture books they've illustrated includeEvery Body Is a Rainbowby Caroline Carter andWhat If Bedtime Didn't Exist? byFrancine Cunningham.

Janayechampions My Hood's Not Big Enough

Janaye loves her own sweet family, which is why she selectedMy Hood's Not Big Enoughfor CBC Kids Reads!It's the story of Mother Fox who is trying to carry her eight babies all by herself. Fortunately her family is there to help that's what family's all about! Janaye hopes you heart this book too and said, "with love, families keep growing strong."My Hood's Not Big Enoughis a bilingual picture book, with the story told in both Inuktitut and English.

With love, families keep growing strong.- Janaye

Aija Aiofe Komangapikis a visual artist, writer and illustrator born and raised in Iqaluit.She wonthe 2019 Indigenous Arts and Stories contest from Historica Canada for her piece, Drum Dancer.Komangapiklives in Quebec.

Mosey champions Asha and the Toymaker

Get ready to get colourful! Mosey's book pick is Asha and the Toymaker, a monstrously sweet story about a girl and her father who are learning each other's way of saying "I love you." Mosey thinks that"books are so much better when you read them instead of eating them" andis happy to share his book choice with you.

Books are so much better when you read them instead of eating them.- Mosey

Sakshi Mangal is a Vancouver-based author and illustrator who grew up in Mumbai, India. Her other works of illustration include Best Behaviour by Patricia Hegarty and The Bright Spot by Aimee Chase.

Mr. Orlando champions When the Ocean Came to Town

Mr. Orlando can't wait to tell you "a-boat"his pick When The Ocean Came to Town! This wave-y tale is all about a community who band together after the powerful ocean causes a lot of damage to their homes. The neighbours work together to build bridges above the water it turns out their community is pretty powerful too. Mr. Orlando thinks that "a book a day is three too few I say."He is honoured to share his professional book choice with you,

A book a day is three too few I say.- Mr. Orlando

Sal Sawler is a writer from Kjipuktuk/Halifax. They are also the author of100 Things You Don't Know About Atlantic Canada For Kids,which was on the Hackmatack Award shortlist, and100 Things You Don't Know About Nova Scotia. When the Ocean Came to Townis their debut picture book.

Emma FitzGerald is a South African-born writer and illustrator who grew up in Vancouver and is now based in Lunenburg. N.S. She wrote and illustrated titles such asHand Drawn Halifaxandillustrated A Pocket of Time, which was shortlisted for the 2020 Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award.

Tony champions Awsis and the World-Famous Bannock

The only thing Tony likes better than a good book is a good book that comes with a recipe for good food! That's why this foodie is hooked on Awsis and the World Famous Bannock, a tasty tale about Awsis who is on her way to deliver Kokum's World Famous Bannock, but loses it on the way. Luckily her forest friends each provide an ingredientand she and Kokum make a new batch. "Friendship to the rescue!" saidTony.

Friendship to the rescue!- Tony

Dallas Hunt is a teacher, writer and member of Wapisewsipi (Swan River First Nation) in Treaty 8 territory in Northern Alberta.Awsis and the World Famous Bannockis his first picture book. Hunthas also written a book of poetry called Creeland. Heteaches at the University of British Columbia.

• Lost bannock, a family recipe and the Cree language come together in author's first children's book

Amanda Strong is a Michif Indigenous filmmaker, media artist, illustrator and stop motion director based inVancouver.Stronghas exhibited work and screened films worldwide, including at the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival andVancouver International Film Festival.