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Canada Reads 2026 might be over, but you can relive the debates whenever you want by rewatching this season and previous ones on CBC Gem or CBC YouTube!
#CanadaReads2026 #BookTok #OutOfContext

Wrapped up Canada Reads yesterday morning—Day 4. I was in the hot seat defending the book I believe all Canadians should read: The Cure for Drowning by @loghanish

The last four days have been such a trip. I’ve loved this process and feel so proud we have a show like Canada Reads (@cbcbooks) in Canada.

The other panelists (@stevedangle @morgannbook @itsjoshdelacruz#ellemáijátailfeathers) were incredible—true champions of their books. And all of their books were fantastic. That said, I’m over the moon The Cure for Drowning won. First-time author @loghanish is so deserving. I hope this book opens hearts and minds—and that you love it as much as I do.

In my opening statement, I said: Reading is a passport. It can take you anywhere—even places you’ll never go. It can take you back in time, into relationships and bodies and identities unlike your own. It can introduce you to people you may have never met, people you may not understand, and shows you that you are capable of loving them. I think The Cure for Drowning should win because it does all of this. It took me to a time I wasn’t alive, into a family not like mine, across the world and back, introducing me to new things along the way.

You can watch all four lively debates on the Tegan and Sara and CBC Books YouTube channels.

A massive thank you to my fellow champions for being so kind, open, generous, and inspiring, and to the Canada Reads and CBC Books teams—and everyone I crossed paths with this week. It was a joy.

Excited to get home and get back to work. Sara and I have new music coming, I’ve got a book out in September, and a new Dream Dump drops Tuesday. I’ll share a bigger post-mortem on Substack—if you’re not following us there, you should be.

Keep reading.

#CanadaReads #HistoricalFiction #2SLGBTQ #BookTok

Wrapped up Canada Reads yesterday morning—Day 4. I was in the hot seat defending the book I believe all Canadians should read: The Cure for Drowning by @loghanish

The last four days have been such a trip. I’ve loved this process and feel so proud we have a show like Canada Reads (@cbcbooks) in Canada.

The other panelists (@stevedangle @morgannbook @itsjoshdelacruz#ellemáijátailfeathers) were incredible—true champions of their books. And all of their books were fantastic. That said, I’m over the moon The Cure for Drowning won. First-time author @loghanish is so deserving. I hope this book opens hearts and minds—and that you love it as much as I do.

In my opening statement, I said: Reading is a passport. It can take you anywhere—even places you’ll never go. It can take you back in time, into relationships and bodies and identities unlike your own. It can introduce you to people you may have never met, people you may not understand, and shows you that you are capable of loving them. I think The Cure for Drowning should win because it does all of this. It took me to a time I wasn’t alive, into a family not like mine, across the world and back, introducing me to new things along the way.

You can watch all four lively debates on the Tegan and Sara and CBC Books YouTube channels.

A massive thank you to my fellow champions for being so kind, open, generous, and inspiring, and to the Canada Reads and CBC Books teams—and everyone I crossed paths with this week. It was a joy.

Excited to get home and get back to work. Sara and I have new music coming, I’ve got a book out in September, and a new Dream Dump drops Tuesday. I’ll share a bigger post-mortem on Substack—if you’re not following us there, you should be.

Keep reading.

#CanadaReads #HistoricalFiction #2SLGBTQ #BookTok

Wrapped up Canada Reads yesterday morning—Day 4. I was in the hot seat defending the book I believe all Canadians should read: The Cure for Drowning by @loghanish

The last four days have been such a trip. I’ve loved this process and feel so proud we have a show like Canada Reads (@cbcbooks) in Canada.

The other panelists (@stevedangle @morgannbook @itsjoshdelacruz#ellemáijátailfeathers) were incredible—true champions of their books. And all of their books were fantastic. That said, I’m over the moon The Cure for Drowning won. First-time author @loghanish is so deserving. I hope this book opens hearts and minds—and that you love it as much as I do.

In my opening statement, I said: Reading is a passport. It can take you anywhere—even places you’ll never go. It can take you back in time, into relationships and bodies and identities unlike your own. It can introduce you to people you may have never met, people you may not understand, and shows you that you are capable of loving them. I think The Cure for Drowning should win because it does all of this. It took me to a time I wasn’t alive, into a family not like mine, across the world and back, introducing me to new things along the way.

You can watch all four lively debates on the Tegan and Sara and CBC Books YouTube channels.

A massive thank you to my fellow champions for being so kind, open, generous, and inspiring, and to the Canada Reads and CBC Books teams—and everyone I crossed paths with this week. It was a joy.

Excited to get home and get back to work. Sara and I have new music coming, I’ve got a book out in September, and a new Dream Dump drops Tuesday. I’ll share a bigger post-mortem on Substack—if you’re not following us there, you should be.

Keep reading.

#CanadaReads #HistoricalFiction #2SLGBTQ #BookTok

Our poetry contest may open on April 1, but what you could win if you enter is no joke!

The 2026 CBC Poetry Prize will be accepting submissions between now and June 1 at 4:59 p.m. ET (1:59 p.m. PT).

The winner will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and have their work published on CBC Books.

Find out more at cbcbooks.ca
#Poetry #CBCLiteraryPrizes #WritingContest #books

Books can be revolutionary!

Azar Nafisi’s celebrated memoir, Reading Lolita in Tehran, is about her experience teaching forbidden literature to young women in Iran. Although it was published nearly 23 years ago, Azar’s memoir continues to speak to issues around censorship, authoritarianism and resilience in Iran and across the world. Her 2022 book, Read Dangerously, follows that thread, exploring how books are a tool for resistance and change in a time when people have forgotten how to speak to one another.

Iranian American writer Azar Nafisi spoke with Mattea Roach for a special episode of #Bookends recently at the Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival in Montreal.

You can listen to Azar and Mattea’s conversation on CBC Listen, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts! 
#memoir #podcasts #LiteraryFestival

Books can be revolutionary!

Azar Nafisi’s celebrated memoir, Reading Lolita in Tehran, is about her experience teaching forbidden literature to young women in Iran. Although it was published nearly 23 years ago, Azar’s memoir continues to speak to issues around censorship, authoritarianism and resilience in Iran and across the world. Her 2022 book, Read Dangerously, follows that thread, exploring how books are a tool for resistance and change in a time when people have forgotten how to speak to one another.

Iranian American writer Azar Nafisi spoke with Mattea Roach for a special episode of #Bookends recently at the Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival in Montreal.

You can listen to Azar and Mattea’s conversation on CBC Listen, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts! 
#memoir #podcasts #LiteraryFestival

Books can be revolutionary!

Azar Nafisi’s celebrated memoir, Reading Lolita in Tehran, is about her experience teaching forbidden literature to young women in Iran. Although it was published nearly 23 years ago, Azar’s memoir continues to speak to issues around censorship, authoritarianism and resilience in Iran and across the world. Her 2022 book, Read Dangerously, follows that thread, exploring how books are a tool for resistance and change in a time when people have forgotten how to speak to one another.

Iranian American writer Azar Nafisi spoke with Mattea Roach for a special episode of #Bookends recently at the Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival in Montreal.

You can listen to Azar and Mattea’s conversation on CBC Listen, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts! 
#memoir #podcasts #LiteraryFestival

Short and sweet book recs!

May is #ShortStoryMonth and we’ve got you covered with 10 Canadian short story collections to add to your reading list. From speculative worlds to sharp and realistic observations, these books prove that just because a story is short, doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a punch.

#BookTok #CanLit

Short and sweet book recs!

May is #ShortStoryMonth and we’ve got you covered with 10 Canadian short story collections to add to your reading list. From speculative worlds to sharp and realistic observations, these books prove that just because a story is short, doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a punch.

#BookTok #CanLit

“I love books about breakups.”

Heated Rivalry star Nadine Bhabha is one of the jurors of the 2026 CBC Poetry Prize! The Toronto actor and writer stopped by CBC Books to share some of her current book recs and remind you all to enter the poetry prize before submissions close on June 1!

Nadine will be selecting the shortlist and winner alongside Karen Solie and Randy Lundy. The winner will receive $6,000 from Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and have their work published on CBC Books.

Head to cbcbooks.ca for all the info!
#Poetry #HeatedRivalry #NadineBhabha

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada – a time to uplift the voices of Asian Canadians and reflect on the many cultures, languages and traditions represented in the diaspora.

Across Canada, readers are deepening their understanding of Asian literature, both in geography and genre. To celebrate, CBC Books is highlighting books by writers of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Western and Central descent published in the last few years to add to your reading list.
#AsianHeritageMonth #AsianLiterature #books

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada – a time to uplift the voices of Asian Canadians and reflect on the many cultures, languages and traditions represented in the diaspora.

Across Canada, readers are deepening their understanding of Asian literature, both in geography and genre. To celebrate, CBC Books is highlighting books by writers of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Western and Central descent published in the last few years to add to your reading list.
#AsianHeritageMonth #AsianLiterature #books

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada – a time to uplift the voices of Asian Canadians and reflect on the many cultures, languages and traditions represented in the diaspora.

Across Canada, readers are deepening their understanding of Asian literature, both in geography and genre. To celebrate, CBC Books is highlighting books by writers of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Western and Central descent published in the last few years to add to your reading list.
#AsianHeritageMonth #AsianLiterature #books

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada – a time to uplift the voices of Asian Canadians and reflect on the many cultures, languages and traditions represented in the diaspora.

Across Canada, readers are deepening their understanding of Asian literature, both in geography and genre. To celebrate, CBC Books is highlighting books by writers of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Western and Central descent published in the last few years to add to your reading list.
#AsianHeritageMonth #AsianLiterature #books

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada – a time to uplift the voices of Asian Canadians and reflect on the many cultures, languages and traditions represented in the diaspora.

Across Canada, readers are deepening their understanding of Asian literature, both in geography and genre. To celebrate, CBC Books is highlighting books by writers of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Western and Central descent published in the last few years to add to your reading list.
#AsianHeritageMonth #AsianLiterature #books

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada – a time to uplift the voices of Asian Canadians and reflect on the many cultures, languages and traditions represented in the diaspora.

Across Canada, readers are deepening their understanding of Asian literature, both in geography and genre. To celebrate, CBC Books is highlighting books by writers of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Western and Central descent published in the last few years to add to your reading list.
#AsianHeritageMonth #AsianLiterature #books

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada – a time to uplift the voices of Asian Canadians and reflect on the many cultures, languages and traditions represented in the diaspora.

Across Canada, readers are deepening their understanding of Asian literature, both in geography and genre. To celebrate, CBC Books is highlighting books by writers of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Western and Central descent published in the last few years to add to your reading list.
#AsianHeritageMonth #AsianLiterature #books

Every spring, students across Canada from kindergarten to high school vote on their favourite books to win at the Forest of Reading, the largest annual recreational reading program!

Tap through to see this year’s English category winners selected by about 154,000 readers ➡️
#ForestOfReading #CBCBooks #IReadYA

Every spring, students across Canada from kindergarten to high school vote on their favourite books to win at the Forest of Reading, the largest annual recreational reading program!

Tap through to see this year’s English category winners selected by about 154,000 readers ➡️
#ForestOfReading #CBCBooks #IReadYA

Every spring, students across Canada from kindergarten to high school vote on their favourite books to win at the Forest of Reading, the largest annual recreational reading program!

Tap through to see this year’s English category winners selected by about 154,000 readers ➡️
#ForestOfReading #CBCBooks #IReadYA

Every spring, students across Canada from kindergarten to high school vote on their favourite books to win at the Forest of Reading, the largest annual recreational reading program!

Tap through to see this year’s English category winners selected by about 154,000 readers ➡️
#ForestOfReading #CBCBooks #IReadYA

Every spring, students across Canada from kindergarten to high school vote on their favourite books to win at the Forest of Reading, the largest annual recreational reading program!

Tap through to see this year’s English category winners selected by about 154,000 readers ➡️
#ForestOfReading #CBCBooks #IReadYA

Every spring, students across Canada from kindergarten to high school vote on their favourite books to win at the Forest of Reading, the largest annual recreational reading program!

Tap through to see this year’s English category winners selected by about 154,000 readers ➡️
#ForestOfReading #CBCBooks #IReadYA

Every spring, students across Canada from kindergarten to high school vote on their favourite books to win at the Forest of Reading, the largest annual recreational reading program!

Tap through to see this year’s English category winners selected by about 154,000 readers ➡️
#ForestOfReading #CBCBooks #IReadYA

Meet the 2026 CBC Poetry Prize readers!

The prize is open for submissions until June 1 at 4:59 p.m. The winner will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and have their work published on CBC Books.

Every year, CBC Books enlists the help of established writers and editors from across Canada to read the thousands of entries submitted to our prizes. Our readers compile the longlist, which is given to the jury.

This year’s jury, composed of Karen Solie, Randy Lundy and Nadine Bhabha, will then select the shortlist and the eventual winner from the longlisted selections.

Head to cbcbooks.ca for all the info!
#WritingChallenge #Poetry #CBCLiteraryPrizes

Meet the 2026 CBC Poetry Prize readers!

The prize is open for submissions until June 1 at 4:59 p.m. The winner will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and have their work published on CBC Books.

Every year, CBC Books enlists the help of established writers and editors from across Canada to read the thousands of entries submitted to our prizes. Our readers compile the longlist, which is given to the jury.

This year’s jury, composed of Karen Solie, Randy Lundy and Nadine Bhabha, will then select the shortlist and the eventual winner from the longlisted selections.

Head to cbcbooks.ca for all the info!
#WritingChallenge #Poetry #CBCLiteraryPrizes

Meet the 2026 CBC Poetry Prize readers!

The prize is open for submissions until June 1 at 4:59 p.m. The winner will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and have their work published on CBC Books.

Every year, CBC Books enlists the help of established writers and editors from across Canada to read the thousands of entries submitted to our prizes. Our readers compile the longlist, which is given to the jury.

This year’s jury, composed of Karen Solie, Randy Lundy and Nadine Bhabha, will then select the shortlist and the eventual winner from the longlisted selections.

Head to cbcbooks.ca for all the info!
#WritingChallenge #Poetry #CBCLiteraryPrizes

Meet the 2026 CBC Poetry Prize readers!

The prize is open for submissions until June 1 at 4:59 p.m. The winner will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and have their work published on CBC Books.

Every year, CBC Books enlists the help of established writers and editors from across Canada to read the thousands of entries submitted to our prizes. Our readers compile the longlist, which is given to the jury.

This year’s jury, composed of Karen Solie, Randy Lundy and Nadine Bhabha, will then select the shortlist and the eventual winner from the longlisted selections.

Head to cbcbooks.ca for all the info!
#WritingChallenge #Poetry #CBCLiteraryPrizes

Meet the 2026 CBC Poetry Prize readers!

The prize is open for submissions until June 1 at 4:59 p.m. The winner will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and have their work published on CBC Books.

Every year, CBC Books enlists the help of established writers and editors from across Canada to read the thousands of entries submitted to our prizes. Our readers compile the longlist, which is given to the jury.

This year’s jury, composed of Karen Solie, Randy Lundy and Nadine Bhabha, will then select the shortlist and the eventual winner from the longlisted selections.

Head to cbcbooks.ca for all the info!
#WritingChallenge #Poetry #CBCLiteraryPrizes

Meet the 2026 CBC Poetry Prize readers!

The prize is open for submissions until June 1 at 4:59 p.m. The winner will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and have their work published on CBC Books.

Every year, CBC Books enlists the help of established writers and editors from across Canada to read the thousands of entries submitted to our prizes. Our readers compile the longlist, which is given to the jury.

This year’s jury, composed of Karen Solie, Randy Lundy and Nadine Bhabha, will then select the shortlist and the eventual winner from the longlisted selections.

Head to cbcbooks.ca for all the info!
#WritingChallenge #Poetry #CBCLiteraryPrizes

Charity organizations are all about doing good. What could possibly go wrong?

Sharon Bala’s new novel, Good Guys, is all about how philanthropy operates in a world that runs on money. The book stars a fictional charity called Children of the World. It’s an international aid organization founded by a former rock star with some questionable motives.

On #Bookends with Mattea Roach, Bala delves into the dark side of NGOs, the connection between charity and faith and the complex desire to be one of the “good guys.” #podcast #Literature #books

Charity organizations are all about doing good. What could possibly go wrong?

Sharon Bala’s new novel, Good Guys, is all about how philanthropy operates in a world that runs on money. The book stars a fictional charity called Children of the World. It’s an international aid organization founded by a former rock star with some questionable motives.

On #Bookends with Mattea Roach, Bala delves into the dark side of NGOs, the connection between charity and faith and the complex desire to be one of the “good guys.” #podcast #Literature #books

May is Jewish Heritage Month in Canada! 

To celebrate, CBC Books put together a reading list across genres, highlighting Jewish Canadian voices. #Jewish #Books #ReadingList

May is Jewish Heritage Month in Canada! 

To celebrate, CBC Books put together a reading list across genres, highlighting Jewish Canadian voices. #Jewish #Books #ReadingList

May is Jewish Heritage Month in Canada! 

To celebrate, CBC Books put together a reading list across genres, highlighting Jewish Canadian voices. #Jewish #Books #ReadingList

What does it mean to be a youth literacy advocate?

At 16 years old, Ainara Alleyne champions diverse reading in books for kids on social media as Ainara’s Bookshelf, as a CBC Kids News host and as the host of the annual Forest of Reading festival. Ahead of Canada’s largest recreational reading program, she checked in with Antonio Michael at #TheNextChapter to talk about her reading journey and how it feels to host a festival all about a love of reading!
#BookTok #IReadYA #ForestOfReading

What does it mean to be a youth literacy advocate?

At 16 years old, Ainara Alleyne champions diverse reading in books for kids on social media as Ainara’s Bookshelf, as a CBC Kids News host and as the host of the annual Forest of Reading festival. Ahead of Canada’s largest recreational reading program, she checked in with Antonio Michael at #TheNextChapter to talk about her reading journey and how it feels to host a festival all about a love of reading!
#BookTok #IReadYA #ForestOfReading