Canada Reads 2026 will take place April 13 to 16, and you can get quickly caught up by watching the animated trailers for each of the five books.
This year, the great Canadian book debate is looking for one book to build bridges.
The 2026 contenders are:
Stories connect us to different people, places and perspectives. The collection of titles for 2026 showcases the power of storytelling to inspire, connect and grow — together.
If you’d like the Canada Reads books in an accessible format, both CELA and NNELS provide books in audio, braille, print braille and text formats. You can find out which formats are available for each of the books here for CELA and here for NNELS.
The Canada Reads books are available in print, e-book and audiobook format at your local bookstore or library of choice. You can use this link to find an independent bookstore near you.
On Canada Reads, five Canadian celebrities each select one book that all Canadians should read. They debate their choices over the course of four days, voting to eliminate one every day. The last book standing is the winner.
Watch the book trailers and get to know the creators behind them:
Filmmaker and actor Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers will champion A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt. The debates take place April 13 to 16.
The trailer for A Minor Chorus was animated by Onedove (Chenoa Gao) and narrated by Jesse Nobess, who also narrated the audiobook.
Onedove is an Indigenous, two-spirit, neurodivergent illustrator and graphic novel artist based in Vancouver. Onedove has illustrated children’s books and graphic novels, has produced commercial projects for major brands and has had fine art exhibited in galleries in Canada and the United States.
Jesse Nobess hails from the Pinaymootang First Nation and Winnipeg. Nobess is an actor and has appeared in CBC Gem’s Altar Boys, Wintertide, Mohawk Girls and Ancestral Beasts.
The sound design was done by Alex Redekop and the script was written by Charlene Chow.
Broadway actor and kids TV host Josh Dela Cruz will champion Foe by Iain Reid. The debates take place April 13 to 16.
The trailer for Foe was narrated by David Ferry and animated by Miles Vitko.
David Ferry is a writer, director and actor. His directorial work includes Job at Coal Mine Theatre and Estelle Singerman for the Harold Green Jewish Theatre. As an actor David has worked in film, TV and on stage. He also reads and directs audiobooks including Sweetland by Michael Crummey and Last Light by Wayne Johnston.
Miles Vitko is a Toronto-based designer working across architecture, environmental design, and the performing arts. His work extends into theater, film, and animation, and combines architectural principles with digital motion graphics, illustration, and stage production. His practice moves between physical and virtual spaces.
The sound design was done by Alex Redekop and the script was written by Charlene Chow.
BookTok star and podcast host Morgann Book will champion It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard on Canada Reads 2026. The debates take place April 13 to 16.
The trailer for It’s Different this Time was animated by Tenzin Tsering and narrated by Chelsea Clark.
Tenzin Tsering is a Tibetan-Filipino illustrator and art director based in Toronto, known for her vibrant use of colour and dynamic storytelling through visual art. She creates immersive artworks in many creative fields, such as mural painting, editorial art, book covers, comic illustrations and character design.
Chelsea Clark is a Filipina-Canadian actor best known for her roles as Norah in Ginny & Georgia and Esme Song in Degrassi: Next Class. Born and raised in Toronto, she began her career performing in musical theatre and local opera before transitioning to film and television. A proud Toronto native, Chelsea is passionate about supporting fellow creatives and championing diverse storytelling. When she’s not on set, she’s often travelling or exploring the city with her two dogs.
The sound design was done by Alex Redekop and the script was written by Bridget Raymundo.
Hockey YouTube personality and podcaster Steve “Dangle” Glynn will champion Searching for Terry Punchout by Tyler Hellard on Canada Reads. The debates take place April 13 to 16.
The trailer for Searching for Terry Punchout was animated by Brian Evinou and narrated by Chai Valladares.
Brian Evinou is a cartoonist and educator, best known for his work as BrianBeLeafs, where he documented the Maple Leafs’ hockey with cartoons. Brian has multiple comics credits and co-edited the Monstrosity anthologies, showcasing Canadian artists. Brian has also worked extensively in animation, with credits including CBC classics like Gord Downie’s The Secret Path and Mark Little’s Gary and his Demons. Brian lives in Scarborough with his wife and children.
Chai Valladares is a GTA-based actor who starred in plays such as Much Ado About Nothing, A Servant of Two Masters, and Cyrano de Bergerac. He is now firmly in the world of television and film with a recent focus on voiceover work. Chai’s film and television credits include Workin’ Moms, The Expanse, Star Trek Discovery, and Cows Come Home.
Ashly July did the sound design and wrote the script.
Musician and writer Tegan Quin will champion The Cure for Drowning by Loghan Paylor on Canada Reads. The debates take place April 13 to 16.
The trailer for The Cure for Drowning was animated by Eric Orchard, narrated by Rhiannon Morgan and animated by Fred Casia.
Eric Orchard is an award winning illustrator based in Atlantic Canada. He is the creator of the graphic novels, Bera The One Headed Troll and Maddy Kettle. Orchard studied painting and art history at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. He is known for his dark fantasy illustrations and whimsical storytelling.
Rhiannon Morgan is a Canadian actor based in Newfoundland. She has had roles in numerous feature length and short films throughout her career. In addition to her film and television experience, she can be heard narrating the 2021 audiobook, We Jane, a novel by Aimee Wall. Rhiannon currently resides in Port Rexton, Newfoundland with her family.
Fred Casia is an animator, director, producer, and visual artist from Montréal. He has worked on documentaries and animated productions with the National Film Board of Canada including the Canadian Screen Award winner The Orchid and the Bee and the Oscar nominated short animation Wild Life. Fred has an animation company, Momunit, and cofounded an animation studio, Picnic Dinner. He also works with the National Film Board.
The sound design was done by Alex Redekop and the script was written by Talia Kliot.
