By Danny Neville
I Read Canadian Day was back on Wednesday, November 4th, 2026 with a whole new focus, celebrating a love of Canadian children’s books. Inspired by World Read Aloud Day, many of your favourite Canadian authors and illustrators donated 15-20 minute virtual readings for young people across the country and beyond. The goal was to ignite a love of reading in kids and celebrate the incredible talent and diversity of our Canadian children’s book creators! Check out the website for more information – https://ireadcanadian.com/day
Back in 2020, the I Read Canadian initiative was launched as a collaboration between children’s author Eric Walters, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC), the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP) and the Ontario Library Association (OLA). In 2025, the OLA assumed ownership of the programming. Now, an expanding group of volunteer Canadian authors and illustrators are bringing young readers and Canadian books together in a whole new way.
We’d love to hear how you celebrated I Read Canadian Day this year! Check out the ideas, stories and photos using #IReadCanadian.
Danny Neville is a primary educator, former teacher-librarian, children’s author and editor-in-chief of The Teaching Librarian magazine, the official publication of the Ontario School Library Association. He lives in Ottawa, ON with his husband and daughters. The third book in his Little Bee chapter book series, The Best Birthday Ever, launches in March 2027. For more news and information about his books, visit https://dannyneville.com/.