Stars of CBC Kids to celebrate 6 Canadian picture books for CBC Kids Reads

As CBC's great Canadian book debate, Canada Reads, returns for its 22nd edition, a new generation of book lovers are encouraged to join the literary celebration with CBC Kids Reads, also running March 27-30.

All week long, young audiences are invited to join CBC Kids hosts Tony and Janaye, as well as Gary the Unicorn, Mr. Orlando, Cottonball and Makeup Monster, as they share their six favourite Canadian picture books and celebrate the love of reading.

The six picture books selected forCBC Kids Readshighlight inclusion, self love and kindness.Unlike the original iteration of Canada Reads, there will be no winner all of the selected titles are recognized as equally powerful and rewarding for young readers.

CBC Kids Reads will air during the CBC Kids weekday morning block on CBC TV and CBC Gem from 7 a.m to 11 a.m. local time. The videos will also be available on CBC Kids' social media platforms including CBC Kids YouTube.

The CBC Kids Reads contenders are:

• Tony champions Thunder and the Noise Storms by Jeffrey Ansloos andShezza Ansloos, illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley
• Gary championsI Can Too! byKaren Autio, illustrated by Laura Watson
• CottonballchampionsWhat's My Superpower? by Aviaq Johnston, illustrated byTim Mack
• Mr. Orlando champions My Name is Saajin Singhby Kuljinder Kaur Brar, illustrated bySamrath Kaur
• Makeup Monster champions Pink is for Everybody byElla Russell, illustrated byUdayana Lugo
• Janayechampions Beautiful You, Beautiful Me by Tasha Spillett-Sumner, illustrated by Salini Perera

Tony champions Thunder and the Noise Storms

In Thunder and the Noise Storms, Thunder is a boy who does not like loud noises. He walks around feeling very frustrated with all the loud sounds at hisschool.But when his Mosom teaches him a new way to listen, he learns to appreciate the sounds all around him.

Tonylikespuns, magic and trying new things. He isgreat at listening to his friends and helping them feel better, just like Mosom in Thunder and the Noise Storms.Tony picked this book as his CBC Kids Readschoicebecause he loves finding new ways to experience the world around him. "My new way of learning to listen feels just like magic!" he said.

My new way of learning to listen feels just like magic!"- Tony

Jeffrey Ansloos is a Cree educator and psychologist and the Canada Research Chair in Critical Studies in Indigenous Health and Social Action on Suicide. He is the author of The Medicine of Peace.

Shezza Ansloos is a Cree writer, educator, artistand speaker. She is the author of two children's books, I Loved Her and The Fire Walker. Ansloos is also a singer-songwriter and visual artist.

Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley is an Ojibwe Woodland artist from Barrie, Ont., and a member of Wasauksing, First Nation. He is currently an artist-in-residence at Skwachay's Lodge in Vancouver,practicing his acrylic painting and illustration techniques.

WATCH | Jeffrey Ansloos and Shezza Ansloos react to their book being selected for CBC Kids Reads:

Gary championsI Can Too!

I Can Too!is a story about two friends, Kayla and Piper, who both love to have fun and play,each in their own way. Kayla uses her hands to move her trike forward, while Piper pedals her tricycle with her feet. From riding their bikesto gliding on ice, these friends love exploring their world together and making new friends along the way.

Gary the Unicornlovesto do fun, awesome, amazing, things with his friends.That is why he picked I Can Too!a book full of fun adventures between two friends who even though they're different, still have bunches of fun! He's so excited to share his book pickand wants you to know: "I had fun reading this book. And you can too!"

I had fun reading this book. And you can too!- Gary the Unicorn

Karen Autio was born in Thunder Bay, Ont., and started writing stories at the age of nine.When she's not writing, freelance editing or talking to students about the research and inspiration behind her books, Autioloves to canoe, photograph nature, read and travel. Shelives in Kelowna, B.C.

Laura Watson createswhimsical illustrations for children's books, educational materials, magazines and various retail applications.Shelives in the leafy Riverdale neighbourhood of Toronto with her husband, 11-year-old daughterand three-year-oldrescue dog.She enjoys the outdoors, runs often and spends as much time as possible at the beach hunting for sea glass.

WATCH | Karen Autio and Laura Watson reactto theirbook being selected for CBC Kids Reads:

CottonballchampionsWhat's My Superpower?

In What's My Superpower?,Nalvana is a young girl who is able to tell all of her friends what their superpowers are.Some friends are able to swing so high they look like they're flying, while others run faster than a Ski-Doo! But Nalvana still has one question of her own: "What's My Superpower?"

Cottonball the cat is the most musical member of CBC Kids. When she's making music with her friends, she feels the most powerfulsome may say it's her superpower! She chose the book What's My Superpower?because Cottonball loves stories about good friends finding out what makes them special.An official cat quote about this book: "What a super superpower!"

What a super superpower!- Cottonball

Aviaq Johnstonwrites books for children, teenagers and grown ups. Her books includeThose Who Run in the Sky,which won theIndigenous Voices Awardand was a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature text, and the sequel, Those Who Dwell Below. Johnston also wrotethe short storiesTarnikulukand The Haunted Blizzard,featured in Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories. She grew up in Igloolik and now lives in Iqaluitwith her dog, Sunny.

Tim Mack cannot fly, run super fast, or swim like a fish, so instead he draws those things. Tim is a Canadian-born illustrator living in Vancouver. He enjoys playing with colours and shapes and never misses an opportunity to swim in the ocean, though he still wishes he could swim as well as a fish.

WATCH | Tim Mack reacts to hisbook being selected for CBC Kids Reads:

Mr. Orlando champions My Name is Saajin Singh

My Name is Saajin Singhis about a boy named Saajin.Saajin loves everything about his name, but when his school teacher pronounces it wrong, Saajin feels confused and sad. With his parents' help, Saajin realizes how special his name is when it's pronounced correctly, and talks to his teacher and classmates to make things right.

Mr. Orlando keeps a very professional set of interests including playing the bagpipes, collecting pens and of course reading! Mr. O loves the book My Name is Saajin Singhbecause there is nothing more professional than pronouncing our friends' names correctly! Mr. O hopes you like his CBC Kids Reads pick and that you remember "your name is perfect and professional because it makes you you!"

Your name is perfect and professional because it makes you you!- Mr. Orlando

Kuljinder Kaur Brar is an elementary teacher, in Abbotsford, B.C., and this is her first book. She has a son named Saajin, who inspired the story.

Samrath Kaur is an illustrator and background painter living inBoston, Mass. As a queer, Desi American, he connected strongly with the My Name is Saajin Singh's celebration of individual and cultural identity, and he hopes others can experience that connection too.

WATCH | Kuljinder Kaur Brarreacts to herbook being selected for CBC Kids Reads:

Makeup Monster champions Pink is for Everybody

InPink is for Everybody, a group of friends don't know how to brighten up their rainy day, until they find a pink treasure chest to play with.Everybody finds a pink-tastic item that fits their fancy from painters and palace-dwellersto aliens, dancers and dragons!

Makeup Monster knows how to think pink. As the pinkest friend in CBC Kids, it was only right that theypicked Pink is for Everybodyas their CBC Kids Reads book pick! Makeup Monster loves to help their friends express themselves and be creative, something thechildren inPink is for Everybodylove to do as well! Makeup Monster always knows how to turn drab into fab, just by adding a little colour. Makeup Monster has only one suggestion for this book: "MORE PINK!"

MORE PINK!- Makeup Monster

Ella Russell always dreamed of writing books. They grew up in a house that had a box full of costumes for rainy-day play, and that box allowed them to become anybody they wanted from a swashbuckling pirate to a proper palace-dweller.Russell is now an author who still lets their imagination run wild in their writing. Theylive in Toronto, with two cheeky but lovable furballs named Saffron and Juniper.

Udayana Lugo has always loved drawing and painting.She studied productdesign and worked for many years in that field, and became an illustrator full time after her chapter in the design world came to a close. If Lugo wasn'ta children's book illustrator, she would probably be a baker (although waking up before dawn might be a deal-breaker!). Shewas born in Russia, grew up in Mexico City, and now lives in Richmond, B.C., with her husband and two kids.

WATCH | Ella Russell and Udayana Lugoreactto theirbook being selected for CBC Kids Reads:

Janayechampions Beautiful You, Beautiful Me

Beautiful You, Beautiful Meis about a young girl named Izzy.Izzy loves to do everything with her mama, but she notices that she and her mama have different skin, which makes Izzy feel confused. With the help of her mama, Izzy learns that families can be made up of all kinds of different people, and what matters is that they love each other for who theyare.

Janaye is a kindness machine and a dancing queen, who makes every room brighter with her smile and positivity. JanayelovesBeautiful You, Beautiful Me because it tells an important message about beauty YOUR beauty! Janaye loves that this book shows that "the best way to be beautiful is to be you!"

The best way to be beautiful is to be you!- Janaye

Tasha Spillett-Sumner is a celebrated educator and poet, and the author of thepicture book, I Sang You Down from the Starsand thegraphic novelSurviving the City,whichwon the$2,000 Indigenous Voices Award for works in an alternative format in 2019.Spillett-Sumner lives in Treaty 1 territory, Man., with her husband and daughter.

Salini Perera has been making art for as long as she can remember and making art for picture books is a lifelong dream come true. She was born in Sri Lanka and now lives in Toronto with her husband and their three cats: Victoria, Albertand Princess Alice.

WATCH | Tasha Spillett-Sumnerreacts to herbook being selected for CBC Kids Reads: