Need summer reads? Check out the 2026 Surrey Book Awards winners, as chosen by students!
The votes are in! Surrey students have spoken and the winners of the 2026 Surrey Book Awards have been announced, just in time to inspire some great summer reading.
Each year, the district's teacher-librarians organize the Surrey Book Awards, inviting students from across the district to read and vote for their favourites from a list of nominated titles. This year's winners span five categories: Book of the Year, Picture Book of the Year, Narrative Non-Fiction Book of the Year, Surrey Teen Reads and Livre de L'Année.
Here are this year's winning titles:
Book of the Year: Lion Dancers by Cai Tse
After his dad's sudden passing, young Wei walks away from lion dancing and from his best friend Hung. Years later, a chance encounter with a junior lion dance team reignites his passion, but there's a catch: Hung is the self-proclaimed star, and he is not happy to see Wei back. As the two compete to be considered the top lion dancer, they are forced to confront old mistakes and rediscover what it really means to be part of a team. This heartfelt graphic novel is a great pick for students who love sports stories, themes of friendship and rivalry, and a window into Chinese cultural traditions.
2026 Book of the Year Nominees:
- Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan
- The Deadlands: Hunted by Skye Melki-Wegner
- Jude Saves the World by Ronnie Riley
- Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi
- Lost at Windy River by Trina Rathgeber
- Oliver's Great Big Universe by Jorge Cham
- Safe Harbor by Padma Venkatraman
- Valor Wings by Sam Subity
- We Are Big Time by Hena Khan
Picture Book of the Year: The Quacken by Justin Colon
At Cucumonga Campground, legend has it that a terrifying creature lurks in the lake, one that swallows kids, canoes and even whales whole. But all Hector sees when he looks out at the water are cute, cuddly, quacking ducks. When he breaks the campground's most important rule and feeds them anyway, he finds out the legend might be more real than he thought. This hilarious, lightly spooky picture book is perfect for young readers who love a good laugh with just a little bit of a scare.
2026 Picture Book of the Year Nominees:
- Artificial Intelligence by David Biedrzycki
- The Book that Almost Rhymed by Omar Abed
- Down the Hole by Scott Slater
- A Friend for Eddy by Ann Kim
- Knight Owl and the Early Bird by Christopher Denise
- Let's Go haw ekwa! by Julie Flett
- Masala Chai Fast and Slow by Rajani LaRocca
- The Weedflower by Elizabeth Davaze
- The Yellow Bus by Loren Long
Narrative Non-Fiction Book of the Year: This Is Not My Lunch Box! by Jennifer Dupuis
Ever wonder what's really inside a forest creature's lunch box? This book takes young readers on a surprising camping trip to discover the favourite meals of animals like the wood frog and the moose. Rich illustrations capture the biodiversity of the forest while playful, repetitive text introduces the concepts of herbivores, omnivores and carnivores in an accessible way. It is a wonderful read for curious, nature-loving kids who enjoy learning about the world around them.
2026 Narrative Non-Fiction Book of the Year Nominees:
- Bears are Best! by Joan Holub
- Flamingos Are Pretty Funky: A (Not So) Serious Guide by Abi Cushman
- The Heartbeat Drum: The Story of Carol Powder, Cree Drummer and Activist by Deirdre Havrelock
- Henna Is ... by Marzieh Abbas
- How to Train Your Amygdala by Anna Housley Juster
- I Am Connected by Kung Jaadee
- Lefty: A Story That Is Not All Right by Mo Willems
- Partly Cloudy by Deborah Freedman
- Soy Sauce! by Laura G. Lee
Surrey Teen Reads: Looking For Smoke by K.A. Cobell
When Mara is included in a traditional Blackfeet Giveaway honouring a local girl's missing sister, she hopes it will help her find her footing on the reservation. But when another member of the group is found murdered, all four participants become persons of interest, and each of them has a complicated history with the victim. With suspicion closing in from all sides, the group must work together to clear their names, even as they wonder whether one of their own might be responsible. This gripping mystery is a great fit for teen readers who love suspenseful plots and stories grounded in Indigenous culture and community.
2026 Surrey Teen Reads Nominees:
- Better Than Revenge by Kassie West
- The Color of a Lie by Kim Johnson
- The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow
- Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
- Homebody: A Graphic Memoir of Gender Identity Exploration by Theo Parish
- The Sticky Note Manifesto of Aisha Agarwal by Ambika Vohra
- Wander In the Dark by Jumata Emill
- Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill
Livre de L'Année: C'est quoi, ça? by Coralie Saudo
When a garbage bin appears at the foot of his tree, a curious little squirrel named Naïf is full of questions: what is waste, where does it go, and what happens when it all overflows? The questions keep piling up until Naïf lands on a clever solution to protect the nature he loves. Simple, thoughtful storytelling makes this book a gentle and engaging introduction to environmental themes for young readers. It is a great choice for students in French immersion programs who enjoy stories with heart and a positive message about caring for the planet.
2026 Livre de L'Année Nominees:
- ABCDevine qui est caché! by Patrick George
- Boule-de-poils by Michaël Escoffier
- C'est mon cerveau! by Elise Gravel
- Dans les souliers d'Amédée by Véronique Lambert
- Le dessin trop mignon by Roxane Brouillard
- Grande by Vashti Harrison
- Lucien supersensible by Marie-Eve Leclerc-Dion
- Nous sommes Métis by Tasha Hilderman
- Ntangu by Malika Tirolien
Looking for even more summer reading inspiration? Check out the summer reading clubs available at Surrey Libraries and the White Rock branch of the Fraser Valley Regional Library. These annual programs encourage students to keep reading over the summer by unlocking awards and milestones as they go. Happy reading!
