Blue Spruce Award

The Blue Spruce is a provincial primary reading program developed by the Ontario Library Association. Originally designed for students in Kindergarten to Grade 3, in 2007 the Blue Spruce Award and the Silver Birch Award were realigned. The Blue Spruce Award is now geared for students in Kindergarten to Grade 2, while the Silver Birch Award expanded to include students in Grade 3. Students read 10 nominated Canadian picture books and then vote for their favourite book. Based on the student voting across the province, the best picture book is then selected and the author/illustrator is honoured with the Blue Spruce Award. The official sponsor of the Blue Spruce Award reading program is S & B Books. The award was previously sponsored by National Book Service (NBS).