Stacey Robinson's YA Novel "Carnival Curves" Recognized by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre

Kya Publishing is proud to celebrate exciting news for our founder, Stacey Robinson, whose young adult novel Carnival Curves has been named one of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s (CCBC) Best Books for Kids & Teens: Spring 2026.

Published in 2025 by James Lorimer & Company Ltd. (Toronto), Carnival Curves joins a national selection of Canadian books "recognized for literary excellence, strong storytelling, and meaningful appeal to young readers."

The Canadian Children’s Book Centre is widely recognized as a trusted resource for discovering outstanding Canadian literature for children and youth. Through its Best Books for Kids & Teens program, expert committees of educators, booksellers, and school and public librarians from across Canada carefully select titles that demonstrate excellence in writing and illustration while engaging young readers in meaningful ways. The organization is deeply committed to ensuring Canadian children and youth see themselves reflected in the stories they read, with equity, diversity, inclusion, and representation at the centre of its work.

For Stacey, this recognition highlights the importance of authentic storytelling that reflects the lived experiences, cultures, and identities of young people in Canada.

Carnival Curves is a joyful young adult novel about self-acceptance, friendship, and cultural tradition, following two best friends as they prepare to experience their first Toronto Caribbean Carnival during the final summer before graduation. As one teen from a Nigerian-Canadian family and the other a Jamaican-Canadian prepare costumes to dance in the Carnival parad
e, they navigate body image, relationships, identity, and the uncertainties of life beyond high school.

The recognition follows Stacey Robinson’s growing work in young adult fiction with James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers (Toronto), including Dancehall Rebel (2024) and Carnival Curves (2025); we are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of Kya’s founder and the continued impact of stories that centre diverse voices and experiences.

At Kya Publishing, we believe in the transformative power of stories that foster belonging, spark imagination, and reflect the richness of our communities. We are delighted to see Carnival Curves recognized among Canada’s best new books for young readers!