{"id":278946,"date":"2025-10-05T06:50:24","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T06:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/278946\/"},"modified":"2025-10-05T06:50:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-05T06:50:24","slug":"mad-at-dad-by-janie-hao-wins-cbc-kids-reads-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/278946\/","title":{"rendered":"Mad at Dad by Janie Hao wins CBC Kids Reads 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mad at Dad<\/a>, a picture book written and illustrated by Canadian author Janie Hao, is the winner of the third edition of CBC Kids Reads! Hao’s picture book was championed by Gary the Unicorn alongside celebrity reader, Andrew Phung.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The literary celebration for young readers saw five Canadian picture books, each championed by a CBC Kids friend alongside a celebrity reader, go head to head.<\/p>\n

The winner was announced during the CBC Kids Reads half-hour TV special on Oct. 4, recorded at the Civic Centre Resource Library in Vaughan, Ont.<\/p>\n

An audience of kids and families voted for the winning book in the live-to-tape special which is available to watch on CBC Gem<\/a> and CBC Kids YouTube<\/a>. The CBC Kids Reads special will also be replayed as a CBC radio broadcast on Oct. 13.<\/p>\n

WATCH | CBC Kids Reads 2025\u00a0special:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Janie Hao said, “I’m really happy and excited that my book, Mad at Dad<\/a>, has won CBC Kids Reads this year. I’m experiencing all sorts of fuzzy feelings \u2014 but I’m definitely not mad!<\/p>\n

“Thank you Gary the Unicorn and Andrew Phung for championing my book! Also, a great big thank you to CBC Kids for encouraging families to read and discover awesome Canadian children’s books.”<\/p>\n

I’m really happy and excited that my book, Mad at Dad, has won CBC Kids Reads this year. I’m experiencing all sorts of fuzzy feelings \u2014 but I’m definitely not mad!- Janie Hao<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mad at Dad<\/a> is a lift-the-flap picture book that explores big feelings and managing anger in healthy ways. A little girl gets mad at her dad, but quickly realizes she doesn’t like the feeling of being mad \u2014 except she doesn’t know how to stop it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mad at Dad<\/a> is Hao’s debut picture book.\u00a0Hao is a Toronto-based mixed-media illustrator and writer, with a degree in illustration from Sheridan College. Mad at Dad<\/a> has also been nominated for the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award at the 2025 Canadian Children’s Book Centre Awards<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"AJanie Hao on the set of CBC Kids Reads with host Joojo Paintsil, as well as, from left to right, Stuffy the Dog, Mosey Monster, Cottonball the Cat, Gary the Unicorn and Mr. Orlando the Moose. (CBC)<\/p>\n

Andrew Phung read Mad at Dad<\/a> during the CBC Kids Reads special. Phung is an actor, writer and comedian who received a Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021 for his work on Kim’s Convenience.<\/p>\n

Phung said, “I felt like I lived this book. I felt like I see it in my family. I see it in my life. We’re often told to suppress our feelings, to hide our emotions … it’s important to feel those feelings. But let’s always remember that no matter how mad we get, love always wins.”<\/p>\n

I felt like I lived this book. I felt like I see it in my family. I see it in my life.- Andrew Phung<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The\u00a02025\u00a0CBC Kids Reads\u00a0contenders and their champions<\/a> were:<\/p>\n