Subject spotlight: Poetry

Welcome back to Subject Spotlight, your go-to source for quarterly data-driven insights into the performance of particular subjects in the Canadian book market.

Previously, we looked at the sales and library circulation for the Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy BISAC subject. In this instalment, we shine the spotlight on Non-Fiction / Poetry titles.

According to the Canadian Leisure & Reading Study 2024, 16% of Canadians read poetry, books in verse, or plays across all formats and across all subjects and genres. How did Non-Fiction / Poetry titles perform during the first quarter of 2025? We find out with the help of our SalesData and LibraryData services.

Buying Non-Fiction / Poetry

Compared to 2024, the overall sales of Non-Fiction / Poetry titles were down 9% over the entire first quarter. Looking at the graph below, sales of Non-Fiction / Poetry decreased by 32% from January to March 2025. In the first quarter of 2024, sales of Non-Fiction / Poetry was up by 13% from January to February but went down by 12% from February to March.

These are the BISAC subcategories with the highest year-over-year increase in sales:

• Non-Fiction / Poetry / Jewish — up 900%

• Non-Fiction / Poetry / Haiku — up 392%

• Non-Fiction / Poetry / Epic — up 56%

From January to March 2025, the most purchased Non-Fiction / Poetry subcategories were:

• Non-Fiction / Poetry / Subjects & Themes — 18% of all Non-Fiction / Poetry sales

• Non-Fiction / Poetry / Women Authors — 17% of all Non-Fiction / Poetry sales

• Non-Fiction / Poetry / General — 14% of all Non-Fiction / Poetry sales

Borrowing Non-Fiction / Poetry

From January to March 2025, library loans of Non-Fiction / Poetry titles were up 23% and renewals were up 38% from 2024.

Year-over-year, loans increased by 82% in January, decreased by 5% in February, and increased again by 10% in March. Overall, loans increased by 41% in the first quarter of 2024 and decreased by 15% in the first quarter of 2025.

Year-over-year, renewals increased by 112% in January, 8% in February, and 23% in March. Overall, renewals increased by 56% in the first quarter of 2024 and decreased by 10% in the first quarter of 2025.

Which Non-Fiction / Poetry BISAC subcategories were the most popular in Canadian public libraries? From January to March 2025, these subcategories saw the greatest increases in library circulation compared to 2024:

• Non-Fiction / Poetry / Jewish — loans up 500% and renewals up 200%

• Non-Fiction / Poetry / Russian & Soviet — loans up 488% and renewals up 210%

• Non-Fiction / Poetry / Haiku — loans up 55% and renewals up 104%

During the first quarter of 2025, the most circulated Non-Fiction / Poetry subcategories were:

• Non-Fiction / Poetry / American — 17% of all Non-Fiction / Poetry loans and 18% of all Non-Fiction / Poetry renewals

• Non-Fiction / Poetry / Subjects & Themes — 14% of all Non-Fiction / Poetry loans and 13% of all Non-Fiction / Poetry renewals

• Non-Fiction / Poetry / Canadian — 13% of all Non-Fiction / Poetry loans and 14% of all Non-Fiction / Poetry renewals

Reading Non-Fiction / Poetry

Here are the top selling and top borrowed Non-Fiction / Poetry titles from the first quarter of 2025.

Top borrowed

1. The Odyssey by Homer

2. Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur 🍁

3. Old World, New World by David Holbrook

4. The Iliad by Homer

5. Paper Boat by Margaret Atwood 🍁

Top selling

1. The Odyssey by Homer

2. Devotions by Mary Oliver

3. A Gentle Reminder by Bianca Sparacino 🍁

4. The Best of Chief Dan George by Chief Dan George 🍁, illustrated by Helmut Hirnschall 🍁

5. The Iliad by Homer

Until next time!

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