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
The Odyssey by Homer
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur 🍁
Old World, New World by David Holbrook
The Iliad by Homer
Paper Boat by Margaret Atwood 🍁
Top selling
The Odyssey by Homer
Devotions by Mary Oliver
A Gentle Reminder by Bianca Sparacino 🍁
The Best of Chief Dan George by Chief Dan George 🍁, illustrated by Helmut Hirnschall 🍁
The Iliad by Homer
Until next time!
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