Kids’ Books

★ Anonymouse

By Vikki VanSickle and Anna Pirolli (ill.)

In Anonymouse, the latest picture book by Toronto author Vikki VanSickle, a mysterious rodent creates Banksy-esque street art to lift the spirits of his fellow city critters. The assuredly understated narration takes an off-the-beaten-path tour ... Read More »

January 4, 2021 | Filed under: Kids’ Books, Picture Books

A Home Away from Home: True Stories of Wild Animal Sanctuaries

By Nicholas Read

The non-fiction book A Home Away from Home explores the ways in which wild animals are taken from their natural habitat and spotlights the people who are trying to help them regain some semblance of ... Read More »

December 3, 2020 | Filed under: Children and YA Non-fiction, Kids’ Books

Annaka

By Andre Fenton

Sixteen-year-old Annaka has spent the last 10 years going by Anna, but when she and her mother move from Halifax back to her hometown of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, to take care of her Nan, her ... Read More »

November 30, 2020 | Filed under: Children and YA Fiction, Kids’ Books

The Book of Sam

By Rob Shapiro

Sixteen-year-old Sam – the protagonist of Toronto writer Rob Shapiro’s new YA novel – is a bit of an outcast. Bullied by his peers and largely overlooked by his parents (when they aren’t disparaging him), ... Read More »

November 26, 2020 | Filed under: Children and YA Fiction, Kids’ Books

★ I Talk Like a River

By Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith (ill.)

The highlight of the U.S. Democratic National Convention in August was supposed to be the confirmation of Joe Biden’s candidacy for president. Instead, a young boy with a stutter – whom Biden, a fellow stutterer, ... Read More »

November 23, 2020 | Filed under: Kids’ Books, Picture Books

The Girl Who Was Convinced Beyond All Reason That She Could Fly

By Sybil Lamb

It may not be possible to bottle artist and writer Sybil Lamb’s imagination, but Arsenal Pulp Press has done the next best thing with this short illustrated novel. The story takes place on (and above) ... Read More »

November 19, 2020 | Filed under: Children and YA Fiction, Kids’ Books

Izzy in the Doghouse

By Caroline Adderson and Kelly Collier (ill.)

For some kids, the move to reading on their own is dependent on fiercely engaging chapter books – ones that have the right combination of easy vocabulary, short sentences, relatable characters, goofiness, gross-out humour, and ... Read More »

November 16, 2020 | Filed under: Kids’ Books, Picture Books

Monster and Boy

By Hannah Barnaby and Anoosha Syed (ill.)

November 16, 2020 | Filed under: Kids’ Books, Picture Books

★ What Do You Want, Little Friend?

By Marianne Dubuc

If babies could talk, many would utter the sentiments expressed in Please Don’t Change My Diaper, a debut picture book written by Toronto’s Sarabeth Holden. A tot is eager to get outside to play, but ... Read More »

November 12, 2020 | Filed under: Kids’ Books, Picture Books