JANUARY PICKS
Picture Book: When I Wrap My Hair by Shauntay Grant and Jenin Mohammed
In the vein of I Am Enough and Hold Them Close, this inspiring and beautiful picture book celebrates how hair wrapping ties together past and present.
When I wrap,
my roots run deep.
As deep as an African marketplace
or a city sidewalk
or the stories between them.
With lyrical text by acclaimed author Shauntay Grant and vibrant illustrations by Jenin Mohammed, When I Wrap My Hair is both an act of joyful recognition and a demonstration of how knowledge is passed through generations.
Middle Grade: Atana and the Firebird by Vivian Zhou
A mermaid, a firebird, and a witch become entangled with the mysterious and powerful Witch Queen, who may hold the key to each of their past in this epic middle grade fantasy by debut author Vivian Zhou.
Atana’s island may be quiet and peaceful, but mostly, it’s lonely. With the outside world full of magic hunters who would stop at nothing to capture a mermaid like her, Atana has never been brave enough to swim far from her island’s shores and seek the answers to her mysterious past—until a firebird named Ren unexpectedly crashes into her life.
Ren’s arrival does not go unnoticed, as it has been hundreds of years since a firebird last landed on Earth. Determined to both protect Ren and finally chase the answers she’s longed for, Atana embarks on an adventure that takes her and the firebird to strange new islands and entangles them with the powerful yet secretive Witch Queen.
Generous though the Witch Queen’s offer of protection may be, an invitation to the Blue Palace can’t come without a price. And while the Palace’s splendid halls and library might hold the key to Atana’s past, will she be willing to pay the cost when it risks her chance of a bright new future?
FEBRUARY PICKS
Picture Book: Khadija and the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment by Farah Qaiser, Hajer Nakua and Natalya Tariq
Everyone can see themselves in science!
Khadija is inspired by her visit to the science fair. There are so many different scientists all wearing safety goggles and lab coats! But how come none of them are wearing a hijab?
After watching a scientist carry out the elephant toothpaste experiment, Khadija attempts to recreate it at home with mixed (and messy!) results. Surrounded by her family as they celebrate Eid, Khadija tries again….
“Salaam everyone, and Eid Mubarak!” she cries. “When I grow up, I’m going to be a scientist!”
Middle Grade: The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett
A heart-wrenching middle grade debut about Kemi, an aspiring scientist who loves statistics and facts, as she navigates grief and loss at a moment when life as she knows it changes forever.
Eleven-year-old Kemi Carter loves scientific facts, specifically probability. It’s how she understands the world and her place in it. Kemi knows her odds of being born were 1 in 5.5 trillion and that the odds of her having the best family ever were even lower. Yet somehow, Kemi lucked out.
But everything Kemi thought she knew changes when she sees an asteroid hover in the sky, casting a purple haze over her world. Amplus-68 has an 84.7% chance of colliding with earth in four days, and with that collision, Kemi’s life as she knows it will end.
But over the course of the four days, even facts don’t feel true to Kemi anymore. The new town she moved to that was supposed to be “better for her family” isn’t very welcoming. And Amplus-68 is taking over her life, but others are still going to school and eating at their favorite diner like nothing has changed. Is Kemi the only one who feels like the world is ending?
With the days numbered, Kemi decides to put together a time capsule that will capture her family’s truth: how creative her mother is, how inquisitive her little sister can be, and how much Kemi’s whole world revolves around her father. But no time capsule can change the truth behind all of it, that Kemi must face the most inevitable and hardest part of life: saying goodbye.
MARCH PICKS
Picture Book: Butterfly on the Wind by Adam Pottle and Ziyue Chen
A magical picture book about a Deaf girl who creates a butterfly with Sign Language and sends it on a journey around the world.
On the day of the talent show, Aurora’s hands tremble. No matter how hard she tries to sign, her fingers stumble over one another and the words just won’t come. But as she’s about to give up, she spots a butterfly.
Using her hands to sign the ASL word for “butterfly,” Aurora sends a magical butterfly of her own into the world, inspiring Deaf people across the globe to add their own. The butterflies grow in numbers and strength as they circle back to Aurora, bolstering her with the love and support of her worldwide Deaf community.
Deaf picture book creators author Adam Pottle and artist Ziyue Chen combine powerful text and sweeping art into a moving story of resilience and self-belief.
Young Adult: Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai
A debut young adult coming-of-age book with magic realism elements, Catfish Rolling is perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli films and Laura Ruby’s Bone Gap.
There’s a catfish under Japan, and when it rolls, the land rises and falls. At least, that’s what Sora was told after she lost her mother to an earthquake so powerful that it cracked time itself. Sora and her father are some of the few who still live near the most powerful of these “zones” — the places where time has been irrevocably sped up, or slowed down.
When high school ends, and her best friend leaves for university, Sora finds herself stuck and increasingly alone. She begins secretly conducting her own research, tracking down a time expert in Tokyo. She also feels increasingly conflicted in her quasi-romantic feelings for her best friend — and for the time expert’s assistant, a striking and confident girl named Maya, another hafu (half-Japanese, half-non) girl with whom Sora forms an instant bond.
But when Sora’s father disappears, she has no choice but to return home and venture deep into the abandoned time zones to find him, and perhaps the catfish itself…
APRIL PICKS
Picture Book: We Need Everyone by Michael Redhead Champagne and Tiff Bartel
Everyone has a gift. Every gift is different, and every gift is special. Our world needs you to share your gift.
What is your gift? How can you use your gift to help others?
We Need Everyone empowers children to identify their gifts and use them to overcome challenges, achieve goals, and strengthen communities. Inspiring and uplifting, this interactive picture book celebrates diverse cultures, perspectives, and abilities through playful illustrations. Perfect for reading aloud.
Young Adult: And Then There Was Us by Kern Carter
A mother’s death forces a teen girl to reevaluate their tumultuous relationship in this powerful coming-of-age novel for teens. For fans of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.
After years of physical and verbal abuse from her mother, fourteen-year-old Coi moved in with her father, and together they created a peaceful life. But now, four years later, that peace is shattered when her mother dies.
While Coi struggles to find kindness in her heart for the woman who did nothing but hurt her, her mother’s passing does help reopen the door to her mother’s side of the family. It’s only through reconnecting with her estranged family members, especially her younger half-sister Kayla, that Coi’s long-held views about her mother are challenged.
And when Coi begins to see visions of her mother in her dreams, she is forced to ask herself what it means to forgive and be forgiven, and, most importantly, what it means to be family.
MAY PICKS
Picture Book: Soccer Scaries by Sunshine Punzalan and Mike Deas
Brandon pulled on his Blue Strikers soccer uniform. The smell of his grandma’s cooking floated up the stairs. Usually, his mouth would be watering by now, but not today. His tummy feels queasy. Today is the big game against the Warriors. And he’s the goalie …
Soccer Scaries explores the anxieties children face in sports, and reminds them of the importance of talking about their fears and learning to accept both setbacks and victories.
Middle Grade: Mortified by Kristy Jackson and Rhael McGregor
For fans of Remarkably Ruby and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, comedy and cringe come together in this sweet novel about facing your fears.
It’s nothing short of a catastrophe when someone secretly signs up Belinda Houle, the school’s shyest kid, to audition for a play.
Belinda turns to Sally—her unflappable best friend and resident witch—for help. Belinda doesn’t believe in magic, but if Sally says she has a spell for confidence…well, it couldn’t hurt to try it. Could it?
What follows the spell is a series of disasters so disastrous they would have been funny—if only they weren’t happening to Belinda! From eating dog food, to losing her hair in a straightening mishap, to wrecking a mural and ending up with globs of paint on her head, things get worse and worse for Belinda until she must face the facts: One piece of bad luck can be explained away, but this? This is a straight-up curse!
Can she break the curse before the dreamy Ricky Daniels takes notice of her crooked wig?
More importantly, can Belinda battle the very thing she hoped the spell would take away: her embarrassment?
JUNE PICKS
Picture Book: I Am a Rock by Ashley Qilavaq-Savard and Pelin Turgut
Pauloosie loves his pet rock, Miki Rock. Pauloosie’s Anaana, his mother, tells him a bedtime story about what Miki Rock sees, hears, and feels in his Arctic home. As part of the land, Miki Rock sees char and beluga, listens to chirps and howls, and feels the snow and sun.
Through lyrical text and ethereal landscape illustrations by Pelin Turgut, readers are taken on an Arctic journey from the point of view of a most unlikely object—a child’s pet rock.
Young Adult: Lockjaw by Matteo L. Cerilli
Death is neither the beginning nor the end for the children of Bridlington in this debut trans YA horror book for fans of Rory Power and Danielle Vega.
Chuck Warren died tragically at the old abandoned mill, but Paz Espino knows it was no accident — there’s a monster under the town, and she’s determined to kill it before anyone else gets hurt. She’ll need the help of her crew — inseparable friends, bound by a childhood pact stronger than diamonds, distance or death — to hunt it down. But she’s up against a greater force of evil than she ever could have imagined.
With shifting timeframes and multiple perspectives, Lockjaw is a small-town ghost story, where monsters living and dead haunt the streets, the homes and the minds of the inhabitants. For readers of Wilder Girls and The Haunted, this trans YA horror book by an incredible debut author will grab you and never let you go.
JULY PICKS
Picture Book: My Mom Is NOT a Superhero by Darcie Naslund and Dania El Khatib
A little girl whose mother has Multiple Sclerosis discovers that some superheroes are fighting invisible battles. With the help of her cat and some X-ray glasses, she learns just how strong her mom is and how she can help her. Darcie Naslund has been fighting a rollercoaster of a battle for many years. Finally, she decided to write this story to explain her invisible owies to her children. She fights for herself, but also for her family. This touching picture book explores the love of a mother and daughter who, together, can do (almost) anything.
Young Adult: Road of the Lost by Nafiza Azad
Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince, this gorgeous young adult fantasy follows a girl who discovers she’s spent her life under an enchantment hiding her true identity on her quest into the magical Otherworld to unlock her powers and discover her destiny.
Even the most powerful magic can’t hide a secret forever.
Croi is a brownie, glamoured to be invisible to humans. Her life in the Wilde Forest is ordinary and her magic is weak—until the day that her guardian gives Croi a book about magick from the Otherworld, the world of the Higher Fae. Croi wakes the next morning with something pulling at her core, summoning her to the Otherworld. It’s a spell she cannot control or break.
Forced to leave her home, Croi begins a journey full of surprises…and dangers. For Croi is not a brownie at all but another creature entirely, enchanted to forget her true heritage. As Croi ventures beyond the forest, her brownie glamour begins to shift and change. Who is she really, who is summoning her, and what do they want? Croi will need every ounce of her newfound magic and her courage as she travels a treacherous path to find her true self and the place in the Otherworld where she belongs.
AUGUST PICKS
Picture Book: All I Need to Be by Rachel Ricketts, Tiffany Rose and Luana Horry
From spiritual activist, racial justice educator, and bestselling author Rachel Ricketts comes an inspiring picture book guiding children in heart-centered and mindfulness-based practices in the face of fear, anxiety, and racial injustice.
Hold on to what matters;
to joy
and being free.
When the world gets to be too much, we can always take a moment to look within ourselves for love, support, and healing. This lyrical mindfulness guide filled with an inspiring, positive self-esteem message helps young ones, especially Black and Brown children, feel big feelings and celebrate their whole being.
Includes a special author’s note and guide for caregivers to help little ones get embodied when their feelings get too big to handle.
Young Adult: Little Sanctuary by Randy Boyagoda
Little Sanctuary is the story of children from the Global South living in a world that is falling apart, wracked by war. They are sent to a school serving as a refuge on a distant island by their affluent parents, where they harbour growing suspicions and grave concerns about the people caring for them. After teenaged Sabel and her siblings witness unexpected violence, they must rally the others rally the others and plot an escape.
SEPTEMBER PICKS
Picture Book: Getting Glam at Gram’s by Sara Weed and Erin Hawryluk
A colourful and celebratory picture book that embraces all gender expressions through a fun family fashion show
Alex, a young person who identifies as non-binary, eagerly awaits Sunday dinner with all their cousins at Gram’s house. It’s not just the yummy treats that Alex looks forward to – Sunday is when they get glamorous! Everyone is welcome at this fun family gathering, where gender diversity and expression are showcased on a homemade runway. Gram’s wardrobe is bursting with styles from different decades, and the kids have a blast as they build their ensembles, becoming anything they can imagine. This playful fashion show is filled with so much joy that even an “uh-oh” is saved by love and understanding.
Getting Glam at Gram’s is a warm and loving book that champions diversity, gender expression, and learning to love yourself. You’ll be dreaming up outfits before you reach the last page. Whoever you are, get glam!
Middle Grade: Misadventures in Ghosthunting by Melissa Yue
Emma Wong is struggling to tell her parents about a lot of things. Getting a D on her math test, for one. Seeing ghosts, for another.
When a mysterious figure sets Emma’s family altar on fire, that’s one more secret to add to her list, which is growing perilously long. At the top of the list is the spectral ghosthunter named Henry, who has an attitude problem and a special loathing for Emma. Next, there’s Leon, a mild-mannered ghost guardian who is as flighty as the pigeon he often turns into. There’s Michelle, Emma’s ride-or-die bestie, whose curiosity about ghosts often eclipses her instinct for survival. And then there’s Chinese calligraphy—the magical kind. In the hands of a skilled ghosthunter, words and intention transform into magical protections. But in Emma’s shaky hands, it’s shiny and ineffective.
The most stunning secret, however, is that Emma’s sweet, plant-loving grandmother has the power to shank ghosts! What’s more, her grandma is an exorcist with a secret of her own. A secret that is haunting the Wongs from the Underworld.
The only way for Emma to save her loved ones is to tap into the Wong family’s ghosthunting history. Easier said than done, of course. Hungry ghosts are one thing, but Emma’s bad calligraphy may be what dooms them all!
OCTOBER PICKS
Picture Book: Mandeep’s Cloudy Days by Kuljinder Kaur Brar and Samrath Kaur
A beautiful picture book exploring how to cope with difficult and complex emotions when we’re away from the people we love.
Spending time with her dad makes Mandeep’s days shine. They have cha parties, perform Bhangra shows, and best of all, they write jokes together in her favorite unicorn journal. But when Dad starts a job as a truck driver, he starts being away from home most of the week. Without Dad, storm clouds start taking over Mandeep’s sunny days, casting a shadow on all the things she used to love doing. Can anything help Mandeep feel better?
The dynamic author-illustrator team behind the National Council Teachers of English Notable Children’s Book winner My Name Is Saajin Singh brings a new poignant story about father-daughter relationships, how we cope with being separated from our loved ones, and how to find glimpses of light in our days even when clouds threaten to settle in.
Middle Grade: Danica dela Torre, Certified Sleuth by Mikaela Lucido featuring illustrations by Joanna Cacao
Harriet the Spy meets Small Spaces in this heartfelt new paranormal mystery series for middle grade readers.
Danica and her partner Jack are Renley Crow’s best kid detectives. Well, they’re the only kid detectives…until Kennedy Fang moves to town. Kennedy’s convinced his new house is haunted, and he needs Jack and Danica’s help to figure out what’s going on. The only catch? Kennedy wants to solve the case with them. Danica’s not wild about working with her competition, but there’s a bigger problem: her tita has forbidden her from meddling with the spirit realm. Not that Danica believes in spirits. But when Kennedy shows her a box of letters addressed to all three kids—letters that start to fly around his attic—Danica knows she can’t turn down their biggest case yet. Even if it means uncovering scary truths about the world…and about herself.
NOVEMBER PICKS
Picture Book: It’s Okay, Just Ask by Monique Leonardo Carlos and Salini Perera
An uplifting immigration story about tackling new experiences with curiosity.
A little girl and her family are emigrating to a new country. As they say goodbye to their home and move to an unfamiliar place, the girl is full of questions: Will they ever return? What if she doesn’t make new friends? Why does she look different than the other kids? Her mother’s supportive refrain encourages her to voice her curiosity: It’s okay, just ask!
Sometimes the answers lead to exciting discoveries. Other times, the answers are unclear, or prompt even more questions. But each time the girl chooses to just ask, she learns more about her community and herself.
Partially based on the author’s own experience moving her family from the Philippines to Canada, this is a thoughtful, child-centered look at being a newcomer. While exploring the specific experience of immigrants, it also shares a more universal message about speaking up when uncertain or confused. It welcomes readers to ask questions when they’re unsure, and approach different people and places with an open mind.
Young Adult: The Gulf by Adam de Souza
Staring down the final days of high school, a group of friends run away from home in order to join a commune in this YA graphic novel for ages 14 and up. Stand by Me meets Catcher in the Rye by way of Skim.
Ever since Oli found a pamphlet for a remote island commune as a kid, it’s all she can think about. Now that she’s nearing the end of high school, feeling frustrated with the mounting pressure to choose a career and follow a path she has no interest in, the desire to escape it all has been steadily increasing.
Everything comes to a head when Oli’s relationship with her best friend goes south and she claps back at a school bully with more than just words. Oli flees to find the commune on a Gulf Island off the coast of Vancouver, taking with her Milo, who can’t help but hide his feelings behind the safety of a video camera, and Alvin, a shy teen who sees more than he lets on. Behind them trails Liam, Oli’s ex-best-friend and sometimes love interest, who wants to apologize for the way things went down. All four are grappling with a world that cannot be changed . . . and simply trying to find their place in it.
This YA anti-coming-of-age road trip adventure, by talented up-and-coming comic artist Adam de Souza, captures at once the angst and humor of being a teen during a time of great transition.
DECEMBER PICKS
Picture Book: Lemming’s First Christmas by Jamesie Fournier and Tim Mack
When Lemming overhears some children singing about Christmas, she can’t help but wonder about this new holiday. Qimmiq the sled dog knows all about Christmas. It’s the time of year when Santa brings presents to put under your tree!
But…what is a tree? There aren’t any trees where Lemming lives, in the treeless Arctic, so she decides to go on the hunt for a tree in order to have her very first Merry Christmas.
Filled with charming holiday illustrations featuring sweet Arctic animals, this book offers a warm and inviting new take on beloved Christmas traditions.
Young Adult: The Dark Becomes Her by Judy I. Lin
Ruby Chen has always played the part of the dutiful eldest daughter: excelling in school; excelling in piano lessons; excelling at keeping her younger sister, Tina, focused on extracurriculars meant to impress college admissions officers.
But when a ghost from the spirit world attacks Ruby in the middle of Vancouver’s Chinatown neighborhood, her life is plunged into a darkness that no amount of duty can free her from. Overnight, Ruby’s sister seems to change. There are strange noises coming from her bedroom at all hours; and the once sweet, funny Tina has been replaced by something dark and unnatural.
As Ruby races to save her sister from demonic possession, she is thrown into an ancient battle over the gateway to the underworld. On one side, a sinister traveling temple known for making dark wishes come true has returned to Chinatown after many years—intent on breaking down the gateway and unleashing the wickedness within. On the other side, the guardians determined to stop this encroaching evil
And in order to survive, Ruby must not only face the horror taking over her community, but must also confront the horror within herself.
Chinese and Taiwanese mythology get the Junji Ito treatment in this bone-chilling, propulsive story that takes the horrors of the Asian diaspora experience to a whole new level.