FOLD Kids Book-of-the-Month

Each month, FOLD Kids highlights one picture book and one middle grade or young adult title by a marginalized Canadian author. You can find past years’ Book-of-the-Month picks at the bottom of this page.

Previous years’ FOLD Kids Book-of-the-Month picks

ABOUT SOMETHING’S UP WITH ARLO

A spooky-sweet middle-grade novel about remembering the past in order to brave the future, for fans of Anne Ursu

Twelve-year-old Emily Nero’s best friend is a ghost.

For as long as Nero can remember, she’s been “haunted” by Arlo. He’s always had her back, especially as Nero navigates her workaholic mother, irritable father, even the mega-jerks at school. Nero’s been caught too many times looking at “nothing” and talking to “no one,” which officially made her “the weird girl.” So when she has the chance to start over as “normal” at a prestigious private school, Nero is hopeful that things will change for the better. If she can get top grades at a top school, maybe she’ll stop feeling like she’s never good enough. Maybe her parents will finally see her—and she’ll stop feeling like a ghost too.

But on Nero’s first day at her new school, something’s up with Arlo, something very wrong: her best friend has suddenly turned on her. Glitching electronics, flickering lights, bad smells and cold drafts are only the beginning. Arlo is changing into something scary. And the only clues he gives Nero leave her with more questions than answers. If she wants to save Arlo and their friendship, Nero will have to break old cycles. She will have to let herself be seen, let in new friends, and—worst of all—say goodbye to the past.

Spooky and sweet in turns, Something’s Up with Arlo is about the stories we tell ourselves and finding the courage to make our truth be heard.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Matteo L. Cerilli is a transmasc author and an activist. He helped found Students for Queer Liberation (Toronto) and works with the No Pride in Policing Coalition. Cerilli writes widely across genres and age categories. Lockjaw is his debut book. Something’s Up with Arlo is his first novel for middle-grade readers.

ABOUT THE FABULOUS EDWEENA

Hello world, meet Edweena!

Edwin loves his sister Patsy’s closet. He adores dresses and earrings and boots with high heels. And when he’s finished getting dressed, Edwin is transformed…into the fabulous Edweena!

Today is the figure skating competition at school and Edwin has decided to compete as Edweena. What will people say when they meet her for the first time? Can a boy in drag win the competition? Edweena will have to give her best performance ever to find out!

There’s also a dual language edition in both Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) and English.

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ABOUT THE CREATORS

Edwin Dumont was born in Parry Sound to a family with Ojibway heritage. His mother is a member of Henvey Inlet First Nation. He has always been called Edweena. Cinderella said, “A dream is a wish your heart makes,” and Edwin’s dream of being a writer came true. He owns a hair salon and lives with his husband in Toronto.

Melissa Cho is a multi-hyphenated Korean-Canadian creative designer based in Toronto, Ontario. Having built a career in illustration and animation, she celebrates the ebbs and flows of life and holds a passion for intentional and charming storytelling. She keeps busy through personal creative ventures, from handmade crafts to traditional illustrations.

ABOUT OASIS

With all the heart of The Wild Robot and the wonder of A Rover’s Story, two children and one robot form an unbreakable bond as they survive in a world that values the efficiency of tech over the care of humanity.

JieJie and her little brother, DiDi, are living on their own in a barren desert while their mother works tirelessly to earn their admission into Oasis City. Their days are filled with weathering sandstorms and scavenging for water, but everything changes when they come across an AI-powered robot lying dormant in an abandoned junkyard.

Filled with equal parts hope and suspense, Oasis tells the story of a potentially not-so-distant future that you won’t ever forget.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

GuoJing is an award-winning author and illustrator based in Canada. Her debut book, The Only Child, was a New York Times best illustrated book of the year amongst many other distinctions and accolades. Oasis is her fourth graphic novel and was inspired by the phenomena of “left-behind children”; children who are left in rural areas while their parents leave to find work in the city.

ABOUT SUNDAYS ARE FOR FEASTS

Every summer, Yasmine visits her family in Lebanon, and every Sunday, the whole family comes over for lunch. This summer Sunday, Yasmine is making the hummus!

But hummus is harder to make than she expects, and Yasmine has all sorts of questions: How much garlic should she add? Is it lemon juice or vinegar? And where does the sesame flavor come from? With a little help from Baba, Yasmine mixes in a bit of this, and a bit of that … and hummus à la Yasmine is ready! But when grumpy Ammo Farouk arrives with the rest of the family, Yasmine worries — will he hate it? What if her hummus doesn’t taste like the real thing?

Sundays Are for Feasts is a celebration of how meals can bring family together, and the importance of making your own traditions. Includes an author’s note, glossary of Arabic terms used in the story and a recipe for hummus!

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ABOUT THE CREATORS

Leila Boukarim is a children’s book author and freelance editor. Her recent books include the picture book Lost Words: An Armenian Story of Survival and Hope, illustrated by Sona Avedikian; and the graphic novel Zips and Eeloo Make Hummus, illustrated by Alex Lopez. She was born in Lebanon, raised in several countries and now lives in Berlin, Germany.

Ruaida Mannaa is a Colombian/Lebanese illustrator and designer who lives in Barranquilla, Colombia. Her work has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, and been awarded by 3X3 Magazine, Applied Arts, Latin American Illustration and the Bienal de Ilustración.

ABOUT YOU CAN BE AN ACTIVIST

Everything you need to know about making the world better from a real-life youth activist.

Here’s the definitive handbook for young activists who want to make a difference but don’t know where to begin. It covers everything from choosing a cause and doing the research, to deciding on a goal, and then making a plan to get it done. Along the way, readers will encounter loads of practical tips on handling specific tasks, like creating a petition, and larger responsibilities, like leading a team. There are also important discussion about essential topics such as intersectionality, privilege and allyship. Written in the encouraging, friendly tone of a peer, this book is sure to inform and inspire budding activists – and open their eyes to what’s possible!

Written by youth activist Charlene Rocha and award-winning author Mary Beth Leatherdale, this guide demystifies activism for budding social justice campaigners and climate advocates, and encourages readers to bring their own passions and interests to their work. Drew Shannon’s illustrations bring a sense of fun to the topic, and the comprehensive text is presented in chunks and sidebars, with engaging quizzes, prompts, lists, templates, profiles and interviews throughout. The book supports young readers in learning more about issues such as queer rights, feminism and Black Lives Matter. The back matter includes an extensive list of resources, a checklist of next steps, a glossary and an index. Part of the CitizenKid collection, this book aligns with the themes of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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ABOUT THE CREATORS

Charlene Rocha is an activist and software engineering student at the University of Waterloo. She combines her passions for computer science and activism by creating coding projects for a more sustainable future. Active in campaigns for a number of causes, Charlene has spoken at a TEDx event and was featured in the docuseries CitizenKid: Earth Comes First.

Mary Beth Leatherdale is an award-winning author and editor of books for children and youth. Her books have received many starred reviews and have won or been shortlisted for awards including the Norma Fleck Award, the YALSA Excellence in Non-Fiction for Young Adults Award, the SCBWI Golden Kite Award and the Silver Birch Award, among others. Mary Beth lives in Toronto with her husband and her dog, Champ.

Drew Shannon was born and raised in London, Ontario. After graduating high school, Drew went to the Bealart immersive art education program at H. B. Beal Secondary School. From there, he completed the illustration program at Sheridan College and earned a bachelor of arts. Shortly after moving to Toronto, Drew got his first regular illustration job, with the Globe and Mail. Since then, he’s had the pleasure of working with companies such as the CBC, Reader’s Digest, the Walrus, the Washington Post, NPR and more. He co-created a young adult graphic novel with his friend and writing partner, Nathan Page, called The Montague Twins. Drew lives in Toronto with his cat, Ripley.

ABOUT WHEN ISAAC HEARS THE RAIN

Celebrate the unexpected joy of a rainy day with this quietly exuberant book about a young boy who delights in the rejuvenating power of rain.

When the rain starts to fall, others may dash, yelp, and dodge, as their smiles turn into frowns. But not Isaac. Isaac embraces the rain with curiosity and wonder, grateful for its renewing power and grounded in the world around him. Written with equal parts heart and whimsy, and with a nod to Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day, this environmentally conscious narrative makes a fantastic read-aloud for readers, young and old.

​Author Julie Thompson wrote this sweet celebration of Black Boy Joy as an ode to her two sons. And the lyrical text will encourage readers everywhere to cherish those unexpected moments of joy that provide a welcome respite from the challenges of life.

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ABOUT THE CREATORS

Julie Thompson creates stories that reflect and celebrate the lived experiences of children everywhere. As a mother of two boys, she is especially drawn to books that honor Black Boy joy. Julie is inspired by the people, places, and experiences that have shaped her 27-year career in youth services, community outreach, and law enforcement, and she hopes to encourage open dialogue within families and their communities. She lives with her two sons in Toronto, Canada, where she teaches yoga, mindfulness, and meditation.

Leah Giles grew up in Toronto, Canada, where she studied film, animation, and illustration. She moved to Brooklyn to pursue studies in illustration and art education. Leah loves any and all things bright, bold, and radically lovely. She currently paints, draws, and collages in a noisy little apartment near the park.

ABOUT REMEMBER ME TOMORROW

A missing student. A singular investigation. A new romance. Every bit of it is a mystery in a delightful novel of cosmic twists by the author of How to Win a Breakup.

East House is the oldest and least desirable dorm on campus, but it has a draw for lonely university freshman Aleeza Kassam: Jay Hoque, the hot and broody student who vanished from East House five months ago without a trace. It’s irresistible to an aspiring investigative journalist like Aleeza.

But when she starts receiving texts from Jay, the mystery takes an unexpected turn. To put it mildly. His messages are coming not only from Aleeza’s own dorm room but from the past―only weeks before he disappeared. Sharing space, if not time, Aleeza and Jay are living the impossible, and they start working together to prevent his inevitable disappearance. Causing a temporal paradox that could blow up the universe is a risk they’re going to have to take.

Aleeza digs through Jay’s suspicious friends, enemies, and exes, determined to find out what happened to him. Or what will happen to him. But it’s becoming more than a mystery. Aleeza is catching feelings for her charming new roommate. Wherever, and whenever, he may be.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After a childhood filled with Bollywood, Monty Python, and Jane Austen, Farah Heron constantly wove uplifting happily ever afters in her head while pursuing careers in human resources and psychology. She started writing her stories down a few years ago and is thrilled to see her daydreams become books. The author of Accidentally Engaged and The Chai Factor, Farah writes romantic comedies for adults and teens full of huge South Asian families, delectable food, and most importantly, brown people falling stupidly in love. Farah lives in Toronto with her husband and two teens, a rabbit named Strawberry, and two cats who rule the house. She has way too many hobbies, but her thumb is more brown than green. For more information visit www.farahheron.com.

ABOUT GETTING US TO GRANDMA’S

No one knows maps like Nikki — but can she get her family to Grandma’s house in time?

Nikki’s family is preparing for a long road trip from Toronto to the Bronx to attend Uncle Travis’s wedding. They pack their suitcases, boxes of Jamaican black cake, and most importantly to Nikki, the big map book!

Nikki loves geography and enjoys tracing the routes to all the places her relatives live — her Grandpa in Florida, her cousins in Atlanta, DC, and Boston. She daydreams of England, where other family lives, and Jamaica and Africa, where her roots run deep.

Her attention comes back to the road trip when it’s clear that Daddy’s taken a wrong turn. “I can help!” says Nikki, who proves to be an excellent navigator. She guides them back to the Bronx Expressway, under the elevated subway tracks, onto a street of brown row houses and safely to Grandma’s.

Inspired by the childhoods of author Nadia L. Hohn and illustrator TeMika Grooms, Getting Us to Grandma’s is full of fun historic details — a world before Google Maps! — and authentic cultural moments shared by diasporic families, whose stories can be traced across continents. A fantastic representation of Black girls in STEM.

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ABOUT THE CREATORS

Nadia L. Hohn, B.A. (Hon.), B.Ed., M.Ed., M.F.A. is an award-winning educator and author of several books for children including the Malaika series, The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes), and A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice. Nadia is an “artivist” who works to make sure that all young people see themselves in books. Based in Toronto, Nadia teaches elementary school and writing for children courses at post-secondary institutions.

TeMika Grooms is a writer and illustrator with a passion for creating stories for young readers. She grew up reading comics and books by Shel Silverstein and honed her artistic training in traditional fine art. TeMika’s first picture book, Put Your Shoes On & Get Ready! was written by Senator Raphael G. Warnock. TeMika lives on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, with her cat and her two daughters, whom she affectionately calls Thing One and Thing Two.