Picture Books

Underneath the Sidewalk

Conquering fears is a big part of childhood. Kids are confronted with scary new things on a regular basis: the dark, the monster under the bed, climbing a tree, a move to a new neighbourhood. ... Read More »

March 9, 2017 | Filed under: Picture Books

Triangle

By Jon Klassen (ill.); Mac Barnett

Though Caldecott medal darlings Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen’s third collaboration (the first in a planned trilogy) gives initial signs of being an earnest tale about embracing difference, it soon reveals itself to be a ... Read More »

March 1, 2017 | Filed under: Picture Books

★ Under the Umbrella

By Catherine Buquet; Marion Arbona (ill.); Erin Woods (trans.)

If the National Film Board of Canada has not already grabbed the film rights to Catherine Buquet and Marion Arbona’s first picture-book collaboration, they should do so right away. The book’s slight-but-heartwarming story, expressionistic visuals, ... Read More »

March 1, 2017 | Filed under: Picture Books

The Dance of the Violin

By Dušan Petricic (ill.); Kathy Stinson

In the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award–winning The Man with the Violin, Kathy Stinson and Dušan Petricic created fiction around an actual event: virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell’s anonymous performance of Bach in a Washington, D.C., ... Read More »

January 26, 2017 | Filed under: Picture Books

A Horse Named Steve

By Kelly Collier

This bright, breezy picture-book debut by Toronto author-illustrator Kelly Collier marks the first time I have ever seen the myth of Narcissus reworked with a horse in the starring role. The eponymous equine, like Cephissus ... Read More »

January 9, 2017 | Filed under: Picture Books

★ My Beautiful Birds

By Suzanne Del Rizzo

With the arrival of Syrian refugee families in many Canadian communities, parents and children alike are charged with trying to understand the harsh experiences these new classmates and neighbours have undergone. The compassionate and beautiful ... Read More »

January 3, 2017 | Filed under: Picture Books

To Burp or Not to Burp: A Guide to Your Body in Space

By Dave Williams; Loredana Cunti; Theo Krynauw (ill.)

Two fun new fall non-fiction titles provide answers to some common (and not-so-common) questions kids may have about the world around them and beyond. I Am Josephine (And I Am a Living Thing) helps kids ... Read More »

December 12, 2016 | Filed under: Picture Books

Fox and Squirrel: The Best Christmas Ever

By Ruth Ohi

Given our climate, it’s no surprise that Canadian kidlit publishers make the most of winter-themed titles, releasing a few every fall. This year’s crop is strong and inclusive, with something to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or ... Read More »

December 12, 2016 | Filed under: Picture Books