The Q&Q team reached out to authors, booksellers, librarians, and reviewers across the country to find out which titles from 2025 they’re still thinking about as the year draws to a close. This week, highlights from the year’s books for kids ranging from picture books to YA novels. 

Colette Poitras, Indigenous Public Library Outreach, Edmonton 

The Inquisitive Raven
Richard Wagamese and Bridget George, ill.
Douglas & McIntyre 

In The Inquisitive Raven, volume two of the Richard Wagamese Storybook Collection, the ever curious Reuben learns an important lesson about self-acceptance after trying to soar like a bald eagle. Through Wagamese’s gentle storytelling and Bridget George’s luminous, earthy illustrations, this tale celebrates curiosity, wisdom, and being true to oneself. A heartfelt and visually stunning book, it’s a timeless treasure for readers of all ages and a must-have for every library.

You Were Made for This World: Celebrated Indigenous Voices Speak to Young People
Stephanie Sinclair and Sara Sinclair, eds.
Tundra Books/Penguin Random House Canada 

This stunning collection of love letters from 40 Indigenous creators to their younger selves celebrates resilience, identity, and hope. Organized around the sacred medicines of water, tobacco, cedar, sweetgrass, and sage, it pairs powerful prose with vibrant artwork to uplift Indigenous children and foster empathy in all readers. Beautifully written and designed, with moving contributions from the Sinclairs along with a thoughtful foreword by Murray Sinclair, this is a heartfelt, essential addition to every library.

Heather Camlot, author and reviewer

Words Matter: The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl, and the White Rose Resistance
Anita Fitch Pazner and Sophie Casson, ill.
Groundwood Books

Words are powerful. They can spread truth, ideas, and hope. But they can also drive lies, propaganda, and desperation. Adolf Hitler’s words convinced many German citizens that he could save them and the country – as long as they agreed with everything he said. Siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl eventually saw through the Nazi lies and helped build the Resistance, paying with their lives. Words Matter is a heart-rending tribute to the resistance fighters and proof that no matter how deep they are buried, words of truth will prevail.

Lisa Doucet, Woozles Children’s Bookstore, Halifax

Island Storm
Brian Floca and Sydney Smith, ill.
Neal Porter Books/Holiday House

This spare and evocative story of two siblings who venture out to witness the awesomeness of an approaching storm is poetic and magnificent! Text and illustrations together capture the sense of urgency and expectation, the grandeur and wildness of the storm when it crashes upon them, the comfort and warmth of home. Smith’s illustrations are brooding and intense and wildly impressionistic as they masterfully depict the storm-swept landscape, the dark, deserted, and rain soaked streets, and, eventually, the post-storm calm. 

The History of Everything
Victoria Evans
HarperAlley/HarperCollins

This exquisitely illustrated graphic novel offers keen insight into teen friendship, the tumultuousness of the mother-daughter relationship, and the challenges of a first crush/relationship. The author sensitively explores these topics through the course of a single summer as two best friends grapple with the reality that one of them will be moving in the fall. Tender and sweet, the artwork features a darker palette with splashes of colour and thick, loose outlines that create a nostalgic feel.

Meet Me at Blue Hour
Sarah Suk
Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins

So very thought-provoking! This book deftly and thoughtfully explores issues of biomedical ethics and the complexities of memory. The protagonist’s mother is the head of a memory erasure clinic and while this gives her the chance to see first-hand how wonderful it can be for families and individuals to have that option, she also witnesses (and experiences) the pain that can result from the decision to wipe out memories. The Korean setting and culture is beautifully rendered, the characters are multi-faceted, and the budding romance is lovely, but it is the complex and nuanced exploration of memories – from many different angles – that makes this book so unique and compelling.

Fiona Raye Clarke, reviewer in London, Ontario

The Fabulous Edweena
Edwin Dumont and Melissa Cho, ill. 
Second Story Press

A heartwarming story about bravery that teaches readers the lesson: if we dare to be ourselves, we never know who is waiting to celebrate us.

Monique Gray Smith, author of Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults

Remember Who You Are
Leona Prince and Gabrielle Prince; Sara General, ill.
Orca Book Publishers

This book is a gentle reminder of the unique gifts and strengths each child has, and the story helps children understand their own unique gifts. Through the beautiful illustrations and profound words, children experience themselves as part of a community, with many ways to both contribute and belong. 

Beast 
Richard Van Camp
Douglas & McIntyre

I love this book because it is a culmination of all the things Van Camp does best: it is an extraordinary story that has the reader turning each page in anticipation; it helps bridge generations with all the ’80s themes and references; it’s a bit spooky; and it also has values that foster a healthy and vibrant life woven throughout.

Allison Mills, librarian and archivist in Philadelphia

My Friend May
Julie Flett
Greystone Kids

My Friend May by Julie Flett is a wonderfully illustrated picture book that will appeal to everyone who’s ever owned and worried about a pet. Flett tells a universal story while incorporating her Cree-Métis culture into the narrative – a masterful blend that will draw readers in!

Rachel Rosenberg, librarian and reviewer in Toronto 

Everybelly 
Thao Lam
Groundwood Books

I have always enjoyed Lam’s books, both for her heartfelt writing and distinctive cut-paper collage aesthetic. Maddie and her mom are hanging out at the local public pool; as the little girl swims, she considers all the different bellies she comes across. This story is a positive way for little kids to learn to love their bellies and to appreciate that everyone’s body is different.

Feeling Your Feelings: The Head-to-Toe Science of Emotions 
Tanya Lloyd Kyi and Phil Nicholls, ill.
Kids Can Press

This tween-friendly nonfiction title gives readers the stories behind common body functions and movements. Author Tanya Lloyd Kyi has written extensively for children, and her accessible writing makes this another must-have for social-emotional learning. It will fascinate kids curious about how their bodies work.

Shazia Hafiz Ramji, writer and reviewer from Toronto and London, U.K.

Nightmare Jones
Shannon Bramer and Cindy Derby, ill.
Groundwood Books

Nightmare Jones honours the astute sensitivity of preteens. In these poems and paintings, recipes are made with goddesses and strange characters talk to their own teeth. With wit and rhythm, Bramer and Derby ask us to confront and delight in the darker side of life.

Sal Sawler, author and reviewer in Nova Scotia

Aggie and the Ghost
Matthew Forsythe 
Simon & Schuster

This was the year I wrote the words, “This might be a perfect picture book.” That book was Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe, and months later, I’m still telling people about it. 

The story opens as Aggie moves into a new house, excited to enjoy her own space. But it turns out she’s not alone after all – the house is haunted. The ghost is more irritating than scary, and Aggie is frustrated by their lack of boundaries – and lays down the rules. It’s a sweet book with gorgeous illustrations, but it’s the themes that hit the hardest. It doesn’t just teach kids how to establish boundaries. It also shows that we don’t have to be friends with everyone – but we can usually still find common ground. 

This Place Kills Me 
Mariko Tamaki and Nicole Goux, ill.
Abrams Fanfare/Hachette Book Group

If someone else didn’t already pick this graphic novel, I’ll be surprised. Tamaki and Goux are, to use a very ’80s/’90s kind of term, a dream team. Told from the point of view of Abby Kita, a student who’s just transferred to Wilberton Academy, a stuffy all-girls school, a murder mystery unfolds against a moody backdrop of forests, student dorms, and period costumes. Partially an exploration of what it was like to be queer in all-girl spaces in the 1980s and ’90s, This Place Kills Me also takes a hard look at toxic relationships, boundary issues, and secret-keeping. Tamaki’s storytelling is compelling and nuanced, and Goux’s illustrative work is a masterpiece of visual storytelling, from the colour palettes to panel composition. Here’s hoping we get an encore.

Sheniz Janmohamed, author and reviewer in Markham, Ontario

A Summer of Dragonflies
Natasha Deen
DCB Young Readers

A Summer of Dragonflies is a heartwarming, coming-of-age tale of a young girl who learns that courage is also borne of community, friendship, and family. Deen writes with grace, magic, and wit. A delightful read for children and adults alike.

Elizabeth Ferguson, Mabel’s Fables, Toronto

The Great Dinosaur Sleepover
Linda Bailey and Joe Bluhm, ill.
Tundra Books/PRHC

All Jake wants for his birthday is a dinosaur party, but when his friends get the flu and there is no one to celebrate with him, it looks like it won’t be such a happy birthday after all. Until Jake wakes up in the middle of the night and finds three dinosaurs in his living room and suddenly it really IS a dinosaur party! This is a wonderful picture book about friendship that is full of fun and heart, and is sure to be requested again and again at bedtime. 

A Mastery of Monsters
Liselle Sambury
Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster

When August’s brother goes missing, she doesn’t believe that he just ran away. Instead, convinced that they have at least some of the answers she is looking for, August joins a secret society of monster hunters. This is the first book in a new dark academia fantasy series by Liselle Sambury, and is perfect for fans of Legendborn, and YA readers who love secret societies, deadly competitions, and just a touch of horror. Set at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, this is a story that builds slowly but has a payoff that is absolutely worth it.

Nathan Whitlock, author and reviewer in Hamilton, Ontario

Best of All Worlds
Kenneth Oppel
Penguin Teen Canada

I am outsourcing my pick to my youngest, Lou (age 11), who read Kenneth Oppel’s Best of All Worlds over a single weekend and says it’s “the best book of the year, and maybe even the best book of my life … it has this really good story.” He especially likes how the plot keeps “twisting” throughout, though not in the ways he was expecting.

Michelle Callaghan, librarian and reviewer in Calgary 

This Is Orange: A Field Trip Through Color 
Rachel Poliquin and Julie Morstad, ill. 
Candlewick Press

Rachel Poliquin and Julie Morstad bring readers a burst of wondrous learning and visual awe with This Is Orange: A Field Trip Through Color. From contemplating the namesake fruit to rooster dreams, Rothko, and more, Poliquin and Morstad turn their sublime mix of informational narrative and lush artwork into a fascinating historical, cultural, and contemporary study of the colour orange. 

The Little Ghost Quilt’s Winter Surprise 
Riel Nason and Byron Eggenschwiler, ill. 
Tundra Books/PRHC

The star of The Little Ghost Quilt makes a most welcome return! During the deep of wintertime, a thoughtful little ghost quilt is warmed down to his batting and stitches when he spies merriment and cheer in the human world, and is inspired to bring surprises of twinkling glow to his ghost friends. Riel Nason and Byron Eggenschwiler’s gorgeous, heart-filling picture book is one to celebrate.

Erin Dalton, Huckleberry Books, Cranbrook, B.C. 

My Street Remembers
Karen Krossing and Cathie Jamieson, ill.
Groundwood Books

My Street Remembers is a beautifully illustrated, impactful story of one street, and the long, long history in that place. It asks the reader to think about who else has lived where they live. In clear, age-appropriate language, My Street Remembers acknowledges injustices and harm, and invites us to do better. This is a gorgeous, moving story for readers of all ages.

Linda Ludke, librarian at London Public Library, London, Ontario

Rock
Laurel Croza and Matt James, ill. 
Groundwood Books

This moving, rock-solid picture book by the dream team of Laurel Croza and Matt James is a master class in self-assuredness and staying grounded in the face of pecking bully birds who seek to diminish. “I am a rock” is a mantra to remember.

True Colors: Growing Up Weird in the ’90s 
Elise Gravel
Drawn & Quarterly

Gravel’s fictionalized tween diary, full of angst, art, and undiagnosed ADHD, is a colourful anthem of being true to oneself. I want to make a cassette mixtape to express my love for this funny, feisty, and oh-so-relatable graphic memoir.

Update, Dec. 4: This story has been updated to reflect the correct imprint for Island Storm.