★ Chasing Freedom

The story of the Underground Railroad is a natural source of inspiration for children’s writers. It has the shape of a journey, plausible possibilities for autonomous child participation, plenty of suspense, and a built-in ethical ... Read More »

September 14, 2011 | Filed under: Children and YA Non-fiction

Wazzyjump

By Michael Moniz

Wazzyjump the rabbit is rumoured to have magical powers, though none of the other animals know what they are. Lion commands the other creatures to find the rabbit and compel him to give up his ... Read More »

September 14, 2011 | Filed under: Children and YA Non-fiction, Picture Books

Room Enough for Daisy

By Debby Waldman and Rita Feutl; Cindy Revell, illus.

Celebrated children’s picture book team Debby Waldman and Cindy Revell have once again joined forces on a story inspired by Jewish folklore, co-authored this time by Edmonton children’s author Rita Feutl. In this updated interpretation ... Read More »

September 14, 2011 | Filed under: Children and YA Non-fiction, Picture Books

The Mouse Who Saved Egypt

By Karim Alrawi; Bee Willey, illus.

In his second work for children – following the successful 2000 picture book The Girl Who Lost Her Smile – Vancouver’s Karim Alrawi plucks a story from the rich history of his native Egypt and ... Read More »

September 14, 2011 | Filed under: Picture Books

Caramba and Henry

By Marie-Louise Gay

Author/illustrator Marie-Louise Gay returns with a follow-up to 2005’s Caramba. Gay is the reigning queen of Canadian picture books for a reason, and Caramba and Henry finds her doing what she does best: showcasing the ... Read More »

September 14, 2011 | Filed under: Picture Books

Dancing Lessons

By Olive Senior

Olive Senior’s debut novel is the latest addition to the author’s acclaimed fictions of postcolonial Jamaican culture, which include the 1986 story collection Summer Lightning, winner of the inaugural Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book. ... Read More »

September 12, 2011 | Filed under: Fiction: Novels

This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein

By Kenneth Oppel

The movie rights to Kenneth Oppel’s latest novel have already been sold to the producers of the Twilight series. No surprise there. This Dark Endeavour has all the elements – a love triangle, the supernatural, ... Read More »

September 7, 2011 | Filed under: Children and YA Fiction

★ The Circle Game

By Joni Mitchell; Brian Deines, illus.

Since its release on her 1970 album Ladies of the Canyon, “The Circle Game” has endured as one of the best-loved songs by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. Though those old enough to remember hearing it ... Read More »

September 7, 2011 | Filed under: Picture Books

No Ordinary Day

By Deborah Ellis

There is nothing harder to perceive than our own preconceptions, and perhaps no better remedy for this blindness than walking a mile in someone else’s shoes. That idea drives two new novels by a pair ... Read More »

September 7, 2011 | Filed under: Children and YA Fiction