Welcome to our revamped Bookmark column! Instead of themed book lists, we’re dedicating this space to showcasing the latest and soon-to-be-released Canadian books for young readers. It’s our way of championing the amazing work Canadian publishers are putting into the hands of kids and teens everywhere.
Picture Books
The Cloud That Stuck
written by Karen Krossing
illustrated by Dorothy Leung
Charlesbridge Publishing, 2026
IL: Ages 6-9 RL: Grades 2-3
Whoosh! On a blustery day, the wind blows a cloud over Tansy’s head, blocking the sun. She yells at the cloud and tries to outrun it on her bike. Her best friend, her dad, and her teacher try to get rid of it, but the cloud won't budge. Then it rains on Tansy, and she forgets what sunshine feels like.
Having a cloud overhead feels like the worst possible thing in the world. Until Tansy gets rain boots and an umbrella. She plays in the puddles with her friends and even plants a garden, watering it with her handy, always-present cloud! As Tansy finds ways to live with her cloud, she learns that flowers need rain, and so do rainbows.
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The Octopus
written and illustrated by Guojing
Two Lions, 2026
IL: Ages 3-7 RL: n/a
In this wordless picture book, a little girl goes to the beach with her mother, never expecting the day full of magic and wonder that is ahead of her. When she scoops up a tiny octopus in her small, clear container, and they see each other eye to eye, there’s a spark between them! But a little octopus cannot be happy for long in a container.
So the girl sets out to discover what the octopus needs. And that’s when something truly magical happens! Soon, the little girl is on an underwater adventure with her new octopus friend, where she discovers the joy and beauty of the octopus’s world and learns how she can help take care of the ocean in her own way.
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I Will Not Walk to School
written by Naseem Hrab
illustrated by Kelly Collier
Kids Can Press, 2026
IL: Ages 3-7 RL: Grades 2-3
It’s eight o’clock, Bird tells Monster—time to walk to school. Monster stays in bed. It’s not school he’s resisting. He loves school! It’s the getting there he hates. And, today, Monster declares, he will not walk to school. Will Bird’s cajoling help? Nope. How about Bird’s reminder that the pancake breakfast is today? Hmm. Will there be pepperoni and pineapple on those pancakes? Erm... yes? With maple syrup on the side? Yes. Okay. Monster will drag himself out the door. But, no matter what, he will not walk to school!
While books about going to school are perennial favourites, this one’s focus on simply getting there sets it apart from other picture books about school readiness. It’s just the right weekday morning story for children who are delaying their own walks to school... and looking for ways to make them more fun!
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The Mountain That Wouldn’t Move
written and illustrated by Sandra Dumais
Owlkids Books, 2026
IL: Ages 4-7 RL: Grades 2-3
Bear lives in a forest under the shadow of a mountain. She dreams of seeing a sunset and feeling the warm sun on her fur. So one day, fed up with the gloomy shadow, she decides there’s only one thing to do: move the mountain! She enlists the help of her forest friends, who agree to take on this seemingly impossible task. But after all their efforts fail, her exhausted friends decide that they don’t mind the shadow after all. Bear alone keeps trying—only to eventually collapse in frustration.
When her friends gently lift her and carry her up to the top of the mountain, Bear sees the sunset for the very first time. She realizes that without the mountain this beautiful view wouldn’t be possible, and she is finally able to let go of the shadow... and her anger.
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Skate On, Shirley! A Hockey Story
written by Victoria Bach and Ryan Francis
illustrated by Brandon Mitchell
Nimbus Publishing, 2026
IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades 2-3
What if I'm older than everyone else? What if I don't have any hockey gear? I don't even know how to skate! All of these worries run through eight-year-old Shirley's mind when she joins a local hockey program for Indigenous girls. She loves watching hockey on TV with her brother and dad, but she's not sure if she has what it takes to play. With the help of those around her, determination, and a whole lot of heart, Shirley finds her footing and makes new friends. Every time she falls, she gets back up again, proving that anyone can have fun on the ice if they just try.
Co-written by two-time hockey world champion Victoria Bach and Indigenous Girls Hockey Program co-founder Ryan Francis, and featuring artwork by illustrator Brandon Mitchell, Skate On, Shirley! is a heartwarming story about the power of community. A portion of all royalties will be donated to the Genevieve Francis Memorial Fund to support sports opportunities for Indigenous girls in Atlantic Canada.
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Early Readers & Middle Grade Fiction
Asha and Baz Meet Sylvia Earle
(Asha Baz, Book 7)
written by Caroline Fernandez
illustrated by Sharmali Patel
Common Deer Press, 2026
IL: Ages 6-9 RL: Grades 2-3
Asha and Baz are learning about the ocean in school, and though Baz seems mysteriously more confident than usual, the pair know that a trip back in time is sure to help them solve the Great Ocean Zone Challenge. Together, they journey to 1970, where oceanographer Sylvia Earle is working in the US Virgin Islands. Sylvia is set to lead an all-women team on a mission to study the ocean while living in an underwater habitat called Tektite II. Who better to teach Asha and Baz about the ocean zones and the creatures that live in them? With her help, the two budding scientists might be able to solve their class challenge—and Asha might just uncover a few surprises about her best friend along the way.
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First Crush: A Graphic Novel
(The New Girl, Book 2)
written and illustrated by Cassandra Calin
Graphix/Scholastic, 2026
IL: Ages 9-12 RL: Grades 4-5
Lia is finally feeling settled into her new life. Her friends are amazing, her French is improving, and her periods... ugh, those are still terrible. But Lia's crush, Julien, is noticing her. Lia thinks he likes her, but she can't tell for sure. And while she's obsessing over him, Lia's not noticing another person's growing crush on HER. With so many big feelings and even bigger changes, could things get any worse?
In this sophomore follow-up to the breakout hit The New Girl, Lia's relationships—with her friends, her crush, her mom, and even herself—are all tested like never before.
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Jazz Davies Skips a Beat(Lo and Jazz, Book 2)
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
IL: Ages 9-12 RL: Grades 4-5
Jazz’s life recently has been... a lot. After her mom left her dad for her yoga instructor (what a cliché), Jazz and her dad had to create a new normal. So when Jazz saw a chance to be one of her school’s It Girls, she went all in, leaving her best friend Lo behind.
But being a popular girl doesn’t feel like she’d hoped. Even though it’s fun to be admired, she isn’t sure the It Girls actually care about her. They’re always pressuring her to look and act a certain way—and worse, they want her to start dating, even though there aren’t any boys she likes that way.
When Jazz is unexpectedly paired up with music geek Ren in history class, Jazz gets this feeling... like butterflies. But Ren’s a girl. Jazz is totally fine with other people being gay and queer, but she never thought she was. And what would happen if the It Girls found out?
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Still Alive
(Kidnapped from Ukraine, Book 3)
written by Martha Forchuk Skrypuch
Scholastic Press, 2026
IL: Ages 8-12 RL: Grades 3-4
Twelve-year-old twin sisters Rada and Dariia Popkova couldn't be more different. Dariia is outgoing and chatty while Rada is quieter and artsy. But what they have in common is their love for each other and their home. The family lives in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which is attacked by the Russians on February 24th, 2022. The attack separates the family—Dariia is with her mom and Rada with her dad. The thrilling conclusion to this trilogy will have readers reaching for tissues on the edge of their seats.
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The Unbelievable True Story of Uutak
written by Atuat Shouldice
illustrated by Amiel Sandland
Inhabit Media, 2026
IL: Ages 7-9 RL: 3-4
When a young man joins a neighbour for a hunting trip, he has no idea what adventures await him. While learning about animal tracking and weather patterns, the young man witnesses a feat of strength, visits with a giant, listens to talking foxes, and shares tea with a shape-shifter. The magical intersects with traditional knowledge in this wild and wondrous tale.
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Young Adult Fiction
Between Classes
written by Angelot Ndongmo
Lorimer, 2026
IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 8-9
When 18-year-old Derell moves from Jamaica to Toronto to live with his father, he leaves behind his girlfriend and sick mother and steps into a world he doesn’t recognize. At his new and very elite high school, Derell meets Amina, a gifted dancer, and the two click.
But Amina is caught between her heart and her family’s demands to date within their wealthy circle. That circle includes Malik, a flashy aspiring rapper who sees Derell as competition both in music and in love. Balancing the pressure of fitting in, clashes with Malik, and his father’s new family, Derell has to decide whether or not to try to join in with the world of Amina’s family and friends, all obsessed with money and status.
This is a story that reflects the tensions within the Jamaican Canadian community where barriers of social class and status play out among both teens and adults.
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Delta OblivionIL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 4-5
Sixteen-year-old Tallie and her best friend Diego have always shared the same dream: to become mechbot pilots and compete in the Mech Battles, a hugely popular sport that promises fame and fortune to successful pilots.
On the day that copilots are assigned, Tallie is devastated when she doesn’t get paired with Diego. Instead, she has to partner with Zaina Chandra, a troubled pilot who got kicked off her last team. But to drive a mechbot, pilots have to connect their minds, which means sharing your deepest thoughts and secrets. Tallie was ready to share her secrets with Diego, but Zaina? She's a complete stranger. With her dreams and pride riding on the partnership, Tallie will have to find a way to open up and convince Zaina to do the same.
Finding Family
written by Kamilah Haywood
Lorimer, 2026
IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 8-9
In Finding Family, 18-year-old Jamaican-Canadian Trey leaves behind a life of rejection in the suburbs and finds a new community in Toronto’s Gay Village. As he navigates the complexities of queer identity, romance, and self-discovery, Trey learns that family isn’t always defined by blood, but by those who choose to accept and support you.
This spirited novel from Kamilah Haywood offers an authentic portrayal of Toronto’s LGBTQ+ scene.
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The Saw Mouth
written by Cale Plett
Delacorte Press, 2026
IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 7-8
Ten years later, following a family tragedy, Cedar moves to the nowhere town of Sawblade Lake only to find something hunting them. A long, bent shadow that reeks like rot and has the mouth of a deep crevice. It's after Cedar, and it’s willing to go to any lengths to break them, including preying on Cedar’s new queer family.
The closer it circles, the more it seems to weave through Cedar’s whole life. It might stretch back to their mother’s gruesome, inexplicable death, to the murk of their missing family, to the house they grew up in. Back and back and back to the first day of Autumn.
Cedar thought they understood how their world had changed, but they’re far from dredging the bottom.
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Trust No One
(Orca Soundings)
written by Karen Bass
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 2-3
Seventeen-year-old Ben Hamer knows it’s never a good sign when the cops know your name. Unfortunately, being harassed by the police and questioned about being the son of a career thief has started to become his norm. Only this time, when the police stop Ben for jaywalking by his school, he has an audience. The new girl in Ben's grade, Abigail, notices his exchange with the police and asks him out on a date.
It starts out as the best date of Ben’s life until Abigail stops to run an errand and rushes out of the store shouting, “Go, go, go!” As they race away, Ben realizes he has just become an accomplice in a robbery. Abigail takes off with the money, and Ben is worried the police won't give him a fair chance because of his criminal father. He needs to track down Abigail and make a plan to get his life back, but the cops are closing in and time is running out...
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Non-Fiction
Bat Planet: The Mysterious Life of the Creatures of the Night
(Orca Wild)
written by Neil Griffin
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
IL: Ages 9-12 RL: Grades 4-5
Bats are all around us and have coexisted with humans for hundreds of thousands of years. They live in our attics and under our porches. Bats account for 20 percent of all mammal species on Earth and live on every continent (except Antarctica). Some are as small as a bumblebee and others have wingspans that could envelop an adult human. Bats eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes an hour, making our summertime camping trips more bearable. They live in colonies with thousands of their cousins, where they hang upside-down and groom each other, like monkeys hanging from monkey bars. These winged wonders have zipped and pinged through the night skies for seventy million years, but today almost 25 percent of bat species are at risk of extinction.
In Bat Planet, discover the biology, habitat, risks to survival and how you can help one of the most widespread, diverse and fascinating groups of animals on Earth.
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Beyond Earth: How Space Exploration Affects Life at Home
(Orca Footprints)
written by Yolanda Ridge and Olivia Ridge
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
IL: Ages 9-12 RL: Grades 4-5
Living in space has led to many breakthroughs that can improve our lives. Research done on the International Space Station has led to new discoveries that have saved lives on Earth. Satellites in space let us communicate easily on our phones and power the GPS devices we use. And space exploration has even helped us learn how to purify water more easily and harness solar power, so we can take care of Earth's ecosystems and resources.
Still, space exploration requires a lot of resources like money and fuel. Can we justify using fossil fuels to fly rockets during a climate crisis? And how do we make sure we’re not messing up the rest of the solar system? Is exploring the cosmos really worth the cost? To answer those questions, Beyond Earth dives into space exploration and its impact. Because it's not about finding planet B, it’s about preserving planet A — and using space exploration to get us there.
Canada’s Endangered Animals: Twelve Species at Risk of Disappearing Forever
written by Grace Kennedy
illustrated by Alex MacAskill
Nimbus Publishing, 2026
IL: Ages 7-11 RL: Grades 3-4
From musical songbirds to majestic mammals, many incredible animals call Canada home, but not all of them are thriving here. Canada's Endangered Animals introduces young readers to 12 species at risk of going extinct across the country due to climate change, poaching, disease, and human interference. These include the Gaspésie caribou, a species that once thrived in the Atlantic provinces and now only exists along the coast of Québec; the five-lined skink, a beautiful lizard with a bright blue tail that is being eaten up by ravenous raccoons; and the lonely northern spotted owl—only one of which has been born in the Canadian wild in years.
Vibrantly illustrated by the artist behind the Hackmatack and Red Cedar-shortlisted Canada Wild, this accessible book for young readers includes profiles of each animal showcasing its habitat, diet, and population number, as well as fascinating facts and a What Are We Doing? section to explain how scientists and citizens are keeping these animals alive. Readers will also find advice on how they can help at home, from building a bat box to planting native flowers, as well as an illustrated map to locate each animal across the country.
From the beaches of the east to the old-growth forests of the west and the Arctic tundra of the north, Canada's Endangered Animals is the perfect guidebook for budding animal rescuers from coast to coast.
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Enough to Share
written by Mary Helen Berg
illustrated by Sue Todd
Tielmore Press, 2026
IL: Ages 5-9 RL: Grades 2-3
Step into the misty woods and rocky shores of the Great Bear Rainforest, where two rare animals—Spirit Bear and Sea Wolf—have lived side by side for thousands of years. But now their world is changing. As climate change warms the land and sea, food becomes scarce, and these two powerful creatures must learn to share what little remains.
Enough to Share introduces young readers to the Great Bear Rainforest. Kids meet real, rare animals and see how they live in a place full of beauty, danger, and change. The story uses simple, warm language to help children understand that Earth has limited resources—and we must care for them together.
The back of the book includes easy facts about Spirit Bears and Sea Wolves, plus simple ways kids can help protect nature, making this a strong choice for classrooms and libraries.
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Ruth Masters: An Environmental Activist
(Trailblazing Canadians)
written by Haley Healey
illustrated by Kimiko Fraser
Heritage House Publishing, 2026
IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades 2-3
Born in a rustic cabin surrounded by mountains, lakes, and forests, Ruth Masters grew up with a deep love and respect for the natural world. As an avid mountaineer and backcountry guide in the wilderness of Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, she knew firsthand how precious the land was and how important it was to protect it. For years, Ruth fought against the harmful practices of logging, damming, mining, and trophy hunting. She was always on the frontlines of protests, raising her voice against those who wanted to exploit the environment for profit. Even when people got angry at her, Ruth never gave up her cause.
This inspiring picture book celebrates Ruth’s passion for the environment and encourages young readers to find their inner activist!