Reviews of eight new Canadian books by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, Naseem Hrab, Rachel Schwartz Fagan, Kathy Kacer and more!
Picture Books | Middle Grade | YA/Teen | Non-Fiction
Picture Books
Canada: We Are the Story
written by Richard Wagamese
illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley
Swift Water Books, 2026
978-1-7748-8638-0 (hc) $24.99
978-1-7748-8639-7 (ebook) $11.99
for Preschool to Grade 2
Picture Book | Canada | Indigenous
A poem from the iconic late author Richard Wagamese, supported by illustrations from Mangeshig Pawis‑Steckley, Canada: We Are the Story begins with a young student contemplating a school assignment that asks, “What makes you proud to be a Canadian?”
Both the text and the illustrations feel luminous and ethereal as the student is invited to listen—to hear the ancestors as they speak to him. The story is inclusive, acknowledging Indigenous ancestors as well as the ancestors of those who arrived later in the history of this land—anyone who has been part of Canada’s story. The reader is carried across space and time, through every part of Canada, continually reminded to listen: to their stories, their diversity, and the ways they hold us up. We are all related, and we are all at home in this country of Canada.
Wagamese is a masterful storyteller and poet, and Pawis‑Steckley’s illustrations are vibrant, expressive, and truly magical. While adapted for young children, this is a wonderful picture book for readers of all ages.
Recommended for home, school, and public libraries.
Colette Poitras is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, holds a Master's degree in Library and Information Science and is the Indigenous Public Library Services Advisor for the Government of Alberta.
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Every Space Between
written by Naseem Hrab
illustrated by John Martz
Groundwood Books, 2026
978-1-77306-710-0 (hc) $ 21.99
978-1-77306-711-7 (ebook) $ 16.99
for Kindergarten to Grade 2
Picture Book | Concept | Time Sense | Emotions and Feelings
In-between moments can be ordinary, such as the space between an itch on a boy’s leg and the move to scratch it, or they can be sweet, such as the space between dad bending over his sister and placing a kiss on her forehead. The space between slicing into the girl’s triple-layer-confetti birthday cake can feel extraordinary long to her, complete with a rotating series of feelings that culminate in great lip-licking anticipation, while the space between a cat’s yearning and the stealing of something yummy can be unbelievably quick, complete with a satisfied and mischievous look on the cat’s face and pink frosting on its paws. Outside, the siblings realize they can each feel differently about the same space that’s in between, the boy excited to skateboard down a steep hill and the girl dreading to take her bike up it. Of course, as the sister and brother discover, the best spaces in between are those that make room for them both.
In this marvellous book, Hrab’s text is spare and lyrical, while Martz’s deft thin-lined illustrations are engaging and thoughtful. At the beginning, an unseen narrator warns us that we may think we know what will happen next when a ball appears to be about to bounce inside a tuba—but it’s not until we flip the page that we realize there’s a difference between what’s certain and what may only be a possibility. The bouncing ball doesn’t return for several spreads, in a scene that is many moments removed from when we last saw it, inviting children to brainstorm how the spaces in between may connect. The text and illustrations work well together in presenting an abstract concept in an age-appropriate way. This is particularly evident when the girl stands before her brother, preparing to apologize to him. The space between remorse and forgiveness in such a moment can feel completely empty and completely “full at the same time.”
Ken Kilback is a writer and a retired primary teacher in Vancouver.
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A Little Halwa and a Big Family
written by Farid Bazger
illustrated by Sahar Abdallah
Running the Goat Books & Broadsides, 2026
978-1-99880-230-2 (hc) $23.99
for Preschool to Grade 2
Picture Book | Folklore | Family | Cooking | Sharing
Set in Afghanistan, this folkloric picture book follows a family’s late-night snacking adventures. Mama and Papa have a craving for halwa, but their pantry has only enough ingredients for two servings. The parents decide to wait until their seven children go to bed before cooking up the tasty pudding and indulging their own appetites.
Young Malala overhears her elders’ covert plan and runs to tell her older brother Bahir. News travels quickly through the sibling grapevine and they concoct their own ruse. When Mama can’t find the box of matches to light the stove, Malala calls out where to find them. Her helpfulness is rewarded: “My sweet girl, sit here quietly. I am making halwa and will give you some.” One by one, the children proffer the missing flour, sugar, cooking oil, raisins, almonds and the jug of water, and are promised some delicious halwa. The close-knit family finds a warm way to share and savour the sweet treat together. A recipe for halwa is included in the endnotes.
Egyptian-Canadian Sahar Abdallah’s textured pastel illustrations on earth-toned craft paper capture the bustling activity in the kitchen. Geometric patterns and floral motifs appear on textiles, ceramics and home décor.
A Little Halwa and a Big Family serves up a very satisfying read-aloud selection perfect for sharing.
Linda Ludke is a librarian in London, Ontario
See more of illustrator Sahar Abdallah's art in the Picture Book Gallery.
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Middle Grade
The Water You’re Swimming In
written by Rachel Schwartz Fagan
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
978-1-4598-4077-5 (pb) $14.95
978-1-4598-4079-9 (ebook) $11.99
for Grades 4 to 8
Fiction | Family | Identity | Running Away
Noah is the perfect son—he’s a champion swimmer, an excellent student, and does what he can to not upset his parents. His older brother, Jamie, has recently run away to Halifax, and Noah’s parents continue their frantic search for him. When an upcoming swim competition is announced with the prize being a trip to Halifax, Noah is determined to win so he can look for Jamie himself. The problem is Noah’s biggest swim rival is also his biggest bully. As Noah tries to keep afloat with his stresses, he is pleasantly surprised by the arrival of Grandma Aisling and Alysha, a new girl in his class – both of whom may be the support he needs to keep his head above water.
The Water You’re Swimming In is a coming-of-age novel that reminds young readers that we are never alone. Despite the challenges Noah faces, he slowly learns that trusting others to help carry the weight of worry helps build not only inner strength but also valuable relationships. In allowing himself to be cared for by Grandma Aisling and to have fun with Alysha, Noah learns to accept the beauty of imperfection.
Amid lively dialogue and songs, this novel celebrates Nova Scotian identity and embracing our true selves. A well-paced novel with relatable characters, The Water You’re Swimming In touches on the importance of knowing we are never alone—especially when we find ourselves sinking. Noah’s growth comes from the ability to trust and the power of forgiveness.
Mellissa Connolly is an English teacher specializing in alternative education.
YA/Teen
Fathom Fall
written by Matteo L. Cerilli
Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2026
978-1-54761-652-7 (hc) $27.99
978-1-54761-653-4 (ebook) $15.99
for Grades 7 and up
Fiction | Gaming Culture | Technology and Ethics | Corporate Power and Resource Scarcity | Identity and Belonging | Reality vs. Fiction
Fourteen-year-old Wyatt Docherty is one of the top-ranked players of Fathom Fall, a popular video game where competitors battle water-stealing aliens called Bluddites. In a near-future Toronto where clean water is scarce, Wyatt’s parents are senior engineers at Hydrexo, the corporation that supplies most of North America’s drinking water, earning him the nickname “Water Baby” among his classmates. Determined to prove he is more than the privileged label suggests, Wyatt hopes to win the upcoming Fathom Fall tournament. When the Bluddites begin appearing in the real world, the line between game and reality dissolves, pulling Wyatt into a conspiracy far larger than he expected.
Matteo L. Cerilli delivers a fast-paced adventure that taps into the immersive appeal of competitive gaming. Readers who enjoy MMORPG-style competition will recognize the thrill of rankings, strategy, and tournament play, and the novel does a good job translating game mechanics into real-world stakes. The brisk pacing keeps the story moving and makes this an easy, engaging read.
At times, however, the world-building raises more questions than it answers. The novel gestures toward timely themes around corporate control of resources and the growing scarcity of clean water, but the broader context of how society reached this point remains somewhat underdeveloped. Character development is similarly uneven. Wyatt is a likeable protagonist, but some of the relationships that might ground the story emotionally—particularly with his parents and peers—are only lightly sketched.
The novel clearly sets itself up as the beginning of a series, ending on a cliffhanger rather than a fully resolved arc. Still, the fast pace and gaming premise make Fathom Fall a strong choice for gamers and reluctant readers looking for a quick, high-energy adventure.
Rachel Seigel has worked in the children’s book world for 25 years and has a passion for children’s and YA books. She is currently the Sales and Distribution Manager at Page Two Books.
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Non-Fiction
Choose Happy: Give a Smile a Try
written by Elizabeth MacLeod
illustrated by Julie McLaughlin
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
978-1-4598-3940-3 (hc) $21.95
978-1-4598-3942-7 (ebook) $17.95
for Grades 4 to 7
Non-Fiction | Mental Health | Emotions | Positive Thinking
Can we really choose to be happy? This first middle-grade non-fiction book in the Feel Good, Do Good series is off to a cheerful start with an SEL and STEM exploration of happiness. Dive into a factual and historical look at what we can do to help us feel happy, such as smiling, being kind to others, and enjoying small pleasures like popping bubble wrap. Understand what we can do when we feel unhappy, such as booting out negativity bias, taking breaks from social media, and getting outside and into nature. Choose Happy explores how happiness can help us accomplish more, encourage others, and combat climate anxiety. It’s packed with practical suggestions and concepts—how we might replace negative thoughts with more positive ones, and how gratitude can create a ripple effect. Backmatter includes a glossary, resources, and where kids can go for support.
Created by an award-winning duo, Choose Happy combines clear and engaging text with active and colourful illustrations. It honours negative feelings. It provides social and scientific information to explain mental health. And most importantly, it offers a variety of ways we can travel the path toward greater happiness.
Choose Happy empowers middle-grade readers to become happiness activists in their own lives.
Karen Krossing is an author for kids and teens.
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Last Known Address: The Stumbling Stones of Europe
(A Holocaust Remembrance Book for Young Readers)
written by Kathy Kacer
Second Story Press, 2026
978-1-77260-458-0 (pb) $21.95
978-1-77260-459-7 (ebook) $14.99
for Grades 4 to 6
Non-Fiction | History | Holocaust | Memorials
“Here Lived.” Those two words are etched across the top of more than 107,000 stumbling stones fixed into sidewalks and streets in front of the last-known voluntary address of victims of Nazi persecution. It’s easy enough to stumble across one of these commemorative brass plaques. They’re in more than 700 cities across more than 30 European countries. It’s easy enough to read and grasp the remaining words on the stone (regardless of language)—a victim’s name, birth date, and fate. It’s easy enough to then walk on.
Author Kathy Kacer doesn’t do easy enough. When she stumbled upon her first stone, in Rome, she needed to know more—and she needed to share what she learned. The result is Last Known Address. As she writes, “It’s easy to find the stone. The hard part is trying to find detailed information about a person.” But that’s exactly what Kacer has done.
The non-fiction book begins with the man behind the project, Gunter Demnig. The German artist wanted to honour the millions of victims who perished in the Holocaust. The stumbling stones, or stolpersteine in German, are a sort of gravestone for all those who have no grave, a memorial to keep their memories alive.
Kacer then recounts the lives of 13 people. The majority are Jewish, but she also includes stories of gay, Roma, physically or mentally disabled, and political victims. She begins each chapter by introducing the individual, why they came to be in Adolf Hitler’s sights, and how Kacer found information about them. Then she invites the reader into their world by recounting a sliver of their story. She concludes each chapter with how their lives came to an abrupt end.
Some of the featured are well-known, like young diarist Anne Frank and Olympic medalist Attila Petschauer. Most are not. Demnig reminds us that every victim has a name, a birth date, a fate. Kacer reminds us that every victim had a family, friends, and freedoms. A life. One that deserves to be known, even if it isn’t easy to find.
Heather Camlot is the author of The Prisoner and the Writer and One Goal: How Soccer Can Help Save the Planet. She is also a freelance journalist, editor and translator.
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The Man in Motion: How Rick Hansen’s World Tour Helped Break Down Barriers for People with Disabilities
written by Lorna Schultz Nicholson and Rick Hansen
illustrated by Emma FitzGerald
Owlkids Books, 2026
978-1-77147-677-5 (hc) $18.95
for Kindergarten to Grade 3
Picture Book | Perseverance | Disabilities | Accessibility | Inclusivity
On March 21, 1985, Rick Hansen and his team set out on an impossible journey to wheel around the world in support of an inclusive, healthy, barrier-free world for those living with disabilities. After an accident when he was 15 years old, he lost the use of his legs. As a young man in a wheelchair, Rick found that many places he used to go as an able-bodied individual were no longer accessible to him. Even buildings like his own high school lacked accessible features like wheelchair ramps, but this only inspired Rick to do something about it.
During his Man in Motion tour, which took him to four continents and 34 countries, Rick wheeled just over 40,000 km to raise awareness for accessibility across the globe. It was extremely challenging, wheeling up hills and mountains, through rain and snow. Rick’s muscles ached and his tires went flat, but nothing could stop him from achieving his goal. Along with his crew who helped him along the way, Rick finished his world tour on May 22, 1987, in Vancouver, BC, in the same place he’d started over two years before.
The story may be familiar to some, but this new book, written by Lorna Shultz Nicholson and Rick Hansen, is sure to spark a new generation of activists. Readers will be enthralled by the incredible story of the Man in Motion Tour, a call to action for those wanting to help create a more accessible, inclusive, healthy world. The detailed, colourful illustrations by Emma FitzGerald help us dive into the story, following Rick and his team through some of their biggest successes and toughest challenges of the tour. The authors have created a detailed account that captures both the emotional and physical hardships faced by Rick and his team, supported by plenty of thought-provoking backmatter.
A must-have for any children’s bookshelf, this story is sure to inspire young readers to take action and help them understand the magnitude of the task that Rick and his team undertook.
Danny Neville is an educator, children’s author, and editor-in-chief of The Teaching Librarian magazine.