We Recommend: Summer 2025

August 30, 2025

Reviews of 40+ new Canadian books by Adrienne Kress, Matthew Forsythe, Elizabeth MacLeod, Charlene Chua and Tim Wynne-Jones!

Picture Books | Middle Grade | YA/Teen | Non-Fiction

Picture Books

Aggie and the Ghost
written and illustrated by Matthew Forsythe
Simon & Schuster Canada, 2025
978-1-6680-8163-1 (hc) $24.99
978-1-6680-8164-8 (ebook) $14.99
for Kindergarten to Grade 3

Picture Book | Ghosts | Humour | Rules | Differences

Aggie moves into a new home and discovers that she has an unexpected roommate—a ghost. The ghost follows Aggie everywhere, borrows her things without asking, and worst of all, doesn’t like to follow the rules. Will Aggie and the ghost learn to cooperate?

Aggie and the Ghost explores the complexities of relationships, highlighting how problems can arise between two people and how sometimes there isn’t a perfect solution. Aggie doesn’t like how the ghost breaks all the rules, and the ghost doesn’t like following rules, so can they overcome their differences and learn to live together?

Aggie and the Ghost is beautifully illustrated with sentence structure that will allow parents and children to enjoy the story. This story would be wonderful for anyone struggling to understand someone else, and maybe not everyone is meant to be best friends.

Meagan Richards started her library career in public libraries and quickly developed a soft spot for junior and YA literature through collection development and programming. She continues to read YA titles regularly in her spare time.

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At the Rescue Cat Café
written by Anna Humphrey
illustrated by Kari Rust
Owlkids Books, 2025
978-1-7714-7540-2 (hc) $22.95
for Kindergarten to Grade 2

Picture Book | Cats | Animal Rescue | Finding the Right Fit | Families

At the Rescue Cat Café, there are a number of cats who are looking for their forever home. From the sunbeam-dozing Henry to the elusive Mouse, there is the right feline friend for anyone. This is the epitome of a “feel-good” story, which leaves the reader asking, “Which cat is the best fit for me?”

Anna Humphrey, author of Megabat, Fluffle Bunnies, and Bee & Flea, is back with yet another endearing character in the picture book At the Rescue Cat Café. This creative take on a days-of-the-week style story finds a perfect balance of gentle predictability without creating repetition for the reader throughout its whimsical pages. Although the need for animal rescue and rehabilitation can be heart-wrenching, Humphrey’s narrative embodies hopefulness and compassion for all creatures.

The artwork of Kari Rust, illustrator of Tricky, brings a beautiful movement and liveliness to each page. In addition to beautifully in-depth illustrations, Rust brings in a variety of people to bust cat owner stereotypes, helping readers see themselves in the joyful new fur families. Rust finds adorable ways to hide Mouse throughout the days, adding a look-and-find element that entices readers to delve deeper into the illustrations, which greatly enhance the story without detracting from the words on the page. The work of Humphrey and Rust makes this a great fit for read-aloud story time.

Ashley Pamenter is a volunteer with the Ontario Library Association’s Red Maple Steering Committee. She also co-hosts the virtual author visit series for the Cobourg Public Library. In her day job, she is a national manager of programs at Girl Guides of Canada (Guides du Canada).

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Bob the Boo-Boo
written by Mélina Schoenborn
illustrated by Sandra Dumais
Kids Can Press, 2025
978-1-5253-1383-7 (hc) $18.99
978-1-5253-1400-1 (ebook) $11.99
for Preschool to Grade 1

Picture Book | Humour | Friendship | Common Injury and Healing

Bob is a boo-boo looking for a place to call home for a while. Unfortunately, the girl who slips off her skateboard already has a few boo-boos, who tell him to scram; the old man who stubs his toe has no time for nonsense such as boo-boos; and a father refuses to let a wasp give his baby a boo-boo. Bob is ready to give up when he spots a boy who has just fallen off his bicycle. After introducing himself, Bob asks whether he can be the boy’s boo-boo, and the boy agrees. At the boy’s home, the mother cleans Bob and puts a fresh bandage on him each day. Of course, as time goes on, Bob shrinks and shrinks until it’s time for him to move on again. But Bob promises the boy they’ll see each other again soon.

Schoenborn’s text is spare, with parts told in dialogue. Bob’s search for belonging and friendship will be appealing and engaging to readers. Dumais’ digital artwork has a lovely whimsy to it, combining with the text to bring a gentle humour to the story. As they dive into this book, readers will come to understand that everyday boo-boos are not something to be scared of and that they will eventually go away. Children will also be able to better understand and navigate their way through their own range of emotions as related to the changing stages of a boo-boo. In fact, they may even secretly wish their own long-gone boo-boos do what Bob does while hiding from the boy at the end of the story—watch them for another opportunity to spend more time together.

Ken Kilback is a writer and retired primary teacher in Vancouver.

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Every Leaf on Every Tree
written and illustrated by Lauren Soloy
Nimbus Publishing, 2025
978-1-77471-423-2 (board book) $14.95
for Babies to Preschool

Board Book | Parent and Baby Relationship | Love | Nature | Rhyming Stories

Move over Margaret Wise Brown! There’s a lot of love in this adorable board book by author-illustrator Lauren Soloy. Soloy’s mother bunny, like Brown’s (in The Runaway Bunny), declares her love to her baby bunny by comparing it to nature. In simple, rhyming text, mother bunny declares: “My love for you is VAST / Every blade of grass / in every field. . .” And so it goes.

Lots of scenes of nature in soft swaths of watercolour cover the double-page spreads. Mother and baby are always close, holding hands or cuddling, sharing tickles, flying high in the air, or gazing at the starlit sky. This is a reassuring story, full of warmth, perfect for bedtime or any time.

On a personal and professional note: I facilitated library baby programs for over 25 years. I was always on the lookout for just such a book as Every Leaf on Every Tree. It would have been in my regular rotation. Kudos to Soloy for such a graceful and enchanting baby book.

Highly recommended.

Theo Heras is an author and a former children’s librarian living in Toronto.

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The First Peoples
written by Maika Harper
illustrated by Kaja Kajfež
Inhabit Media, 2025
978-1-7722-7565-0 (hc) $22.95
for Kindergarten to Grade 3

Picture Book | Culture | Indigenous | Inuit

A traditional Inuit creation story, The First Peoples unfolds like a timeless song—a haunting, ancient tale of how the first humans came to be. Harper tells of a world where, long ago, the first people were giants, not of today’s world. Then, in a moment both sudden and complete, all living things vanished. Nothing remained. Only silence. Only magic. In that enchanted time, two men emerged from the nuna (the land), shaped by the land itself. Longing for children, they raised their voices in song—a sacred melody so powerful it transformed one of them into a woman. From their union came life, and from that life, all people today are descended.

The writing is spare, yet rich with beauty. Each word is a quiet echo of something older. The illustrations, awash in vibrant colours, breathe even more magic into the tale, bringing this myth of beginnings vividly and vibrantly to life.

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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The Friendship Blanket
written by Leonarda Carranza
illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada, 2025
978-1-03970-346-9 (hc) $19.99
for Kindergarten to Grade 3

The Friendship Blanket is a heartfelt story about the experience of moving to a new country and trying to find a sense of belonging. Aurelia has just moved to Canada with her mother. She is excited about all the new experiences, which include starting a new school, making friends and exploring her neighbourhood. However, things do not go exactly as Aurelia’s initial ideas and plans.

At school, she struggles to make friends and often gets teased about her hairstyle and accent. Aurelia feels invisible and like she will never fit in. She shares her feelings with her mother, who reminds her that moving to a new country and making friends can be difficult. Aurelia finds comfort in her mother’s words and her grandmother’s blanket. The memories the blanket holds remind her that her family loves her “here and there and always.” Aurelia feels hopeful when, at school, she invites a classmate to share her blanket, which begins the possibility of a friendship. The blanket becomes a symbol and a bridge that helps Aurelia start to find her place. It connects her to her family, traditions, old memories and new experiences.

This is a book that will be loved by all readers! It delves into important and timely topics about transitions that many children may be experiencing. It gives readers an insight into the emotional impact that children may be going through in their ‘everyday’ lives. This book is also powerful because Aurelia models the resilience and courage children display when they are supported and find affirmation and connection.

The illustrations in the story are detailed, tender and engaging. This book will be one that readers continue to come back to as it creates opportunities to deeply consider each of our roles in cultivating spaces of belonging, whether in classrooms, schools or the broader community. Additionally, readers are encouraged to consider the intentional actions each one of us can take to support the path to connection and mitigate feelings of isolation and exclusion that many may be experiencing.

Rabia Khokhar is an elementary teacher in Toronto and a PhD student at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). She is passionate about issues of
equity and representation in children’s literature.

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If You Were Here
written by Kathy Stinson
illustrated by Maya McKibbin
Greystone Kids, 2025
978-1-77164-992-6 (hc) $23.95
for Kindergarten to Grade 2

"I wish you were here... in this great big meadow, like a sea of lacy clouds, where you can hear busy insects buzz and the quiet of a butterfly wing." In this poignant tribute to the natural world, a young child explores their environment with wonder and reverence. As meadow, forest and ocean settings are investigated, the protagonist employs their five senses to the fullest. The smell of damp mushrooms... the taste of ocean salt... the sound of waves... the feel of the sun's warmth... the sight of treasures washed ashore from the sea. Despite experiencing numerous uplifting interactions with their surroundings, the child yearns for an unspecified individual to be their companion on this journey. "My very best place would be even better if you were here with me. Sometimes I feel like you are."

Kathy Stinson's lyrical text emphasizes the importance of being mindful of the beauty within the natural world, as well as one's own emotions. By not identifying the absent individual, readers can devise their own reasons for why this anonymous figure is not present to accompany the child on their journey.

Maya McKibbin's detailed illustrations, rendered digitally with a tablet, pen and drawing software, aptly illuminate the sharp-edged juxtaposition of happiness and longing as the child explores the many nuances of nature, all the while missing some significant individual whose presence would provide a sought-after completeness.

Senta Ross is a former elementary teacher and teacher-librarian in Kitchener, Ontario.

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Cover image of Jane and the Blue Willow Princess

Jane and the Blue Willow Princess
written by Catherine Little
illustrated by Sae Kimura
Plumleaf Press, 2025
978-1-06909-352-3 (hc) $24.95
for Grades 1 to 3

Picture Book | Jane Austen | Blue Willow China Pattern | Imagination | Writing

"Oh Cassy! I have so many ideas for a story... I don't know what to do!" Young Jane loves to write stories and is planning to compose a special one for her father's approaching birthday. There are, however, so many ideas spinning in her head that she is finding it difficult to focus. Will the story be about a girl in a treehouse who gets blown away by the wind? Or will it involve a young lady riding a horse who becomes caught in a rainstorm? While enjoying tea in the garden with her mother and older sister Cassy, Jane is mesmerized by the characters portrayed on the tea set's elaborately designed Blue Willow china platter. Why was the princess fleeing? What was her destination? Thus inspired, she creates a play that she and her siblings perform on her father's special day. The star? The Blue Willow Princess, who did not wish to marry a prince.

Intrigued by a fragment of a circa 1790 Blue Willow plate discovered during an archaeological dig at Jane Austen's birthplace and home, Catherine Little has written a delightful fictional account about what might have occurred had this particular platter intersected with the budding authoress over two centuries ago. Informative Author's Notes about Jane and Cassandra Austen, as well as a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Jane's birth, serve well to introduce children to a beloved author whose writing continues to captivate readers worldwide.

Sae Kimura's intricate artwork, rendered in acrylic, pastel and coloured pencil, readily transports us to the sweeping vistas of the 18th-century English countryside. A tree house in the garden... tea graciously served on Blue Willow pattern china... a loving and supportive family... all contributing to a most critical time for an aspiring writer to learn and to grow.

Senta Ross

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King of the Dump
written by Tim Wynne-Jones
illustrated by Scot Ritchie
Groundwood Books, 2025
978-1-77306-748-3 (hc) $21.99
978-1-77306-749-0 (ebook) $16.99
for Preschool to Grade 1

Picture Book | Recycling | Waste Management | Big Machinery | Community

On a trip to the dump, a little boy discovers the joys of recycling, reusing and sharing. There’s lots of activity happening at the rural waste management centre. Teddy helps his father sort and toss their trash into the proper bins. When the observant child spots a yellow jug mixed in with the aluminum cans, a friendly sanitation worker loans him a claw grabber to fetch the wayward item and deposit it with the plastics. Teddy gives chase to scraps of paper blowing in the breeze and carts armfuls to the right receptacle. Many machines in motion catch the boy’s attention, including a big green compactor (“Squish! Squash!”) and a front loader garbage truck (“Honk Honk”).

Scot Ritchie’s sprightly ink and digitally coloured cartoon illustrations capture the bustling, organized work of moving mountains of trash. Detailed scenes showcase excavators and bulldozers in the middle of vast, sprawling fields of unwanted stuff, with seagulls flying overhead.

Told entirely through spare speech-bubble dialogue, no word is wasted. Teddy’s inquisitive nature (“What’s that?” “Why?”) shines through. His father’s replies (“Good eye!” “Got to make it as small as can be.” “Because there’s sooooo much!”) are nurturing and instructive.

With mixed emotions, Teddy brings his outgrown big-wheeled ride-on toy to the on-site “As Is” free store. A toddler’s excitement over the new donation makes it easier for Teddy to part with his beloved plaything, and in return, he gets to pick a shiny, salvaged treasure.

The crowning glory of this slice-of-life picture book is the warm depiction of community participation in environmental stewardship.

Linda Ludke is a librarian in London, Ontario.

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Cover image of Let's Go for a Walk on Mother Earth

Let's Go for a Walk on Mother Earth / Mtakmi kwe
written by Juliana Armstrong and Blair Beaucage
illustrated by Shelley Davies
Medicine Wheel Publishing, 2025
978-1-7785-4065-3 (hc) $22.99
for Preschool to Grade 2

Written in both English and Anishinaabemowin, the story starts with Sachiiwin and Waawaasbiikse going for a walk in the woods. The repeating refrain “Today is a good day. Let’s go for a walk on Mother Earth” is a great way to help younger readers with language learning and memory. As they walk, they learn about all the different animals within the landscape, counting each one they see.

This is a wonderful and gentle story that helps the reader immerse themselves in the Anishinaabe landscape and culture through the process of a walk through the woods, serving as an excellent introduction to Anishinaabemowin. Davies’ illustrations are bright, cheerful and colourful. At the end of the book are notes from the authors. This would be a great addition to any library.

Colette Poitras

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Miya Wears Orange
written by Wanda John-Kehewin
illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina
HighWater Press, 2025
978-1-7749-2125-8 (hc) $21.95
978-1-7749-2126-5 (ebook) $18.00
for Kindergarten to Grade 3

Picture Book | Emotions | Culture | Prejudice and Racism | Indigenous

Miya is in school when her teacher reads a story about a little Indigenous girl who is taken away from her family to a residential school. As the only Indigenous child in her class, Miya becomes very anxious that the same thing may happen to her. Her mother comes to pick her up from school and takes her home. It is some time before Miya can tell her what is worrying her. Her loving mother assures her it will not happen to her, and they spend the next day cuddling and talking about it. Miya decides to wear an orange shirt to class to remember those children who went to residential school.

This gentle story serves as both a lesson and a call to action, helping Indigenous and non-Indigenous children—and their caregivers—navigate the injustice of residential schools. It encourages us to remember the children not just in September, but every day. Medina’s illustrations are lovely, bright, and full of warmth.

At the end of the book, there is a note from the author, along with thoughtful recommendations on how children can learn about and remember those who attended residential schools, as well as ideas for further learning about Indigenous Peoples and the lands they come from.

Highly recommended for home, school and public libraries.

Colette Poitras

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My Friend May
written and illustrated by Julie Flett
Greystone Kids, 2025
978-1-77840-171-8 (hc) $23.95
for Prechool to Grade 3

Picture Book | Missing Cat | Family | Hope | Human-Animal Relationships

"I'd like to tell you a rather true story about a big black cat who started out gray. Her name was May." Margaux was six years old when May came into her life. As time passed, they grew together in various ways. May enjoys wandering independently while exploring her surroundings close to home, and she could always be relied upon to return at dinner time... until one day she is nowhere to be found. "Was she hiding under the porch?... Or was she hiding in the little dugout behind the fence? Maybe up on the roof?... Where could she have gone?" May's absence is complicated by an additional upset: Margaux's nitôsis (the Cree word for 'auntie') is moving away to a big city. As Margaux assists her nitôsis with packing boxes, her thoughts often drift to her missing feline. Will May ever return home?

Inspired by her niece's cat, May, and based on real-life events, Julie Flett has crafted a touching narrative about the profound and enduring bond between humans and animals. The potential loss of two beloved touchstones in Margaux's life adds drama and an underlying sadness until the puzzle of May's disappearance is happily resolved. An author's message to readers, as well as a glossary and pronunciation guide of the Cree words used throughout the book, are provided.

Flett's distinctive minimalist illustrations, rendered in pastel and pencil and composited digitally, portray the indoor and outdoor environments encountered by May during her adventure. Always beautiful to behold, Flett's subtle artwork contributes markedly to this heartwarming tale about love, friendship and belonging.

Senta Ross

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Out on the Trail
written by Bonnie Morgan
illustrated by Molly Margaret
Running the Goat Books & Broadsides, 2025
978-1-9988-0224-1 (pb) $12.99
for Preschool to Grade 1

Picture Book | Nature | Parent and Child Relationship | Rhyming Stories

Employing the format of Bill Martin’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, author, librarian, historian, and early literacy advocate Bonnie Morgan has created a child-centred walk “out on the trail” in rhyme. The book starts with: “Out on the trail / Just you and me. / I look to the left / And what do I see?” The narrator looks left, right, up, down, ahead, and behind. The simplicity and repetition of the text invite even the youngest reader to join in. There is much to see for child and parent on this nature walk in the woods and by the water.

Illustrator and muralist Molly Margaret matches the tone of the text with childlike illustrations in soft washes of colour. The illustrations are both minimalist—quick lines here and there, and there’s a tree!—and detailed—lots of trees and fish and birds and even a whale. The layout allows for space to look: one page of text is accompanied by an illustration on the opposite page, followed by a double-page wordless illustration that expands the scene.

Out on the Trail is a quiet and contemplative book that incorporates elements to encourage conversation between a young reader and an adult. For example, arrows in the illustrations point to where the narrator is looking (left, right, etc.). It’s a subtle and natural way to build concepts of direction without it feeling like a lesson.

The story ends where it begins: “Out on the trail / Just you and me. / I look behind / And what do I see? / I see footprints / Remembering me.”

Backmatter directed at adult sharers of the book offers suggestions on how to initiate conversations with open-ended questions. No fancy gimmicks here, just a gentle parent-child experience that encourages curiosity, conversation, and conviviality with nature.

Theo Heras

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The Pink Pajamas: A Story About Love and Loss
written and illustrated by Charlene Chua
Simon & Schuster Canada, 2025
978-1-66805-183-2 (hc) $24.99
978-1-66805-184-9 (ebook) $14.99
for Preschool to Grade 2

Picture Book | Family | Love | Death | Grief

Every weekend, at Ye Ye and Po Po’s home, Ling Ling gives each of them a hug, then hurries to see Ah Yi. The sound of her aunt’s big, old sewing machine is music to her ears. When Ah Yi gifts Ling Ling with new pajamas, they are soft, comfortable, and just the right length, but—they’re pink! Her aunt notices Ling Ling’s face and says she’ll make another pair.

By the next weekend, Ling Ling is determined to tell Ah Yi that she loves the new pajamas, no matter the colour. However, the sewing machine is silent, and her aunt is not there. After an indeterminate time in the hospital, Ah Yi passes away, leaving Ling Ling and her family in grief. One day, while helping Mom and Po Po box up her aunt’s things, she hears the sewing machine’s clack-clack sound. No one is in the room, but Ling Ling finds and puts on the pink pajamas. They’re soft, comfortable, just the right length, and—perfect!

Chua’s story is a powerful and poignant tale of love, loss, and longing. Her words, from Ling Ling’s child-appropriate first-person narrative, are concise and highly impactful. The illustrations, drawn in ink and digitally coloured, are rich and detailed. While Ling Ling embodies and embraces a child’s limited awareness of their surroundings and their determined intent, the illustrations reveal important clues she has missed.

At the same time, it’s her child’s sense of wonder and willingness to believe that draws her into Ah Yi’s empty room, where she feels an almost magical breeze blowing the scent of cloth toward her. This scent reminds her of her aunt, leading her to discover one final thing: Ah Yi’s pajama measurements and pattern, with the note ‘No Pink!’ She realizes this is her aunt’s way of saying she’ll always love Ling Ling. In the final illustration, Ling Ling shows her love in return by learning to use the big, old sewing machine.

Ken Kilback

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RJ and the Ticking Clock
written by Ian Duncan
illustrated by Scot Ritchie
Owlkids Books, 2025
978-1-7714-7538-9 (hc) $22.95
for Kindergarten to Grade 3

Picture Book | 2SLGBTQIA+ | Father’s Day | Math | Kindness

It’s almost Father’s Day, and RJ is excited to celebrate with his dads. This year, he wants to make two cards, one for Daddy and one for Dada, each with pictures of the things they do together. When his teacher tells the class they’ll get some time to make their cards for the big day, RJ is over the moon. That is, until he realizes he won’t have enough time to finish them both! As he races against the ticking clock to finish, he notices his friends gathering at another table when they’re done. Readers soon discover the heartwarming way in which the class comes together with a memorable act of kindness for RJ and his family.

In his debut picture book, author Ian Duncan brings us a delightful story destined for a prime spot on children’s bookshelves everywhere. Any child who’s ever experienced a time crunch when finishing a passion project will certainly identify with RJ’s dilemma. Through the intricate classroom details and vivid colours throughout, illustrator Scot Ritchie creates a familiar and engaging classroom scene. With representation of a diverse family and primary math concepts subtly sprinkled throughout the story, this book has something for everyone.

A special nod goes out to the incredibly sweet poem and drawings inside RJ’s handmade card, the pride and joy of any family’s refrigerator art display.

Danny Neville is an educator, children’s author, and editor-in-chief of The Teaching Librarian magazine.

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Middle Grade

A Skeleton in the Closet
(The Mizzy Mysteries, Book 1)
written by Claire Hatcher-Smith
Tundra Books, 2025
978-1-774-88511-6 (hc) $24.99
978-1-774-88512-3 (ebook) $11.99
978-1-774-88840-7 (audiobook) $24.99
for Grades 4 and up

Fiction | Mystery | Down Syndrome

Twelve-year-old Mizzy, aka Mizzy the Marvelous, dreams of being a master detective, and she won’t let anything stand in her way—not her fear of elevators, not her reputation for being nosy, and definitely not her Down syndrome. When an anticipated vacation with her cousins turns into disappointment, Mizzy’s investigative instinct leads her to a locked wardrobe, where she discovers her Great Aunt Jane’s long-lost diaries. What’s more, the diaries contain evidence that her great aunt didn’t just die in her sleep, and that someone in the family might have been involved. Under the guise of working on a family tree for school, Mizzy grabs the chance to prove her talents to her cousins – and the world.

Claire Hatcher-Smith uses her background as a speech language pathologist who has worked with children with Down syndrome to enter into the mind of a tween feeling out of place in the world around her. Written in the main character’s perspective, and complemented with drawings and notes written in a child’s hand, Hatcher-Smith crafts a delightfully youthful and empowering adventure.

With a firm focus on awareness and advocacy, The Mizzy Mysteries not only demonstrates how easy it is to underestimate people who are different, but also how it feels to navigate the world on a different path from everyone else. Anyone who has felt left behind, who knows what it feels like to be overtaken by curiosity, or who just likes a good afternoon mystery, will be happy playing Watson to Mizzy’s Sherlock. Written for a tween audience, Hatcher-Smith has created a wonderful family mystery, perfect for young adults of all ages.

Sara Rigotti is a student at the University of Ottawa and a board member of the Writers’ Community of Durham Region.

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Comic Shift
written by Ted Staunton
Scholastic Canada, 2025
978-1-03970-378-0 (pb) $11.99
978-1-03970-379-7 (ebook) $11.99
for Grades 4 to 6

Fiction | Comic Books | Superheroes | Adventure | Identity | Adolescence | Mystery

Des and his best friend Jolie are moving on from elementary school to middle school, and Des thinks this is a perfect opportunity to reinvent himself—to be less of a grey-hoodie sidekick and more of an awesome stand-out hero. To do this, first he needs to up his comic-drawing skills: the comic he’s created with Jolie—Cowman and Bob—isn’t going to cut it in middle school. Des himself has his own rather mundane superpower. He’s a super-recognizer and can recognize and identify faces better than any facial recognition technology. When an opportunity arises for Des to play the hero at a comic convention by recognizing and foiling the plans of a thief, he jumps at the chance to gain some recognition for himself. In doing so, he and his friend Jolie are thrown into a comic book-style adventure that blurs the line between reality and... well... comics.

Ted Staunton has written an entertaining book that will appeal to fans of comic books or superheroes. The story is fast-paced and filled with intrigue and humour that will keep readers turning the pages. It was also nice to see several strong female characters—including Des’s mother—in law enforcement roles. Young readers will certainly identify with Des’s struggle to transform into a cooler version of himself before middle school, and how Staunton weaves this theme of transformation with the comic-book concept of ‘morphing’ certainly hits all the right notes.

Finding yourself is the ultimate adolescent adventure, but when it just so happens to include a police sting operation, a high-speed bike chase, and evidence of a giant bunny, it’s that much more compelling.

Ildiko Sumegi is a reviewer from Ottawa.

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Death by Whoopee Cushion
written by Vicki Grant
Tundra Books, 2025
978-1-77488-468-3 (hc) $24.99
978-1-77488-469-0 (ebook) $11.99
978-1-77488-836-0 (audiobook) $24.99
for Grades 5 and up

Although 12-year-old Manya loves her parents, she can't imagine how she could be any less like them... or more embarrassed by them! As the proud owners of a joke shop that specializes in “artisanal pranks,” they are wacky and outrageous and “love having strangers look at them and laugh.” Manya, on the other hand, is studious and deeply passionate about science, and she tries to keep to herself.

When Manya and her best friend, Isaac, learn about an after-school science program at the local museum, they are thrilled beyond belief when their parents manage to scrape up the money for them to attend. But Manya's euphoria over this new class quickly fades when her parents find themselves in big trouble. While preparing for a presentation at Manya's school, one of their pranks explodes, killing the custodian. Manya's mom and dad are arrested for murder, and soon the whole town turns on them. Manya and Isaac must use every ounce of resourcefulness they can muster (not to mention a teddy bear nanny cam) to find the real culprit and clear her parents' names.

As witty and entertaining as one might expect based on its offbeat premise, this book is an engaging mystery that is filled with red herrings that keep the protagonist, as well as readers, guessing right to the end. Through her first-person narration, Manya emerges as a highly sympathetic character whose mortification at her parents' outrageousness and her wish not to stand out will resonate with many young readers who may also identify with her longing to be taken seriously for her own gifts and abilities. The secondary characters are quirky and memorable, and the various relationships are authentically portrayed and believable.

With short chapters, brisk pacing, and farcical humour, author Vicki Grant has created a mystery that will appeal to reluctant readers as well as fans of the genre, who will find Death by Whoopee Cushion refreshing and original.

Lisa Doucet is the Manager of Woozles in Halifax.

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Ghost Circus
written by Adrienne Kress
illustrated by Jade Zhang
Union Square Kids, 2025
978-1-4549-4828-5 (hc) $32.99
978-1-4549-4829-2 (pb) $19.99
978-1-4549-4830-8 (ebook) $12.99
for Grades 4 and up

Graphic Novel | Horror | Ghost Story

As all the ghosts get ready for another circus show, Creepy Girl notices an unusual sight in the bleachers. It’s a boy named Casey, but he isn’t a ghost. So, why is he there? And how can he see them? As the story unfolds, Casey and Creepy Girl discover the mysteries of the ghost circus, where many come to perform or watch the show, but none ever leave for the afterlife. They also learn that Casey’s body is in a coma after a tragic accident, and he’s destined to help Creepy Girl free the lost souls of the circus. Along with the help of their sidekick, Polterghost, and the mysterious Headless Horseman, the macabre duo eventually learn the secrets of the circus and help set everyone free.

In Ghost Circus, author Adrienne Kress skilfully weaves a haunting tale with a storyline that will keep readers guessing and an ending that will impress even the most skeptical reader. Detailed illustrations by Jade Zhang augment the storyline, using two distinct colour palettes to differentiate between the land of the living and the land of the dead. With a touch of humour, a sprinkling of mild gore, and plenty of disturbingly ghoulish characters, this graphic novel is sure to fly off library shelves and be devoured by young readers everywhere.

Danny Neville

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The League of Littles
written by Casey Lyall
illustrated by Sara Faber
Greenwillow Books, 2025
978-0-0632-8526-2 (hc) $31.00
978-0-0632-8525-5 (pb) $19.99
978-0-0632-8527-9 (ebook) $7.99
for Grades 3 to 7

A call goes out from the League of Littles command centre, and trainees Eli, Lexi, and Mo finally get their first mission. They’re part of this international organization that supports the needs of youngest siblings against the tyranny of oldest ones. Determined to succeed, they try to help a fellow student who’s lost her big sister’s pet hamster during show-and-tell at school (after borrowing him without permission). Soon, the trainees discover the hamster is an escape artist. Plus, he’s in league with the Band of Bigs, who defend oldest siblings from the younger ones’ shenanigans. Packed with humour, high jinks, and hamster-sized hazards, The League of Littles delivers an elementary-school adventure of epic proportions.

The first book of two, this graphic novel offers an original concept that perfectly pairs engaging artwork with deft dialogue. The graphic style is comic-like with great movement, colour, drama, and life. The story is fast-paced with intriguing plot twists and an appealing cast of diverse characters. It’s a light, enjoyable book that also honours the complexities of sibling dynamics in a fun, empowering way. An age-appropriate and high-action graphic novel for emerging readers.

Karen Krossing is an author for kids and teens. She’s also a youngest sibling.

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Cover image of The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall

The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall
written by Charis Cotter
Tundra Book, 2025
978-1-77488-555-0 (hc) $24.99
978-1-77488-556-7 (ebook) $11.99
978-1-77488-563-5 (audiobook) $24.99
for Grades 4 and up

When Bee learns that she will be spending her summer at Camp Blue Heron, the birding camp that her mother attended (and loved!) when she was young, her anxiety kicks into high gear. While her mother wants Bee to make friends and come out of her shell, Bee knows that she's a loner and isn't like other kids. She's sure that her awkwardness and unusually sensitive hearing will make her stand out at camp. At first, things go exactly as she anticipated, and she finds herself alternately mocked and ignored. But then she meets Zippy, a fellow outcast with her own idiosyncrasies and abilities. Not only do the two become fast friends, but together they embark on a quest to get to the bottom of a camp mystery: how is it that the girls in the Hawks' cabin manage to sneak away every night even though everyone swears that they are all safely tucked in their beds? Where are they going? And how are they draining the batteries in their flashlights in the process?

Cotter's latest middle-grade mystery, with its fresh and fun nod to the classic fairytale “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” is a true delight! The 1960s time period and evocative summer camp setting create a timeless, nostalgic feel. The magic of summer camp, with all its attendant dramas and complex interpersonal relationships and dynamics, is skilfully intertwined with a ghostly mystery that harkens back to a tragic event from the past. Bee, Zippy, and popular girl Felicity, who ends up inserting herself into their plans, are nuanced and compelling characters who each experience realistic growth throughout the summer and their adventures.

The mystery is slow-paced but satisfying (with red herrings but enough clues to remain enticing), the supernatural element is deftly woven into the narrative, and the girls' realistic family and personal issues make them feel relatable to contemporary readers.

Lisa Doucet

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Sam
written by Eric Walters
DCB Young Readers, 2025
978-1-7708-6794-9 (pb) $14.95
978-1-7708-6795-6 (ebook) $9.99
for Grades 4 to 6

Sam has heard every stereotype that comes with being a redhead, not to mention the ones about orphans in the foster care system. His anger has nothing to do with his hair colour and everything to do with the cards he feels he has been dealt in this life. After a fight with the quarterback of the football team, and subsequently the rest of the defensive line, Sam’s self-defence is mistaken for assault. Seen as a flight risk due to his history with unsuccessful foster homes, he is sent to Blue Gables Juvenile Detention Centre, where his life is forever changed.

Eric Walters continues to bring deep empathy and accessibility in his newest book, Sam. Written in the first person, the reader is immediately immersed in a dark and challenging world from the moment they are introduced to Sam. Walters has a way of creating gritty, realistic stories that hint at a glimmer of hope, and Sam is no different. Throughout the novel, the main character’s love of reading is tapped into by caring adults who want to help him. What is most impactful is that the character finds unlikely support systems, and he is not left to solve his challenges independently, breaking the “kid in it alone” trope.

Overall, this novel is a powerful testament to the power of books, both literally and figuratively, and will delight both avid readers and more reluctant ones alike.

Ashley Pamenter

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True Colors: Growing Up Weird in the 90s
written and illustrated by Elise Gravel
translated by Montana Kane
Drawn & Quarterly, 2025
978-1-7704-6799-6 (pb) 21.95
for Grades 5 to 8

It’s the year 1990, and a lot has changed recently for tween Elise. She’s hairier than she used to be. Things that were once easy, like school, no longer come naturally to her. But one of the biggest changes is how Elise hasn’t changed at all, and the other girls around her have. While Elise still wants to play pretend, the others are more interested in New Kids on the Block and relationships in general. Luckily, Elise has a kindred spirit in her best friend, Asma. She loves all the weird things about Elise, like her quirky art and obsession with weird facts. When a new girl named Camille joins their friend group, Elise’s friendship with Asma becomes more complicated. In her doodle-filled diary, Elise also writes about her struggles with anxiety and insomnia. As she makes her way through adolescence, she has her friends and art to help her get by.

True Colors is the fictionalized diary of author-illustrator Elise Gravel’s adolescence. Fun, quirky and honest, Elise’s voice is conveyed through her creative doodles in marker. While Elise is often silly and has a passion for bizarre facts, she also depicts her adolescent struggles with honesty. Bras, cramps, tampon struggles, curiosity about sex: it’s all tackled in a way that feels true to the life of a pre-teen girl, especially one without the internet.

Mental health is a central theme of True Colors. Throughout the book, Elise realizes she has an anxiety disorder and learns ways to cope from a magazine article. Elise Gravel was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, and this graphic novel captures the complicated world inside her head growing up with undiagnosed ADHD. It’s never been so fun to be weird as in this graphic novel exploring friendship and adolescence.

Em Hunter is the Digital Marketing Associate at Kids Can Press and worked at the CCBC for four years. They live in Toronto with their very fluffy cat.

Cover image of You Never Know What You're Going to Get

You Never Know What You’re Going To Get: An Anthology of Short Stories
edited by Juleus Ghunta
Chalkboard Publishing, 2025
978-1-7710-5893-3 (pb) $12.99
for Grades 4 to 6

Fiction | Short Stories | Adolescence | Diversity

The blurb for this anthology includes the phrase: “It’s like a mystery grab-bag of stories,” and I agree. The 10 short stories feature main characters aged approximately 9 to 14, mostly realistic scenarios, in locations including Toronto, Sudbury, and both real and fictional tropical islands. One story includes a glossary of words, and students will need to use their inferring skills and context clues for the meanings of words in other languages in several of the 10 stories featuring:

An elder living in the forest, outside of social expectations—should she be feared, derided or admired?
Swimming in a northern lake—how do you deal with a bad experience and unpredictable wildlife?
A summer writing assignment encourages an island adventure.
An unwanted move leads to an opportunity to show kindness.
Spelling and a forced partnership bring understanding—why are kids mean sometimes.
A sibling game creates family memories.
Learning recipes from an elder relative and feeding others teaches the meaning of “made with love."
A younger sibling learns they can follow their own path.
Even a ‘Yes Day’ can’t give you everything you want—and is one person’s wants really what is best for everyone?
Snow may be what Canada is known for, but you won’t find it everywhere all year long.

The short story format provides a good framework for young writers working on completing their own short stories. Themes of belonging, supporting others, listening to caring adults, and a touch of magic coexist alongside references to identity (including Caribbean, African, and Indo-Caribbean) and the importance of being true to oneself. The font is easy to read and will be familiar to young students. The range of topics likely means that not all stories will appeal to all readers; however, one of the important features of anthologies is that not every reader needs to read every story, and stories can be read individually or in any order. Readers can choose their own path through.

Tara Truscott is a teacher-librarian with the York Region District School Board.

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Year of the Carrot
written by Madeleine Hart
Second Story Press, 2025
978-1-77260-415-3 (pb) $12.95
978-1-77260-416-0 (ebook) $8.99
for Grades 4 to 6

Middle-schooler Leonie MacGregor has heard enough about her father’s special carrots. He’s been attempting to breed an especially drought-resistant strain for years, and this is the year—these are the carrots that will change the world! Her father says this every year, so Leonie takes the statement with a grain of salt. But when she sneaks out to the shed at night to secretly fix her brother’s broken old dirt bike, she notices that someone is sneaking around her family’s farm. Could it be that her father’s carrots and research are actually worth stealing?

Madeleine Hart has written a story of farming intrigue coupled with middle-school angst that is sure to catch young readers’ attention. Leonie spends much of the book hiding her acne behind a curtain of hair. Her self-consciousness, however, doesn’t stop her from investigating matters when one suspicious event follows on the heels of another. Whether it’s fixing a dirt bike or pursuing her investigation, Leonie’s persistence and tenacity will inspire young readers to stick with the projects that have meaning for them. Used in a classroom setting, this book would complement an introduction to scientific and sociological debates surrounding agricultural practices, such as organic farming and genetically modified foods. On the other hand, if you read this book for its own sake, it’s simply a lot of fun!

Ildiko Sumegi

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YA/Teen

City of Echoes
(Avatar Legends, Book 1)
written by Judy I. Lin
978-1-4197-7604-5 (hc) $27.99
Amulet Books, 2025
for Grades 8 and up

“There is no war outside these walls.” That’s what Ba Sing Se’s citizens are told—but Jin, a refugee orphaned by the Fire Nation, knows better. Living in the Lower Ring, she cares for her grandfather and helps at her best friend Susu’s family bakery. When Susu’s father gambles away the shop, Susu must take a dangerous contract in the Upper Ring. Determined to help, Jin enters the city’s criminal underworld and meets Xuan, a boy with Silver Fang ties. As secrets unravel and the Fire Nation draws near, Jin must risk everything to save Susu—and a city on the brink.

Set in Ba Sing Se during the Hundred Year War, Judy I. Lin’s new YA novel expands on the universe of Avatar: The Last Airbender with richly detailed world-building. Rather than focusing on the well-known Avatar character, Lin focuses a lens on how everyday people are affected by war, creating an emotional and impactful story.

The story follows Jin, a war refugee surviving in Ba Sing Se’s Lower Ring. Jin is a powerful and nuanced character, and through her eyes, Lin skilfully portrays the trauma of losing her entire family and the survivor’s guilt she carries with her. Jin is loyal, resilient, and resourceful, and despite everything she’s been through, her sense of justice and strength never wavers.

In essence, Lin’s story reflects not only the personal cost of war but also the barriers faced by refugees, highlighting how survival can be not only a quiet act of resistance but also a spark for change. Highly recommended.

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 Administrator at Page Two Books.

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Emiko
written by Chieri Uegaki
Tundra Books, 2025
978-1-7748-8573-4 (pb) $17.99
978-1-7748-8574-1 (ebook) $10.99
978-1-7748-8834-6 (audiobook) $17.99
for Grades 8 and up

Emiko Kimori is not exactly an average teen. Like Emma Woodhouse, Jane Austen’s heroine on whom she is loosely based, Emiko is privileged, cherished and leads a happy, comfortable life. She lives in a fictionalized version of British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, in a well-heeled small town that includes a surprisingly large Japanese enclave. Emiko and her friends and family celebrate the Buddhist holiday of Obon, hand-craft kokeshi dolls, and gather for mochitsuki, when ceremonial rice cakes are made for New Year’s. Emiko’s Mr. Knightley is her neighbour and best friend, Kenzo Sanada: handsome, talented and willing to call Emiko out when she meddles too much.

Like many other authors, Uegaki tackles Austen’s tale of a well-meaning but spoiled young woman as she embarks on matchmaking adventures while attempting to map her own future. The action unfolds within a charming setting, exposing readers to the rich tapestry of a Japanese-Canadian community which feels vital, vibrant, and all-encompassing.

Emiko may delude herself on many fronts, but there is no denying her enthusiasm for life, and her obsession with food (savoury please!), family and creating memorable events. Perhaps the most touching strand is the friendship between Emiko and Harumi, two young women who are very different, but ultimately bring out the best in each other.

This is a delightful fantasy in which, like Austen’s original, the worst thing that can happen to a young girl is not falling in love with the right person. That it is not gritty is no criticism, and readers will savour this rich, sometimes escapist story.

Kris Rothstein is an editor, cultural critic and literary agent in Vancouver, BC.

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The Enemy’s Daughter
written by Melissa Poetts
Quill Tree Books, 2025
978-0-06343-261-1 (hc) $24.99
978-0-06343-255-0 (ebook) $11.99
978-0-06343-256-7 (audiobook) $5.99
for Grades 9 and up

Isadora, whose father is Seraf of the five Clans, is starting to question the order of things in her community. Gender roles are strictly adhered to, meaning women, even those trained as healers, are required to stay at home while the men go off to fight the Kingsland army. But when the Seraf offers her hand in marriage to whoever can kill Fallon, the leader of Kingsland, the resulting retribution gives Isadora a chance to break the rules. Trailing a soldier back to the fight to provide her healing skills on the battlefield changes the path of her life irrevocably when she unknowingly encounters Tristan, Fallon's son.

On the surface, author Melissa Poett's debut novel is a lovely tale of romantasy, inspired by the epic medieval story of Tristan and Iseult’s doomed love affair. The conflict of Isadora and Tristan’s romance makes for a page-turning read that flies by. With magical elements and courtly love, Tristan himself is sure to inspire many a book crush.

Below the surface lies a complex exploration of a post-apocalyptic society branched into two directions. One remains in the preindustrial age, a paternalistic, authoritarian society that burns books from the world before the bombs and discourages education. The other is an egalitarian democracy, relying on old-world inventions, but educating themselves to keep those systems working as best as possible.

In the middle is Isadora, a headstrong, curious, self-educated young woman, looking around and questioning what she has been taught. As a healer who has witnessed the bloodshed firsthand, she yearns for peace. While fate or chance is responsible for a change in Isadora’s circumstance, Poett gives readers a character who meets these new challenges with the ability to open herself to the perspectives and views of others and fight to the death for what is right.

Amy Mathers is the founder of the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award and a regular reviewer for Canadian Children’s Book News.

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The Last Band on Earth
written and illustrated by Elaine M. Will
Renegade Arts Entertainment, 2025
978-1-9984-8939-8 (pb) $24.95
for Grades 9 and up

Nat, her dog Charlie, and her punk band, The Dead Layaways, want to leave the city and go on tour. The only problem is that the demons who run everything won’t let them leave. Stuck in a city filled with monsters, none of the members of The Dead Layaways remember how they got there. All they know is that music doesn’t sound right anymore, they can’t write songs like they used to, and they’re surrounded by demons and ruins. When they finally escape in their van and find themselves in a desert hellscape, they search for what’s beyond their memories in a post-apocalyptic world.

An exploration of life with mental illness through a dystopian horror lens, The Last Band on Earth follows Nat and her bandmates in a post-apocalyptic world where their creativity is being stifled by a demon presence all around them. With striking illustrations of this dark and vivid world, this road trip horror story will grab hold of older readers immediately. This striking graphic novel about facing your demons will stay with teens long after the last page.

Em Hunter

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Lonely in Happy Town
(Real Love)
written by Kristopher Mielke
Lorimer, 2025
978-1-4594-2003-8 (pb) $16.95
978-1-4594-2004-5 (hc) $27.99
978-1-4594-2005-2 (ebook) $9.99
for Grades 7 and up

Quentin is a quiet 17-year-old who much prefers the life of his online game, “Happy Town,” to his real life. After coming out as bisexual to his friends, only one friend remains; coupled with the recent divorce of his parents and having struggled through being bullied in elementary school, Quentin’s anxiety plays a significant role in his inability to socialize confidently. For over a year, he has quietly struggled with the growing feelings he has for his coworker and for his online friend. Caught between these two worlds and paralyzed by anxiety, Quentin must decide if he is capable of making a decision and gather the confidence to act on it.

Lonely in Happy Town is a relatable story for many teenagers who find the world of gaming much easier to navigate than the real world. This is an engaging romance that incorporates trans experience, the true essence of friendship, and the development of self-confidence. Kristopher Mielke captures the voice of Quentin, whose insights and fears are relevant to many young adult readers. He provides a realistic portrayal of the power of community, both in real life and online.

A story of identity, Lonely in Happy Town addresses the balance between the real world and the virtual world, demonstrating that though joy can be found in both, there is something to be said for tangible relationships. This story provides insight into the value of knowing who we are and how we are an integral part of a community.

Mellissa Connolly is an English teacher specializing in alternative education.

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Meet Me on Love Street
written by Farah Heron
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025
978-1-6659-5757-1 (hc) $25.99
978-1-6659-5759-5 (ebook) $13.99
for Grades 7 and up

Fiction | Romance | Relationships | Gentrification | Community

This young adult romance features Sana as the protagonist and the story is told from her point of view. She is a self-proclaimed “helpless romantic” who lives on the aptly named Love Street with her mom, the owner of a flower shop. Sana dresses in vintage clothing, has a couple of part-time jobs and is in charge of the prom committee at her school. She is a popular gal, with many friends in her diverse group. The only cloud on the horizon is her relationship with her dad, his new wife and her stepsister.

Enter Miles, the romantic interest in the book. Miles is new to the area, a history buff who works in a local bookstore and is also pursuing a degree in city planning. He, too, has issues with his parents after their recent separation. Initially, he appears grumpy and cynical, always seeming to find what’s wrong with things rather than being positive—a complete contrast to the character of Sana, who is upbeat and enthusiastic.

Of course, the two of them have nothing in common and quite dislike one another at the beginning of the book, but, predictably, they end up as a couple and work together on a summer festival planned to help revitalize the street in the face of the threat of growing gentrification in the neighbourhood. Readers will be pleased that Farah Heron, a Canadian author, has chosen to set her novel in the city of Toronto.

For those who, like Sana, are “hopeless romantics,” this novel will hit many high notes and will be an enjoyable read.

Ann Ketcheson is a retired teacher-librarian and high school teacher of English and French who lives in Ottawa.

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Show
written by Shane Peacock
DCB Young Readers, 2025
978-1-77086-796-3 (pb) $16.95
978-1-77086-797-0 (ebook) $9.99
for Grades 6 to 9

Fiction | Friendship | Adventure | Circus Performers | Entertainment Industry

In an alternate 1899, Solomon Hunt has left home after his father’s death to find a means of supporting his family. Arriving in the thrilling city of York with all its diversions and entertainments, he rescues the Seer, a young genius showman being forced to perform in a sideshow. As Solomon and the Seer flee from the Seer’s villainous captors, they travel from Buffalo to New Orleans, Denver to Los Angeles, gathering a diverse group of young performers trapped in shows. With a human cannonball, a giant acrobat, a gunslinger, a talking gorilla, a blues musician and more, the Seer begins to orchestrate a show that will be like no other and hopefully save them all. But travelling across the country is not their only challenge, they must continuously elude the many people who wish to entrap them and turn them over to Leopold J. Coop—the showman who dominates the Empire with his circus-like extravaganzas and desire to be president, too.

In this action-packed adventure, Shane Peacock once again creates a tale that will enthrall young readers. The fast pace and memorable cast of characters will keep students engaged and wanting more. Set in the entertainment-obsessed Empire of America, many parallels to current-day America would create interesting talking points for classroom discussions. I would highly recommend adding this title to your school, classroom and home libraries.

Sandra O’Brien is a former teacher and editor.

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Sky on Fire
written by E.K. Johnston
Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2025
978-1-98481-616-0 (hc) $26.99
978-1-98481-617-7 (ebook) $11.99
979-8-21707-443-3 (audiobook) $34.00
for Grades 7 and up

Born without a connection to aether, and sent to be raised by her aunt after her parents gave her up, Morgan Enni is used to being the odd one out, especially on Katla Station. When the scientific proposal she has worked her whole life for is approved, the opportunity to test her hypothesis puts Morgan in a social situation that stretches her limits. Suddenly, she finds herself making genuine friendships after years of solitude. But when an amazing discovery reveals strings are being pulled from behind the scenes, Morgan must make a choice and find a way through the betrayal and doubt she now feels.

Introduced briefly in the epilogue of E.K. Johnston's Aetherbound, new protagonist Morgan Enni picks up the tale of rebellion, the Hegemony and gene-locked space stations in the long-awaited sequel, Sky on Fire. Johnston excels at furthering her world-building through thoughtful and specific details about what life in ships and stations in space would entail. And, in her true fashion, she goes a step further to create supplementary texts that are quoted.

Rooted in science, Morgan provides a sharp contrast to those rooted in the magic of the aether. She is headstrong, determined, and, due to trouble with social cues, as well as just being smarter than everyone else, isolated. However, the earnest growth Johnston provides matures Morgan into someone she didn't know she could be, realizing that her place in this universe may be more vital than she had thought.

Sky on Fire also features a large cast of 2SLGBTQIA+ characters, allowing a wide range of readers to find a place among Morgan, Pendt, Ned, and Fisher in the stars.

No matter where this series ends up, readers will want to be along for the nail-biting journey. Hopefully, the next instalment doesn't take as long to come out.

Amy Mathers

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Soul Machine
written and illustrated by Jordana Globerman
Annick Press, 2025
978-1-7732-1958-5 (hc) $31.99
978-1-7732-1959-2 (pb) $22.99
978-1-7732-1960-8 (ebook) $19.99

Chloe and Lacey, the teenage protagonists of Soul Machine, written and illustrated by Jordana Globerman, are soul weavers, handcrafting human souls using a sacred and natural material called breth. Parentless, they run their small business together in the countryside; however, operations are becoming nearly impossible. Local breth suppliers no longer exist, and outside shipments are getting lighter. A huge competitor, the evil MCorp, has introduced Digibreth, a synthetic source that will allow them to make unlimited souls.

A fast-paced adventure story, Soul Machine follows Chloe, the youngest of the two sisters, to M-tropolis, a big city now mostly controlled by MCorp. On a quest to find a new supplier of breth, she’s determined to modernize and save the family business, all while proving to her sister that she can take on more responsibility. What she doesn’t expect is to uncover hidden family secrets that make her question everything.

The debut graphic novel by Ottawa’s Globerman, Soul Machine might be set in a dystopian universe; however, readers will immediately make parallels to their own surroundings. An exploration of capitalism and consumption, Globerman crafts the perfect villain—a megacorporation led by Maya, who seems more like a cult leader than a businessperson. With greed at its core, Soul Machine subtly encourages readers to examine their own relationship to how they get and consume both goods and information. The theme of human impact on the environment is especially powerful as breth is over-harvested and disappears from the land.

Told through Globerman’s stark, mostly monochromatic visuals, Soul Machine immerses young readers in a world that’s not so different from ours. They’ll be especially drawn to the close, but tense, relationship between Chloe and Lacey, who are each dealing with the absence of their parents differently. Sharp dialogue between them helps reveal their vulnerability and resilience, while also adding lighter moments of the squabbling you might expect from sisters so close in age.

Full of unexpected twists and turns, Soul Machine is an exciting read that creates countless opportunities for text-to-self and text-to-world connections. Young readers will delight in Chloe and Lacey’s adventure while also learning about the impact of megacorporations and monopolies on small businesses, the environment, and the daily lives of citizens.

Jessica Rose

* * *

Steel & Spellfire
written by Laura E. Weymouth
Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2025
978-1-6659-5975-9 (hc) $26.99
978-1-6659-5977-3 (ebook) $13.99
978-1-6681-4859-4 (audiobook) $35.99
for Grades 9 and up

In the city of Valora, where magic is feared and controlled, Pandora Small hides her true power beneath the guise of a privileged Ingenue. When murders strike the royal court, echoing her own abilities, Pandora must team up with Ellis Beacon, a royal guard who knows her secret and is sympathetic to her cause. As suspicion grows and old ties threaten her freedom, Pandora must prove her innocence and face the truth of her past before she becomes the city’s next target.

Valora is a city of wealth and order built atop fear and control, where magic is outlawed and tightly governed by the Crown. As Pandora navigates court and its deadly undercurrents, the city's dark history with magic—and her own ties to it—unfolds as the story progresses.

Ellis Beacon is a young guard in the royal court. Highly respected and with a strong sense of duty, he feels torn between his desire to protect Pandora and guilt over not turning her in. While their romance isn’t the central plot, it is an essential part of the emotional hook and Beacon’s moral dilemma.

Weymouth does an excellent job of blending romantic tension with a rich fantasy setting full of court politics, magic, and intrigue, and keeps readers guessing, only revealing near the end who the true villain is.

Overall, Laura E. Weymouth has created an engaging romantasy with a hint of mystery and political intrigue that will appeal to fans of Brigid Kemmerer and Stephanie Garber. Highly recommended.

Rachel Seigel

* * *

This Place Kills Me
written by Mariko Tamaki
illustrated by Nicole Goux
Abrams Fanfare, 2025
978-1-4197-6846-0 (hc) $33.99
978-1-4197-6845-3 (pb) $24.99
for Grades 9 and up

Abby Kita is struggling to fit in at her new all-girls prep school, Wilberton Academy. With rumours from her life before Wilberton still following her, Abby is the opposite of the popular and close-knit members of the WTA, the Wilberton Theatrical Society.

The day after the school’s production of Romeo and Juliet, seemingly perfect WTA member Elizabeth Woodward (Juliet) is found dead in the school forest, still in her costume. The death is ruled a suicide, but as the last person to speak to Elizabeth, Abby is drawn into the mystery of what exactly happened that night. When drugs are found in Elizabeth’s system, Abby wonders what other secrets Elizabeth was hiding and if those secrets were worth dying for.

A page-turning and compelling mystery, This Place Kills Me delves deep into the secrets of an idyllic-seeming boarding school and its most popular students. Set in the 1980s, the world of Wilberton is captured in beautiful, two-toned illustrations, featuring pink and blue. Quick to draw you in, young readers will want to finish This Place Kills Me all at once to find out the truth behind Elizabeth’s death. An enthralling mystery by a talented duo, This Place Kills Me is bound to be difficult to forget. Highly recommended.

Em Hunter

* * *

The Whisperings
written by Joel A. Sutherland
Tundra Books, 2025
978-1-774-88101-9 (hc) $26.99
978-1-774-88102-6 (ebook) $11.99
978-1-774-88103-3 (audiobook) $26.99
for Grades 9 and Up

Fiction | Horror | Occult | Supernatural

Seventeen-year-old Joana Guest and her younger brother Peter are used to always being on the move. Ever since the violent murder of their mother, their father can’t stay in one place, haunted by voices he calls “The Whisperings.” When the family moves to Burlington, Vermont, however, Joana thinks they have finally found a place to call home. But the place they choose has a few sinister secrets of its own, and when a near-death experience suddenly awakens The Whisperings in Joana, she finds herself up against supernatural entities threatening to harm everyone she holds dear. Can Joana find a way to settle the restless spirits haunting her? Or will the ghosts force her and her family to join them in their gruesome fate?

Joel A. Sutherland crafts a delightfully creepy haunted house story for teen readers. Fit for an evening read with a flashlight under the covers, this story follows its main character as she navigates both the everyday teen problems of first crushes and frenemies, and the supernatural problems of violent murders and seeing ghosts.

As a standalone teen horror story, this book is perfect to sink your teeth into and devour all in one go. Ideal for audiences who know what it feels like to be displaced, who know the lingering ghosts of grief, or who just enjoy a good scare, this story is easy to follow, without giving away its secrets too early. Written for teenagers and young adults, this story focuses on the strength of familial bonds and the need to settle unfinished business.

Sara Rigotti

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You Started It
written by Jackie Khalilieh
Tundra Books, 2025
978-1-7748-8475-1 (hc) $26.99
978-1-7748-8476-8 (ebook) $11.99
978-1-7748-8483-6 (audiobook) $26.99
for Grades 8 and up

Jamie and Ben have been dating for three years. This past summer presented the biggest challenge to their relationship as they spent time apart. Ben went to work at a residential camp, and Jamie stayed home. On the night of his return, Jamie hopes to pick up where they left off. She has created a list of “fun dates,” which are intended to lead up to the Winter Formal, a very special evening for them as a couple. When Ben arrives at her house, it is clear that things are different, and Ben makes the decision to end their relationship abruptly.

As Jamie attempts to figure out what happened between them, she arrives at Ben’s house and is shocked to find Olivia Chen kissing Ben. Jamie drives away and ends up colliding with a neighbour’s bike, which ends up wedged in the front end of her car. The owner, Axel Dahini, is a TikTok dancer and everything that Ben is not. Jamie and Axel begin a fake relationship that benefits both of them. They share rides to school, meet new people, and Axel even ends up getting a job with her uncle. Jamie spends a lot of time trying to find ways to get Ben back, but eventually, she finds that her heart is bending towards Axel, and their “fake relationship” is everything she never thought she wanted, yet everything she needs.

Jackie Khalilieh has created characters that you cannot help but cheer on and laugh along with their youthful antics. This is a story that also celebrates Arab heritage and has a character that openly braves her anxiety disorder and IBS symptoms, which echo the mental health struggles that many teens face today. This was a pleasure to read, and adolescent readers will be able to see some of their own experiences in this tale.
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Christine O’Sullivan is a secondary school teacher-librarian in Brantford, Ontario.

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Non-Fiction

Bird Brothers, A Delhi Story
written by Rina Singh
illustrated by Barkha Lohia
Orca Book Publishers, 2025
978-1-4598-3856-7 (hc) $21.95
978-1-4598-3927-4 (ebook) $17.99
for Grades 1 to 4

Non-Fiction Picture Book | Wildlife Rescue | Role Models | Empathy | Social Responsibility

Bird Brothers, A Delhi Story is an inspiring true story about two brothers in Delhi, India, who are creating a positive change. As young children, Nadeem Shehzad and Mohammad Saud were mesmerized by the raptors, also known as the Black Kites and birds of prey. Their father taught them how to feed them scraps of meat and the importance of caring for all living things. However, during the kite-flying season in India, the birds would be at risk of getting hurt because of the glass-coated kite string called manja. Although it is now banned, the Black Kites could get tangled in it, and that would cause injuries.

One day, the brothers saw a bird injured in this way, and they rushed to the local vet for support. The vet was unable to help them because they did not have the supplies to help the Black Kites, who are carnivores. Over the years, as the brothers grew older, they continued to see the birds suffer from the manja, dehydration and breathing in the congested urban air. This inspired the brothers to take action and open their own rehabilitation centre for Black Kites. There, they would nurse the birds back to health, repair their broken wings, perform minor surgeries, and provide them with a space to recover. The brothers felt happy helping the Black Kites, as they are an important part of the ecosystem.

This is a powerful story that shows readers an example of how change can start in one’s local community and have wider impacts. The brothers in the story are dedicated to protecting and rescuing wildlife, making it their lifelong mission. Through the book, readers get a glimpse into their journey and how they work with their community.

The detailed, vibrant and breathtaking illustrations bring the story to life. There is an author’s note at the end of the book, which gives readers more information about the brothers’ work, as well as a picture of them! This is an important book that shows readers what compassion for all living things can look like and its positive impacts.

Rabia Khokhar

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Cover image of The Dog Who Saved the Bees

The Dog Who Saved the Bees
written by Stephanie Gibeault
illustrated by David Hohn
Sleeping Bear Press, 2025
978-1-53411-332-9 (hc) $27.99
978-1-66896-146-9 (ebook) $21.99
for Kindergarten to Grade 3

Non-Fiction Picture Book | Bees | Detection Dogs | Conservation and Protection

This heartwarming narrative non-fiction picture book shares the remarkable true story of a dog trained to sniff out contagious colony-killing bacteria in beehives. Cybil Preston, chief apiary inspector for the Maryland Department of Agriculture, meets and adopts Mack, a lonely Labrador Retriever languishing inside a garage. Sensing that Mack might have what it takes to become a detection dog, Cybil gets to work teaching him basic commands and honing his concentration skills.

Although easily distracted, Mack proves to be a quick learner. Cybil turns lessons into a game by hiding a foulbrood disease-scented rag (with the distinct odour of “rotting roadkill”) in his favourite ball for playing fetch. Mack learns to “love that stink so much” that he drools whenever he comes within noseshot of it. With time and perseverance, Cybil’s canine coworker adeptly and efficiently searches more than 1600 hives in a single month for the presence of the bacterial disease deadly to bees.

This well-researched story, written by Stephanie Gibeault, a certified dog trainer and former biologist, is based on interviews she conducted with Cybil Preston. David Hohn’s detailed illustrations relay Mack’s intensive training regimes and chart his movement from beehive to beehive. Back matter includes information about dogs’ ultrasensitive sense of smell and the importance of bees to our food supply. A selected bibliography is also provided.

Animal lovers will enjoy this story of a heroic dog who finds a loving home and an important vocation.

Linda Ludke

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Meet Frederick Banting
(Scholastic Canada Biography)
written by Elizabeth MacLeod
illustrated by Mike Deas
Scholastic Canada, 2025
978-1-0397-0785-6 (hc) $18.99
for Grades 1 to 5

The latest addition to the award-winning Scholastic Biography series portrays highlights from the life of Canadian medical hero, Frederick Banting. His discovery of insulin has saved and continues to save millions of lives each year. As a boy, he lost a friend to diabetes. As an adult, he strove persistently to find a cure for the dreaded disease. Readers glimpse his rural childhood, his aspirations to become a doctor, his service in WWI, his research partnership with Charles Best at the University of Toronto, and his first successful life-saving procedure in 1922.

Using a bright, chatty style, MacLeod briefly describes the illness of diabetes at the time, its symptoms, prognosis and the processes through which Banting made his mammoth discovery. Also included are his lesser-known achievements regarding inventions and medicines that protected men in two world wars. His character is rounded out by revelations that he refused any remuneration for his discovery, that he shared his Nobel Prize money with Charles Best, and that he was a gifted artist. A chronology of his life is appended, which includes the honours received during and after his lifetime.

The attractive layout and mixed-media artwork perfectly complement and enrich the story content. The whimsical animated illustrations, in subtle, mellow shades, move across double-page spreads and feature light-hearted speech bubbles that add humour and clarity for young readers. Altogether an accomplished presentation and introduction to an inspiring subject that is bound to stimulate further interest in Banting’s life.

Aileen Wortley is a retired children’s librarian from Toronto.

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Never Silent: A Hiroshima Survivor's Story
written by Setsuko Thurlow and Kathy Lowinger
illustrated by Michelle Theodore
Annick Press, 2025
978-1-7732-1985-1 (hc) $24.99
for Grades 6 and up

In her new book, Never Silent: A Hiroshima Survivor's Story, nuclear disarmament activist Setsuko Thurlow says her childhood ended on December 8, 1941, when a radio announcer declared that Japan was at war with the United States and the Allied forces. Less than four years later, when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Thurlow—then Setsuko Nakamura—was 13 years old. Along with approximately 30 girls from her class, she’d just arrived for her first day as a decoder, helping to decipher messages from the front lines. She saw a flash of light and was knocked unconscious, waking up under the debris of a collapsed building.

Co-written by Toronto author Kathy Lowinger, Never Silent shares Thurlow’s account of August 6, 1945, when she was one of only three girls at the army headquarters to survive; the other 27 “burned to death.” However, it’s equally the story of her life before and after the attack, painting a vivid picture of Hiroshima before the war, and celebrating Thurlow’s many achievements as an activist, now living in Toronto, working tirelessly in hopes that no other child will share her experiences.

Told in three chapters—“The Before Time,” “The Most Terrible Bomb,” and “The Silence Lifts”—Never Silent combines personal narrative with historical context, beginning with Thurlow’s earliest memories of her happy life in Hiroshima, the city in which she grew up. Accompanying her first-person account, informational pages, including “A Visit to Hiroshima,” use past and present photos to deepen readers’ understanding of how life was forever altered by World War II. The thought-provoking book will also open readers’ eyes to the impact of radiation and what life was like after the war under occupation by US and British Commonwealth forces.

Accompanied by expressive and powerful illustrations by Edmonton’s Michelle Theadore, Never Silent is an essential read not only for those with an interest in war history, but also those who dream of peace. Young readers will be especially inspired by Thurlow’s decades-long activism, which has included addressing the United Nations many times, testifying before world leaders, and giving the Nobel lecture when the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.

A hero that all Canadians should know about, Setsuko Thurlow continues to share her story at 93 years old. This latest offering, Never Silent, is a tribute to her resilience and activism, yet it’s more than a simple autobiography. It encourages young readers to think for themselves, asking the book’s most pointed question, which appears on page 43: “Was it necessary in order to end the war or was it an experiment to see what the atomic bomb could do?”

Jessica Rose is a writer, reviewer and editor in Hamilton, Ontario.

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T Is for Terry: An ABC of Courage
written by Denise Dias
illustrated by Noémie Gionet Landry
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada, 2025
978-1-03970-679-8 (hc) $18.99
for Kindergarten to Grade 3

Non-Fiction Picture Book | Terry Fox | Canadian Biography | Alphabet Books

Denise Dias's T Is for Terry is more than just an alphabet book; it's an inspiring journey that introduces young readers to Canadian hero Terry Fox and his enduring legacy. This thoughtfully crafted picture book transforms complex themes of perseverance, community, and hope into an engaging narrative for children.

Dias masterfully uses each letter to illuminate a different facet of Terry Fox's story. Readers follow along as they learn from “A” for Adventure to “Z” for Zest. The narrative gently explains how the loss of Fox’s leg became the catalyst for his cross-Canada run. Iconic symbols of his journey, like his van and distinctive shoes, are seamlessly woven into the book and brought to life through illustrations. Landry’s vibrant artwork complements the text, capturing Terry's spirit and the vast Canadian landscapes he traversed.

What truly sets T Is for Terry apart is its heartfelt approach. Dias ensures that children grasp not only the facts of Terry's life but also the powerful lessons embedded within it: resilience in the face of adversity, the strength of human connection, and the belief that even the smallest actions can lead to significant change.

T Is for Terry is a strong addition to school, classroom, family and public library collections. This tender, educational, and inspiring tribute to a true Canadian hero works beautifully as a read-aloud.

Krista Jorgensen is a former public librarian currently residing in Calgary, Alberta. She is homeschooling her two children.

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This Is How a Ball Rolls: The Science of Wobbling, Bouncing, Spinning Balls
written by Heather Tekavec
illustrated by Suharu Ogawa
Kids Can Press, 2025
978-1-5253-0968-7 (hc) $24.95
978-1-5253-1274-8 (ebook) $15.99
for Kindergarten to Grade 3

Non-Fiction | Balls | Forces and Energy | Motion

Who knew so much science existed around the balls we play with so casually? This creative book introduces us to 12 recreational balls, arranged in ascending order of size, ranging from tiny marbles to baseballs, basketballs, and ultimately huge Zorb balls that can accommodate people. Some are very familiar, but others, such as Kin-balls or juggling balls, are more obscure. A lively riddle invites readers to identify the ball it describes, followed by a brief explanation of the science of its shape, fabric and design that enables it to be as effective as possible.

Young readers will be drawn to the mix of familiar play items, sport, simple science and whimsy. Playful, tongue-twisting riddles, “Passing, shooting, trapping ball, Play it in all weather ball,” involve the reader in the guessing game. Accompanying text reveals the ball’s identity and explains features that make it perfect for the games we love to play (e.g., stitches on baseballs for grip, black and white hexagons on soccer balls for visibility, fuzz on a tennis ball for resistance). Through the book’s engaging presentation, children will learn simple physics concepts, including force, motion, elasticity, and resistance. Back matter further defines terms associated with ball science, such as ‘sphere,’ ‘elasticity,’ ‘aerodynamics,’ ‘trajectories,’ etc.

Personalities of all ages, races and abilities are represented in the upbeat art, which reveals a myriad tiny details in illustrations full of colourful enthusiasm. They work beautifully to enhance the information provided. A fun read-aloud for younger children and an introductory science book for slightly older children.

Aileen Wortley

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What Fish Are Saying: Strange Sounds in the Ocean
written by Kirsten Pendreigh
illustrated by Katie Melrose
Sourcebooks eXplore, 2025
978-1-4642-1896-5 (hc) $28.99
for Kindergarten to Grade 3

In this playful, non-fiction picture book, young children are introduced to noises made by creatures living in the ocean. It is surprisingly “NOISY down there.” Through simple, catchy verse, readers learn that clownfish pop, pearl fish thrum, toadfish boop, stingrays tick and shellfish scrape and scratch. Sounds travel faster and further underwater, but would be impossible to capture without waterproof microphones called hydrophones, which are sensitive enough to locate fish even in deep water or crevices.

Pendreigh suggests the possible purpose of each sound: for warning, greeting or territorial reasons and describes which body parts fish use to make these noises. Using repetitive, alliterative words and rhyming couplets, the information is both entertaining and instructional. A wide variety of fish are pictured, named, and linked with the sounds they make. Children will identify individual fish and be awed by the wondrous variety of ocean wildlife.

Back notes provide details about what scientists have learned from the sounds, how this knowledge helps protect ocean ecology and include fun facts about specific noisemakers.

Digital illustrations cover double-page spreads and include charming, colourful depictions of a variety of undersea life from angelfish to midshipman. A small shrimp makes regular appearances and provides a grand finale, blasting out bubbles and making loud crackles and snaps in a process called cavitation.

Bountiful pictures and repetitive onomatopoeic words will make this a great read-aloud for children, and provide a fun, educational resource for teachers, parents, and librarians about a little-known, fascinating underwater world.

Aileen Wortley

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What a Waste: 9 Ways to Fight Climate Change
(Orca Take Action)
written by Karen Tam Wu
illustrated by Bithi Sutradhar
Orca Book Publishers, 2025
978-1-4598-4044-7 (hc) $19.95
978-1-4598-4046-1 (ebook) $16.99
for Grades 4 to 6

Non-Fiction | Recycling | Waste Reduction | Climate Change | Garbage

Every year, humans create mountains of garbage, but we could be using that waste to help the planet. In What a Waste, author Karen Tam Wu introduces young waste warriors to new and innovative ways to protect land, forests and water.

In the first section of the book, we learn that replacing fossil fuels with food scraps, poop, and waste heat is gentler on the land and helps us reduce our use of fossil fuels. We discover that renewable diesel, made from meats and oils, has a smaller carbon footprint and that repairing or recycling old electronic devices reduces the need to mine the land for the materials needed to create new devices.

In the second section, the author encourages readers to recycle paper and cardboard at home to prevent the use of virgin wood fibres and teaches us that straw from crops, used to feed people or livestock, can be used to make fibre for paper. She also encourages the deconstruction rather than demolition of homes, allowing materials to be reused. She explains that reusing old clothes to create new ones is a more sustainable approach.

In the third and final section, we learn that reclaiming wastewater to grow crops, as they do in Israel, helps reduce our water footprint. Additionally, reusing stormwater, rainwater, graywater, and blackwater will also contribute to this goal. We also learn that the removal of seaweed from the ocean to create bioplastic will help restore ecosystems in places like the Caribbean.

Filled with innovative information and tips on how to reuse, repurpose and repair waste to fight climate change, this is an excellent resource to encourage children to help protect the planet. The sidebars include practical tips and other interesting information, and the artwork creates fun visual breaks from the text. The information is presented in a concise manner that helps children understand the concepts, and a glossary of terms is included at the back.

Sandra O’Brien

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Cover image of Your Were Made for This World

You Were Made for This World: Celebrated Indigenous Voices Speak to Young People
edited by Stephanie Sinclair and Sara Sinclair
Tundra Books, 2025
978-1-7748-8256-6 (hc) $28.99
978-1-7748-8257-3 (ebook) $11.99
for Grades 3 to 6

Non-Fiction | Anthology | Cultures and Heritage | Indigenous

Heartbreaking, yet heart-filling, and completely beautiful—stunning in both prose and artwork. These are love letters from 40 Indigenous creators to their younger selves, as well as to all Indigenous children. The collection offers a touching glimpse into the lives of Indigenous people, fostering empathy and understanding with non-Indigenous readers.

The chapters are organized around the sacred medicines of water, tobacco, cedar, sweetgrass, and sage. The impact of both the words and the artwork on these pages is striking—truly good medicine. By lifting their voices, the authors uplift all Indigenous children.

Love and care are evident on every page. The writing is beautiful, clear, and accessible. The artwork varies by artist, but each piece is rich and vibrant. The graphics, photos, and overall design of the book are outstanding.

The introduction by the Sinclairs and the thoughtful foreword by Murray Sinclair are deeply moving. The back matter includes a list of contributors, their biographies, and a note about the cover art. This is the kind of book filled with powerful essays that readers will return to again and again. It even includes a ribbon bookmark to help save their spot.

You Were Made for This World is a welcome addition to any home library and a must-have for school and public libraries. Highly recommended.

Colette Poitras

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