Journal-Style Middle School Book Recommendations from the Ottawa Public Library

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share a list books perfect for middle schoolers. This month’s post is by Sarah Godding, CPPSA at the Alta Vista Branch of the Ottawa Public Library. The selection is inspired by the joys of journaling!

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It’s November and after ongoing COVID-19 constraints in Ottawa, many of us are reaching a point of fatigue. SIGH. Yet, with these limits placed on our proximity to others comes an opportunity to increase our proximity to ourselves!

Getting to know oneself is a beautiful pursuit at any age. Keeping a diary, daily log or journal is a wonderful way to grow our understanding, appreciation and acceptance of ourselves. Encouraging the kids in our lives to let it all out onto a page can prove to be a great release. We cannot fix what we do not acknowledge no matter how big or small.

Here are middle school reads which incorporate the diary/journal style of writing and, in doing so, allow the reader to feel closer to the characters.

Just Jaime by Terry Libenson
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1168825026

Just Jaime follows two childhood best friends as they begin to cross the threshold from child to teen. The conflict is delicate as Jamie feels her best friend Maya is pulling away - but why? The chapters alternate narration of the last day of grade 7, with Jamie’s chapters taking a more intimate, handwritten diary approach, and Maya’s chapters laid out in a classic comic book style. This book allows the reader to navigate, along with the two friends, the turbulent dance of growing in and out of friendship and the importance and challenge of expressing hurt feelings. Through Jaime’s handwritten entries we are provided a wonderfully honest snapshot of the middle grade drama.

The Year I Didn’t Eat by Samuel Pollen
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1149054026

We meet 14-year-old Max just before a Christmas dinner feast with his family. Tensions are high for the young bird enthusiast with anorexia. Lately Max feels no one understands him, no one but Ana. Max has been keeping a journal, upon his therapist’s request, and addresses his entries to “Ana”- his eating disorder. Ana is not a kind influence, to say the least. The story alternates between narration and diary entries to Ana. It’s through these entries to Ana that the audience gains insight into tough emotions Max has no other way to express. Max’s battle with anorexia affects his relationships big time! When his brother moves out and his parents get quiet, a new classmate named Evie might just be the gust of fresh air needed to help Max turn his ship around.

Can You See Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1205782026

The next middle school diary style read stars Tally as she begins the sixth grade at a new school. She is really hoping to find her place, to be accepted, and to belong. Unfortunately, she believes that the only way she can make this happen is to hide parts of herself - like the fact that she has autism. We follow Tally through a combination of present-tense, third person writing and short diary entries. It’s through the diary entries, that the audience gains an honest understanding of Tally’s experience as a person with autism. In her entries she explains her exceptionality frankly and even provides the reader with definitions and eye-opening descriptions. This book was coauthored by a young girl with autism and the audience is better for it.

The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1215230026

Imani is another middle schooler whose feelings of being separate and other are weighing her down. She is the only person of colour in her white Baltimore neighbourhood and she’s adopted. Then her great-grandmother dies, and leaves Imani the diary she kept as a 12-year-old fleeing the Nazis in Luxembourg. It’s through reading her journal entries and her own curiosity fuelled research that Imani gets to know her Grandma Anna. Though they may not be connected by blood, they share something some special similarities. A beautiful story of the power of connection!

Isaiah Dunn is my Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1225423026

Our next character with a pension for reflection is the young Isaiah Dunn. He is 10 years old and loves writing poetry. Unfortunately, after his father passes the words stop flowing. The lose leaves Isaiah and his family feeling lost and uprooted. As many humans do when experiencing big feelings, he starts acting out and lands himself in an after-school meditation class with the class bully. Things get worse before they get better as Isaiah's mom’s depression takes a nosedive. The story lifts as the young boy finds journals full of stories about "Isaiah Dunn, superhero" that his dad left. The words on the page are so much more than that for young Isaiah and this connection to his father takes the story to the next level.

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1085600026

Finally, we meet Nisha, a quiet, sensitive half Hindu, half Muslim girl trying to find her place in the world. Finding her place and her voice is complicated by her geography and the time. Nisha is part of the forced migration of the Hindu people from Pakistan to India due to the countries separation in 1947. 12-year-old Nisha turns to her diary every night to help her process her feelings of loss and alienation. In her diary she writes to her mother who passed away when she was a baby. Nisha builds a relationship with the mother she never knew through these entries and uses her words as a tool to bring her complicated thoughts and feelings into focus. It’s a beautiful tale of the challenging experience of forced migration from Pakistan to India, of being caught between two worlds and belief systems and of accepting these hurdles with grace.

Stories About Friendship

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share stories about Friendship. This month’s post is by Ann-Marie (Annie) Miller, Supervising Librarian, Children’s Department at the Ruth E. Dickinson Library.

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The world is just a better place when you have a friend.  Sometimes it is not all that easy to be a friend, or to have one.  Friendship is never instant or guaranteed.  Nevertheless, the process of becoming a friend can be rewarding.  Here are a few books celebrating the joys of friendship in its many forms.

Bear Can’t Sleep by Karma Wilson; illustrated by Jane Chapman

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1126750026

 If you have yet to meet up with Bear and his circle of friends, this latest book is a great introduction to the series.  Bear should hibernate, but he just cannot get to sleep.  This is when his friends -  Mouse, Hare, Badger, Gopher, Mole, Raven and Wren -  all gather round to help out.  In rhyming text and luscious illustrations, we read about the friends making hot milk and singing lullabies.  When Bear sits up and begins to tell a story for his friends, he finally puts himself to sleep.  There are lots of books about Bear and his friends and you can read these stories to children from newborn to 5 years old.

Giraffe and Bird by Rebecca Bender

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/617329026

 Giraffe and Bird annoy each other all the time.  Bird makes faces at Giraffe; Giraffe sticks his tongue out at Bird; Bird tweets in Giraffe’s ear; and Giraffe glares back at Bird.  So it goes all day long each one annoying the other until finally they just walk away.  When the big storm comes in at night, though, each one wishes the other was close by.  So, in the lonely light of day, they seek out one another once again.  Giraffe and Bird are the most annoying of friends but they just cannot abide being apart. This is only the first of four Gerald and bird stories each one illustrated with Rebecca’s expressive drawings.   They will help to shed a little light on sibling struggles for those two to five years old in your household.

Poetree by Shauna LaVoy Reynolds; illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1174168026

 Shy Sylvia delights in writing poetry for her favourite tree.  She hides her poems in the tree’s branches and one day a new poem falls out of the tree landing at her feet.   Someone else is writing poems. At first Sylvia believes that the tree is writing back to her;  that the tree is a new friend.  Then Sylvia finds out that it is Walt, a classmate, who is writing the poems.  Sylvia and Walt form a new friendship composing poems for their tree and for one another while sitting together under the branches.  Their poems are a delight to read.  This is a lovely, rich story joyfully illustrated for those 5 to 7 years old.

Harold and Hog Pretend For Real! by Dan Santat

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1167672026

Every Grade One child loves to read about Mo Willem’s Elephant and Piggie.  Harold and Hog idolize them, too, and do their best to pretend to be Elephant and Piggie.  They discover that Hog is too careful to be Piggie and Harold is too carefree to be Elephant.  However, it is still fun to pretend to be best friends when you actually are best friends. A great addition to the early reading shelf for children 5 to 7 years old.

 Come Over to My House by Dr. Seuss; illustrated by Katie Kath

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/983845026

 If your child started out reading with Hop on Pop and The Cat in the Hat, they will dive into this slightly more advanced reader with enthusiasm.  In finely crafted rhyming text, Dr. Seuss takes us on a worldwide adventure exploring houses and customs on every continent.  It doesn’t matter where you are in the world the reader is invited to ‘come over and play’.  We find that all houses all over the world are alike ‘when a friend asks you in’.  This book will expand your child’s world and keep those 6 and 7 years old reading.

Wolfie & Fly Band on the Run by Cary Fagan; illustrated by Zoe Si

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1078918026

Renata Wolfman is always called Wolfie by her neighbour, Livingston Flott.  Wolfie calls Livingston, Fly. Wolfie likes to read and learn new things; Fly likes to have imaginative adventures.  There is a talent show coming up at school and Wolfie’s parents are encouraging her to enter.  Wolfie is happier just learning about her interest of the day – helicopters.  That is all before Fly comes in through the window with his guitar and gets Wolfie drumming along with to his new song.  Fly’s imagination takes off and before long it’s like the two of them are on stage in a stadium performing before thousands of screaming fans.  When they come back to the kitchen, they are ready to take on the annual Talent Show.  An entertaining story for those 7 or 8 years old.

Tom Swift Inventor’s Academy: the Drone Pursuit  by Victor Appleton https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1167734026

Tom and Noah have spent the weekend building a surveillance drone and now they want to test it out in the hallways of their school, the prestigious Swift Academy.  When their drone is spotted, they park it unobtrusively in the ceiling just outside a classroom.  When they go to retrieve the drone after class, it is gone.  So, begins the mystery.  Who has taken the drone, where is it now and why was it taken?  Tom and his friends worry that the theft is mixed up with an attempt to hack into the high tech company next door – the company owned by Tom’s father.  It takes quite a lot of adventuresome sleuthing to uncover the truth.  This is an exciting early novel for children 9 to 12 years old.  There are more mysteries to come in this series.

Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1145907026

A fatherless boy and a newly captured polar bear are an unlikely pair to form the bonds of lifelong friendship yet this is exactly what happens when they meet.  The boy, Arthur, is a runaway looking for his Father’s family and hoping to obtain his inheritance.  The bear is a gift from the King of Norway to the King of England and the year is 1252.  Arthur’s only hope of gaining passage to England is to sign onto the ship transporting the bear and to become the bear’s caregiver.  As it turns out, Arthur has a way with animals and the pair develops a true understanding of one another.  Whether they are dealing with the bullies on board ship, a pirate attack, a shipwreck or their run through the countryside, Arthur and the bear stick together. This novel is based on the true story of a pale bear kept in the menagerie at the Tower of London by King Henry III.  The bear lived for many years and this version suggests it was because of the gentle care given to it by his friend, Arthur. A unique plotline for this age group but there is enough adventure here to engage those 10 to 12 years old.

Hidden Gem 

Gus & Me: The Story of My Granddad and My First Guitar by Keith Richards; illustrated by Theodora Richards

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/792141026

 Yes, this is a picture book by that Keith Richards and it is illustrated by his daughter, Theodora.  The book recounts Keith’s close relationship with his Grandfather formed during their long walks together throughout Keith’s childhood.  Grandfather Gus lived in a ‘house full of instruments and cake’ and had been a ‘soldier, a baker and the leader of a dance band’.  It was Gus who handed Keith his first guitar and challenged him to learn how to play it.  Each double page spread is illustrated with Theodora’s fanciful drawings. This is a book and CD set which means you can have the text read to you by Keith himself.  The back matter includes a set of family photos.  This is what I call a picture book for adults.  Keep the tissues close at hand.

Great Graphic Novels 2020

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some great graphic novels books with us. This month’s post is by Lise Dumas, Supervising Librarian, Children's and Teen Services at the Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library.

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For those who love graphic novels, the Ottawa Public Library has some new and exciting reads for all ages.  Here are some of the most interesting graphic novels for kids that have come out so far in 2020: 

Trespassers by Breena Bard.

This story follows Gabby and her family on their summer vacation at their lake home. Gabby, a voracious reader, would prefer to spend her time reading during her vacation, but her parents have decided she should spend some time with Paige, the daughter of the family next door. Although reticent at first, Gabby befriends Paige and the two decide to write a story about an unsolved real-life mystery at one of the empty homes on the lake. This mystery involves the disappearance of the homeowners one night after a party. The two girls, with the help of their younger brothers, will try to uncover the lake house mystery and overcome hurdles in their friendship over the course of their vacation. The characters are simply drawn and the art will likely appeal to young readers. For ages 8-12.

The Big Break by Mark Tatulli

Middle schoolers Andrew and Russ who are trying to win a video contest by making a movie about the legendary Jersey Devil. Their long-term friendship is tested when Russ begins a romance with Tara, a cool girl at school. While Russ is ready to grow up, Andrew is not; he still loves drawing and his action figures. This story reflects the trials of growing up and how even a great friendship can be strained - but also, that it’s okay to have new friends and have separate interests. With an engaging cast of characters including a very adventurous librarian, Andrew, Russ and Tara embark on an exciting escapade to find the Jersey Devil and finish their movie. The drawings are very expressive and the colours are vivid. For ages 8-12.

The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner

For ages 8-14, this story is about thirteen-year old Moth Hush, who lives in Founder’s Bluff Massachusetts. Moth is obsessed with all things “witchy” and is pleased to find out that she is from a family of witches. Moth discovers she has powers on Halloween but unfortunately, her mother forbids her from practicing witchcraft, as the family has a dark past involving witch hunts and family drama. Moth is pushed to choose between her Mother’s rejection of witchcraft and her Grandma’s encouragement to embrace her powers and leave to the human world. Moth must find her own way and bring her family together again in this fun, exciting adventure. The autumn colours, the setting and the subject make it a great Halloween read.

Go With The Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann 

This graphic novel speaks of the trials and tribulations of periods in high school. Sasha Chen worries that she will be known throughout high school as ‘period girl’ when she gets her first period the day she wears white pants. With the help of Brit, Abby, Christine and Sasha, they take on the school administration to get the school to stock the bathroom hygiene dispensers to destigmatize periods. When the school administration refuses to address this woman’s health issue citing budget cuts, all while funding new football uniforms, the girls decide to campaign for change. The book addresses first love, political activism, and the power of friendship. The images are all drawn in black and white and fittingly coloured in pink and red. For ages 10-14.

Operation: Hat Heist! By Jason Platt

This is the second book in the Middle School Misadventures series. Newell is a huge fan of a TV series called The Captain and watches the show with his Dad. The show is about a WWII Captain who gets sucked through the Bermuda triangle into another dimension. Newell’s Dad goes to great lengths to obtain an authentic captain’s hat for him only to have the hat stolen from Newell’s backpack at school and then confiscated by the principal. With the help of his friends and an eight-grader named Ethan, Newell concocts a heist to retrieve his hat before his Dad finds out it is missing. The results are unexpected and hilarious. The artwork is eloquent, and a variety of techniques are used such as monochromatic flashbacks and full-page scenes. This book will appeal to fans of Big Nate and Diary of Wimpy Kid. For ages 8-12.

Children’s Summer Book Suggestions from the Ottawa Public Library

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some of their favourite summer reads for children ages 0 to 14. This month's post is by Kristina Roudiy, Children's Program Assistant at the Alta Vista Branch.

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Board book: Maisy explores: a First Words Book / Lucy Cousins

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1210040026

For ages 0-3. 

British author Lucy Cousins is back with a new board book of “Maisy the Mouse”. Did you know that Maisy's books have been translated into 27 different languages? In this bright, colourful title, each double page is themed around an early science concept, such as weather, growing plants, five senses, the human body, and technology. The tabs on the right make it easy for little fingers to browse.    

Picture book: Bunny’s Staycation / Lori Richmond

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1091141026

*Also available as an e-book on the library’s Overdrive catalogue

For ages 3-5.

When Mama leaves for a five-day business trip, Little Bunny understandably feels sad. Papa suggests that they take a virtual trip of their own, and travel to a different place each day. So on Monday, they build their own car out of cardboard; on Tuesday, they go to a tropical beach; on Wednesday, they cool off in a wintry wonderland; on Thursday, they go on a safari; on Friday, they design their own marshmallow campsite, just in time to welcome Mama home. With cute cartoon illustrations. This story might give fun ideas of activities to do as a family this Summer!

 Picture book: Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures / Tricia Springstubb

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1206788026

For ages 4-6. 

Khalil lives with his large and noisy family in the upstairs apartment, while the elderly and quiet Mr. Hagerty lives downstairs. Both Khalil and Mr. Hagerty enjoy the peace and quiet in the shared backyard. While Khalil hunts for bugs and treasure, Mr. Hagerty tends to his garden. They soon become friends, helping each other with language and misplaced garden tools. One hot Summer day, Khalil suggests a hunt for buried treasure, which does not end up being too successful, but is nonetheless followed by tasty chocolate cake and milk! With detailed illustrations made in paper-cut collage, and one simple sentence per page. A lovely intergenerational book about making friends, no matter your age or your differences!

Picture book : My Singing Nana / Pat Mora

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1204732026

For ages 4-6.

This is the story of Billy and his beloved grandmother called Nana. On the morning of their family's big Summer show, Billy's sister wakes up with a cough. Billy turns to Nana for help, and together they manage to still put on a show and sing their favourite songs – in Spanish and English. But Billy has noticed that his Nana is getting forgetful. He talks about it with his mother, who reassures him that though Nana's memory is failing, they can still do all of their favourite activities together. Such as baking in the kitchen! The recipe of their cherry treat is included in the book (yum!) –  as well as talking points for discussing Alzheimer's / dementia with children. 

Early Reader: Don't Worry, Bee Happy / Ross Burach

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1187450026

For ages 6-8.

Some of you might start singing or humming when they notice the title of this early reader! This is the first book in the “Bumble & Bee” series, published earlier this year. Bumble and Bee buzz happily around the pool, until they notice that Froggy is rather cranky. They attempt to cheer him up by engaging him in their playful activities and also try to help him get rid of his hiccups. Reading about this unlikely trio and their funny adventures will for sure put a smile on your face! 

Early Reader: Swim, Mo, Swim! / David A. Adler

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1225646026

*Also available as an e-book on the library’s Overdrive catalogue

For ages 6-8. 

Well-known children's author David A. Adler (author of Cam Jansen, Bone, as well as numerous non-fiction titles) has created a new early reader series with young character Mo. In Mo's fifth adventure, he and his friends are at summer camp and competing in Field Day challenges. The winning team will get extra ice cream. But can Mo win a medal in the swimming competition?

Early Reader: TJ’s New Friend / Aviaq Johnston

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1187482026

For ages 6-8. 

Aviaq Johnston is a young Inuit author from Nunavut who spends some of her time in Ottawa, Ontario! She earned a Governor General's History Award in 2014. In this story, we read about a new girl named Sapa who moves to TJ's community. TJ and Sapa share common interests and end up spending all Summer playing and exploring the neighbourhood. When school starts in the Fall and TJ's classmates start teasing Sapa for being different, will TJ stand up for his new friend? 

Chapter book: Float / Laura Martin

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1168823026

*Also available as an e-book on the library’s Overdrive catalogue

For ages 9-12.

Twelve-year-old Emerson is spending summer at a camp designed to accommodate kids with superpowers. Problem is, none of those kids know how to control their power.  Emerson's uncontrollable floating, for example, means he has to wear weighted shoes just to stay on the ground! At Camp Outlier, he gets to meet the accidentally invisible Hank, the spontaneously combusting Anthony, the time-travelling Murphy, and Zeke with X-ray vision. As members of the Red Maple cabin, they become friends through canoeing, capturing the flag, playing pranks and overall having a lot more fun than they expected to. Until Emerson discovers that one of their own is hiding a deadly secret that could endanger them all. With lots of action, great dialogue and plenty of humour! Fans of Gordon Korman and Dan Gutman, in particular, will enjoy this book.

Graphic novel: Hicotea: a Nightlights Story / Lorena Alvarez

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1180945026

For ages 9-12.

In this enchanting sequel to “Nightlights”, ever-curious young Sandy wanders away from her classmates during a field trip to the local wetland and finds an empty turtle shell. Peering inside, she falls into a magical world where Hicotea, the shell's owner, maintains a museum of paintings, sculptures, and artifacts documenting a very special wetland – one that has been almost completely destroyed by an evil creature. Can Sandy help Hicotea and her friends fight against the creature destroying their home? Alvarez's stunning, Miyazaki-like style, with brightly coloured landscapes and intricately detailed illustrations, bring a sense of wonder and magic to the natural world, hinting at the complex ecosystems around us that frequently go unnoticed. Sandy is a delightful protagonist with her relentless questions and deep respect for the natural world; hopefully, she will inspire young readers to find the magic in their own backyards.  

Chapter book: Chirp / Kate Messner

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1205785026

*Also available as an e-book on the library’s Overdrive catalogue

For ages 10-14. 

When Mia's grandma has a mild stroke, the middle schooler's family moves from Boston to Vermont, to help her grandmother sell her cricket farm. Mia is quite happy to leave Boston, but not so happy to have to attend two summer camps instead of watch TV, her favourite pastime since her gymnastics injury last year. But the Launch (entrepreneurial) and Ninja Warrior camps will help her in ways she never expected. Since Gram is determined to get more people eating protein-rich crickets, Mia creates a business plan for the cricket farm and starts investigating on who is sabotaging her business. Amid common themes of friendship and overcoming fears, the author incorporates strong #MeToo messaging, most poignantly in Mia's experience with a former 7th-grade coach. This novel succeeds both as an engaging mystery with strong female characters and as an appropriate middle-grade introduction to a serious and relevant issue.

 ***The Ottawa Public Library is doing TD Summer Reading Club virtually this Summer! Please visit our “Summerland” page to find out what it's all about, and to register for online Family programs : https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/kid-zone/src.

Kids can also participate in a Summer Reading Draw, to be entered for prizes such as gift cards to a bookstore or the CineplexStore, or a six-month membership to a magazine. The ballot can be found here :   https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/sites/default/files/src_reading_draw_ballot_card.pdf

Feel free to also explore the OPL's e-book resources. Have a great Summer!***

The Ottawa Public Library's top 10 most notable 2019 books for young kids

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share their top 10 most notable 2019 books for young kids. This month’s post is by Xiao Feng Xing, Librarian, Youth Collections at the Ottawa Public Library.

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Small in the City by Sydney Smith

Sydney Smith won the 2019 Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s book illustrations as well as a lot of starred reviews. During one of the young boy’s monologue, he says: “I know what it’s like to be small in the city.” Then, he proceeds by giving a lot of friendly advice. It’s like a puzzle. We don’t know who his missing friend is. Then, suddenly, a big spread of a lost cat poster gives us a visual clue. The boy is on a search and rescue mission for his lost cat. Beautiful small panel watercolours and full spreads illustrate the snowy, noisy big city, and the little boy’s worried feelings for his lost cat.

My Winter City by James Gladstone

Our home town Ottawa is filled with snow in the winter. Even though this book uses Toronto as a background, kids in Ottawa will still appreciate the winter scenes and the watercolour pictures from each spread. Young readers will enjoy the adventures of a boy, his father, and their dog, from sunrise to sunset, on a snowy winter day. Maybe they’ll put the book down and go out to enjoy some winter fun themselves.

Sharon, Lois & Bram’s Skinnamarink by Qin Leng

The classic Canadian song is much loved since Sharon, Lois and Bram performed it to audiences for the first time in 1978. This beloved trio of children’s entertainers have sung the song at the UN General Assembly! It has come to symbolize friendship, inclusion, joy and love.

It is a must sing along in our children’s programs on Valentine’s day. In this special book version of the song, the author has added an introduction to the anthem, along with some additional verses. Qin Leng brings joy and love of life with her clear and simple soft tone watercolour illustration. She uses different kinds of people, families, and even animals. The sing-along story celebrates love, community, and the joy of music.

Albert’s Quiet Quest by Isabelle Arsenault

The words and images are by renowned Montreal author Isabelle Arsenault. A young boy named Albert just wants to find a quiet place to read. He finally finds a quiet corner with a painting of an ocean sunset. It’s a good spot for him to read and daydream by the seaside. He’s continually disturbed by different people who invite him to play outside until he can’t tolerate it anymore and makes a raucous. Gradually, his family and friends respect his quiet quest and they all came to his nook to read a book quietly together. The story unfolds using graphic novel like speech bubbles and panels. It shows how some kids, especially autistic kids, struggle to have their own private and quiet space.

Saturday by Oge Mora

Ava and her mother cherished Saturdays because it’s the only day that Ava’s mom doesn’t have to work. Ava is hoping to do a lot of things but then things go wrong. Storytime is cancelled; her hair gets messy; the park is too loud; and now they’ll miss the puppet show. Mom thinks she has ruined Saturday. During a touching moment, Ava uses the same words her mother uses to comfort and reassure her: “Mom, don’t worry. Today will be special. Today will be splendid. Because today is Saturday and I spend them with you!” And then they go home to do a puppet show together. The book uses a unique collage style that depicts the busy weekends of many families and working parents. 

River by Elisha Cooper

River is one more excellent book illustrated by Elisha Cooper following Farm, Beach, and Train. The book uses iconic water colours to illustrate a young woman’s canoe journey down the Hudson River. She shares her challenges and adventures of navigating rapids, dams, and the experience of a storm and hardship in the dark night. Thanks to her resilience and determination, she finally meets her family at the end of her journey. This is a story of courage for young kids who will learn that with perseverance you can overcome many challenges.

Daniel’s Good Day by Micha Archer

“What is a good day for you?” Daniel is a young boy who wants to find out what a good day is for the people in his neighbourhood.

The author’s colourful collages and simple text tell us many simple things that give us joy. This is an inspiring and optimistic story.

The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown by Mac Barnett

This is a little longer than our average picture book, with 42 pages to remember the 42 years of life of Margaret Wise Brown. As author Mac Barnett says, “You can’t fit somebody’s life into 42 pages, so I am just going to tell you some important things.”

You will be amazed to learn that many of the author’s popular books, including Good Night Moon, are not recommended for purchase by experts in the New York Public Library. As a result, none of her books were purchased by public libraries at the time. This book, with vivid illustrations, depicts the author's great children’s  short lifespan of 42 years.

Migration Incredible Animal Journeys by Mike Unwin

This is a non-fiction picture book. The stunning illustrations and simple text present a collection of epic animal migrations across our planet. Each animal has its own story to tell. Each spread depicts one animal’s unique journey, enduring harsh weather and dodging hungry predators.

Sweety by Andrea Zuill

Sweety is awkward, even for a naked mole rat. She knew that she didn’t always fit in. She has protruding front teeth, thick glasses and some very unusual hobbies, such as identifying different fungi. She gave a book report using interpretive dance. Her aunt Ruth had the same experience when she was young, so she always encourages Sweety. “Being different is one of the best things about life.” If you stay true to yourself, you’ll find your people.” Finally, Sweety finds her friend Sandy. Here are the words from Sandy’s speech bubble: “My name is Sandy. Your Shirt is wonderful! I wouldn’t mind having a shirt with a mushroom on it. I love mushrooms. My favourite is Gyramitra esculenta. It looks like a brain.”

The author’s end note dedicates the book to “all those who have accepted their inner oddball”. The pen and ink drawings with speech bubbles clearly depict the oddball that Sweety is with humour and charm. Author Andrea Zuill delivers a story about learning to embrace everything that makes you “you”, and that’s something many kids can relate to.