Reviews of books for children and teens.
Review by Jocelyne Gregory
Humans might have Banksy, but animals have Anonymouse. In Anonymouse, written by Vikki VanSickle and illustrated by Anna Pirolli, Anonymouse—as the reader learns—is an artist who paints not for the humans, but for the urban wildlife… … More Anonymouse by Vikki VanSickle, Illus. by Anna Pirolli
Review by Sara Francoeur
Miriam “Mir” Kendrick seems more aware of what she doesn’t have that what she really wants for her life. When her artist grandfather co-created the comic series The TomorrowMen in his youth and then sold the rights to his partner, he had no way of knowing it was destined to be a multi-million-dollar empire. … More Comics Will Break Your Heart by Faith Erin Hicks
Review by Logaine Navascués
The beauty of wordless picture books lies not only in the images they show, but also in the hidden narratives left for readers to discover. At first glance, Over the Shop is a simple and linear story about a little girl and her grandparent, and their intent to find renters for the second floor of the tattered building where their shop is located. … More Over the Shop by JonArno Lawson, illus. by Qin Leng
Review by Logaine Navascués
magine a circus where words are the most exotic animal. A space where writers play with language to perform bizarre tricks and tame it into unusual yet sophisticated forms. Welcome to Alphamaniacs, a collection of mini biographies of 26 outstanding storytellers who found their own, unique ways of writing with wit and creativity. … More Alphamaniacs: Builders of 26 Wonders of the Word by Paul Fleischman, Illus. by Melissa Sweet
Review by Jocelyne Gregory
Juniper Hollow is a quiet small town filled with polite and courteous residents. For Mr. Mole, the newest resident of Juniper Hollow, it is a wonderful—if not a slightly strange—new beginning to life among his curious new neighbours. … More Mister Mole Moves In by Lesley-Ann Green
Review by Elizabeth Leung
As resources that explain disabilities to youth are hard to come by, The Disability Experience is a true gem of non-fiction. Author Hannalora Leavitt, who herself is legally blind, provides a succinct overview of the culture and history of disability for young readers. … More The Disability Experience: Working Toward Belonging by Hannalora Leavitt, Illus. by Belle Wuthrich
Review by Logaine Navascués
The depths of the ocean are as mysterious and unknown as outer space, and real-life underwater explorer and cave diver Jill Heinerth knows it. … More The Aquanaut by Jill Heinerth, Illus. by Jaime Kim
Review by Deborah Vail
What would you think of a high school senior who wears his cadet uniform to school, rides a bright orange bicycle, and talks to himself? What if you discovered that his older sister, Charlie, was killed eight years earlier in a motor vehicle crash. Could you believe that her ghost is always with him? … More BOY by Brent van Staalduinen
Review by Katie Gaston
Objects or creatures that are tiny are sometimes considered unimportant, insignificant, and thus get overlooked. The Secret Fawn by Kallie George invites young readers to challenge these small ideas and to find big power within themselves.
… More The Secret Fawn by Kallie George, illus. by Elly MacKay
Review by Logaine Navascués
Science-loving Olga made the greatest discovery of her young life when she found a new animal species, the Olgamus ridiculus. In this third adventure in the Olga series, Olga encounters yet another new discovery, and challenge, as her beloved pet Olgamus, Meh, becomes the mom of seven baby Olgamuses! … More Olga: Out of Control! by Elise Gravel
