The illustrations in ‘Ploof’ uncover new mediums of storytelling flair. The familiar imperfect textures of crayons, oil pastels, bath bubbles, and bright blue skies painted with cotton further complement the intimate one-to-one dialogue for new readers. Alongside the use of soft colours and simple textual presentation, the illustrations communicate a multitude of expressions. … More Ploof by Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser
Shapiro and Kaufman’s love of language shines through in the prose, with lots of alliteration and assonance on each page that rolls off the tongue as you read aloud. The main characters are delightfully verbose – precocious Pam Pam insists that Weasel’s “evidence is faulty”, while Weasel is convinced that “a dog living on its own must be quite a dog.” And, I stand by the fact that not enough picture books feature words such as “indubitably” and “sophisticated”! … More Roy is Not a Dog by Esmé Shapiro and Daniel Kaufman
Talk Santa to Me goes beyond a heartwarming tale; it imparts essential messages about belief, resilience, and enduring love. Francie’s journey underscores Christmas’s true essence – the gifts of hope, love, and family are far more important than material possessions. … More Talk Santa to Me by Linda Urban
Watt seems to recognize that Scaredy might be a relatable figure to readers and includes a positive moral for those who see themselves as the nervous protagonist. Scaredy learns that slowly stepping out of his comfort zone provides a positive experience. … More Scaredy Squirrel in a Nutshell by Melanie Watt
P.T. Barnum claimed that clowns are the pegs on which the circus is hung, which must mean that the future of any great circus is the birth of a baby clown. In Baby Clown, Kara LaReau’s amusing story of the first, rather noisy, days of the Dingling Circus heir, will delight readers. He cries, wails and sobs, and nobody can calm him down. Boffo and Frieda, his beleaguered parents who never remove their clown makeup, tend to his every whim, but to no avail. New parents will likely recognize the futile attempts of this frazzled duo with weary amusement. LaReau handles the situation with both humour and empathy, as we learn that only thunderous applause will appease this little one. … More Baby Clown by Kara LaReau, illus. by Matthew Cordell
Emmitt’s world comes crashing down the day his twin sister Minnie is officially declared brain-dead following a devastating accident. His family is on the brink of falling apart, and the thread holding them together has snapped. With nothing to lose, Emmitt sets out to make a film starring all the fortunate recipients that received an organ from his 16-year-old twin — a film that he hopes will piece his family back together and mend his mother’s shattered heart. … More Heart Sister by Michael F. Stewart
Review by Remy Ulmer
A fun and thrilling read, John Lekich delivers a marvellous mystery that will have young readers turning every page. … More Murder at the Hotel Hopeless by John Lekich
Review by MacKenzie Sewell. Kaitlyn Hill’s debut novel Love From Scratch captures romance under stardom while confronting the rampant sexism in the workforce. … More Love from Scratch by Kaitlyn Hill
After losing her mother when she was ten, Liz holds onto their connection by doing the thing that they loved the most: watching sappy, wonderfully over-the-top dramatic rom-coms. … More Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
In A Storytelling of Ravens, author Kyle Lukoff and illustrator Natalie Nelson welcome readers into the world of unexpected, well-chosen words through fanciful narration and charming mixed-media collages. … More A Storytelling of Ravens by Kyle Lukoff, ill. Natalie Nelson
YOUNG ADULTING 