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
Hunter is a Giesel Award honoree. Her whimsical illustrations in pen and pencil and the speech bubbles of the mouse filled entirely with the typewritten word “squeak” add charm and humour to this tale. The minimal colour palette, expressive animal illustrations cross-hatched in fine pen, and a pale blue sky throughout the book accentuate a simple story. … More Baby Squeaks by Anne Hunter
An interview with Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom. … More 5 Questions for Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom
Those who live around Vancouver will recognize familiar places, streets, and nature illustrated throughout this book. I found myself lighting up when I saw landmarks I recognized – it was like an inside joke shared with the author, a hidden nugget for a home that I don’t often see depicted on the page. … More The Gulf by Adam De Souza
YAing News is back for the week of March 25! … More YAing News: Week of March 25
The relationships in this novel are some of its best parts. Though he struggles with loneliness, Ali is never truly alone. For one, Ali has his Dada, or paternal grandfather. As we learn of Iqbal Khan’s tragic backstory, Ali’s Dada serves as the facilitator of so many lessons, showcasing the importance of listening to and being supported by elders … More Call Me Al by Wali Shah and Eric Walters
Levy keeps young readers engaged with scientific facts spread throughout the book, like when Arden explains that you can tell the difference between the two types of African Grey parrots through their feather colour and size. The story itself is streamlined, and the fast-paced plot never feels like it drags on … More Bird Brain by Joanne Levy
It was a pleasure reading Duel by Jessixa Bagley. Once I started, I couldn’t put this story down. The dialogue is incredibly believable, and exactly how middle-schoolers tend to speak. This book perfectly captures how hard it is to be a young teen navigating the world and reminded me of my own time in middle school. From tricky friendships and conflict with parents to healing after loss, the issues that arise in Duel are tackled very well. … More Duel by Jessixa Bagley, illus. Aaron Bagley
YAing News is back for the week of March 11! … More YAing News: Week of March 11
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 Newell Kaufman
YOUNG ADULTING 