Savor the Day

Written by Shari Green

Illustrated by Gabby Grant

Sleeping Bear Press

978-1-53411-353-4

32 pp.

Ages 5–8

April 2026 

 

Time can go very slowly or very quickly. It only seems to have two speeds. Either way, it will pass, and, when it has passed, it cannot be recovered. Savouring the day is the only way to hold onto it through the fullness of experiencing it and the memories created. Shari Green, eloquent writer of middle-grade novels like Root Beer Candy and Other Miracles (2016), Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess (2017), and Missing Mike (2018) as well as her award-winning YA novel Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams (2024), has given readers a debut picture book that reminds us to find and appreciate all the moments of a day.

From Savor the Day, written by Shari Green, illustrated by Gabby Grant

The day enjoyed by this child may look to an outside observer as quiet and uninteresting. She is woken up by her grandfather and taken to the beach. From all appearances, it is a simple day of playing, resting, walking, swimming, and eating. But there is more to her day, to their day, because they are mindful of each moment.

From Savor the Day, written by Shari Green, illustrated by Gabby Grant

In rhyming text that is as subtle as their day is understated, Shari Green takes us by the hand to walk alongside this grandparent and grandchild, from morning wake-up and breakfast, to evening car ride home and bed.

Savor the sun sinking down to the sea—

savor the finger-paint sky.

The peeking-out stars and getting in cars—

the pause as you're waving goodbye.

(pg. 27-29) 

From Savor the Day, written by Shari Green, illustrated by Gabby Grant

This child and her grandfather make it clear that everything can be enjoyed, whether it's a twinkle in the eye, the feel of the sand between your toes, the colours of sea stars, or the sound of a blackberry dropped into a pail. It's the sounds and feels, and sights and tastes of life that need to be appreciated, no matter how small or fleeting.

From Savor the Day, written by Shari Green, illustrated by Gabby Grant

Shari Green's words have always soothed through the uncertainty of life and the challenges that may be daily or rare. Without preaching about being mindful, Shari Green helps us see what mindfulness can bring. It's being in the moment for the sake of that moment. For this child and her grandfather, a simple, perhaps typical, day becomes a sensory experience that is exceptional and full.

 

The UK's Gabby Grant keeps that lightness of simplicity with her pencil crayon drawings enhanced with watercolours. Her scenes reflect the idea that you don't need lots of stuff or lots of people or busyness to make something grand. There is sand and water and sky. There are the two, grandfather and granddaughter, and occasional others, both human and animal. Otherwise, the focus is on what this child is enjoying in the way of sounds, tastes, sights, and feels. And by keeping her palette to one of softness, Gabby Grant makes us feel the calm of that day. She helps readers savor their own day of reading a book about a day at the beach.

 

Whether you're fortunate to have a beach near you to enjoy or to have the opportunity to spend time with a grandparent or someone who loves you, keep the moments of that day close. Feel every moment of quiet or turbulence, or warmth and sun or coolness and rain, of nothing special and something extraordinary. Every moment and every feeling is to be savoured as an important part of the whole. After all, the moments make the day, which add up to a life lived well.

The Girl Who Loved Poutine

Written by Lorna Schultz Nicholson

Illustrated by Rachel Qiuqi

Sleeping Bear Press

978-1-534113169

32 pp.

Ages 5-8

2024

A story about poutine, about regional and cultural differences across Canada, and about a family get-together for a birthday on July 1st? It doesn't get much more Canadian than that.

From The Girl Who Loved Poutine, written by Lorna Schultz Nicholson, illustrated by Rachel Qiupi

Zoey is looking forward to her fifth birthday, a day on which she will enjoy her favourite food: poutine.

Zoey closes her eyes and imagines . . .
french fries and gravy and squeaky cheese curds.
SQUEAK. SQUEAK. SQUEAK.

From The Girl Who Loved Poutine, written by Lorna Schultz Nicholson, illustrated by Rachel Qiupi

Zoey may help her dad make his famous poutine but what she doesn't know is that all the relatives have decided to have a poutine contest to celebrate the special day. And with each entry and tasting by Zoey comes a story and a feeling. There's Aunt Janice's Newfoundland and Labrador poutine with breadcrumbs, onions, and salt meat. For Zoey, it brings back memories of a trip to St. John's and kitchen parties. Aunt Anne and Uncle Liam's PEI poutine has lobster while Aunt Celine's Montreal poutine has smoked bacon, onions and maple syrup.

From The Girl Who Loved Poutine, written by Lorna Schultz Nicholson, illustrated by Rachel Qiupi

With each new dish, Zoey gets a different memory, travelling from Newfoundland to Saskatchewan and Yellowknife and elsewhere in Canada and in time with family. Who wins the poutine contest? It's the girl who loves poutine, of course.

From The Girl Who Loved Poutine, written by Lorna Schultz Nicholson, illustrated by Rachel Qiupi

Poutine is such a quintessential food from Quebec, though adopted and adapted across Canada and the world. But Lorna Schultz Nicholson doesn't just make this a book about the food–a recipe is included, as are facts about the dish–but she makes it a story of family and Canada. Zoey may love poutine, but she certainly has close bonds with all her family, and their poutines are memory cues for times spent together enjoying the cultures and people of different provinces and territories. It's marvelous that the reader can learn about the various poutines, and the story would be a fabulous lesson starter about the attributes of different Canadian provinces and territories. Lorna Schultz Nicholson may not have intended The Girl Who Loved Poutine to be a teaching prompt for social studies, but wouldn't this be a great way to be introduced to the places and people of Canada?

Toronto's Rachel Qiupi, who appears to blend digital with traditional techniques, ensures that Lorna Schultz Nicholson's story is both lighthearted and informative. From the wonderfully colourful scenes and characters to the detailed poutines–for example, Nona's pasta sauce and the bacon on Aunt Celine's are apparent–Rachel Qiupi establishes an authentic and sunny vibe to The Girl Who Loved Poutine.

Whether you're a teacher or parent who wants to use this story as a lesson starter or just a kid who loves poutine, The Girl Who Loved Poutine will tickle your taste buds and have you longing for squeaky cheese curds, or maybe something else atop your fries.

Luna's Green Pet

Written by Kirsten Pendreigh

Illustrated by Carmen Mok

Sleeping Bear Press

978-1-534111615

40 pp.

Ages 5-8

August 2022

 

What is Luna's green pet? Is it a turtle? A parrot? A fish? A frog? It's none of those because Luna's apartment does not allow pets.  Though her friends suggest a rock or a pet-a-guchi, Luna can't seem to connect with them. But, one day, she rescues the perfect pet for her.

From Luna's Green Pet by Kirsten Pendreigh, illus. by Carmen Mok

In a trash bin outside her apartment, she discovers a small plant. It even had its name on a marker: Stephanotis floribunda. Because it's quite a mouthful, Luna calls her Stephanie. And Luna is the best pet caregiver. She transfers Stephanie to a new and bigger pot, gives her new soil, and waters her. She reads stories to Stephanie and even takes her for walks in the park.

From Luna's Green Pet by Kirsten Pendreigh, illus. by Carmen Mok

Luna's friends may not be impressed with Stephanie's personality, but Luna loves her new pet and Stephanie is thriving. In fact, Stephanie grows so much that Luna must shape her long stems into an animal form. But then one day, Stephanie exhibits strange growths and Luna is concerned, ready to take her pet to a botanist for examination, until she learns it's just the natural cycle of life blossoming in Stephanie.

Not every child is fortunate to live in a household where they can have a pet, whether because of building restrictions or familiar limitations with respect to health or finances. But having a pet is a

privilege and one that Luna takes seriously. Her pet may be a plant, but Stephanie gives Luna companionship, offers the child opportunities for responsibility and learning, and nurtures Luna's empathy and self-confidence. By having Luna think outside the box about what a pet can be, BC's Kirsten Pendreigh offers kids an exemplar in problem solving. Luna has a problem i.e., no pets in her building and needs to find a solution i.e., a pet that will be allowed. She finds both a solution and a pet in Stephanie. Even better, hers is a rescue that needed a home and some loving care to become the star Stephanie would become. (I suspect that Stephanie would've been much loved regardless of becoming a winner at the pet parade.) And, if all that goodness wasn't enough, through the miracle of a life cycle, Stephanie's seeds are to be spread further afield to bring joy to others.

From Luna's Green Pet by Kirsten Pendreigh, illus. by Carmen Mok

As a picture book, Luna's Green Pet uses illustrations to help convey the story and bring it to life. Carmen Mok, who has illustrated a number of fabulous books including When I Listen to Silence, Viola Shrink and Tough Like Mum uses a variety of media including gouache, India ink, dry pastel and colour pencil to create her refreshing artwork. Green is a star in Luna's Green Pet, highlighting the importance of flora in the natural world, but Carmen Mok makes sure to use a full palette and soft lines and shapes to draw young readers into Luna's world. Kids may identify themselves in Kirsten Pendreigh's story, but they'll see their lives in the artwork Carmen Mok has created for Luna's world of home, school, and outdoors.

It may be raining or snowing outside right now here in Canada–in fact, where I live it's doing both!–but what better a time to talk to children about growing plants, whether it be as a school project to learn about a plant's life cycle, or in preparation for a spring planting, or as a pet to be loved. With a story to bolster any of that learning and some guidance from Kirsten Pendreigh–she appends her story with some background into Stephanie and growing plants–as well as the brightness of Carmen Mok's illustrations, Luna's Green Pet will get kids clamouring to develop their green thumbs and perhaps look at plants as the engaging living things they are.

From Luna's Green Pet by Kirsten Pendreigh, illus. by Carmen Mok