OMG was this a tremendous job! Look at all the youngCanLit coming out in the next 6 months. It's overwhelming. For weeks, I have been pouring through numerous websites and catalogues and have compiled this abbreviated list, knowing that I must have missed non-Canadian publishers of Canadian authors or illustrators (sorry!) and previously unknown authors/illustrators who are Canadian (also sorry!). Apologies to anyone whose upcoming book I have inadvertently omitted. As always, leave a comment below (or contact me through other social media) and I will amend my list promptly.
In the meanwhile, take a gander at this impressive listing of picture books, early readers, graphic novels, middle grade fiction, young adult novels and non-fiction titles to start compiling your next What To Read Next list. Happy synthesizing and subsequent reading!
Picture Books
- The Ghosts Go Spooking by Chrissy Bozik, illus. by Patricia Storms (Scholastic Canada)
- Ooko by Esme Shapiro (Tundra)
- You Belong Here by M.H. Clark, illus. by Isabelle Arsenault (Compendium)
- Race to Pisa by Trevor Newland (Mosaic)>>>third graphic adventure of the Scallywags
- Don’t Stress: How to Handle Life’s Little Problems by Helaine Becker (Scholastic Canada)
- Next Round: A Young Athlete's Journey to Gold by John Spray (Pajama Press)
- The Toad by Elise Gravel (Tundra)>>>Disgusting Critters series
Picture Books
- All the World a Poem by Gilles Tibo. illus. by Manon Gauthier, trans. by Erin Woods (Pajama Press)
- Baby’s First Treasury by Barbara Reid (Scholastic Canada)>>>collection of 4 board books for babies and toddlers including Welcome, Baby; Read Me a Book; Sing a Song of Mother Goose; Zoe's Year
- Buddy and Earl and the Great Big Baby by Maureen Fergus, illus. by Carey Sookocheff (Groundwood Books)
- Counting with Barefoot Critters by Teagan White (Tundra)
- The Cranky Ballerina by Elise Gravel (Katherine Teegen Books)
- Dojo Surprise by Chris Tougas (Owlkids Books)>>>third Dojo book after Dojo Daycare and Dojo Daytrip
- Keeper of the Light by Janet Barkhouse, illus. by Therese Cilia (Formac)
- Let’s Play a Hockey Game by Kari-Lynn Winters, illus. by Helen Flook (North Winds/Scholastic)
- Marvellous Munsch by Robert Munsch, illus. by Michael Martchenko (Scholastic)>>>5 classic Munsch stories Down the Drain!; Put Me In a Book!; Too Much Stuff!; Moose!; Give Me Back My Dad!
- Maxwell the Monkey Barber by Cale Atkinson (Owlkids Books)
- A Parade of Puppies by Charles Ghigna, illus. by Kristi Bridgeman (Orca Book Publishers)>>>board book
- The Riddlemaster by Kevin Crossley-Holland, illus. by Stéphane Jorisch (Tradewind)
- So Much Snow! by Robert Munsch, illus. by Michael Martchenko (North Winds Press/Scholastic)
- What is Peace? by Wallace Edwards (North Winds/Scholastic)
Early Readers and Middle Grade Fiction
- Across the Floor by Natasha Deen (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Limelights
- Beauty Queen by Sarah Mlynowski (Scholastic)>>>Whatever After #7
- Bungee Jump by Pam Withers (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Currents
- Carter and the Curious Maze: Weird Stories Gone Wrong by Philippa Dowding (Dundurn)
- A Day of Signs and Wonders by Kit Pearson (HarperTrophy)
- Gang Tackle by Eric Howling (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Sports
- Griffin of Darkwood by Becky Citra (Coteau Books)
- Hand in Hand by Jean Little, illus. by Norman Lanting (Scholastic Canada)>>>based on Helen Keller’s story
- Icarus Down by James Bow (Scholastic Canada)
- Ice Time by David Skuy (Scholastic Canada)
- My Best Friend is a Viral Dancing Zombie by Karin Adams (Lorimer)
- Making the Team by Kelsey Blair (Lorimer)>>>Lorimer Sports Stories
- The Missing Magic by Kallie George, illus. by Alexandra Boiger (HarperCollins)>>>Magical Animal Adoption Agency Book 3
- Notes from the Life of a Total Genius by Stacey Matson (Scholastic Canada)
- The Pact by Amanda West Lewis (Red Deer Press)
- Riley by Susan Hughes (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky)>>>Puppy Pals series
- The Secret Games of Maximus Todd new early reader series by L. M. Nicodemo, illus. by Graham Ross (Formac Lorimer): Hyper to the Max, Frantic Friend Countdown, Big Game Jitters, Flu Shot Fidgets
- The Starting Eleven by David Skuy (Lorimer)
- These are My Words: The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheen, Northern Ontario, 1956 by Ruby Slipperjack (Scholastic Canada)>>>Dear Canada series
- Trolled by Steven Sandor (Lorimer)>>>Lorimer Sports Stories
- Two Strikes by Johnny Boateng (Lorimer)>>>Lorimer Sports Stories
- Another Miserable Love Song by Brooke Carter (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Soundings hi-lo
- Betrayals by Kelley Armstrong (Random House)>>>4th book in Cainsville series
- Dark Side by John Choi (Lorimer)>>>Lorimer SideStreets
- Dead to Me by Cristy Watson (Lorimer)>>>Lorimer SideStreets
- Detached by Christina Kilbourne (Dundurn)
- Nowhere Wild by Joe Beernink (HarperTrophy)
- Unity by Jason Chabot (HarperTrophy)>>>Broken Chronicles #3
- Watching Traffic by Jane Ozkowski (Groundwood Books)
- Rez Runaway by Melanie Florence (Lorimer)>>>Lorimer SideStreets
- Riot School by Robert Rayner>>>Lorimer SideStreets
- The Royal Tour by Amy Alward (Simon & Schuster)>>>The Potion Diaries series
- The Salarian Desert Game by J.A. McLachlan (Edge Books)
- Gastro Blast: Make Tasty Treats & Learn Great Science by Moira Sanders (Formac Lorimer)
- Haunted Canada 6: More Terrifying True Stories by Joel A. Sutherland (Scholastic Canada)
- Moose, Goose, Animals on the Loose! A Canadian Wildlife ABC by Geraldo Valério (Owlkids Books)
- What Milly Did: The Remarkable Pioneer of Plastics Recycling by Elise Moser, illus. by Scot Ritchie (Groundwood Books)
- What Noise Do I Make? by Brian McLachlan (Owlkids Books)
- Zap! Nikola Tesla Takes Charge by Monica Kulling, illus. by Bill Slavin (Tundra)>>>Great Idea series
Picture Books
- Almost a Full Moon by Hawksley Workman, illus. by Jensine Eckwell (Tundra)
- Bear's Winter Party by Deborah Hodge, illus. by Lisa Cinar (Groundwood Books)
- Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake Paperback by Michael Kaplan, illus. by Stéphane Jorisch (Puffin)
- The Branch by Mireille Messier, illus. by Pierre Pratt (Kids Can Press)
- Canada ABC by Paul Covello (HarperCollins)
- The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield, illus. by Eric Fan and Terry Fan (Tundra)
- Deck the Halls: A Canadian Christmas Carol by Helaine Becker, illus. by Werner Zimmerman (North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada)
- Even Superheroes Have Bad Days by Shelly Becker (Sterling Publishing)
- A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O'Leary, illus. by Qin Leng (Groundwood Books)
- Fox and Squirrel: The Best Christmas Ever by Ruth Ohi (North Winds/Scholastic Canada)>>> 3rd Fox and Squirrel title, after Fox and Squirrel and Fox and Squirrel Make a Friend
- Great by Lauri Holomis and Glen Gretzky, illus. by Kevin Sylvester (Tundra Books)>>>about Wayne Gretzky
- Growing Up in Wild Horse Canyon by Karen Autio, illus. by Loraine Kemp (Sono Nis Press)
- Hat On, Hat Off by Theo Heras, illus. by Renné Benoit (Pajama Press)
- Hungry Bird by Jeremy Tankard (Scholastic)>>>newest title in Grumpy Bird series
- Hurry Up, Henry by Jennifer Lanthier, illus. by Isabelle Malenfant (Puffin)
- King Baby by Kate Beaton (Scholastic's Arthur A. Levine Books)
- The Liszts by Kyo Maclear, illus. by Julia Sarda (Tundra)
- Little Fox, Lost by Nicole Snitselaar, illus. by Alicia Padrón, trans. by Erin Woods (Pajama Press)
- Lucy and Company by Marianne Dubuc (Kids Can Press)
- Mittens to Share by Emil Sher, illus. by Irene Luxbacher (North Winds/Scholastic)
- Pablo Finds a Treasure by Andrée Poulin, illus. by Isabelle Malenfant (Annick)
- Rhino Rumpus by Victoria Allenby, illus. by Tara Anderson (Pajama Press)
- A Squiggly Story by Andrew Larsen, illus. by Mike Lowery (Kids Can Press)
- Today by Julie Morstad (Simply Read Books)
- Turn on the Night by Geraldo Valério (Groundwood Books)
- The Water Princess by Susan Verde and Georgie Badiel, illus. by Peter H. Reynolds (Penguin/Putnam)
- Whale Child by Caroll Simpson (Heritage House)>>>Coastal Spirit Tales
- What Matters by Alison Hughes, illus. by Holly Hatam (Orca Book Publishers)
- The Wish Tree by Kyo Maclear, illus. by Chris Turnham (Chronicle Books)
- Yitzi and the Giant Menorah by Richard Ungar (Tundra)
- You Are Two by Sara O'Leary, illus. by Karen Klassen (Owlkids Books)
- Bermuda Shipwreck by Eric Murphy (Dancing Cat Books)
- Blackberry Juice by Sara Cassidy, illus. by Helen Flook (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Echoes
- Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami, ilus. by Julianna Swaney (Groundwood Books)
- Clara Humble and the Not-So-Super Powers by Anna Humphrey, illus. by Lisa Cinar (Owlkids Books)>>>first book in new series
- Downside Up by Richard Scrimger (Tundra)
- High Note by Jeff Ross (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Limelights
- In Over Her Head by Melody Fitzpatrick (Dundurn)>>>Hannah Smart Book 3
- Jingle by Gordon Korman (Scholastic)>>>eighth book in the Swindle mystery series
- A Little Taste of Poison by R. J. Anderson (Simon & Schuster)>>>sequel to A Pocket Full of Murder
- Mark of the Plague by Kevin Sands (Simon & Schuster)>>>Book 2 in Blackthorn Key series
- Root Beer Candy and Other Miracles by Shari Green (Pajama Press)
- Sand by Luane Armstrong (Ronsdale)
- The Seven Prequels (Orca Book Publishers)>>>prequels to the popular Seven series and the Seven Sequels: Jungle Land by Eric Walters; The Missing Skull by John Wilson; Speed by Ted Staunton; Weerdest Day Ever! by Richard Scrimger; Slide by Norah McClintock; Barracuda by Sigmund Brouwer; Separated by Shane Peacock
- The Silver Lining by Amanda Spottiswoode, illus. by Molly March (Heritage House)
- Sniper Fire: The Fight for Ortona, Paul Baldassara, Italy 1943 by Jonathan Webb (Scholastic Canada)>>>I am Canada series
- Taz's Recipe by Diane Tullson (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Currents
Young Adult
Picture Books
Picture Books
Picture Books
Here's just a few teasers of what's coming in the new year!
Picture Books
- All the Things We Leave Behind by Riel Nason (Goose Lane Editions)
- Aluta by Adwoa Badoe (Groundwood Books)
- Anne & Henry by Dawn Ius (Simon & Schuster)
- Another Me by Eva Wiseman (Tundra Books)
- The Art of Picking Up Girls (and other dangerous things) by Eric Walters (Razorbill)
- Dancing in the Rain by Shelley Hrdlitschka (Orca Book Publishers)>>>sequel to Dancing Naked
- A Dangerous Game by John Wilson (Doubleday Canada)
- The Darkhouse by Barbara Radecki (Dancing Cat Books)
- Every Hidden Thing by Kenneth Oppel (HarperCollins)
- Freedom's Just Another Word by Caroline Stellings (Second Story Press)
- Heart Like a Wing by Dan Paxton Dunaway (Ronsdale)
- Once, in a Town Called Moth by Trilby Kent (Tundra)
- Overdrive by Dawn Ius (Simon & Schuster)
- The Pain Eater by Beth Goobie (Second Story Press)
- Spindle by E.K. Johnston, (Disney Hyperion)
- The Swan Riders by Erin Bow (Simon & Schuster)>>>sequel to The Scorpion Rules
- Yellow Dog by Miriam Körner (Red Deer Press)
- Bad Girls of Fashion: Style Rebels from Cleopatra to Lady Gaga by Jennifer Croll, illus. by Ada Buchholc (Annick)
- Because I am a Boy by Rosemary McCarney with Plan International (Second Story Press)
- Diwali: Festival of Lights by Rina Singh (Orca Book Publishers)>>>second title in Orca Origins series
- Fight to Learn: The Struggle to Go to School by Laura Scandiffio (Annick)
- The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito by Tomson Highway, illus. by Sue Todd (Fifth House Publishers)>>>cabaret script with song lyrics and stage directions
- Inside Your Insides: A Guide to the Microbes That Call You Home by Claire Eamer, illus. by Marie-Eve Tremblay (Kids Can Press)
- Making it Right: Building Peace, Settling Conflict by Marilee Peters (Annick)
- Monster Science: Could Monsters Survive (and Thrive!) in the Real World? by Helaine Becker, illus. by Phil McAndrew (Kids Can Press)
- Ocean Animals from Head to Tail by Stacey Roderick, illus. by Kwanchai Moriya (Kids Can Press)>>>Head to Tail book
- On Our Way to Oyster Bay: Mother Jones and Her March for Children's Rights by Monica Kulling (Kids Can Press)>>>Citizen Kid book
- Pocket Change: Pitching In for a Better World by Michelle Mulder (Orca Book Publishers)>>>newest title in Orca Footprints
- What Makes Us Unique? Our First Talk about Diversity by Dr. Jillian Roberts, illus. by Cindy Revell (Orca Book Publishers)>>>new title in Just Enough series
Picture Books
- Akilak's Adventure by Deborah Webster, illus. by Charlene Chua (Inhabit Media)
- Blue and Red Make Purple by Jennifer Gasoi, illus. by Steve Adams (The Secret Mountain)>>>CD of 12 songs with picture book
- Boonoonoonous Hair by Olive Senior, illus. by Laura James (Tradewind)
- The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold by Maureen Fergus, illus. by Cale Atkinson (Tundra Books)
- Friend or Foe? by John Sobol, illus. by Dasha Tolstikova (Groundwood Books)
- In the Red Canoe by Leslie A. Davidson, illus. by Laura Bifano (Orca Book Publishers)
- Kamik Joins the Pack by Darryl Baker, illus. by Qin Leng (Inhabit Media)
- Lila and the Crow by Gabrielle Grimard (Annick Press)
- Maggie McGillicuddy's Eye for Trouble by Susan Hughes, illus. by Brooke Kerrigan (Kids Can Press)
- Margo Thinks Twice by Monica Arnaldo (Owlkids Books)
- Melena’s Jubilee by Zetta Elliott, illus. by Aaron Boyd (Tilbury)
- Metropolis by Benoit Tardif (Kids Can Press)
- Mouse Vacation by Philip Roy, illus. by Andrea Torrey Balsara (Ronsdale)>>>newest Happy the Pocket Mouse tale
- On My Skiis by Kari-Lynn Winters, illus. by Christina Leist (Tradewind)
- Once Upon a Golden Apple by Jean Little and Maggie de Vries, illus. by Phoebe Gilman (Tundra)>>>25th anniversary edition
- pikiq by Yayo (Tradewind)
- Solutions for Cold Feet and Other Little Problems by Carey Sookocheff (Tundra Books)
- Under the Moon: Jazz Standards and Lullabies, curated by Misja Fitzgerald Michel, illus. by Ilya Green (The Secret Mountain)>>>CD and picture books
- We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen (Candlewick)
- We Sang You Home by Richard Van Camp, illus. by Julie Flett (Orca Book Publishers)>>>board book
- When the Rain Comes by Alma Fullerton, illus. by Kim La Fave (Pajama Press)
- Batcat and the Seven Squirrels by Eric Walters, illus. by Kasia Charko (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Echoes
- Billboard Express by Sigmund Brouwer and Cindy Morgan (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Limelights
- A Boy Named Queen by Sara Cassidy (Groundwood Books)
- Death Drop by Melanie Jackson (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Currents
- Everton Miles is Stranger Than Me by Philippa Dowding (Dundurn)>>> sequel to The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden
- Gertie’s Leap to Greatness, illus. by Jillian Tamaki (Farrar, Strauss and Giroux)
- Grim Hill: Carnival of Secrets by Linda DeMeulemeester (Heritage House)>>>Grim Hill series continues with this sixth book!
- The Iron Hand by Scott Chantler (Kids Can Press)>>>graphic novel of Three Thieves series
- Lark Holds the Key by Natasha Deen, illus. byMarcus Cutler (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Echoes
- Memoirs of a Sidekick by David Skuy (Kids Can Press)
- MiNRS 2 by Kevin Sylvester (Simon & Schuster)>>>sequel to MiNRS
- Pandas on the Eastside by Gabrielle Prendergast (Orca Book Publishers)
- Seeking Refuge by Irene Watts, illus. by Kathryn Shoemaker (Tradewind)>>>sequel to Goodbye Marianne
- Shatterproof by Jocelyn Shipley (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Currents
- Sophie Trophy by Eileen Holland, illus. by Brooke Kerrigan (Sono Nis Press)>>>early reader
- Survival: Ice Storm: The Great Storm of 1998 by Frieda Wishinsky (Scholastic Canada)>>>newest Survival title
- Timo's Party by Victoria Allenby, illus. by Dean Griffiths (Pajama Press)>>> sequel to Timo's Garden
- West Meadows Detectives: The Case of MakerMischief by Liam O'Donnell, illus. by Aurélie Grand (Owlkids Books)>>>West Meadows Detectives Book 2
- And Then The Sky Exploded by David A. Poulsen (Dundurn)
- At the Edge of the World by Kari Jones (Orca Book Publishers)
- Closing Down Heaven by Lesley Choyce (Red Deer Press)
- A Dark Truth by Jeff Ross (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Soundings hi-lo
- Enough by Mary Jennifer Payne (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Soundings hi-lo
- From Above by Norah McClintock (Orca Book Publishers)>>>A Riley Donovan Mystery
- The Hunt of the Dragon by C.C. Humphreys (Doubleday Canada)
- Missing Piece by Robert Priest (Dundurn)>>>Spell Crosses series Book 3, following The Paper Sword and Second Kiss
- My Demon's Name is Ed by Danah Khalil (Second Story Press)
- Nathan by Susan Ouriou (Red Deer Press)
- River Traffic by Martha Brack Martin (Orca Book Publishers)>>>Orca Soundings hi-lo
- The Road to Ever After by Moira Young (Doubleday Canada)
- Saving Stevie by Eve Richardson (Red Deer Press)
- The Skids by Ian Donald Keeling (ChiTeen)
- 1, 2, 3 Cheers for the Toronto Maple Leafs by Matt Napier, illus. by Melanie Rose (Tundra Books)
- All the Dirt: A History of Getting Clean by Katherine Ashenburg (Annick)
- Canada Year by Year by Elizabeth MacLeod, illus. by Sydney Smith (Kids Can Press)
- I Am Josephine (And I Am a Living Thing) by Jan Thornhill, illus. by Jacqui Lee (Owlkids Books)
- Level the Playing Field: The Past, Present, and Future of Women's Pro Sports by Kristina Rutherford (Owlkids Books)
- To Burp or Not to Burp: A Guide to Your Body in Space by Dave Williams and Loredana Cunti (Annick Press)
- The Tragic Tale of the Great Auk by Jan Thornhill (Groundwood Books)
Picture Books
- French Toast by Kari-Lynn Winters, illus. by François Thisdale (Pajama Press)
- How Do You Feel? by Rebecca Bender (Pajama Press)
- My Best Friend by Gilles Tibo, illus. by Janice Nadeau (Simply Read Books)
- The Owl and the Lemming by Roselynn Akulukjuk (Inhabit Media)
- Shooting Star Rider by Nayoung Jin, illus. by Geneviève Côté (Simply Read Books)
- ShuLi and the Magic Pear Tree by Paul Yee and Shaoli Wang (Tradewind Books)
- Sugar and Spice by Sarah Mlynowski (Scholastic)>>>Whatever After #10
- Fate of Flames by Sarah Raughley (Simon & Schuster)>>> first book in new series The Effigies
- Hit the Ground Running by Mark Burley (Fierce Ink Press)
- The Summer of Then and Now by Danielle Webster (Fierce Ink Press)
- Those Who Run in the Sky by Aviaq Johnston (Inhabit Media)
- Adrift at Sea: A Vietnamese Boy's Story of Survival by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch with Tuan Ho, illus. by Brian Deines (Pajama Press)
- Making Canada Home: How Immigrants Shaped This Country by Susan Hughes (Owlkids Books)
- Stay Silent: Flight from Columbia by Natalie Hyde (Clockwise Press)
Picture Books
- Searching for Sleep by Pierrette Dubé, illus. by Geneviève Godbout (Simply Read Books)
- Darkling Green by Kim Thompson (Dundurn)>>> Eldrich Manor series Book 3
- Showing Off by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins (Scholastic) >>>Upside Down Magic #3
- Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes (Razorbill)>>>the fifth Falling Kingdoms book
Here's just a few teasers of what's coming in the new year!
Picture Books
- Birds Art Life: A Field Guide to the Small and Significant by Kyo Maclear (Doubleday Canada)
- Crushing It by Joanne Levy (Simon & Schuster)
- Masterminds: Payback by Gordon Korman (HarperCollins)>>>Masterminds Book 3
- Mort Ziff is Not Dead by Cary Fagan (Penguin Canada)
- The Sun Race by Wesley King (Simon & Schuster)
- Short for Chameleon by Vicki Grant (HarperCollins)
- The Valiant by Lesley Livingston (Razorbill)
- Zero Repeat Forever by Gabrielle Prendergast (Simon & Schuster)
