July 01, 2023

Upcoming releases for Summer and Fall 2023

Where does the time go?! It feels like I just prepared my January 1st post of upcoming #youngCanLit and here it is, 6 months later, and I'm at it again. With all the turbulence in the Canadian publishing industry in the last few years, it's delightful to see new publishers and new authors and established ones releasing so many new titles in the next few months. We are truly privileged. 

What have I got my eye on? Well, I've already reviewed a couple of impressive titles, like Jon Klassen's The Skull and Afua Cooper's The Halifax Explosion. But there is so much coming that I don't know where to begin! How about:
  • Do You Remember? by Sydney Smith
  • Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive by Melanie Watt
  • The Yellow Leaves Are Coming by James Gladstone, illus. by François Thisdale
  • What a Desi Girl Wants by Sabina Khan
  • At the Speed of Gus by Richard Scrimger
  • How to Make a Peanut Butter Sandwich in 17 Easy Steps by Bambi Edlund 
  • Ephemia Rimaldi: Circus Performer Extraordinaire by Linda DeMeulemeester
There are so many more but these have caught my eye because of their titles or their creators and I anticipate a few laughs, beautiful artwork and great storytelling. Find your own new reads in the listing below. Happy reading!






Picture Books
Angus Is Here by Hadley Dyer, illus. by Paul Covello (Annick) 
I Am a Rock by Ashley Qilavaq-Savard, illus. by Pelin Turgut (Inhabit Media)
My Ittu: The Biggest, Best Grandpa by Laura Deal, illus. by Thamires Paredes (Inhabit Media)
Spencer the Siksik Cleans Up by Shawna Thomson and Nadia Sammurtok, illus. by Valentina Jaskina (Inhabit Education) >>> Spencer the Siksik and Gary the Snow Goose book
We Love You as Much as a Fox Loves Its Tail by Masiana Kelly, illus. by Tamara Campeau (Inhabit Media) 
When Rubin Plays by Gracey Zhang (Orchard Books)
Zig Zag Zeffy by Barb Miller (OC Publishing)

Early Readers and Middle Grade Fiction
At the Speed of Gus by Richard Scrimger (Scholastic Canada)
The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien (Atheneum Books for Young Readers) 
Crimson Twill: Witch in the Country by Kallie George, illus. by Birgitta Sif (Candlewick)
Eerie Tales from the School of Screams by Graham Annable (First Second)
Good As Gold by Sarah Mlynowski (Scholastic) >>> Whatever After 14
The Hippie Pirates by Lana Shupe, illus. by Caroline Clarke (Nimbus) 
Marshmallow Martians: Earth School by Deanna Kent, illus. by Neil Hooson (Random House Graphic) >>>Marshmallow Martians 2
Megabat Megastar by Anna Humphrey, illus. by Kris Easler (Tundra)
Mixed Up by Gordon Korman (Scholastic) 
Monster vs. Boy by Karen Krossing (Charlesbirdge)
The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale by Jon Klassen (Candlewick) >>> reviewed here 
Spooky Sleuths #4: Fire in the Sky by Natasha Deen, illus. by Lissy Marlin (Random House Books for Young Readers)
Super Family! by Cale Atkinson (Tundra) >>> Simon and Chester #3 
The Swamp Thingy by Dom Pelletier (Scholastic Canada) >>> The Lunch Club #6
Tunnel of Terror (Countdown to Danger) by Jeff Szpirglas (Scholastic Canada)

Young Adult
Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto (Margaret K. McElderry) >>>House of the Dead duology
The Unquiet by Mikaela Everett (Greenwillow Books)
What a Desi Girl Wants by Sabina Khan (Scholastic)

Non-Fiction
The Life and Art of Ningiukulu Teevee by Napatsi Folger (Inhabit Education) 
The Smallest Owlet by Georgia Graham (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)



Picture Books
Abolition is Love by Ware Syrus Marcus, illus. by Alannah Fricker (Seven Stories Press) 
Ary's Trees by Deborah Kerbel, illus. by Sophia Choi (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)
Bear Has a Belly by Jane Whittingham (Pajama Press) >>> Big, Little Concepts 5
Because I Already Loved You by Andrée-Anne Cyr, illus. by Bérengère Delaporte (Groundwood)
Chompy Has a Friend for Lunch by Mark Satterthwaite and Pedro Eboli (Scholastic Canada) >>> A Lift-the-Flap book
Eleanor's Moon by Maggie Knaus (Owlkids)
First Night of Howlergarten by Benson Shum (Penguin Workshop)
Flitt's Call by Kara Griffin, illus. by K. Shawn Larson (Acorn Press)
Fluffy and the Stars by T'áncháy Redvers, illus. by Roza Nozari (Orca)  
Garden of Lost Socks by Esi Eduygan, illus. by Amelie Dubois (HarperCollins)
Hopscotch by Marie-Louise Gay (Groundwood)
Julie and the Mango Tree by Sadé Smith, illus. by Sayada Ramdial (Feiwel and Friends)
The Little Green Envelope by Gillian Sze, illus. by Claudine Crangle (Groundwood)
Maybe a Whale by Kirsten Pendreigh, illus. by Crystal Smith (Groundwood)
The Not-So-Scary Monster by Valérie Fontaine, illus. by Fanny Berthiaume (Scholastic Canada)
Parker's Place by Russ Willms (Clarion Books)
Pockets Full of Sea Glass by Alma Fullerton (Acorn Press)
Sharon, Lois and Bram's Peanut Butter and Jelly by Sharon Hampson, Lois Lillienstein, Bram Morrison and Randi Hampson (Tundra)
The Story of the Fox and the Wolf  by Jaypeetee Arnakak, illus. by Nuria Muro Gio (Inhabit Media) >>> bilingual Inuktitut and English 
Two New Years by Richard Ho, illus. by Lynn Scurfield (Chronicle Books)
The Walking Bus by Aaron Friedland and Ndileka Mandela, illus. by Andrew Jackson Obol (Greystone Kids)
When Rabbit Was a Lion by Eugenie Fernandes (Owlkids) 

Early Readers and Middle Grade Fiction
Abby in Neverland by Sarah Mlynowski (Scholastic) >>> Whatever After Special Edition #3
Farm Crimes: Cracking the Case of the Missing Egg by Sandra Dumais (Owlkids) >>> graphic novel, Farm Crimes 1
Keeper of the Pact by Karen Kelloway (Nimbus)
The Legend of Gnawface by Cyndi Marko (Clarion Books) >>> Sloth Sleuth 2
Polly Diamond and the Topsy-Turvy Day by Alice Kuipers, illus. by Diana Toledano (Chronicle Books)
Poppy and Sam and the Hunt for Jam by Cathon (Owlkids) >>> Poppy and Sam 4
Secrets of Atlantis by Kate O'Hearn (Aladdin) >>> Atlantis, Book 3

Young Adult
Aftershock by Gabrielle Prendergast (Orca) >>> Orca Anchor
Airlock by Tash McAdam (Orca) >>> Orca Soundings
Dark Tide by Sean Rodman (Orca) >>> Orca Anchor
Focus, Click, Wind by Amanda West Lewis (Groundwood) 
The Great Outer Dark by David Neil Lee (Poplar Press)
Racing Hearts by Melinda Di Lorenzo (Orca) >>> Orca Soundings 
 
Non-Fiction
Are We Friends Now?: An Anthology By and About 2SLGBTQ+ Youth, ed. by Tom Ryan (Acorn Press)
Are We There Yet? How Humans Find Their Way by Maria Birmingham, illus. by Drew Shannon (Orca) >>> Orca Timeline 4
Calm Down Workbook for Kids (Peace Out): Stories, activities and meditations to help children relax, get to sleep, manage emotions and more by Chanel Tsang (Media Lab Books)
The Halifax Explosion by Dr. Afua Cooper, illus. by Rebecca Bender (Plumleaf) >>> reviewed here 
Let's Find Yaya and Boo at Home!: A Hide-and-Seek Adventure by Andrew Knapp (Quirk Books)
Look Up High! Things That Fly by Victoria Allenby (Pajama Press)
Nutshimit by Melissa Mollen Dupuis, illus. by Elise Gravel (North Winds Press)
So Long, Stress! by Helaine Becker, illus. by Joanna Sevilla (Scholastic)
 
 

 
 
Picture Books
Abolition is Love by Ware Syrys Marcus, illus. by Alannah Frickler (Triangle Square)
All We Need is Love and a Really Soft Pillow! by Peter H. Reynolds and Henry Rocket Reynolds (Orchard Books)
The Animals Come Out by Susan Vande Griek, illus. by Josée Bisaillon (Groundwood)
Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior by Carole Lindstrom, illus. by Bridget George (Roaring Brook Press) 
Baby Smiles/ Weskewikwa'sit mijua'ji'j by The Tui'kn Partnership, illus. by Loretta Gould (Nimbus)
Benjamin's Thunderstorm by Melanie Florence, illus. by Hawlii Pichette (Kids Can Press) 
Big Truck Yoga by Peter Forde (Familius)
Black Girl, Black Girl by Angela Bowden, illus. by Letitia Fraser (Nimbus)
Bompa's Insect Expedition by David Suzuki and Tanya Lloyd Kyi, illus. by Qin Leng (Greystone Kids)
Brady Brady and the Teammate Turnaround by Mary Shaw and Chuck Temple (Scholastic Canada)
Brave Like the Buffalo by Melissa Allan, illus. by Jadyn Fischer-McNab (Rocky Mountain Books)
Class Trip by Robert Munsch, illus. by Michael Martchenko (Scholastic Canada)
Cone Dog by Sarah Howden, illus. by Carmen Mok (Owlkids)
Everyone is Welcome by Phuong Truong, illus. by Christine Wei (Second Story Press) 
A Feast Beneath the Moon: Bernie and Friends Hit the Road by Christiane Duchesne, illus. by Jerome Miniere (The Secret Mountain) >>> sequel to A Picnic in the Sun
Friends Find a Way by Heather O'Connor, illus. by Claudia Dávila (Scholastic Canada) >>> follow-up to Fast Friends
The Golden Apples by Dan Yashinsky, illus. by Ekaterina Khlebnikova (Running the Goat, Books & Broadsides)
Grand Chief Salamoo Cook is Coming to Town! by Tomson Highway, illus. by Delphine Renon (The Secret Mountain)
H is for Hockey: A Canadian Sports Book (Scholastic Canada) >>> Scholastic Early Learners board book
The Hockey Skates by Karl Subban, illus. by Maggie Zeng (HarperCollins)
How to Make a Peanut Butter Sandwich in 17 Easy Steps by Bambi Edlund (Owlkids)
The Imaginary Alphabet by Sylvie Daigneault (Pajama Press)
I'm Hungry! by Elise Gravel (Orca)
Jeffrey Loves Blue by Loretta Garbutt, illus. by Lily Snowden-Fine (Owlkids)
Mira and Baku by Sara Truuvert, illus. by Michelle Theodore (Annick)
Molly Misses Nainai by Emma Chen, illus. by Sean Huang (Red Deer Press)
More than Words: So Many Ways to Say What We Mean by Roz MacLean (Henry Holt & Co.)
The Most Magnificent Maker's A to Z by Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press) >>> latest picture book in The Most Magnificent books
My Mother Was a Nanny by Laura James (Groundwood)
okāwīsimāw omēkiwin askīhkānihk ohci/Auntie's Rez Surprise by Heather O'Watch, illus. by Ellie Arscott (Second Story Press) >>> Dual-language edition in English and Plains Cree, Y dialect
The Old Oak Tree by Hilary Briar and Reid Briar, illus. by Angela Doak (Nimbus)
Once, a Bird by Rina Singh, illus. by Nathalie Dion (Orca)
Other Words for Nonno by Dave Cameron, illus. by Yong Ling Kang (Kids Can Press)
Otter Doesn't Know by Andrea Fritz (Orca) >>> Coast Salish Tales
The Raven Boy by Rosemarie Avrana Meyok, illus. by Marcus Culter (Inhabit Media) 
Shizue's Path by Mark Sakamoto, illus. by Rachel Wada (HarperCollins)
Stay My Baby by Lana Button (Orca) 
A Trip to the Top of the Volcano with Mouse by Frank Viva (TOON Books)
Waci! Dance! by Sage Siedel, illus. by Leah Dorion (Red Deer Press)
While You Were Sleeping by Briana Corr Scott (Nimbus)
The Words We Share by Jack Wong (Annick)
The Yellow Leaves Are Coming by James Gladstone, illus. by François Thisdale (Red Deer Press)

Early Readers and Middle Grade Fiction
8 Tiny Reindeer: An Advent Calendar Adventure by Robert Tinkler, illus. by Danesh Mohiuddin (Kids Can Press)
Apli'kmuj's Journey by Braelyn Cyr (Monster House Publishing)
Asha and Baz Meet Elizabeth Friedman by Caroline Fernandez, illus. by Dharmali Patel (Common Deer Press) >>>> Book 3 in Asha and Baz series
Bone Tree: What Lies Beneath May Be More Than Friendship by Jenna Lehne (The Little Press)
The Boy, the Cloud and the Very Tall Tale by Heather Smith (Orca)
Butterfly Wings: A Hopeful Story About Climate Anxiety by Samuel Larochelle and Eve Patenaude (Greystone Kids)
Candle Point by Nancy and Mike Deas (Orca) >>> Sueño Bay Adventures
Dot the Ladybug: Dot Day by Kallie George, illus. by Stephanie Fizer Coleman (HarperCollins)
Ephemia Rimaldi: Circus Performer Extraordinaire by Linda DeMeulemeester (Red Deer Press)
Flight Plan by Eric Walters (Orca Book Publishers) >>> new book in Rule of Three
Follow the Goose Butt to Prince Edward Island by Colleen Landry, illus. by Beth Weatherbee (Acorn Press)
Game Face by Shari Green (Groundwood) >>> novel in verse 
Ghost Girl by Brooke Carter, illus. by Alyssa Waterbury (Orca) >>> Orca Echoes 
The Girl Who Swam with Sea Monsters by Shawna Thomson, illus. by Tamara Campeau (Inhabit Education)
Gotta Go! by Frank Viva (TOON Books)
Hans Christen Andersen Lives Next Door by Cary Fagan, illus. by Chelsea O'Byrne (Tundra)
The Heathens and the Dragons by Kate Boorman (Thistledown) 
Izzy's Dog Days of Summer by Caroline Adderson, illus. by Kelly Collier (Kids Can Press)
Lucy & Dee: The Caves of Wonder by Kirsten Marion (Common Deer Press)
Book of Screams by Jeff Szpirglas, illus. by Steven P. Hughes (Orca)
Nish: North and South by Isabelle Picard (Scholastic Canada) 
Out of the Dark by Julie Lawson (Nimbus) >>> sequel to A Blinding Light
Shamus the Urban Rez Dog, P. I.  by Leslie Gentile (DCB)
Silverwing: The Graphic Novel by Kenneth Oppel, illus. by Christopher Steininger (HarperCollins)
Suliewey by Saqamaw Mi'sel Joe (Breakwater Books) >>> sequel to My Indian
Ullak and the Creatures of the Sea by Suzie Napayok-Short, illus. by Sho Uehara (Inhabit Education)
We the Sea Turtles by Michelle Kadarusman (Pajama Press) >>> short story collection

Young Adult
Ace and the Misfits by Eddie Kawooya (Lorimer)
The Alice Series: Angel of Time by E. Graziani (Fire & Ice Young Adult Books) >>> Book 2 in the series, sequel to recent Alice of the Rocks
Cage of Dreams by Rebecca Schaeffer (Clarion Books)
The Celtic Deception by Andrew Varga (Imbrifex Books) >>> A Jump in Time novel, Book 2
A Girl Called Echo Omnibus by Katherena Vermette, illus. by Scott Henderson (HighWater Press) >>> collection of all four A Girl Called Echo books
Crushing It by Jen Desmarais (Renaissance Press)
Goddess Crown by Shade Lapite (Candlewick)
The Grimmer by Naben Ruthnum (ECW Press)
Hopeless in Hope by Wanda John-Kehewin (HighWater Press)
How to Be Found by Emily Pohl-Weary (Arsenal Pulp Press) 
Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline (Feiwel and Friends)
Life Expectancy by Alison Hughes (DCB)
Mall Goth by Kate Leth (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
The Mystery of the Dancing Lights by Éric Desmarais (Renaissance Press) >>> Elizabeth Investigates
Nightbreaker by Coco Ma (Viking Books for Young Readers)
Outta Here by Lea Beddia (Lorimer)
Poison Town by Elyssa Campbell (Lorimer)
The Pretty Plausible Premise by Karen Rivers (Algonquin Books for Young Readers) 
School Statue Showdown by David Starr (Lorimer)
Say Yes and Keep Smiling by Laurence Beaudoin-Masse (Groundwood) >>> sequel to Suck It In and Smile
Shovels not Rifles: The Black Battalion in the First World War by Gloria Ann Wesley (Formac)
Those Pink Mountain Nights by Jen Ferguson (Heartdrum)

Non-Fiction
Ableism: Deal With It and Appreciate Everyone's Differences by Kimberley Maich, illus. by Kay Nau (Lorimer) >>> part of Lorimer's Deal With It series
Animal Eyes: How Creatures See and How Their Eyes Have Adapted to Their World by Françoise Vulpé (Firefly Books)
The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes) ed. by Nadia L. Hohn, illus. by Roza Nozari (Orca) >>> anthology
The Grizzlies of Grouse Mountain: The True Adventures of Coola and Grinder by Shelley Hrdlitschka and Ray Schidlo (Heritage House) 
Hockey Stories (I Can Read) by Meg Braithwaite, illus. by Nick Craine (Collins) >>> six stories Hayley's Journey; Hockey at Home; The Best First Game; The Golden Goal; The Masked Man; What's in a Number
Imagine a Garden: Stories of Courage Changing the World by Rina Singh, illus. by Hoda Hadadi (Greystone Kids)
Inuit Relocations: Resilience and Reconciliation (Righting Canada's Wrongs) by Frank James Tester and Krista Ulujuk Zawadski (Lorimer)
Mangilaluk by Bernard Andreason, illus. by Alan Gallo (Inhabit Education)
Odd Couples: A Guide to Unlikely Animal Pairs by Maria Birmingham, illus. by Raz Latif (Owlkids)
Our Mom is Sick–Really, Really Sick But She Rocks! by Angela Parker Brown (Pottersfield Press) >>> An ALS Story
The Scarf and the Butterfly by Monica Ittusardjuat, illus. by Coco Apunnguaq Lynge and Scott Plumbe (Inhabit Education)
The Sixties Scoop and the Stolen Lives (Righting Canada's Wrongs) by Andrew Bomberry and Teresa Edwards (Lorimer)
stay up: racism, resistance, and reclaiming Black freedom by Khodil Dill, illus. by Stylo Starr (Annick)
The Trailblazing Life of Viola Desmond: A Civil  Rights Icon by Rachel Kehoe, illus. by Chelsea Charles (Orca)
West Coast 123s by Jocey Asnong (Rocky Mountain Books) 
West Coast ABCs by Jocey Asnong (Rocky Mountain Books)
 
 

 
 
 

 
Picture Books
5 Tremendously Silly Munsch Stories by Robert Munsch, illus. by Michael Martchenko (Annick)
100 Chapatis by Derek Mascarenhas, illus. by Shantala Robinson (Owlkids)
Aliya's Secret: A Story of Ramadan by Farida Zaman (Owlkids)
All the Faces of Me by Laura Alary, illus. by Salini Perera (Owlkids)
Bear Learns to Share by Hilary Leung (Scholastic Canada) >>> updated Will Bear Share? for early readers
Beatrice and Barb by Kate Jenks Landry, illus. by Vivian Mineker (Kids Can Press)
Blue Camas! Blue Camas! by Danielle S. Marcotte, illus. by Alyssa Koski (Heritage House) 
The Boy and the Banyan Tree by Mahtab Narsimhan, illus. by Dharmali Patel (North Winds Press)
Do You Remember? by Sydney Smith (Groundwood)
Freddie the Flyer by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail, illus. by Fred Carmichael (Tundra)
Giraffe is Grumpy by Hilary Leung (Scholastic Canada) >>> updated Will Giraffe Laugh? for early readers
How to Decorate a Christmas Tree by Vikki Van Sickle, illus. by Miki Sato (Tundra)
If You See a Bluebird by Bahram Rahman, illus. by Gabrielle Grimard (Pajama Press)
Latke's First Hanukkah by Alan Silberberg (Viking Books for Young Readers)
Lost Inside My Head by Vigg (Orca)
Love is in the Bear by Judith Henderson, illus. by Nahid Kazemi (Owlkids)
Mama Lou's Belly by Marie-Francine Hébert, illus. by Guillaume Perreault (Orca)
Mnoomin maan'gowing / The Gift of Mnoomin‌ by Brittany Luby, illus. by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley (Groundwood)
Munsch-a-Thon by Robert Munsch, illus. by Michael Marchenko (Scholastic Canada) >>> collection of six Munsch books
My Cat Does Ballet by Robert Heidbreder, illus. by Matt Schu (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
My Favourite Colour by Lindsay Ruck, illus. by Bryanna Chapeskie (Nimbus)
Naaahsa Aisinaki! / Naaahsa is an Artist! by Hali Heavy Shield, illus. by Norma Jean Russell (Second Story Press) >>> Dual-language edition in English and Blackfoot: Kainai Nation
Next Door by Deborah Kerbel, illus. by Isaac Liang (Kids Can Press)
The Only Way to Make Bread by Cristina Quintero, illus. by Sarah Gonzales (Tundra) 
Pigs Can't Fly by Wallace Edwards (North Winds Press)
Pirate Glitterbeard by Oksanna Crawley, illus. by Larissa Crawley (Rebel Mountain Press)
Rockin' the Bayou Down in Louisiana! by Bia Krieger, illus. by Fanny Berthiaume (The Secret Mountain) >>> We're a Possum Family Book 1
Skating Wild on an Inland Sea by Jean E. Pendziwol, illus. by Todd Stewart (Groundwood)
A Snowman in Jerusalem by Aaron Zevy, illus. by Jeric Tan (Tumbleweed Press) 
Spencer and Gary Make a Decision by Nadia Sammurtok and Shawna Thomson, illus. by Valentina Jaskina (Inhabit Education)
The Three Little Mittens by Linda Bailey, illus. by Natalia Shaloshvili (Tundra)
The Tragically Hip ABC by The Tragically Hip, illus. by Drew Macklin (Tundra)
Waiting for Tomorrow by Susan Yoon, illus. by Julie Kwon (Farrar Straus Giroux)
We Belong Here by Frieda Wishinsky, illus. by Ruth Ohi (North Winds Press)
When the Ocean Came to Town by Sal Sawler, illus. by Emma Fitzgerald (Nimbus)
Who is the Real Santa? A Christmas Countdown by Valérie Fontaine, illus. by Mika (Scholastic Canada) 
You Come From the Stars by Tanya Snow, illus. by Yong Ling Kang (Inhabit Education)
Zander Stays by Maureen Fergus, illus. Scot Ritchie (Pajama Press)

Early Readers and Middle Grade Fiction
Anne Dares: Inspired by Anne of Green Gables by Kallie George, illus. by Abigail Halpern (Tundra) >>> Anne Chapter Book #5
A Bucket of Stars by Suri Rosen (Scholastic Canada)
The Children of Akletok by Raymond McGregor (BookLand Press)
The Cricket War by Tho Pham, illus. by Sandra McTavish (Kids Can Press)
Endgame: The Secret Force 136 by Catherine Little, illus. by Sean Huang (Plumleaf Press)
The Journey of the Ancestors' Gifts by Linda Trinh, illus. by Clayton Nguyen (Annick) >>> The Nguyen Kids, Book4
The Little Books of the Little Brontës by Sara O'Leary, illus. by Briony May Smith (Tundra)
Lost Time by Tas Mukanik (Razorbill) >>> graphic novel
Maggie Lou, Firefox by Arnolda Dufour Bowes, illus. by Karlene Harvey (Groundwood)
Mehndi Boy by Zain Bandali, illus. by Jani Balakumar (Annick)
Obaasan's Boots by Janis Bridger and Lara Jean Okhiro (Second Story Press)
Opposite Identicals by Deborah Kerbel (Yellow Dog)
An Owl Without a Name by Jenna Greene (Wandering Fox)
PAWS: Priya Puts Herself First by Nathan Fairbairn, illus. by Michele Assarasakorn (Razorbill) >>> Book 3 in PAWS graphic novel series
Pine Island Visitors by Polly Horvath (Puffin Canada) >>> sequel to Pine Island Home
Pluto Rocket: Joe Pidge Flips a Lid by Paul Gilligan (Tundra) >>> Pluto Rocket #3 
The Portal Keeper by David A. Robertson (Tundra) >>> The Misewa Saga, 4
Salma Writes a Book by Danny Ramadan, illus. by Anna Bron (Annick)
Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive by Melanie Watt (Tundra)
Scarewaves by Trevor Henderson (Scholastic) 
Stazy and the Magic List by Nancy Hundal (Rebel Mountain Press)
Top Secret Anniversary by Mitali Banerjee Ruths, illus. by Aaliya Jaleel (Scholastic) >>> The Party Diaries Book 3

Young Adult
40 Days in Hicksville by Christina Kilbourne (DCB)
Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai (Penguin Teen Canada)
Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle (Margaret K. McElderry) >>> The Drowned Gods duology
Dragging Mason County by Curtis Campbell (Annick)
Flower and Thorn by Rati Mehrota (St. Martin's Press)
Fade to Black (Bendy #3) by Adrienne Kress (AFK/Scholastic) 
The Haunting of Adrian Yates by Markus Harwood-Jones (Metonymy Press)
Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy by Faith Erin Hicks (First Second) >>> graphic novel
Iz the Apocalypse by Susan Currie, illus. by Bex Glendining (Common Deer Press)
One in a Million by Claire Lordon (Candlewick) >>>graphic novel
Rain Remembers by Courtne Comrie (HarperCollins)
Songs of Irie by Asha Ashanti Bromfield (St. Martin's Press)
The Space Between Here and Now by Sarah Suk (Quill Tree Books)
The Voice Upstairs by Laura E. Weymouth (Margaret K. McElderrry)
Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros (Inkyard Press)

Non-Fiction
Leon Draisaitl by Lorna Schultz Nicholson (Scholastic Canada) >>> Amazing Hockey Stories
Less is More: Join the Low-Waste Movement by Leah Payne (Orca) >>> Orca Footprints 28
More Than Words: Navigating the Complex World of Communication by Natalie Hyde and Valerie Sherrard, illus. by David Jardine (DCB)
One in a Million by Claire Lordon (Candlewick) 
Ontario ABCs by Jocey Asnong (Rocky Mountain Books)
Open Science: Knowledge for Everyone by Monique Polak, illus. by Catherine Chan (Orca) >>> Orca Think 11
Operation Cupcake: How Simple Machines Work by Bambi Edlund (Kids Can Press)
Pride and Persistence: Stories of Queer Activism by Mary Fairhurst Breen (Second Story Press) >>> Do You Know My Name? #4
Rise Up and Sing! Power, Protest, and Activism in Music by Andrea Warner, illus. by Reimer (Greystone Kids)
Robot, Unicorn, Queen by Shannon Bramer, illus. by Irene Luxbacher (Groundwood) >>> poetry
Saving the Spotted Owl: Zalea's Story by Nicola Jones, illus. by Alexandra Finkeldey (Kids Can Press)
See It, Dream It, Do It: How 25 people just like you found their dream jobs by Colleen Nelson and Kathie MacIsaac (Pajama Press)
Think Like a Goat: The Wildly Smart Ways Animals Communicate, Cooperate and Innovate by Lisa Deresti Betik, illus. by Alexander Mostov (Kids Can Press)
Today I Am: 10 Stories of Belonging, ed. by Jael Richardson (Scholastic Canada) >>> includes stories by Marty Chan, Rosena Fung, Michael Hutchinson, Chad Lucas, Angela Misri, Mahtab Narsimhan, Danny Ramadan, Jael Richardson, Liselle Sambury, and Brandon Wint, illlus. by Rosena Fung
What Is Your Name?: A Book about Inuit Naming Practices by Kukik Kusugak, Seth Naullaq Benjamin Arreak, Panigusiq Obed, and Dominic Tegeapak, illus. by Amiel Sandland (Inhabit Education)
Wild Horses: Running Free by Linda L. Richards (Orca) >>> Orca Wild 11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Picture Books
Animal Snuggles: Affection in the Animal Kingdom  by Aimee Reid, illus. by Sebastien Braun (Sourcebooks)
Boys Don't Fry by Kimberly Lee, illus. by Charlene Chua (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)
The Great Giants of the Arctic by Jaypeetee Arnakak and Neil Christopher, illus. by Kaja Kajfež (Inhabit Education)
The Imposter by Kelly Collier (Clarion Books)
Suupi and the Sun Celebration by Arnarulunnguaq Audlaluk and Rachel Rupke, illus. by Amiel Sandland (Inhabit Education)
The Wolf Pup by Etua Snowball, illus. by Emma Crossland (Inhabit Media)

Early Readers and Middle Grade Fiction
Atana and the Firebird by Vivian Zhou (HarperAlley)
The Bear House: Scales and Stardust by Meaghan McIsaac (Holiday House)
A Call to Cthulhu by Norm Konyu (Titan Books)
Champions of the Fox by Kevin Sands (Puffin Canada) >>> Thieves of Shadow Book 3
Death & Sparkles and the Sacred Golden Cupcake by Rob Justus (Chronicle Books) >>> sequel to Death & Sparkles graphic novel
Escape to Ponti by Brian Slattery, illus. by Anthony Javier Capero (Red Deer Press)
Franny Cloutier: The Year My Life Turned Upside Down by Stephanie LaPointe, illus. by Marianne Ferrer (Arctis Books)
Kevin Goes First by Hala Tahboub (Clarion Books)
Nipugtug by Emma Metallic, illus. by Natalie Laurin (Kegedonce Press)
Rose Wolves by Natalie Warner (Top Shelf Productions) >>> Book 1 in graphic novel series
The Secret of the Ravens by Joanna Cacao (Clarion Books)
Time After Time by Sarah Mlynowski and Christina Soontornvat (Scholastic) >>> Best Wishes #3

Young Adult
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng (Roaring Brook Press)
A Grim and Sunken Vow by Ashley Shuttleworth (Margaret K. McElderry) >>> Hollow Star Saga, Book 3
How Not to Fall in Love by Jacqueline Firkens (Clarion Books)
No One Left But You by Tash McAdam (Soho Teen)
Phobos and Deimos by Jonathan Dalton (Cloudscape Comics) 
The Revenge Game by Jordyn Taylor (Delacorte Press)
You Owe Me One, Universe by Chad Lucas (Amulet) >>> sequel to Thanks a Lot, Universe

Non-Fiction
Animals Illustrated: Arctic Fox by Brian Koonoo, illus. by Joseph Starkey (Inhabit Media)
A Flock of Seagulls, A Chorus of Frogs, Art by Roy Henry Vickers, text by Lucky Budd (Harbour Publishing) >>> A First West Coast Book
 
 

 
 
 


Non-Fiction
The Life and Art of Germaine Arnattaujuq (Inhabit Education) 

 





 
 
Picture Books
All Our Love by Kari-Lynn Winters, illus. by Scot Ritchie (Scholastic)
All That Grows by Jack Wong (Groundwood) 
Charlie's Balloons: A Story of Big Emotions by Sarah Degonse, illus. by Élodie Duhameau (Second Story Press)
Coco and the Caterpillars by Geraldo Valério (Groundwood) 
Country Baby by Laurie Elmquist, illus. by Ellen Rooney (Orca)
Dad, I Miss You by Nadia Sammutok, illus. by Simji Park (Inhabit Media)
I Love Myself by Wai Mei Wong, illus. by Julia Vasileva (Orca)
K is in Trouble by Gary Clement (Groundwood) 
Khadija and the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment by Farah Qaiser, illus. by Hajer Nakua (Orca)
Look! Look! by Uma Krishnaswami, illus. by Uma Krishnaswamy (Groundwood)
ninitohtênân / We Listen by Caitlin Dale Nicholson (Groundwood) >>> Nôhkom series Book 3
Professor Goose Debunks The Three Little Pigs by Paulette Bourgeois, illus. by Alex G. Griffiths (Tundra)
Sally's New Look by Andrew Larsen, illus. by Dawn Lo (Orca)
The Scooter Twins by Dorothy Ellen Palmer, illus. by Maria Sweeney (Groundwood)
Sometimes I Feel Like an Oak by Danielle Daniel, illus. by Jacqueline Traverse (Groundwood) 
Sparkles, No Sparkles by Shannon MacNeill (Tundra)
Walking Trees by Marie-Louise Gay (Groundwood)
West Coast Wild Rainforest by Deborah Hodge, illus. by Karen Reczuch (Groundwood) 
When I Visited Grandma by Saumiya Balasubramaniam, illus. by Kavita Ramchandran (Groundwood) 

Early Readers and Middle Grade Fiction
Bee Bakshi and the Gingerbread Sisters by Emi Pinto (HarperCollins)
Blue to the Sky by Sylvia McNicoll (DCB)
The Club by Eric Walters (DCB) 
Cosplay Crime by Marty Chan (Orca) >>> Orca Currents
Cracking Up by Samantha Bee (Farrar Straus & Giroux)
The Grave Thief by Dee Hahn (Tundra) 
Leon Levels Up by Paul Coccia (Orca) >>> Orca Currents
Nightmares in Paradise by Aden Polydoros (Inkyard Press) >>> Ring of Solomon 2
The Peacock by Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod, illus. by Jaimie MacGibbon (Orca) >>> Orca Echoes
Taming Papa by Mylène Goupil (Groundwood)

Young Adult
Both Sides Now by Peyton Thomas (Penguin Teen Canada)
Dropped! by Alice Kuipers (Orca)
Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao (Tundra) >>> Iron Widow 2
My Life Off-Key by Gail Anderson-Dargatz (Orca)
The Rez Doctor by Gitz Crazyboy, illus. by Veronika Barinova, Azby Whitecalf and Toben Racicot (HighWater Press) >>> graphic novel
Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams by Shari Green (Andrews McMeel Publishing) >>> novel in verse
Voice by Eric Walters and Wali Shah (Orca)
Who We Are in Real Life by Victoria Koops (Groundwood) 
 
Non-Fiction
Animal Minds: What Are They Thinking? by Dana Church (Orca)
Harboring Hope: The True Story of How Henny Sinding Helped Denmark's Jews Escape the Nazis by Susan Hood (HarperCollins)
The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey by George Chiang and Chad Soon, illus. by Amy Qi (Orca)
Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: A Kid's Guide to Standing Up for People, Animals, and the Planet by Joan Marie Galat (Aladdin)
Mighty Scared: The Amazing Ways Animals Defend Themselves by Erin Silver, illus. by Hayden Maynard (Orca)
This is a Tiny Fragile Snake by Nicholas Ruddock, illus. by Ashley Barron (Groundwood) >>> poetry 
We Need Everyone by Michael Redhead Champagne, illus. by Tiff Bartel (HighWater Press)


• • • • • • •

There are so many books coming out and I did my best to ensure this list is complete and accurate. However, I am sure that I've omitted some titles that should be here and perhaps also listed some books in the wrong month or genre. Feel free to drop me a comment here or on Twitter to let me know about any additions or corrections I should make. I'm happy to make this post as exact as possible.
 

June 29, 2023

Dual Book Launch: Gnomes is Where Your Heart Is & The Magic Cap (Toronto)

 
Authors Casey Lyall and Mireille Messier 
are promising
 
E-GNOME-US FUN
 
with a joint book launch for their newest books
 
 
Gnome is Where Your Heart Is
 Written by Casey Lyall
Greenwillow Books (Imprint of HarperCollins)
978-0-06-323982-1
304 pp.
Ages 8-12
May 2023 

and

The Magic Cap
Written by Mireille Messier
Illustrated by Charlotte Parent
Milky Way Picture Books
978-1-990252-21-1
32 pp.
Ages 4-7
May 2023 
 
 
Here's the info to get in your calendar early:
 
Date:  Sunday, July 30, 2023
 
Time: 1 PM
 
Location:  Another Story Bookshop
315 Roncesvalles Avenue
Toronto, ON
416-462-1104 


I haven't been to many launches in the past few years 
but I may just see you there. 
With two charming books, one middle-grade and one picture book, 
and a whole lot of gnomes, this may the one to get me out to celebrate great #youngCanLit.


June 27, 2023

Tegan and Sara: Junior High

Written by Tegan Quin and Sara Quin
Illustrated by Tillie Walden
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
978-0-374-31301-2
304 pp.
Ages 10-14
May 2023

The names Tegan and Sara are well known to many as the Canadian Indie-pop duo but also producers of the TV series High School, based on their own secondary school experiences. Their Wikipedia page is loaded with accomplishments, collaborations, awards, and activism. But, for Tegan Quin and Sara Quin to become who they are today, they had to navigate the ups-and-downs of the middle grade years and puberty, all while trying to maintain their most important relationship, that of identical twins. This is the story of those Junior High highs and lows.
From Tegan and Sara: Junior High, written by Tegan Quin and Sara Quin, illus. by Tillie Walden
It's the beginning of their Grade 7 year and everything is new for the twins. First, their mom Sonia and stepdad Bruce have moved houses to be closer to the girls' dad, Steve. That means leaving their old friend Faiza and making new friends. But the girls will now be in separate classes so there is an added element of anxiety that their lives are more separate than they're used to. And Tegan and Sara are very close. Still, though they may be identical in their appearance, they do differ in their personalities. (Illustrator Tillie Walden tries to keep the two different in the artwork, when she can, by drawing Sara in red and Tegan in blue, though most of the illustrations are in violet.) So, when they meet Noa, Chloe, Vincent, and Avery, it's Tegan who becomes fast friends with Noa, much to the annoyance of obnoxious Avery who claims Noa as her own best friend and to the disappointment of Sara who is less concerned with becoming popular and more with remaining friends with Faiza.
From Tegan and Sara: Junior High, written by Tegan Quin and Sara Quin, illus. by Tillie Walden
But then Sara meets Kaito from her science class and his friend Roshini and things take another turn. While the twins navigate puberty–and all the surprising changes that come with it–and friends and family, two significant developments arise. First, the girls discover a guitar and start delving into song writing and performing. Second, they both develop crushes, Tegan on Kaito and Sara, much to her surprise, on Roshini. While doing things differently is normal, the twins rely on each other for support, and when things start to go awry, whether it's one getting her period and not telling the other or one exposing secrets that should not have been shared, Tegan and Sara find themselves in conflict. Can they be there for each other to get through the bad times and celebrate the good or will people and other things come between them?
From Tegan and Sara: Junior High, written by Tegan Quin and Sara Quin, illus. by Tillie Walden
Junior high and middle school is always tough. There are so many changes happening for young people, both inside and outside of their bodies, and figuring them out is even tougher when they don't always know whom to trust for support. Tegan Quin and Sara Quin certainly represent what middle graders might be going through as they confront new circumstances at home, at school, with friends and with their own bodies. But what Tegan and Sara understand best is how it feels to be and live with an identical twin. It's that relationship that is key to them becoming the successful musical duo they have and getting through those middle grade years undefeated. Yet their story highlights the fact that Tegan and Sara are their own people with their unique likes, dislikes, insecurities, worries, skills, and more, and, in the context of middle grade angst, they show grit.

Tegan and Sara: Junior High will be a welcome graphic novel for middle grade readers who may or may not know the twins as the singer-songwriters they are, but they will know the uncertainty of figuring out themselves with the coming of age. Tegan Quin and Sara Quin may be telling their story, but it's a story that goes beyond the autobiography and becomes more about encouragement and illustration for getting through.

June 22, 2023

What If I'm Not a Cat?


Written by Kari-Lynn Winters
Illustrated by Kelly Collier
Kids Can Press
978-1-5253-0553-5
32 pp.
Ages 4-7
June 2023

Donkey was a cat. He knew he was a cat because all the clues were there. Farmer came into the barn and called out to her kitty cats so that had to include Donkey. Donkey strutted like a cat, he licked his fur, and enjoyed cuddling. And the little things he couldn't do like enjoy cat food, climb trees or catch mice were just some of the things he needed to learn still.
From What If I'm Not a Cat?, written by Kari-Lynn Winters, illus. by Kelly Collier
But then Donkey climbs up on Farmer's lap and hears, "Donkey, you're acting like a cat!" Donkey starts to rethink his attributes relative to the cats and asks himself, "What if I'm NOT a cat?"
From What If I'm Not a Cat?, written by Kari-Lynn Winters, illus. by Kelly Collier
The cats try to help. Some are convinced that Donkey is a cat and, while others begin to question their own identities, there are those who offer suggestions about what Donkey might truly be. Devastated with his identity crisis, he ventures out alone, into the loneliness beyond the farm. When he discovers a kitten in danger from a fox, Donkey helps save the little feline while uncovering some wonderful new things about himself.
From What If I'm Not a Cat?, written by Kari-Lynn Winters, illus. by Kelly Collier
For anyone who has ever questioned their identity and place, from family member to gender, What If I'm Not a Cat? recognizes that fitting in is less about being exactly the same and more about being part of something that feels right. Writer Kari-Lynn Winters has tackled the topic of fitting in and labelling of identities before (see French Toast and Good Pirate, both from 2016) but the farcical nature of a donkey who accepts himself as a cat makes What If I'm Not a Cat? both zany and effective in its messaging. Donkey only begins to question himself when others start to do the same. It's only when he feels accepted completely for both his similarities and differences that Donkey becomes Don-kitty and everything feels right again.
 
Kelly Collier, author-illustrator of A Horse Named Steve and Team Steve, gives her digitally-rendered illustrations a cheekiness of character. Kari-Lynn Winters gives us the story, but Kelly Collier most definitely gives us the characters, from Donkey who always seems to have a spring in his step–except when depressed–to the cats who are playful, diverse and saucy. There's a perfect balance of content and context that comes from a brilliant collaboration between Kari-Lynn Winters and Kelly Collier.

If What If I'm Not a Cat? teaches readers anything, it's that fitting in is not dependent on being the same as everyone else. Fitting in comes with self-acceptance. So, even if you're not a cat–which is pretty cool–you still belong.

June 20, 2023

Granny Left Me a Rocket Ship

Written by Heather Smith
Illustrated by Ashley Barron
Kids Can Press
978-1-5253-0552-8
32 pp.
Ages 4-7
June 2023
 
This is a story of what is left after a grandparent passes. Many think of the tangible bequests. This child's inheritance is so much more.
From Granny Left Me a Rocket Ship, written by Heather Smith, illus. by Ashley Barron
When Granny dies, there was a hole in our family.
Remembering her helped us fill it.
After a boy's grandmother dies, his family deals with their grief in different ways. There's the sharing of stories and photos, and there's reminiscing about the items she bequeathed them. But what did she leave him? It wasn't one thing. She's left him an abundance of memories of adventures that they'd created together. 
From Granny Left Me a Rocket Ship, written by Heather Smith, illus. by Ashley Barron
Whether it's the memory of creating a tent with blankets or a flying broomstick, a knight's sword on which marshmallows were roasted, or a rocket ship, often using Granny's blue cane, this child has a lifetime of memories of fantastic exploits.

Grief and loss are handled differently for everyone and will definitely vary between adults and children. The adults in this household must get on with the task of sorting out Granny's home and cherishing unique gifts bestowed on them, as do the two older children. But what the narrator gets is far greater and this child knows it. Heather Smith, author of everything from picture books like Annie's Cat is Sad to middle-grade novels in verse (e.g., Ebb & Flow) and YA like The Agony of Bun O'Keefe, always gets into the heart of feelings. She finds a way to see something positive and uplifting even in the challenging times. Here, a child is dealing with the loss of a beloved grandparents, and he finds a way to be grateful for the experiences he had with his grandmother. We've all heard of or experienced how a family loss can become a struggle of disputes with who got what, but this child sees beyond the material things his parents and siblings got and knows that he got so much more. He didn't get the tuba or the record collection or the microscope but he got everything he wanted in adventures and time and imaginative play with an elder he loved. In few words, Heather Smith lets us feel the adoration and gratitude.
From Granny Left Me a Rocket Ship, written by Heather Smith, illus. by Ashley Barron
From Ashley Barron's cut-paper collage with watercolour, and acrylic and pencil crayon, readers will never experience the grief that is the reason that the child was left something at all. There is no somberness to Ashley Barron's illustrations and that's because, while this boy and his family have experienced a loss, they are grateful for the gifts and time and  relationships they've had with their mother and grandmother. For the narrator, the gift of time and connection takes him from Granny's very real living room into his imagination with palm trees and teal waters to dragons and owls.
When Granny died,
she left me a world of adventure...
that I can take with me wherever I go.
What a gift.

June 16, 2023

Mr. S: A First Day of School Book

Written and illustrated by Monica Arnaldo
Katherine Tegen Books (An Imprint of HarperCollins)
978-0-06-300395-8
40 pp.
Ages 4-8
June 2023
 
When is a sandwich more than sandwich? How about when it's a teacher and called Mr. S. Or is it?
From Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo
When the children arrive for their first day of class in room 2B they are met by...no one! Of course, they know they should have a teacher but the only indications that a teacher is around is a steaming mug of coffee, a sandwich, and "Mr. S" written on the board. The perplexed children are divided what to do until a loud slap of a ruler hitting the ground, from beside the sandwich, grabs their attention and they start to wonder. With that and the connection to Mr. S–it must be Mr. Sandwich, right?–the students feel compelled to do an alphabet lesson on sandwich types, an art class, a music class, and storytelling, even giving an errant boy lines to write.
From Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo
Unbeknownst to them, there is a story going on outside their window in the gloom of a thunderstorm. The man who'd been in their classroom before they arrived–this was on the title page– is dealing with mayhem upon mayhem with his car in the parking lot. There's a whole farce happening out there, including everything from lightning and pizzas, a sympathetic raccoon or two, and a fire. For the man, it goes from bad to worse. And when he finally does show up, it's still not clear whether the sandwich has been in charge all along.
From Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo
Okay, let's forget that a class would never be left unattended, especially a kindergarten class and not on the first day of school when kids are normally greeted by their teachers outside before being led into the school. Let's forget that because this is fiction and suspending reality is necessary to make this story so charming. But that's me as an adult and a teacher who knows how things are supposed to be. But these are little kids on their first day. What do they know? And look at that sandwich with its olive eyes, bologna tongue and lettuce ears or hair. It looks like a face. And the name on the board did say "Mr. S." Those children were actually quite clever putting the clues together. They were even more clever for directing their own instruction, albeit very sandwich-based. 
 
Montreal's Monica Arnaldo has written a quirky story of a class being taught by a sandwich but it's surprisingly plausible, especially since children can come up with some pretty fantastic ideas when presented with unusual clues. These kids are a hoot, policing themselves under the watchful eyes of a sandwich, learning the alphabet–could you find a sandwich for each letter of the alphabet?–and creating artwork that emulates great artists like Warhol, Banksy and perhaps Rothko. These kids have character, from differences in their mobility–one child is in a wheelchair and another uses purple forearm crutches–to their shapes, sizes and colours, and their attitudes which range from silly and playful to studious and bossy. Monica Arnaldo has given us real children, and, for them, Mr. Sandwich is just as real, even giving them fodder for debate about different kinds of teachers.
From Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo
The art is as playful as the story and there's so much to find in Monica Arnaldo's digital illustrations created with watercolour, coloured pencils and ink. Whether it's the details in the classroom, like the children reading from Monica Arnaldo's picture book Are You a Cheeseburger?, or the endpapers of children's lunch bags and teacher photos, and definitely the drama happening outside in the parking lot, there is humour and reality that will put a smile on every reader's face and a chuckle in their belly. (And I haven't even given away the ending which will surprise and make children wonder.)

Here's to Mr. S, the sandwich and the book, to all the teachers who guide and inspire and delight, and to the children who find learning opportunities in the most unconventional circumstances.