July 01, 2025

Upcoming Releases for Summer and Fall 2025

 
Though publishers have long known which books are set for release, many of us will be surprised and delighted to know about new books of youngCanLit coming out. Whether these books are set for release to coincide with big events like the start of the school year and Halloween–surprisingly, there are very few releases in December for Christmas–or just being released because it's time, there will be so many from which to choose and add to our TBR shelves. It's an impressive collection by debut authors, by long-favourite writers and illustrators, and sequels to much-loved series.

Here are a few titles I'm looking forward to checking out:
  • Time Surfers by Kevin Sylvester because I know it's going to be funny but, with illustrations, a mystery, and time slip, it's sure to give us something extraordinary.
  • Death by Whoopee Cushion by Vicki Grant, which would be funny even if the name were otherwise because it's coming from Vicki Grant
  • How to Save a Library by Colleen Nelson because it touches the heart of this retired teacher-librarian who has witnessed the closure of too many libraries
  • One Can, a picture book by Lana Button and Eric Walters, and illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant, because it has a very sweet story that may just evoke a few tears
  • Ghost Circus by Adrienne Kress and illustrated by Jade Zhang because it sounds like a loaded graphic novel with a good mystery and a lot of supernatural elements
  • Standoff, which is the second book in Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch's Kidnapped from Ukraine series, because it's a story that needs to be read
  • A Summer of Dragonflies because it's been too long since I've had the pleasure of reading a novel by Natasha Deen
and 
 
dozens and dozens of other books. Here's hoping you find something here to bring more CanLit into your summer and fall reading.
 
 
 • 📗 •  📗 •  📗 • ðŸ“—  •  📗 • ðŸ“—📗 • 
 
 
 
 
JULY
Picture Books
The Bagel Who Wanted Everything by Alan Silberberg  (North Winds Press) 
The Friendship Blanket by Leonarda Carranza, illus. by Erika Rodriguez Medina (North Winds Press)
Little Shoes by David A. Robertson, illus. by Maya McKibbin (Tundra Books) 
Mao Mao's Perfectly Imperfect Day by Laan Cham (Random House Books for Young Readers)
Peek-a-Boo Missy Moo by Kelsey Marshalsey (Brown Bag Fox)
Toes, Teeth, and Tentacles: A Curious Counting Book by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Vampire Jam Sandwich by Casey Lyall, illus. by Nici Gregory (Tundra Books) 
 
Early Readers and Chapter Books
Comic Shift by Ted Staunton (Scholastic Canada) 
Death by Whoopee Cushion by Vicki Grant (Tundra Books)
The Puzzle of Doom by Dom Pelletier (Scholastic Canada)>>> The Lunch Club 8
Snoop by Gordon Korman (Scholastic)

Young Adult 
Fireboy by Edward Willett (Shadowpaw Press)
A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury (Margaret K. McElderry Books)
The Rebel Girls of Rome by Jordyn Taylor (HarperCollins)
Sky on Fire by E. K. Johnston (Dutton Books for Young Readers) 

Non-Fiction 
You Were Made for This World: Celebrated Indigenous Voices Speak to Young People by Stephanie Sinclair and Sara Sinclair (Tundra Books)
 
 
AUGUST
Picture Books
Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe (Simon & Schuster)
At the Rescue Cat Café by Anna Humphrey, illus. by Kari Rust (Owlkids Books)
Beverley, Bat Your Service by Kelly Collier (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)
Bird Brothers, A Delhi Story by Rina Singh, illus. by Barkha Lohia (Orca Book Publishers)
Emerson the Elephant Seal by Ginger Ngo (Harbour Publishing)
Feelings Come, Feelings Go by Dr. Jillian Roberts (Orca Book Publishers)
The Gift of Words (A Holiday Picture Book) by Peter H. Reynolds (Orchard Books)
Grandma Can Make Anything by Susan Avingaq and Maren Vsetula, illus. by Amiel Sandland (Inhabit Media)
The Interrupted Plans of Mango and Nan by Hala Tahboub (Clarion Books)
King of the Dump by Tim Wynne-Jones, illus. by Scot Ritchie (Groundwood Books)
Kohkum's Royal Bannock by Wilfred Burton, illus. by Hawlii Pichette (Thistledown Press)
Lights at Night by Tasha Hilderman, illus. by Maggie Zeng (Tundra Books) 
The Little Ghost Quilt's Winter Surprise by Riel Nason, illus. by Byron Eggenschwiler (Tundra) >>> sequel to The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt 
Lumberjack's Alphabet by Mike Bravener, illus. by Virginia Alecia (Monster House Publishing)
Miya Wears Orange by Wanda John-Kehewin, illus. by Erika Rodriguez Medina (HighWater Press)
Munsch Mania! by Robert Munsch, illus. by Michael Martchenko and Jay Odjick (Scholastic Canada) >>> collection of six previously-published stories 
The Pink Pajamas by Charlene Chua (Simon & Schuster)
Poppy and Sam and the Hunt for Jam by Cathon (Owlkids Books) >>> Poppy and Sam 4
RJ and the Ticking Clock by Ian Duncan, illus. by Scot Ritchie (Owlkids Books)
Star Sailor, The Story of Words by Sara Cassidy, illus. by Julie McLaughlin (Orca Book Publishers)
Summer Brings Berries by Roy Henry Vickers, illus. by Robert "Lucky" Budd (Harbour Publishing) 

Early Readers and Chapter Books 
Bark Twice for Murder by John Lekich (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Orca Currents
Beyond the Grave by Trevor Henderson (Scholastic) >>> Scarewaves 2
The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham by Ryan James Black (Nancy Paulsen Books)
The Discovery of Finnegan Wilde by Caroline Pignat (Thistledown Press)
The Elephant in the Room:  Mabel Makes (^Up) a Friend by Cyndi Marko (Penguin Workshop) >>> graphic novel 
Ghost Circus by Adrienne Kress, illus. by Jade Zhang (Union Square Kids) >>> graphic novel
How to Rescue a Unicorn by Andy Tolson (Nimbus Publishing) >>> The Quests of Tiny Wilde 2
How to Save a Library by Colleen Nelson (Pajama Press)
Howler Reef by Nancy Deas, illus. by Mike Deas (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Sueño Bay Adventures 6
Maggie Lou Meets Her Match by Arnolda Dufour Bowes, illus. by Karlene Harvey (Groundwood Books) >>> sequel to Maggie Lou, Firefox
Mirror Mirror by Sarah Mlynowski (Scholastic) >>> Whatever After 17 
A Night for Mischief by Allison Finley (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Orca Currents
A Skeleton in the Closet by Claire Hatcher-Smith (Tundra Books) >>> The Mizzy Mysteries 1
The Sunshine Project by Uma Krishnaswami, illus. by Julianna Swaney (Groundwood Books) >>> The Book Uncle 3
True Colors: Growing Up Weird in the '90s by Elise Gravel (Drawn & Quarterly) >>> graphic novel
The World's End by David A. Robertson (Tundra Books) >>>The Misewa Saga 6
 
Young Adult 
Algonquin Legacy by Rick Revelle (Dundurn) >>> An Algonquin Quest Novel 4
Crowns of Blood and Salt by Kay Adams (Inimitable Books)>>>Dark Depths 2
Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith, written by Kate Hart, Eric Gansworth, Marcella Bell, Darcie Little Badger, Karina Iceberg, Kaua Mahoe Adams, Andrea L. Rogers, Cheryl Isaacs, Christine Hartman Derr, Brian Young, K. A. Cobell, Jen Ferguson, A. J. Eversole, Byron Graves, Angeline Boulley, and  David A. Robertson (Heartdrum) 
The Night Girl by James Bow (Shadowpaw Press)
The Spartan Sacrifice by Andrew Varga (Imbrifex Books)>>>A Jump In Time 4
Super Crash by Melinda De Lorenzo (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Orca Soundings
The Whisperings by Joel A. Sutherland (Tundra)

Non-Fiction 
Allyship as Action: 7 Ways to Advocate for Others by Tanya Boteju, illus. by Bithi Sutradhar (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Orca Take Action 1
The Dog Who Saved the Bees by Stephanie Gibeault, illus. by David Hohn (Sleeping Bear Press)
My First Recipe Book: Recipes for the Food Kids Really Want to Make (and Eat) by Ricardo Larrivee (Appetite by Random House)
Myths and Legends Ultimate Handbook: More than 200 Heroes, Villains and Mythical Creatures from Around the World by Ben Hubbard (DK Children)
Never Silent: A Hiroshima Survivor's Story by Setsuko Thurlow and Kathy Lowinger, illus. by Michelle Theodore (Annick Press)
Reach for the Sky: How Two Brothers Built an Airplane in Chinatown by Evelyn Wong, illus. by Sarah Ang (Plumleaf Press)
T is for Terry: An ABC of Courage by Denise Dias, illus. by Noémie Gionet Landry (Scholastic Canada) 
The Tufted Puffins of Triangle Island by Deborah Hodge, illus. by Karen Reczuch (Groundwood) 
What About an Elephant?: A Fact-Filled Savanna Adventure by Deborah Kerbel, illus. by Dawn Lo (Owlkids Books)
What a Waste: 9 Ways to Fight Climate Change by Karen Tam Wu Illustrated by: Bithi Sutradhar (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Orca Take Action 2


 
SEPTEMBER
Picture Books 
24 Sleeps Till Christmas: An Advent Storybook Collection by Jane Whittingham, illus. by Maggie Zeng (HarperCollins)
Aurora's Journey by Kayla Williams (Kegedonce Press)
Benjamin Grows a Garden by Melanie Florence, illus. by Hawlii Pichette (Kids Can Press) >> sequel to Benjamin's Thunderstorm
Brown Girl in the Snow by Yolanda T. Marshall, illus. by Marianne Ferrer (Greystone Kids)
Camping in the Wild by Nicholas Oldland (Kids Can Press) >>> new book in the Life in the Wild series
The Case of the Buried Treasure by Eric Hogan and Tara Hungerford (Firefly Books) >>> A Gumboot Kids Nature Mystery
The Case of the Tagalong Twin by Eric Hogan and Tara Hungerford (Firefly Books) >>> A Gumboot Kids Nature Mystery
The Christmas That Almost Wasn't by Laura Alary, illus. by Ana Eguaras (Beaming Books)
Cozy Canada: A Sweet and Calming Colouring Book by Maggie Zeng (HarperCollins)
Diaper Kid by Loretta Garbutt, illus. by Hayley Lowe (Owlkids Books)
Floor It! by Bex Tobin Fine, illus. by Federico Fabiani (Random House Books for Young Readers)
Giant Seek-and-Find Merry Christmas! by Julie Mercier, Prisca Le Tandé and Elen Lescoat (Auzou Canada)
The House That Floated by Guojing (Random House Studio)
The Inquisitive Raven by Richard Wagamese, illus. by Bridget George (Douglas & McIntyre)
The Last Last by Wendy J. Whittingham, illus. by Brianna McCarthy (Groundwood Books)
Mama's Special Wonton Soup by Wai Mei Wong, illus. by Xin Yue Zhu (Lantana) 
Maya Inside by Alison Hughes, illus. by Brady Sato (Orca Book Publishers)
Memory Stones by Kathy Kacer, illus. by Hayley Lowe (Second Story Press)
My Sister the Apple Tree: A Refugee Story of Hope and Resilience by Jordan Scott and Jamal Saeed, illus. by Zahra Marwan (Random House Studio)
The Nutcracker's Magical Christmas by Roxane Turcotte, illus. by Sabrina Gendron (Auzou Canada)
The Old Man and the Child by Gabrielle Roy, adapted by Dominque Fortier, illus. by Rogé
One Can by Lana Button and Eric Walters, illus. by Isabelle Malenfant (Groundwood Books)
Our Corner Grocery Store by Joanne Schwartz, illus. by Laura Beingessner (Tundra Books)
Penny Penguin by Raffi, illus. by Dan Tavis (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
Ra! Ta! Ma! Cue! by Howie Shia (Annick Press) 
Remember Who You Are by Leona Prince and Gabrielle Prince, illus. by Sara General (Orca Book Publishers)
Rez Kid by Andrea Landry, illus. by Isabella Fassler (Kids Can Press)
The Richest Cow in the World by Barroux (Kids Can Press)
Seamus and the Shiny Things by Cara Kansala (Breakwater Books)
Sem's Map by Rebecca Thomas, illus. by Azby Whitecalf (Nimbus Publishing)
A Single Dreadlock by Xaiver Michael Campbell, illus. by Eugenie Fernandes (Groundwood Books)
Sophie Shares the Stars by Heather Smith, illus. by Catherine Petit (Orca Book Publishers)
There's a Song in the Forest by Jennifer Britton, illus. by Jillian Thalman (Nimbus Publishing)
The Thing About Birds by Christy Obalek (Heritage House)
To Be With You by Dave Gunning, illus. by Meaghan Smith (Nimbus Publishing)
Two Pigs by David Bouchard, illus. by Christine Battuz (Orca Book Publishers)
Truckin' by Nancy Hundal, illus. by Angela Poon (Owlkids Books)
A Walk in the Park by Ashley Spires, adapted by Naseem Hrab, illus. by Mike Shiell (Kids Can Press) >>> Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe
The Wandering Feather by Lisa Frenette, illus. by August Swinson (Owlkids Books)
Yaya and the Dan-Tats by Camellia Koo, illus. by Phoebe Xiao (Annick Press)
You Can't Tame a Tiger by Stephanie Ellen Sy, illus. by Julien Chung (Owlkids Books)

Early Readers and Chapter Books
All the Things We Found by Joanne Levy (Orca Book Publishers) 
Asha and Baz Meet Mary Anning by Caroline Fernandez, illus. by Dharmali Patel (Common Deer Press) >>> Asha and Baz 6
Bea Mullins Takes a Shot by Emily Deibert (Yearling)
The Bloodstone Thief by Sabina Khan (Scholastic) 
Breaking the Ice by Natalie Blitt (Scholastic)
Curse and Reverse by Sophie Escabasse (Random House Graphic)>>>Witches of Brooklyn
The Fabulous Trio: Friends for Life by Julie Couture, illus. by Esther Hernando (Auzou Canada)
A Fleurlings Field Guide by Kaitlin Hoyt (Monster House Publishing)
The Forbidden Room by Nicki Pau Preto (Viking Books for Young Readers)>>>The Last Hope School For Magical Delinquents 2 
Going Pro! by Alain M. Bergeron, illus. by Caroline Soucy (Auzou Canada) >>> The Hockey Team 3
The House That Floated by Guojing (Random House Studio)
Ink of Nightmares by Jeff Szpirglas, illus. by Andrew P. Barr (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Book of Screams 3
Maddie and the Doggie Detectives by Diya Lim, illus. by Pascale Constantin (Auzou Canada)
Malice at the Mall by Pierrette Dubé, illus. by Ninon Pelletier (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Orca Shivers 7
Mysteries at Château Frontenac by Roxanne Turcotte, illus. by Sabrina Gendron (Auzou Canada) >>> Esther and Ben's Investigations
Nish: North Stars by Isabelle Picard (Scholastic Canada)
Paisley & Peck: Jurassic Farm by J. Torres, illus. by Mike Deas (Owlkids Books)
Salma Speaks Up by Danny Ramadan, illus. by Anna Bron (Annick Press) >>> newest Salma story
Seabird by Michelle Kadarusman (Pajama Press)
Steve, Born to Run by Kelly Collier (Kids Can Press) >>> Steve the Horse
A Storm Unleashed by Carol Matas (Scholastic Canada)
A Summer of Dragonflies by Natasha Deen (DCB Young Readers) 
Super Business by Cale Atkinson (Tundra) >>> Simon & Chester 6
Take a Breath Olive Tran by Phuong Truong, illus. by Christine Wei (Second Story Press) >>> Olive Tran 2
Teddy vs. the Snuggly Menace by Braden Hallett (Annick Press) >>> Secrets of Ravensbarrow 3
Time Surfers by Kevin Sylvester (HarperCollins)
Touching Grass by Kristy Jackson, illus. by Rhael McGregor (HarperCollins)
Wednesday Wilson Looks on the Fright Side by Bree Galbraith, illus. by Morgan Goble (Kids Can Press) >>> Wednesday Wilson 4
A Wonderful Surprise by Julie Couture, illus. by Amandine Gardie (Auzou Canada) >>> Sparkle Academy 2
 
Young Adult
Ace and the Misfits vs. the Soccer Knights by Eddie Kawooya (Lorimer)
Bad in the Blood by Matteo L. Cerilli (Tundra Books)
Carnival Curves by Stacey Robinson (Lorimer) 
The Dandelion Riots by Kim Smejkal (Pushkin Children's Books) 
Destiny by M. L. Fergus (Tundra Books) >>> Fractured Kingdom 3
Exquisite Things by Abdi Nazemian (HarperCollins)
Fierce Voice by Susan Currie (Common Deer Press)
Love on Planet A by Christina Minaki (Lorimer)
Not My Crew by Carlos Anthony (Lorimer) 
The Others by Cheryl Isaacs (Heartdrum)

Non-Fiction 
Across the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe Horse by Darcy Whitecrow and Heather M. O'Connor, illus. by Natasha Donovan (Candlewick)
Be an Icky Things Detective: Solving Nature's Strange and Slimy Mysteries by Peggy Kochanoff (Nimbus Publishing) >>> Be a Nature Detective 9
Birds Life Size: Up Close and Personal with 47 Bird Species by Chris Earley (Firefly Books)
Canine Connection: How Dogs and Humans Evolved Together by Christopher Gudgeon (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Orca Wild 18
Cracking the Code: The Human Quest to Uncover Secrets by Rachel Kehoe, illus. by Meegan Lim (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Orca Timeline 11
If You Meet a Barfing Bird: How Not to Help Animals by Etta Kaner, illus. by Heather Wilson (Orca Book Publishers)
I'm Longer than You!: An Epic Contest of Measurement by Carolyn Fisher (Kids Can Press)
Just a Minute: Why Humans Tell Time by Kirstie Hudson and Monique Polak, illus. by Paige Stampatori (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Orca Timeline 12
My Street Remembers by Karen Krossing, illus. by Cathie Jamieson (Groundwood Books)
Not Just Dirt!: How Soil Supports Our Planet by Sheryl Normandeau (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Orca Footprints 35 
Summer Brings Berries by Roy Henry Vickers and Lucky Budd (Harbour Publishing) >>> First West Coast Book 7
The Sustainable School: A Journey Through Time and Energy by Erica Fyvie, illus. by Scot Ritchie (Kids Can Press)
Who Needs the Dark?: The Many Ways Living Things Depend on Darkness by Laura Alary, illus. by Risa Hugo (Owlkids Books)


 
OCTOBER
Picture Books 
Baseball Bats for Christmas by Michael Avaarluk Kusugak, illus.by Coco Apunnguaq Lynge (Annick Press)
The Big Red Book of Munsch Books by Robert Munsch, illus. by Michael Martchenko (Annick Press) 
Call Me Gray by Andrew Larsen and Bells Larsen, illus. by Tallulah Fontaine (Kids Can Press)
Charlotte's New Moccasins by Jenn Moudahi, illus. by Rhael McGregor (Charlesbridge)
Community Snowman by Deborah Kerbel, illus. by Tine Modeweg-Hansen (Groundwood Books)
Faye's Lanterns by Eve Gane and Toby Tang, illus. by Hyesoo Kim (Plumleaf Press) 
The First Christmas Tree: An Innu Tale by Ovila Fontaine, illus. by Charlotte Parent (Orca Book Publishers)
Heel, Toe and Away We Go!: Silly Songs for Kids by Alan Mills, Gilles Vigneault and Lionel Daunais, illus. by Marie Lafrance (The Secret Mountain)
Home for Margaret by Denise Davy, illus. by Bérengère Delaporte (Groundwood Books)
How to Be Brave Like a Snail by Naseem Hrab, illus. by Kelly Collier (Owlkids Books) >>> Snail and Stump 3
I Am My Name: A Girl's Journey to Finding Her Cree Family by Na'kuset and Judith Henderson, illus. by Onedove (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
I Drove My Bed to Grandma's House by Carolyn Huizinga Mills, illus. by Jan Dolby (DCB Young Readers)
Invisible: The (Sort of) True Story of Me and My Hidden Disease by David Soren (Penguin Workshop)
It Began with a Buzz by Shiva Delsooz (Owlkids Books)
Just Another Perfect Day by Jillian Harris and Justin Pasutto, illus. by Morgan Goble , (Tundra Books)
Kokum, Are These Moose Tracks?: Celebrating Fall by Tyna Legault Taylor, illus. by Michelle Dao (HighWater Press) >>> new book from Joshua Learns from the Land series
Labrador Skies by Kayla Williams, illus. by Kayla Williams and Thamires Paredes (Inhabit Media)
Lap Cat by Joren Cull (Penguin Workshop)
Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) by Linda Bailey, illus. by K-Fai Steele (Tundra Books)
Little Hearts in the Snow by Andrew Katz and Juliana Léveillé-Trudel, illus. by Joseph Sherman (CrackBoom!) >>> third book in Julia and Bernard series that started with How to Catch a Bear
Little Moments in a Big Universe by Todd Stewart (Owlkids Books)
Lucky Dog Comes Home by John Spray, illus. by Scot Ritchie (Pajama Press)
The Newest Gnome by Lauren Soloy (Tundra Books)
Nuts About Scaredy Squirrel: Five Classic Stories by Melanie Watt (Kids Can Press)
Oakley's Great Canadian Adventure by Nancy Rose (Nimbus Publishing) >>> The Secret Life of Squirrels
The One About the Blackbird by Melanie Florence, illus. by Matt James (Tundra Books)
Owl by Kara Griffin, illus. by K. Shawn Larson (Nimbus Publishing) 
The Peacock Who Howled with Jackals by Nahid Kazemi (Owlkids Books)
The Perfect Paper Airplane by Robert Munsch, illus. by Michael Martchenko (North Winds Press)
A Pond, a Poet, and Three Pests by Caroline Adderson, illus. by Lauren Tamaki (Groundwood Books)
Prudence: The Brave Little Bird by Véronique Alarie and Gabrielle Lisa Collard, illus. by Catherine Petit (Pajama Press) 
Together: A Book About Community by Elise Gravel (North Winds Press)
Umingmak and Fox: Why Is It Dark? by Jamesie Fournier, illus. by Tim Mack (Arvaaq Press)
Your Places Boxed Set by Jon Klassen (Candlewick) >>> three board books: Your Farm, Your Island, and Your Forest 

Early Readers and Chapter Books
The Anne Chapter Book Collection by Kallie George, illus. by Abigail Halpin (Tundra Books) >>> collection of six early readers Anne Dreams, Anne Dares, Anne's Tragic Tea Party, Anne's School Days, Anne's Kindred Spirits, and Anne Arrives
Brianna Banana, Worst Surprise Ever by Lana Button, illus. by Suharu Ogawa (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Orca Echoes
Danica dela Torre, Dream Detective by Mikaela Lucido, illus. by Joanna Cacao (Annick Press) >>> sequel to Danica dela Torre, Certified Sleuth
The Experiment by Catherine Egan (Scholastic) >>> The Factory
I Won’t Feel This Way Forever by Kim Spencer (Orca Book Publishers)
The Love Song of Mr. Byrd by Philippa Dowding, illus. by Caroline Clarke (DCB Young Readers) 
The Museum of Willa and Wade by Judith Henderson, illus. by Sara Sarhangpour (Kids Can Press) >>> Willa and Wade 2 
Not-So-Sweetie Pie by Maureen Fergus, illus. by Alexandra Bye (Tundra Books) >>> Weenie Featuring Frank and Beans 3
One Beaded Earring by Pat Lamondin Skene, illus. by Natalie Laurin (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Orca Echoes
Over the Moon by Paul Gilligan (Tundra Books) >>> Pluto Rocket 4
A Promise to Protect by Nikki Bergstresser (Wandering Fox)
A Recipe for Robbery by Colleen Nelson, illus. by Peggy Collins (Pajama Press) >>> Mystery at the Biltmore
Robot Island by Cary Fagan (Tundra Books)
Standoff by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch (Scholastic) >>>Book 2 in Kidnapped from Ukraine series
 
Young Adult
Blood Letters by Ariel Gordon and GMB Chomichuk (Yellow Dog)
The Dark Cove Theatre Society by Sierra Marilyn Riley (Annick Press)
Qallupilluit: The Takers of Children by Louise Flaherty and Neil Christopher, illus. by Megan Kyak-Monteith (Inhabit Media) >>> bilingual edition in English and Inuktitut
Red Flags and Butterflies by Sheryl Azzam (DCB Young Readers) 
A Riddle of Thorns by Sarena Nanua and Sasha Nanua (Holiday House)
Wavelength by Cale Plett (Groundwood Books)
We Bury Nothing by Kate Blair (DCB Young Readers) 
What Friends Are For by Harriet Zaidman (Wandering Fox)

Non-Fiction 
15 Hockey Legends of Canada by Laurent Turcot, illus. by Sabrina Gendron (Auzou Canada)
Adventures in Math: How to Level Up Your Math Game by Carleigh Wu, illus. by Sean Simpson (Kids Can Press)
Arctic Land Mammals (Inhabit Media) >>> Animals Illustrated series
The Buzz on Wild Bees: The Little-Known Pollinators that Keep Our Planet Humming by Kira Vermond, illus. by June Steube (Owlkids Books)
Can Posters Kill?: Antisemitic Propaganda and World War II by Jerry Faivish with Kathryn Cole (Second Story Press)
Feeling Your Feelings: The Head-to-Toe Science of Emotions by Tanya Lloyd Kyi, illus. by Phil Nicholls (Kids Can Press)
The Gland Factory: A Tour of Your Body's Goops, Juices, and Hormones by Rachel Poliquin, illus. by Clayton Hanmer (Greystone Kids)
How to Know a Crow: The Biography of a Brainy Bird by Candace Savage, illus. by Rachel Hudson (Greystone Kids)
Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault by Megan Clendenan, illus. by Brittany Cicchese (Charlesbridge)
Maple Syrup Mysteries by Cathy Rondina, illus. by Giri Tuhin (Fitzhenry & Whiteside) 
Nightmare Jones by Shannon Bramer, illus. by Cindy Derby (Groundwood Books) >>> poems
Run the World Like a Girl: International Women Leaders by Kate Graham (Second Story Press) >>>  Do You Know My Name? 5
Separated from Santo: The True Story of an Italian-Canadian Internee during the Second World War by Brian Barazzuol, illus. by Cam Drysdale, coloured by Alex Doftoreanu (Heritage House) >>> graphic novel
Smart Machines: How AI is Changing Our World by Helaine Becker, illus. by Pui Yan Fong (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Orca Think 19
Soup's On Around the World by Denyse Waissbluth, illus. by Chelsea O'Byrne (Greystone Kids) >>> Taste the World series
The Story and Science of Hope by Andrea Curtis, illus. by Ana Suárez (Groundwood Books)
Things That Stink by Judith Graves (Nimbus Publishing) 
This Is Orange: A Field Trip Through Color by Rachel Poliquin, illus. by Julie Morstad (Candlewick)
Uliaq's Amazing Dinosaurs from the North: Hadrosaur by Kelly Ward-Wills, illus. by Amiel Sandland and Emma Pedersen (Arvaaq Press)
Victoria Chung: A Doctor of Change by Haley Healey, illus. by Kimiko Fraser (Heritage House) >>> Trailblazing Canadians 5
Whitey's Journey: A Four-legged Soldier in the Second World War by Kelsey Lonie, illus. by Renee Hansen (Heritage House)


 
NOVEMBER
Picture Books 
Danger Eagle by Jesse Wente, illus. by Shaikara David (Tundra Books)
Eddy's Shadow Puppets by Karina Zhou (Arsenal Pulp Press)
If You Go Walking by Erin Alladin, illus. by Miki Sato (Pajama Press)
I'm A Big Rig! by Nancy Cohen, illus. by Claire Manning (Nimbus Publishing)
It Snowed by Meaghan Smith (Nimbus Publishing)
Kai and the Golem by Carol Matas, illus. by Elisa Vavouri (Kar-Ben Publishing) 
Levi's Gift by Kathy Stinson, illus. by Ellie Arscott (Nimbus Publishing)
Sketch by Jacques Goldstyn (Greystone Kids) 
Tilley's Tail by Shannon Melanson, illus. by Danelle Vautour (Monster House Publishing)

Early Readers and Chapter Books
The First Cat in Space and the Baby Pirate’s Revenge by Mac Barnett, illus. by Shawn Harris (HarperAlley)
If the Shoe Fits by Sarah Mlynowski, illus. by Bethany Crandall (Scholastic Graphix) >>> Whatever After Graphic Novel 2
 
Young Adult 
Part Time Girl by Adriaan Brae (Renaissance Press)
Turn to Burn by Michael F. Stewart (Renaissance Press)
(n.b. I didn't forget the book covers here. No images of the book covers were available at this time.)
 
Non-Fiction 
All of Us by Manon Gauthier (Running the Goat, Books and Broadsides)
Burst Your Bubble: Outsmart the Algorithms and See What You're Missing by Joyce Grant, illus. by Jan Dolby (Owlkids Books) 

 
 
DECEMBER
Picture Books 
The Language of Birds by Jon-Erik Lappano, illus. by Zach Manbeck (Random House Studio)
We Always Had Wings by Jess X. Snow (Make Me a World)
Where There Is Love: A Story in African Proverbs by Shauntay Grant, illus. by Letícia Moreno (Penguin Workshop)

n .b. December is a month with few scheduled releases. If you know of others, please let me know.

 
COMING SOON IN 2026   
Picture Books 
The Bear Fairy by Paul Coccia, illus. by Fred Blunt (Tundra Books)
Cantaloupe and HoneyDo Take the Bus by Mike Boldt (Dial Books) 
A Friend Is a Friend Is a Friend by Sara O'Leary, illus. by Qin Leng (Groundwood Books) >>> Who We Are series
Grandma, Cho Cho and Me by Morgan Christie, illus. by Paulica Santos (Groundwood Books)
How Do You Earn? by Cinders McLeod (Nancy Paulsen Books) >>> A Moneybunny Book
I'm Busy by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
My Language Is a Garden by E. G. Alaraj, illus. by Rachel Wada (Orca Book Publishers)
My Subway Runs by James Gladstone, illus. by Pierre Pratt (Groundwood Books)
Savor the Day by Shari Green, illus. by Gabby Grant (Sleeping Bear Press) 
Still Friends by Troy Wilson, illus. by Mike Deas (Orca)
We All Love by Julie Flett (Greystone Kids)
We Can’t Wait to Hold You by Richard Van Camp (Orca Book Publishers)
West Coast Wild Seashore Hide and Seek by Deborah Hodge, illus. by Karen Reczuch (Groundwood Books)
Your Truck by Jon Klassen (Candlewick) >>> Your Things series 

Early Readers and Chapter Books 
Cracking Up by Samantha Bee (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) 
Forever Rogue by Lisa McMann (G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers) >>> The Forgotten Five
Meg and Greg: Moose on the Loose by Elspeth Rae and Rowena Rae, illus. by Elisa Gutiérrez (Orca Book Publishers) >>> Meg and Greg 7 phonic stories
Planting Sunshine by Andrée Poulin, illus. by Enzo (Groundwood Books)
The Setback by Lynn Leitch (Pajama Press) 
 
Young Adult 
Busted by Jean Mills (Orca Book Publishers)
The Curse of Heartwood Academy by Marty Chan (Orca Book Publishers)  
No Brainer by Lea Beddia (Orca Book Publishers)
Visions From the Fire by Wanda John-Kehewin, illus. by nicole marie burton (HighWater Press) >>> Dreams 2  
 
Non-Fiction 
The Burrowing Owls of the Prairie Grasslands by Deborah Hodge, illus. by Karen Reczuch (Groundwood Books) >>> Wild by Nature 2
The Cedar Mother by Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson), illus. by Natasha Donovan (HighWater Press) >>> Mothers of Xsan
Gone Forever?: Places to See (and Save) Before They Disappear by Erin Silver, illus. by Xulin Wang (Orca Book Publishers)
The Quiet Hunt: A Poem for Young Foragers by Jean E. Pendziwol, illus. by Risa Hugo (Groundwood Books)
Sticking to the Facts: 10 Ways to Fight Misinformation by Gregor Craigie, illus. by Bithi Sutradhar (Orca Book Publishers)
The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne by Sonya Ballantyne, illus. by Rhael McGregor (HighWater Press) 
 
• 📗 •  📗 •  📗 • ðŸ“—  •  📗 • ðŸ“—📗 • 

I hope you find a title or two or ten that grab your interest and can be added to your TBR pile. (I'm afraid I've found at least a hundred titles I'm interested in, though I will probably only be able to manage reading 50 or 60 books. Apologies to those authors, illustrators, and publishers whose books I will never get the opportunity to read. 😢 )
 
 
Also, if I've missed any books that are set for release in the next six months, or you want me to include something coming up in 2026, just drop a comment below with details (title, author +/- illustrator, publisher, and type of book). I'll be happy to include it. 
 

June 27, 2025

Every Leaf on Every Tree

Written and illustrated by Lauren Soloy
Nimbus Publishing
 978-1-77471-423-2
20 pp.
Ages 0–3
June 2025 
 
How great is a parent's love for their child? For this rabbit, that love is vast, mighty, boundless, and endless. For this family, that love is everything.
From Every Leaf on Every Tree, written and illustrated by Lauren Soloy
In a poetic love song to their baby, this rabbit declares the extent of love they feel. Referring to the wonderful elements of their natural world, that love is extolled profusely. 
And every petal 
     on every flower
And every second 
     in every hour 
It's in the grass and the flowers, the ocean and the sand, and in butterflies, birds, and stars. But it's also in the personal touch and tickle. When a parent loves a child, that love is truly reflected in everything.
From Every Leaf on Every Tree, written and illustrated by Lauren Soloy
Every Leaf on Every Tree is a board book and aimed at the very youngest of our children, and so it will be a lovely baby gift for expectant parents. Lauren Soloy, who is best known to me as an illustrator of books such as Kathy Stinson's A Tulip in Winter, has an impressive collection of picture books in her bibliography. But with Every Leaf on Every Tree, she has become an author-illustrator to me, and one that can put words to her art in a heartfelt way. Every Leaf on Every Tree reads like a love song to a child who may or may not be too young to understand the depth of that affection. Regardless, the reading of this book can begin when a child is still a baby and progress to ages one and two and older and even until they are reading it for themselves. And they will always appreciate the comfort of knowing the magnitude of that closeness.
From Every Leaf on Every Tree, written and illustrated by Lauren Soloy
In addition to the text, Lauren Soloy also illustrated Every Leaf on Every Tree. While it's not always possible as a reader to identify the media the illustrator uses, I found that it was especially challenging to identify Lauren Soloy's medium. The art appears to include paint and pencil, perhaps digital rendering, and even cut-paper. Regardless, Lauren Soloy gives us a picture book in which parent and child are part of each other and a larger world of immense beauty and scope. In their own little world, they are everything. In the world at large, they are one.

June 25, 2025

The Witching Hour

Written by Jennifer Harris
Illustrated by Adelina Lirius
Tundra Books
978-1-77488-440-9
32 pp.
Ages 3-7
June, 2025 
 
For those who read fantasy or believe in the supernatural, the witching hour is that time, late at night, when entities like witches make their appearance. But for this family of witches, the witching hour is a little different: that unique hour that slips in between dinner and sleep when their littlest one is set to be put to bed. For them, this time of fussiness is as chaotic and rowdy as any time when other worldly creatures come out to play or cause mayhem. 
From The Witching Hour, written by Jennifer Harris, illustrated by Adelina Lirius
A lovely family of two witches, a small boy and a baby have just finished their meal when the chaos begins. After its bottle spills, the baby begins to cry which turns to caterwauls and then to crescendos. The little boy covers his ears, the black cat is alarmed, and the two witches start to implement an assortment of tricks to calm the baby.
From The Witching Hour, written by Jennifer Harris, illustrated by Adelina Lirius
They take turns, one rocking the child as they perch on a broom before the other takes it for a ride, bouncing on the broom like a pogo stick. The little boy takes the child in hand and does flying loop-de-loops to soothe the baby. When a wand is finally brought out, an owl from a magical parade of toys is just the thing to quieten the baby. For now, at least.
From The Witching Hour, written by Jennifer Harris, illustrated by Adelina Lirius
There are still routines to follow in that witching hour like baths and diaper changes and again the baby is having none of it. So new tricks come out. Snacks, songs, dancing, and even a bat are brought out to the crying child. The baby might not be amused but her big brother is enjoying everything from the music to the pink poodles and tries to help distract and entertain her.
From The Witching Hour, written by Jennifer Harris, illustrated by Adelina Lirius
As every parent and caregiver will know, the baby will eventually tire itself out–hopefully!–and finally, finally succumb to the exhaustion that caused such mayhem and misery.
 
Bedtime must be a special time for Jennifer Harris as her earlier book, The Keeper of Stars, highlights another getting-a-child-to-bed ritual, though with a far gentler story. But, The Witching Hour, as disquieting as it might seem, is actually a very sweet story about family coming together to help the youngest settle down. And though the strategies this family uses may be a little bit different than those your family might use–after all, very few of us have flying broomsticks and magic wands and bring bats to distract a baby–they are creative and diverse, and this family is willing to try anything. Surprisingly, Jennifer Harris never makes the story ridiculous or uproariously funny. She keeps it charming and familial and affectionate. Any parent or older sibling will understand and feel for this family at this witching hour.
 
Illustrations for The Witching Hour were created by Sweden's Adelina Lirius who used gouache, coloured pencils and digital application to  design a magical home of a wonderful witch family. From the spider web play pen to their hanging herbs and lush yard of fairies, frogs and flowers, Adelina Lirius has given Jennifer Harris's words a playground of colour and fascination.
From The Witching Hour, written by Jennifer Harris, illustrated by Adelina Lirius
 
Anything could happen 
in the witching hour.
 
Jennifer Harris is correct that anything can happen in the witching hour whether in a witches' home or that of a human family. But the aim of calming a baby and bridging the time between eating and sleeping is universal, though the approaches taken can be unique. Still a little magic can always help.

June 23, 2025

This is How a Ball Rolls: The Science of Wobbling, Bouncing, Spinning Balls

Written by Heather Tekavec
Illustrated by Suharu Ogawa
Kids Can Press
978-1-5253-0968-7
32 pp.
Ages 5-8
June 2025 
 
Tell most children you're going to be talking about physics, and you'll hear groans. Tell them that they're going to play with balls, and you'll hear the cheers. So, let them play with the balls and they'll learn about the physics painlessly.

This is no ordinary book of nonfiction. Heather Tekavec, who has written both playful picture books (e.g., Arnold the Super-ish Hero) and books of nonfiction (e.g., Same? Different?), always leads with playfulness, and This is How a Ball Rolls has that same whimsy of text, with art by Suharu Ogawa, to lighten the science basis of how different balls work.

From This is How a Ball Rolls, written by Heather Tekavec, illustrated by Suharu Ogawa
For each type of ball, and Heather Tekavec covers everything from a marble to a tennis ball, a bowling ball and a beach ball, she teases readers with a hint to the type of ball she'll be highlighting in the following double-spread. By doing so, she gets young readers interacting with the text, guessing what the ball will be. For example, before her focus on the marble (see illustration above), she writes,
There is a little ball–
A teeny ball–
A glossy, smooth and swirly ball...
The next pages include a five-line poem filled with appropriate verbs and adjectives for that ball–for the marble, words like "clinking,""plinking," and "trading" are used–and then an information box about the type of ball. Information included may deal with how the ball is used in play, the composition of the balls, and even the physics of wind resistance. (Heather Tekavec extends this information in a section called "The Science of (Wobbling, Bouncing, Spinning) Balls" with discussions about the sphere, elasticity, aerodynamics, gravity, trajectory, drag force and speed along with some fun trivia.
From This is How a Ball Rolls, written by Heather Tekavec, illustrated by Suharu Ogawa
This is How a Ball Rolls is anything but boring science. It's playful and colourful and yet informative. It's even more so because of Suharu Ogawa's digital artwork that is as colourful as the balls which she depicts. The brightness of her art is only secondary to the diversity of her characters and the fun that they have in their play. Because she has to represent each type of ball in the scenes in which it would be used, be it a yoga studio, a beach, or a bowling alley, Suharu Ogawa makes every illustration rich in quirky details to draw the young reader's smile and interest. (I'm especially curious about the animated knitted duck head (?) and ball of yarn.)
From This is How a Ball Rolls, written by Heather Tekavec, illustrated by Suharu Ogawa
I know the audience for This is How a Ball Rolls is listed as five to eight years of age so it would work well with Grade 3 students studying forces, but I'd also use it with older students too. They'll appreciate the fun and the interactive nature of the book, but they'll also take away a lot of science that they can apply to new situations.
Moreover, they'll never look at any ball again as just a play thing. It will be recognized as much more, and they'll have a ball sharing what they've learned. (Pun intended.)

June 21, 2025

Yoga Adventures for Little Explorers

Written by Megan McDougall
Illustrated by Hayley Lowe
Pownal Street Press
978-1-998129-23-2 
32 pp.
Ages 3-5
May 2025 
 
There are so many ways that parents and teachers have been getting little ones into mindfulness practices, including yoga, and Megan McDougall's Yoga Adventures for Little Explorers demonstrates that, with some playful imagination, it can be easy.
From Yoga Adventures for Little Explorers, written by Megan McDougall, illustrated by Hayley Lowe
In rhyming verse, Megan McDougall lets us follow a child and his mother to "try something new" though it's obvious that the child is reluctant.
She smiled at me and gave me a nudge.
Weary at first, I did not want to budge.
But everything changes when they enter a space with other children and their parents, and he is given a very special mat that "if you let it, ignites magic in your mind." With that promise, their class begins, starting with breathing and moving into various poses. The poses may not be labelled as Tree Pose or Mountain Pose, but the children are guided to "grow their roots and stand really tall" or "bring both of my feet down to the ground" to find stillness.
From Yoga Adventures for Little Explorers, written by Megan McDougall, illustrated by Hayley Lowe
As the children move through their poses, the yoga studio morphs into a forest or an ocean shore or even a concert venue for a gorilla rock band. And soon the children are dancing with the apes, and doing poses that have them bending and stretching.

From Yoga Adventures for Little Explorers, written by Megan McDougall, illustrated by Hayley Lowe
Finally, when they are home and the child is settling into sleep, those lessons of calm and stillness take him to a dreamland of new adventures.
From Yoga Adventures for Little Explorers, written by Megan McDougall, illustrated by Hayley Lowe
I know that the intention of books such as Yoga Adventures for Little Explorers is to introduce young readers to yoga and other mindfulness practices but, because BC's Megan McDougall takes the perspective of the child, it becomes something different. It isn't children being told what to do. It's what the child experiences, and every child seems to experience it differently, as evident from the variety of their poses. There's an honesty about a story in which a child is dragged to a new place and their trepidation at what they might expect. But then the yoga class becomes an exercise of the imagination as the boy senses places and animals around him. These imaginings add to his experiences and enhance his yoga practice. And any child who reads this book can try these same poses because a double-spread appended to the story displays a great ape doing 15 different stances.
 
Hayley Lowe, an illustrator from BC, uses different media including pencil and digital application to create art that reflects the authenticity of the physical poses but also the fanciful imaginings of a child. Her colours, like her lines and shapes, are soft and cheerful, and any reader would feel welcomed into the yoga studio and the landscapes envisioned.
 
If you're a teacher or a parent who'd like to get your children into yoga, I recommend Yoga Adventures for Little Explorers as a playful introduction and then as an informative guide to the practice. It's a study that little ones, like their adult counterparts, will appreciate for the positive impact on the body and the mind.

June 18, 2025

My Nova Scotia

Written by Lindsay Ruck
Illustrations by Martyna Czub
Nimbus Publishing
978-1-77471-439-3
32 pp.
Ages 3-7
June 2025 
 
Do not think that My Nova Scotia is a travelogue about one of Canada's Atlantic provinces. Instead, read and see about a land and people much loved and spirited and diverse through the words and art of two Nova Scotians, Lindsay Ruck and Martyna Czub.
From My Nova Scotia, written by Lindsay Ruck, illustrated by Martyna Czub
In a lovely, melodic rhyming text, Lindsay Ruck shows us her Nova Scotia. It's a setting of ocean breezes, rustling trees, apples, berries, and a rolling sea. But beyond what is seen in its landscape, it is a place of heritage and people. It is Mi'kma'ki and a land of diverse cultures, from Black Loyalists and refugees and Acadians to those who celebrate the Lunar New Year. They are a people who celebrate with music and dance, food and family. They are a people who have big dreams and share their stories.
 
We work as one and together we rise. 

From My Nova Scotia, written by Lindsay Ruck, illustrated by Martyna Czub
Lindsay Ruck tells of a Nova Scotia of the past and of the present, and honours all that it is with her words.
 
My Nova Scotia honours our past
Our cultures are rich and our heritage vast 

But added to Lindsay Ruck's words is the watercolour artwork of Martyna Czub which transports young readers to an ethereal Nova Scotia of colour and vibrancy, solitude and contemplation. She gives us lively scenes of Lunar New Year celebrations and ceilidhs, large family meals and the gardening and harvesting of food. Martyna Czub also takes us to quiet places of hiking in the woods and travelling on the water. But her depictions of these places and people are so emotive through her choice of colours and strokes of her brushes that Martyna Czub imbues her art with heart and a calming spirit of devotion. Both Martyna Czub and Lindsay Ruck give us a lovely view of Nova Scotia and yet each finds their own way to reveal its charm.
From My Nova Scotia, written by Lindsay Ruck, illustrated by Martyna Czub
I know that some readers may see My Nova Scotia as a regional book that could only be appreciated by locals, but you'd be mistaken. It's been years since I visited Nova Scotia so my appreciation of its beauty and people and all it has to offer a tourist is very limited. But, even if I had never been to this Atlantic province, I would get a true impression of its wonder.  And as I read the text, I was the hearing the melody of "Farewell to Nova Scotia," not because it had a similar tale but because they are both infused with love for a land. My Nova Scotia may be that of Lindsay Ruck and Martyna Czub, but it is an all-embracing admiration for a land unique in place and people that could only be Nova Scotia.
From My Nova Scotia, written by Lindsay Ruck, illustrated by Martyna Czub

June 16, 2025

Steve, a Rare Egg

Written and illustrated by Kelly Collier
Kids Can Press
978-1-5253-1300-4
64 pp.
Ages 6-9
June 2025 
 
Steve the Horse, being the pretty exceptional horse that he is (Steve, a Pretty Exceptional Horse), has starred in a number of picture books but now is being introduced to young readers in an early graphic novel series, of which Steve, a Rare Egg is the second. It's just another way for author-illustrator Kelly Collier to shine a light on this remarkable and unique and singular character. Steve is not just a horse. He's a headliner.
From Steve, a Rare Egg, written and illustrated by Kelly Collier
Steve is just trotting along, singing as he does, when he spots some remnants of a party in a trash can. There's cake and a party hat, and then he's distracted by an errant red balloon trapped beneath a stick. It's red and intriguing and Steve calls it fabulous, though his friends Gopher and Bob the Raccoon warn him to be careful. But it's Steve and his argument that it's a law that nothing fabulous is dangerous overrides all. Soon the friends are trying to name it, study its form and figure out what it is. And Steve is taking control and ownership of a red balloon he decides is an egg. In fact, it's a very rare Thingamabob Horse Egg and its parents must be found.
From Steve, a Rare Egg, written and illustrated by Kelly Collier
But until the parents are found, they must babysit this rare egg. That includes putting it down for a nap before Steve's "snuggum-wuggums becomes a cranky-panky." (p. 29) Young readers will know it's a balloon but will laugh as Steve decides that his rare egg is about to hatch and he's going to help nurture it, even incubate it, like a "mama horse-chicken." (p. 48) It's not until the inevitable happens that Steve accepts that the red thingamabob was not egg. But will Steve accept that his scientific process of observations and hypotheses and conclusions might not be the strongest?
From Steve, a Rare Egg, written and illustrated by Kelly Collier
Kelly Collier makes a simple discovery of an unknown object into an informal science experiment with a wild result. Steve and his friends make observations, hypothesize about the red thing's nature and even give it a name, and, based on those premises, Steve concludes what is needed to happen. Unfortunately, he is mistaken–something Steve rarely accepts–but turns it around to see himself in an ever-positive light. Surprisingly, it's Steve's antics that make Bob the best comedic foil, getting laughs with his composure and his insight. Steve's egocentricity–he always knows best–bring on the laughs but, with Bob and Gopher's as counterpoint, the story of Steve, a Rare Egg is hysterical. Steve is gullible and self-interested, but his pals show more insight and guide him to see different perspectives on the same circumstances. Steve may race ahead with all his ideas, but they rein him in as much as they can to keep him safe emotionally and physically.
 
The story of Steve, a Rare Egg is a funny one and it's all the better with Kelly Collier's digital artwork. She keeps her illustrations uncluttered so that Steve and his friends and the balloon, with only a few key embellishments, like a nest, a blanket and some lost posters, are the focus. That red balloon and the trio tasked to monitor it are everything. Even her choice of colours draw the eye to the white horse and the red balloon, the protagonists (?) of the story.  
 
Through her illustrations and dialogue, Kelly Collier gives young readers a story of colour and humour, and so many laughs, and even a bit of the scientific method. With a horse and a balloon, it's a rare combination but it's one that is successful in its silliness.
 
• • • • • • •
If you want to read more about Steve the Horse and his antics, both in picture book or in early graphic novel, or pre-order his upcoming story, here is a bit about the books in the series:
 
Picture books: 
 
Early graphic novels:
Steve, a Rare Egg (2025)
Steve, Born to Run (coming Sept. 2025)