Several new Fall releases of fiction, nonfiction, picture books came my way. Several titles shine a light on diverse cultures. All but two books (*) are Canadian.
BEAR BY HIMSELF by Geoffrey Hayes, 1976 *
I am drawn to picture books with bear characters and most of these titles are about bear friendships (Bird and Bear by Jarvis, The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland, I Want My Hat Back (Jon Klassen) Geoffrey Hayes little book, with sparse text was written 50 years ago and celebrates a bear is happy to be alone by himself, satisfied with simple pleasures and solitude. (e.g., “He must pause and enjoy: listening to the quiet, , smelling the rain or talking to a river.”). I love this bear. I love this book.
THE BIG BLACK CAT by Sae Kimura / Plumleaf Press
This is a story about a black cat. The black cat loved to eat, and eat, and eat. The more he ate, the bigger he got. Worried that the big black cat might them, the family who owned the cat decided to run away. And so the big black cat with a rumbing tummy set out in the cold dark city, searching for food. Will the cat cause trouble? Will he find a safe home to live in? What does the big black cat have to do with a burger shot. This is an amusing adventure storye told in a clear narrative style with fantastic pictures of a BIG Cat, lots of food, and smashing burger patties, Sae Kimura is a wonderful author/illustrator who, according to her bio ‘loves to tell stories with art.” Mission accomplished.
COUNTING BUGS: Aambe Gindaasdaa Mnidooshag by Gretchebn Sands-Gamble; illus. Storm Angecomb / Second Story Press
This is a straightforward 1-10 counting book written in English and Ojibwe. In this book Mishoomis and Nokomis take a walk through a garden and search for different types of bugs (e.g., 3 spiders, 4 bees, 5 dragonflies.) The bold artwork that fills each spread is colourful, dynamic inviting young readers to explore and inspect different types of bugs.
GOODBYE, KOI by Jack Wong
Award-winning author/ illustrator Jack Wong (When You Can Swim) has created another treasure of a picture book in this story about the change that happens when families move from place to place. As his father prepares to pack up to leave home, a young boy just say good bye to teh koi fish he’s always cared for. Will the fish be lonely? Will they be safe andhappy in their new found home? Wil lthey remember the boy? Jack Wong based this story on his family moving from Hong Kong to Canada when he was six-years old. He researched and practiced the skill of Chinese brush painting to create flowing brushstrokes that convey watery, swimmy images of the koi as well as line line sketches showing a family preparing to emigrate. Goodbye Koi is a gem of a story about saying goodbye to a pet, to a home and making the most of transitions and change.
Excerpt
“People say that fish don’t remember much, but if they could…would remembering their old home make them feel lonely, too?”
100 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT SCHOOL by Amy Schwartz; illus. Dasha Tolstikovan *
This book had me at the words ‘love about school’. The book does exactlywhat the title suggests by listing 100 school day activities that are enjoyed in many early years classrooms. Children will connect with a host of the items mentioned throughout (e..g, name tags, coat hooks, backpacks, yummy snacks, storytime, water play, Teachers might consider things that they do do and could do (should do?) The text is presented in simple rhyming couplets (grow ing plants/ simple dance; water break/ patty cake; easy readers/line leaders.) .Disclaimer: rhyming books aren’t my favourite kind of read aloud) Dasha Tolstikova’s colourful animated picture are terrific snapshots of kids working, playing and learning. Teachers can begin by having children brainstorm things that they love about school (and perhaps the class can make their own “I Love School” Collaborative book.. A simple idea. But nothing’s wrong with simple. Also, this book provides wonderful examples of rhyming words which can help grow children’s decoding skills and spelling power.
POH POH’S SWORD by Julia Hune-Brown; illus. Hayley Lowe / Second Story Press
Swirling and leaping to the sound of Chinese opera music, Julie’s grandmother – her poh poh delights in dancing with a sword. This book is based on a true story of a young girl who left her home, and all she knew to travel from China to North America. A treasured sword Poh Poh brought with her was not used to fight but gave her strength to force a new life for her family. This is an inspirational story about Asian heritage, generational relationships, family, art and home.
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SPOTLIGHT ON GROUNDWOOD BOOKS, New Fall Releases, 2026
AH MA’S HOME by Gillian Sze; illus. Leah Hong (Asian Identity, Immigrant Experience)
Ah Ma has many stories to share about her homeland in China. Stores of a flwing river, tofu-eating talking birds, egg-laing dragons can not compare to life in her new home North America. These stories however bring significance to memories, to the immigrant experience. to understanding of Asian culture and to the importance of connecting generations through stories. These stories matte. Ah Ma’s Home is a beautifully told, beautifully illustrated picture book.
BOOGY & TEE AND TWINKLE & HEW by Kathy Stinson; illus. Mark Hoffmann
Kathy Stinson does a brilliant hitchhiking on Edward Lear’s classic poem “The Owl and the Pussycat”. Join Boogy & Tee on their vacation sailing on a luxurious yacht. Take caution when Twinkle & Hew, sailing on their fishing dory searching for their next meal, encounter a dangerous storm.
Who’s to help them in the dangerous sea?
Perhaps they’ll be rescued by Boogy & Tee.
Stinson tells the story in rollicking, rhythm and rhyme, and rhyme
Mark Hoffman tells the story in artwork sublime, sublime.
This book gets five stars from me, from me! Yahoo! Yahoo!
MAKADE ASIN BLACK STONE Story by Darey Whitecrow & Cail Judy: illus. Maya McKibbin: Translated by Pamela Johnson (Indigenous Identity)
In the opening pages of this picture book, readers are presented with the question: “How do you stop being afraid?” When a boy is instructed by his grandfather to find the black stone that will help reduce the power of his fears. The boy sets on a quest to find the treasured stone. The journey through jungle, ocean and desert is conveyed through fairly limited verbal text but striking, dynamic often full-page illustrations. Makade Asin/ Black Stone is told in both English and Anishinaabemowin. Note: An author’s note is featured at the end of the book that outlines Darcy Whitecrow’s connection to the Ojibwe story that inspired this book.
MELANIE AND THE WHEELIE FRIENDS SAVE THE DAY by Dorothy Ellen Palmer; illus. Maria Sweeney (Physical challenges)
Many children require mobility devices to function in today’s society. When Matthew and Melanie discover that they can’t get their scooters inside the neighbourhood bakery the organize a initiative that involves their Wheelie Friends to raise funds for a new ramp that will provide them with access and safety. This picture book, a sequel to The Scooter Twins is an important story that helps readers think carefully about Ableism as well as activism.
MOOZ MOOSE by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley; Translated by Mary Ann Corbiere
‘Mooz’ means moose in Anishinaabemowin. In this amusing and informative story we meet Mooz, who is just a cat…or is she? Mooz’s behaviour and characteristics suggest that she is a combination of many animals. The author cleverly uses similes to compare Mooz to other animals (She looks like a lynx,; She’s as small as a marten.; She races like a hare and can swing her tail like a horse.) The verbal text is presented in both English and Anishinaabemowin and the bold, colourful full-page illustrations that accompany the words depict the many guises of Mooz the cat while helping young readers think of different animal characteristics and behaviours. This is a delightful resource that has a special appeal because of the choice of vocabulary (especially verbs and adverbs), the use simile imagery and the description of animal movements and talents. This title is a follow up to the award winning book Boozhoo / Hello.
SHOUT OUT
MY NAME by Marilda Castanha Translated from the Portuguese by Jane Springer (Identity, Belonging and Palestinian Culture)
My Name by Marilda Castanha, a Brazilian author and illustrator. This book is a stellar publication that celebrates names – ‘whether happy or sad, free or not, everything that exits (or doesn’t exist) has a name’. Early in the book tCastanha raises three questions: ‘Why do i have this name?’ ‘What does it mean?’ ‘Is there a motive behind it?’ and these questions can motivate readers to think of narratives connected to their own names. As the story unfolds, a Palestinian child learns from his mother that his name brings serenity and sweetness and his father shares that his name “has bravery, vitality and courage” in it. For the boy, the name holds many memories. ButThe child and his friends, victims of the atrocities of war, write their names everywhere, on their hands and feet, so that they will not be forgotten. This extraordinary book, with extraordinary illustrations in monochromatic. shades of brown, rust and red is, I think, is sure to be at the top of my list of favourite titles released in 2026. It clenched my heart. It knocked me out. This is a must, must book to be shared.