OH, CANADA! + 1 / Picture books, Fall 2025

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This posting presents a list of great new Canadian picture books (plus one American title.)  Shout Out to Groundwood Press for recent releases centred on culture, identity  and diversity. Special Shout Out to 3 recent Canadian picture book award winners. I think we’ll see some of these 2025 releases on award lists next year.*

 

THE DAY THE BOOKS DISAPPEARED by Joanna Ho; Caroline Kusin Pritchard; Illus. Dan Santat / American

Arnold loves to read about airplanes and can’t seem to understand why any of his classmates would want to read about tomatoes, or ostriches or submarines. When he realizes he can POOF! make the books disappear. How will he ever bring the books back and let everyone read whatever they want to read. An amusing story about the freedom to read and the importance of choosing books that personally interest us, without the need for defending our tastes.  Ho and Pritchard tell an amusing story and Dan Santat reliably adds humour and delight to each page. 

 
I WILL NOT BE SCARED by Jean-Francois Senechal; Illus. Simone Rea / Bullying *
This is a story about a bunny and his mother. Bunny is scared. When he things about their ‘life before’  where there were people in the streests, hurt people, dead people. The trauma of living through a war has Bunny question his bravery to face life’s challenges. The story is told as conversations between mother and child  (the text is presented as two voices in alternating lines of black and red). Bunny is hesitant to talk about an incident that happened the previous day at school. “Don’t worry. You can tell me when you’re ready,” his mother advises. This is a gentle but strong story about having fears that might consume us.  Although Bunny is hesitant to talk about the disturbing incident (bullying) thinking he doesn’t have the courage to face up to his fears. Bunny and mother have a warm tender relationship and when ready, Bunny reveals what;s been bothering him. This is a special story about opening up and talking about our feelings. The illustrations are presented in somewhat sombre tones and leave readers to gain information from the portrayal of animals.  This is a compassionate, eloquent  narrative  about being brave, opening up to reveal what is going on inside of us and finding comfort in talking and listening. 
 
Excerpt
 
I wish I was braver.
Why is that bunny?
Then I wouldn’t cry.
Just because you cry doesn’t mean you’re not brave. 
 
 
LITTLE SHOES by David A Robertson; Illus. Maya McKibbin / Indigenous Identity / SHOUT OUT! *
 
Little Shjoes is a fine fine book bu a  fine fine author and a fine fine illustrator.  Young James awakes in the middle of moonlit nights with questions spinning in his head. He heads off to his mother and is comforted with explanations of Gravity, Night Sky Stories and constellations and residential schools.  When his Kokom accompanies James on a march and takes him to a memorial, of shoes, the young boy learns aboutrhis kokum’s experiences as a young girl in a residential school.  David A. Robertson tells a comforting story filled with curiosity, family love, history and moonlight. T Maya McKibbon’s dream like images fill the pages with glowing images and reveal the artist’s talent as an animator. Questions are threaded throughout this picture book (e.g., “Mom, he asked, “who cuddled Kokom and her sister at residential school when they woke up in the night.”  a Little Shoes perfectly sets a path for answering those questions about the sky, unmarked graves and ‘the internal meanings of everything” (Sendak).  

Author’s note:

“We are all on a journey, and we are all learning. I certainly don’t know all he answers, but I am sure of one thing. The key is empathy. And three is nothing better to build empathy than a story.”
 
 
WAIT LIKE A SEED by Erin Alladin; Illus. Tara Anderson / nonfiction
 
This lovely picture book follows children observing the life cycle of milkweed and its connection to monarch butterflies that depend on them. The book shines a light on the concept of waiting and is a wonderful contribution of a science nonfiction picture book that explores the wonders of nature. The text of Wait Like a Seed  is presented in a simple  rhyming pattern  repeated throughout and Tara Anderson’s colourful illustrations add to the joy and wonder of gardens. Drawings and information on plant and butterfly cycles that appear at the conclusion of the story are special features of this publication. 
 

Wait like a seed,

Cozy and small.

Wait like a seed

‘Til the spring rains fall.

 

NEW FROM GROUNDWOOD BOOKS

Recent titles from this publisher celebrate diversity, culture and belonging through engaging stories with engaging characters. Hooray for Groundwood!

 

HOME FOR MARGARET by Denise Davy; illus. Bergere Delaporte

Emma1’s mother, a social worker, introduces her daughter to Margaret, a homeless person living in a tent in the wood. Showing kindness, Emma gifts Margaret with a red hat, a scarf and mittens to keep Margaret warm during the winter months. Come springtime, there is no sign of Margaret, and Emma is concerned that she will not see Margaret  again.  Home for Margaret is a book that  provides readers with insights into the world of homelessness and think about reasons why some people don’t have homes (losing jobs, health problems, no support services) and the possibility that they may come  find  place called home. This picture gook is a heartwarming  story – a true story – that develops empathetic understanding of the plight of those who live outside without shelter.   

 

THE LAST LAST by Wendy J. Whittingham; illus. Brianna McCarthy

When a young girl’s family is moving from their Island Home, a young girl is reluctant to leave things behind (“My stomach quivers like it’s full of hummingbirds.”). On the last day before departing, the girl takes a journey to help her preserve special ‘last last’ memories of the surroundings she grew up with: the cricket pitch, sugarcane, sweet corn, barking dogs, the tzee-tzee of a blackbird, salty air, a swirly shell. Whittingham effectively captures the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of the left-behind Caribbean island. For this girl (and many readers), a new home in a big city is the beginning of new firsts, new memories.  The Last Last is  a story of cherished memories from our past and new experiences in a new country. This is a special story about ‘moving on’  – especially when emigrating.

 

MY STREET REMEMBERS by Karen Krossing; illus. Cathie Jamieson / SHOUT OUT / nonfiction *

This nonfiction picture book traces the history of one North American city street from over 14 000 years ago to the present. The street remembers “everyone who  travels our land now and everyone who once did.” The book carries readers through generations of First Peoples who lived off the land and the change that happened with the descent of the White settlers. The narrative is brilliantly framed by a timeline of events that capture the essence of time passing. The full-page spreads illustrated by Anishinaabe artist Cathie Jamieson exquisitely capture the people. places and things of the street’s history. An appendix outlines a brief history of  a street adding information to what has appeared in the verbal and visual text that tells the story of a street’s ‘memories’. 

My Street Remembers is a must-read* in classrooms because…

1.It illuminates the Social Studies curriculum by outlining the unfolding history of a land, past to present. 

2.The text feature of timeline captions help readers to consider the passing of time.

3. The detailed visual  images within each of the quality illustrations brilliantly conveys significant information.

4. It invites readers to think about the streets / the communities they live in, perhaps leading them to investigate the history of those locations, i.e., What might your street remember?

5. *For me, this is the very best picture book that brings to life the message of land acknowledgements that invite us to remember and respect all those who lived on the Traditional Territories of many Nations. 

 

A SINGLE DREADLOCK  by Xaiver Michael Campbell; illus. Eugenie Fernandes

In this delightful picture book we meet Lovie a young lad who moved from Jamaica to Newfoundland with his dads. All seems to be going well, except no one is able to tame Lovies’ curls as good as his Grandma could with hair-taming grease. Hair care is problematic when his hair dreads in one spot. Lovie enjoys the single dreadlock up until the kids at school make fun of him. Louie is an endearing character whose story helps young readers to that it’s important to believe in yourself.  Eugenie Fernandes beautifully  captures the setting of both Jamaica and Spruce Cove, Newfoundland as well as the joyous spirit and of the young boy (WOW! to the full-page image with Livie’s exploding springy hair!). The fact that Lovie has two dads along with his Jewish heritage are rather subtle elements in this lovely story about family and identity. 

 

WORDS MATTER: The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl, and the White Rose Resistance. Words: Anita Fitch Pazner; Art by Sophie Casson / nonfiction, free verse, picture book / ages 10 +

The White Rose Resistance was a German student movement that spoke out against the Nazis during World War II. Words and leaflets were the ammunition used by the members of the Resistance who worked in secret  to plan the spreading of the word, even though it meant that there lives were at risk.  Believing in the goodness that was inherent in the souls of German citizens and believing in the right to freedom of speech in fearful times, brother and sister, Hans and Sophie Scholl were instrumental members and eventual leaders  of the White Rose Resistance. Words Matter is a brilliant hybrid of a publication –  historical fiction, biography, free verse format. vividly strong art work throughout – making this a powerful legacy to words:Words, you see, are beautiful; Words you see, spread truth: Words, you see, have consequences; Words, you see, matte

 

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SHOUT OUT: WINNER!!

Congratulations to Thao Lam winner of 2025 Kirkus Prize ($50 000) for her sensational book Everybelly.

EVERYBELLY by Thao Lam 


Everybody has a belly. Bellies may be small, big, flat, or shy. Some bellies grow, some bellies make great tables, some bellies feel like home. In this terrific picture book, artist Thao Lam uses coloured textured papers to illustrate a cast of characters each with a unique story, each with a unique belly (i.e., tattooed, stretch marks, six-pack, freckled, squishy, wobbly etc.). Readers view the world of bellies through the eyes of young girl, Maddie has a unique perspective on ‘everybelly’ that  gathers together in the community pool. Why a wonderful story about self-acceptance by the author  who shares her the pride she has for her own full belly! What a wonderful tribute to the diversity of the human body! What a wonderful wonderful picture book! Bravo to Thao! Bravo to Groundwood Books! Bravo to bellies!

 

SHOUT OUT: WINNER!!

MAD AT DAD by Janie Hao

On Oct 4, this picture book was announced the winner of the CBC Children’s Kids Reads

A young girl is MAD at her dad. She really is MAD. She then feels BAD. She feels SAD realizing she doesn’t really like being MAD and tries everything to help her be less MAD (counting, drawing, deep breathing). Eventually the DAD that she is MAD at helps her feel better. The words and pictures in this book explode off the page and , along with the lift-the-flap construct, seem to punctuate the angry feelings of this young girl. This is a great interactive picture book that beyond being entertaining, helps young readers think about their frustrating emotions and how to deal with them. I’m so glad, Janie Hao wrote Mad at Dad. Congratulations, Janie Hao on being voted a kids favourite. 

 

SHOUT OUT: WINNER!!

Marilyn Baillie Picture Prize ($20 000) Canadian Children’s Book Centre

SOS WATER by Yayo

Any book that can help young readers think about climate change and their part in taking care of the environment is worth sharing.  This picture book tells the story of a sailor named Lalo and a goldfish named Rosa in search of a safe place in the world for Rosa to be safe. However, every place they visit from the North Pole to tropical jungles, from deserts to Paris is  is strewn with plastic bottles. The cover illustration is spectacular (Lolo rowing is rowing a boat in a sea of thousands of plastic bottles.  Simple text, humour, imagination and  a thoughtful message about recycling  and glorious illustrations (often comic like) help to make SOS Water  is a treasure of a picture book.  This book is a winner!  Thank you, Yayo.

I dreamed I had magical powers to clean the world.

“What can I do? ” I asked the sea.

 

RUNNERS UP

> I’M AFRAID, SAID THE LEAF by Danielle Daniel; Illus. Matt Jame

> MAD AT DAD by Janie Hao

> A FACE IS A POEM bny Julie Morstad

> IT BEARS REPEATING by Tanya Tagek, Illus. C. Putuk

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2025 CCBC Book Awards Celebrate
Excellence in Literature for Young People
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Toronto (October 27, 2025)—The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is excited to announce the winners for seven of its children’s book awards. 

Tonight’s winners include:

  • Hummingbird / Aamo-binashee, written and illustrated by Jennifer Leason, Anishinaabemowin translation by Norman Chartrand and Jennifer Leason (Orca Book Publishers), won the Richard Allen Chase Memorial Award ($2,500).
  • The Headmasters, written by Mark Morton (Shadowpaw Press), won the Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy ($5,000).
  • Alterations, written and illustrated by Ray Xu (Union Square Kids), won the Jean Little First-Novel Award ($5,000).
  • Age 16, written and illustrated by Rosena Fung (Annick Press), won the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award ($5,000).
  • Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams, written by Shari Green (Andrews McMeel Publishing), won the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People ($5,000).
  • Meet Jim Egan, written by Elizabeth MacLeod, illustrated by Mike Deas (Scholastic Canada), won the inaugural Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction.
  • Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the prize for the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award ($20,000) was bestowed upon author-illustrator Yayo for SOS Water (Tradewind Books).