Welcome to my obsession with children’s books–especially the ones that deal with everyday challenges in a fun and compelling way. I’ll share old classics, new gems, and everything in between to help support you and your kids (or just your kids if they like to read solo). Sign up and you’ll get my top-pick resources, delivered to your inbox each month on the full and new moon.
Contrary Mary Anita Jeram (Candlewick Press, 1995)
Have you been waking up in the morning feeling contrary lately? Do you find your child wants to wear their clothes backwards some days? Mary’s a sweet little mouse, who wants to do everything backwards and upside down on this particular day. She eats dinner for breakfast, rides her bicycle… Read More
The Girl and the Wolf Katherena Vermette (Theytus Books Ltd., 2019)
Have you ever felt scared, lost and unsure of what to do? The girl has wandered away from her mother in the woods, only to be met by a tall grey wolf with white teeth. The girl is wearing a red dress, but this wolf isn’t a scary wolf. Katherena… Read More
I Am Love: A Book of Compassion Susan Verde (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2019)
When you or a friend are feeling hurt, afraid, sad or angry, what do you do? Ask yourself, “What can I do to help let the light back in?” “I put my hands on my heart and listen. And that is where I find the answer.” Susan Verde and… Read More
You Are Never Alone Elin Kelsey (Owlkids Books Inc., 2019)
You are never alone. The natural world looks after you and provides you with gifts every day. How does the earth provide for us? This big beautiful planet is alive, generously creating water, food, air, trees, rainbows, and an abundance of gifts. When you’re feeling alone, it’s essential to sense… Read More
Be You! Peter H. Reynolds (Orchard Books, 2020)
Even though life can feel overwhelming right now—it’s okay to celebrate your differences. Be a free thinker. Discover your own answers. Remember to be you. “Each day is a new chance to be more you.” Peter Reynolds does it again. This time he’s encouraging us (kids and adults)… Read More
Surviving the City Tasha Spillett and Natasha Donovan (HighWater Press, 2019)
Let’s wake up to this National crisis and honour the missing, and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. No more stolen sisters. In Surviving the City, two first nation teens Miikwan (Anishinaabe) and Dez (Inninew) navigate the challenges of being Indigenous girls living in the city of Winnipeg. Dez’s… Read More
The Day of the Dead / El Dia de los Muertos Bob Barner (Holiday House, 2010)
It’s time to pray, remember, share memories and celebrate our loved ones from October 31st to November 2nd. We celebrate our ancestors on the Day of the Dead. “Mark a path for the spirits with petals of flowers, we dance, sing and remember the loved ones for hours.”… Read More
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf Lois Ehlert (Scholastic Inc., 1991)
The leaves are changing colours (here in the Northern Hemisphere). It’s time to cozy up with your little one to learn about trees, leaves and the changing seasons. I love all of Lois Ehlert’s books and this is no exception. They are brightly coloured collage picture stories about nature and… Read More
Sulwe Lupita Nyong’o (Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2019)
Sulwe was born the colour of midnight and didn’t look like her family at all. She desperately wants to change how she looks to be like her sister whose skin is lighter. When a shooting star takes her on a magical journey in the night sky, everything she sees and… Read More
This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action and Do the Work Tiffany Jewell (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 2020)
It’s time to wake up and take action—individually and globally. If you want to learn how to resist racism, you need to read this book. “In a racist society it’s not enough to be non racist we must be anti-racist” -Angela Davis This book breaks down the big work of… Read More