New Titles

The great dinosaur sleepover

Bailey, Linda, 1948-


Jake loves dinosaurs, so with his birthday coming up, he knows just what kind of party he wants -- a dinosaur sleepover! Dino games, dino balloons, dino cake, dino movies. Dino everything! But when the day of the party arrives his friends all come down with the flu, and the party seems to be on the edge of extinction. Then, in the middle of the night, Jake hears a strange noise and goes to investigate. To his surprise, he finds some new prehistoric party guests right there in his living room! The dinos have invited themselves in to make sure Jake has a birthday he'll never forget.
Date Published:2025

Jake loves dinosaurs, so with his birthday coming up, he knows just what kind of party he wants -- a dinosaur sleepover! Dino games, dino balloons, dino cake, dino movies. Dino everything! But when the day of the party arrives his friends all come down with the flu, and the party seems to be on the edge of extinction. Then, in the middle of the night, Jake hears a strange noise and goes to investigate. To his surprise, he finds some new prehistoric party guests right there in his living room! The dinos have invited themselves in to make sure Jake has a birthday he'll never forget.

Date Published:2025

The most magnificent team

Spires, Ashley,


Captures the emotional ups and downs of working with others in this celebration of collaboration in the creative process. As the girl perseveres through technical and emotional challenges, she learns that mistakes don't mean failure and setbacks are just part of the route to success.
Date Published:2025

Bannock in a hammock

Kelly, Masiana, 1984-


Includes a baked bannock recipe. Big or small, sweet or savoury, with stew or with sprinkles, there are tons of ways to enjoy bannock! This rhyming book explores a favourite Inuit food, and has some fun along the way. What's your favourite way to eat bannock? Try it at home with the included bannock recipe! Written by Inuk/Dene writer Masiana Kelly, this sweet and simple narrative celebrates this delicious food.
Date Published:

Includes a baked bannock recipe. Big or small, sweet or savoury, with stew or with sprinkles, there are tons of ways to enjoy bannock! This rhyming book explores a favourite Inuit food, and has some fun along the way. What's your favourite way to eat bannock? Try it at home with the included bannock recipe! Written by Inuk/Dene writer Masiana Kelly, this sweet and simple narrative celebrates this delicious food.

Date Published:

The girl who loved poutine

Schultz Nicholson, Lorna,


A little girl's deep love for poutine becomes a cherished tradition in her shared birthday celebrations with her father, and this year family members from across Canada add their own regional variations to the beloved dish. Back matter includes information about poutine and a recipe.
Date Published:2024

It's okay, just ask

Carlos, Monique Leonardo,


A child immigrates to a new place with her family, facing uncertainties and fears. Guided by her mother's words: "It's okay, just ask," she approaches challenges with open-mindedness, curiosity, and courage. Each time she chooses to just ask, she learns something new and her understanding of her new home, peers, and neighbors grows deeper.
Date Published:2024

The beat of the dragon boat

Matula, Christina,


A young boy learns about the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival from his grandfather when he attends his first dragon boat race. Includes a recipe for red bean zongzi.
Date Published:2025

Patty dreams

Hohn, Nadia L.,


At his home in Jamaica, August wakes up every morning to the delicious smell of patties. His parents' patty stand used to be popular, but Jamaica is changing. August's friends are leaving, and the patties aren't selling like they used to. Soon, it's his family's turn to say goodbye. Off they fly to cold, snowy Toronto, where August's father takes a job at a cookie factory and comes home too tired to make his beloved patties. One night, after everyone is asleep, August tiptoes into the kitchen and tries to recreate his Daddy's recipe. His attempt inspires his father, and for the first time since they left Jamaica, August wakes up to the smell of fresh patties. Daddy's patties take off, and soon August's parents decide to open a new patty stand with a new name-"Patty Dreams".
Date Published:2025

At his home in Jamaica, August wakes up every morning to the delicious smell of patties. His parents' patty stand used to be popular, but Jamaica is changing. August's friends are leaving, and the patties aren't selling like they used to. Soon, it's his family's turn to say goodbye. Off they fly to cold, snowy Toronto, where August's father takes a job at a cookie factory and comes home too tired to make his beloved patties. One night, after everyone is asleep, August tiptoes into the kitchen and tries to recreate his Daddy's recipe. His attempt inspires his father, and for the first time since they left Jamaica, August wakes up to the smell of fresh patties. Daddy's patties take off, and soon August's parents decide to open a new patty stand with a new name-"Patty Dreams".

Date Published:2025

The friendship blanket

Carranza, Leonarda.


Aurelia moves to Canada and feels out of place at school—until a gift from her Abuelita helps her find comfort and connection.
Date Published:2025

Fox and the mystery letter

Griffiths, Alex G,


"Fox doesn't need any mysterious puzzles, adventures, or memories of his old . . . But he stops himself from finishing the thought. Still, it can't hurt to look at the first clue. Of course, one clue leads to the next: Fox follows arrows in the mud, notes taped to trees, swirling smoke signals, a map from a bottle, and gifts from fellow animals--on the trail of a friendship that once was."--
Date Published:2025

The weedflower

Davaze, Elizabeth,


One day on the gray school playground, Sam notices that, against all odds, a little flower has sprouted in between the concrete and rubber turf. Sam adores the tiny bud. She sings to it, admires it, and watches it bloom into a bright yellow flower that’s ultimately too large to hide. Soon the other students notice it, too. Under their care, the flower thrives, eventually—magically—changing into one perfect fluffball that dances in the wind. But when the adults take notice, they decide it has to go …
Date Published:2024

One day on the gray school playground, Sam notices that, against all odds, a little flower has sprouted in between the concrete and rubber turf. Sam adores the tiny bud. She sings to it, admires it, and watches it bloom into a bright yellow flower that’s ultimately too large to hide. Soon the other students notice it, too. Under their care, the flower thrives, eventually—magically—changing into one perfect fluffball that dances in the wind. But when the adults take notice, they decide it has to go …

Date Published:2024

Mortified

Jackson, Kristy,


Someone secretly signs up Belinda Houle, the school's shyest kid, to audition for a play. Belinda turns to her best friend Sally, who isn't embarrassed by anything and might be a witch, for help. Sally casts a spell for confidence, but it's more of a curse! What follows the spell is bad luck so tragic it would have been funny--if only it wasn't happening to Belinda! More importantly, how can Belinda battle the very thing she hoped the spell would take away: her embarrassment?"
Date Published:2024

Someone secretly signs up Belinda Houle, the school's shyest kid, to audition for a play. Belinda turns to her best friend Sally, who isn't embarrassed by anything and might be a witch, for help. Sally casts a spell for confidence, but it's more of a curse! What follows the spell is bad luck so tragic it would have been funny--if only it wasn't happening to Belinda! More importantly, how can Belinda battle the very thing she hoped the spell would take away: her embarrassment?"

Date Published:2024

Stuntboy, in the meantime

Reynolds, Jason,


Portico Reeves' secret identity as Stuntboy allows him to use his superpower keep everybody safe, but when his superhero parents start fighting a lot he feels the responsibility to save them.
Date Published:2021

Growing pangs

Ormsbee, Kathryn,


Katie knows there’s stuff that makes her different. She’s homeschooled, she has freckles, and her teeth are really crooked. But none of these things matter to Kacey. They’re best friends forever—just like their necklaces say. But when they go to summer camp, Kacey starts acting weird. What happened to the “forever”? And when Katie gets home, she can’t stop worrying. About getting braces. About 6th grade. About friends. She knows tapping three times or opening and closing a drawer won’t make everything better . . . but sometimes it helps stop the worrying. Is something wrong with her? And will anyone want to be friends with her if they find out?
Date Published:2022

Katie knows there’s stuff that makes her different. She’s homeschooled, she has freckles, and her teeth are really crooked. But none of these things matter to Kacey. They’re best friends forever—just like their necklaces say. But when they go to summer camp, Kacey starts acting weird. What happened to the “forever”? And when Katie gets home, she can’t stop worrying. About getting braces. About 6th grade. About friends. She knows tapping three times or opening and closing a drawer won’t make everything better . . . but sometimes it helps stop the worrying. Is something wrong with her? And will anyone want to be friends with her if they find out?

Date Published:2022

The king of jam sandwiches

Walters, Eric, 1957-,


Thirteen-year-old Robbie leads a double life. It's just Robbie and his dad, but no one knows that his dad isn't like most parents. Sometimes he wakes Robbie up in the middle of the night to talk about dying. Sometimes he just leaves without telling Robbie where he's going. Once when Robbie was younger, he was gone for more than a week. Robbie was terrified of being left alone but even more scared of telling anyone in case he was put into foster care. No one can know. Until one day when Robbie has to show the tough new girl, Harmony, around school. Their first meeting ends horribly and she punches Robbie in the face. But eventually they come to realize that they have a lot more in common than they thought. Can Robbie's new friend be trusted to keep his secret?
Date Published:2020

Thirteen-year-old Robbie leads a double life. It's just Robbie and his dad, but no one knows that his dad isn't like most parents. Sometimes he wakes Robbie up in the middle of the night to talk about dying. Sometimes he just leaves without telling Robbie where he's going. Once when Robbie was younger, he was gone for more than a week. Robbie was terrified of being left alone but even more scared of telling anyone in case he was put into foster care. No one can know. Until one day when Robbie has to show the tough new girl, Harmony, around school. Their first meeting ends horribly and she punches Robbie in the face. But eventually they come to realize that they have a lot more in common than they thought. Can Robbie's new friend be trusted to keep his secret?

Date Published:2020

Today I am : 10 stories of belonging


Ten acclaimed BIPOC authors from across Canada explore the theme and concept of home.
Date Published:2024

The ribbon skirt : a graphic novel

Mukwa, Cameron,


"Ten-year-old Anang wants to make a ribbon skirt, a piece of clothing typically worn by women in the Anishinaabe tradition, for an upcoming powwow. Anang is two-spirit and nonbinary and doesn't know what others will think of them wearing a ribbon skirt, but they're determined to follow their heart's desire. Anang sets off to gather the materials needed to make the skirt and turns to those around them - their family, their human and turtle friends, the crows, and even the lake itself - for help. And maybe they'll even find a new confidence within themself along the way."--Provided by publisher
Date Published:2024

"Ten-year-old Anang wants to make a ribbon skirt, a piece of clothing typically worn by women in the Anishinaabe tradition, for an upcoming powwow. Anang is two-spirit and nonbinary and doesn't know what others will think of them wearing a ribbon skirt, but they're determined to follow their heart's desire. Anang sets off to gather the materials needed to make the skirt and turns to those around them - their family, their human and turtle friends, the crows, and even the lake itself - for help. And maybe they'll even find a new confidence within themself along the way."--Provided by publisher

Date Published:2024

The unteachables

Korman, Gordon,


In the multiple-narrator format that Gordon perfected in Ungifted and Supergifted, this book tells the story the story of Greenwich Middle School's class SCS-8, a.k.a The Self-Contained Special Eighth Grade Class, a.ka. The Unteachables. We hear from Parker the dyslexic farm boy, Aldo the perpetually angry, Elaine (rhymes with pain), Barnstorm the jock, Rahim the sleep-deprived artist, and Mateo, lost in fantasy worlds. Plus Kiana, who is just in town visiting her dad and isn't even registered with the school. Not to mention their teacher, Mr. Ribbit--er, Mr. Kermit--who remains in disgrace after a 25-year-old cheating scandal and is just killing time, doing crossword puzzles and waiting to take early retirement at the end of the year. At first it seems like this odd group of loners and losers isn't going to accomplish anything other than getting into fights and maybe tormenting a substitute teacher or two. But over the course of the semester they become friends and even learn to appreciate their teacher. So when they find out that the Superintendent is still holding a grudge after 25 years and intends to fire Mr. Kermit before he can get his pension, they take action. With the help of Jake Terranova, the actual perpetrator of said long-ago cheating scandal, and super-optimistic former kindergarten teacher Miss Fountain, they set out to improve their test scores, win the science fair, and maybe just learn a thing or two. Not to mention earn enough Goodbunnies Puffy-tails to reach the coveted Basket of Carrots and be declared a Helpful Hare. (Don't ask.).
Date Published:2019

In the multiple-narrator format that Gordon perfected in Ungifted and Supergifted, this book tells the story the story of Greenwich Middle School's class SCS-8, a.k.a The Self-Contained Special Eighth Grade Class, a.ka. The Unteachables. We hear from Parker the dyslexic farm boy, Aldo the perpetually angry, Elaine (rhymes with pain), Barnstorm the jock, Rahim the sleep-deprived artist, and Mateo, lost in fantasy worlds. Plus Kiana, who is just in town visiting her dad and isn't even registered with the school. Not to mention their teacher, Mr. Ribbit--er, Mr. Kermit--who remains in disgrace after a 25-year-old cheating scandal and is just killing time, doing crossword puzzles and waiting to take early retirement at the end of the year. At first it seems like this odd group of loners and losers isn't going to accomplish anything other than getting into fights and maybe tormenting a substitute teacher or two. But over the course of the semester they become friends and even learn to appreciate their teacher. So when they find out that the Superintendent is still holding a grudge after 25 years and intends to fire Mr. Kermit before he can get his pension, they take action. With the help of Jake Terranova, the actual perpetrator of said long-ago cheating scandal, and super-optimistic former kindergarten teacher Miss Fountain, they set out to improve their test scores, win the science fair, and maybe just learn a thing or two. Not to mention earn enough Goodbunnies Puffy-tails to reach the coveted Basket of Carrots and be declared a Helpful Hare. (Don't ask.).

Date Published:2019

The unlovable Alina Butt

Butt-Hussain, Ambreen,


Fitting in at a new school is hard enough, but when you’re an awkward, big-nosed, nerdy Pakistani girl with a funny last name, it can seem impossible.
Date Published:2023

No fixed address

Nielsen-Fernlund, Susin.


Felix Knuttson, twelve, is an endearing kid with an incredible brain for trivia. His mom Astrid is loving but unreliable; she can't hold onto a job, or a home. When they lose their apartment in Vancouver, they move into a camper van, just for August, till Astrid finds a job. September comes, they're still in the van; Felix must keep "home" a secret and give a fake address in order to enroll in school. Luckily, he finds true friends. As the weeks pass and life becomes grim, he struggles not to let anyone know how precarious his situation is. When he gets to compete on a national quiz show, Felix is determined to win -- the cash prize will bring them a home. Their luck is about to change! But what happens is not at all what Felix expected.
Date Published:2020

Felix Knuttson, twelve, is an endearing kid with an incredible brain for trivia. His mom Astrid is loving but unreliable; she can't hold onto a job, or a home. When they lose their apartment in Vancouver, they move into a camper van, just for August, till Astrid finds a job. September comes, they're still in the van; Felix must keep "home" a secret and give a fake address in order to enroll in school. Luckily, he finds true friends. As the weeks pass and life becomes grim, he struggles not to let anyone know how precarious his situation is. When he gets to compete on a national quiz show, Felix is determined to win -- the cash prize will bring them a home. Their luck is about to change! But what happens is not at all what Felix expected.

Date Published:2020

Surviving the city. 1 /

Spillett, Tasha, 1988-,


Tasha Spillet's graphic-novel debut, Surviving the City, is a story about womanhood, friendship, resilience, and the anguish of a missing loved one. Miikwan and Dez are best friends. Miikwan's Anishinaabe; Dez is Inninew. Together, the teens navigate the challenges of growing up in an urban landscape -- they're so close, they even completed their Berry Fast together. However, when Dez's grandmother becomes too sick, Dez is told she can't stay with her anymore. With the threat of a group home looming, Dez can't bring herself to go home and disappears. Miikwan is devastated, and the wound of her missing mother resurfaces. Will Dez's community find her before it's too late? Will Miikwan be able to cope if they don't? Colonialism and the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People are explored in Natasha Donovan's beautiful illustrations.
Date Published:2018

Tasha Spillet's graphic-novel debut, Surviving the City, is a story about womanhood, friendship, resilience, and the anguish of a missing loved one. Miikwan and Dez are best friends. Miikwan's Anishinaabe; Dez is Inninew. Together, the teens navigate the challenges of growing up in an urban landscape -- they're so close, they even completed their Berry Fast together. However, when Dez's grandmother becomes too sick, Dez is told she can't stay with her anymore. With the threat of a group home looming, Dez can't bring herself to go home and disappears. Miikwan is devastated, and the wound of her missing mother resurfaces. Will Dez's community find her before it's too late? Will Miikwan be able to cope if they don't? Colonialism and the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People are explored in Natasha Donovan's beautiful illustrations.

Date Published:2018