2025 Picture Books, Eh!

Patty Dreams
by Nadia L. Hohn
illustrated by Sahle Robinson
January 2025
​Owlkids Books

A tasty celebration of family, food culture, and Jamaican patties

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”.
​
Acclaimed author Nadia L. Hohn’s rhythmic writing pays homage to a quintessential Jamaican delicacy and explores the experiences of immigrants, as well as the traditions that connect us. Vibrantly illustrated and rich in sensory details, this picture book is a warm, comforting reminder of the meaning of home.
​

Rise: A Child's Guide to Eastertide
​by Laura Alary 
illustrated by Giuliano Ferri
​January 2025
Paraclete Press

On Easter morning, a child revels in the colors and sounds of celebration. The church is bright with flowers and all the songs are full of hallelujahs. But as she repeats the joyful words, Christ is Risen, secretly she wonders, "What does Easter have to do with me?"

​Rise: A Child's Guide to Eastertide follows a child through the fifty days of Easter, as she shares in family and community celebrations, hears stories of the Risen Jesus, notices how the world around her is coming alive again, and ponders how growth and new beginnings are part of her own life. Rise is the fourth book in the "Circle of Wonder: Liturgical Year Resource Set." 

Out of this wondering comes a new way of seeing. Easter is not just about what happened to Jesus long ago. It is about change and transformation here and now. When we let go of things--even our own mistakes; when we look for Jesus and find him in new places; when we fall and get up again; when we share a feast; when we love--that is Easter.

Who's Walking Dawg
by Marie Prins
illustrated by Leanne Franson
February 2025 (in U.S.)
Red Deer Press

When Dawg’s busy family ignores his pleas for a walk, he takes matters into his own paws and follows his nose on an adventure through the neighbourhood. Eventually his rumbly tummy reminds him where his food bowl dwells, as well as his frantic family who is searching for him in all the wrong places.   
​
​
​
​

The Pony and the Starling
​by Jennifer McGrath
illustrated by Kristina Jones
February 2025
Groundwood Books

A girl and her mother watch an unusual friendship develop between a solitary starling and a lonely pony.

The gray pony lives in the green pasture beside the barn. One day, the girl and her mother see a flock of starlings wheel over the field. When the flock moves on, one bird remains behind — perched on the fence, near the pony.

As summer moves into autumn, the girl watches as the pony and the starling become constant companions, sharing grain, water and shade. When the days get colder, the girl begins to wonder — what will happen when winter arrives? A blizzard blows in … and the starling vanishes. Is this the end of a special friendship? And what will the spring bring?

The Pony and the Starling is a gentle story of changing seasons and an unlikely but enduring friendship.

Do NOT Turn the Page!
​​​by Jane Blondie
​illustrated by Marcus Cutler
​February 2025
Scholastic Canada

Charlie does NOT want to take a bath!

Hi! I’m Charlie, and there is NO WAY I’m having a bath tonight. To be extra safe, I’m keeping this book FAR away from my bathtub. In fact, maybe you should just put it down and walk away. Whatever you do, do NOT turn the page!
​In this hilarious story, readers get to take control. As each page turns, our hero, Charlie, moves all the way from his muddy backyard into his house and closer to the bathtub ― protesting every step of the way! Readers will delight in Charlie pleading, cajoling and even trying to trick them into turning back the pages so he can happily play outside again.

Author Jane Blondie brings a fresh spin to this familiar experience ― one where kids and their caregivers will delight in getting Charlie to his inevitable end ― scrubbed and clean and ready for bed!

The Warmest Blanket in the World
by Tamara Levine
​illustrated by Ellie Arscott
​February 2025
Second Story Press

How can Frida help keep Ama warm?

Frida loves spending time with her great-grandmother, Ama, and listening to her inspiring stories of activism. Ama believes in helping people, especially children and families. But Ama has one big problem. She is always cold. Her fingers feel like ice cubes, and sometimes, she feels like she lives inside a refrigerator. Frida has to do something to help, just like Ama taught her. With the help of a kind person named Tanis, and a special kind of wool called qiviut, Frida finds the perfect way to keep Ama warm!
​

Together, A Forest: Drawing Connections Between Nature's Diversity and our Own
by Roz MacLean
​March 2025
Henry Holt and Co.

Joy and her peers are eager to visit a nearby forest for a class trip. But Joy's excitement quickly turns into anxiety when she is asked to choose one thing in the area for a school assignment.

Together, a Forest begins as an exciting journey into nature and blossoms into a meditation on how our unique personalities and ways of being help create a more vibrant and beautiful world. The forest reveals that everyone—including those of us with disabilities and neurodivergence—belong to nature. There is no one right way for a mind, body, or person to be.

​​

15 génie rebelles du Québec
écrit par Catherine Ferland
illustrations de Sophie Benmouyal
Mars 2025
Auzou Québec

Dans la lignée du succès critique et commercial 15 femmes qui ont fait l’histoire du Québec et de 15 destins incroyables de l’histoire du Québec partez à la découverte de quinze génies assurément audacieux et rebelles !


​




​
​


​

​
​

Kenzie's Little Tree
​by Alison McGauley
​illustrated by Emilie Leduc
​March 2025
Orca Book Publishers

​When Kenzie picks out a small tree for her family's backyard, she promises to take care of it.

It seems delicate, just like her mom, who doesn't always feel well. As the seasons change, her mom's health has ups and downs, and the tree sways in the wind and weather. Sometimes her mom is too tired to play, and they just cuddle. Other times, she has to go to the hospital. During the winter, she's away for many days. When a snowstorm hits, Kenzie frantically tries to keep the tree warm. And she worries: Has she broken her promise? But no matter the challenges, come springtime, the tree is still there, blossoming and strong—just like her mom, and just like Kenzie.



​

When A Tree Falls: Nurse Logs and Their Incredible Forest Power
by Kristen Pendreigh
illustrated by Elke Boschinger
March 2025
Chronicle Books

The perfect read for exploring nature with children, this beautiful nonfiction picture book offers an awe-inspiring look at the forest’s life cycle.
​
A tree suns and sways in the forest. She is a place to grow, to rest, and to shelter. But what happens when a tree falls? The answer will make your heart soar. In this lyrical picture book, explore how the extraordinary nurse log provides a nutrient-rich space for new seedlings, shelters small animals, hosts different plant species, and, most profoundly, nurtures a new tree in the process, renewing the cycle of life. Young readers will be amazed by the nurse log’s resilience and its powerful connection to the forest’s past, present, and future.


​​

Dogs vs. Humans: A Showdown of the Senses
​by Stephanie Gibeault
​illustrated by Bambi Edlund
March 2025
Owlkids Books

Whose five senses are superior: dogs or humans?

In a showdown of the senses, who would come out as top dog: canines or humans? This junior nonfiction book for ages 6 to 9 creates a fierce but fun competition, comparing the ways dogs and humans perceive the world through each of the five senses: sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing.

As dogs and humans are playfully pitted against each other, with one round for each sense, young readers will discover the scientific and evolutionary explanations behind our differences. It’s a close race! Humans win for sight, with better depth perception, distance, and color vision. But dogs are stronger sniffers—with their noses, some can even locate people buried in an avalanche or detect an illness before a doctor has diagnosed it. And the winner is … Well, in the end, it’s a tie!

With lively, cartoon-style illustrations, this book is an engaging and informative introduction to dog behavior that can help kids better understand and appreciate their canine companions.

Barnaby the Runaway Sheep: A Parable of the Lost Sheep
by Maria Antonia
​illustrated by Syani Mutherjee
March 2025
Paraclete Press

Barnaby loves life on the farm, except for when his shepherds want to snip, snip, snip away his wool. As the clippers draw near, Barnaby's fears bubble up like a storm. Why does anyone need his wool? In Barnaby the Runaway Sheep by Maria Antonia, follow Barnaby on a journey of courage and discovery.

When the dreaded day arrives, Barnaby's ingenuity leads him on a daring escape, seeking refuge in a cave. But as time passes, he learns that freedom comes with its own challenges. With his wool growing thicker and his hunger gnawing, Barnaby realizes something crucial—he misses home.

​As the nights grow colder and loneliness sets in, Barnaby's longing for his flock intensifies. But just when all seems lost, a familiar call pierces the darkness. Could it be his shepherds searching for him?
With tender illustrations capturing Barnaby's journey, Barnaby the Runaway Sheep is a heartwarming tale of trust, friendship, and the power of homecoming. Join Barnaby as he learns that sometimes, the greatest adventure is simply finding your way back to where you belong.
​
​
​
​

The Sandcastle that Jack Built
​by Judith Graves
illustrated by Maurice Bernard
April 2025
Acorn Press

These are the hands, small but strong, 
That moulded and shaped the spire’s great form… 

At once familiar and fresh, The Sandcastle that Jack Built is a lyrical and playful version of the traditional nursery rhyme. This day, we are at the beach, and the house that Jack builds, step by step, is a sandcastle. But while the sandcastle grows, a storm draws closer and closer, and finally, a wave swamps Jack’s creation. Luckily, the best thing about sandcastles is that you can always build a better one tomorrow! 

In this updated classic, Judith Graves’s beautiful text is perfectly accompanied by rich, vivid illustrations from renowned Island artist Maurice Bernard. 

Chidori: A Story of One Thousand Birds
​​by Jennifer Maruno
​illustrated by Miki Sato
​April 2025
PaJama Press

Hana is at school when the devastating tsunami sweeps over Japan. But when the dark wave finally returns to the ocean, it has taken more than Hana could have ever imagined.
​
Hana’s school sits on the side of a hill with a view of the ocean. One day, while in class, a tsunami drags the ocean across her village. Hana watches in horror as the dark water crashes into trees and tosses cars and boats around. When she is finally reunited with her family, she learns that the wave has taken more than she could have ever imagined. To cope with her grief, Hana begins to paint chidori (a thousand birds).

When the Air Sang
​by Laura Bontje
​illustrated by Sarah Whang
​April 2025
Annick Press

A gorgeous picture book about a young insect enthusiast who learns about the ever-mysterious cicada and how our curiosity about nature never truly goes away.
​
Annie is tired of waiting for the cicadas to finally appear: every day, they show hints of their upcoming arrival, but to her disappointment, they seem to be taking their sweet time coming out. As Annie’s anticipation builds to bursting, she is joined first by her great-grandmother, then her grandmother, then her mother—each of whom has her own cicada story to tell. When the magnificent insects finally appear and sing their incredible songs, Annie realizes some things are worth the wait.

This lovely picture book is perfect for amateur bug lovers and aspiring entomologists alike: alongside debut illustrator Sarah Whang’s stunning art, author Laura Bontje turns an ordinary backyard into a magical world filled with wonder. Readers will be swept away by their own curiosity as they explore all the fascinating things about nature just outside our doors. Informative, expert-reviewed backmatter on cicadas provide further context on these fascinating creatures. 

The Fearless Storyteller
​by Cassie Silva
​illustrated by Ana Zurita
​April 2025
Soaring Kite Books

When a young girl's father is scared of the unicorns in her book, she hides it to protect him.

At the next bedtime, she selects a book about giraffes, which are much less scary. Right? Wrong!

After her dad helps her overcome a fear of her own, he reveals that he is scared of the words in her books, not the animals. Together the father and daughter use positive visualizations to overcome their fears.

Based on Cassie Silva's own experience growing up with an ESL (English as a second language) parent, this story is a love letter to all the ESL and illiterate parents and grandparents who get asked to read children bedtime stories.

Ready, Set, Mango!
by Tamla T. Young
​illustrated by Raz Latif
​April 2025
Owlkids Books

Two competitive cousins are in for a surprise as they fight to find the perfect fruit

​On an island vacation with their auntie, cousins Tee and Dee set out to find mangoes to make smoothies. As the best of friends, but also the worst of rivals, the girls see everything as a competition, and they immediately begin to argue about who can find the perfect mango first.

But it’s not long before a different treasure ignites their competitive spirits. The girls race to outdo each other in gathering some beautiful dark, round, shiny pebbles … until they notice a goat producing dark, round, shiny pebble-shaped poops! Together, they burst into laughter over the icky treasure they had been chasing.

Packed with atmospheric details that evoke the sights and sounds of island life and inspired by a memory from the author’s own early years, this playful take on childhood rivalries prizes friendship and laughter above fighting and competing.
​

If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe
​​by Cynthia Mackey
​illustrated by Vikki Zhang
​April 2025
Yeehoo Press

A thoughtful tale of mindfulness and our interconnectedness with nature. 
​
The story delves into how we can embrace our fears and uncertainties through a deeper understanding of the creatures around us. It highlights the delicate yet profound bond we share with even the smallest beings, like a bumblebee. Through engaging narrative and stunning visuals, the book teaches children to appreciate the natural world and find peace in moments of fear. 

A charming and insightful read written by Cynthia Mackey and illustrated by the award-winning illustrator Vikki Zhang, perfect for young minds learning to navigate their emotions and the environment they inhabit.
​
​

​

Jackie's Drawing
(English Version)

Le dessin de Charlie
(French Version)
​​by Andrew Katz
illustrated by Tony Luzano
French translation: Juliana Léveillé-Trudel
May 2025
CrackBoom! Books

When a rusty haze falls over a city, a young girl named Jackie keeps up her spirits by drawing whatever nature she can see from her window, including the mountain where she used to bring her sketchbook and draw all day.
 
As the days wear on into weeks and months, Jackie eventually loses the heart to do anything, even to draw. But one day, in the canal below her window, a dolphin leaps into the air. Soon, a moose, an eagle and other animals begin to wander into the city—a sight that inspires Jackie to pick up her pencils again and create a drawing unlike any she has ever made.
 
Poignantly illustrated in a bright painterly style, this ecological fable celebrates the resilience of both the natural world and human creativity, and will have young readers eager to head outdoors and do some drawing of their own.

*​
​
Lorsque une brume rouillée s'abat sur la ville, une jeune fille nommée Charlie garde le moral en dessinant tout ce que la nature lui permet de voir depuis sa fenêtre, y compris la montagne où elle avait l'habitude d'emporter son carnet de croquis et de dessiner toute la journée.

Au fil des jours, puis des semaines et des mois, Jackie perd peu à peu l'envie de faire quoi que ce soit, même de dessiner. Mais un jour, dans le canal en dessous de sa fenêtre, un dauphin saute dans les airs. Bientôt, un orignal, un aigle et d'autres animaux commencent à errer dans la ville—une vision qui inspire Jackie à reprendre ses crayons et à réaliser un dessin comme elle n'en a jamais fait auparavant.

Illustré de manière poignante dans un style lumineux, ce conte écologiste célèbre la résilience à la fois du monde naturel et de la créativité humaine, et incitera les jeunes lecteurs à sortir et à faire leurs propres dessins.

Go, Sloth, Go!
​​by Gabrielle Prendergast
​illustrated by Sophie Benmouyal
​May 2025
Orca Book Publishers

Whoa, sloth, whoa!

A sloth is slowly making its way up a tree in its rainforest home when the wind knocks it loose and it tumbles onto the road. No, sloth, no! But luckily a truck driver stops, realizing the sloth has hurt its toe, and takes the sloth to the wildlife hospital. Sloth gets an x-ray and then some stitches before it's ready to head home. Let's go, sloth, let's go! Finally, the kindly truck driver rows it out to reunite with its family...though, in true sloth form, it will be rather slow to say goodbye.


​​

The Bigfoot Field Guide to Campers (and Other Mysterious Creatures)
​​by I.M. Furry with help from Jami Gigot
​May 2025
Kids Can Press

For fans of Larf and Alma and the Beast, an endearing, funny friendship story from an unexpected perspective.
​
While there are many dangerous creatures in the forest, there’s one species that Bigfoot fears most: campers! They’re smelly and noisy, and they make a mess of everything. Thankfully, Bigfoot has ten simple guidelines sure to keep anyone safe from these interlopers. Only, when he slips up on Guideline #2 – ”Never, EVER allow yourself to be seen by a camper“ – Bigfoot’s surprised to find himself ignoring his own advice to help one who’s lost. Could it be he’s had the wrong idea about campers all along?
​
In this fresh, flipped take on Bigfoot, readers discover how reconsidering what we think we know about others can be a great way to make a friend. Jami Gigot’s hilarious storytelling features text describing what not to do playfully juxtaposed with art that completely contradicts it!



​

Jane and the Blue Willow Princess
​​​by Catherine Little
​illustrated by Sae Kimura
​May 2025
Plumleaf Press

On a beautiful spring day, sisters Jane and Cassandra enjoy tea with Mother in the garden. Jane is in the throes of writing a story for Father’s birthday, but too many ideas swirl in her head, and she cannot get started. The Blue Willow pattern on the tea set catches Jane’s attention … will that be the inspiration she’s looking for?

This book commemorates the 250th birthday of Jane Austen — it celebrates her writing, which continues to engage readers around the world, and highlights the deep love between Jane and her sister Cassandra. The book introduces children to Jane Austen and her enduring legacy as an author, and perhaps could inspire them to become writers themselves. 

​

Sea in my Cells
​by Laura Alary
​illustrated by Andrea Blinick
​May 2025
Pajama Press

Water is a shape-shifter, a life-giver, an almost magical thing. Explore the journey of water from the sea, to your glass, to your cells.

From sea to clouds.
From clouds to rain.
From rain to lake.
From lake to glass.
Water is a shape-shifter.
Take a big gulp.
Can you taste the sea?

In this ode to water, learn how the lifecycle of water works. All the water on earth is all there ever was, and all there ever will be. So, the next time you pour a glass of water, take a moment to think about all the wonderful things this life-giving resource does.

Author Laura Alary's free verse breaks big ideas into child-sized pieces, making Sea in my Cells an accessible introduction to the water cycle. Andrea Blinick's illustrations take readers from the kitchen to the ocean and to the clouds and back. A concluding Author’s Note shares further information about the water cycle for young readers.
​

Wind, Stop Blowing!
​by Laura Alary
illustrated by Sue Teodoro
​May 2025
Skinner House Books

Benjamin Snooks does not simply dislike the wind. He despises and detests it. From the time he was a baby and sand blew in his face, he decided that the wind was nothing but trouble: it makes a mess of things, disturbs his life, and upsets his plans. But when Benjamin Snooks tries to stop the wind from blowing—or at least escape it—he discovers that making peace with it is a wiser path.

​Wind, Stop Blowing! reveals the problems we create when we cling too tightly to our expectations of how things ought to be. It gently invites children to consider better ways to respond to life’s small setbacks and changes.

The Music Inside Us: Yo-Yo Ma and His Gifts to the World (A Picture Book Biography)
​by James Howe
​illustrated by Jack Wong
June 2025
Abrams Books for Young Readers

From a bestselling and award-winning team comes a moving, gorgeously illustrated picture-book biography of one of the greatest cellists of all time, Yo-Yo Ma, and his lifelong passion for using music to unite people in harmony and joy

“I’ve been asking myself all my life, ‘What is the purpose of music?’” –Yo-Yo Ma

At a young age, Yo-Yo Ma discovered a remarkable gift for the cello, playing Bach from memory by age four. His technique was far beyond his years, but even as he grew and became a world-class musician—studying at Juilliard, performing at Carnegie Hall at a young age, even playing on television before the president of the United States—he wanted to use his gift for something deeper, something bigger.

As he asked question after question, trying to understand his place in the world, he discovered something that every culture has in common: music.

Ma decided that he would spend his life not only performing for others, but learning from other cultures’ musical traditions and finding ways to unite people. Even as he dedicated himself to humanitarian work around the world, Ma also dedicated himself to teaching a new generation of young cellists to play with their whole hearts, bodies, and souls, like he does—how to find the music inside themselves.

From James Howe, bestselling author of Bunnicula, and Jack Wong, award-winning author/illustrator of When You Can Swim, comes the story of legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who was special not only because of his unmatched talent but also his curious mind and compassionate heart. Powerfully told and stunningly illustrated, this biography will inspire readers to discover the gifts inside us all.

Back matter includes an author’s and an illustrator’s note, a timeline of Ma’s life, and resources to learn more about his life and work.
​
​
​
​

More or Less 
​by Alison Hughes
illustrated by Ogre Mora
June 2025
Hachette Book Group

Celebrate the power of living more sustainably, simply, and generously in this inspiring visual adventure from Alison Hughes and Caldecott honoree Oge Mora!

What if less could be more?

A child’s bedroom, and the rest of his house, has become cluttered with stuff. But when one small act of giving something away sparks joy, he keeps going—and before you know it, his little sister, friends, and family get involved in donating items to people in need and bringing the whole community together for a swap party. Here is a heartening story that illustrates for the youngest readers how less can be MORE: more space for living, loving, and knowing that we already have PLENTY.

Brought to life in intricate collage by award-winning artist Oge Mora, More or Less takes the meaning of “reduce, reuse, recycle” into the realm of community-building and the cultivation of kindness and meaning.

A Summer Without Anna
​by Kate Jenks Landry
illustrated by Risa Hugo
June 2025
Kids Can Press

Junie misses her sister – and their summers together before Anna got sick.

When Junie’s mum and dad leave her with Nan and Pop for the summer, they promise they’ll be back to get her ”the minute Anna’s well enough.“ Then they hand her Anna’s camera with a note that reads, ”In case you find Edmund.“ Over the course of the long summer, Junie spends her days floating in the lake, fishing with Pop and taking lots of pictures – though none of Edmund, the elusive giant turtle. Edmund will have to wait, just like Junie’s waiting, until Junie finally gets to see her sister again.
​
A heartfelt tribute to the love between siblings, this poignant exploration of a child’s inner world during uncertain times is perfect for any young person dealing with an ill family member or any type of uncertainty.
​

The Witching Hour
​by Jennifer Harris
illustrated by Adelina Lirius
June 2025
Tundra Books

A family of witches desperately tries to entertain a cranky baby in this delightful picture book for fans of Little Witch Hazel and Go the F**k to Sleep.

In the witching hour between dinner and bedtime, anything can happen: laughter, tears, fun screaming, not-fun screaming . . . parents, siblings, pets and neighbors are all familiar with this dreaded time of day.

What happens when that cranky baby is part of a family of witches?

Turns out, it’s pretty much the same, except sometimes the toys levitate and the soothing songs sound a little different . . .

The Witching Hour is a spare, slyly funny and deeply familiar slice-of-life story featuring a fussy little witch and their increasingly desperate family.

​
​
​

What Fish Are Saying
by Kirsten Pendreigh
illustrated by Katie Melrose
​June 2025
Sourcebooks Explore

Follow along with one little shellfish to discover cutting-edge, under-the-sea science!

Did you know that deep in the ocean, fish are loud? Scientists have recently discovered that fish and shellfish grunt and groan, crackle and cluck, and even burp and boop to communicate. They warn each other, woo each other,and welcome each other with all kinds of sounds, making the ocean quite noisy! This upbeat, rhyming nonfiction picture book explores underwater science in a unique way and is perfect for any school or home library.

​​

Wait 'Til You're Older
​by Maria Marianayagam
illustrated by Irina Augustinovich
June 2025
Sourcebooks Explore

A heartwarming picture book teaching children patience and to live in the moment.
Reha despises the present, all because her brother says he won't let her play with his dinosaur toys until she's older. To solve this problem, she decides to build a time machine. But even though she does everything her time travel book says, she can't seem to get it right. Then in her last attempt to find what she needs, her brother asks if he can help. Perhaps the present could be okay after all?


​​

Vampire Jam Sandwich
by Casey Lyall
​illustrated by Nici Gregory
July 2025 
Tundra Books​

Once upon a time a vampire took a bite of a jam sandwich . . . and a legend was born. Now the vampire jam sandwich roams the streets, looking for MORE JAM. Will yours be next? A hilarious spooky picture book featuring a sneaky vampire, for fans of Creepy Carrots and How to Make Friends With a Ghost. 

You may not have heard of the Vampire Jam Sandwich, but it's time you learned the truth. Once upon a time, a vampire (maybe his name is Terrence) took a bite of a jam sandwich (maybe he thought the jam was . . . something else). And you know what happens when a vampire bites you . . .That's right. The jam sandwich has become . . . A VAMPIRE JAM SANDWICH. Terrifying, stalking the streets at night, sneaking into people's homes in an endless search for MORE JAM!

Kids and adults alike will be delighted by this sly jam-loving vampire and his jam sandwich legend, with hilarious tongue-in-cheek art from Nici Gregory. Can you trust your narrator? Is the Vampire Jam Sandwich real? Is your jam safe? Read on to find out...

RJ and the Ticking Clock
​by Ian Duncan
​illustrated by Scot Ritchie
August 2025 
Owlkids Books

A boy races against the clock to make Father’s Day cards for his two dads.

RJ is panicking! His teacher has given the class 30 minutes to finish their Father’s Day cards. RJ has done the math, and he knows he won’t have enough time to make two perfect cards for his two perfect dads. Time ticks by, and while the other kids have no trouble finishing their cards, the more RJ tries to focus and get the job done, the more overwhelmed and distracted he feels.
​
RJ manages to finish one card, and just when he decides that this will have to do, his teacher and classmates surprise him. They used their extra time to create a second card for him. So, when his dads pick him up at the end of the day, RJ greets them joyfully and gives each of them their own handmade card.

Lights at Night
​by Tasha Hilderman
​illustrated by Maggie Zeng
August 2025 
Penguin Random House

In this bedtime picture book, join two special families on an illuminating journey through the year and seasons as they explore all the different lights we see at night.
​
It is dark . . . until street lamps turn on, one, two, three. Red light, green light, yellow light — then, suddenly, lightning strikes! Our porch light guides us home, and while we sleep, the stars of the spring sky emerge, along with new babies, their faces lit by the night. In summer, our faces shine in the campfire light while fireworks burst above us. In autumn, we shiver and cheer under the towering lights of the football field and trick-or-treat on paths lit by the flickering smiles of pumpkins. And in winter, candles and holiday lights gleam but are dwarfed by the majesty of the aurora.

This sweet, beautifully illustrated picture book, a perfect pick for introducing the seasons and seasonal activities and events, explores the simple joys we experience throughout the year when we share them with those we love.

Emerson the Elephant Seal
by Ginger Ngo
​August 2025
Harbour Publishing

Emerson, a two-year-old juvenile elephant seal, keeps turning up in Victoria, BC, despite the best efforts of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans staff—who would like him to know that the provincial capital is not the best home for a 500-pound pinniped.

But what exactly brought Emerson back? In this energetic picture book, children will wonder: perhaps he longed to try the smoked salmon tea sandwiches at the Empress? Did Emerson want to roll all over the flowers at Butchart Gardens or take a tour of the BC Parliament Buildings? While wildlife officials have their theories, Ginger Ngo explores the capital through the eyes of Emerson in a way that will have Victoria’s youngest residents and visitors laughing out loud.
​​

Curry Means More
by Maria Marianayagam
illustrated by Geeta Ladi
​August 2025
Astra Kids Books

Shirin is a girl who loves curry but isn't sure what it is—until she watches her Amma cook and is transported into memories of her life. 
​

Maya Inside
by Alison Hughes
illustrated by Brady Sato
September 2025
Orca Book Publishers

Maya went into her box when a classmate teased her, and again when another hurt her feelings.
​
Now she’s there most of the time. It’s safe and quiet and best of all it can be anything she wants it to be. She brings it on bike rides and to school, and while kids used to notice it, now they barely see her at all. But Maya can't help but wonder if there might be something she's missing. Yes, it's noisy and scary out there, but it's also exciting and fun. Finally, Maya bravely decides to step out into the sunshine and find her place in the world―outside her box.

​
​

My Street Remembers
by Karen Krossing
illustrated by Cathie Jamieson
​September 2025
Groundwood Books

How many footsteps have walked your street in the past? My Street Remembers peels back the history of one city street in North America to reveal the greater story of the land on which we live.

The story begins 14,000 years ago, when mammoths roamed the icefields, and the First Peoples followed their trail. Historically accurate illustrations show the lives of their descendants over thousands of years as they hunted and gathered food, built homes and celebrated together, until the 1600s, when Europeans arrived with settlers in their wake.

In lyrical text, the street remembers agreements to live in peace, the efforts of the British to take the land with unfair treaties, and the conflict and suffering that followed. The street recalls its naming, paving and the waves of immigrants who called it home. Illustrations of recent times depict Canada’s apology to Indigenous Peoples and efforts toward Truth and Reconciliation, including a march with a banner that reads: Every Child Matters.

This rich collaboration between author Karen Krossing, of White settler descent, and Anishinaabe artist Cathie Jamieson ends with a question that readers anywhere can ask—what does your street remember?

Who Needs the Dark?
​by Laura Alary
illustrated by Risa Hugo
​September 2025
Owlkids Books

A celebration of the dark and all the ways it can heal, comfort, console, and create.

How do you feel about the dark? Is it creepy or cozy? Eerie or awesome? The dark doesn’t have to be scary. After all, it’s for sleeping, for growing, for healing, and for changing into something new. Humans depend on the dark for their health and well-being, and so do other living things.
​
A love letter to darkness, this informational picture book incorporates STEM content to gently encourage readers to look at the dark in new ways. Lyrical, poetic text and soft, striking illustrations make for a delightful read aloud.

Diaper Kid
​by Loretta Garbutt
illustrated by Hayley Lowe
​September 2025
Owlkids Books

An energetic three-year-old is reluctant to make the big switch from diapers to underwear.

Dash is always on the move, and he likes that his diaper lets him (quite literally) go on the go—no pit stops needed! Who needs underwear when his diaper has great crash padding and keeps his bum nice and warm? He is Diaper Kid, after all!

When his best friend Esme shows up in underwear instead of a diaper, Diaper Kid feels betrayed. But after a splash in the pool leads to a soggy bottom, Dash realizes that underwear might have perks after all. They do look fast with their race car pattern … and now his purple car has room for two!
​
This relatable story will resonate with both children and adults and encourage tackling a common transition with humor and lightness.

One Can
by Lana Button and Eric Walters
illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant
September 2025
Groundwood Books

A child donates a can of food to their school food drive. But in an unexpected twist, they come to understand what it means to give and receive.

A child is excited to donate a can of their favorite Zoodelicious to the school food drive. Their teacher has explained that the food will be given to people in need, along with mittens from the “mitten tree.”
In the classroom, there’s a carpet with one hundred squares, and the goal is to fill each square with a can of food. When the child places their can of Zoodelicious on square 100, everyone cheers, and the teacher puts a snowflake sticker on top to celebrate.

But a few days later, the child finds the same can of Zoodelicious among the groceries their mom has brought home. And there’s a pair of red mitts, too. “Mom, are we the people in need?” the child asks.
The next morning, after having thought of all the people who will receive food from the school and wondering what else they might need, the child donates their too-small blue mittens to the mitten tree at school.

Created by an award-winning team, One Can tells a timely and touching story of a child who learns to give and receive—and wants only to give again in return.
​

You Can't Tame a Tiger
by Stephanie Sy
illustrated by Julien Chung
​September 2025
Owlkids Books

A confident tiger proves that you don’t have to conform to the expectations of others.

A young boy knows his pet tiger, Imran, is awesome. The only problem is that Imran doesn’t look like a tiger. To show off his cool pet and impress the other kids, the boy tries to “fix” Imran’s appearance by painting him orange and giving him zig-zag stripes. But Imran won’t play along. Instead of accepting the changes, Imran stays true to himself and insists, “You can’t tame a tiger.”
Imran knows he’s a tiger, even if he doesn’t fit the tiger image that his friend has in his mind. Eventually, the boy realizes that his mistake was forcing Imran to be anything other than exactly who he is.
​
This humorous and profound story combines narrative text, dialogue bubbles, and expressive art to remind readers that you don’t have to change the unique things about yourself to be accepted and remarkable.

Yaya and the Dan-Tats
by Camellia Koo
illustrated by Phoebe Xiao
​September 2025
Annick Press

A joyful picture book about all the mischief a young girl and her Yaya get up to–and all the friends they make and dan-tats they eat!—during her weekly visits to his long-term care home.

The narrator of this story is on her weekly visit to her Yaya at his nursing home and has brought him, like always, dan-tats for them to eat together. But as Yaya zooms away in his wheelchair, she has a hard time keeping up: trying to track him down leads to run-ins with many of the other unfamiliar residents, not to mention Nurses Joey and Anna, who are trying to keep things orderly. Just when she starts to worry Yaya may have forgotten about her, a trail of their favorite custard tart crumbs leads the way back to him. Finally, they head to his room to share their weekly treat, but not before making a few more stops, and a few new friends, along the way.

A gentle introduction to adjusting to change and uncertainty, Yaya and the Dan-Tats showcases the unexpected fun and the community that can be found anywhere, even in unfamiliar places. Phoebe Xiao’s energetic and thoughtfully detailed art further captures the charm and imagination of this heartfelt story about intergenerational connection.

The Dog Who Saved the Bees
​​by Stephanie Gibeault
illustrated by David Hohn
August 2025
Sleeping Bear Press

Cybil Preston needs a dog. But not just any dog. She needs a dog to help her with her work. Cybil is a beehive inspector who works to ensure the health of commercial beehives in Maryland. Hundreds of hives are shipped across the country as farmers need bees to pollinate their crops. Without the bees, there wouldn't be foods like apples, almonds, and strawberries.

But the bees must be healthy to be shipped, and there's a deadly disease, foulbrood, that is highly contagious. If even one infected hive left the state, entire bee populations could be wiped out.

Dogs, with their ultrasensitive sense of smell, can sniff out even the tiniest scent of foulbrood in a hive. A well-trained, focused detection dog can inspect 50 hives in 10 minutes. Work that would take Cybil an entire day to do. When Cybil meets Mack, an unruly and lonely dog, she wonders if she has found her canine colleague. Can rambunctious Mack be trained to meet this important challenge?

Readers of all ages will enjoy this warmly illustrated true story of Cybil and Mack as they work to save the bees.
​

The Christmas That Almost Wasn't
by Laura Alary
​illustrated by Ana Eguaras
​September 2025
Beaming Books

Celebrating Christmas in the dark and finding joy in the unexpected.

Aidan's city is hit with an ice storm just days before Christmas, causing the electrical grid to go down. All their Christmas plans are ruined! One disappointment piles on another: Grandma and Grandpa cannot travel, the Christmas pageant is canceled, there are no Christmas lights, and it's impossible to cook a Christmas dinner. But Aidan and his dad persevere to bring doughnuts and coffee to neighbors, and then they're invited to a neighborhood Christmas potluck.

As Aidan's mom tells the Christmas story, he realizes that the first Christmas was full of disappointment and unexpected community too. Suddenly Christmas feels special again as Aidan feels connected to the Bible story from long ago, to his grandparents far away, and to his neighbors and family nearby. God is here in the midst of it all.
​
Sometimes Christmas is not all we hope or expect it to be. The Christmas That Almost Wasn't invites readers to ponder how sometimes, when things are taken away, it brings us closer to the heart of the holy mystery that still draws us into its warmth.

Little Hearts in the Snow
​by Andrew Katz and Juliana Léveillé-Trudel
illustrated by Joseph Sherman
October 2025
CrackBoom! Books

Julia has a special delivery to make … to her friend in the winter forest.

Julia loves winter, except for one thing: she misses her usual forest friends, who can’t come out to play during the cold season. When she discovers that animals have trouble finding food in the snow, she sets out on a journey to bring a present to her book-loving friend Bertrand the bear. But pulling her heavy sled through snowy woods proves impossible alone. Could little heart-shaped tracks be a sign that help―and maybe a new friend―are near?

With sparklingly vivid illustrations that capture the magic of exploring a winter wonderland, this cozy, warmhearted tribute to the frosty time of the year―and to the delights of friendship and reading―will have kids eager to make snow angels of their own, as well as to curl up afterwards with a book and a sweet treat.

The backmatter includes information on how animals survive when the weather turns icy, along with a recipe for Bertrand’s winter specialty that the whole family can bake together.

To savor more adventures with Julia and Bertrand, readers can check out the previous books in this series: How to Catch a Bear Who Loves to Read and A Starlit Trip to the Library.
​

Just In Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
by Megan Clendenan
illustrated by Brittany Cicchese
October 2025
Charlesbridge

Way up by the North Pole, polar bears roam, and there are no gardens, forests, or fields. But buried deep underground, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault protects more than 580 million seeds with plenty of room for more.
 
How does the vault protect the seeds?
What’s it like inside?
How and why was this special place built?
 
Learn about how we keep seeds for our food safe—just in case.

Charlotte's New Moccasins
by Jenn Moudahi
illustrated by Rhael McGregor
October 2025
Charlesbridge

Charlotte has outgrown her moccasins, so she and her Mom head to Grandma’s for new ones. Grandma teaches Charlotte how to make new mocs step-by-step, and she learns a valuable skill in this heartwarming multigenerational story.
​
A contemporary celebration of Indigenous culture, tradition, and family by two Métis creators.

Levi's Gift
by Kathy Stinson
​illustrated by Ellie Arscott
​Fall 2025
Nimbus Publishing

A story that affirms and celebrates the healing power of music, and how it can unite musicians across a generational and cultural divide.  
​


​

Burst Your Bubble: Outsmart the Algorithms and See What You've Been Missing
by Joyce Grant
​illustrated by Jan Dolby
November 2025
​​Owlkids Books

An engaging, accessible look at internet algorithms and the importance of bursting your information bubble.

We are all in information bubbles, whether we realize it or not. The content that fills our bubble is the product of all the likes, clicks, and shares we make online. While we may enjoy what the algorithm pushes to us, we can gradually lose sight of perspectives and points of view that are different from our own.
​
In seven chapters, readers will learn what algorithms are, why they are used, and what influences someone’s information bubble both online and in real life. Sidebars offer additional context, and fun activities allow readers to understand concepts in real time.
Written in an approachable tone with fun, dynamic illustrations, Burst Your Bubble provides insight into the dangers of limited information and offers tangible suggestions on how to move beyond it.

Big Rig
by Nancy Cohen
​illustrated by Claire Manning
​November 2025
Nimbus Publishing

Book description on its way soon. Bet you can't wait, eh!
​

​
​

Butterfly Sea
by Cynthia Mackey
​illustrated by Marie-Laure Couet
December 2025
Tielmour Press

A child, trailed by a disruptive yet loveable younger sibling, searches for butterflies to photograph while discovering concepts of butterfly gardening. Butterfly classification and seek and find appear in the back matter of this lyrical narrative non-fiction book.​


​