20 Canadian children's books to read this summer
The summer holidays are a fantastic time for kids to immerse themselves in a great book.
Check out this list of Canadian books for children and teenagers to read this summer — and listen to The Next Chapter's kids panel of CBC Books producer Lucy Mann and Canadian author and podcaster Bee Quammie who highlight a few of their faves!
Meet Me on Love Street by Farah Heron
Sana Merali believes in happily ever afters, she was basically raised to, having grown up on Love Street. Meet Me on Love Street centres a neighbourhood brimming with life. Warm, inviting homes and small businesses like that of Sana's mother, the florist, or the vintage shop where Sana works.
When new developments that will gentrify the neighbourhood come knocking, Sana rallies everyone to create a festival and save Love Street. But when notorious anti-romantic Mile Desai joins the planning committee, Sana finds herself with two missions: save the street and matchmake Miles out of his cynical stance on love.
Meet Me on Love Street is for ages 14 and up.
Farah Heron is a writer from Toronto. She is also the author of the romantic comedies The Chai Factor, Accidentally Engaged, Kamila Knows Best and the YA novel Tahira in Bloom.
Lucy Mann: "It's a romance book, but it's also about urban planning ... and the extra thing I love about this book is that it's actually set in the neighborhood in east Toronto where I live."
Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner
Margot's life in Cascade Cove is pretty quiet — until she stumbles upon a discarded synthesizer labeled "not haunted." Hoping it's the key to becoming a real songwriter — and finally impressing her absent father — she dives into chasing online fame in Free Piano (Not Haunted).
But there's just one problem — the synthesizer is actually haunted — by Vision, a teen pop star from 1979 whose tragic death left her spirit trapped in the keys. Despite their differences, Margot and Vision form an unexpected friendship through their shared love of music. As Margot gets caught up in the rush of Internet fame, she risks losing sight of what music — and herself — truly mean.
Free Piano (Not Haunted) is for ages 10 and up.
Whitney Gardner is a writer and illustrator based in the Pacific Northwest. She is the author of YA novels Fake Blood, You're Welcome, Universe and Chaotic Good. Gardner's other graphic novels include Long Distance and illustrations for Debbie Levy's Becoming RBG.
Bee Quammie: "The book has a really great interrogation of youth and this online culture that kids are in now. I mean, everybody is in it, but kids at this age have really just been born into this."
Raven's Ribbons by Tasha Spillett, illustrated by Daniel Ramirez
In Raven's Ribbons, Raven asks his grandmother if he can wear a ribbon skirt to a round dance. His grandma sews Raven a rainbow skirt of his own to wear to the next dance. A picture book celebrating gender expression through an Indigenous lens.
Raven's Ribbons is for ages 4 to 7.
Tasha Spillett is an educator, writer and poet. Her previous work includes the picture books, I Sang You Down from the Stars, Beautiful You, Beautiful Me, which was a contender on CBC Kids Reads 2023 and the graphic novel Surviving the City, which won the $2,000 Indigenous Voices Award for works in an alternative format in 2019. Spillett lives in Treaty 1 territory, Man.
Daniel Ramirez is a fine artist and a descendant of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan.
Bee Quammie: "It's just a beautiful lyrical story and a story of possibility. There's no 'no' in this story. There's just, how do we make it happen?"
Mallory and the Trouble with Twins by Arley Nopra
Mallory is confident in her babysitting skills — after all, she's taken care of her seven younger siblings for years. But when she starts watching the Arnold twins, Marilyn and Carolyn, she quickly realizes they're more trouble than she expected. The twins play tricks, act spoiled and make her job a nightmare! Still, as a responsible member of the Baby-Sitters Club, Mallory refuses to give up.
Mallory and the Trouble with Twins is for ages 8 to 12.
Arley Nopra is a Filipino comic creator who lives in Toronto. She has adapted and illustrated the Baby-Sitters Club books Claudia and the Bad Joke and Mallory and the Trouble with Twins.
Lucy Mann: "My 8-year-old absolutely loves these books. She was off sick last week and she read all 17 again."
The Forest King's Daughter by Elly Blake
In the YA fantasy novel, The Forest King's Daughter, Cassia, a young forest princess and Zeru, a boy from the underground become friends. Zeru gives Cassia an amber ring, not realizing its significance and that this innocent act would spark a war between the forest king and the queen of the underground. Years later, amidst the battle that is still waging, Zeru kidnaps Cassia in an attempt to steal back the ring. The two former friends end up on an epic adventure together, where old and new feelings surface.
The Forest King's Daughter is for ages 14 and up.
Elly Blake is a YA writer from Southwestern Ontario. She is the author of the YA trilogy Frostblood Saga which includes the titles Frostblood, Fireblood and Nightblood. The Forest King's Daughter is the first title in Blake's new Thirstwood series.
Bee Quammie: "I'm a cynic when it comes to love. Maybe that's my issue, right. So when I picked up this book I was like, 'let's see what this is all about.' It's romance and fantasy. We are reading about this forbidden friends as kids to enemies to lovers trope between our two main characters."
Bob the Boo-Boo by Mélina Schoenborn, illustrated by Sandra Dumais
In the charming picture book, Bob the Boo-Boo, we are introduced to Bob, a boo-boo who is looking for a new home. When he spots a boy with a scrape on his knee he knows he's found the perfect spot. Bob and the boy have a wonderful time together, but as the boy's knee begins to heal, Bob starts to get smaller. Bob and his new friend grapple with what this means and if they will ever be reunited again.
Bob the Boo-Boo is for ages 3 to 7.
Mélina Schoenborn is a children's book author and a ceramic artist. Her previous book is Squirrels! This is Not a Book about Dinosaurs. Schoenborn lives in Montreal.
Sandra Dumais is a Montreal-based children's book author and illustrator. Her previous books include the Farm Crimes! series and illustrating Oliva Wrapped in Vines and The Fossil Whisperer.
Lucy Mann: "A really good, engaging picture book has a perfect formula of beautiful illustrations, it's witty, it's charming, but it has heart and a good story. This book really hits all of those beats."
Way Off Track by Carl Brundtland, illustrated by Claudia Dávila
Blending Jamaican culture with the West African trickster Anansi, Way Off Track is a fun and fast-paced story that follows Nansi's determined — and sometimes misguided — journey. Nansi is used to winning every race — until a snobby girl named Tania beats her. Convinced it's all because of Tania's fancy shoes, Nansi has to get a pair before track tryouts. But where is she going to find $338?
Way Off Track is for ages 8 to 12.
Carl Brundtland is a Jamaican Canadian writer based in Toronto. Growing up, his favourite stories were those about Anansi the spider, which inspired the antics found in his debut graphic novel Way Off Track.
Claudia Dávila is an illustrator from Toronto. She has illustrated the nonfiction books Child Soldier by Michel Chikwanine and Jessica Dee Humphreys, and Change It!, Move It! and Touch It!, all written by Adrienne Mason. She also wrote and illustrated the picture book Super Red Riding Hood.
The City of Lost Cats by Tanya Lloyd Kyi
An abandoned mansion full of cats, a demolition team trying to tear it down to build luxury condos and a determined young girl make up this coming of age story in the new middle-grade novel The City of Lost Cats. Fiona lost both of her parents and lives in a small apartment with her aunt. One day she stumbles upon an old, empty house that is full of stray cats with big personalities. After learning of the fate of the building Fiona is determined to do anything she can to help her new friends.
The City of Lost Cats is for ages 10 and up.
Tanya Lloyd Kyi has written more than 30 books for children and teenagers, including The Best Way to Get Your Way, This Is Your Brain on Stereotypes, Under Pressure, Mya's Strategy to Save the World and Bompa's Insect Expedition, which she co-wrote with David Suzuki. Kyi lives in Vancouver.
My Book of Frogs and Toads by Geraldo Valério
My Book of Frogs and Toads is a nonfiction picture book that features the author's favourite species of frogs and toads from around the world. Valério includes fun facts about the different species, a world map and a diagram showing the life cycle of frogs and toads. The information is brought to life with vibrant paint and paper collage illustrations.
My Book of Frogs and Toads is for ages 3 to 6.
Geraldo Valério was born in Brazil and now lives in Toronto. His previous books include Two Green Birds, Busy, Busy Birds, At the Pond which is an Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award honour book and Blue Rider.
The Fawn by Etua Snowball, illustrated by Shuggie Crossland
Inspired by a true story, The Fawn is a heartwarming picture book about the author's experience of meeting and befriending a baby caribou when he was a child. A young boy meets a herd of caribou, and is then followed back to his cabin by a fawn. After spending the summer together the boy must learn how to say goodbye to his new friend.
The Fawn is for ages 6 to 8.
Etua Snowball is an Inuk author, musician and poet. His previous books for children include The Wolf Pup and My Pet Hawk. Snowball is based in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik.
Shuggie Crossland is an illustrator and animator. They also illustrated The Wolf Pup, written by Etua Snowball.
The Sandcastle That Jack Built by Judith Graves, illustrated by Maurice Bernard
The Sandcastle That Jack Built is a beautiful lyrical picture book that transports us to the beach where young Jack is carefully building a sandcastle, step-by-step. Jack is proud of what he's built, but when a storm threatens to destroy his sandcastle he remembers that the great thing about sandcastles is you can build another one.
The Sandcastle That Jack Built is for ages 3 to 7.
Judith Graves is a screenwriter, an illustrator and writer. Her previous books include picture book A Tale of Two Kitties and YA novels Infiltrate and Exposed. Graves lives in Summerside, P.E.I.
Maurice Bernard is an artist and art teacher who lives in Summerside, P.E.I. The Sandcastle That Jack Built is his first picture book.
Carousel Summer by Kathleen Gros
In Carousel Summer, Lucy isn't looking forward to summer — her best friend is away, she's stuck with chores and her dad won't stop criticizing her for being 'different.' But things start looking up when artist Ray and her daughter Anaïs arrive to help restore an old carousel for the town of Milforth's anniversary. Anaïs is funny, smart and easy to talk to, and for the first time, Lucy feels truly comfortable being herself — maybe even more than friends with Anaïs.
As the town faces trouble from a shady development company and tensions rise at home, Lucy struggles with how to express herself. With the whole summer ahead, she just might find the courage to embrace who she really is.
Carousel Summer is for ages 8 to 12.
Kathleen Gros is a comic book artist who was born in Toronto and now lives in Vancouver. She is the creator of the webcomic Lunar Maladies. She has also published the graphic novels Jo, Anne: An Adaptation of Anne of Green Gables (Sort Of) and Last Night at Wyrmwood High.
The Bigfoot Field Guide to Campers by Jami Gigot
The Bigfoot Field Guide to Campers (and other mysterious creatures) is a fun picture book where the story of Bigfoot is flipped around. Bigfoot is fearful of campers and gives the reader 10 helpful tips to keep safe from this species that he considers noisy, smelly and inconsiderate. But as the story progresses Bigfoot starts to reconsider his take and wonders if maybe he hasn't given campers a proper chance.
The Bigfoot Field Guide to Campers is for ages 4 to 7.
Jami Gigot is a writer and illustrator. Her previous picture books include The World in Our Backyard, Starboy and Seb and the Sun, which was shortlisted for the 2019 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award.
Astronautical! by Brooklin Stormie
A century after planet Zephyr mysteriously exploded, its people now live on floating chunks of the world. Brothers Max and Lari travel the galaxy with their dad, Captain Cherryhair, delivering goods — until their father is kidnapped by the villainous Cynosure, the Planet Breaker.
With the help of some starry ferryboat captains, the brothers set off on a daring rescue mission in Astronautical!. But when Max is injured by a black hole, Lari must step up and take charge for the first time. Can he uncover the secret of Zephyr's destruction, defeat Cynosure and save both his brother, father and their people?
Astronautical! is for ages 8 to 12.
Brooklin Stormie is an artist and illustrator from Peterborough, Ont.
Shark Girl by Kate Beaton
Kate Beaton's new picture book, Shark Girl, blends humour with ethical fishing practices, while subverting the classic mermaid tale. When Shark Girl, who is part human and part shark, gets caught up in the nets of greedy Captain Barrett's fishing boat, she realizes that the Captain is catching fish that he has no intention of eating and who would be thrown away for no reason. So Shark Girl decides to get revenge!
Shark Girl is for ages 3 to 6.
Beaton is a cartoonist from Nova Scotia who launched her career by publishing the comic strip Hark! A Vagrant online, which eventually turned into a bestselling book. Other books by Beaton include Step Aside, Pops!, King Baby, The Princess and the Pony and Ducks, which won Canada Reads 2023, defended by champion Mattea Roach.
Two Tricksters Find Friendship by Elder Johnny Aitken and Jess Willows, illustrated by Alyssa Koski
Two Tricksters Find Friendship is an early chapter book about two friends, Jessie and Johnny. Jessie moves to a small island town one summer and befriends a local boy called Johnny. They are inseparable all summer, but when they start Grade 4 outside influences start to impact their friendship. The two friends lean on one another and learn how to work through their differences.
Two Tricksters Find Friendship is for ages 6 to 8.
Elder Johnny Aitken is an artist, writer, actor and educator. He lives on Mayne Island, B.C.
Jess Willows is a teacher who lives on Mayne Island, B.C.
Alyssa Koski is an animator and an illustrator. Previous titles Koski has illustrated include the picture books Blue Camas, Blue Camas, written by Danielle S. Marcotte, and of kā-āciwīkicik/The Move, written by Doris George and Don K. Philpot, which was a finalist for the 2022 Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — illustrated books. She lives in Okotoks, Alta.
Hazel Has Her Hands Full by Nathan Fairbairn, illustrated by Michele Assarasakorn
In the fourth book of the graphic novel series, the PAWS squad is getting excited for summer vacation. When a gig for watching two cats pops up, Hazel is the only one who has the time for it. But her overprotective mother would never approve of her taking on the job alone. Regardless, she decides to give it a try to show how capable she is, but she learns that juggling everything, while keeping a big secret, is no easy task.
Hazel Has Her Hands Full is for ages 8 to 12.
Nathan Fairbairn is a Vancouver-based and Eisner-nominated comic creator. Other projects he has worked on include the characters Spider-Man, Batman, Wonder Woman and the graphic novel Lake of Fire.
Michele Assarasakorn is a colorist who has worked on comic book series such as Isola, Gotham Academy and The Magnificent Ms. Marvel. Assarasakorn is originally from Thailand and now lives in Vancouver.
Fairbairn and Assarasakorn have collaborated on the first three graphic novels in the PAWS series, Mindy Makes Some Space, Gabby Gets It Together and Priya Puts Herself First.
The Big Splash by Angela Ahn
In the early chapter book, The Big Splash, Julia and her swim team, the Vipers, are struggling with how strict their new swim coach is. When Coach Nathan suggests that the team organize a car wash fundraiser the team aren't amused, until they learn that due to pool rental fees rising in the community centre, they might lose access to their pool. Julia and the team work together to save the Vipers in the second book in the Julia on the Go! chapter book series.
The Big Splash is for ages 7 to 10.
Angela Ahn is a writer and former teacher and librarian. Her books include Peter Lee's Notes from the Field, which was on the shortlist for the 2021 Governor General's Literary award for young people's literature — text, and Swimming into Trouble, which was the first book in the Julia on the Go! early chapter book series. Ahn lives in Vancouver.
Barnacle Bay by Jana Curll
Crab is tired of the same old life in the bay — no one appreciates him and he's ready to leave. But just as he's about to go, he meets Larva, who's searching for a home in Barnacle Bay. Crab reluctantly agrees to show Larva around, introducing him to the bay's quirky residents, from oysters and mussels to bickering sea anemones.
As Larva looks for the perfect place to settle, Crab starts to see his home in a new light. Will he still want to leave or has this unexpected journey changed his mind?
Barnacle Bay is for ages 6 to 9.
Jana Curll is an illustrator and art director based in British Columbia. Her work has appeared in various mediums including video games, puzzles, maps, greeting cards, books and magazines.
My Summer Camp Has Mega Sloths by Rebecca Wood Barrett, illustrated by Jaimie MacGibbon
In the middle-grade novel My Summer Camp Has Mega Sloths, Henry is excited to attend Camp Bushwhacker, a mountain bike summer camp in the wilderness, but quickly realizes the camp is not quite what he expected. First Henry and his friends encounter a herd of gentle mega sloths from the Ice Age era and then their camp counsellor, Shifty, disappears. When the campers learn that a forest fire is headed towards their camp, they must work together to figure out how to escape.
My Summer Camp Has Mega Sloths is for ages 9 to 12.
Rebecca Wood Barrett is a Canadian writer and filmmaker whose short fiction has appeared in publications such as Room and The Antigonish Review. Barrett's middle-grade novel, My Best Friend Is Extinct, illustrated by Cornelia Li, also features the character of Henry Springs. She lives in Whistler, B.C.
Jaimie MacGibbon is a B.C.-based children's illustrator. She previously illustrated the chapter book, The Peacock, written by Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod.
