He was a punk…He did ballet. What more can I say? For those who have the Avril Lavigne hit in their heads as they read the title, you’ll definitely have that song stuck in your head throughout the whole book, because Anthony Nerada’s debut novel Skater Boy is loosely based on that song, but it…
I received close to 10 holiday picture books for review this year, but I’ve been picky and gave away a few, while I also siphoned off a few to highlight for my radio segment. I chose to highlight these 3 books because they were some of my kids’ favourites (cats make an appearance in each…
I’m not going to make a habit of reviewing middle grade fiction but I’ll admit to being convinced into reading The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett by a very persuasive pitch from a publicist at HarperCollins Canada. She said it was fantastic, and she was right (give this woman a raise!). Plus Everett is…
Admittedly a strange topic, these two picture books found their way onto my shelf at different times, and they both happen to feature seniors. One is a look back at a life well-lived as it comes to a close, while the other is a period in time of an older gentleman who lives alone but…
Reading holiday books as Christmas draws nearer is a tradition I truly cherish with my kids. We all get excited to pull out the favourites from the years before, and discover the new gems that publishers send my way for review. I didn’t receive as many as I typically do this year, which I’m grateful…
Before I get any Canlit lovers TOO excited, I should mention straight away that this is a middle grade novel meant for kids aged 9-13, Lawrence Hill has not written another adult book yet. But for those who are fans of his, perhaps reading this book may scratch that itch for a little while. I…
I was excited to see another Flavia Z. Drago picture book land on my doorstep in the lead up to Halloween, because my kids loved her first book Gustavo the Shy Ghost, and it’s still a go-to book for our reading all year round. The second ‘creepy’ picture book I’m reviewing for Halloween is part…
We all need a little push now and then, and these kids books offer opportunities for growth, in many different aspects of our lives. How to Apologize by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka communicates a very clear message that children and adults alike will benefit from. In very clear illustrations and examples, it shows…
What I loved about all these books was the ability to open up my kids’ minds to something different – a different way of life, a different way of seeing things, and most importantly, a different perspective, and the gorgeous illustrations in each were just the beginning. I originally imagined including Snow Angel, Sand Angel…
I’ll admit that the suggestion of ‘treats’ in the titles of these books appealed to me, as I’ve got an insatiable sweet tooth. And the dynamic author and illustrator duo Jory John and Pete Oswald have a popular streak of books behind them, so without even flipping through the pages of this picture book I…
There is never a shortage of Christmas books to bombard children with, but what if you took this time to teach them about other ways families celebrate as well? My kids love to see their favourite cartoon characters in a Christmas-themed story, and we have plenty of those at home too, but I love how…
Anything Cale Atkinson writes and/or illustrates tends to go over well in this house. His graphic novel series for early readers is a new favourite of my kids because it’s not too text-heavy and the pictures are super cute. Simon and Chester first appeared together in the picture book Sir Simon, and now that they…
