The Biggest Job of All by
When Lulu grows up, she wants "a really,reallybig job." She doesn't want to wash elephantsshe'd get all wet. She doesn't want to be a doctorshe doesn't like shots. She doesn't want to drive a big righard hats itch. She wants the biggest, most important job of allbuy what should it be? A mommy? An author? Nothing is out of the question for Lulu! Her simple game of "Whats the biggest job of all?" will open young readers to the many possibilities beforethemtoo. The perfect gift for both working and stay-at-home moms.
Butterflies Belong Here by
Butterflies Belong Here is a powerful story of everyday activism and hope. In this moving story of community conservation, a girl finds a home in a new place and a way to help other small travelers. This book is about the real change children can make in conservation and advocacy--in this case, focusing on beautiful monarch butterflies. * From Deborah Hopkinson and Meilo So, the acclaimed team behindFollow the Moon Home * An empowering, classroom-ready read * The protagonist is a girl whose family has recently immigrated to the United States. I know what to look for: large black-and-orange wings with a border of small white specks, flitting from flower to flower, sipping nectar. But though I looked hard, I couldn't find even one. I wondered if monarch butterflies belonged here. I wondered if I did, too. Butterflies Belong Here is proof that even the smallest of us are capable of amazing transformations. * Equal parts educational and heartwarming, this makes a great gift for parents and grandparents, as well as librarians, science teachers, and educators. * Those interested in beautiful butterflies and everyday activism will find this lovely book both motivating and inspiring. * Perfect for children ages 5 to 8 years old * Add it to the shelf with books likeThank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet by April Pulley Sayre,The Honeybee by Kirsten Hall, andGreta and the Giants: Inspired by Greta Thunberg's Stand to Save the World by Zoë Tucker
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by
Through lively, accessible verse, readers identify recognizable careers that are fundamental to most communities. Look on and below seven clotheslines and spot colorful items, including the mail carrier's uniform, the artist's brushes, and the chef's apron. Then turn the page to learn which professionals wear and use the special gear in the jobs they do. Clever illustrations show the workers helping one another, and in the end, everyone joins together for a celebration that is out of this world.
The Fire Station by
This story starts out with a familiar premise: Michael and Sheila visit a fire station. But then the Munsch flair for imaginative insight and humor take over. While the two kids are exploring a fire truck, an alarm goes off--and away go Michael and Sheila to the rescue!
First Day Jitters by
Everyone knows that sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach just before diving into a new situation. Sarah Jane Hartwell is scared and doesn't want to start over at a new school. She doesn't know anybody, and nobody knows her. It will be awful. She just knows it. With much prodding from Mr. Hartwell, Sarah Jane reluctantly pulls herself together and goes to school. She is quickly befriended by Mrs. Burton, who helps smooth her jittery transition. This charming and familiar story will delight readers with its surprise ending. Fun, energetic illustrations brighten page after page with the busy antics surrounding Sarah Jane. FIRST DAY JITTERS is an enchanting story that is sure to be treasured by anyone who has ever anticipated a first day of school.
From Far Away by
When Saoussan immigrated with her family from war-torn Lebanon, she was only seven years old. This picture book tells the story of how she had to adjust to her new home in Canada. She describes the frustration of not understanding the teacher when she started school, not knowing how to ask to go to the bathroom, and being terrified of a Hallowe'en skeleton. This is the perfect book to help kids empathize with immigrant children whose experiences are very similar to Saoussan's.
I Am One by
Discover the power of activism in this companion to New York Times bestsellers I Am Human and I Am Love! One seed to start a garden, one note to start a melody, one brick to start breaking down walls: Every movement and moment of change starts with purpose, with intention, with one. With me. With you. From the #1 New York Times bestselling team behind I Am Yoga, I Am Peace, I Am Human, and I Am Love comes a powerful call to action, encouraging each reader to raise their voice, extend a hand, and take that one first step to start something beautiful and move toward a better world. Includes a guided mediation and self-reflection activity.
Lola at the Library by
Learn about the library, checking out books, and story time with Lola. Every Tuesday Lola and her mommy go to the library. Lola meets her friends there. They share books and don't have to be quiet all the time. The nice librarian tells stories. There is a big machine that buzzes Lola's books in and out, and she can take any books she wants home with her. Lola and her mommy always stop for a treat on the way home. No wonder Lola loves the library. This gentle story of growing with books encourages little ones to discover the joy of reading as well as getting them ready and excited to visit the library. Sweet, bright illustrations are from a kids-eye point of view. Perfect for a lap read or story time, the first in Lola series, LOLA AT THE LIBRARY is a book young readers will fall in love with.
One Love by
Adapted from one of Bob Marley's most beloved songs,One Love brings the joyful spirit and unforgettable lyrics of his music to life for a new generation. Readers will delight in dancing to the beat and feeling the positive groove of change when one girl enlists her community to help transform her neighborhood for the better. Adapted by Cedella Marley, Bob Marley's first child, and gorgeously illustrated by Vanessa Newton, this heartwarming picture book offers an upbeat testament to the amazing things that can happen when we all get together with onelove in our hearts.
Perfect Man by
Michael Maxwell McCallum lives in a world just like ours, but peopled by superheroes. When Michaelís hero, Perfect Man, quits his job without warning, Michael isnít worried. He knows that Perfect Man will come back. He always does. So that September, when a new teacher shows up in his classroom, a teacher with a number of special powers, Michael figures it out right away. Mr. Clark is Perfect Man. Mr. Clark doesnít say yes and he doesnít say no to Michaelís endless questions, but he does encourage Michael to find his own super powers.
So Many Days by
Life is full of surprises, big and small, and what children will grow up to do with their lives is one of the biggest and most joyful surprise of all. So Many Days reminds us to celebrate the choices our children make along the way, and the bravery it takes for them to decide exactly who they want to be. Like Dr. Seuss's Oh, The Places You'll Go, it's a perfect gift for graduations, weddings, new babies, difficult transitions, and when you simply want to let someone know you adore them.
The Doll by
A young girl and her family arrive in an airport in a new country. They are refugees, migrants who have travelled across the world to find safety. Strangers greet them, and one of them gives the little girl a doll. Decades later, that little girl is grown up and she has the chance to welcome a group of refugees who are newly arrived in her adopted country. To the youngest of them, a little girl, she gives a doll, knowing it will help make her feel welcome. Inspired by real events.
Franklin's Neighborhood by
In this Franklin Classic Storybook, Franklin's first school project is to create a picture of what he likes best about his neighborhood. Franklin can't decide what to draw. Beaver chooses the library and Moose decides on the pond. Franklin likes those places, too. But what about the fire station? Or the park? After considering all the many choices, Franklin finally decides that it's the people, rather than the places, that make his neighborhood so special.
Going Up! by
Today is Olive's birthday party, and Sophie and her dad have baked cookies. Sophie's dad holds the platter so Sophie can push the elevator button for the tenth floor. But on the way up, the elevator stops to let the Santucci brothers get on. Then on the next floor, Vicky, Babs and their dog, Norman, get in. And as the elevator ascends, it keeps stopping, and more neighbors squeeze in to the crowded space: the Habibs, the Flores family, Mr. Kwan, Vi Tweedle with her Chihuahua, Minx. Everyone is going to the party! Playfully combining the excitement and anticipation of a party with children's universal love of riding in elevators, Sherry J. Lee's picture book story is ultimately about community and a sense of belonging. With characters from many cultural backgrounds, it showcases the everyday diversity that many urban children experience. Charlene Chua's illustrations provide loads of funny details and visual narratives that aren't in the text, making for a multilayered reading experience. The book's tall, narrow trim size adds to the effect of the rising elevator.
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by
CONNECTIONS: Construction industry. Services provided by machine operators.
Look Where We Live! by
In this engaging nonfiction picture book, five young friends -- Nick, Yulee, Pedro, Sally and Martin -- spend the day traveling around their neighbourhood and participating in activities designed to raise money for their local library. Along the way, they learn about the people and places that make up their community and what it means to be a part of one. A map opens the story, with each of the places the children will be visiting labelled, including the gas station, retirement home, school, police station, soccer field, community garden and, of course, the library! Then each of the following spreads features a different location, detailed in a bright, busy illustration. Illustration captions expand the locations' connections to the concept of community. For example, when they stop at a yard sale, the caption reads, "Donating means you give something to help a good cause. You can donate money, things or your time." In some cases, readers are asked to find things or people within the illustrations, which adds an interactive experience. Author and illustrator Scot Ritchie has created a rich resource for social studies lessons on places, roles and jobs within a community, and what it takes to be a responsible citizen. But there is also the potential here for even broader classroom discussions, including about the economy of a community, geography and mapping, and how the character education concepts of cooperation, responsibility and teamwork apply. The author has also included step-by-step instructions for a puzzle-making project. AGES: 4 to 7 AUTHOR: Scot Ritchie is an illustrator and writer. He has been illustrating and making art for many years. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of British Columbia and was able to take his final year of schooling in Athens, Greece. Here he could study sculpture and artefacts first hand, and of course hang out in tavernas and go to the beach a lot. Colour illustrations
Mighty, Mighty Construction Site by
The #1 New York Times bestseller At last--here from the team behind the beloved international bestseller comes a companion to Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site. All of our favorite trucks are back on the construction site--this time with a focus on team-building, friendship, and working together to make a big task seem small! Down in the big construction site, the crew faces their biggest job yet, and will need the help of new construction friends to get it done. Working as a team, there's nothing they can't do! The millions of fans of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site are in for a mighty good time!
Night Shift by One Love by
Adapted from one of Bob Marley's most beloved songs,One Love brings the joyful spirit and unforgettable lyrics of his music to life for a new generation. Readers will delight in dancing to the beat and feeling the positive groove of change when one girl enlists her community to help transform her neighborhood for the better. Adapted by Cedella Marley, Bob Marley's first child, and gorgeously illustrated by Vanessa Newton, this heartwarming picture book offers an upbeat testament to the amazing things that can happen when we all get together with onelove in our hearts.
Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by 
Our Corner Grocery Store by
CONNECTION: the value of a neighbourhood corner store for the community it serves.
A picture book that celebrates local shops and building communities. Anna Maria takes great pleasure and pride in her grandparents’ corner grocery store. Every Saturday she spends the day helping to arrange fruits and vegetables, greet the customers, and keep things neat and tidy. Through her day we meet the neighbors and learn what an important part the corner grocery store plays in the community. Nonno Domenico, Nonna Rosa, and Anna Maria supply more than goods as the steady stream of customers arrives. Lunches are made, news is shared, bargains are purchased, recipes are traded, and cheerful ciaos are called. By the end of a long day, Anna Maria has a true sense of just how wonderful the sights and smells within the store are and how much they mean to everyone. Charmingly illustrated in great detail, Our Corner Grocery Store pays tribute to the small independent grocers who supply color and atmosphere to city streets. Young readers will particularly enjoy finding and naming the wide array of produce, breads, candies, and dry goods that abound in this friendly establishment.
Over the Shop by
In a beautifully detailed wordless picture book, a tumbledown building becomes home sweet home for a found family. A lonely little girl and her grandparent need to fill the run-down apartment in their building. But taking over the quarters above their store will mean major renovations for the new occupants, and none of the potential renters can envision the possibilities of the space--until one special couple shows up. With their ingenuity, the little girl's big heart, and heaps of hard work, the desperate fixer-upper begins to change in lovely and surprising ways. In this bustling wordless picture book, JonArno Lawson's touching story and Qin Leng's gentle illustrations capture all angles of the building's transformation, as well as the evolving perspectives of the girl and her grandparent. A warm and subtly nuanced tale, Over the Shop throws open the doors to what it means to accept people for who they are and to fill your home with love and joy.
Subway by 
This Is Me by
From the #1 New York Times bestselling creative team of Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell comes a timely picture book about immigration. Raising important identity issues like "Where did we come from?" and "Who are we?" This Is Me is as delightful as it is important, sure to stimulate dinner table conversation. In This Is Me a teacher tells her class about her great-grandmother's dislocating journey from home to a new country with nothing but a small suitcase to bring along. And she asks: What would you pack? What are the things you love best? What says "This is me!" With its lively, rhyming language and endearing illustrations, it's a book to read again and again, imagining the lives of the different characters, finding new details in the art, thinking about what it would be like to move someplace completely different. It's an interactive book, too: Tucked into the back cover is a sturdy pop-up suitcase. And as a younger reader fills the suitcase, he or she learns a lot about what really matters: Now YOU take this case/ and imagine it's true,/ that you're leaving and needing/ to choose what says YOU.
Town Is by the Sea by
Winner of CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Winner of the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award A young boy wakes up to the sound of the sea, visits his grandfather's grave after lunch and comes home to a simple family dinner with his family, but all the while his mind strays to his father digging for coal deep down under the sea. Stunning illustrations by Sydney Smith, the award-winning illustrator of Sidewalk Flowers, show the striking contrast between a sparkling seaside day and the darkness underground where the miners dig. With curriculum connections to communities and the history of mining, this beautifully understated and haunting story brings a piece of Canadian history to life. The ever-present ocean and inevitable pattern of life in a Cape Breton mining town will enthrall children and move adult readers.
Whose Hands Are These? by
If your hands can mix and mash, what job might you have? What if your hands reach, wrench, yank, and crank? The hands in this book--and the people attached to them--do all sorts of helpful work. And together, these helpers make their community a safe and fun place to live. As you read, keep an eye out for community members who make repeat appearances! Can you guess all the jobs based on the actions of these busy hands?
Why Should I Recycle? by
What if everybody threw away old bottles and newspapers, littering the world with glass and plastic and tin cans that should be recycled and made into new products? Mr. Jones is a teacher who sets a good example for kids by separating his trash for recycling. When he takes them on a class trip to a recycling plant they learn the value of recycling. Part of every child's development involves asking questions. Today, some of the most important questions kids ask are related to the natural environment. The enlightening and entertaining four-book Why Should I? series demonstrates the importance of protecting nature. Books present brief, entertaining stories that answer children's questions and feature amusing color illustrations on every page. A note at the back of each book is for parents and teachers, suggesting ways to use these books most effectively.
Arctic Stories by
Ten-year-old Agatha, an Inuit girl, is the reluctant heroine in this tapestry of Arctic tales set in the 1950s. Each tale has its origins in Kusugak's own childhood experiences.
Baseball Bats for Christmas by
Never having seen trees, the children in Repulse Bay decide that the funny things delivered to them one year for Christmas must actually be for making baseball bats.
Métis Like Me by
Are you Metis like me? A group of children of Metis descent share and explore all the ways they celebrate and experience their heritage - enjoying traditional foods like bannock bread and Saskatoon berries; crafting with beads; sharing stories, dance, music and songs. Each child shares a different way they enjoy honouring their backgrounds and weaving parts of the rich tapestry that makes up Metis culture. One child, though, has grown up disconnected from their history, and can't join in with the others in the same way. But they soon see it's never too late to learn, celebrate or become a part of a community in which Metis and non-Metis alike can discover the richness of an often-overlooked culture. This rhythmic, jubilant book will encourage young readers of all backgrounds to celebrate their own heritage and learn more about Metis history, and contains back matter including an author's note, recipe and dictionary to further inspire.
Nimoshom and His Bus by
Nimoshom loved to drive the school bus. Every day, on the way to and from school, he had something to say. Sometimes, he told the kids silly stories. Sometimes, he taught the kids a new word in Cree. Nimoshom and His Bus introduces basic Cree words. A glossary is included in the back of the book.
Niwechihaw / I Help by
Written and illustrated by members of the Tahltan and Cree nations, this sweet, simple story looks at a very special relationship. A young boy goes for a walk with his kohkom, or grandmother, listening, picking, praying, eating . . . just as she does. In doing so, he begins to learn the rich cultural traditions and values of his Cree heritage. Leona Neilson's thoughtful text and Caitlin Dale Nicholson’s acrylic-on-canvas illustrations blend beautifully to show both the deep bond between the boy and his grandmother and the beauty of their world. Poetic, resonant text makes this an ideal read-aloud for young ears.
A Walk on the Shoreline by
Young Nukappia can't wait to get out to his family campsite on the shoreline. After spending all year in the south with his adoptive parents, Nukappia always looks forward to his summer visits with his birth family. After spending one night in town, Nukappia and his uncle Angu begin the long walk down the shore to the family summer campsite, where all of Nukappia's cousins and aunts and uncles are waiting for him. Along the way, Nukappia learns that the shoreline is not just ice and rocks and water. There is an entire ecosystem of plants and animals that call the shoreline home. From seaweed to clams to char to shore grasses, there is far more to see along the shoreline than Nukappia ever imagined.
