Written by France Desmarais and Richard Adam Illustrated by Yves Dumont Translated by Nicholas Aumais Pajama Press 978-1-77278-283-7 56 pp. Ages 8-12 March 2023 From issues of transportation and land use, to balancing human needs with environmental stewardship and sustainability, urban studies are an important part of the school curricula from Grades 3 upwards. But focusing on cities in all their nuances, from their histories to their economies, politics, services, and cultures, is a tall order. Still, France Desmarais gives us that big picture because of Richard Adam's background in urban s ..read more

  Written by Morgan Rhodes Razorbill 978-0-593351659 400 pp. Ages 12-18 2022  Reviewed from audiobook (978-0-593502839) Josslyn Drake has always led a privileged life as the First Daughter of the Regarian prime minister. Of course, things changed drastically when her father was assassinated by the warlock Lord Zarek Banyon at last year's Queen's Gala. Still, Queen Isadora, a close family friend, has allowed her to stay in the PM's residence, now home to Prime Minister Ambrose and Celina, his daughter and Joss's best friend, as well as providing Joss with a generous allowance. But ..read more

Art by Peter H. Reynolds Words by Marc Colagiovanni Orchard Books 978-1-338-83118-4 32 pp. Ages 4-8 March 2023   Of course, things don't always go right. That's life. But how we handle it when things don't go right makes for a good story when we get back on track. From When Things Aren't Going Right, Go Left by Mark Colagiovanni, illus. by Peter H. Reynolds In Rhode Island's Marc Colagiovanni's debut picture book, a child is burdened by a box of worries, a sack of doubts, a suitcase of fears and a knapsack of frustrations. He wants to try something that has frustrated him, wo ..read more

March 22 has been designed World Water Day. It's a day to celebrate water, from its role in our lives to our role in its sustainability and protection. From drinking water to rivers, and oceans to ponds, water plays a critical role in our lives and we in its. Some of these books celebrate our everyday relationships with water, from its life-sustaining role to our use of it for swimming, but some, especially those for older readers, emphasize the power of water during storms and floods. Others speak to the inequities of water availability and our role in water's conservation. Whether encourag ..read more

Written by Danielle Daniel Illustrated by Josée Bisaillon Groundwood Books 978-1-77306-695-0 32 pp. Ages 3-6 March 2023   In 2015, Danielle Daniel brought us Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox to help her own child identify with his First Nations roots and allow other children to see themselves in the strengths and behaviours of animals. Now, Danielle Daniel has teamed up with illustrator Josée Bisaillon to take children on another sensory experience, one in which her poems reflect feelings as landscape elements from rivers to oceans and even the moon. From Sometimes I Feel Like a Riv ..read more

Written by Nancy Cooper Illustrated by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley Owlkids Books  978-1-77147-515-0 32 pp. Ages 3-7 March 2023   It may be a reunion of beavers, but Amik's little sister Nishiime is a little anxious. What should she expect from all these beavers coming from far and wide? From Biindigen! Amik Says Welcome by Nancy Cooper, illus. by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley From the East and the far West, from the North and the South, Amik's cousins arrive and are welcomed. They bring gifts from their regions, whether a woven headband or berries in a basket, all ge ..read more

Written and illustrated by Amberlea Williams Princeton Architectural Press 978-1-797222509 40 pp. Ages 4-8 March 2023 Though some parts of Canada will still be hit by significant snowfalls today, we'll all be anticipating spring and all that that season brings with it: bees, flowers, warmer temperatures, rain and so much more. But things aren't always as expected as Sasha learns. From The Bee Without Wings by Amberlea Williams While out with her cat Molly, Sasha finds a bee that is acting differently. She soon realizes it has no wings. She tries to help it, first by bringing it to ..read more

This review was written by student Bronte L.   Written by Philippa Dowding DCB 978-1-770866652 231 pp. Ages 9-12 2022  The robot Echo1 awakes from slumber and, with the help of Guide, a voice in its ear, and the robot bird Peregrine1, travels the continents’ four Oculum domes and the barren deserts. Echo1's task is to search for life and monitor the starting of a civilization of humans to make sure they don’t make the mistakes of the past.    Outside of Oculum, Grannie’s farm is bombed, and Miranda1, Mannfred, and Grannie must lead the children originally from Oculum to ..read more

  Do you love books?   Do you know Canadian books and authors?   Would you like to talk about books with other young readers?   How about contributing your recommendations to a summer reading list?   If you answered "Yes" to these questions, then have I got an activity for you! Applications are now being accepted for the Forest of Reading's Forest Kid and Teen Committees. These committees bring young readers together to talk Canadian books and prepare summer reading lists for their peers.      Who can apply? There are three committees, based on grade ..read more

Written by Sunshine Quem Tenasco Illustrated by Chief Lady Bird North Winds Press (Scholastic Canada) 978-1-4431-8767-1 32 pp. Ages 4-8 March 2023 Most of us, adult and child alike, will see something less than perfect in our appearance: too wide, too short, too white, too dark, nose or teeth too big, eyes too widely-spaced. There’s always seems to something that we see that others may or may not. How to see the truth? From Smile So Big by Sunshine Quem Tenasco, illus. by Chief Lady Bird Challa has a big, toothy smile and when she gets teased about it, her mom reassures her and s ..read more