Going into Annie Mack’s debut middle grade novel, I didn’t expect a goopy little monster to be the reason main character James Dawson makes a good friend at his new school. But when the family moves from Vancouver to a little town outside Kamloops, BC, to set up their bookstore—one that sells crystals and special herbs—James seems like the perfect candidate to help a classmate figure out what’s been slobbering in his ear at night. Although there is a magical aspect to the story, Mack intertwines many key STEM concepts into the plot: the five senses, for once, and especially the scientific meth ..read more

By Nicholas Saumur Do you remember the One Story a Day contest? That country-wide writing competition where children across Canada get a chance to show off their writing skills to the world? Last year, we received over 350 submissions that told all kinds of unique stories. This year, we are looking to find even more spectacular tales than before. If this sounds interesting or you need a refresher, here is everything you need to know. For this event, children from grades 1-6 are allowed to participate; this includes children who are homeschooled as well. They are free to write up to two stories ..read more

May 4th 2024 is the release date for the highly anticipated debut picture book by Canadian author Darcie Naslund, My Mom Is Not a Superhero. The story follows a little girl whose mother has Multiple Sclerosis as she discovers that some superheroes are fighting invisible battles. With the help of her cat and some X-ray glasses, she learns just how strong her mom is and how she can help her. Illustrated by Dania El Khatib and published by DC Canada, My Mom Is Not a Superhero is the perfect book for kids 5 to 9. What was the inspiration behind this story? Darcie: I have always loved superher ..read more

Have you ever been to the circus? Seen people breathe fire, swallow swords, and get shot out of canons? These amazing acts are part of little Adam’s daily life as the youngest member of a famous circus family. And while his family tries to get him interested in their craft, it takes a while before they learn to listen… to what Adam wants to do. Slovenian author Žiga X Gombač spins a tale of daring feats and thunderous applause, but these are simply a background to the story of a young boy who wants to follow his passion and feel seen within a busy family dynamic. Finally, one simple question ..read more

Regardless of whether you’re a fan of avocado toast, you’ll surely be entranced by Avocado Magic, a touching story about growth by Israeli author-illustrator Taltal Levi. The story follows a young girl who, a bit impatient to grow up, learns to slow down and enjoy life as she waits for her avocado pit to turn into a tree. With her father’s life lessons in mind, our young protagonist -and her plant- go through the many different stages of human existence from youth to adulthood in a beautiful medley of soft yellows, greens, and oranges, with occasional bursts of bright colour. Levi’s pencil-cra ..read more

As the start of the school years looms ever closer, some kids may start feeling a little bit nervous. Change can be scary! And trying to find a balance between fitting in and being yourself is always tough. If you’ve already bought all the school supplies your kids need for this year, and maybe even prepared an outfit for the first day back, you may be sighing in relief (and perhaps even celebrating!). But what can you do to get your kids as excited as you are? Sticking together. For younger kids especially, going back to school after spending all summer with their family can feel a bit like b ..read more

May 4th 2024 is the release date for the highly anticipated debut picture book by Canadian author Darcie Naslund, My Mom Is Not a Superhero. The story follows a little girl whose mother has Multiple Sclerosis as she discovers that some superheroes are fighting invisible battles. With the help of her cat and some X-ray glasses, she learns just how strong her mom is and how she can help her. Illustrated by Dania El Khatib and published by DC Canada, My Mom Is Not a Superhero is the perfect book for kids 5 to 9. What was the inspiration behind this story? Darcie: I have always loved superher ..read more

Going into Annie Mack’s debut middle grade novel, I didn’t expect a goopy little monster to be the reason main character James Dawson makes a good friend at his new school. But when the family moves from Vancouver to a little town outside Kamloops, BC, to set up their bookstore—one that sells crystals and special herbs—James seems like the perfect candidate to help a classmate figure out what’s been slobbering in his ear at night. Although there is a magical aspect to the story, Mack intertwines many key STEM concepts into the plot: the five senses, for once, and especially the scientific meth ..read more

Puzzles are a unique resource that allow kids to learn in so many ways at once! Teamwork or autonomy, patterns and shapes, dexterity, plus whatever the puzzle theme is… there’s no better tool to build skills while having a blast. The post Why use puzzles in children’s education? appeared first on DC Canada Education Publishing ..read more

Have you ever been to the circus? Seen people breathe fire, swallow swords, and get shot out of canons? These amazing acts are part of little Adam’s daily life as the youngest member of a famous circus family. And while his family tries to get him interested in their craft, it takes a while before they learn to listen… to what Adam wants to do. Slovenian author Žiga X Gombač spins a tale of daring feats and thunderous applause, but these are simply a background to the story of a young boy who wants to follow his passion and feel seen within a busy family dynamic. Finally, one simple question ..read more