CBC Kids host Lisette Xavier shares 6 books that made her laugh, cry and reflect on her life
Lisette Xavier is the host of new CBC Kids original live action series Bestest Day Ever With My Best Friend!, debuting Monday, July 31 on CBC and CBC Gem.
To mark the new show's release, Xavier shared with CBC Books a few books that have shaped her life and work.
Here is Lisette Xavier's life in books.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
"Note to reader: setting boundaries doesn't mean you stop loving someone. Setting boundaries helps you love them longer.
"The Giving Tree is one of those books that teach us a lesson by being able to examine the failings of our protagonist. I grew up LOVING this book and always saw the tree as the hero and the little boy as this selfish, terrible monster who wouldn't know love if it hit him in the face. As an adult, I have a very different take on it. The 'selflessness' of the tree served no one in the end. For most of my life, I thought this book was an exercise in generosity whereas now I see it as a lesson in boundaries.
For most of my life, I thought this book was an exercise in generosity whereas now I see it as a lesson in boundaries.
"You can love someone and say no. You can love someone and not be able to fix their problems. In fact, this is probably the case 99% of the time. I might argue that to love someone is to say no and know when the truth is more empowering than comfort.
"And the boy? We could assume that he knew when he was taking advantage of the tree's kindness, but if we don't set boundaries for the people in our lives — especially the people we love — we don't give them a chance to meet our needs in a healthy way.
"I loved this book as a child because I thought I wanted to be the tree. I love this book as an adult because the tree taught me how to not end up a stump."
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
"Note to reader: you may not cry but your heart will break into a million pieces.
"I went into this book — as I go into most books — with no knowledge or expectation. Going into a movie or book completely unknown allows for a very fun journey of discovery as you gradually piece together the story. The pacing of Pachinko was the first thing that drew me in.
The experience of reading it was raw — like looking at a reflection of how quickly my own family's saga continues to unfurl.
"This historical fiction spans four generations of a Korean immigrant family as they navigate loyalty, love and loss through displacement, tragedy and systemic hate. Much like real life, so many moments felt too brief while others linger for much longer. The experience of reading it was raw — like looking at a reflection of how quickly my own family's saga continues to unfurl.
"Despite the harsh realities of this multi-generational tale, the constant emphasis on growth and love is at the heart of this read. It left me feeling desperately broken as much as I felt desperately hopeful."
LISTEN | Min Jin Lee on Writers & Company
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
"Note to Reader: you will be reminded that art heals and the human spirit is the strongest force on earth.
"This book was inspired by the life experiences of Yusef Salaam, who was only 15 years old when he and four other youths were falsely accused of a crime in Central Park — later known as the 'Central Park Jogger' case. While the story is not an autobiography, it definitely pulls on Yusef's own heartbreak, thoughts and struggles through his experiences as a young Black child whose life was unjustly thrown into a broken prison system.
This book made me want to hold my children closer and protect every other child around me.
"Usually, I find fictional books 'easier' to read in that the stories aren't real. But this one was truly heartbreaking — note to self, pick a happy book for at least one of these recommendations. It did an incredible job of authentically showcasing the hard truths about incarceration while giving insight into the resiliency of the human spirit. Yusef's original poetry is showcased in this book as the lyrics of our main character and it drew me in even closer.
"This isn't real, but it is real. This didn't happen, but it's happening right now. This book made me want to hold my children closer and protect every other child around me. Maybe a little more protectiveness is exactly what the world needs."
LISTEN | Yusef Salaam on The Current
I've Got Your Back by Jorge Arteaga and Emily May
"Note to reader: having a plan to help is the hardest step.
"Is this one of my favourite books of all time? No. Do I think everyone should read it? Absolutely. I Got Your Back is a short, easy read focused on helping us understand de-escalation and bystander intervention. 'Okay Lisette, what does that even mean?' For me, it means that if I witness an injustice, attack, or micro-aggression — I have a plan that I feel comfortable with in my mind and my body to be a helpful witness.
What I appreciated most about this book was the way the authors addressed both sides of a conflict.
"I loved how the co-authors break down the five D's in easy-to-digest descriptions.
"Direct, Delegate, Delay, Distract, Document. They helped me understand how to assess which of these categories I naturally fell into so that I could make a plan to be a supportive bystander if and when I experience someone being harassed.
"What I appreciated most about this book was the way the authors addressed both sides of a conflict. It allowed me to see not only how I might be better in the future — but also how my behaviour in past situations was harmful. I think the world needs more books that can help us view our mistakes with compassion and inspire us to be better. I also can't stress enough how empowering it has been to move through diverse spaces and know exactly how and what to do as conflict arises. It has directly impacted my everyday life and I think if more people were equipped with the tools this book gives us — we could all help foster a safer world where everyone feels seen and validated."
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
"Note to reader: this book had me in a perma-smile — be warned your cheeks may hurt.
"Okay, we need a happy book and this is it. I don't know if it was the method in which Benjamin Hoff wrote the book — like the traditional Pooh stories with sudden and spontaneous interruptions from Pooh — but this was one of the most fun reads of my adult life.
As someone who used to OBSESS about time and progress, this book helped me begin my journey into "letting go" and trusting the journey.
"As someone who had minimal knowledge of Eastern philosophy and religion, it literally changed how I think. The playful and familiar depictions of the famous Winnie the Pooh characters lent themselves to the ease with which I was able to grasp the concepts.
"As someone who used to OBSESS about time and progress, this book helped me begin my journey into "letting go" and trusting the journey. The story about the farmer and his son, which I've come to learn is a very famous story with various versions from around the world, is one that I still recite to this day. The Tao of Pooh is one of the few books I have ever read multiple times and each time it fills me with the same sense of joy, calm and amusement."
A History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray Belcourt
"Note to reader: graphic and true. Blasphemous and beautiful.
"And we're back to heavy books that make you cry. This is hands down, the most beautifully penned book that I have ever read and easily the most quotable. You might find yourself reading a line that changes your life, spending the next three hours processing it… only to have the cycle repeat a few pages later.
I think I re-read every single page because the songlike autobiography made even the most tragic and tormenting moments of his life seep through with hope and beauty.
"This short memoir examines the complexities of being a young, gay Indigenous man who is searching for healing from generational hurt while yearning for the joys of what the future may bring. I think I re-read every single page because the songlike autobiography made even the most tragic and tormenting moments of his life seep through with hope and beauty.
"A History of My Brief Body is graphic and true. It is blasphemous and beautiful. It broke me and simultaneously gave me life. To call him a poet seems lacking. To call him a philosopher seems flat. The combination of his wisdom at such a young age and his gift of words has made him one of my favourite authors of all time and I hope to one day see the hope in the world that he sees."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
