8 great book recommendations for young readers

The children's book panel with Michele Landsberg and Ken Setterington is a long-standing tradition at The Next Chapter. In the summer edition of this semi-annual feature, our trusty panellists recommend eight books to suit the tastes of every young reader.

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk  

Michele Landsberg says: "It's a seaside story set on a tiny island off Cape Cod. A tiny newborn infant floats up on this minute island, with only one inhabitant, in a skiff alone. This baby girl is rescued by a man who has journeyed there from a far and dangerous place. It becomes a very exciting story with pirates, robbers and hidden treasure. It's a seriously beautiful novel as she learns who is her real family."

Carson Crosses Canada by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Kass Reich 

Ken Setterington says: "You can see right on the cover that it's about an old woman and her dog going across the country. The two of them go on an adventure and in the endpapers, you see the map of Canada and the path they take. It's a fun book that celebrates the idea of getting in a car and driving somewhere."

Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartz, illustrated by Sydney Smith 

Michele Landsberg says: "It's about a little boy living in a Cape Breton coal mining village.  It's a lyrical, alternating vision of the light and the peaceful quiet routine of the days and this dark and rather frightening underground scene. There's this sense of the predictability of life in a small town in another era that you get beautifully."

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The Way Back Home by Allan Stratton 

Ken Setterington says: "This is the story of a young girl, Zoe Bird. She has a rough life. She has a grandmother who has Alzheimer's, who is her best friend. But her parents want to put her grandmother in a home. There's lot of family drama about granny going into the home. This girl doesn't want her there. This is a powerful book. I had tears streaming down my face by the end of it."

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Walk With Me by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng, translated by Elisa Amado ​

Michele Landsberg says: "It's a beautiful picture book, fitting for our time with so many populations displaced and so many people going through hardship. You see a little girl who is helping her mother who works in a factory. She imagines a lion who will walk with her and protect her through the bad neighbourhoods while she goes and picks up her baby brother from childcare."

The Fashion Committee by Susan Juby ​

Ken Setterington says: "This is a book about fashion. It's written from a male and female point of view, about trying to get into school for design. One [perspective] is a boy who doesn't care about fashion at all. And the other is a fashion-obsessed young girl. It's a laugh-out-loud book!"

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The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue, illustrated by Caroline Hadilaksono ​

Michele Landsberg says: "It's about a boisterous and diverse family: a gay couple, a lesbian couple and seven kids. It's filled with language play and it's heartwarming too."

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Greetings, Leroy by Itah Sadu, illustrated by Alix Delinois ​

Ken Setterington says: "It's about a young boy coming to Canada. He is writing home, trying to get information about what's going on with all his friends in Jamaica. He has a Bob Marley button that his neighbour gives him, but he loses it. It shows the importance of family, friends and Bob Marley for somebody moving to Canada."

Michele Landsberg's and Ken Setterington's comments have been edited and condensed.