The best Canadian books for kids & teens in 2024
Here are the CBC Books picks for top Canadian titles for kids and teens this year!
Still My Tessa by Sylv Chiang, illustrated by Mathias Ball
Still My Tessa is a book about practicing with pronouns and accepting people for who they are. Evelyn is worried about Tessa — they don't want to play the same games they used to play together anymore. Determined to find new ways to connect with her older sibling, she learns to see Tessa as a non-binary person by practicing using new pronouns for them.
Still My Tessa won the 2024 edition of CBC Kids Reads. It was championed by Gary the Unicorn.
Still My Tessa is for ages 3 to 8.
Sylv Chiang is a teacher and a children's book author. She also wrote the middle-grade series, Cross Ups, which includes the books Rising Star, Anyone's Game and Tournament Trouble. Still My Tessa is Chiang's first picture book. She grew up in Toronto and now lives in Pickering, Ont.
Mathias Ball is a trans-identified illustrator from Goderich, Ont. Other picture books they've illustrated include Every Body Is a Rainbow by Caroline Carter and What If Bedtime Didn't Exist? by Francine Cunningham.
Night of the Living Zed by Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester
Night of the Living Zed is the middle-grade sequel to The Fabulous Zed Watson!. The smart and sleuthing best friend duo, Zed and Gabe are back and on the hunt to crack another cryptic case. The Glydebourne Manor was once home to a great opera designer and is hosting a ghoulish challenge — solve the puzzles in each room before midnight over three days. Can Zed and Gabe conquer their fears and win the prize money for their friends' wedding?
Night of the Living Zed is for ages 8 to 12.
Basil Sylvester is a non-binary writer based in Toronto. Their father, Kevin Sylvester, is a broadcaster and the award-winning illustrator and writer of middle-grade books such as the Neil Flambé Capers series and the MiNRS space adventure series.
Crash Landing by Li Charmaine Anne
In the summer of 2010, Jay Wong is desperate to make some worthy memories before her senior year comes to close, whether that be landing a kickflip or meeting someone new. Enter Ash Chan with a skateboard, a secret and a competition they need Jay's help filming a submission for. Crash Landing tells Jay's story as she navigates her immigrant community in Vancouver and a newfound friendship that's becoming something more.
Crash Landing won the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — text.
Li Charmaine Anne is a writer with a BFA from the University of British Columbia in creative writing and English literature. Crash Landing is their debut novel.
Skating Wild on an Inland Sea by Jean E. Pendziwol, illustrated by Todd Stewart
In Skating Wild on an Inland Sea, two children bundle up with ice skates in tow as they venture into the cold to go on the thrilling adventure of skating on Lake Superior's wild ice. Along the snowy shore, they discover tracks left by all kinds of different animals — fox, deer, hare, mink, otter and the wolf! When they put on their skates and step onto the ice — gliding and stroking — the great lake sings!
Skating Wild on an Inland Sea won the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award and the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — illustrated books.
Jean E. Pendziwol is the author of books including When I Listen to Silence, illustrated by Carmen Mok; I Found Hope in a Cherry Tree, illustrated by Nathalie Dion; and Once Upon a Northern Night, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. She lives in Northwestern Ontario.
Todd Stewart is a Montreal-based illustrator and printmaker. His picture book The Wind in the Trees (Quand le vent souffle), was nominated for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award and the Governor General's Literary Award.
Let's Go! by Julie Flett
In Let's Go! a mother surprises her son with an old skateboard so he can be like the other kids who always skate by. After practicing anywhere and anytime he can, he still feels nervous about joining other kids at the skatepark. Told through a mix of English and Cree words, this picture book is about building confidence through the support of one's family.
Let's Go! is for ages 3 to 8.
Julie Flett is a Cree–Métis author and illustrator. She has won two Governor General's Awards, the American Indian Library Association Award and the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. Her other books include We All Play and When We Were Alone.
The New Girl by Cassandra Calin
Inspired by artist Cassandra Calin's own immigration story, The New Girl is a middle-grade graphic novel about Lia and her family's move to Canada from Romania. Alongside all the complicated feelings Lia has about moving to somewhere completely different from home, when she arrives, she experiences her first period. Now, as Lia navigates a new school with new classmates and new languages she is also faced with the daunting task of puberty.
Cassandra Calin is an artist and popular webtoon cartoonist who has amassed over 2.5 million followers on social media. She was born in Romania and now lives in Montreal. The New Girl is her debut graphic novel.
One Giant Leap by Thao Lam
In One Giant Leap, a child dons their orange space suit and goes on an exciting adventure in space. They explore a strange new planet — climbing space mountains and discovering their inhabitants — space creatures that are of all sizes and shapes! When they're suddenly caught in a blizzard, the astronaut rushes through the storm and arrives in the school hallway! It turns out the child was on their way to school and their space journey was all part of their imagination.
One Giant Leap was on the shortlist for the 2024 young people's literature — illustrated books Governor General's Award.
Thao Lam is an author and illustrator from Toronto. Her picture books include Wallpaper, My Cat Looks Like My Dad and Thao.
Today I Am edited by Jael Richardson
Edited by writer and activist, Jael Richardson, Today I Am is a collection of short stories written by emerging writers in Canada that examine the meaning of home. From growing up on a faraway planet to being stranded on an island to a difficult school assignment, this collection reflects the adventurous and courageous nature of kids today.
Told through prose, verse and illustrations, Today I Am features stories by writers Jael Richardson, Marty Chan, Rosena Fung, Michael Hutchinson, Chad Lucas, Angela Misri, Mahtab Narsimhan, Danny Ramadan, Liselle Sambury and Brandon Wint.
Today I Am is for ages 10-14 and is out now.
Jael Richardson is a writer, editor and the executive director of the Festival for Literary Diversity (FOLD). Her other books include the picture book Because You Are and the nonfiction book The Stone Thrower, which was adapted into a picture book of the same name. Her debut novel, Gutter Child, was published in 2021 and was a finalist for the 2021 Amazon Canada First Novel Award.
It Bears Repeating by Tanya Tagaq, illustrated by Cee Pootoogook
It Bears Repeating is a counting picture book for young readers, celebrating Inuktitut language and art, that features a fascinating Arctic animal — the polar bear. From one to 10, more polar bears make their way through the icy landscape while they play, dance and search for food. This book combines English and Inuktitut words for young readers and parents alike.
It Bears Repeating is for ages 3-7.
Tanya Tagaq is an Inuk writer and Juno Award-winning throat singer. Her first novel, Split Tooth, set in 1970s Nunavut, won the Indigenous Voices Award for best published prose in English in 2019.
Cee Pootoogook is an Inuk artist and illustrator. He has worked in carving, stone cutting and illustrations. It Bears Repeating is his first picture book.
Barnaby Unboxed! by The Fan Brothers
Set in the same world as The Barnabus Project, Barnaby is a "perfect pet' who is part mouse, elephant and flamingo. Barnaby is living a wonderful life after being purchased by a little girl who adores him. But one day the little girl gets an even more perfect pet and, feeling unwanted, Barnaby decides to run away. Barnaby Unboxed! follows Barnaby on his unexpected adventure in the city as he tries to figure out how to survive and where to call home.
Barnaby Unboxed! is for ages 5-9..
- The Fan Brothers win $50K TD Canadian Children's Literature Award for picture book The Barnabus Project
- The Fan brothers: Books we'd love to illustrate
Terry, Eric and Devin Fan are brothers, writers and artists, and frequent collaborators on children's books. Some of their books include The Barnabus Project, The Darkest Dark, written by Chris Hadfield, The Night Gardener and Ocean Meets Sky.
The Mango Monster by Derek Mascarenhas, illustrated by Meneka Repka
In The Mango Monster, Marianne and her cousin Zoe are trying to solve the mystery of who is stealing the mangoes from their mango tree. They have waited all year for mango season, so when mangos start to disappear from the lower branches of their trees, they are determined to find out who is responsible. Could it be a mango monster?
The Mango Monster is for ages 4-7.
Derek Mascarenhas is a Toronto writer. His previous books include the short story collection, Coconut Dreams, and the picture book, 100 Chapatis, which was illustrated by Shantala Robinson.
Meneka Repka is Sri Lankan-Canadian illustrator and teacher. The Mango Monster is her first children's book. Repka lives in Victoria.
Is There a Boy Like Me? by Kern Carter
In the middle-grade novel, Is There a Boy Like Me?, a boy called London is feeling pressured to be the person his school friends and parents think he is. But he doesn't want to be the confident video gamer, or the genius coder, London just wants to be by himself and read his books. So one day he starts an anonymous online comic called Is There A Boy Like Me. London's comic goes viral and a conversation ensues about what being a boy today really means.
Is There a Boy Like Me? is for ages 10-14.
Kern Carter is a Toronto author and freelance writer. His other books include the novella Thoughts of a Fractured Soul, the novel Beauty Scars and the YA novels Boys and Girls Screaming and And Then There Was Us. Kern also has writing credits in Forbes, the New York Times, Global Citizen, Elle Magazine and Fatherly.com.
Bog Myrtle by Sid Sharp
Sisters Beatrice and Magnolia are polar opposites — Beatrice is always cheerful and Magnolia is always grumpy. When Beatrice is gifted a magic yarn from a giant forest spider she sets out to knit the perfect sweater. But her greedy sister Magnolia sees this as a chance to put the spiders to work for profit. And when the spiders strike Bog Myrtle is not pleased.
Sid Sharp is a Toronto-based painter and comic creator. Their debut comic was The Wolf Suit.
The Shape of Lost Things by Sarah Everett
In the middle-grade novel, The Shape of Lost Things, Skye's world completely changed four years ago when her brother Finn went on the run with her dad. One day they get a call saying that Finn has been found, but the boy who returns home — who is quiet and secretive — is nothing like the brother that Skye remembers. Skye tries to piece together what happened and how to deal with all the changes that she and her family are going through.
The Shape of Lost Things is for ages 8-12.
Sarah Everett is a writer, based in Alberta. She has written several books for children and teenagers, including The Probability of Everything which won the 2023 Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — text, Some Other Now, How to Live without You and No One Here is Lonely. CBC Books named Everett a Black Canadian writer to watch in 2024.
Elvis, Me, and the Postcard Winter by Leslie Gentile
In the follow-up to Elvis, Me, and the Lemonade Stand Summer, it's 1979 in Vancouver Island and 12-year-old Truly is living in Eagle Shores Trailer Park with Andy El, the Salish Elder who took her in after she was abandoned by her mother. Truly's pen pal, Elvis, gives her a secondhand guitar, which she loves. However, one day Truly's mother shows up asking for a second chance, leaving Truly unsure what to do next.
Elvis, Me, and the Postcard Winter is for ages 9-12.
Leslie Gentile is an author and singer-songwriter of Northern Salish, Tuscarora and Scottish heritage. Based on Vancouver Island, she performs with her children in The Leslie Gentile Band. She is also the author of Elvis, Me, and the Lemonade Stand Summer and Shamus the Urban Rez Dog, P.I.
Bounce by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Bounce is a picture book by Robert Munsch and illustrated by Michael Martchenko. The book follows two children, Ruth and Barbara, who are collected by an ambulance en-route home from school after Ruth falls and scrapes her knee. The girls get bored waiting to be seen at the hospital so they start to look around and discover an empty hospital bed with tons of buttons just waiting to be pushed.
Bounce is for ages 3-7 and is out now.
Robert Munsch is one of Canada's iconic storytellers, and has published over 80 books for children. Some of his titles include Love You Forever, Mortimer, The Paper Bag Princess and A Promise is a Promise. He was named to the Order of Canada in 2009. He lives in Guelph, Ont.
Michael Martchenko lives in Burlington, Ont., and is a Canadian artist and illustrator of several of Robert Munsch's books. Their books together include Class Trip, Mortimer, The Paper Bag Princess and many more.
Call me Al by Wali Shah and Eric Walters
Call Me Al follows the adolescence of Ali, a Muslim Pakistani immigrant and teenager who just wants to please his parents and maybe get noticed by his crush Melissa. Ali struggles to feel comfortable in his community as his classmates make fun of food or his skin colour. When his mom and young brother are assaulted, Ali is altered forever and must learn to find his voice through trusted loved ones and his love for poetry.
Call Me Al is for ages 9 to 12.
Wali Shah is a Pakistani Canadian poet and public speaker. He was previously the poet laureate for the city of Mississauga. Call Me Al is his first book.
Eric Walters is one of Canada's most prolific writers for young people. He's penned over 100 books, including Bear in the Family, The Power of Three and Run. His 2006 novel We All Fall Down came in at #88 on the list of the bestselling 150 Canadian books of the past 10 years. Walters won the 2020 Governor General's Literary Prize for young people's literature — text for The King of Jam Sandwiches.
One Box by Andi Vicente, illustrated by Allan Matudio
One Box is a tender counting picture book about a migrant worker who sends a box of gifts and supplies, also known as Balikbayan boxes, back home to their family in the Philippines. Instead of counting the days until they will see each other again, they count the ways they are going to rebuild their relationship after being separated for so long.
One Box is for ages 4-7.
Andi Vicente is a writer and visual artist. They are based in Montreal.
Allan Matudio is an artist born to Filipino parents in Montreal. He is the author of the graphic novel Kasama.
My Grammie's House by Lana Button, illustrated by Skye Ali
In the charming picture book, My Grammie's House, a little girl is welcoming home the potential new owners of her grandmother's house and showing them around. She shows them all the things she loves about the house, including the shaggy rug on the floor, the perfect spot to watch her Grammie's favourite exercise show and the shady closet to hide out in during hot days. Illustrations show hints of what the house used to look like when the little girl's Grammie still lived there.
My Grammie's House is for ages 3-7.
Lana Button is a children's writer and educator based in Burlington, Ont. Her other books include Willow Finds a Way which was shortlisted for the Blue Spruce Award, The Only Lonely Fairy, The Cow Said BOO!, Raj's Rule and Percy's Perfect Friend.
Skye Ali is an illustrator based in Texas.
Mortified by Kristy Jackson, illustrated by Rhael McGregor
Mortified is a funny and honest middle-grade novel about facing your fears. Belinda Houle is incredibly shy, so nobody is more surprised than she is to find out she's been secretly signed up to audition for a play. After Belinda's best friend, and resident witch, casts a spell on her to give her confidence, a series of embarrassing events happen, one after the other, which makes Belinda think she must be cursed. Belinda is determined to face her anxiety … and break the curse!
Mortified is for ages 8 to 12.
Kristy Jackson is a communications professional and writer who runs a program that delivers books to children in remote Indigenous communities. Jackson is a member of Whitefish Lake First Nation and lives near Saskatoon. She draws inspiration from her Cree and German background in her work. Mortified is her debut novel.
Rhael McGregor is a Métis and two-spirit/queer comic artist based in Winnipeg. Their work includes illustrations and stories published by publications such as Iron Circus Comics, Quindrie Press and Highwater Press.
Fledgling by S.K. Ali
Fledgling: The Keeper's Records of Revolution is the first book in a YA science fiction duology set amidst two earths on the brink of self destruction. When the dutiful Raisa of Upper Earth is arranged to be married to Lein, the Crown Prince of Lower Earth, Raisa obliges in the hopes of preventing further war. Lein's cousin and recently imprisoned Nada have a different idea: stop the royal wedding and spark a revolution. As tensions rise between both worlds, the paths to tyranny or peace become more and more blurred.
S.K. Ali is a writer and teacher from Toronto. She is best known for her YA novels Saints and Misfits, Love from A to Z and is the co-editor of the middle grade anthology, Once Upon an Eid which won the Middle East Book Honor Award in 2020.
