6 'thought-provoking' books for young readers from The Next Chapter's children's book panel
Kids' book experts Lucy Mann and Bee Quammie give holiday book advice
The Next Chapter's children's book panel is back with their holiday recommendations for young readers!
This year, the panel includes writer, broadcaster and mother Bee Quammie and CBC Books producer Lucy Mann who has worked in children's television and picture book publishing.
From cracking mysteries to adjusting to a new country and experiencing puberty, they share titles that will keep young readers of all ages curious, entertained and thinking this holiday season.
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.
Lucy Mann says: "I think the book isn't centred on sadness. It's more [of] that kind of warm hug of nostalgia and really thinking about that lovely relationship between this little girl and her grandmother."
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.
The New Girl is for ages 8 to 12.
Bee Quammie says: "The book really navigates the way she interacts with a new country, a new school, new language, new friends and a new body."
Priya Puts Herself First by Nathan Fairbairn, illustrated by Michele Assarasakorn
Priya Puts Herself First is the third book in the Paws graphic novel series. The series is about a babysitters club for pets, PAWS, and the third volume takes place during the holidays when their business is impacted due to a big storm. Also, PAWS members go through some personal challenges — Gabby wants to be internet famous and Priya's family is being evicted. Can PAWS overcome these challenges and stay afloat?
Priya Puts Herself First is for ages 8 to 12.
Lucy Mann says: "It's a really big thing suddenly to be separated from her community, from her friends, from their business, and you can just feel the tension building in her as she's trying hard to keep it all up — to not let anyone down until one day she just kind of breaks and she's like, 'I can't. I can't do this,' and she has to put herself first."
The Case of the Lighthouse Intruder by Kereen Getten
The Case of the Lighthouse Intruder is the first book in the Di Island Crew Investigates series. The series is about Fayson and her cousins who solve mysteries on a remote island, and the first book is about cracking the case of a strange shadow that has been showing up in the island's lighthouse. Can Fayson take the lead and figure out the mystery even as tensions arise within the group?
The Case of the Lighthouse Intruder is for ages 9 to 11.
Bee Quammie says: "There's this little mystery aspect of who's the lighthouse intruder. There's this story around friendships. There's a story around family. But the one thing that my ten-year-old really loved when I asked her, 'So how did you feel after you read this book?' She said, 'Mommy, it was amazing. You could tell that the author is really cultured and she really understands the storyline about growing up in Jamaica.'"
Blizzard Rescue by Rekha S. Rajan, illustrated by Courtney Lovett
Blizzard Rescue is the third book in the Disaster Squad series. The series is about Leela, Jaden and the rest of the Jackson family who travel across the country to help with natural disasters, offering help to those in need and rescuing animals along the way. In Blizzard Rescue, they brave the chilly temperatures and go to Minnesota to help people and animals caught in a blizzard.
Blizzard Rescue is for ages 5 to 8.
Lucy Mann says: "I think what this book does well is it explains these natural disasters, which are part of children's realities, but in an accessible way, and it shows how they can try and keep themselves safe, but also how they can help others."
Sports are Great! by Brandon Ferguson, illustrated by Jillian Lim
From beach volleyball, yoga, to horseback riding, Sports are Great! encourages an active lifestyle and challenges gender stereotypes by showing girls playing all sorts of different sports. It celebrates the magic of staying active and leaves readers with an inspiring message: "no matter where, when, or what's played, sports are great."
Sports are Great! is for ages 1 to 4.
Bee Quammie says: "I think it's really timely to have a book like this out now because Canadian Women in Sport actually just released a report that says 63 per cent of girls are now playing organized sports weekly, compared to 68 per cent of boys. But nearly four in ten girls are still missing out on the benefits of sport."
Lucy Mann and Bee Quammie's comments have been edited for length and clarity.
