Keep your littlest readers busy with our choices for the most awesome kids’ picture books
Parenting Times did not receive any financial compensation for this piece.We rounded up some picture books by Canadian authors, illustrators and artists that you won’t want to miss.
Baba Palooza
By A.D. Ghani, Illustrated by Nadia Alam
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publishing date: April 7
About the book: This adorably written (and even more adorably illustrated!) picture book tells the story of Aizah, who loves to ride with her taxi driver dad on Saturday mornings.
Dad (Baba) works long hours to support the family. When Baba has to miss her school’s daddy-daughter dance, Aizah plans something special to surprise him.
One of the real treasures of Baba Palooza is a back-of-the-book message to the reader from author A.D. Ghani. This story is based on Ghani’s own father. Ghani reminds the reader: “All humans are equal, so having a fancier job than someone else doesn’t ever mean that you are better than them. Being a taxi driver is something to be proud of: taxi drivers are intelligent, hardworking, and resilient.” It is such an important message for the children in our diverse community.
About the Canadian illustrator: Toronto resident Nadia Alam is a second-generation Bangladeshi-Canadian, illustrator and avid daydreamer. Her past works include The Wishing Machine; Awake, Asleep; Many Things at Once; Mauntie and Me and The House Without Lights.
Once Upon a Tail #1: A Horse and Dragon Graphic Novel
By Audrey Perrott, Illustrated by Charlene Chua
Publisher: Abrams Fanfare
Publishing date: April 21
About the book: Little kids want to be like their older peers and siblings and read their own graphic novels. This book, with its easier words, colourful shapes, cute characters, bright colours and shiny pages fits the bill and is the perfect entry to independent reading.
Best friends Wallace and Poppy couldn’t be more different. Wallace is a horse who loves rules. Poppy is a free-spirit dragon who loves adventure. Wallace and Poppy step out of their comfort zones, discover hidden powers, and eat a lot of banana pudding in Book One of a series designed for emerging and reluctant readers alike.
About the Canadian illustrator: Hamilton resident Charlene Chua is also the illustrator of the Amy Wu picture book series and Love, Violet, a 2023 Stonewall Award winner.
The Boy and the Flame
By Beatrice Blue
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Publishing date: April 7
About the book: It’s an uncertain world out there. This is a lovely book for any child (or adult) who may be trepidatious about change.
Lucien is like many of us. Whether it’s trying unfamiliar foods, moving to a new home or making new friends, he’s a bit afraid of change. One stormy night, when a gust of wind blows open his window and extinguishes his fire, he notices a single ember still glowing. To his amazement, the ember transforms into a glowing boy who leads Lucien on an enchanting journey through four seasons in a single day. Along the way, Lucien encounters new animal friends and experiences the beauty of the ever-changing seasons. Through his adventure, he learns that change isn’t something to fear… it’s a natural part of life, filled with exciting opportunities and endless possibilities.
About the Canadian author and illustrator: Beatrice Blue is an award-winning author and illustrator, whose books have been translated into more than 20 languages. She also works in animation and loves travelling, colours, books, and nature.
Lucie and The Wind
By Grégoire Laforce, Illustrations by Yvan Duque
Publisher: Milky Way Picture Books
Publishing Date: April 14
About the book: This is a simply and kindly, yet eloquently told story for children with a strong message – that nature cannot be contained. Lucie heads to the forest to go exploring and collects things from nature that fascinate her.
On one particular day, Lucie encounters something unexpected: she hears the wind speaking to her. Thinking she can simply coax the wind into one of her nature specimen jars, she instead finds herself being led on an unforgettable adventure by a force of nature. When she is faced with having to let go of her backpack full of jars, an important realization about the environment begins to set in.
About the local author: Gatineau resident Grégoire Laforce is a former military man. Lucie and the Wind is his third picture book. He is also the author of The Lost Drop and Milo the Knight.
Good Families Don’t
By Robert Munsch, Illustrated by Joy Ang
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publishing Date: June 9
About the book: Many of us parents have fond memories of growing up with Robert Munsch books. The master of children’s storytelling is back with a refreshed edition of this story, originally published in 1990, about a girl and… ahem… a pesky fart monster, brought to life with brand-new art by New York Times–bestselling illustrator Joy Ang. Apparently fart jokes (like Munsch himself) are timeless.
About the Canadian author: Robert Munsch’s books have sold more than 82 million copies worldwide and have been published in 31 territories and 45 languages. Munsch lives in Guelph.
My Best Friend is a Butternut Squash
By Heather Smith, illustrated by Kass Reich
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publishing Date: June 16
About the book: Friends come in all shapes and sizes. Alex’s best friend, for example, is a butternut squash. They play pretend all day long. Sometimes his butternut squash is a baby and then Alex pushes him in a stroller all around town. Sometimes his butternut squash is a pirate. One day, Alex meets Trudy, whose best friend was an alarm clock. This is a story about overcoming shyness to make friends.
About the Canadian author: Waterloo resident Heather Smith is the author of young adult novels, middle-grade novels and seven picture books, including Angus All Aglow, A Plan for Pops, The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota’s Garden and Granny Left Me a Rocket Ship. Her work has been translated into eight languages.
About the Canadian Illustrator: Toronto resident Kass Reich has worked as an artist and educator. The Montreal-born artist is known for her painterly textures and layered multimedia artwork.
The Wise Pickle
By Sarah Howden, Illustrated by Sabina Hahn
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publishing Date: June 23
About the book: A pickle falls from the sky (or so it seems), lands next to a dry-cleaning store and shares its wisdom with animals that pass by. Day after day, the pickle withers in the sun and begins to smell bad, and is nearly eaten by a dog and carried off by a bird before meeting an unexpected fate.
Although this book for kids ages three to seven is described as “hilariously absurd,” it’s also emotional and thought-provoking.
About the Canadian author: Toronto resident Sarah Howden grew up in the Niagara region. She is the author of Cone Cat, Cone Dog and The Tunnel. Howden is also an editor at Orca Book Publishers.
Whale, That Was Unexpected
By Casey Lyall, Illustrated by Kathryn Durst
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publishing Date: June 30
About the book: Stoic seafarer Maude and her trusty canine sidekick Claude get swallowed by a whale while fishing. Anyone who loves subtle humour will love what happens next: Maude and Claude throw a farewell party for themselves, but are surprised when more creatures – a goat, a puffin, a sea lion, and an octopus – get swallowed along with them and Maude has to keep changing her party plans.
About the Canadian author: Casey Lyall lives in southwestern Ontario where she works at her local library. She also authored the middle-grade mystery series Howard Wallace, P.I., A Spoonful of Frogs and Vampire Jam Sandwich.
About the Canadian illustrator: Toronto resident Kathryn Durst is the illustrator of You’re in Good Paws, the Polite Predators books and Hey Grandude!
Mother Boo: Poems from Spookytown
By Vikki VanSickle, Illustrated by Jennica Lounsbury
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publishing Date: July 28
About the book: It may be summer, but are you already longing for Halloween? This book – a collection of spooky poems featuring friendly ghost Mother Boo — is the answer. Illustrated with sophisticated classic techniques reminiscent of children’s books of the past, Mother Boo: Poems from Spookytown invites readers to explore the secret to flying, join a pumpkin parade and dance with werewolves.
About the Canadian author: Toronto resident Vikki Vansickle started her career as an independent bookseller and has worked in children’s publishing for 12 years. The author of The Lightning Circle, Words That Start with B, Summer Days, Starry Nights and the award-winning The Winnowing, Vansickle also presents regular book segments for CTV’s Your Morning.
About the Canadian illustrator: Hamilton resident Jennica Lounsbury began illustrating children’s books after working in animation.
Eon: My Pet Tardigrade
Written and illustrated by Cybèle Young with Nell Jocelyn
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publishing Date: August 11
About the book: First it was axolotls. Now it’s the tardigrade. Every few years, an unusual animal takes the internet by storm to capture hearts. In this picture book featuring cut-paper artwork and adorable illustrations, a young girl finds a tardigrade (also known as a water bear or a moss piglet) while looking through her new microscope. Eon is unlike anything she’s ever seen and she decides she wants to take care of him. This book combines lessons about caring, letting go, and cool facts about a resilient, little-known creature.
About the Canadian author and illustrator: Award-winning Toronto-based artist and author Cybèle Young works across sculpture, book arts, experimental film and animation, performance, and participatory projects. Young won the 2011 Governor General’s Award for illustration for Ten Birds.
The Only Way to Dance
Written and illustrated by Cybèle Young with Nell Jocelyn
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publishing Date: August 11
About the book: A celebration of dance (from breakdancing to bhangra to ballet) from around the world, this brightly illustrated story book explores all the spaces, places and music people need to perform a variety of dances – drawn in styles that complement the culture. The book also features an illustrated glossary of dances of the world at the back of the book.
About the Canadian author: Alberta resident Cristina Quintero is a first-generation Colombian-Canadian of both Afro-Colombian and Indigenous-Colombian descent. She is also the author of The Only Way to Make Bread.
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