12 Canadian books for younger children this summer

Looking to engage young readers in their summertime adventures? Check out these Canadian titles that inspire new friendships, foster love for nature and build community!

CBC Books Posted: Aug 09, 2023 12:18 PM EDT | Last Updated: August 9, 2023

Looking to engage young readers in their summertime adventures? Check out these Canadian titles that inspire new friendships, foster love for natureand build community!

When You Can Swim by Jack Wong

On the left a book cover shows an illustration of a young girl in a swimsuit and goggles in water. On the right, an Asian man wearing glasses and a black shirt smiles into the camera. — When You Can Swim is a picture book by writer Jack Wong. (Scholastic Canada, Nicola Davidson)

When You Can Swim is a picture book that encourages children to overcome their fears of the water. In the book, an adult explains to a young girl the joys and surprises of swimming.

When You Can Swim is for ages 4 to 8.

Halifax artist encourages kids to overcome fears of swimming in new book

Jack Wong is a Halifax-based author and illustrator who was born in Hong Kong but grew up in Vancouver. When You Can Swim is his first book.

The Bee Without Wings by Amberlea Williams

On the left a book cover shows an illustration of a wingless bee standing on a flower. On the right, a woman wearing glasses and a white sweater smiles into the camera. — The Bee Without Wings is a picture book by writer and illustrator Amberlea Williams. (Princeton Architectural Press, Shabana Buwalda)

A young girl named Sasha and her cat Molly develop an unexpected friendship with a wingless bumblebee thatSashafinds in her garden. The Bee Without Wings is a story dealing with friendship and loss that also features an activity and information sheet for creating and caring for a bee-friendly garden.

The Bee Without Wings is for ages 4 to 8.

Amberlea Williams is an illustrator, graphic designer and yoga teacher based in Ottawa.

When Sunlight Tiptoes by Gillian Sze, illustrated by Soyeon Kim

On the left, an illustrated book cover shows a child flying on a bird above rows of houses and trees in a city. On the right, a woman in a grey shirt smiles into the camera. — When Sunlight Tiptoes is a book by Gillian Sze, left, and illustrated by Soyeon Kim. (Nadia Zheng, Orca Books Publishers, Michael Cullen)

In this illustrated poem, a family welcomes the start of a new day and runs errands in a busy city. When Sunlight Tiptoes is written in sensory pantoum form, a type of poetic verse from the Malay language.

When Sunlight Tiptoes is for readers up to two years old.

Gillian Sze is a writer and teacher. Her books for children include The Night Is Deep and Wide and My Love for You Is Always. Her poetry collections include Quiet Night Think, which won the 2023 Pat Lowther Memorial Award. Her book You Are My Favorite Color was a finalist for the Quebec Writers' Federation Award. Sze is originally from Winnipeg but is now based in Montreal, where she teaches creative writing and literature.

Soyeon Kim is a Toronto-based illustrator and art educator. Kim received the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award for her illustrations in the book You Are Stardust.

Two Green Birds by Geraldo Valrio

Two Green Birds is a picture book written and illustrated by Geraldo Valrio. (Groundwood Books, Jerry Hart)

Two Green Birds follows Francisco, a young boy who lives in Brazil, who learns compassion as he cares for two birds hanging on a guava tree in his grandmother's backyard. When his grandmother surprises him with two parakeets in a cage, Francisco goes on a learning journey and experiences empathy for the wild beauty in nature.

Two Green Birds is for ages 6 to 9.

Geraldo Valrio was born in Brazil and now lives in Toronto. His previous books include My Book of Butterflies, At the Pond, which was a Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award honour book, and Blue Rider.

The Song that Called Them Home by David A. Robertson, illustrated by Maya McKibbin

On the left, a man in glasses and a black shirt smiles into the camera. On the right, a book cover shows two children thrown into a watery portal. — The Song that Called Them Home is a book by David A. Robertson, pictured, and illustrated by Maya McKibbin. (Amber Green, Tundra Books)

Inspired by Indigenous folklore, The Song that Called Them Homeis a story about two children who go on a trip with their grandfather. They decide to fish for dinner and are unexpectedly thrown overboard. When her brother James is pulled away by the Memekwesewak, a creature from Indigenous legend that lives and interacts with humans, Lauren must pursue a watery adventure to bring James back. But Lauren also feels the pulland the two lost kids are reunited with their grandfather through his song speaking to family, love and tradition.

The Song that Called Them Home is for ages 4 to 8.

David A. Robertson is a writer and graphic novelist based in Winnipeg. He has published books across a variety of genres, including the graphic novels Will I See? and Sugar Falls, YA book Strangers, the memoir Black Water and the Governor General's Literary Award-winning picture books When We Were Alone and On the Trapline, both illustrated by Cree-Mtis artist Julie Flett.

Maya McKibbin is two-spirited Ojibway, Yoeme and Irish filmmaker, illustrator and storyteller based in Vancouver. McKibbin previously illustrated the picture book Swift Fox All Along, which waswritten by Rebecca Thomas.

Sometimes I Feel Like a River by Danielle Daniel, illustrated by Jose Bisaillon

A composite image of the author, book cover and illustrator from left to right. On the left, a woman in short hair, glasses and a black shirt smiles into the camera. In the center, the book page shows a girl crossing a river on stones. On the right, a woman in pink glasses and a yellow shirt smiles into the camera. — Sometimes I Feel Like a River is a book written by Danielle Daniel, left, and illustrated by Jose Bisaillon. (Submitted by Danielle Daniel, Groundwood Books, Submitted by Jose Bisaillon)

This book is an anthology of 12 short lyrical poems on mindfulness and the sensory delights of appreciating and preserving the environment. Sometimes I Feel Like a Riverencourages young readers to understand their emotions, soak in their surroundings and connect to the natural world. It also features a mindfulness activity.

Sometimes I Feel Like a River is for ages 3 to 6.

Danielle Daniel is a writer and artist of settler and Indigenous ancestry living in Ontario. Her other books include the novelDaughters of the Deer and the picture books Once in a Blue Moon and Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox, which won the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award and was a finalist for the Blue Spruce Award and First Nation Communities Read Awards. She also illustrated You Hold Me Up, which was written by Monique Gray Smith.

Jose Bisaillon is a children's book writer and illustrator based outside Montreal. Her other books include Leap!, written by JonArno Lawson, The Snow Knows, written by Jennifer McGrath and Martin and the River, written by Jon-Erik Lappano.

A is for Anne by Mo Duffy Cobb, illustrated by Ellie Arscott

A composite image of the author, a book cover and the illustrator. On the left, a woman with blonde hair and a stack of books in front of her smiles into the camera. In the center, an illustrated book cover shows a white girl with red hair and yellow dress standing in a field of white flowers and grass. On the right, a woman with blue glasses and a blue shirt smiles into the camera. — A is for Anne is an alphabet book by Mo Duffy Cobb, left, and illustrated by Ellie Arscott. (Submitted by Mo Duffy Cobb, Pownal Street Press, Anne Dalton Church)

A is for Anne is an alphabet board book that explores the world of Anne of Green Gables in Avonlea. This book is a modern tribute to the original classic by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

A is for Anne is forreaders up to three years old.

Mo Duffy Cobb is awriter and an English and French teacher currently based in Charlottetown. Her other books include Unpackedand Crescent Moon Friends.

Ellie Arscott is a Toronto-based children's book illustrator, her work includes the books Night Walk and Nonna and the Girls.

The Girl Who Loved the Birds by Joseph Dandurand, illustrated by Elinor Atkins

On the left is a book cover that shows an Indigenous girl in the middle of a forest with a eagle, owl, purple flowers, and two birds flying in the background. On the right is a black and white photo of the author who is wearing sunglasses and a straw hat. — The Girl Who Loved the Birds is a book by Joseph Durand, illustrated by Elinor Atkins. (Nightwood Editions, Peter Arkell)

The Girl Who Loved the Birds is the third in a series of kids' books of Kwantlen legends, after The Sasquatch, the Fire and the Cedar Basketsand A Magical Sturgeon. In this story, a young Kwantlen girl provides for birds in the forest and they reciprocateher kindness as she grows older. The Girl Who Loved the Birdsunderlines the significance of kinship, kindness and reciprocation as it encourages children to live in harmony with nature.

The Girl Who Loved the Birds is for ages 6 to 8.

Joseph Dandurand is a member of the Kwantlen First Nation. He is the director of the Kwantlen Cultural Centre and the author of several books of poetry including The East Side of It All, which was shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize. In 2021, Dandurand received the BC Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence.

Elinor Atkins (Mimwqelt) is an Indigenous artist from the Kwantlen First Nation.

A Flower is a Friend by Frieda Wishinsky

On the left, a woman in a hat, glasses and a black shirt smiles into the camera. In the center, a book cover illustration shows a mouse peering from inside a flower among grass. On the right, a woman in a blue shirt and necklace smiles into the camera. — A Flower is a Friend is a picture book written by Frieda Wishinsky, left, and illustrated by Karen Patkau. (Bill Wishinsky, Pajama Press, Alisa Arbuckle)

A Flower is a Friendis a nonfiction book touches on the interconnectedness of nature by exploring the role of flowers in the garden ecosystem and its community of critters.

A Flower is a Friend is for ages 3 to 6.

Frieda Wishinsky is a Toronto-based writer and educator. Her book Jennifer Jones Won't Leave Me Alone won the Sheffield Children's Book Award, the Stockport Children's Book Award and the Portsmouth Children's Book Award. Wishinsky also won the2008 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award for her picture book Please, Louise!

Karen Patkau is a writer and visual artist based in Toronto. She has received the Ezra Jack Keats Memorial Medal for her book Don't Eat Spiders.

Dear Streetby Lindsay Zier-Vogel, illustrated by Caroline Bonne-Mller

On the right, a woman in a black shirt smiles into the camera. In the center, the book cover illustration shows a young girl looking out her window onto the people, trees and houses on her street. On the left, a woman with a necklace smiles into the camera. — Dear Street is a book by Lindsay Zier-Vogel, left, illustrated by Caroline Bonne-Mller. ( Submitted by Lindsay Zier-Vogel, Kids Can Press, Submitted by Caroline Bonne-Mller)

Dear Street is a love letter that a young girl named Alice addresses to her street, its buildings and trees. As seasons go by, she adds to the letter. One day she finds another letter someone has written to spring crocusesand feels the love she spread to others come back to her.This story initiates mindfulness, gratitude, and empathy for one's own neighbourhood and teaches the importance of small acts of compassion in urban communities.

Dear Street is for ages 3 to 7.

Lindsay Zier-Vogel is a writer and arts educator based in Toronto. She is also a columnist with Open Book as well as a professor of the professional writing program at Humber College.

Caroline Bonne-Mller is an illustrator whose work has appeared in magazines, greeting cards and jigsaw puzzles. She lives in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Starry Henna Night by Mitali Banerjee Ruths, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

On the left, a woman in a teal shirt smiles into the camera. In the center, the book cover shows a picture of a young South Asian girl in traditional clothing in a party setting. On the right, a woman in a blue hijab smiles into the camera. — Starry Henna Night is the second book in The Party Diaries series by Mitali Banerjee Ruths, left, and illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel. (Submitted by Mitali Banerjee Ruths, Scholastic Canada, Hibah Ansari)

Starry Henna Night is the second book in the Scholastic Branches seriesThe Party Diaries. When Priya, a party-planner, is hired to set up a henna-night party for teenagers, she is both nervous and excited to begin this job. This story is a continuation of the previous book's plot, as it delves into Priya's life and strengthens her character.

Starry Henna Night is for ages 5 to 7.

Mitali Banerjee Ruths releases two new books in her children's series The Party Diaries

Mitali Banerjee is a Montreal-based children's book writer and a pediatrician. Her previous books include picture book Archie Celebrates Diwali, the early readers series The Inside Scouts and two other books in the The Party Diaries series Awesome Orange Birthday and Top Secret Anniversary.

Aaliya Jaleel is an illustrator, a designer and a visual development artist. Previous books that she has illustrated include Awesome Orange Birthday, Maryam's Magic, Under My Hijab and Muslim Girls Rise.

Burt the Beetle Lives Here! by Ashley Spires

On the left, a book cover shows a beetle holding a map. On the right, a woman in a grey sweater smiles into the camera. — Burt the Beetle Lives Here! is a continuation of the Burt the Beetle series written and illustrated by Ashley Spires. (Kids Can Press, Submitted by Ashley Spires)

Burt the Beetle Lives Here!is a continuation of the Burt the Beetle series, which follows a June bug as he tries to find homes to settle in. The story teaches kids resilience and perseverance alongside the science of insect life and habitats.

Burt the Beetle Lives Here! is for ages 5 to 8.

Ashley Spires is a B.C.-based author and illustrator. Her previous books include Small Saul, Over-scheduled Andrew, The Most Magnificent Thing and its sequel The Most Magnificent Idea.She was the recipient of the 2011 Silver Birch Express Award and the 2011 Hackmatack Award forthe Binky the Space Cat series.

12 Canadian books for younger children this summer

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