The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) has compiled a list of great Canadian books, for kids and teens of all ages, for the 2017 summer holidays. The books featured in this list are starred selections from the Spring 2017 edition of Best Books for Kids & Teens. While the CCBC does not sell these items, they can be purchased directly from the online booksellers linked below each book, from your local bookseller or from a wholesaler. Alternatively, you can borrow these titles from your local library.
Interest Level (IL) is listed by age; Reading Level (RL) is listed by grade.
Binding Code:
BD Board | EB eBook | HC Hardcover | HC (jacket) Hardcover with jacket | HC (jacket & PLC) Hardcover with jacket and picture laminated to cover | LIB Reinforced library binding | PB Paperback
Picture Books |
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Adrift at Sea: A Vietnamese Boy’s Story of Survival History | Refugees | Vietnamese Boat People | Biography | Survival | Family | Canada It is 1981. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a fishing boat overloaded with Vietnamese refugees drifts. The motor has failed; the hull is leaking; the drinking water is dwindling. This is the true story recounted by Tuan Ho, who was six when he, his mother and two sisters dodged Vietnam’s military police bullets for the perilous chance of boarding that boat. |
Akilak’s Adventure Journeys | Adventure | Arctic | Traditional Inuit Life | Arctic Animals | Imagination When Akilak must travel a great distance to another camp to gather food, she thinks she will never be able to make it. With a little help from her grandmother’s spirit, and her own imagination, Akilak manages to turn a long walk into an adventure. Her grandmother’s reassuring words help Akilak enjoy the journey that at first seemed so daunting. |
All the World a Poem Poems | Poetry | Whimsy | Nature | Feelings | Joyfulness In Gilles Tibo’s wonder-filled tribute to poetry, poems bloom in fields, fly on the wings of birds and float on the foam of the sea. They are written in the dark of night, in the light of happiness and in the warmth of the writer’s heart. Each poem is illustrated with Manon Gauthier’s whimsical paper-collage art. This title is also available in French as Poésies pour la vie. |
Baby’s First Treasury Compilation | Early Literacy | Storytime | Reading Aloud Celebrate Barbara Reid’s beloved books for babies, which have delighted parents and children alike for many years, in this delightful compilation. This hardcover collection introduces little ones to Reid’s colourful, tactile illustrations and includes four favourite board books: Welcome, Baby; Read Me a Book; Sing a Song of Mother Goose and Zoe’s Year. |
The Branch Loss | Renewal | Creativity | Kindness | Teamwork | Intergenerational Relationships When an ice storm snaps a small girl’s favourite branch from the tree in her yard, she’s crestfallen. Her neighbour, Mr. Frank, says it’s full of potential. And so, with imagination and Mr. Frank’s guidance and tools, the girl transforms the branch into something new, giving it another purpose, and her another place to treasure! This title is also available in French as Ma branche préférée. |
Dojo Surprise Humour | Surprise Parties | Ninjas Little ninjas arrive at the dojo early to prepare a surprise birthday party for their Master. But the Master thinks he is alone and is spooked by the noises and shadows he senses around him. It’s a total dojo scare! Master must be more aware! Young readers will delight in knowing — before the Master — what the little ninjas are planning! |
I Am Josephine (And I Am a Living Thing) Living Things | Classification | Individuality | Animals | Mammals Meet Josephine: a spirited and curious girl, a big sister and a human being. Josephine is also a mammal, an animal and a living thing — all identities she explores with readers in this charming picture book. Young readers will recognize themselves as part of the natural world, just like Josephine, but also as unique: “there is no one else on Earth who is exactly like you!” |
Keeper of the Light Lighthouses | Maritimes | History | Responsibility | Determination The life of a lighthouse keeper on the East Coast is not an easy one. Isolated and alone when a storm strikes, 11-year-old Sara must keep the lighthouse working to protect the shores. Based on the experiences of young children who worked at lighthouses in the early 1900s, this is a story of the sacrifices these boys and girls had to make. |
Rhino Rumpus Rhinoceros | Humour | Bedtime Rituals | Siblings | Animals | Rhyme Three little rhinos are having trouble getting along as Mama tries to coax them through the evening routine. Will they fidget, fuss and fight right up until bedtime? Or will they realize how tired their bickering has made Mama Rhino, and find common ground in order to give her a sweet surprise? |
A Squiggly Story Writing | Imagination | Siblings | Inspiration | Early Literacy | Stories | Self-Expression A boy wants to write a story, just like his big sister. But, though he knows his letters, he doesn’t know many words. “Every story starts with a single word and every word starts with a single letter,” his sister says. So the boy tries. And to his delight, with just one letter and the power of his vivid imagination, an amazing story unfolds. |
Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey Refugees | Syria | Refugee Crisis | Civil War | Family | Escape | Home Rama and her family must flee their once-peaceful village to escape the ravages of the civil war raging ever closer to their home. With only what they can carry on their backs, Rama and her mother, father, grandfather and brother set out to walk to freedom in Europe. Nizar Ali Badr’s stunning stone images illustrate the story. |
Today Choices | Daily Routines | Possibilities Every day is full of possibilities — especially today! The simplest moment has the potential to become extraordinary in this exquisite picture book from award-winning author and illustrator Julie Morstad. From what to wear and foods to eat, to choosing places to go, or things to do, every day has a little something to delight one and all. |
Toto’s Apple Inspiration | Worms | Humour | Perseverance “The apple is up high. Toto is down low. / A bird flies by. Toto has an idea.” This hilariously expressive little worm gets busy creating plan after plan to reach his desired meal. His crafty strategies are successfully executed but miserably unproductive… until the opportunity presents itself and Toto seizes the moment… This title is also available in French as Toto veut la pomme. |
The Water Princess Africa | Clean Water | Dreams | Imagination | Hope | Perseverance Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is the wide African sky, and though she can make tall grass sway and make the wind play hide and seek, she cannot make water come closer to her small village, nor make it run clearer. So, each morning, she rises before the sun and makes the long journey to the well… and dreams of a day when her village will have cool, crystal-clear water of its own. |
What Matters Recycling | Environmentalism | Making a Difference | Littering | Nature What happens when one small boy picks up one small piece of litter? He doesn’t know it, but his tiny act has big consequences. This book gently explores nature’s connections, from the minuscule to the monumental, and traces the ripple effects of one child’s good deed to show how we can all make a big difference. |
When the Rain Comes Sri Lanka | Responsibility | Courage | Resolve | Monsoons | Rice | Flash Floods It is time to plant the rice crop in Malini’s Sri Lankan community. Malini is anxious about the responsibility of helping for the first time. What if she does it wrong? Suddenly the monsoon rains come, and a flash flood leaves her stranded alone with the ox cart full of seedlings. Malini summons unexpected courage to save ox, cart and seedlings, no matter what. |
When We Were Alone Cree First Nation | Residential Schools | Canadian History | Cultural Heritage | Resilience | Family | Language A young girl is curious about her grandmother’s long braided hair and beautifully coloured clothing. Why does she speak another language and spend so much time with her family? Nókom (grandmother) explains about life in a residential school long ago, where everything was taken away. A story about a difficult time in history and, ultimately, of empowerment and strength. |
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Early Chapter Books |
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Batcat and the Seven Squirrels Animals | Squirrels | Wildlife | Pets | Caring Nathan loves animals and longs for a pet. When he discovers seven orphaned baby squirrels in his backyard, he is keen to help them. With assistance from Batcat, a neighbourhood stray cat, Nathan learns to care for the squirrels. But all babies must leave the nest eventually. Will Nathan finally find a pet to call his own? |
Lark Holds the Key Libraries | Mystery | Detectives | Twins | Summer Vacation It’s the third day of summer vacation, and Lark’s halmoni — Korean for grandmother — takes Lark and her twin brother, Connor, to the library. Only trouble is, they arrive to discover that the town librarian is missing her key. Lucky for her, Lark just happens to be a budding private eye. Can rookie detectives Lark and Connor solve this mystery and recover the lost key? |
Junior & Intermediate Fiction |
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The Adventurer’s Guide to Successful Escapes Adventure | Fantasy | Science Fiction | Humour | Quests | Friendship Anne and her best friend, Penelope, are finally leaving Saint Lupin’s Institute for Perpetually Wicked and Hideously Unattractive Children. Unexpectedly, a twist of fate leads to Anne being charged with an epic quest. Now Anne, Penelope and questing partner Hiro must solve perplexing riddles, travel to strange places, defeat devious foes and endure surprising plot twists. Readers will cheer on the courageous companions as they face seemingly insurmountable odds on their journey. |
Book Uncle and Me Books | Reading | Community | Activism | India | Determination | Empowerment Every day, nine-year-old Yasmin borrows a book from Book Uncle’s curbside free lending library. But when the mayor tries to shut down the rickety bookstand, Yasmin must take her nose out of her book and do something. But what can she do? With the help of friends, family and neighbours, Yasmin launches a campaign to make sure the voices of the community are heard. |
A Boy Named Queen Acceptance | Individuality | Friendship | Bullying | Self-Esteem When the new boy in Evelyn’s fifth-grade class tells everyone his name is Queen, Evelyn doesn’t know what to think. Evelyn and Queen become friends and, although she cringes when he draws attention to himself, he is the most interesting person Evelyn has ever met. Evelyn’s friendship with Queen opens her eyes to a whole new world, and she discovers some cool things about herself along the way. |
 Howard Wallace, P.I.Written by Casey Lyall New York: Sterling Children’s Books, 2016 $16.95 HC (jacket & PLC) 978-1-4549-1949-0 264 pages, 5 1/4″ x 7 7/8″ IL: Ages 8-12 RL: Grades 4-5Mystery | Friendship | Detectives | Blackmail | HumourTwelve-year-old Howard Wallace, a big Sam Spade fan and amateur gumshoe, runs his detective agency from a makeshift office behind the school and wears a bathrobe for a trench coat. When a hot case of blackmail lands on his desk, he’s ready to take it on himself… until the new kid convinces him to take her on as a junior partner.Amazon | Indigo | Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers |
A Little Taste of Poison Magic | Friendship | Family | Mystery | Intrigue | Fantasy | Classism The city of Tarreton is powered by magic, and Isaveth has a talent for casting spells. After inventing a magic-resistant paper, Isaveth is offered a scholarship to an exclusive magical school where enemies confront her at every turn — especially once Esmond hatches a plan to sneak her into the biggest society event of the season. It’s their chance to catch the man who framed her father for murder. How can Isaveth refuse? |
Mark of the Plague Mystery | Adventure | Plague | Friendship | Historical Fiction | Loyalty | Suspense In this follow-up to The Blackthorn Key, the Plague has returned to London, and a mysterious prophet predicts the city’s doom, until an unknown apothecary arrives with a cure. The Blackthorn shop is chosen to prepare the remedy, but when an assassin threatens the apothecary’s life, Christopher and Tom must hunt down the truth, risking their lives to untangle the heart of a dark conspiracy. |
Notes from the Life of a Total Genius School Life | Growing Up | Humour | Friendship | Censorship It’s Arthur Bean’s last year of junior high and he finally has his own school newspaper column! But his co-editor Kennedy is mad at him, his best friend, Robbie, has moved away and, when the new principal challenges the content of Arthur’s play, he begins a campaign against censorship. Can Arthur make it to graduation without starting a revolution? Will there even BE a grad?? |
Root Beer Candy and Other Miracles Novels in Verse | Family Relationships | Community | Dolphins | Miracles | Friendship | Faith | Secrets Sent to stay with her estranged grandmother on the West Coast while her parents are at Marriage Repair camp, 11-year-old Bailey longs for a miracle to hold her family together. So, when an eccentric deposed minister proclaims “a stranger from the sea will change everything,” and then she finds a driftwood mermaid, a gift from the sea… Bailey hopes this “stranger” will bring the miracle her family really needs. |
These Are My Words: The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheens Residential Schools | First Nations | Anishinaabe | Canadian History | Identity | Family In 1966, Violet must go far away from home to attend Residential School. She has run-ins with the other girls, she misses her grandma, and everything she brought has been taken from her, including her name — she is now just a number. But worst of all, she fears forgetting the things she treasures most: her Anishinaabe language and her traditional customs. She fears forgetting who she is. This title is also available in French as Les mots qu’il me reste : Violette Pesheens, pensionnaire à l’école résidentielle. |
Yellow Dog Dogsledding | Dogs | Coming of Age | Northern Communities | Mystery | First Nations | Adventure Thirteen-year-old Jeremy is devastated when a cruel prank injures a dog. While making amends, Jeremy befriends Yellow Dog and meets the dog’s owner, an old man who introduces him to the adventures of dog sledding. Soon Jeremy is forming his own old-time dog team including Yellow Dog, and in the process, discovers more about himself than he ever imagined. |
Middle Years Fiction (Hi-Lo) |
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Across the Floor Football | Contemporary Dance | Careers | Ambition | Sports | Family Relationships Luc thought he knew what his passion was: football. He lives it, breathes it. So when his coach orders him to sign up for contemporary-dance classes to improve his game, Luc agrees. He never expected to fall in love with dance. Now Luc faces a tough decision. Is he willing to give up a future in pro football to pursue a new dream? |
Taz’s Recipe Cooking | Culinary Arts | Competition | High School | Teen Romance | Divorce | Mistakes Fourteen-year-old Taz knows she’s a disaster in the kitchen. She just wants to make it through her food-science class in one piece. But when the class enters a competition for a coveted program and Taz is put in a group that expects to win, the pressure is on. As the competition heats up, Taz is desperate to hold her own and not let her team down. |
Young Adult Fiction |
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Dancing in the Rain Adoption | Loss | Romance | Grief | Healing | Teen Sexuality | Family While struggling with the death of her beloved adoptive mother, 16-year-old Brenna reconnects with members of her biological family. She is also falling in love with Ryan, who has to leave her when she needs him most. Brenna realizes that getting strong physically and focusing on the needs of others might just help her find peace and plan a future for herself. |
Every Hidden Thing Dinosaurs | Adventure | Romance | Scientific Expeditions | Rivalry | Westerns | History | Historical Fiction | Discovery Two teens, Samuel and Rachel, unknowingly share a common goal: to find the bones of the legendary ‘rex,’ the king dinosaur hiding in the Badlands. Both are on expeditions with their paleontologist fathers — bitter rivals, each desperate to make the discovery. When their paths cross, sparks fly… Can Sam and Rachel join forces to find their quarry, or will old enmities and prejudices keep them from both the rex and each other? |
Icarus Down Science Fiction | Dystopia | Mystery | Friendship | Secrets | Steampunk | Genocide | Reconciliation | Loss | Journeys The colony of Icarus Down — the last of Earth’s humanity — is suspended above a forest floor inhabited by monsters and sheltered from a killing sun in the shadows of the planet’s massive canyons. After a devastating accident kills his brother, 16-year-old Simon uncovers a conspiracy stretching back to the beginning of the colony. Down on the surface, the truth awaits… if Simon can survive long enough to find it. |
Once, In a Town Called Moth Mennonites | Mystery | Secrets | Family | Friendship | Bolivia | Identity Ana, 14, and her father have fled their Mennonite community in Bolivia and come to Toronto. Ana only knows that her father is trying to find her mother who disappeared years ago. Torn between worlds, and troubled by the things she and her father left behind, Ana is determined to find the one person who can tell her what they are running from — her mother. |
The Pain Eater Rape | Bullying | Friendship | Courage | Trauma | Healing Maddy Malone told no one about that night and what had been done to her. She’d wanted to tell, but then had come the shame and the intimidation from the boys who held her down and raped her. But when her English class is given a group novel-writing assignment, fact and fiction blur. Can Maddy take control of the story and reveal the truth? |
Speed of Life Loyalty | Promises | Twins | Choices | Poverty | Teen Pregnancy | Family Eighteen-year-old twins Crystal and Amber want to graduate high school and escape their deadbeat parents and rundown neighbourhood. But then one of them gets pregnant, and they make a pact to raise the baby together. But when Crystal is offered an opportunity to go to college to learn to restore classic cars, she must make a difficult choice: follow her dreams or honour her promise. |
The Swan Riders Science Fiction | Dystopia | Artificial Intelligence | Love | LGBTQ | Choices | Humanity | Power | Corruption | Compassion Greta Stuart has become AI, but is she ready to rule the world? To help Greta retain her humanity and her sanity, Talis chooses a horseback journey toward the Red Mountains — home of the AIs — escorted by Swan Riders. But there are other people interested in Greta, people who want to change the world… and the Swan Riders might not be as loyal as they appear. |
The Whalemaster Whaling | Historical Fiction | Adventure | Whales | Pirates | Friendship Below the islands of the Azores, a monster waits for those that murder his kin, the whalers with their longboats and deadly harpoons. Antonio is a tough harpooner, sworn to kill the monster that plagues his homeland’s waters. While chasing the beast, he finds a boy, wounded and floating in the sea. Together they must face Lazarus, the monster whale that will change everything. |
Teen Fiction (Hi-Lo) |
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Rez Runaway First Nations | LGBTQ | Gender Identity | Transgender | Prostitution | Residential Schools | Alcohol | Friendship | Family Seventeen-year-old Joe Littlechief makes a drunken pass at his best friend and is shunned by his mother and so-called friends on the rez. Alone and penniless on the streets of Toronto, Joe ends up selling himself to stave off hunger. Then “religious, Indigenous gay boy” meets Sid “African-Canadian transgender girl,” who accepts Joe unconditionally. A death and an unexpected gift change Joe and Sid’s lives forever. |
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Graphic Novels |
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Bera the One-Headed Troll Fantasy | Magic | Quests | Female Hero | Compassion | Courage | Adventure | Witches Bera is a solitary, humble troll, tending her island pumpkin patch in cheerful isolation, when trouble finds her. A human baby appears in the realm of the trolls, and nobody knows where it came from, but Bera seems to be the only one who doesn’t want it dead. Bera finds herself on a quest to take the sweet baby home. |
Burt’s Way Home Home | Belonging | Love | Loneliness | Patience | Loss Burt, a little bluebird, is an orphan, but no regular orphan: he’s an inter-galactic, trans-dimensional time-traveller orphan, and a cosmic accident has left him stranded on earth… or so he says. Lydia is a kindly maternal mouse who has taken Burt in, loving him unconditionally. Together Burt and Lydia tell a heart-touching tale of home and belonging from two different perspectives. |
Secret Path Residential Schools | Death | Chanie Wenjack | First Nations | Canadian History | Abuse | Loneliness | Homesickness Twelve-year-old Chanie Wenjack, misnamed Charlie by his teachers, died on October 22, 1966, trying to escape residential school and return to his family. Acknowledging a dark part of Canada’s history — the mistreatment of Indigenous children and families by the residential school system — the story of Chanie Wenjack’s tragic death compels all Canadians to make peace with the truth of the past. Chanie’s story is Canada’s story. |
Seeking Refuge Refugees | Kindertransport | World War II | Jewish Children | Loneliness | Courage | Bigotry | Anti-Semitism | Resourcefulness In this graphic-novel adaptation of Watts’ novel Remember Me, 11-year-old Marianne, a Jewish refugee fleeing Nazi Germany, arrives in London on a Kindertransport. Marianne is lonely and longs for her real family. Her attempts to become an English girl are not enough for her foster mother. With the outbreak of World War II, Marianne is evacuated to Wales. She is shuffled from one unsuitable home to another, but Marianne’s courage and resilience are finally rewarded. |
Will I See? First Nations | Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women | Violence Against Women | Hope | Strength | Cultural Traditions | Spirit Animals May, a young teenage girl, finds keepsakes on a walk through the city. May and her kookum (grandmother) make these keepsakes into a necklace, opening a world of danger and fantasy. While May fights against a terrible reality, she finds strength in the spirit of those who have passed. But can that strength save her? A story of tragedy and beauty, illuminating the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. |
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Biography |
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Bad Girls of Fashion: Style Rebels from Cleopatra to Lady Gaga Fashion | Feminism | Women | History | Biography From Cleopatra to Coco Chanel and Marlene Dietrich to Madonna, female style rebels have used clothes to shake things up and break the rules. With an energetic, appealing writing style, Croll demonstrates how through the ages, women — often without other means of power — have used fashion as a tool, and how their influence continues to shape the way women present themselves today. |
Malala Yousafzai: Defender of Education for Girls Malala Yousafzai | Girls’ Education | Social Activism | Biography | Courage | Pakistan Malala Yousafzai survived an assassination attempt for advocating for girls’ education in Pakistan. This book describes her incredible story, including her advocacy work on behalf of women and girls and how she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Young readers will discover how important her parents’ support has been and gain an understanding of the culture in which Yousafzai was raised. |
Economic & Financial Literacy |
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Pocket Change: Pitching in for a Better World Sustainability | Consumerism | Making a Difference | Empowerment | Environmentalism Around the world, people are questioning consumerism, leaning toward more sustainable lifestyles and creating a whole new concept of wealth. What if you could meet all your needs while getting to know your neighbours and protecting the environment at the same time? This book will tell you how this is possible. |
What is Entrepreneurship? Entrepreneurship | Economic Literacy | Innovation | Risk Taking Entrepreneurs are a vital component of a successful economy. They can create jobs and help keep money in their local communities. This title explores the risks and rewards involved for entrepreneurs as they work to bring innovative ideas to life and make their mark on the business world. Biographical snapshots highlight the innovative thinking, perseverance and problem-solving skills essential to the entrepreneurial spirit. |
History, Geography & Culture |
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Fight to Learn: The Struggle to Go to School Education | Poverty | Discrimination | Violence | Social Justice In this inspiring title, Laura Scandiffio provides a frank look at current global struggles for education. For many children around the world, war, poverty, discrimination and violence are seemingly insurmountable obstacles to going to school. But there is hope, and this book also presents uplifting stories of people who have made the dream of education come true for many young people. |
I Am Not a Number Residential Schools | First Nations | Education | Canadian History | Human Rights Based on the true account of Jenny Kay Dupuis’s grandmother, this picture book tells the story of eight-year-old Irene who is taken from her Nipissing First Nation home by an Indian Agent and sent to live in a faraway residential school. Stripped of her name, frightened and homesick, Irene endures, holding on to her mother’s words “Never forget who you are!” This title is also available in French as Je ne suis pas un numéro. |
Internment Camps Internment Camps | World War II | History | Historical Evidence | Critical Thinking This title examines the internment of “enemy aliens” in the United States and Canada during World War II. With emphasis on the plight of Japanese-American and Japanese-Canadian citizens, the events, mindsets and policies leading up to and following the forced removal of thousands of citizens from their homes into internment camps are examined. The use of primary sources encourages critical thinking about citizenship and stereotyping. |
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Science |
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5 Giraffes Giraffes | Africa | Endangered Species | Wildlife Conservation Through sharing the stories of five celebrated giraffes, this captivating book explores the world of giraffes living both in the wild and in captivity. While giraffes are an iconic part of the African landscape, some species of giraffes are endangered and facing extinction in the wild. From their leafy diets to their hidden social lives, giraffes are important creatures that must be protected. |
‘Dinosaurs’ of the Deep: Discover Prehistoric Marine Life Marine Reptiles | Crustaceous Period | Marine Paleontology | Mosasaur | Fossils | Western Interior Seaway During the Crustaceous period, the Canadian Prairies were covered by the Western Interior Seaway, which teemed with predatory creatures — fanged fish, huge turtles, giant squid and immense crocodiles. At the top of this prehistoric food chain ruled the mighty mosasaur, the T. Rex of the sea. This world is brought vividly to life with astonishing discoveries and the latest paleontological information! |
Enough Water? A Guide to What We Have and How We Use It Water | Water Footprint | Consumption | Infographics | Water Conservation In this thoughtful title, young readers learn the actual “cost” of water used to grow and make things like oranges, ketchup and even cellphones. This “water footprint” is the amount of fresh water used to produce goods and services and contributes to an irreversible loss of Earth’s finite water supply. The easily understood infographics raise awareness of how our all-consuming lifestyle is literally made of water. |
Falcons in the City: The Story of a Peregrine Family Peregrine Falcons | Urban Wildlife | Birds | Natural World | Wildlife Conservation What happens when a pair of peregrine falcons chooses to nest atop a Chicago condominium balcony? This is the story of a peregrine falcon family that moves into a cramped urban home amongst towers teeming with people. This photographic study explores urban wildlife and how city dwellers co-exist with an ever-increasing wildlife population that finds ingenious — and devious — ways to move into our homes and cities. |
Monster Science: Could Monsters Survive (and Thrive!) in the Real World? Science | Monsters | Myths | Legends | Folklore | History | Scientific Research | Humour In an original approach to exploring science, author Helaine Becker examines six kinds of monsters — Frankenstein, vampires, Bigfoot, zombies, werewolves and sea monsters — to expose the proven scientific principles behind the legends. Monster history, trivia, jokes and fun quizzes abound! Becker uses the never-ending appetite for all things monster to engage kids’ imaginations and get them excited about science. |
Ocean Animals from Head to Tail Sea Life | Ocean Animals | Guessing Game Dive in with these fascinating creatures of the sea! This non-fiction picture book uses a playful guessing game to introduce eight different ocean animals and some unique aspects of their bodies! A hammer-shaped head? A spiral tail? From fins to flippers and tentacles to tails, there’s no better introduction to the awesomeness of ocean animals! |
To Burp or Not to Burp: A Guide to Your Body in Space Space | Careers | Astronauts | Problem Solving | Microgravity | Human Body The most frequent question kids ask astronauts is “How do you go to the toilet in space?” In this fascinating book, Dr. Dave Williams, a NASA astronaut who has accomplished three space walks, answers that question and many others about the effects of zero gravity on the human body. Dr. Dave empowers kids to believe in themselves and follow their dreams. |
The Tragic Tale of the Great Auk For thousands of years, great auks thrived in the icy seas of the North Atlantic. But by 1844, not a single one of these magnificent birds was still alive. The tragic demise of the great auk led to the birth of the conservation movement. Laws were passed to prevent the killing of birds during the nesting season, and similar laws were later extended to other wildlife species. |
Sports |
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Level the Playing Field: The Past, Present, and Future of Women’s Pro Sports She’s got game! The experience of being a professional athlete is very different for men and women. Many female athletes aren’t valued or recognized equally for their talent. This book explores the state of women’s sport, the pioneers who challenged the status quo and the hurdles that still remain. An important contribution to the movement for women’s acceptance in professional sports. |
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Things to Do |
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Gastro Blast: Make Tasty Treats & Learn Great Science Based on the TVO food and science show, Gastro Blast, this information-filled cookbook helps kids explore and discover fascinating scientific principles in action by preparing and cooking everyday foods. Includes 26 great recipes and the amazing science behind them. |
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