New from the Canadian Children's Book Centre & Friends
Black History Month Book List
February Book List: Love & Romance
Creator's Corner: Victoria Koops
Illustrator's Studio: Briana Corr Scott
Experts' Picks
News from the Canadian Children's Book Centre & Friends
Join the Canadian Children's Book Centre for the first gathering of the Book Head Book Club, our new book club that will delve into today's best Canadian books for middle-grade readers and teens.
Our first meeting will take place on March 5th, 2025 at 7:00pm EST. Register to receive the link to join the meeting. Registration is FREE for CCBC members and by donation for non-members.
We are excited to announce that our inaugural book club selection is Age 16 by Rosena Fung, published by Annick Press. Pick up a copy from your local book shop or library and read along with us.
Announcing changes to our magazines. Did you know that Best Books for Kids & Teens and Canadian Children's Book News are the only publications in Canada that are solely dedicated to reviewing, recommending, and promoting Canadian children’s books, authors, illustrators and trends? But, with time, comes change, and in 2025 the CCBC is making changes to the delivery of our publications. Read more.
The CCBC Virtual Silent Auction will take place from April 2-9, 2025. This event will feature items donated from across the country. Prizes will include kids' books, museum passes, art, handcrafted wares, tickets to performing arts events, and much more. We are currently looking to add more prizes to the auction and can issue tax receipts for items donated for the event. If you would like to donate an item for the auction, please contact Carol-Ann Hoyte, Events and Program Manager, at carol-ann@bookcentre.ca.
Black History Month Book List
February Book List: Love & Romance
What is love? Reading can help young people learn to recognize different forms of love including self-love, love between friends and family, and romantic love. Our February book list celebrates love in all its forms.
Picture Books
All We Need Is Love and a Really Soft Pillow!
Written by Henry Rocket Reynolds
Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Orchard Books/Scholastic, 2023
IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades 2-3
This heartfelt celebration of love follows Poppy and Little One as they discuss all the things they need in life like a really good pillow or a roof over their heads —but most important of all, love. Despite the challenges they face as a storm sweeps away their home, this duo never lose their optimism because in the end they know that all they truly need is love...and each other.
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I Love Myself
Written by Wai Mei Wong
Illustrated by Julia Vasileva
Orca Book Publishers, 2024
IL: Ages 3-5 RL Grades 1-2
In this sweet picture book, we accompany a child through their day, from morning to bedtime, as their inner self—portrayed as a cuddly imaginary creature—supports them in their endeavours. Some days are harder than others, but the positive message of the text highlights how you can love yourself through big feelings, try something different, say no, and so much more.
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Kisses? Click! Click!
Written by Andrée Poulin
Illustrated by Anne-Claire Delisle
Auzou Publishing, 2024
IL: Ages 3-6 RL: Grades 1-2
A lot of kids say YUCK! when they see their parents kissing each other. Little Clara doesn’t understand why children think kissing is soooo disgusting, so she sets out on a cute and funny investigation around the world to discover that love is everywhere. With her camera at the ready, she visits all different types of animals to take their pictures and prove to her brother that kissing isn't gross!
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Roger and Matthew
Written by Michel Thériault
Illustrated by Magali Ben
Translated by Pamela Doll
Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2020
IL: Ages 9 and up RL: Grades 4-5
A celebration of love in all its shapes and sizes! Same-sex couples haven't always been accepted in society, but it is possible for love and beauty to triumph. Two boys are friends and age gracefully together as a same-sex couple.
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We Love You as Much as the Fox Loves Its Tail
Written by Masiana Kelly
Illustrated by Tamara Campeau
Inhabit Media, 2023
IL: Ages 3-5 RL: Grades 1-2
This loving bedtime poem shares all the ways in which a family will welcome their long-awaited new member. Sharing love as deep as the beluga dives and as warm as the shaggy hair of the muskox, this poem envelopes a new baby in the embrace of their new home in all its forms—the Arctic landscape and the welcoming arms of family.
For Beginning and Middle Readers
From Megabat with Love
Written by Anna Humphrey
Illustrated by Kris Easler
Tundra Books, 2024
IL: Ages 7-10 RL Grades 2-3
It's Valentine's Day, and Megabat wants to show Bird Girl that he loves her. But how? Easy! Or is it? The next laugh-out-loud book in this sweet and funny illustrated chapter book series featuring a talking bat.
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Noah Frye Gets Crushed
Written by Maggie Horne
HarperCollins Publishers, 2024
IL: Ages 8-12 RL: Grades 3-4
In this cute and queer contemporary middle-grade comedy about friendship, first crushes, and first kisses, 12-year-old Noah Frye comes up with a foolproof plan to teach herself how to have a crush on a boy to fit in better with her friends—only to discover she’s been looking in the wrong place, and her crush was right beside her all along.
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The New Girl: A Graphic Novel
Written and illustrated by Cassandra Calin
Graphix/Scholastic, 2024
IL: Ages 9-12 RL Grades 4-7
Lia and her family are waiting to board a flight across the Atlantic, leaving behind family, friends, and Romania—the only home Lia has ever known. But Lia's heartache is overshadowed by the discomfort of her first period. As if things weren't difficult enough! Now Lia is thrust into a world where everything is different: her home, her language, and even her body. With so many changes happening at once, Lia struggles with schoolwork, has trouble communicating with classmates, and has no idea how to manage her unpleasant periods. Will she ever feel like herself again?
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Thanks a Lot, Universe
Written by Chad Lucas
Amulet Books, 2022 ©2021
IL: Ages 10-14 RL: Grades 5-6
Brian has always been anxious, whether at home, or in class, or on the basketball court. His dad tries to get him to stand up for himself and his mom helps as much as she can, but after he and his brother are placed in foster care, Brian starts having panic attacks. And he doesn’t know if things will ever be “normal” again...
Ezra’s always been popular. He’s friends with most of the kids on his basketball team—even Brian, who usually keeps to himself. But now, some of his friends have been acting differently, and Brian seems to be pulling away. Ezra wants to help, but he worries if he’s too nice to Brian, his friends will realize that he has a crush on him.
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The Unloveable Alina Butt
Written by Ambreen Butt-Hussain
Orca Book Publishers, 2023
IL: Ages 9-12 RL: Grades 4-5
Eleven-year-old Alina Butt has changed schools four times already since her family moved to England from Pakistan. Even after all that practice, she doesn’t seem to be getting any better at being the new kid. Mocked for her last name and her "weird" lunches, Alina has had enough! Taking a leap of faith to try and stand out for the "right" reasons, Alina auditions for the school play. Her hopes of landing the lead role in Cinderella are dashed when her new friend gets the part of Cinderella instead...and her bully is cast as Prince Charming!
Alina must rely on her stubborn will and wacky sense of humour to survive the endlessly embarrassing and ridiculous situations she finds herself in and discover her own unique way to shine!
For Teen and Young Adult Readers
Recommended Reading
Written by Paul Coccia
Zando Young Readers, 2025
IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 7-8
In this opposites-attract YA rom-com inspired by Emma, a failed romantic gesture puts a damper on a queer teen bookseller’s summer of book matching and matchmaking until a handsome lifeguard and romance skeptic waltzes into his bookstore. Sometimes you get a second chance at happily ever after when you least expect it.
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Something More
Written by Jackie Khalilieh
Tundra Books, 2023
IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 7-8
Fifteen-year-old Jessie, a quirky loner obsessed with the '90s, is diagnosed as autistic just weeks before starting high school. Determined to make a fresh start and keep her diagnosis a secret, Jessie creates a list of goals that range from acquiring two distinct eyebrows to getting a magical first kiss and landing a spot in the school play. Within the halls of Holy Trinity High, she finds a world where things are no longer black and white and quickly learns that living in colour is much more fun. But Jessie gets more than she bargained for when two very different boys steal her heart, forcing her to go off-script.
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The Summer Between Us
Written by Andre Fenton
Formac Publishing, 2022
IL: Ages 13 and up RL: Grades 8-9
This coming-of-age story follows 18-year-old Adrian Carter as he graduates from high school and confronts difficult decisions about his future, all while dealing with the stress and pressure he feels to please those closest to him. As Adrian navigates the emotional highs and lows of the summer between graduation and the post-secondary future, he negotiates the difficulties of forging a path in life against others’ expectations.
Despite his wish to follow his longtime girlfriend Mel on her cross-country trip with her band, Adrian is hesitant about spending too much time in the punk’s scenes majority-white spaces. Adrian struggles with these feelings and works to find common ground with his emotionally distant father. Meanwhile he starts to understand that his own passion is grounded in a desire to support a community he’s forged on his own.
Dealing with important themes (a desire for independence, identity, first love, familial tensions) from the nuanced perspective of a biracial teen, this story tackles key contemporary social issues.
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When It All Syncs Up
Written by Maya Ameyaw
Annick Press, 2023
IL: Ages 14 and up RL: Grades 9-10
Ballet is Aisha’s life. So when she’s denied yet another lead at her elite academy because she doesn’t “look” the part, she knows something has to change–the constant discrimination is harming her mental health. Switching to her best friend Neil’s art school seems like the perfect plan at first. But she soon discovers racism and bullying are entrenched in the ballet program here, too, and there’s a new, troubling distance between her and Neil. And as past traumas surface, pressure from friends and family, a new romance, and questions about her dance career threaten to overwhelm her. There’s no choreography to follow—for high school or for healing. Aisha will have to find the strength within herself—and place her trust in others—to make her next move.
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Who We Are In Real Life
Written by Victoria Koops
Groundwood Books, 2024
IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 7-8
IRL, Darcy has just moved to the small prairie town of Unity Creek with her two moms. It feels like she left everything good behind in the city. She misses her tabletop gaming friends and her boyfriend— nd is horrified by the homophobia her family faces in their new home. Then she meets kind, quiet Art, who invites her to join his Dungeons & Dragons game.
Art is mostly happy fading into the background at school and only really coming alive during his friends’ weekly D&D game—until meeting Darcy pulls his life off-course in wonderful and alarming ways. Suddenly he has something worth fighting for. But what if that something puts him in conflict with his father, an influential and conservative figure in their town? Can Art stand up against his father’s efforts to prevent Darcy and her friends from starting a queer-straight alliance at school?
Creator's Corner: Victoria Koops
Victoria Koops never stopped playing make-believe and often writes while wearing a tiara. Her stories are full of epic adventure and swoony romance, and navigate social issues through the power of fandom and geek culture. Her YA debut novel, Who We Are In Real Life, has been nominated for two 2025 Saskatchewan Book Awards, as well as the Forest of Reading’s 2025 White Pine Award™.
On the one year anniversary of the release of Who We Are In Real Life, we caught up with Victoria to ask her more about her book and the experience of being a newly published author.
In your debut YA novel, Who We Are In Real Life, teenager Darcy and her moms move to a small prairie town called Unity Creek. How would you describe Unity Creek and what makes this small town so interesting?
Unity Creek is a contradiction. Familiar, yet isolating; hopeful, but challenging; totally made up, and absolutely believable, all in equal measure. As someone who was shaped by growing up in a rural and small town, I wanted to both honour and question these contradictions with this book for everyone growing up Queer and Othered in small towns today.
There are places in Unity Creek that are little glimpses into my childhood; I wrote those cameos like a love letter, all tenderness and fond memories. Then there are the realities that I unpacked—the feelings of isolation, fear, strangeness, worry, anger, and more—that I needed to question and challenge, exactly what Darcy and her mothers do when they arrive in town. I couldn’t have done that as effectively had I set this story anywhere else.
I love being from a small town. I also know there are a lot of youth out there waiting to leave their small towns because they don’t feel safe. Isn’t that sad? For Darcy, her moms, readers that come from places like Unity Creek, and myself too, I would like to see that change.
Regarding romance, Darcy experiences both wholesome crushes and toxic boyfriends. Why did you decide to include both of these relationships?
The TDLR (Too Long, Didn’t Read) version is because reality is reality.
The longer, more thoughtful answer is that I included both relationships in the book because adults sometimes forget that teenagers are experiencing everything for the first time. First romance, first red-flag, first heartbreak—all of it is new and exciting and intense and sometimes even scary. I try to keep that in mind when I write YA romance.
The choice to have Darcy experience a toxic relationship and respond to that relationship the way she does was important to her character’s growth. As was her experiencing the wholesome, warm crush she has on Art, because this happens in real life, too. I didn’t write these relationships as a playbook or romantic ideal, but as an acknowledgement that being a teenager IRL is messy.
I hope that readers, specifically teens, feel their reality reflected in the messy parts of this book because that’s my way of saying “I see you out there, your experience is valid.”
Also, I love angst, and what’s more angsty than adolescence?
Darcy is unabashedly nerdy and the story features an epic Dungeons & Dragons game. What’s the best part about being a nerd and playing tabletop games?
Obviously, the best part of playing table-top role-playing games (TTRPGs), like Dungeons & Dragons, is writing elaborate, deeply tragic, novel-length backstories for every character you play, ever. Or maybe it’s having an excuse to order pizza once a week and “accidentally” cast Fireball on your best friends. Right? RIGHT?
Okay, time for my real answer. Honestly, for me, the best part of being a nerd has been finding community and embracing my interests without shame. In middle school and the first few years of high school, I denied I had any interest in nerdy or geeky hobbies because I already felt as though I was too weird for the people I wanted to impress. I’ve loved playing TTRPGs for most of my life (my father introduced me to D&D when I was six) but I hid that from my friends and made fun of others who enjoyed things like anime or video games.
That all changed the moment I fell in love with Dragon Age: Origins, a solo-player RPG (role-playing game) video game that I played in secret. As I fell in love with video games (and RPGs all over again), I realized that I needed to give myself permission to just exist—that it was okay to love the things I love.
By accepting my love of fantasy, adventure, fandom, heartwarming romance, space operas, magic, and geek culture, I’ve found others who accept me. As a result, I’m a kinder, more authentic version of myself with all these amazing friends! All this personal growth, facilitated by playing a game.
Who We Are In Real Life was released one year ago, which means in the past year you’ve experienced many firsts as an author (first book published, first book signing, first book festival, etc.). What has it been like connecting with readers, teachers, booksellers and librarians? What are you looking forward to about touring for Book Week?
Thrilling. Humbling. Overwhelming, even.
My favourite part of being a published author has been connecting with people. That’s also been the most surreal part. I spent years working on this book, and even longer daydreaming about being a professional author. Now, readers, teachers, booksellers, librarians, the media, and other authors have congratulated, critiqued, and celebrated me and my work.
Having the privilege to realize this dream, to experience the fantasies that I dared to entertain in between countless hours of writing and editing—it's almost unbelievable.
As for Canadian Children’s Book Week, I’m so honoured to have been included in this tour. I’m looking forward to road-tripping across my beautiful home province—complete with snacks, shades, and a killer playlist, of course. I can’t wait to connect with even more people about all things nerdy and bookish!
Victoria Koops will be touring as part of Canadian Children's Book Week 2025. Keep up to date with her latest projects by following @victoriakoopswrites on Instagram.
Illustrator's Studio: Briana Corr Scott
Briana Corr Scott is an author and illustrator based in Kjipuktuk/Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Her projects are inspired by the waters, woods, and landscapes that surround her on the East Coast. She loves to make botanical illustrations, surface patterns, and paper dolls. Her poetic picture books are known for blending the details of nature with magic and folktales.
We had the pleasure of speaking with Briana Corr Scott about seeking inspiration from the natural world that surrounds her and finding comfort in creativity.
While you create all kinds of artwork—including cards, paper dolls, murals, portraits, and animations—your website says your favourite thing to make is picture books. What is it about picture books that continue to inspire you?
Each picture book I make is its own little world. Once I write a story and make the images, I use both as a jumping-off point for the other things I make. I might make a mural inspired by a scene in the picture book, or greeting cards using the flowers or animals found in the scenery. The characters of my picture books often begin as paper dolls. I make these paper puppets and then imagine the world they live in, and tell their story.
In my mind, everything I make works together as part of the world in the picture book, so in this way it is the base for everything that I do. My art is very playful, and I don't have a lot of restrictions on myself. If I want to learn a new technique or experience a new creative process, I will use the story and images from one of my books to do that. Making a picture book is making a place for me to play in, and is the most important thing that I do.
Your illustrations and stories are often inspired by the waters, woods, and landscapes that surround you on the East Coast. What has spending time in nature taught you about creativity?
Creatively, I have learned that truth is stranger than fiction. My brain cannot come up with something as good as nature can, which is why I work from life when I begin a new project. Nature shows me compositions, colours and shapes that my mind cannot create on its own.
You can try it yourself. If you closed your eyes right now and imagined a tree, then tried to sketch it—I guarantee it would be a very generic simple tree. If you went out for a walk in the woods, you would find the weirdest, tangled tree ever, one that your mind could never imagine, and for me that makes better art. From the art, I write the story, and now I have a real oddball character of a tree to describe—that is so much better for writing than trying first to imagine and then describe one alone in my studio. Nature and life are always where I start.
Your upcoming picture book, I Lost a Day, explores creative and mindful ways to approach mental health challenges. How does making art support your mental health?
I Lost a Day is all about how art, nature and creativity can soothe you in times of sadness. I think it is an important thing to speak about to children (and adults) of all ages. What I hope is that this book will be a tool for grownups to normalize these conversations.
It is also a gentle, soothing book full of hope. I wrote this book because I needed this book myself. I had a period of burnout and depression right after COVID. At that time, my father-in-law passed away, another close family member was diagnosed with cancer, I was helping my children through the stress of COVID and a post-COVID world, and my sister succumbed to her struggle with addictions. I had so much on my plate personally, and I became depressed. My therapist asked me, "What would you say to your kids if they were experiencing what you are going through?" The answer to this question is this book.
I have always turned to art and writing as a way of care in hard times. It can be an escape from the hard feelings; a moment of joy in a sea of sadness. Ultimately, if you keep up the writing or making, it can be a way to process what you are going through and can be a way to find meaning in it. I don't think art and writing alone will solve all the mental health problems in the world, but it is a huge part of it. I want people to think of it as one of the tools that will help. Therapy and medication also help. There is no one answer. I hope this book gets kids thinking about the tools that work for them before they need them.
You’ll be touring for the upcoming Canadian Children’s Book Week, reading from I Lost a Day, and talking about mental health with young readers. What are you looking forward to about touring for Book Week?
I adore visiting students with my picture books. I have visited extensively in Nova Scotia since 2019 with the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia. I always leave school with my cup filled and a smile on my face. It is such a gift to be with kids who love reading my books. They are my audience and I truly want to hear what they think about the stories I write.
Also, I have a BEd in Art Education as well as a BFA in painting, so for me, being in the schools with my art and writing is a wonderful way to tie in my roots as an arts educator. It truly is a full-circle moment for me. In addition, I am excited to be touring in Quebec, since I haven't been there since I was 13.
Briana Corr Scott will be touring as part of Canadian Children's Book Week 2025. Keep up to date with her latest projects by visiting her website or following her on Instagram.
Experts' Picks
Every month expert booksellers and librarians share their top picks for young readers. Check out what our experts are reading in February!
The Eidi Bag
Written by Shazia Afzal
Illustrated by Shiva Deelsooz
Owlkids Books, 2025
IL: Ages 4-7 RL: Grades 2-3
Sarah is excited to celebrate Eid Ul-Fitr in her new country. The little girl proudly shows off the small embroidered Eidi bag she made, anticipating adults filling it with coins, as they did in Pakistan, enabling her to buy gifts for others in return. But no one seems to pay much attention to her Eidi bag. Initially disappointed, she soon discovers her new community has its own special generous and thoughtful ways to honour the holiday.
Shiva Delsooz’s intricate and ebullient illustrations set a festive tone. In an author’s endnote, Afzal writes about her childhood Eid experiences. The Eidi Bag offers many gifts to readers, including a valuable story about adaptability and finding joy in new traditions.
Recommended by Linda Ludke, Collections Management Librarian, London Public Library
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The Time Keeper
Written by Meagan Mahoney
DCB Young Readers, 2024
IL: Ages 9-13 RL: Grades 4-5
With his best friend Peter suffering from a mysterious illness, and Peter's father the recent victim of a murder, young Malcolm McKenzie finds himself trying to follow the clues presented by a special watch to find a miracle cure for Peter and hopefully determine the identity of Jack Alexander's killer. Dr. Fiona MacIsaac, the physician initially in charge of Peter's care, endeavours to help Malcolm but she has troubles of her own as she struggles to be accepted by the men who refuse to accept a female as their peer.
Set in Edinburgh in the early 1900s, this intriguing mystery deftly brings the setting and time period to life while providing young readers with an engrossing puzzle to be solved and a cast of winsome characters.
Recommended by Lisa Doucet, Manager, Woozles Children's Bookstore.