New from the Canadian Children's Book Centre & Friends
Summer Book List: YA Books about Real Love & Sexuality
Creator's Corner: Kern Carter
Illustrator's Studio: Nadia Alam
Experts' Picks
News from the Canadian Children's Book Centre & Friends
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre calls on the Government of Alberta to rescind Ministerial Order 030/2025. Along with many librarians, educators, caregivers, writers, and civic-minded Canadians, we are deeply concerned with the Government of Alberta’s Ministerial Order 30/2025. Read the full statement.
Listen to a special kids' book segment on The Current. Earlier this summer, CBC's The Current with Matt Galloway hosted a panel of children's books expert (including the CCBC's Digital Media Coordinator, Spencer Miller) for a discussion on how to get kids hooked on reading over the summer. Listen to the end for some great Canadian summer reading picks. Thanks to the CBC for highlighting children's books and the importance of reading!
Our friends at IBBY Canada have released the fourth edition of From Sea to Sea to Sea: Celebrating Indigenous Picture Books. The catalogue features the 25 best Indigenous picture books published between 2022 and 2024, as selected by a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous librarians, authors, and educators. In celebration of the catalogue, as well as the 40th World IBBY Congress (August 6-9, 2026) in Ottawa, IBBY Canada is hosting a writing contest for Indigenous youth ages 8-12. Submissions open on September 15, 2025 and close on January 26, 2026. Download the From Sea to Sea to Sea catalogue today!
Book News and Best Books go digital! The inaugural digital edition of Canadian Children’s Book News is availablenow! The new format will continue to bring you the same great content and we’re thrilled to return to a quarterly publishing schedule, ensuring that more Canadian books get coverage. Explore the the Spring 2025 issue of CCBN by becoming a member or purchasing an individual copy.
We’re also excited to launch the new searchable online Best Books for Kids & Teens database that is free for all. You can narrow down your search by applying filters (i.e., board books, picture books, graphic novels, young adult fiction, etc., as well as by categories/themes) to find the perfect book for the young reader(s) in your life. The online version contains all the pertinent information that was included in the print edition.
IBBY Canada is hosting the 40th IBBY World Congress, which will take place for the first time in Canada, from August 6-9, 2026 at Carleton University in Ottawa. The theme is Listening to Each Other's Voices - Pizindàdidà Ekidong - Écoutez la voix de l'autre.
You are invited to participate! Review the Call for Papers for details about speaking or hosting a workshop, session or presentation at the congress.
Summer Book List: YA Books About Real Love & Sexuality
In creating honest, thought-provoking human stories with diverse characters and experiences that mirror the real lives of teens, Canadian young adult authors are helping teens make connections, see themselves, and to better understand the complicated world of sex, romance, and relationships.
Young Adult Fiction
The Big Reveal
Written by Jen Larsen
Square Fish, 2022
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 9-10
Addie’s a talented dancer, a true-blue friend, and a fat, fierce, and driven young woman. When she’s accepted into a prestigious dance company but doesn’t have the funds, Addie and her friends organize a ticketed burlesque show to raise the cash. But word gets out, and the slut- and body-shaming begin. Has Addie been resisting the patriarchy or playing right into its hands? Explores themes of body positivity, empowerment, friendship, and determination.
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Denial
Written by Lorna Shultz Nicholson
Lorimer, 2022
IL: Ages 13-18 RL: Grades 8-9
It’s Nova’s final year of high school and everything is on track for an amazing year. She’s going to ace all her studies and go on to be a doctor. She’s got a spot on the swim team. And she’s in love for the first time—with Leo, the captain of the swim team.
But things don’t turn out quite like Nova had planned. As her relationship with Leo intensifies, so does her obsession with him and her jealousy over his so-called friendship with another girl. The tighter she tries to hold on to him, the more he seems to pull away. The constant worry about the future of their relationship sends Nova spiralling into depression. Even she can’t believe how badly she’s handling things now. But could there be another reason for it, one she doesn’t even want to admit to herself?
“Through Nova, Nicholson wants teens to know that while first love can be intense, it’s not what media drives it to be, and if it doesn’t work out, it’s not their fault. As Nova learns, the end of a relationship didn’t mean the end of her life,” says Rachel Seigel.
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Exit, Pursued By a Bear
Written by E.K. Johnston
Penguin Young Readers Group, 2017
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 9-10
Hermione Winters has been a flyer and is captain of her cheerleading team. But this summer’s training camp is Hermione’s last and marks the beginning of the end of… she’s not sure what. In a few months, she’ll be a different person and she thinks she is ready. Then, during a camp party, someone slips something into her drink. And it all goes black.
“Exit, Pursued by a Bear is a story about a girl. A cautionary tale about someone who didn't want to be a cautionary tale. An important book for girls. For boys. For adults. For mothers and fathers and daughters and sons and girlfriends and boyfriends. An important book without being an 'Issue Book.'" praised author Jessica Day George.
The novel won the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award in 2017.
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First Times: Short Stories about Sex
Edited by Karine Glorieux
Translated by Shelley Tanaka
Groundwood Books, 2025
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 9-10
First Times: Short Stories About Sex collects nine stories by nine different authors, writing from a vast range of perspectives, cultural backgrounds and sexual orientations—revealing how unreasonable it is to define ourselves by a single, overhyped moment. A balm for adolescent anxiety, this inclusive collection offers sometimes imperfect but always frank short stories of first sexual experiences.
"First Times ... provides an excellent starting point for conversations that parents may have difficulty initiating themselves, and offers realistic reassurance for young people that what they are experiencing is completely normal in all of its weird, embarrassing, and confusing glory," says Quill & Quire.
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Firsts
Written by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn
St. Martin’s Press, 2016
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 9-10
Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but the guy must be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time—the kind Mercedes never had. When Mercedes’ system collapses, she must figure out where her heart really belongs.
“Research has proven that when it comes to sex, boys and girls are held to a different standard of behaviour, and Flynn’s novel is an excellent exposition of this double standard,” says Rachel Seigel.
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Hacking Heartbreak
Written by Kevin heronJones
Lorimer, 2022
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 3-4
Baron is a computer whiz with a passion for hacking and when the girl of his dreams starts taking an interest in him, he all but short circuits. Keyanna sees their dates as more casual than the love-struck Baron, but everything seems to be going well. When he sees her on a date with another guy, Baron hacks her school and social media accounts, angry and hurt.
As jealousy fades and reality sets in, Baron realizes the seriousness of his action. Knowing regret will never be enough, Baron races against the clock to fix his mess.
Kevin heronJones’s latest is another realistic, authentic depiction of the life of a Black youth in Canada. Set in Brampton, Hacking Heartbreak is a story about the intensity of first love and learning to live with the consequences of your actions.
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He Must Like You
Written by Danielle Younge-Ullman
Tundra Books, 2022
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 9-10
Libby’s having a rough senior year. When Perry Ackerman, notorious lech and customer at the restaurant where she waitresses, pushes her over the edge, she douses him with a pitcher of sangria. Now she must navigate the fallout of her outburst, deal with her increasing rage at the guys who’ve screwed up her life—–and her increasing crush on the one guy who truly gets her.
A finalist for the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award in 2021, the novel has been praised for its realistic and sensitive portrayal of teenage sexual relationships and for offering teens a much-needed look at workplace harassment and consent.
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If I Tell You the Truth
Written by Jasmin Kaur
HarperCollins Publishers, 2021
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 9-10
Kiran flees Punjab for a fresh start in Canada after a sexual assault leaves her pregnant. But overstaying her visa and living undocumented brings perils for both her and her daughter, Sahaara. When Sahaara learns the truth about her mother’s past, she decides to seek justice—even if it means challenging a powerful and dangerous man.
Exploring themes of trauma, courage, community, and resilience, the novel was a finalist for the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award in 2022.
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Like a Love Story
Written by Abdi Nazemian
Balzer + Bray, 2019
IL: Ages 13-18 RL: Grades 8-9
New York City, 1989. For three teens, the world is changing. Judy is an aspiring fashion designer. Art, an out and proud teen, is Judy’s best friend. Reza, from Iran, is terrified of being outed. Reza, dating Judy but attracted to Art, must find a way to stop living a lie that doesn’t break Judy’s heart—so he can keep the most meaningful friendship he’s ever known.
The novel was selected as a Stonewall Honor Book and named by Time Magazine as one of The Best 100 YA Books of All Time
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The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali
Written by Sabina Khan
Scholastic Inc., 2019
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 9-10
Seventeen-year-old Rukhsana Ali is unable to come out to her conservative Muslim parents. She keeps that part of her identity hidden. And that means keeping her girlfriend, Ariana, a secret from them, too. But when Rukhsana's mom catches her and Ariana together, her future begins to collapse around her.
Devastated and confused, Rukhsana's parents whisk her off to stay with their extended family in Bangladesh where, along with the loving arms of her grandmother and cousins, she is met with a world of arranged marriages, religious tradition, and intolerance. Fortunately, Rukhsana finds allies along the way and, through reading her grandmother's old diary, finds the courage to take control of her future and fight for her love.
“Khan does an excellent job of portraying the real dangers and challenges that teens from all walks of life face when coming out to non-accepting families and stresses the importance of hanging onto one’s culture while still being true to oneself. Khan is also careful to portray a varied set of reactions from Rukhsana’s religious and geographical community and to show that not everybody (including her grandmother and her cousin) thinks the same way,” says Rachel Seigel.
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The Summer of Bitter & Sweet
Written by Jen Ferguson
Heartdrum, 2022
IL: Ages 13-18 RL: Grades 8-9
Lou faces a summer working at her family’s ice cream shack with her ex-boyfriend and her long-absent former best friend. On top of that, she gets a letter from her biological father—the white man who raped her Métis mother—who’s out of jail and wants to talk to her. A powerful novel about the sweetness that can live alongside the bitterest truth.
The novel was awarded the Governor General’s Literary Award for Young People's Literature, named a Stonewall Honor Book, and was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award in 2023.
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Then Everything Happens at Once
Written by M-E Girard
HarperCollins Publishers, 2023
IL: Ages 14-18 RL: Grades 9-10
Sixteen-year-old Baylee’s had a crush on her best friend Freddie for years but doesn’t believe he’d be interested in a fat girl like her. Then Baylee meets Alex online and she starts to fall for her. Just as things with Freddie shift AND a pandemic shuts the world down, Baylee is left navigating the messy waters of love and desire.
A significant piece of pandemic-era literature, this novel explores ideas of sexuality, body image, first love, and family.
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Union
Written by Sara Cassidy
Orca Book Publishers, 2022
IL: Ages 12-18 RL: Grades 8-9
Fifteen-year-old Tuck navigates new love, past trauma and standing up for what's right in this novel in verse. Tuck has been traumatized from being sexually abused by his mother’s boyfriend. But as he falls in love with his childhood friend Grace, he begins to imagine a happier life. When he is asked to explore starting a union at his workplace, Tuck finds a new sense of purpose and the strength to begin the healing process. This novel is notable for its sensitive depiction of a young man’s journey towards healing from sexual abuse.
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Wish Upon a Satellite
Written by Sophie Labelle
Second Story Press, 2022
IL: Ages 13-18 RL: Grades 8-9
The glaciers are melting and the climate crisis is on their mind, but nothing shakes the foundations of non-binary teen Ciel’s world more than sharing an unexpected kiss with their best friend, Stephie. Everything they thought was clear is suddenly all mixed up—and that’s without the new problems at school: sexting, peer pressure, and overdue book reports.
“Labelle also explores the important issues of sexting, consent, and boundaries in a subplot about an underage student whose nude photos are leaked to the entire school via e-mail. Sexting has become increasingly common amongst teenagers, and the novel illustrates the risks and consequences of their online activity,” says Rachel Seigel.
Creator's Corner: Kern Carter
Kern Carter is the author of powerful novels like Boys and Girls Screaming, And Then There Was Us and Is There a Boy Like Me? In his writing for young people, Kern explores themes of trauma, identity, and healing through young protagonists.
Join Kern Carter and CCBC intern Tatiana Huong for an in-depth conversation about writing for young people including developing your craft, traditional vs. self-publishing, marketing yourself, and finding your own path as a writer.
Keep up with Kern Carter's upcoming books by following @KernCarter on Instagram.
Illustrator's Studio: Nadia Alam
Nadia Alam is an illustrator, and first generation Bangladeshi-Canadian. She is an avid daydreamer and meanderer who draws to capture the world as she sees it. Her work focuses on connection, especially across generations. She lives in Toronto with her husband, two lovely kids, and a dog named Momo. Visit her online at nadiaalamillustration.com.
We caught up with Nadia Alam to ask about her creative process and advice for aspiring illustrators.
What inspired you to become an illustrator, and what drew you to creating books for children and young people?
I love books; they’re such a powerful tool for building empathy, and I’ve always been drawn to images that tell a story. As a kid, picture books and comics were my first art gallery. I’d flip through the same ones over and over, completely absorbed by the colours, the expressions, and the way the characters seemed to come alive on the page. Picture books can be a gateway for a child to become a lifelong reader—they certainly were for me. Becoming a mother deepened that connection even more. Reading to my own kids reinforced how powerful visual storytelling can be, and I wanted to work in that space and help create it.
Can you tell us about your process for bringing a story to life visually? Do you follow a routine, or does it change with each project?
It changes a little every time, but there’s definitely a rhythm to it: research, rough sketches, colour tests, final artwork. I usually start by reading the manuscript a few times, then setting it aside for a bit to let it sink in. I begin with loose thumbnails to figure out pacing and mood. I’ve found that I can’t really see the book clearly until the characters are nailed down. Sometimes they come so easily, and sometimes I have to draw them over and over until they feel right. I go through a lot of cheap newsprint and printer paper in that phase! It helps me stay loose and not overthink things early on.
Are there specific materials, techniques, or styles that you love to use?
I always start with traditional mediums for sketching, and then do all my colouring using Photoshop. I usually start with a pencil or graphite, then scan and work digitally from there. I’m less interested in polished, perfect images and more drawn to work that feels warm, lived-in, and a little bit imperfect.
What challenges have you faced while working on specific books, and how did you overcome them?
Balancing illustration work with parenting and family life can be a chaotic dance. I’ve had deadlines fall right in the middle of fevers, school breaks, and everything in between. Over time, I’ve learned to build extra time into my schedules and to ask for extensions when I need them—something I didn’t always feel comfortable doing.
Most recently, we had a death in the family that overlapped with a book deadline. It was hard to concentrate, and I was being pulled away from my studio. I had to take breaks, step away, and come back when I felt more steady. Even so, I was grateful to have something to focus on. Creative work doesn’t solve anything, but it can give you a place to sit with things. Sometimes drawing is just a quiet way to keep moving forward.
What do you hope your readers take away from your illustrations and stories?
I hope readers feel seen—that a reader recognizes a character, a setting, or even a simple gesture that reflects their own experience. Much of my work focuses on connection, especially across generations. Sometimes I’m able to capture moments that feel genuine—a hand on a cheek, a tired hug, a look that says everything without words. Those are the spreads I get absorbed in while working, and the ones I hope stay with readers.
What advice would you give to emerging illustrators, especially those from diverse backgrounds?
A big challenge is comparison. It’s easy to look around and feel like everyone else is working faster, doing better, or getting more attention. But that mindset usually just derails me. I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that the only pace that matters is the one that allows me to do the work well and sustainably. The work doesn’t have to be fast or flashy—it just has to be honest. Your voice is needed, even if it doesn’t sound like everyone else’s. Make the work you want to see—not just what you think the industry wants.
Build a small, supportive, creative circle. Find people who get what you’re trying to do. And if you’re juggling caregiving, a day job, or just life—don’t worry if your path looks different. Slow growth is still growth!
Keep up to date with Nadia Alam's latest projects by following @Nadiabmad on Instagram.
Experts' Picks
Expert booksellers and librarians share their top picks for young readers. Check out what our experts are reading this summer!
Barnacle Bay
(Little Habitats, Book 1)
written and illustrated by Jana Curll
Greystone Kids, 2025
IL: Ages 6-9 RL: Grades 2-3
In Jana Crull’s buoyant debut graphic novel, a crabby crustacean shows newcomer Larva around the bay. Six short chapters provide a delightful deep dive into marine ecosystems. The duo drop by the kelp bed, keep their distance from stinging sea anemones, and “shell-ebrate” the important role oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops play in keeping the ocean clean. The witty wordplay and puns flow fast: “Pardon the interruption. We are experiencing tentacle difficulties.” The underwater creatures populating the cartoon panels have pinprick eyes and plenty of personality. Scientific facts (reviewed by experts) are swimmingly incorporated throughout the conversational banter. Sea-riously fun and informative, this Little Habitats series opener makes a big splash.
Recommended by Linda Ludke, Collections Management Librarian, London Public Library
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You Started It
Written by Jackie Khalilieh
Tundra Books, 2025
IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 7-8
When Jamie's longtime boyfriend comes home from summer camp and promptly breaks up with her, she is shocked and devastated. Then she discovers that he is now dating popular girl Olivia Chen, and this cements her resolve to win him back. Conveniently, she and newcomer Axel Dahini strike a bargain which involves the two of them pretending to date each other to make Ben jealous. But as Jamie and Axel get to know one another, she also begins to learn more about herself and to see things differently... in all aspects of her life.
Jackie Khalilieh has created another tender, feel-good teen romance that manages to also explore weightier topics including messy and complex family relationships, living with anxiety, and racism. The characters are multi-faceted and engaging and Jamie's growth is believable.
Recommended by Lisa Doucet, Manager, Woozles Children's Bookstore