Everything I need to know in life, I learned from children's literature
Graphic novels are here to stay! Many parents will be familiar with big names like Captain Underpants, Dogman and The Wimpy Kid, but there is a bumper crop of homegrown graphic novels by Canadian creators that your kids will love, covering a whole range of topics and genres. My original list had 10 titles, but… Continue reading As Seen on CTV Your Morning: 8 Canadian Graphic Novels for Kids
Here are ten new books by Indigenous creators featuring traditions and experiences from various nations and Indigenous people. Books are a great way for families to learn together and start the conversations necessary for our country to move forward from the past towards reconciliation. Watch the segment here! Ages 3-7 I Sang You Down From… Continue reading As Seen on CTV: 10 New Kids’ Books by Indigenous Creators
May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the US. Here are ten titles by Asian-Canadian creators to share with young readers. Watch the segment here. Picture Books, Ages 3-7 My Day With Gong Gong (Annick Press) is a charming story about a child spending the day in… Continue reading As Seen on CTV Your Morning: 10 Canadian Kids’ Books for Asian Heritage Month
The following list showcases books about Canadian women who broke barriers, stories of women's accomplishments that history has tried to erase, and new Canadian literary voices to be excited about. I hope names like Jill Heinerth, Manon Rhéaume, Viola Desmond, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Shanice Nicole become as recognizable as Chris Hadfield, Wayne Gretzky, Rosa Parks… Continue reading As Seen on CTV: 10 Kids’ Books for International Women’s Day
June is Indigenous History Month in Canada. We have a long way to go in recognizing the rights of Indigenous people and acknowledging the truth about our violent and ugly past. My CTV Your Morning segment is a privilege and I strive to include a wide-range of books and creators on each list. This month's… Continue reading As Seen on CTV: Indigenous History Month Kids’ Book List
I read a LOT of fab YA this year, some of which I won't go into here but you should definitely pick up (A Torch Against the Night! Empire of Storms! The Sun is Also a Star!). This list is by no means exhaustive, but here are some YA titles that made me think, slipped… Continue reading What I Read in 2016: YA
Last week I got to talk to one of my favourite people, Ann Foster, about middle grade fiction. When not working at the Saskatoon Public Library recco-ing kids and teen books, she is writing about fashion in TV over at You Know You Love Fashion (currently chronicling the enviable wardrobe of Phryne Fisher) and spearheading a… Continue reading Middle Grade Gift Suggestions 2016
This has already been a staggeringly good year for middle grade (don't call it a comeback), with personal favourites such as Raymie Nightingale, The Wild Robot, Look Out for the Fitzgerald Trouts, and Pax garnering all sorts of buzz and attention. Here is a sampling of the new kids on the block this fall: Ghosts … Continue reading Middle Grade Monday: Fall 2016 Preview
Whether you're lakeside, poolside, or inside, summer is the best time to read. Silly, spooky, thought-provoking and engrossing; here are some new(ish) books guaranteed to keep you or the middle grade reader in your life occupied this summer. Wolf Hollow We all have those keystone books in our lives, the ones so deeply affecting that… Continue reading Middle Grade Monday: Summer Reading Picks 2016
Middle grade horror is difficult to pull off. Some authors go for camp, with lots of gore and over-the-top scenarios that are almost humorous, therefore defusing any terror the reader might experience. Governor-General award-winning author Arthur Slade is the other kind of author-genuine thrills created by uncanny situations, eerie coincidences, and a slow-burning sense of… Continue reading Middle Grade Monday: Flickers
Vikki VanSickle 