Books to Cozy Up With in February
As Seen on CTV Your Morning
Winter is long! Here are 8 Canadian kids and teen titles to cuddle up with in these last long days of the season, as seen on CTV Your Morning Feb 7, 2024.
Picture Books, Ages 4-7
In Zander Stays, Zander the goose decides not to fly south for the winter. He gets advice from other animals on how to thrive- a squirrel tells him to store nuts and a bear tells him to grow a layer of fat- but none of these things feel quite right until he meets a kid who teaches him about the cozy, indoor parts of winter- which include reading books- in addition to the fun wintery things like skating and snow angels. Looking at winter from a goose’s perspective is a reminder of the many ways we can lean into the season.
The Imposter is a story that is silly on the surface, but poignant at the core. Skunk is a bit lonely and jealous of the love and attention people shower on dogs. So when he sees a missing dog poster he decides to pretend to be Max. He meets a few animals who help him with his disguise and dog-like behaviour, but it just doesn’t feel right. In the end, Skunk finds what he was looking for- a group of friends that feel like a family.
The Lunar New Year is this week, and Two New Years is a story about a family that celebrates both the Jewish New year of Rosh Hashana and the Chinese New Year. I love this kind of book, which draws parallels between things that on the surface seem different. For example, each celebration has a traditional dishes, but those dishes are different, both holidays bring family and friends together, both usher in the new year with traditional sounds, etc. There’s information on both new years in the back matter, adding a nice touch of non fiction to this inclusive family story.
February is Black History month, and I wanted to highlight a celebration of Black joy. When I Wrap My Hair is a tribute to the emotions, traditions and heritage that are tied the act of hair wrapping. The text is very poetic and I love how the art of the each hair wrap unfolds into beautiful illustrations incorporating natural landscapes, memories, and patterns associated with the child’s heritage.
Middle Grade, Ages 8-12
There are a lot of books that feature unlikely duos, but none quite so unusual as a unicorn and the grim reaper. Death & Sparkles and the Sacred Golden Cupcake is the second book in a graphic novel series about a Sparkles, a unicorn who loves to dance and knows nothing about his past, and his roommate, Death. In this story, Sparkles tries to solve a mystery about his past, which he believes has something to do with the golden cupcake bling that is his only connection to his long lost family. Death joins Sparkles on this mission, leading them both to right an injustice between unicorns and some gardening moles.
The Racc Pack is a graphic novel about a trio of raccoons- or two raccoons and one confused possum- trying to survive in contemporary Toronto. A chance encounter with a house cat with a mysterious past and a grudge lead them to plan the perfect heist. Love them or hate them, it’s fun to look at the city from the raccoon’s perspective.
How much money would it take for you to spend two nights in a haunted mansion? Every 25 years the manor of an opera designer hosts a challenge full of puzzes and riddles, something that Zed and Gabe love, but no one has ever made it past one night. Night of the Living Zed (HarperCollins) is the second book featuring Zed Watson, a mystery loving non-binary kid, and their best friend Gabe.
Teens
Dragging Mason County is the story of a gay teen who makes a social faux-pas, caught on video and shared widely, and tries to redeem himself by producing the first drag show in his very small town. The characters in this book are funny, well-rounded and unexpected, and there is a ton of drama in the lead-up to the big show.