9 books to engage young readers this summer
The children’s book panel on The Next Chapter curates a list for kids of all ages
In need of a good book to both entertain and educate your kids this summer? The Next Chapter's children's book panel has curated a list of nine books to inspire a love of reading this season.
The Next Chapter's children's book panel is composed of three influential voices in Canadian children's literature.
Michele Landsberg is a writer, activist and grandmother, Bee Quammie is a broadcaster, writer and mother of two, and Ken Setterington is a writer, uncle and retired children's librarian.
They spoke with Shelagh Rogers on the books they think are perfect for kids in all age groups.
ValHamster by Angela Misri
Bee Quammie: "Hammy, the hamster, was my first pet so I was really drawn to this book. It's a chapter book for middle school age readers … In this book we combined an apocalyptic zombie universe with a bunch of animalistic characters. She's a soul warrior. It's a lot for one animal, but she's the perfect hamster for the job. She's got fire, rage and fury as her weapons of choice.
"It's a really interesting story with very vivid writing."
ValHamaster is the latest adventure in Angela Misri's chapter book series, Tails from the Apocalypse. Emmy the hamster is a terrific zombie fighter and embarks on a journey to defeat the undead creatures once and for all. But when Emmy is betrayed, she sets out on a solo mission and learns the meaning of courage and friendship along the way.
Angela Misri is a Toronto-based journalist and author of detective fiction and children's books. Her detective series, called The Portia Adams Adventures, is set in the 1930s, and her middle-grade series is called Tales from the Apocalypse.
Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow
Ken Setterington: "It's the story of Simon, a boy going into Grade 7 who moves with his family to a new town and they move to Grin and Bear It, Nebraska…the descriptions in this book are wonderful and quite hilarious."
Simon Sort of Says is a middle-grade novel that follows Simon O'Keefe. Simon is a natural storyteller who has just moved with his family to the National Quiet Zone — a community where there is no Internet so that radio astronomers can listen for signs of extraterrestrial life. Simon also happens to be the sole survivor of a school shooting, and is set on writing a new story and life for himself. Simon Sort of Says is an uplifting book of perseverance and healing.
Erin Bow is an American-born physicist, poet and children's author currently based in Kitchener, Ont. Bow won the CBC Poetry Prize in 2001 for Poems for Carl Hruska and her novel Stand on the Sky won the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature, text.
Unraveller by Frances Hardinge
Michele Landsberg: "Unlike most of the fantasy writers today who model their plots on the original Arthurian fantasy: sword fights warriors, battles, good versus evil — it's basically the same plot time and time again. Francis Hardinge is much more subtle and fascinating than that, and much more original. I'd say almost the most original fantasy writer working today."
Unraveller is a YA fantasy novel following Kellen on his quest to help those who have been cursed in the country of Raddith. The curses which turn people into harps, ships or animals are meant to be irreversible. When Kellen rescues a girl called Nettle from being turned into a heron, together they venture into the secret Wilds to solve the country's greatest mystery.
Frances Hardinge is a British children's author and winner of the Branford Boase First Novel Award. Her other books include Twilight Robbery, Cuckoo Song and The Lie Tree.
What Does Hate Look Like? By Sameea Jimenez and Corinne Promislow with Larry Swartz
Bee Quammie: "I think this would be a good resource for children who maybe make some of those mistakes so that they can understand why it's important to know what was wrong with whatever happened and maybe what they did to somebody else. They can understand those histories and the ways that it impacts others, but it also gives really clear and concise ideas on what you can do to handle these situations. I can't recommend it enough. I think it's going to be a really important book."
What Does Hate Look Like? by Sameea Jimenez and Corinne Promislow with Larry Swartz combines personal stories and factual definitions of topics such as prejudice and discrimination for kids. Using real life examples, this book offers insight and education for children as well as caregivers, parents and educators on the current realities of marginalized peoples and how kids can get support if they also encounter hate.
Sameea Jimenez is an educator in the Toronto District School Board and advocate for social justice education.
Corinne Promislow is a school principal with over 28 years of teaching experience. She has chaired several committees to cultivate inclusion and anti-discrimination in the Toronto District School Board.
Larry Swartz is a literacy and arts teacher at OISE, at the University of Toronto.
I Am Big by Itah Sadu, illustrated by Marley Berot
Ken Setterington: "Itah Sadu is one of my all time favourite storytellers. She has a new book out and it's called I Am Big. It's a simple picture book about a Black boy that wants to play hockey and the challenge for him is as he says, 'I am nine years old and I am a little kid but I am big in size. How can you be small and big at the same time?'
"It's a fun book, it's easy to read, and it's one that I think even in the summer time there are kids that are thinking about playing hockey and the excitement of being on a hockey team."
I Am Big is a picture book which celebrates Blackness and the magic of sport. A young Black hockey player is worried about how he will be perceived by his peers because of his race and size. Eventually, he finds his confidence and support from his family and he team members so that he can play the game he loves.
Itah Sadu is a Toronto-based children's author and the co-owner of A Different Booklist, a Toronto bookstore which specializes in African and Caribbean Canadian literature. She is the Managing Director of the Blackhurst Cultural Centre - The People's Residence and a founding member of the annual Toronto Emancipation Day Underground Freedom Train Ride.
Marley Berot is a Toronto-based illustrator. Her work includes cover art for Neuron, graphic design work for the Toronto International Film Festival, logo design and book illustration.
The Stars by Jacques Goldstyn
Michele Landsberg: "The story is not preachy about these cultural differences that clash and the love that overcomes them. It's subtle and it's a lovely book."
The Stars by Jacques Goldstyn is a charming picture book which follows a Orthodox Jewish boy named Yakov in Montreal. Yakov has to take care of his three little sisters and takes them to the park while his parents run a grocery store. He also loves to read about space and becomes good friends with a Muslim girl named Aïcha who also loves space. When Yakov and Aïcha's fathers hear of their friendship, they become angry and forced not to see one another. The Stars is a story about scientific curiosity and the perseverance of friendship despite prejudice.
Jacques Goldstyn is a writer, illustrator and political cartoonist from Montreal. In 2017 he won the Governor General's Award for his book Azadah and has won twice for Le Grand Prix du Journalisme Indépendant for his illustrations.
The Magic Cap by Mireille Messier, illustrated by Charlotte Parent
Bee Quammie: "Mireille's books are in French and English, but The Magic Cap is her newest picture book and it tells the story of brother and sister Isaura and Arlo who have a hedgehog named Crispin. Crispin gets really sick and Isaura suggests that they go out into the and find the magical healing power of gnomes. It's magical and whimsical."
The Magic Cap is a picture book about two siblings determined to save their beloved hedgehog through the power of gnomes. They venture into the woods to give gifts to the gnomes in exchange for their magical healing properties– will they be able to save Crispin?
Mireille Messier is a children's author of both French and English currently based in Toronto. She has written over twenty books, including The Branch and No Horses in the House!.
Charlotte Parent is a Montreal-based comic artist and illustrator. She has also illustrated Le Premier Arbre de Noël by Ovila Fontaine.
The Last Two Crayons by Leah Freeman-Haskin, illustrated by Shantala Robinson
Ken Setterington: "I think this book is really wonderful because any kid can identify with Sienna, who on the day that the teacher puts out crayons, she ends up picking the last two, which happened to be light brown and dark brown.
"What she ends up drawing is a picture of her mother and her father with her holding each of their hands and indeed, it's the perfect drawing. It's just a very heartwarming book."
The Last Two Crayons is a picture book which encourages diversity and creativity through the character of Sienna and her family. Determined to make a beautiful picture for her art show, Sienna is stuck when she is only given two brown crayons. All of her favourite things like rainbows, and her blue bicycle are different colours, but with the support of her teacher and friends she ends up drawing a memory closer to home.
Leah Freeman-Haskin is an American author, content creator and founder of BLK Oceans which promotes Black-owned businesses. The Last Two Crayons is her debut children's book.
Shantala Robinson is an illustrator and graphic designer currently based in New Westminster, B.C.
Stateless by Elizabeth Wein
Michele Landsberg: "Stateless is about flying. It's 1937 and a British philanthropist, Lady Frith, has organized a European air race with youth pilots to promote peace and we all know what happened shortly after.
"Stella North is representing Great Britain even though she is actually stateless, her family having fled from communist Russia many years before. It's a really wonderful read."
Stateless is a YA historical fiction novel which follows a teen pilot uncovering a mystery after an international air race before the Second World War. When the air race becomes a form of propaganda, Stella North is forced to tread cautiously because of her family's history during the Russian Revolution.
Elizabeth Wein is an American and British writer and recreational pilot. She is well known for her books Code Name Verity, Black Dove, and The Enigma Game.