All Lit Up Press Picks for the Holidays: Rebel Mountain Press

Stazy and the Magic List by Nancy Hundal

Selected by Lori Shwydky, Publisher:

“This is one of my favourite children’s middle-grade novels that we’ve published because the characters are so engaging and likable (even when they’re not behaving very likably!). And I guarantee you will miss the characters once you finish reading the book. (I should know —I edited the book, so I read it MANY times, yet I never got bored of reading it.) I am also a believer in the Magic in life, so this book is right up my alley!

Centred around Halloween, it is the perfect book for getting cozy with during these rainy/chilly fall days. It kind of reminds me of The Travelling Pants series, except it’s for a slightly younger audience. It’s about four young girls (three best friends and a fourth who is new to the school) who are assigned to Skills Class together for help with their disabilities. What no one knows, however, is that each girl has a hidden, secret magical ability. But it’s going to take more than a little magic to turn the trio into a foursome.

I also really love that this is an Own Voices book — one of the four girls is deaf and so is the author.”

Find Stazy and the Magic List here on All Lit Up or use the Shop Local button to purchase from your local indie bookstore.

Pirate Glitterbeard by Oksanna and Larissa Crawley

Selected by Cheryl Ann Kelly, Associate Publisher:

“As an elementary school teacher, I like to have fun with my class. I know that it helps my students to learn when I can make them laugh. So I loved it when my class giggled with delight as I read Pirate Glitterbeard to them. They loved the humour, the whimsical characters, and the vibrant pictures. I also really like that Pirate Glitterbeard breaks down stereotypes of how a pirate should be. I always teach my students to be true to themselves and this book delivers that message loud and clear.”

Find Pirate Glitterbeard here on All Lit Up or use the Shop Local button to purchase from your local indie bookstore.

Sangeet and the Missing Beat by Kiranjot Kaur

Selected by both Lori and Cheryl Ann:

“What drew us immediately to this manuscript is girl power! Tabla playing has traditionally been male dominated in India. But eight-year-old Sangeet, who can play five musical instruments, loves composing and playing the tabla most of all. And someday, Sangeet is going to be a tabla master.

Both of us at Rebel Mountain Press really resonate with Sangeet, who believes that “anyone can do anything!” Both of us love adventures and adventure travel, like climbing Kilimanjaro in Africa, or volunteering at an elephant refuge in Thailand, and we aren’t afraid to try new things that may traditionally be male dominated. And Lori is a musician, too, just like Sangeet — she plays two instruments, and plans to learn many more someday.

We also love the vibrant illustrations created by the author, Kiranjot Kaur, who is an artist, an author, AND an engineer!”

Find Sangeet and the Missing Beat here on All Lit Up or use the Shop Local button to purchase from your local indie bookstore.

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For more Press Picks for the Holidays, click here.