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Kids Litspace Lists
Browse the books in the All Lit Up Kids Litspace by category.
Browse by Category
Children's Poetry
Beloved children's poetry titles.Kids' Drama
Plays written for kids!Kids' Non-Fiction
A selection of kids' non-fiction titles.Middle Grade
A selection of middle grade fiction titles featured on ALU's Kids' Litspace.Picture Books
A selection of picture books featured on ALU's Kids' Litspace.YA Fiction
A list of YA fiction featured in All Lit Up's Kids' Litspace.
All Books in this Collection
Showing 33–48 of 147 results
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Hannah & the Wild Woods
$16.95It’s spring break, and 14-year-old Hannah Anderson is glad to be spending it with the “Coast-Is-Clear” program – a group committed to cleaning Pacific Rim National Park’s beaches of debris leftover from the tragic Japanese tsunami of 2011. Soon after Hannah arrives on the west coast, Jack, her raven sidekick, finds a small object washed up in the surf: a strange glass ball marked with a glowing Japanese character. Immediately, unusual things start to happen, beginning with the arrival of the mysterious “Kimiko,” a Japanese girl with a secret past. Kimiko, it turns out, is a kitsune fox whose magic depends on the glass ball she lost in the tsunami. As Kimiko works alongside Hannah and the other members of her crew, she becomes increasingly unhappy with her life as an immortal kistsune and longs to join a family of humans. Can Hannah and her trickster raven help to make it happen?
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Hannah and the Salish Sea
$16.95In the second volume of her Hannah trilogy, summer has arrived, and fourteen-year-old Hannah Anderson is excited about spending it with Max (who has been giving her stomach butterflies lately). But things are happening in Cowichan Bay that Hannah can’t explain. When a mysterious accident leads her to a nest of starving eaglets, she meets Izzy Tate, a young Metis girl staying in the village for the summer. Why is Izzy so angry all the time, and is it just a coincidence that she is the spitting image of Yisella, the Cowichan girl Hannah met the summer she was twelve? But Hannah has more questions. Why is Jack, her supernatural raven friend, bringing her unusual “gifts” in the middle of the night? Is it all connected to a ring of poachers and marijuana smugglers who have apparently moved into the valley. The eaglets are in danger and so are the Roosevelt elk. And what’s with the Orca 1, the “supposedly” abandoned tuna boat anchored out in the bay? After Hannah and Max make a grisly discovery in the woods, they know they must take action. When Izzy agrees to join them on a midnight kayak trip, the three discover the poachers on the Orca 1, and they are soon in a fight for their own lives and the lives of the animals being hunted for their parts.
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Hannah and the Spindle Whorl
$16.95When twelve-year-old Hannah uncovers an ancient Salish spindle whorl hidden in a cave near her home in Cowichan Bay, she is transported back to a village called Tl’ulpalus, in a time before Europeans had settled in the area. Through the agency of a trickster raven, Hannah befriends Yisella, a young Salish girl, and is welcomed into village life. Here she discovers that the spindle whorl is the prize possession of Yisella’s mother, Skeepla, a famous spinner and weaver. When Skeepla falls victim to smallpox, Hannah finally begins to open up about the death of her own mother. Hannah and Yisella are then accidentally left behind when the villagers journey to the mainland, and they witness the arrival of Governor James Douglas and numerous settlers on the Hecate. As the settlers pillage the village for souvenirs, Hannah and Yisella rescue the spindle whorl and, pursued by the ship’s crew, escape into the dark forest. From the refuge in the cave, Hannah returns to her own time with a greater understanding of herself and the history of the First Nations.
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Hope’s Journey
$11.95It’s 1791. The year a new province is created in the country that will one day be called Canada. The year Hope Cobman’s life turns around. At thirteen, she must leave the orphanage where she has lived since her mother’s death one year ago. Alone in the world, she dreams of finding her father and three brothers – all complete strangers to her, for even before her birth the American Revolution had scattered her family. Forced into becoming an indentured servant, she is little more than a slave to a lonely man and his bitter, crippled mother. Finally set free, she sets off on her own. But instead of finding a father and a brother who will take care of her, she learns that it is up to her to help them recover from the wounds of war. Along the way, she discovers her own strength. For Hope, and for all the Loyalists of Upper Canada, a brighter future lies ahead.
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I am Everything In Between
$13.95Sometimes it’s not as simple as being a boy or a girl. I Am Everything In Between highlights kids who may not fit into stereotypical gender ideals, and celebrates how they do identify by sending positive messages about gender identity. This book teaches children that regardless of biological gender, it’s OK to feel like a boy, or a girl, or even both! The illustrations include bright and bold examples of boys that like to play dress up and wear makeup, girls that like to play sports and get dirty, and kids that want to grow up to be astronauts! I Am Everything In Between uses diverse, relatable examples to help kids understand that sometimes it’s not as simple as being a boy or a girl. Teacher resources available on publisher website: rebelmountainpress.com/i-am-everything-in-between-teacher-resources
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I’ll Be Home Soon
$11.95In I’ll Be Home Soon, Luanne Armstrong takes the reader on a tension-filled ride as Regan, a young girl living in the inner city, searches for her mother who has mysteriously disappeared. Homeless but by no means hapless, Regan is on her own much of the time but also receives help from a wide diversity of people: a young homeless boy like herself, her kung fu teacher, a university researcher, her grandmother, and a group of people who survive as bottle pickers. On the street, she must learn who it is she can truly trust, and it is not always those whom she (and the reader) might expect. Through her search for her mother, and in her connections with the people who truly help and care for her, Regan discovers her own inner strength and independence. In this fast-paced and sensitive story, Armstrong draws us into the shadowy and difficult side of inner-city life to show us both the dark and the compassionate sides of the people who survive in its midst.
Lexile Measure: 640L
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In the Key of Dale
$18.95For fans of the Netflix series Heartstopper (based on the bestselling graphic novels by Alice Oseman): a disarming coming-of-age novel about a queer teen music prodigy who discovers pieces of himself in places he never thought to look.
Sixteen-year-old Dale Cardigan is a loner who’s managed to make himself completely invisible at his all-boys high school. He doesn’t fit with his classmates (he gives them funny nicknames in his head), his stepbrother (nobody at school knows they’re related), or even his mother (she never quite sees how gifted a musician Dale might be) – but they don’t fit with him either. And he’s fine with that. To him, high school and home are stages to endure until his real life can finally begin.
After Dale is unable to locate his father’s grave at the cemetery, he starts writing letters addressed to his father, initially to tell him everything he can’t bring himself to tell his mother and soon as a way to keep track of some unexpected developments. Somewhat against his will, he befriends his classmate Rusty, who gets a rare look at Dale’s complex life outside school. Their friendship gets awkward when it seems Dale’s growing attraction to Rusty is doomed to remain one-sided, but it’s to Rusty that Dale turns when he stumbles upon a family secret.
In the Key of Dale is a beguiling, pitch-perfect book about growing up, fitting in, and finding a way out of grief and loneliness toward the melodic light of adulthood.
Ages 14 and up.
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Island Kids
$12.95This is a history of British Columbia’s island children, told in their voices, from their perspectives. Composed of twenty-two stories, Island Kids is a snapshot of a period and place in time. The topics range from quintessentially coastal experiences, like a day at the beach, to stories that deal with serious issues, such as BC’s history of residential schools, but they all remain true to the experience of the children telling the story. At the end of each chapter is a section called “What do we know for sure?” that gives the reader greater depth and context. The stories are written in a dynamic and authentic voice and are aimed at readers aged eight to twelve.
Unlike history that has either been fictionalized or told from an adult’s perspective, the Courageous Kids series brings history to kids in their own words. Truly original, Kidmonton, Rocky Mountain Kids, and Island Kids strive to communicate the events and emotions of kids.
Please visit www.courageouskids.ca for more information on the whole Courageous Kids series.
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Jabber
$16.95Like many outgoing young women, Fatima feels rebellious against parents she sees as strict. It just so happens that she is Egyptian-born and wears a hijab. When anti-Muslim graffiti appears on the walls of her school, Fatima transfers to a new school. The guidance counsellor there, Mr. E., does his best to help Fatima fit in, but despite his advice she starts an unlikely friendship with Jorah, who has a reputation for anger issues. Maybe, just maybe, Fatima and Jorah start to, like, like each other …
As their mutual attraction grows, the lines Fatima and Jorah cross as they grow closer become the subject of an intense exploration of boundaries – personal boundaries, cultural boundaries, and inherited religious and political boundaries. Fatima and Jorah discover that appearances matter; they’ve been exposed for their whole lives to images that begin to colour their relationship: images of the Middle East, the working class, and how teenage boys and teenage girls behave. Put all these reactive factors together in the social laboratory that is a high school and observe: is there a solution for Fatima and Jorah?
High school, like no other social space, throws together people of all histories and backgrounds, and young people must decide what they believe in and how far they are willing to go to defend their beliefs. Inside a veritable pressure cooker, they negotiate cross-cultural respect and mutual understanding. Jabber does its part to challenge appearances – and the judgments people make based on those appearances.
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Jeannie and the Gentle Giants
$8.95Jeannie and the Gentle Giants, a novel for readers eight to fourteen, deals with the problems experienced by children when they are taken from their parents and have to make a new life with foster parents in a new community. In Jeannie’s case, the problems begin when her mother falls ill and can no longer care for her. Taken from her home, placed with foster parents and unable to discover the whereabouts of her ill mother, young Jeannie withdraws into herself and can think only of running away.
Gradually her defences are breached by two immensely large and wonderful workhorses and their perceptive and humorous owner. Through the horses and her work on the farm, Jeannie develops new interests, learns to ride and becomes involved in the daily life of the farm, even helping with horse-logging. In turn, Jeannie learns about friendship, love and trust, and ultimately gains the maturity and self-confidence to accept the challenge of becoming herself a care-giver. In this sensitive and moving story, Luanne Armstrong draws us into a world of pain, growth and fulfilment.
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Journey to Atlantis
$12.95In this sequel to the prize-winning young adult novel Submarine Outlaw, the sea of myth and legends beckons young Alfred once again, and the intrepid young explorer answers the call. With his loyal crew of a dog and a seagull by his side, Alfred sails across the Atlantic in his homemade submarine and enters the Mediterranean in search of the fabled lost island of Atlantis. Ziegfried, genius and master builder of the sub, cautions Alfred to be careful and practical. Yet Sheba, friend and island enchantress, whispers to Alfred: “Trust your feelings.” Indeed, Alfred must trust his premonitions many times on this ambitious and far-reaching adventure. From a daring rescue of drowning fishermen, to a skirmish between the Canadian coastguard and Spanish fishing trawlers; from escaping an exploding WWII sea mine, to colliding with a submerged container filled with toys; from turning the chase on bumbling pirates, to an unscheduled camel trek into the Sahara, Alfred’s submarine voyage brings him closer and closer to the legendary island until one moonless night he finds himself a little too close for comfort.
“Philip Roy’s confident, refreshing Journey to Atlantis avoids the tendency now to write such stories as complicated grand narratives set in magical secondary worlds, and provides a lean, linear, episodic tale [that] has an odd credibility about it, and appealing characters: as for whether it is a ‘boys’ book,’ it seems more a mostly male world that doesn’t preclude female participation or readership.” – Canadian Literature
“An excellent read that takes no time at all; you will not want to put Journey to Atlantis down as the action pulls you forward through the Atlantic Ocean. If you’re looking for an underwater adventure that completely delivers, Journey to Atlantis is definitely worth the read.” – What If? Magazine
“Philip Roy presents another exciting adventure story. . . . Roy covers a neatly fused set of events and topics in an informative and non-didactic way. Journey to Atlantis would be useful in the classroom, especially when read along with a geography or social studies unit on modern ocean travel, the Mediterranean area, or ancient Minoan society. Beyond its practical applications, Journey to Atlantis is really interesting!” – CM Magazine
“This novel will appeal to students who are interested in the history of Atlantis, or who are interested in nautical adventures.” – Resource Links
“Roy has crafted an adventure tale that readers will relish. . . . It is an altogether charming read that will capture the imagination of any young reader who has ever dreamt of exploring the world.” – Atlantic Books Today
“Confident, refreshing . . . compelling . . . echoing the myths and legends, knowledge of seafaring and sea lore. Like Treasure Island‘s Jim, Alfred is old enough to pursue his quest . . . young enough to retain a sense of wonder . . . it has an odd credibility about it, and appealing characters. Philip Roy . . . embraces a more comprehensive definition, resulting in another fabulously rich tale of adventure.” – Canadian Literature
“Journey to Atlantis kept me biting my nails as Al and his crew of dog and seagull tackled peril after peril. Al’s a rare thing these days, an intelligent hero driven by intellectual curiosity, a courageous hero in the face of both physical danger and ethical choices, a hero we’d all want to be. The story plunges from one tense moment to another yet still has time for fun, for thoughtfulness, and for wonder at the world above and below the sea.” – K. V. Johansen, author of The Warlocks of Talverdin
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Keeper of the Trees, The
$8.95This modern fantasy novel set in London – for children ages 8 to 12 – tells the story of Elizabeth, a twelve-year-old Canadian girl who feels homesick and lonely after her mother’s death when her father moves them to London. Soon, however, she meets an assortment of unusual characters and a strange adventure unfolds. Among her new friends is Maud, the homeless woman in the park, who befriends her and teaches her the magic of the great chestnut trees.
But friendship works two ways and soon Elizabeth must shoulder Maud’s job as “Keeper of the Trees”, protecting the tiny horses which run from the Otherworld to support life on Earth. Evil forces appear in the shape of the Hunter whom Elizabeth must face as she battles to keep alive the trees on whose survival hang the lives of many people, including Elizabeth’s young friend Thomas. The high seriousness of her role hits home when Maud explains, “Each species lost takes a thread from the fabric of life.”
Lines of classical poetry strengthen mood and theme in a tale which links past to present, country to country in a celebration of the natural world. Readers walk the wire between the real and the unreal, carefully lured into the fantastic by Brenna’s skillful depiction of the everyday, then whoosh – the reader balances on something hardly to be believed . . . but maybe. . .
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Kidmonton
$9.95An original look at a city’s development through the eyes and words of real children who have lived there.
Kidmonton: True Stories of River City Kids is a lively illustrated book for young readers that relates the city’s history entirely from the point of view of real children over time.
Using the techniques of fiction to bring true stories to life, the book embraces all of Edmonton’s children: aboriginal, immigrant, inner-city and suburban, challenged and privileged, born in Edmonton and recently arrived. A timeline, glossary, and suggestions for more reading and city exploring are also included.
This chapter book has been written specifically for eight and nine year-olds who often encounter Alberta’s history for the first time in Grade Four. Full of fresh, vivid writing—and humour—it will be a pleasure to read in the classroom or at home. Kidmonton tells the city’s story to its youngest citizens in a bold, new way.
Please visit www.courageouskids.ca for more information on the whole Courageous Kids series.
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Lana Llama
$9.95Lana the llama lives in the farmyard with all of her sheep friends. She loves being part of their flock, but she knows that she doesn?t fit in?her legs and neck are much too long, and her ?baa? is very baaad. Lana does her best to look like the other sheep, until one day a bully arrives, and Lana has to stand up for herself and her friends.
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Last Chance Island
$11.95In this compelling tale, two very different stories intersect with surprising results. There’s the story of two African children, Kalu and his cousin, Aisha, who escape from their village after it’s destroyed by rebel soldiers. The kids flee to the coast where they find work on a fishing boat bound for Britain. They think they’re safe, until the nervous fisherman leaves them with little food or water on Last Chance Island off the coast of Ireland. Meanwhile, Spike, a Canadian teen, finds out that her father has died, and she is being sent to live with a distant relative, a woman who tends the lighthouse on Last Chance Island. Spike can’t wait to escape and join a troupe of musicians she’s met in Dublin. But one day, she discovers the two African kids in desperate need of help. Will she change her plans to try to save these kids?
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Laws of Emotion
$9.95Lohans has had a number of successful publications for young adults, and all of her titles have been selected for the prestigious Our Choice list by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
"The good writing found in Lohans’ three YA novels is equally present in this collection of ten short stories…" Quill & Quire.