New Year, New Me: Explore Children’s Lit

Look below for some stellar recommendations for those little ones in your life:

Lola Flies Alone by Bill Richardson & Illustrated by Bill Pechet (Running the Goat)

Awarding-winning author Bill Richardson and illustrator Bill Pechet team up again with Lola Flies Alone, a delightful story about a young airline passenger who has even more imagination than she has style – and she has plenty of that. Lola’s first unaccompanied flight is beset by problems; whether it be mermaids in a wading pool blocking the runway or a ballerina doing plies in the aisle, Lola has the solution for every setback. A delightful tale about being “good and kind and generous and brave”, Lola Flies Alone is a reminder that brave and stylish girls can always save the day.

Amik by Sharon King (Kegedonce Press)

Along with its beautiful cut-paper illustrations, Amik offers the chance for children to learn words and phrases in the Ojibwe language, as the text appears in both English and Anishinaabemowin. A fun, colourful and engaging book for children ages three through six.

Dear Black Girls by Shanice Nicole & Illustrated by Kezna Dalz (Metonymy Press)

Dear Black Girls is a letter to all Black girls. Every single day poet and educator Shanice Nicole is reminded of how special Black girls are and of how lucky she is to be one. Illustrations by Kezna Dalz support the book’s message that no two Black girls are the same but they are all special–that to be a Black girl is a true gift. In this celebratory poem, Kezna and Shanice remind young readers that despite differences, they all deserve to be loved just the way they are.

Sangeet and the Missing Beat by Kiranjot Kaur (Rebel Mountain Press)

Sangeet loves music, and she’s good at composing it, too. Her favourite instrument is the tabla. One day, Sangeet hears all kinds of noises everywhere and together, they have the most incredible beat. But when she tries to play it on her tabla–something is missing! Will Sangeet be able to find her Missing Beat? Teacher resources available on the publisher website.

The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline (Cormorant Books)

Just when you think you have nothing left to lose, they come for your dreams. Humanity has nearly destroyed its world through global warming, but now an even greater evil lurks. The Indigenous people of North America are being hunted and harvested for their bone marrow, which carries the key to recovering something the rest of the population has lost: the ability to dream. In this dark world, Frenchie and his companions struggle to survive as they make their way up north to the old lands. For now, survival means staying hidden – but what they don’t know is that one of them holds the secret to defeating the marrow thieves.

A Magical Sturgeon by Joseph Dandurand & Illustrated by Elinor Atkins (Nightwood Editions)

So begins this second charming story for children by Kwantlen storyteller Joseph Dandurand. The sturgeon, spirit of the great river, eludes human fishers until two young sisters neglect to follow their mother’s instructions. What follows provides a moving exploration of the importance of sharing and kinship with all other living things. The story is told with grace and simplicity by a master storyteller in the great tradition of the Kwantlen people. Accompanied by Elinor Atkins’s illustrations, A Magical Sturgeon is a touching follow-up to Dandurand’s bestselling children’s book The Sasquatch, the Fire and the Cedar Baskets.

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Thank you for tuning in this week for our New Year, New Me recommendations. To stay updated follow us on all social channels at @alllitupcanada. Till next time!