Even More Lesser Spotted Animals

By Marin Brown | ISBN 9781338349610
Ages 7 – 10 | Picture Books | August 2019

Just as Lesser Spotted Animals showed you some of the wonderfully WOW wildlife we never get to see, the next book of the lesser known animal kingdom reveals the stories of even more of the world's unseen and unsung creatures. No king-of-the-jungle, fancy-pants, hair necked lions here — we've got the magnificent maned wolf instead. No blue whales either, we've got beaked whales — and lorises and dingisos and dibatags and many, many more!

I am a Tiger

By Karl Newson | Ross Collins | ISBN 9781338349894
Ages 3 – 5 | Picture Books | August 2019

This is a story about a mouse with BIG ideas. Mouse believes he is a tiger, and he convinces Fox, Raccoon, Snake, and Bird he's one, too! After all, Mouse can climb a tree like a tiger and hunt for his lunch, too. And not all tigers are big and have stripes. But when a real tiger shows up, can Mouse keep up his act?

With hilarious text by Karl Newson and bright and vivid illustrations from Ross Collins, this uproariously funny, read-aloud picture book encourages children to use their imaginations and be who they want to be!

Nibi's Water Song 

By Sunshine Tenasco | Chief Lady Bird | ISBN 9781443107891
Ages 4 – 8 | Picture Books | August 2019

In Nibi’s Water Song, Nibiis an Indigenous girl on the search for clean water to drink. Though she is faced with repeated obstacles, Nibi’s joyful and determined energy becomes a catalyst for change and action as her community, and then in widening circles the country and government, rally around her to make clean drinking water available for all.

Peppa's Chinese New Year

By Scholastic | ISBN 9781338541151
Ages 4 – 8 | Picture Books | January 2019

It is Chinese New Year and Madame Gazelle is teaching the children all about this very special celebration. Peppa and George and their friends make Chinese New Year cards, try tasty Chinese treats and even take part in their very own dragon parade!

The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon

By Dean Robbins | Sean Rubin | ISBN 9781338259537
Ages 4 – 6 | Picture Books | June 2019

In 1969, Alan became the fourth man and first artist on the moon. He took dozens of pictures, but none compared to what he saw through his artistic eyes. When he returned to Earth, he began to paint what he saw. Alan's paintings allowed humanity to experience what it truly felt like to walk on the moon. Journalist and storyteller Dean Robbins's tale of this extraordinary astronaut is masterful, and artist Sean Rubin's illustrations are whimsical and unexpected.

Book Case

By Dave Shelton | ISBN 9781338323795
Ages 8 – 12 | Middle-Grade | June 2019

Daphne is off to an exclusive girls' boarding school, where she'll be given a brand-new start after her expulsion. But St. Rita's school for girls is not your ordinary school. And these are certainly not ordinary girls. As it turns out, nothing is quite what you'd expect at St. Rita's. But then she meets Emily Lime, a crime-solving genius, who's looking for a new library assistant. And the book smart Daphne is just the girl for the job. Mystery and intrigue are about to strike St. Rita's and Emily Lime is going to need all the help she can get.

Elements of Genius #1: Nikki Tesla and the Ferret-Proof Death Ray 

By Jess Keating | ISBN 9781338295214
Ages 8 – 12 | Middle-Grade | July 2019

There are only so many times a kid can invent an instrument of global destruction without getting grounded. So when Nikki's death ray accidentally blows up her bedroom (if you can call a pet ferret with an itchy trigger finger an accident), she's sent to the only place that can handle her. Genius Academy is a school for history's greatest brains.

Level 13: A Slacker Novel 

By Gordon Korman | ISBN 9781338286205
Ages 8 – 12 | Middle-Grade | July 2019

Cameron Boxer, king of the slackers, has found something worth his time. By playing video games online in front of an audience he can find both fame AND fortune — especially with Elvis (a beaver who seems to love video games as much as Cam) at his side.

Making Friends: Back to the Drawing Board

By Kristen Gudsnuk | ISBN 9781338139266
Ages 8 – 12 | Middle-Grade | August 2019

Dany creates a magical duplicate of herself to help with homework and making friends, but it gets complicated when they accidentally let loose a Hinn (sort of like a genie, only it doesn't grant wishes!). And with the big school dance coming up, time is running out to set things right in the town. But when Dany's high school bully, Nick Maloney, befriends the Hinn and shows up at the dance using its magical powers to control the evening, the only thing left to do is save the day! Sigh . . . Again.

Not If I Can Help It

By Carolyn Mackler | ISBN 9780545709484
Ages 8 – 12 | Middle-Grade | August 2019

Willa has sensory overload disorder, and she can manage many things — but there are some things she can't deal with, like her father's big news. He's been keeping a big secret from her . . . that he's been dating the mom of Willa's best friend Ruby. Willa does NOT like the idea of them being together. And she does NOT like the idea of combining families. And she does NOT like the idea of her best friend becoming her sister overnight. Will she go along with all of these changes? NOT if she can help it!

She's the Liar

By Alison Cherry | ISBN 9781338306149
Ages 8 – 12 | Middle-Grade | June 2019

When Abby arrives to Brookside Academy, she is determined to reinvent herself. Abby sheds her shy personality and plays the part of confident newcomer, "Abbi." She quickly learns about The Committee, a student-led organization that controls nearly every aspect of extracurricular activity. And to her surprise, her older sister Sydney has also reinvented herself and is the president of the Committee. Sister rivalry erupts as Abby decides to join the Committee. The sisters try to out maneuver each other for power and influence. But not everything is as it seems and readers will find out that there are always two sides to a story.

The Almost Epic Squad: Super Sketchy 

By Lesley Livingston | Britt Wilson | ISBN 9781443157858
Ages 8 – 12 | Middle-Grade | July 2019

Daisy Kildare is starting over at a new school. Sometimes she wishes she could be anywhere else. But when she uses a certain pencil, Daisy finds she becomes whatever she draws. She just needs to harness that power. If only her drawing skills were a little more accurate . . .

The Canadian Kids' Guide to Outdoor Fun  

By Helaine Becker | ISBN 9781443148450
Ages 6 – 12 | Middle-Grade | May 2019

Parents and kids alike will absolutely love this boredom-busting guide to outdoor and indoor summer fun! Filled with hundreds of ideas for games with friends, solo activities, DIY projects, recipes and fascinating fun facts, this book will teach kids just how much there is to do when the screens are turned off.

The Last Chance Hotel

By Nicki Thornton | ISBN 9781338323627
Ages 8 – 12 | Middle-Grade | June 2019

Readers looking for an enchanting read, a story of overcoming the odds, or a tale of suspense will love this traditional Agatha Christie, who-dun-it mystery, matched and raised by a hint of magic.

The Sky Chasers

By Emma Carroll | ISBN 9781338285277
Ages 8 – 12 | Middle-Grade | July 2019

In a test of bravery, imagination, science, and friendship—Magpie, Pierre, and their pet birds are in a race against time to get the Montgolfier's hot air balloon in the air before the King and Queen. It'll take two children, a chicken, a duck, and a sheep to help them find the answers. But others, too, are determined to discover the Montgolfiers' invention . . .

I Wish You all the Best

By Mason Deaver | ISBN 9781338306125
Ages 14 and up | Young Adult | May 2019

When Ben De Backer comes out to their parents as non-binary, they're thrown out of their house and forced to move in with their estranged older sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas, whom Ben has never even met. Struggling with an anxiety disorder compounded by their parents' rejection, they come out only to Hannah, Thomas, and their therapist and try to keep a low profile in a new school.

Maybe This Time

By Kasie West | ISBN 9781338210088
Ages 12 and up | Young Adult | July 2019

Sophie works for the local florist, so she's part of every big event in her small hometown, delivering flowers and making sure things run smoothly (which they almost never do). This year, Sophie has tons of events to get through — including a wedding, a funeral, a Valentine's Day party, a Fourth of July cookout, Thanksgiving, and a New Year's Eve bash. And at each event, she runs into Andrew, the distractingly cute — and annoyingly pompous — guy working for the local caterer. As Sophie and Andrew deal with last-minute food disasters, romantic dramas, uninvited guests, and family feuds, they find themselves thrown together amid the chaos.

On a Scale of One to Ten

By Ceylan Scott | ISBN 9781338323764
Ages 12 and up | Young Adult | July 2019

Tamar is admitted to Lime Grove, a psychiatric hospital for teenagers. Lime Grove is home to a number of teenagers with a variety of problems: anorexia, bipolar disorder, behavior issues. Tamar will come to know them all very well. But there's one question she can't... won't answer: What happened to her friend Iris? As Tamar's emotional angst becomes more and more clear to her, she'll have to figure out a path to forgiveness. A shocking, moving, and darkly funny depiction of life in a psychiatric world.

Skyjacked

By Paul Griffin | ISBN 9781338047417
Ages 12 and up | Young Adult | August 2019

Five friends who attend Manhattan's elite Hartwell Academy are returning from an end-of-summer camping trip together on a private plane. Everything seems normal . . . except one of the regular pilots is sick, so there's a replacement; Cassie is starting to get violently ill for no clear reason; and they realize the plane is flying west, not east. Soon it's clear: The plane has been hijacked. But by who, and why? Where are they going? What made Cassie so sick? And even if they somehow make it into the cockpit and overpower the hijacker, could they land the plane? Emotions are running high, and choosing who to trust is a matter of life or death.

Spark

By Alice Broadway | ISBN 9781338355994
Ages 14 and up | Young Adult | August 2019

This thrilling sequel to Ink follows Leora as she explores her new life living with "blank" settlers in what is a riveting metaphor for life as a refugee.

Stepsister

By Jennifer Donnelly | ISBN 9781338268461
Ages 12 and up | Young Adult | May 2019

Isabelle is one of Cinderella's "ugly" stepsisters. This feminist retelling follows her as Isabelle is given the opportunity to harness strength she never knew she possessed, and learns that while "pretty" is a noose around your neck, "ugly" is the sword that cuts you free.

The Candle and the Flame 

By Nafiza Azad | ISBN 9781338306040
Ages 12 and up | Young Adult | May 2019

Debut novelist Nafiza Azad weaves an immersive tale of magic and the importance of names; fiercely independent women; and, perhaps most importantly, the work for harmony within a city of a thousand cultures and cadences.

The Surface Breaks

By Louise O'Neill | ISBN 9781338332605
Ages 12 and up | Young Adult | August 2019

Deep beneath the sea, off the cold Irish coast, Gaia is a young mermaid who dreams of freedom from her controlling father. On her first swim to the surface, she is drawn towards a human boy. She longs to join his carefree world, but how much will she have to sacrifice? What will it take for the little mermaid to find her voice? Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy tale is reimagined through a searing feminist lens, with the stunning, scalpel-sharp writing and world building that has won Louise her legions of devoted fans in the UK. A book with the darkest of undercurrents, full of rage and rallying cries: storytelling at its most spellbinding.

Refugie n'est pas mon nom

By Kate Milner | ISBN 9781443176514
Ages 3 – 8 | French | June 2019

Un jeune garçon discute avec sa mère du long parcours qu'ils s'apprêtent à entamer. Ils devront quitter leur ville, explique-t-elle. Ce sera triste, mais aussi un peu excitant. Ils devront dire au revoir à leurs amis et à leurs proches. et ce sera difficile. Ils devront marcher et marcher encore, et même s'ils verront de nouvelles choses intéressantes, ce sera parfois encore plus difficile.

Cet album touchant permet aux jeunes lecteurs d'explorer des sujets délicats en lien avec les réfugiés et les migrants. Il offre également un aperçu du vrai parcours que de nombreux enfants doivent emprunter encore aujourd'hui.

A young boy discusses the journey he is about to make with his mother. They will leave their town, she explains, and it will be sad but also a little bit exciting. They will have to say goodbye to friends and loved ones, and that will be difficult. They will have to walk and walk and walk, and although they will see many new and interesting things, it will be difficult at times too.

A touching, timely, and tender exploration of refuge and migration for the youngest readers, this picture book offers a moving insight into the real journeys being made by children today.

Original title: My Name is Not Refugee

Un jour, tu découvriras...

By KJacqueline Woodson ate Milner | Rafael Lopez | ISBN 9781443176415
Ages 5 – 8 | French | August 2019

Plusieurs raisons expliquent pourquoi certaines personnes se sentent différentes des autres. Peut-être est-ce à cause de leur apparence physique ou de leur façon de parler, de leur nourriture ou de n'importe quel autre détail. Dans tous les cas, il n'est pas toujours facile de faire ses premiers pas dans un environnement où l'on ne connaît personne, et pourtant, c'est bien nécessaire.

Le texte percutant de Jacqueline Woodson et les somptueuses illustrations de Rafael López démontrent avec brio que tout le monde se sent parfois étranger et qu'il faut du courage pour continuer son chemin malgré ce sentiment. Cet album prouve également que de bonnes choses peuvent arriver lorsque l'on ose enfin s'ouvrir aux autres!

There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look or talk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or something just as random. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.

Jacqueline Woodson's lyrical text and Rafael López's dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes - and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway.

Original title: The Day You Begin