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Primary Junior Language Arts/Literacy
A Selection of Children's Books
Both Education Libraries offer an extensive Children's Picture Book collection. To locate books by subject consult the Childrens/Young Adult Booklists guide.
An extensive collection of First Nations, Metis and Inuit titles are also available. To locate these titles search the library's Omni catalogue or consult the Indigenous Education K-12 guide.
A Selection of Children's Books by Genre and Form
Board books are typically written for children up to 4 years of age, are usually smaller in size with pages made of a thick, sturdy paperboard. The book size and thickness of the pages makes turning pages and handling the book easier for small hands. The subject matter and story is simple with bright and colourful images and few words. Alphabet and number books are typical examples of board book content.
You can locate books in the Libraries using Omni and entering the title, author or subject of the book. To find a board book, you can enter the subject heading "Board Books" in ADVANCED search. Be sure to select "Subject" .
My Heart Fills with Happiness by The sun on your face. The smell of warm bannock baking in the oven. Holding the hand of someone you love. What fills your heart with happiness? This beautiful board book, with illustrations from celebrated artist Julie Flett, serves as a reminder for little ones and adults alike to reflect on and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy. International speaker and award-winning author Monique Gray Smith wrote My Heart Fills with Happinessto support the wellness of Indigenous children and families, and to encourage young children to reflect on what makes them happy.
We Sang You Home by In this sweet and lyrical board book from the creators of the bestselling Little You, gentle rhythmic text captures the wonder new parents feel as they welcome baby into the world. A celebration of the bond between parent and child, this is the perfect song to share with your little ones. Internationally renowned storyteller and bestselling author Richard Van Camp teams up with award-winning illustrator Julie Flett for a second time to create a stunning board book for babies and toddlers.
The Game of Patterns by Study the lines, shapes and colours of the patterns in this book. They may look the same... but they're not! Look closely - how many differences can you spot?
Counting in Mi'Kmaw /Mawkiljemk Mi'Kmawiktuk by One is Ne'wt, for one bear. Two is Ta'pu, for two women making offerings. Counting from one to ten in English and Mi'kmaw, baby is introduced to both the ancestral language of Mi'kmaki and to Mi'kmaw culture and legend, through beautifully rendered illustrations of important animals, like turtle, bear, and beaver, to concepts integral to the Mi'kmaw world view, like the Four (Ne'w) Directions, and the Seven (L'luiknek) Mi'kmaw teachings. Features bright and detailed illustrations from celebrated Waycobah-based Mi'kmaw illustrator, Loretta Gould.
Off to the Park! by Come with us to the park! Which way shall we go? What shall we do? What will we find? A stunning interactive book for ALL children of all ages, with a delightful surprise at the end. Conceived and designed in association with Booktrust, and developed in consultation with children, families and organisations working with blind and partially-sighted children, OFF TO THE PARK is a unique project that seeks to include all children in the reading experience. Containing tactile features, Braille-style numbering, play elements, high-contrast images and a rhythmic rhyming text, this book is designed to create as sensory and involved experience as possible out of a familiar and well-loved journey.
Sockeye Silver, Saltchuck Blue by Praise for Hello Humpback!, the inaugural title in the First West Coast Books series: "Graceful, well-constructed rhymes pair with First Nations artist Vickers's crisp, luminous scenes... It's a gorgeous glimpse of the distinctive landscapes and creatures of the Northwest, and it will enchant residents and nonlocals alike." --starred review, Publishers Weekly With vibrant illustrations and a glossy tactile finish, this sturdy board book introduces babies and toddlers to a kaleidoscope of colours and the rhythm of changing seasons on the West Coast. Sockeye Silver, Saltchuck Blue follows the shifting spectrum of the Pacific Northwest including the quiet grey rain of winter, the verdant growth of spring, the jewel red tones of tart summer huckleberries and the shimmering scales of a spawning sockeye salmon as it turns from silver to red in fall. Like Hello Humpback! and One Eagle Soaring, this board book will be sure to enthrall the very youngest readers while introducing the delights of the natural world.
Braille is a system of raised dots that can be read with the fingers by people who are blind or who have low vision. (American Foundation for the Blind).
You can locate books in the Libraries using Omni and entering the title, author or subject of the book. To find books in Braille, you can enter the subject heading "Braille books" in ADVANCED search. Be sure to select "Subject" .
The Black Book of Colours by This title invites readers to imagine living without sight through remarkable illustrations done with raised lines and descriptions of colors based on imagery. Braille letters accompany the illustrations and a full Braille alphabet offers sighted readers help reading along with their fingers.
Charlotte's Web by Don't miss one of America's top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS's The Great American Read. This beloved book by E. B. White, author of Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan, is a classic of children's literature that is "just about perfect." This hardcover edition includes a foreword by two-time Newbery winning author Kate DiCamillo. Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter. E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. It contains illustrations by Garth Williams, the acclaimed illustrator of E. B. White's Stuart Little and Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series, among many other books.
Clifford the Big Red Dog by Emily Elizabeth describes the activities she enjoys with her very big, very red dog and how they take care of each other.
Curious George by The curiosity of a newly-captured monkey gets him into continual trouble.
Moira's Birthday by Moira wants to invite grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, grade 6, and the kindergarten to her birthday party.
The Aboriginal Alphabet for Children by This is a fun and enriching way to learn the alphabet. The color illustrations that accompany each letter are of traditional artifacts and cultural notes.
Alphabet City by The urban landscape will never look the same again. As Stephen T. Johnson demonstrates in a series of strikingly realistic pastels and watercolors, a simple sawhorse can contain the letter "A" -- while lampposts alongside a highway can form a row of elegant, soaring Ys. A 1996 Caldecott Honor book, this sophisticated, wordless alphabet book is sure to appeal to young and old alike.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by A told B, and B told C, "I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree" Countless children -- and there parents -- can joyfully recite the familiar words of this beloved alphabet chant. The perfect pairing of Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault's lively rhymes, and Caldecott Honor artist Lois Ehlert's bright, bold, cheerful pictures made Chicka Chicka Boom Boom an instant hit and a perennial favorite. This full-sized, quality paperback edition will bring even more fans to this endearing, enduring classic. Chicka chicka boom boom will there be enough room? There will always be room for Chicka Chicka boom Boom on every child's bookshelf!
The Day the Crayons Quit by Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking--each believes he is the true color of the sun. What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?
What's the Time, Mr. Wolf? by Mr. Wolf salivates over his tasty-looking barnyard friends and plans an elaborate dinner party for them. When the farm animals ask, "What's the time, Mr. Wolf?" he sends them scurrying off to gather ingredients for a special meal. But will they be guests or the dinner itself? Readers will screech with delighted terror as they realize how the clever old wolf is involving the animals in their own demise . . . or is he? Charmingly detailed illustrations decorate this new peephole book from Carol Jones. Every other page gives the reader a glimpse of what comes next as Mr. Wolf plans a feast with a surprise main course.
You can locate books in the Libraries using Omni and entering the title, author or subject of the book. To find poetry books you can enter the subject heading "Poetry Juvenile Fiction" or "Stories in Rhyme" in ADVANCED search. Be sure to select "Subject" .
Bradley McGogg: the very fine frog by “Eww! What is that? Such horrible stew! Orange-colored roots that were sticky with goo. . . .” Bradley McGogg makes his home in the bog where there are plenty of yummy bugs for a frog to feed on. Upon finding his pantry bare one day, Bradley decides to meet his neighbors, in the hopes that they will share some of their favorite meals with him. But this “bog frog” soon finds that not all animals eat alike . . . .
I Am Enough by This gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another comes from Empire actor and activist Grace Byers and talented newcomer artist Keturah A. Bobo. We are all here for a purpose. We are more than enough. We just need to believe it. Plus don't miss I Believe I Can--the next beautiful picture celebrating self-esteem from Grace Byers and Keturah A. Bobo!
A Light in the Attic by From New York Times bestselling author Shel Silverstein, the creator of the beloved poetry collections Where the Sidewalk Ends, Falling Up, and Every Thing On It, comes an imaginative book of poems and drawings--a favorite of Shel Silverstein fans young and old. This special edition contains 12 never-before-published poems. A Light in the Attic delights with remarkable characters and hilariously profound poems in a collection readers will return to again and again. Here in the attic you will find Backward Bill, Sour Face Ann, the Meehoo with an Exactlywatt, and the Polar Bear in the Frigidaire. You will talk with Broiled Face, and find out what happens when Somebody steals your knees, you get caught by the Quick-Digesting Gink, a Mountain snores, and They Put a Brassiere on the Camel. Come on up to the attic of Shel Silverstein and let the light bring you home. And don't miss Runny Babbit Returns, the new book from Shel Silverstein!
Runny Babbit: A Billy Sook by "Welcome to the world of Runny Babbit and his friends Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Ritty Dat, Dungry Hog, Sneery Jake, and many others who speak a topsy-turvy language all their own. It's filled with the most amazing and tongue-twisting rhymes imaginable. And, what's more, Shel Silverstein wrote this yook especially for bou."--page [4] of cover.
The Secret of Your Name: proud to be Métis = Kiimooch ka shinikashooyen : aen kishchitaymook aen li Michif iwik by Canada's three most well-known and respected Metis artists collaborate in this heart wrenching telling of what it means to be Metis. Best-selling, award winning Metis poet David Bouchard, once again makes books and culture available to all ages in The Secret of Your Name. Bouchard's heartfelt story is illustrated by Canada's most prominent Metis artist Dennis Weber. Included on the accompanying CD, with reading in English/French and Michif, is the Red River Jig performed by acclaimed Master Metis Fiddler John Arcand. Canada's Metis are the only mixed blood people in the world recognized by every level of government as being a Nation. The Metis have their own language, flag, songs and stories. They have exciting traditions and a proud history. Sadly, their journey was one of hardships, denial and often lies. In The Secret of Your Name, these three men open their hearts to all those who care to know what it means when it is said that we are Proud to be Metis! This spectacular book will appeal to any and all who have an interest in Canada's aboriginal people. It will call out to art collectors, musicians and all who have ever pondered their own past. First Nation Communities Read Nominee 2010
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, the New York Times bestselling author of The Giving Tree, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, and Every Thing On It, has created a poetry collection that is outrageously funny and deeply profound. Come in...for where the sidewalk ends, Shel Silverstein's world begins. This special edition contains 12 extra poems. You'll meet a boy who turns into a TV set, and a girl who eats a whale. The Unicorn and the Bloath live there, and so does Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who will not take the garbage out. It is a place where you wash your shadow and plant diamond gardens, a place where shoes fly, sisters are auctioned off, and crocodiles go to the dentist. Shel Silverstein's masterful collection of poems and drawings stretches the bounds of imagination and will be cherished by readers of all ages. This is a collection that belongs on everyone's bookshelf. Makes a great gift for special occasions such as holidays, birthdays, and graduation. And don't miss Runny Babbit Returns, the new book by Shel Silverstein!
Pop-Up Books / Movable Books are interactive and engaging children's books. By sliding a tab on a page, opening a flap or simply turning the page, an ordinary illustration becomes a three-dimensional figure. This can also include the addition of toys/fabrics/materials to a page to illustrate a texture, scent or feeling. This adds emphasis to the vocabulary and to the understanding of a story.
You can locate books in the Libraries using Omni and entering the title, author or subject of the book. You can enter the subject headings "Toy and Movable Books" or "Textured Books" in ADVANCED search. Be sure to select "Subject" .
Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow? by Do you know about Grow's glow? Earning starred reviews and chosen as an ALA Notable selection, this striking nonfiction book explores the differences between living and non-living things. School Library Journal declared it "a standout concept book [that's] engaging, fun . . . and a favorite for storytimes or one-on-one settings." (App also available.)
Eight Silly Monkeys by "Eight silly monkeys jumping on the bed. One fell off and bumped his head!"--Page [4] of cover.
Hungry Monsters by What do hungry monsters eat? It all depends on where they are. In this laugh-out-loud, colorful pop-up board book, monsters under the bed eat things like red underwear, those in the bathroom enjoy bath soap and yellow duckies, and attic monsters just love old books and umbrellas. Kids will have a ball reading the silly rhymes and opening the monsters' mouth to find a surprise pop-up of what's inside. What's more, Hungry Monsters also focuses on teaching children the early learning skill of recognizing colors. This adorable fun book is the perfect follow up to Party Animals (ISBN 0794412130). Kids will have a ball reading the silly rhymes and opening the monsters' mouths to find out what's inside while learning the early skill of color recognition. * Teaches the early learning skill of color recognition! * Fun, interactive pop-up flaps on every spread! * Adorable illustrations!
Salamander Rock by One salamander springs away-- he's off to Salamander Rock. He's got to join the swinging party starting there at six o'clock Salamanders of every pattern and color are headed to a party at the local hangout: Salamander Rock. The journey is half the fun as salamanders young and old play tag, dance, and chase fireflies in the dark to pass the time. Bright foam tails and flaps scattered throughout the book add dimension and fun to this book that also encourages counting on every page. - NEW format - book features pop-up foam coils and flaps throughout - Adorable rhyming story featuring the adventures of salamanders going to the rock party - Learning concept: counting from 1 - 10 - Additional prompts encourage kids to find more hidden objects on the pages of the book
Where's Spot? by For more than three decades, children have been looking everywhere for Spot in this classic, first-ever lift-the-flap book. Is he in the piano? Is he under the stairs? After finding other familiar animals, there he is in his basket!
You can locate books in the Libraries using Omni and entering the title, author or subject of the book. To find an upside-down book, you can enter the subject heading "Upside-down books" in ADVANCED search. Be sure to select "Subject".
A Long Way Away by "A picture book that can be read front-to-back or back-to-front. Start from one end and journey from outer space down to the sea; start from the other end and journey from deep in the sea out to a distant planet"-- Provided by publisher.
Marianthe's Story by Two separate stories in one book, the first telling of Mari's starting school in a new land, and the second describing village life in her country before she and her family left in search of a better life.
Wake up, Sleep Tight by Two books in one, this colorful board book has two clock faces, one on either side of the book. Sturdy spreads in the Wake Up section show families doing common morning things. Flip the book over, and the Sleep Tight portion shows familiar evening activities.
Limonade series: De moche à cool & Corrida au trésor by Two versions on inverted pages.
A wordless book is a book that tells a story through the illustrations. These can be valuable tools for developing literacy skills such as plot development, prediction, critical thinking, comprehension, listening, vocabulary and storytelling.
You can locate books in the Libraries using Omni and entering the title, author or subject of the book. To find a wordless book, you can enter the subject headings "Stories without words" or "Wordless picture books" in ADVANCED search. Be sure to select "Subject" .
Chalk by A wordless picture book about three children who go to a park on a rainy day, find some chalk, and draw pictures that come to life.
Flashlight by Inside the tent it's cozy, but what is going on outside? Is it dark? Is it scary? Not if you have your trusty flashlight! A charming story told solely through images: Through neatly drawn illustrations and a spare yet dramatic color palette, artist Lizi Boyd offers an enchanting exploration of night, nature, and art withFlashlight. Both lyrical and humorous, this visual poem--like the flashlight beam itself--reveals there is magic in the darkness. We just have to look for it. * A wordless storybook with stunning visuals that aims to lighten the fear of the dark and the noises that come with it * Book inspires the imagination and creativity in young minds * Lizi Boyd is the author and illustrator of many children's books, including InsideOutside andFlashlight, and also creates papers, ribbons, cards, and other works of delight "Flashlight allows readers to experience the wonder and excitement of nighttime exploration in the woods and wordlessly entices readers to explore the hidden nature outside their own homes." --The Busy Librarian * Appeals to readers of all ages with the calming, yet adventurous tone * Books for kids ages 5-6 * Children's picture books for preschool through first grade
Flotsam by Winner of the 2007 Caldecott Medal A bright, science-minded boy goes to the beach equipped to collect and examine flotsam--anything floating that has been washed ashore. Bottles, lost toys, small objects of every description are among his usual finds. But there's no way he could have prepared for one particular discovery: a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera, with its own secrets to share . . . and to keep. Each of David Wiesner's amazing picture books has revealed the magical possibilities of some ordinary thing or happening--a frog on a lily pad, a trip to the Empire State Building, a well-known nursery tale. In this Caldecott Medal winner, a day at the beach is the springboard into a wildly imaginative exploration of the mysteries of the deep, and of the qualities that enable us to witness these wonders and delight in them.
Friends by When a girl and a frog go to the beach to fish, they are frustrated to find that the fish aren't biting. Instead, they stare into the water and make faces at their reflections. Then, something spectacular happens. The reflections take on lives of their own, transforming into a mermaid with her own pet frog. Surprise gives way to delight as they invite the girl and the frog to enter a stunning underwater world. The new friends swim and play amongst colorful sea creatures until they discover a pair of glowing pearls and turn them into matching necklaces. Readers are brought along on a joyful aquatic adventure in this third wordless picture book from Geraldo Valério. Each page is a visual treasure trove full of fish and bubbles and other underwater details. Young readers will especially enjoy following the frogs' adventures in this celebration of friendship and imagination.
Re-Zoom by Istvan Banyai, the creator of the stunningly original Zoom (Puffin, 1995) wordless picture book, returns with another eye-opening visual odyssey. The talented illustrator brings his signature picture-within-a-picture style vividly back to life, producing unique images that blend seamlessly into one another. Re-Zoom was originally published in 1998 to huge acclaim, three years after the original. With this new edition of a classic, Puffin has ensured that the creativity and artistic joy within can be experienced by a new generation.
Sidewalk Flowers by Winner of the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Illustrated Book A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year In this wordless picture book, a little girl collects wildflowers while her distracted father pays her little attention. Each flower becomes a gift, and whether the gift is noticed or ignored, both giver and recipient are transformed by their encounter. "Written" by award-winning poet JonArno Lawson and brought to life by illustrator Sydney Smith, Sidewalk Flowers is an ode to the importance of small things, small people and small gestures.
Zoom by As seen on the SERIAL podcast, season 2, episode 1 ("Dustwun")! Open this wordless book and zoom from a farm to a ship to a city street to a desert island. But if you think you know where you are, guess again. For nothing is ever as it seems in Istvan Banyai's sleek, mysterious landscapes of pictures within pictures, which will tease and delight readers of all ages. "This book has the fascinating appeal of such works of visual trickery as the Waldo and Magic Eye books." -- Kirkus Reviews "Ingenious."-- The Horn Book
