​Kids' books and new releases are two of our favourite phrases! How about you? We thought we would jump on the holiday gift list bandwagon and start looking at some upcoming book releases (I'm pretty sure stores will soon be advertising for Christmas ALL YEAR LONG). Usually we present a selection from different publishers but Chronicle Books just have too many to choose from at the moment.  They also happen to be one of our favourite publishers. Just seeing their little glasses logo on the side of a book's spine is enough for me to whip our my credit card. So here are just a few of the books that will be released within the next month, presented in order of publication date. 

Door by JiHyeon Lee
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We absolutely loved Lee's first book, Pool, which has no words but let's the mesmerising illustrations lead you on a journey. I'm sure Door will not fail to deliver a similarly enchanting world. 

Publisher's description:
What's on the other side of the door? There's only one way to find out: You'll have to go through it. JiHyeon Lee's debut book, Pool, was lauded as a wordless masterpiece. Here she takes readers on another journey into an unexpected world. Delicate drawings transform from grays to vivid color as a curious child goes through a mysterious door and discovers that open-mindedness is the key to adventure and friendship.

​Release Date: October 2, 2018

Everything & Everywhere - A Fact-Filled Adventure for Curious Globe-Trotters by Marc Martin
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Last year Martin's A River was one of our favourite library finds. His illustrations are full of details that keep busy little eyes occupied for ages. His newest book looks like it will follow in that tradition. Our family are also proud globe-trotters, so are pretty excited about this release!

Publisher's description:
​From Hong Kong to Reykjavík, Ulaanbaatar to New York City, enjoy a lush and unexpected journey around the world to discover what makes each place unique. Sleepy sloths, colorful cows, staggering skylines, terrible traffic—countless surprises await! All you need is a good guide and a little curiosity . . . so, what are you waiting for? Let's go! From award-winning author and illustrator Marc Martin comes a quirky, fact-filled adventure for curious globe-trotters, young and old.

Release Date: October 9, 2018

Little Bear's Big House by Benjamin Chaud

I don't like to admit this, but I haven't read any of Chaud's books yet. I love the illustration style though and since looking up his collection and the previous books in this Bear series, I have put a number of them on hold at the library. Looking forward to getting my hands on any of his work!

Publisher's description:
​This follow-up to Benjamin Chaud's critically acclaimed The Bear's Song and its sequels is graced with richly detailed art, immersive scenes, and an irresistibly sweet story! Little Bear is embarking on his biggest adventure yet. After discovering an empty house, his wish is granted: He can play all day and stay up as late as he wants! But he also gets a big scare. There are mysterious noises downstairs—could there be monsters . . . or ghosts?! Will Little Bear be able to brave the big house all by himself? In step with the previous books in the series, Little Bear may venture far and wide, but his loving family is never far behind!

Release Date: October 9, 2018

Seeing Science: An Illustrated Guide to the Wonders of the Universe by Iris Gottlieb

While the description certainly makes this book out to be more appropriate for older children, I can see my 6 year old plopped in my lap asking a thousand questions after perusing the pages of it. I love to read more challenging books with my little ones because they invoke such great conversations. I can't wait for this one to come out!

Publisher's description:
​Science is really beautiful. With original illustrations that deftly explain the strange-but-true world of science, Seeing Science offers a curated ride through the great mysteries of the universe. Artist and lay scientist Iris Gottlieb explains among other things: neap tides, naked mole rats, whale falls, the human heart, the Uncertainty Principle, the ten dimensions of string theory, and how glaciers are like Snickers bars. With quirky visual metaphors and concise factual explanations, she offers just the right amount of information to stoke the curious mind with a desire to know more about the life forces that animate both the smallest cell and the biggest black hole. Seeing Science illustrates, explicates, and celebrates the marvels of science as only art can.

Release Date: ​October 30, 2018

Night Play by Lizi Boyd

Boyd's Flashlight  is another one of our favourites. Any book that inspires us to go out and investigate or copy the character is an instant hit for me. I can't wait to see if her new book gets my little people up on stage!

Publishers description:
It's time for bed. Everyone is asleep. Or are they? Arlo and his stuffed animal friends like to put on pretend plays. But after Arlo falls asleep, his friends don't want to stop. Can they work together to put on their play? Through fanciful paintings and a lively text, Lizi Boyd has once again tapped into the imaginary world of children. Her hallmark use of die-cut pages, along with a showstopping gatefold, will have readers of all ages shouting "Bravo!"

Release Date: November 6, 2018

Get your hands on this book here:

Animal City by Joan Negrescolor

Having discovered this Spanish artist's work a few years ago, I was very excited to read about his latest project! If the book cover appeals to you, please visit his website HERE because it is full of colourful illustrations that will make you smile.

Publishers description:
Nina journeys to a secret jungle city populated by animals, plants, and lost objects. The reason for her visit: story hour, where a book's power holds the wild in thrall. The animals are eager for stories about space, the sea, and other worlds. But their favorite story of all is the one told here: a story about a mysterious place, laden with legend and lore, and now overtaken by nature. Five Pantone colors infuse each illustrated spread with a vibrant, electric energy, making this powerful celebration of nature—and stories—as vivid visually as its narrative is engrossing.

​Release Date: November 6, 2018

The British picture book awards announced their shortlist this past week. While the actual award winners of the CILIP Kate Greenway Medal are not revealed until this June, I almost think that the short and long lists are more exciting. They give us a sort of checklist of quality books to look out for. I've only come across one of the seven so far but will certainly be ordering them at the library and then trying to guess the winner. A couple of the selections are graphic novels, which I'm really exctied about since my eldest is finally getting into longer books. 

Have you read any of them? What are your thoughts?

Below you will find descriptions of the books directly from the publisher's websites.

King of the Sky
Written by Nicola Davies
Illustrated by Laura Carlin

A powerful and beautifully illustrated story about migration and the meaning of home, from the award-winning team behind The Promise.  Starting a new life in a new country, a young boy feels lost and alone – until he meets an old man who keeps racing pigeons. Together they pin their hopes on a race across Europe and the special bird they believe can win it: King of the Sky. Nicola Davies’ beautiful story – an immigrant’s tale with a powerful resonance in our troubled times – is illustrated by an artist who makes the world anew with every picture. 
​

 Night Shift
Written and Illustrated by Debi Gliori

From beloved author and illustrator Debi Gliori (No Matter What) comes Night Shift, a groundbreaking lushly illustrated picture book based on Gliori’s own personal history with depression. Fighting dragons is one way of fighting depression. This book is another.     

Through stunning black and white illustration and deceptively simple text, author and illustrator Debi Gliori provides a fascinating and absorbing portrait of depression and hope in Night Shift, a moving picture book about a young girl haunted by dragons. The young girl battles the dragons using ‘night skills’: skills that give her both the ability to survive inside her own darkness and the knowledge that nothing—not even long, dark nights filled with monsters—will last forever. A brave and powerful book, give Night Shift to dragon fighters young and old, and any reader who needs to know they’re not alone.

A First Book of Animals
Written by Nicola Davies
Illustrated by Petr Horacek

The award-winning author of A First Book of Nature, presents a spellbinding treasury of poems about the animal world, illustrated in breathtaking detail by Petr Horacek. Polar bears playing on the ice, tigers hunting in the jungle, fireflies twinkling in the evening sky and nightingales singing in the heart of the woods – there are animals everywhere. From blue whales to bumblebee bats and everything in between, A First Book of Animals takes you all over the planet to visit all kinds of different creatures. This book is a glorious celebration of life in the wild in all its variety and splendour, and belongs on every child's bookshelf.

The Song from Somewhere Else
Written by A.F. Harrold
Illustrated by Levi Pinfold

Frank doesn't know how to feel when Nick Underbridge rescues her from bullies one afternoon. No one likes Nick. He's big, he's weird and he smells – or so everyone in Frank's class thinks. And yet, there's something nice about Nick's house. There's strange music playing there, and it feels light and good and makes Frank feel happy for the first time in forever.

But there's more to Nick, and to his house, than meets the eye, and soon Frank realises she isn't the only one keeping secrets. Or the only one who needs help …

A poignant, darkly comic and deeply moving story about the power of the extraordinary, and finding friendship where you least expect it. Written by the author of the critically acclaimed The Imaginary and illustrated by award-winning illustrator Levi Pinfold, this is perfect for fans of Roald Dahl and Neil Gaiman

Town is by the Sea
Written by Joanne Schwartz
Illustrated by Sydney Smith

​A young boy wakes up to the sound of the sea, visits his grandfather’s grave after lunch and comes home to a simple family dinner with his family, but all the while his mind strays to his father digging for coal deep down under the sea. Stunning illustrations by Sydney Smith, the award-winning illustrator of Sidewalk Flowers, show the striking contrast between a sparkling seaside day and the darkness underground where the miners dig.

With curriculum connections to communities and the history of mining, this beautifully understated and haunting story brings a piece of Canadian history to life. The ever-present ocean and inevitable pattern of life in a Cape Breton mining town will enthrall children and move adult readers.

Thornhill
Written and Illustrated by Pam Smy

​Parallel stories set in different times, one told in prose and one in pictures, converge as a girl unravels the mystery of the abandoned Thornhill Institute next door.

1982: Mary is a lonely orphan at the Thornhill Institute For Children at the very moment that it's shutting its doors. When her few friends are all adopted or re-homed and she’s left to face a volatile bully alone, her revenge will have a lasting effect on the bully, on Mary, and on Thornhill itself.

2017: Ella has just moved to a new town where she knows no one. From her room on the top floor of her new home, she has a perfect view of the dilapidated, abandoned Thornhill Institute across the way, where she glimpses a girl in the window. Determined to befriend the girl and solidify the link between them, Ella resolves to unravel Thornhill's shadowy past.

Told in alternating, interwoven plotlines—Mary’s through intimate diary entries and Ella’s in bold, striking art—Pam Smy’s Thornhill is a haunting exploration of human connection, filled with suspense.

Under the Same Sky
Written and Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup

We sing the same songs, caught on the breeze... We sing the same songs, across the same seas. Written and illustrated by the award-winning Britta Teckentrup, this beautiful and heart-warming peek-through picture book celebrates the closeness of the world's communities through their shared hopes and dreams.
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New children's books! What could be better? While we love to stumble upon new books at the library or in the shops, it is also nice to anticipate those soon to be released. So we perused a few of the popular publishing company websites for their 'Coming Soon' titles. It is really exciting to see publishers making more effort to ensure better representation of people and cultures in kids' books. It is still very imbalanced but it is definitely getting better. Here are a few of our favourites! 

All descriptions below are from publisher's sites directly and not written by us. 

Trampoline Boy
Author: Nan Forler
Illustrator: Marion Arbona

A lyrical picture book about the joy of jumping -- and a springboard for discussion about unique perspectives. Through the eyes of a character we only know as Trampoline Boy, we are invited to understand how he sees the world. His favourite thing to do is jump up and down, up and down on his trampoline. Kids walk by and tease him, but he remains steadfast and calm. One day, a quietly exuberant girl, Peaches, is fascinated by his jumping. Trampoline Boy wordlessly invites her to jump with him, and by spending this time with him, Peaches and readers get to see how important and valuable different perspectives are. 

Publisher: Penguin Random House
Release date: March 8, 2018
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​Get your hands on this book here:

My Hair is a Garden
Author & Illustrator: Cozbi A. Cabrera

After a day of being taunted by classmates about her unruly hair, Mackenzie can’t take any more and she seeks guidance from her wise and comforting neighbor, Miss Tillie. Using the beautiful garden in the backyard as a metaphor, Miss Tillie shows Mackenzie that maintaining healthy hair is not a chore nor is it something to fear. Most importantly, Mackenzie learns that natural black hair is beautiful.

​Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co
Release date: April 1, 2018

​Get your hands on this book here:

Ocean Meets Sky
Author & Illustrator: The Fan Brothers

From the creators of the gorgeous bestseller The Night Gardener, comes a stunning new picture book about a young boy who sets sail to find a place his grandfather told him about...the spot where the ocean meets the sky. It's a good day for sailing. Finn lives by the sea and the sea lives by him. Every time he looks out his window it's a constant reminder of the stories his grandfather told him about the place where the ocean meets the sky. Where whales and jellyfish soar and birds and castles float. Finn's grandfather is gone now but Finn knows the perfect way to honor him. He'll build his own ship and sail out to find this magical place himself! And when he arrives, maybe, just maybe, he'll find something he didn't know he was looking for. 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release date: May 15, 2018
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​Get your hands on this book here:

​Get your hands on this book here:

The winners of two prestigious literary awards were announced a few days ago and we are taking a quick look at the books given honours. You might not know much about these awards but you've likely noticed the stickers on many book covers you've picked up. I'll be honest, when I'm at the library I almost always pop the book in my bag if without a second glance if it has one of the winner labels on it. It's (almost) always bound to be great.

What I didn't know before, was the different between the Caldecott Medal and the Newbery Medal. Well, they are both awarded by Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) which is a division of the American Library Association.

The ALSC states, "The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually . . . to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children." So in other words it is awarded to beautiful children's picture books.

The Newbery on the other hand, ". . . was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually . . . to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." So more of a focus on longer books for children. 

I'm going to try and keep our focus on picture books today (although I will be heading out tomorrow to pick up some of those Newbery titles), so here are the descriptions from publishers of both the winner and honor winners. 

Get your hands on it here:

​Caldecott Winner - Wolf in the Snow
Author and Illustrator: Matthew Cordell 
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home?

Paintings rich with feeling tell this satisfying story of friendship and trust. Here is a book set on a wintry night that will spark imaginations and warm hearts, from Matthew Cordell, author of Trouble Gum and Another Brother.
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Get your hands on it here:

Caldecott Honor - A Different Pond
Author: Bao Phi
Illustrator: Thi Bui
Publisher: Coughlan Publishing

Acclaimed poet Bao Phi delivers a powerful, honest glimpse into a relationship between father and son - and between cultures, old and new. A Different Pond is an unforgettable story about a simple event - a long-ago fishing trip. As a young boy, Bao Phi awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam. The New York Times has said that Bao Phi's poetry "rhymes with the truth." Kirkus Reviews calls A Different Pond "a must-read for our times." Thi Bui's striking, evocative art paired with Phi's expertly crafted prose has earned this powerful picture books six starred reviews. ​
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Get your hands on it here:

Caldecott Honor - Big Cat, Little Cat
Author and Illustrator: Elisha Cooper
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

There was a cat 
who lived alone. 
Until the day 
a new cat came . . . 

And so a story of friendship begins, following two cats through their days, months, and years until one day, the older cat has to go. And he doesn't come back. 

This is a poignant story, told in measured text and bold black-and-white illustrations about life and the act of moving on. ​
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Get your hands on it here:

Get your hands on it here:

Caldecott Honor - Grand Canyon
Author and Illustrator: Jason Chin 
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Rivers wind through earth, cutting down and eroding the soil for millions of years, creating a cavity in the ground 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and more than a mile deep known as the Grand Canyon.
Home to an astonishing variety of plants and animals that have lived and evolved within its walls for millennia, the Grand Canyon is much more than just a hole in the ground. Follow a father and daughter as they make their way through the cavernous wonder, discovering life both present and past.
Weave in and out of time as perfectly placed die cuts show you that a fossil today was a creature much long ago, perhaps in a completely different environment. Complete with a spectacular double gatefold, an intricate map and extensive back matter.
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New book alert! Who isn't a sucker for new children's books? We sure are. Especially in this day and age when they are finally starting to represent so many more people in this world (who have previously been absent!). 

There are really too many to choose from, so here is just a little round up of some of the books we can't wait to get our hands on. All book descriptions come directly from publishers and were not written by us. Let us know if you pick any up and how you enjoy them!

This is a story about a mouse and a duck who get swallowed by a wolf.

Early one morning a mouse met a wolf
and was quickly gobbled up. 

When a woeful mouse is swallowed by a wolf, he quickly learns he is not alone: a duck has already set up digs, and, boy, has that duck got it figured out! Turns out it’s pretty nice in there, with delicious food and elegant table settings, courtesy of the wolf’s unchecked gluttony. And there’s something even better: no more fear of being eaten by a wolf! In fact, life is pretty good, until a hunter shows up. . . . With a nod to traditional fables and a wink to the reader, the award-winning Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen offer a tale of cooperation and creative cuisine that is sure to go down easy.

 Release date 10/10/2017 by Penguin Random House​

Malala's first picture book will inspire young readers everywhere to find the magic all around them.

As a child in Pakistan, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil. She would use it to make everyone happy, to erase the smell of garbage from her city, to sleep an extra hour in the morning. But as she grew older, Malala saw that there were more important things to wish for. She saw a world that needed fixing. And even if she never found a magic pencil, Malala realized that she could still work hard every day to make her wishes come true. 

This beautifully illustrated volume tells Malala's story for a younger audience and shows them the worldview that allowed Malala to hold on to hope even in the most difficult of times.
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Release date 10/17/2017 by  Hachette Book Group