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The Girl from the Attic. Marie Prins, $14.99 (ages
11-13) 
Maddy Rose lives in two worlds. A hundred years apart. In
the same strange house built as an octagon. When a mysterious black cat leads
her into the unknown attic, she meets Clare and his very sick sister Eva.
Together Maddy and Clare jump into a money-making scheme in his uncle's
dangerous soap factory to buy a cure for Eva. But an unexpected tragedy befalls
them before Maddy is pulled back into her own time to confront the premature
birth of her own sister. Will the skills she learned in the past help her solve
the problems of the present? Can the strange shape of the house make a
difference?
As the Girl from the Attic, Maddy must rise to the
challenges of both worlds in order to find her own place in the life of the
octagon. |
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The Amazing A-Z of Resilience: 26 Curious Stories and
Activities to Lift Yourself Up. David Gumbrell, $28.95 (ages 8-12)
This fun illustrated alphabet book creates discussion on
mental health with children aged 8-12 in an innovative, interactive way. Each
letter provides an activity for the child which links to wellbeing, and the
section for adults explains how to use these to start conversations on
resilience, feelings and mental health. |
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Think for Yourself: the Ultimate Guide to Critical
Thinking In an Age of Information Overload. Andrea Debbink & Aaron
Meshon, $19.95 (ages 11-14)
This unique and timely book won’t tell you what to
think — that’s up to you! — but it will show you how to think more deeply about
your own life and current events. Covering a wide range of subjects affecting
the world today, including human and animal rights, social media, cyber
bullying, the refugee crisis, and more, THINK FOR YOURSELF will help you to
learn how to ask questions, analyze evidence, and use logic to draw
conclusions, so you can solve problems and make smart decisions. Each chapter
of the book covers one key step in the critical thinking process, and includes
a real-world example to help convey the importance and relevance of every step:
- Ask Questions: If you want to be a critical thinker, it helps to
be curious. It’s normal to wonder about the world around us. Some questions are
big, and some are small. Sometimes questions can spark debate and argument. All
critical thinking starts with at least one question.
- Gather Evidence: First, find information — from making observations
to interviewing experts to researching a topic online or in books. Then make
connections and draw conclusions.
- Evaluating Evidence: Smart thinkers evaluate the importance,
accuracy and relevancy of the information they gather.
- Getting Curious: Consider other points of view, examine your own
point of view, understand the power of emotion, and practice empathy.
- Draw Conclusions: The final step in the critical thinking
process, this is based on reason and evidence. Revisit your original question,
review the evidence and what you’ve learned, and consider your values.
Critical thinking doesn’t stop when you’ve reached a
decision. Learn how to discuss and debate other points of view. Then keep
growing. Sometimes you might change your mind — that’s OK, too! |
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The Case of the Missing Auntie: a Mighty Muskrats
Mystery. Michael Hutchinson, $10.95 (novel, ages 9-12)
The Mighty Muskrats are off to the city to have fun at
the Exhibition Fair. But when Chickadee asks Grandpa what he would like them to
bring back from the city, she learns about Grandpa’s missing little sister. She
was, they learn, “scooped” years ago — like many Indigenous children, the
government had arranged for her adoption by strangers without her parents’
permission. Now, the Mighty Muskrats have a new case to solve: to find the
whereabouts of their grandpa’s long-lost sister. Once in the bright lights of
the big city, the cousins get distracted, face off with bullies, meet some
heroes and unlikely teachers, and experience many of the difficulties First
Nations kids can face in the city. The Muskrats’ search for their missing
auntie takes them all the way to the government, and reveals hard truths about
their country’s treatment of First Nations kids and families. |
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No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference. Greta
Thunberg, $9.99 (ages 10+)
The history-making, ground-breaking speeches of Greta
Thunberg, the young climate crisis activist who has become the voice of a
generation.
Everything
needs to change. And it has to start today.
In August 2018 a fifteen-year-old Swedish girl, Greta
Thunberg, decided not to go to school one day. Her actions ended up sparking a
global movement for action against the climate crisis, inspiring millions of
pupils to go on strike for our planet and our environment, forcing governments
to listen, and earning her a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. This book brings you
Greta in her own words, for the first time. Collecting her speeches that have
made history across Europe, from the UN to mass street protests, No One Is
Too Small to Make A Difference is a rallying cry for why we must all wake
up and fight to protect the living planet, no matter how powerless we feel. Our
future depends upon it. |
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Looking After Your Mental Health. Felicity Brooks,
$12.95 (ages 10+)
This book provides a gentle guide to good mental health,
with input from experts in both psychology and psychiatry. Learning to protect
your own mental health is an important skill for all young people, and this
book offers practical tips and information about relationships, body image,
social media and many other issues that children and young teenagers face. A
helpful book to empower children to take care of themselves, emotionally, and
navigate the tricky problems of puberty. A book children can share with
friends, ideal for adults and children alike. |
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MOONSHOT: The Flight of Apollo 11, Expanded for the
50th Anniversary of the First Moon Landing. Brian Floca, $26.99 (ages 8-11)
Simply told, grandly shown, and now with eight additional
pages of brand-new art and more in-depth information about the historic moon
landing, here is the flight of Apollo 11. Here for a new generation of readers and
explorers are the steady astronauts clicking themselves into gloves and
helmets, strapping themselves into sideways seats. Here are their great
machines in all their detail and monumentality, the ROAR of rockets, and the
silence of the Moon. Here is a story of adventure and discovery — a story of
leaving and returning during the summer of 1969, and a story of home, seen
whole, from far away. |
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Room for One More. Monique Polak, $11.99 (ages
8-12) 
For twelve-year-old Rosetta Wolfson, the war in Europe
seems very far off from her home in Canada. Then Mr. Schwartzberg comes to tea
and asks Rosetta's parents if they will take in a young war refugee. Isaac
joins the family and becomes a ready-made brother to Rosetta and her two
sisters.
Isaac's arrival brings change. Her best friend's handsome
brother doesn't seem as attractive after he reveals himself as anti-Semitic,
and Rosetta begins to suspect her friend may agree with him. As Rosetta and
Isaac become friends and he shares his story with her, she helps him learn the
fate of other family members and helps him shape a promising future in his new
country. |
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Character Powers Reading Cards: Inspirational Stories
That Build Character in Kids. Michael Kronick, $35.00 (ages 8+) 
An educational, meaningful and beautifully illustrated
reading tool for kids and adults to appreciate and discover positive personal
qualities... their “Character Powers.” Featuring a collection of 22 visually
appealing cards that tell the diverse stories of people who have lived their
lives exhibiting strength in character.
Learn about their stories and be inspired by their
Character Powers. Use the Character Powers definitions card and supporting
videos, the personality traits glossary and the student sample card to design
and create your own Character Powers cards for yourself and someone you would
like to appreciate. It’s a perfect in school or at home tool for kids to
develop and explore character. Appreciate who you truly are, and those around
you! Includes:
- 1 Instructions Card
- 22 Story Cards
- 1 Definitions Card
- 1 Character Powers Card
- 2 Make Your Own Cards
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Under Pressure: the Science of Stress. Tanya Lloyd
Kyi & Marie-Ève Tremblay, $17.99
Adolescents are no strangers to stress. Here's a book
just for them that explores the science behind that sweaty, heart-racing,
under-pressure feeling they sometimes get as they struggle to navigate their
changing world. It covers the fight-or-flight reaction to sudden danger, how
people cope with chronic stress, how trauma can affect the brain, the ways
athletes put pressure to work and the surprising treatments scientists have
found for stress in everyday life. By examining how pressure affects the human
body and different ways to manage it, this book allows middle graders to get a
handle on what normal stress is and isn't — and how to deal with it either way.
Because knowing the facts can make all the difference.
Tanya Lloyd Kyi has written a clear, well-organized,
fact-packed book that is meant to empower adolescents with information about
stress. With experts increasingly embracing mindfulness techniques and
stress-reduction programs for children, this book is an ideal tool for parents,
teachers and students to learn the science behind it all. And its unique focus
means it supports science, social studies and health education curricula. The
book is divided into chapters and sections that break the information into
easily readable chunks, with sidebars and factoids throughout. |
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Our Future: How Kids Are Taking Action. Janet
Wilson, $18.95 (ages 8-12) 
Young people from across the globe are raising awareness
about what issues matter to them most and are working to protect the future
that we all share. American Jaelun Parkerson kneels with his football teammates
during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. Canadian Autumn Peltier
spoke in front of the United Nations to raise awareness about water pollution
Melati Wijsen from Indonesia started working at twelve-years-old to convince
her government to ban plastic bags. And Tiassa Mutunkei from Kenya started a
club for young people to stop elephants from being killed for their ivory
tusks. Our Future shines a light on the efforts on ten brilliant and brave
young activists who are making a difference for the future of our planet. The
book's final pages give ideas for how young people can try and make a
difference in their own lives and communities. |
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The Girl Who Rode a Shark & Other Stories of
Daring Women. Ailsa Ross, illustrated by Amy Blackwell, $26.00 (ages 8-12)
Now more than ever, the world is recognizing how strong
women and girls are. How strong? In the early 1920s, Inuit expeditionary Ada
Blackjack survived for two years as a castaway on an uninhabited island in the
Arctic Ocean before she was finally rescued. And she’s just one example. The
Girl Who Rode a Shark is a rousing collection of biographies focused on
women and girls who have written, explored, or otherwise plunged headfirst into
the pages of history. Undaunted by expectations, they made their mark by
persevering in pursuit of their passions. The tales come from a huge variety of
times and places, from a Canadian astronaut to an Indian secret agent and to a
Balkan pirate queen who stood up to Ancient Rome. Author and activist Ailsa
Ross gives readers a fun, informative piece of nonfiction that emphasizes the
boundless potential of a new generation of women. |
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Peace, Love, Action! Everyday Acts of Goodness, From A
to Z. Tanya Zabinski, $25.95 (ages 8-12)
Peace, Love, Action! is an illustrated,
illuminated A-Z of everyday actions that directly make a peaceful, fun, and
vibrant world. With original artworks bringing each action to life, "make
friends," "go local," "cooperate," "forgive" — seemingly small deeds can really add up! Illustrated by Tanya Zabinski in her
characteristic earthy style, each action comes with an inspirational mini-bio
of a real hero who exemplifies that action, from Thich Nhat Hanh
("breathe") to Wangari Maathai ("plant"), and follows with
a set of "What You Can Do" prompts. With a foreword by singer-songwriter
and activist legend, Ani DiFranco. |
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Girl Activist: Winning Strategies from Women Who've
Made a Difference. Louisa Kamps, Susanna Daniel & Michelle Wildgen,
$16.99 (ages 9+)
Rebel girls, young activists, and other trailblazing
tweens and teens will be inspired by the stories of 40 women who have changed
the world for the better. Mini-biographies of unstoppable women activists — from
Malala Yousafzai to Susan B. Anthony, Emma Gonzalez to Gloria Steinem, Wangari
Maathai to Dolores Huerta — offer windows into what it takes to stand up for a
cause, rally others together, and even ignite a movement. The book features
activists from around the world and throughout history, spotlighting impressive
women who have fought for workers' safety, women's rights, racial equality,
animal welfare, democracy, environmental causes, and more. Each story reminds
readers that they really can make a difference in the world and inspires
today's young activists to stand up for what they believe in. |
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How to Take the Ache Out of Mistakes. Kimberly
Feltes Taylor & Eric Braun, $14.99 (ages 8-13)
Making a mistake can leave anyone feeling sick in the
stomach or thinking that the world is going to end. Learning how to cope with
mistakes — and how to stop that "ache" — can be one of the hardest parts
of growing up. The latest entry in Free Spirit's acclaimed Laugh and Learn®
series takes a closer look at the mistakes kids make — honest and intentional — and offers practical advice on how to bounce back. With a healthy dose of
humor, readers learn that embarrassing moments aren't forever and a sincere
apology can go a long way. |
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Pie in the Sky. Remy Lai, $16.99 (ages 8-11)
When Jingwen moves to a new country, he feels like he’s
landed on Mars. School is torture, making friends is impossible since he
doesn’t speak English, and he's often stuck looking after his (extremely
irritating) little brother, Yanghao.
To distract himself from the loneliness, Jingwen
daydreams about making all the cakes on the menu of Pie in the Sky, the bakery
his father had planned to open before he unexpectedly passed away. The only
problem is his mother has laid down one major rule: the brothers are not to use
the oven while she's at work. As Jingwen and Yanghao bake elaborate cakes,
they'll have to cook up elaborate excuses to keep the cake making a secret from
Mama. |
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Naomi's Road. Joy Kogawa, $9.95 (ages 9-11) 
A brand new edition of a children's classic.
Naomi's Road is the story of a girl whose
Japanese-Canadian family is uprooted during the Second World War. Separated
from their parents, Naomi and her brother Stephen are sent to an internment
camp in the interior of British Columbia. For the young girl growing up, war
only means that she can no longer return to her home in Vancouver, or see her
parents. Told from a child's point of view and without a trace of anger or
malice, Naomi's Road has been praised as a powerful indictment of the injustice
of war and the government's treatment of Japanese-Canadian citizens, both
during and well after World War II.
This new edition is based on an expanded version of the
story published in Japan. In it, Kogawa brings in more of the extended family
and answers the question so often asked by fans of the original book: What
happened to Naomi's mother? With a historical note and a new ending, cover, and
interior drawings by popular children's illustrator Ruth Ohi, this book will be
an absolute must for owners of the original as well as a whole new generation
of young readers. |
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Follow Your Stuff: Who Makes It, Where Does It Come
From, How Does It Get to You? Kevin Sylvester & Michael Hlinka, $14.95
(ages 10-14) 
Our cellphones, our clothes, our food: All are everyday
things we consider essential, but we seldom think of what and who is involved
in making them and getting them into our hands. In Follow Your Stuff,
award-winning children’s author Kevin Sylvester and business professor Michael
Hlinka team up again, this time to tackle the dynamics of the global economy,
examining the often-complex journey of ordinary goods from production right to
our doorsteps.
Using familiar examples, easy-to-follow charts and
graphs, and a fun, accessible tone, Hlinka and Sylvester introduce young
readers to concepts such as relative value and fair wages and how to think
critically about our purchasing decisions. Sylvester’s lively illustrations add
even more kid-appeal making this sequel to the critically acclaimed Follow Your
Money the perfect introduction to socio-economics and an eye-opening essential
read for young people. |
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Manuelito: a Graphic Novel. Elisa Amado,
illustrated by Abraham Urias, $19.99 (ages 12 and up)
Thirteen-year-old Manuelito is a gentle boy who lives
with his family in a tiny village in the Guatemalan countryside. But life is
far from idyllic: PACs — armed civil patrol — are a constant presence in the
streets, and terrifying memories of the country’s war linger in the villagers’ collective
conscience. Things deteriorate further when government-backed drug gangs arrive
and take control of the village. Fearing their son will be forced to join a
gang, Manuelito’s parents make the desperate decision to send him to live with
his aunt in the United States.
With just a bus ticket and a small amount of cash in
hand, Manuelito begins his hazardous journey to Mexico, then the U.S., in
search of asylum. But in the end, dangers such as the crooked “coyote” — or human
smuggler — his parents have entrusted their son’s life to may be nothing compared
to the risks Manuelito faces when he finally reaches the United States.
Manuelito’s titular character is just one of the
staggering two hundred thousand children from the Northern Triangle of Central America — Guatemala,
El Salvador, and Honduras — who have made this perilous journey to escape their
war-torn countries. Many are now detained in Mexico, separated from their
parents and without access to lawyers, facing the unthinkable prospect of being
sent back to the homes and danger they risked so much to escape. |
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Diary of a Brilliant Kid: Top Secret Guide to
Awesomeness. Andy Cope, Gavin Oattes, Will Hussey & Amy Bradley, $22.00
(ages 8-12)
Diary of a Brilliant Kid is the atlas for
navigating life. This interactive collection of stories, quotes, theories and
yes, science, guides you through the difficult years between ages 8 and 12 to
help you make sense of yourself and the world around you. Everything is
changing! And that's okay! It's actually more than okay — it's exciting. These
changes are the opening salvo of your gradual transition into
"grownup," and it's the perfect time to define who you are, how you
think and how you choose to face the world. Is it a lot? Yes. But this book can
help you sort things out and come out the other side shining.
No matter how you feel, no matter what's happening in
your head right now, you are not broken. You are a unique collection of talents
and dreams and wants and surprises, and you have an entire lifetime ahead of
you — aren't you curious to discover just how awesome life can be? This book
takes you inside your own head, out into the world and everywhere your dreams
may take you.
- Learn how to make the kinds of choices that make you feel alive
- Conquer the three R's of happiness: relationships, relationships
and relationships
- Get a handle on today, tomorrow and what comes next
- Bounce back from the tough stuff, and discover the seven words
that will change your life
There's a lot to learn, but one lesson is clear: never be
afraid to shine. Stand up, stand out and be spectacular — whatever that means
to you. Diary of a Brilliant Kid gives you the map and compass so you
can start your own journey today. |
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Backyard Birds: an Introduction. Robert Bateman,
$9.95 (ages 8-12) 
"Of all wild creatures, birds are the most
colorful and easiest to see. You don't need to travel to distant jungles or
faraway islands. They live in our own backyards... Birds are our neighbors. We
should get to know them."
-- Robert Bateman
Internationally acclaimed wildlife artist and naturalist
Robert Bateman has painted, sketched and enjoyed birds since he was a young
boy. He shares his passion for birds and his unique talents as artist and
storyteller in this informative introduction to birds for young readers and
beginners at bird watching. Backyard Birds abounds with Bateman's
detailed sketches and full-color paintings of robins, chickadees, woodpeckers,
blue jays, finches and many other familiar birds, capturing their antics and
beauty in a way that no photograph can.
The book includes brief facts about the different
species, noted below, including their length, wingspan, weight, food, range,
habitat and common calls. Bateman also provides his personal tips on
identifying, feeding and finding birds. Spreads on Migration; Attracting Birds
to Your Backyard; The Cycle of Family Life; and Bird Senses (Eyes, Ears, Voice,
Brain, Feathers) round out this beautiful book. |
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Genesis Begins Again. Alicia D. Williams, $23.99
This deeply sensitive and powerful debut novel tells the
story of a thirteen-year-old who must overcome internalized racism and a
verbally abusive family to finally learn to love herself.
There are ninety-six things Genesis hates about herself.
She knows the exact number because she keeps a list. Like #95: Because her skin
is so dark, people call her charcoal and eggplant — even her own family. And #61:
Because her family is always being put out of their house, belongings laid out
on the sidewalk for the world to see. When your dad is a gambling addict and
loses the rent money every month, eviction is a regular occurrence.
What’s not so regular is that this time they all don’t
have a place to crash, so Genesis and her mom have to stay with her grandma.
It’s not that Genesis doesn’t like her grandma, but she and Mom always
fight — Grandma haranguing Mom to leave Dad, that she should have gone back to
school, that if she’d married a lighter skinned man none of this would be
happening, and on and on and on. But things aren’t all bad. Genesis actually
likes her new school; she’s made a couple friends, her choir teacher says she
has real talent, and she even encourages Genesis to join the talent show.
But how can Genesis believe anything her teacher says
when her dad tells her the exact opposite? How can she stand up in front of all
those people with her dark, dark skin knowing even her own family thinks lesser
of her because of it? Why, why, why won’t the lemon or yogurt or fancy creams
lighten her skin like they’re supposed to? And when Genesis reaches #100 on the
list of things she hates about herself, will she continue on, or can she find
the strength to begin again? |
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Isobel's Stanley Cup. Kristen Butcher, $8.95 (ages
7-10) 
More than anything, Isobel Harkness wants to play hockey with
her older brothers. But it's 1893, and a lot of people, including her father, think
hockey is only for boys. Ignoring her father's wishes, Isobel helps her
brothers train for an upcoming game. And she begins to shine on the ice. When
she meets Isobel Stanley, one of the first women to play hockey, young Isobel
gets some great advice. When Isobel has a chance to skate in a big game with
the best of the boys in her neighbourhood, she has to find a way around her
father's rules. Inspired by true accounts of Isobel Stanley's role in the
history of hockey, Isobel's Stanley Cup proves that hockey has always
been a sport for girls. |
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Planet Grief. Monique Polak, $10.95 (novel, ages
9-12) 
What a crappy way to spend a weekend. The
always-sarcastic Abby would rather be playing soccer, and the cagily quiet
Christopher thinks a grief retreat is a waste of time. Neither of them wants to
spend two days talking about their feelings. But despite their best efforts to
stay aloof, Abby and Christopher are drawn into the lives of the other kids at
the retreat. Maybe their stories will make them rethink how they are dealing
with their own losses. |
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Kid Scientists: True Tales of Childhood from Science
Superstars. David Stabler, illustrated by Anoosha Syed, $15.95 (ages 9-12)
A lively look into the childhoods of the world’s most
brilliant scientists. |
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The Confidence Code for
Girls: Taking Risks, Messing Up, & Becoming Your Amazingly Imperfect,
Totally Powerful Self. Katty Kay
& Claire Shipman, $18.50
Girls can rule the
world — all they need is confidence. This empowering, entertaining guide gives
girls the essential yet elusive code to becoming bold, brave, and fearless.
It’s a paradox: girls are
achieving like never before, yet they’re consumed with doubt on the inside.
Girls worry constantly about how they look, what people think, whether to try
out for a sports team or school play, why they aren’t getting “perfect” grades,
and how many likes and followers they have online.
Katty Kay and Claire
Shipman use cutting-edge science and research, as well as proven methods of
behavioral change, to reach girls just when they need it the most — the tween and
teen years. Packed with graphic novel strips; appealing illustrations; fun
lists, quizzes, and challenges; and true stories from tons of real girls, The
Confidence Code for Girls teaches girls to embrace risk, deal with failure,
and be their most authentic selves. |
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All about Anne. Created by Anne Frank House,
$24.95 (ages 9-13)
Anne Frank’s life story is told by answering the most
frequently asked questions posed by children and young people visiting the Anne
Frank House museum in Amsterdam. Text, detailed photographs and beautiful
illustrations combine to give the fullest picture of Anne’s life, her diary,
and the Secret Annex. Full of information about Anne’s life, World War II, and
the Holocaust, the book provides both an overview of the history as well as
intimate insights into the life of the young Anne Frank. |
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Walking with Miss Millie. Tamara Bundy, $11.99
(ages 10-14)
Alice is angry at having to move to Rainbow, Georgia — a
too small, too hot, dried-up place she’s sure will never feel like home. Then
she gets put in charge of walking her elderly neighbor’s dog. But Clarence
won’t budge without Miss Millie, so Alice and Miss Millie walk him together.
Strolling with Clarence and Miss Millie quickly becomes
the highlight of Alice's day and opens her eyes to all sorts of new things to
marvel over. During their walks, they meet a mix of people, and Alice sees that
although there are some bullies and phonies, there are plenty of kind folks,
too. Miss Millie shares her family’s story with Alice, showing her the painful
impact segregation has had on their town. And with Miss Millie, Alice is finally
able to express her own heartache over why her family had to move there in the
first place. |
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Cliques, Phonies & Other Baloney, Revised Edition. Trevor Romain & Elizabeth Verdick, $14.99 (ages 8-13)
Clique: It's a word that's spelled funny and sounds
funny, and (like a vampire) can be a pain in the neck. True friends don't make
you feel left out, but for many kids, navigating social groups is tricky
(because it's cliquey), and they end up feeling excluded. This book uses humor,
fun cartoons, and kid-friendly language to explain what cliques are, why being
phony is baloney, why true friends don't exclude others online or in real life,
what's more important than popularity — land how to navigate it all. The updated
edition addresses online socializing and social media. |
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Boying Up: How to Be Brave, Bold and Brilliant. Mayim Bialik, $24.99 (ages 11+)
Why does my voice
crack like that? What should I eat to build muscle? How do I talk to someone I
have a crush on? What do I do if someone calls me names or bullies me?
Growing from a boy to a man is no easy task. Bodies are
changing, social circles are evolving, hair is appearing in places it never was
before — and on top of it all, there's the ever-present pressure to conform to
the typical idea of what it means to be "manly" and masculine. But
it's easier to do if you're armed with facts.
Using personal anecdotes as an overly observant mother of
two boys and plenty of scientific information from her life as a
neuroscientist, Mayim Bialik, PhD, star of The Big
Bang Theory, talks directly to teen boys about what it means to grow from a boy
to a man biologically, psychologically, and sociologically. In six sections
(How Boys Bodies Work; How Boys Grow; How Boys Learn; How Boys Cope; How Boys
Love; and How Boys Make a Difference), she takes a look at what it means for
boys to come of age in today's world, how can they take control of their paths,
and what can they do to help shape the types of futures they want for
themselves. |
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A Wrinkle In Time. Madeleine L'Engle, $8.99
It was a dark and stormy night; Meg Murry, her small
brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had come down to the kitchen for a
midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing
stranger.
"Wild nights are my glory," the unearthly
stranger told them. "I just got caught in a downdraft and blown off
course. Let me sit down for a moment, and then I'll be on my way. Speaking of
ways, by the way, there is such a thing as a tesseract."
A tesseract (in case the reader doesn't know) is a
wrinkle in time. To tell more would rob the reader of the enjoyment of Miss
L'Engle's unusual book. A Wrinkle in Time is the story of the adventures
in space and time of Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin O'Keefe (athlete, student,
and one of the most popular boys in high school). They are in search of Meg's
father, a scientist who disappeared while engaged in secret work for the
government on the tesseract problem. |
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Nothing You Can't Do: the Secret Power of Growth
Mindsets. Mary Cay Ricci, $21.95 (ages 9-12)
Have you ever thought about your dreams and if you could
achieve them? Guess what? You can! It just takes changing the way you think to
change your life. Unlock the secrets to success in school, sports, music,
art — just about anything in life — with the information in Nothing You Can’t
Do!: The Secret Power of Growth Mindsets. By discovering the secrets
included in this illustrated, funny, and interactive book, you’ll learn how to
develop a growth mindset, where you look at life through a more optimistic
lens, learn how to handle mistakes in a positive way, and find all of the
possibilities in yourself, even those you didn’t know were there! With the
power of a growth mindset, there’s nothing you can’t do! |
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Wonder. R.J. Palacio, $21.99
August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up
until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th
grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary
kid — but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. Wonder,
a #1 New York Times bestseller, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon
switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others.
These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with
empathy, compassion, and acceptance.
In a world where bullying among young people is an
epidemic, this is a refreshing new narrative full of heart and hope. R.J.
Palacio has called her debut novel “a meditation on kindness” — indeed, every
reader will come away with a greater appreciation for the simple courage of
friendship. Auggie is a hero to root for, who proves that you can’t blend in
when you were born to stand out. |
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My Brigadista Year. Katherine Paterson, $21.99
When thirteen-year-old Lora tells her parents that she
wants to join Premier Castro's army of young literacy teachers, her mother
screeches to high heaven, and her father roars like a lion. Nora has barely
been outside of Havana — why would she throw away her life in a remote shack
with no electricity, sleeping on a hammock in somebody's kitchen? But Nora is
stubborn: didn't her parents teach her to share what she has with someone in
need? Surprisingly, Nora's abuela takes her side, even as she makes Nora
promise to come home if things get too hard. But how will Nora know for sure
when that time has come? Shining light on a little-known moment in history,
Katherine Paterson traces a young teen's coming-of-age journey from a sheltered
life to a singular mission: teaching fellow Cubans of all ages to read and
write, while helping with the work of their daily lives and sharing the dangers
posed by counterrevolutionaries hiding in the hills nearby. Inspired by true
accounts, the novel includes an author's note and a timeline of Cuban history. |
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The Breadwinner. Deborah Ellis, $9.95 (ages 10-14) 
A special edition of The Breadwinner, the first
book in Deborah Ellis’s riveting Breadwinner series, coincides with the launch
of the animated movie. It is an award-winning novel about loyalty, survival,
families and friendship under extraordinary circumstances during the Taliban’s
rule in Afghanistan.
Eleven-year-old Parvana lives with her family in one room
of a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital city.
Parvana’s father — a history teacher until his school was bombed and his health
destroyed — works from a blanket on the ground in the marketplace, reading
letters for people who cannot read or write. One day, he is arrested for the
crime of having a foreign education, and the family is left without someone who
can earn money or even shop for food. As conditions for the family grow
desperate, only one solution emerges. Forbidden to earn money as a girl,
Parvana must transform herself into a boy, and become the breadwinner.
The book includes a map, author’s note and a glossary to
provide young readers with background and context. An eight-page color insert
features stills from the movie. All royalties from the sale of this book will
go to Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan. Parvana’s Fund supports
education projects for Afghan women and children. |
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Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World.
Reshma Saujani, $23.99
Since 2012, the organization Girls Who Code has been
leading the charge to get girls interested in technology and coding. Now its
founder, Reshma Saujani, wants to inspire you to be a girl who codes!
Bursting with dynamic artwork, down-to-earth explanations
of coding principles, and real-life stories of girls and women working at
places like Pixar and NASA, this graphically animated book shows what a huge
role computer science plays in our lives and how much fun it can be. No matter
your interest — sports, the arts, baking, student government, social
justice — coding can help you do what you love and make your dreams come true.
Whether you’re a girl who’s never coded before, a girl
who codes, or a parent raising one, this entertaining book, printed in bold two-color
and featuring art on every page, will have you itching to create your own apps,
games, and robots to make the world a better place. |
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Myles and the Monster Outside. Philippa Dowding, $9.99
(ages 8-12) 
I will never leave this car, the back seat reeks of
everything my little brother has ever eaten, and that thing is still out there
…
Myles and his family have been driving for four days.
It’s their final night on the road, but Myles knows they will never arrive at
their new house. It will never stop raining. And even if they do get there
(which is doubtful), he knows he will never have friends again.
He also knows that something is following them in the
dark, rainy fields outside their car. Something monstrous. Once the monster
arrives, things go very wrong. Myles and his family get lost, their car keeps
breaking down, and a strange old man and his dog turn up, again and again. Then
things get really weird. Myles is pretty sure it’s all his fault: he’s the only
one who can see the monster. He’s the only one who can hear the monster. And
hardest of all? He’s the only one who can make it go away. |
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The Mask That Sang. Susan Currie, $9.95
A young girl discovers her Cayuga heritage when she finds
a mask that sings to her.
Cass and her mom have always stood on their own against
the world. Then Cass learns she had a grandmother, one who was never part of
her life, one who has just died and left her and her mother the first house
they could call their own. But with it comes more questions than answers: Why
is her Mom so determined not to live there? Why was this relative kept so
secret? And what is the unusual mask, forgotten in a drawer, trying to tell
her? Strange dreams, strange voices, and strange incidents all lead Cass closer
to solving the mystery and making connections she never dreamed she had. |
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Be the Change, Make It Happen: Big and Small Ways Kids
Can Make a Difference. Bernadette Russell, $18.95
This 96-page bright and playful activity book for
children is an exuberant introduction to personal and social issues. Whether
you’re helping the planet through recycling and saving water, or promoting
important causes with awesome art exhibitions, or simply keeping a Happiness
Diary, Be the Change, Make It Happen offers tons of inspirational ideas
and activities to encourage kids to make their voices heard and to make an
impact on the issues that are important to them. |
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Half a World Away. Cynthia Kadohata, $9.99 (ages
10-14)
Eleven-year-old Jaden is adopted, and he knows he’s an
“epic fail.” That’s why his family is traveling to Kazakhstan to adopt a new
baby — to replace him, he’s sure. And he gets it. He is incapable of stopping his
stealing, hoarding, lighting fires, aggressive running, and obsession with
electricity. He knows his parents love him, but he feels... nothing.
When they get to Kazakhstan, it turns out the infant they’ve traveled for has
already been adopted, and literally within minutes are faced with having to
choose from six other babies. While his parents agonize, Jaden is more
interested in the toddlers. One, a little guy named Dimash, spies Jaden and
barrels over to him every time he sees him. Jaden finds himself increasingly
intrigued by and worried about Dimash. Already three years old and barely able
to speak, Dimash will soon age out of the orphanage, and then his life will be
as hopeless as Jaden feels now. For the first time in his life, Jaden actually
feels something that isn’t pure blinding fury, and there’s no way to control
it, or its power. |
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A-Z of Being the Best Leader You Can Be: Leading
Through the Alphabet. Yvonne Bleam, $24.95
Not your average A-Z, this book aims to teach young
people aged 8-11 about what it means to be a good leader. From honesty and
respect to understanding and dependability, each of the 26 stories covers a
quality that any good leader should possess and is followed by fun activities
and exercises to help children learn the true meaning of each concept. Building
positive leadership behaviors in children, this book will be of interest to
educators, school counselors, pastoral care workers as well as parents. |
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Listen, Slowly. Thanhhà Lai, $8.50 (ages 8-12)
A California girl born and raised, Mai can’t wait to
spend her vacation at the beach. Instead, she has to travel to Vietnam with her
grandmother, who is going back to find out what really happened to her husband
during the Vietnam War. Mai’s parents think this trip will be a great
opportunity for their out-of-touch daughter to learn more about her culture.
But to Mai, those are their roots, not her own. Vietnam is hot, smelly, and the
last place she wants to be. Besides barely speaking the language, she doesn’t
know the geography, the local customs, or even her distant relatives. To
survive her trip, Mai must find a balance between her two completely different
worlds.
Listen, Slowly is an irresistibly charming and
emotionally poignant tale about a girl who discovers that home and culture,
family and friends, can all mean different things. |
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The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic
Adventure. Caroline Paul, $24.00
Why should girls miss out on the joy of adventure? They
can jump off rocks, swing on ropes, and climb trees just as well as boys can.
But girls often allow fear to stand in their way.
In The Gutsy Girl, author Caroline Paul emboldens
girls to seek out a life of exhilaration. Once a young scaredy-cat herself,
Caroline decided that fear got in the way of the life she wanted — of
excitement, confidence, self-reliance, friendship, and fun. She has since flown
planes, rafted big rivers, climbed tall mountains, and fought fires as one of
the first female firefighters in San Francisco.
In The Gutsy Girl, she
shares her greatest escapades as well as those of other girls and women from
throughout history, and offers engaging activities such as confidence-building
stances, creating a compass, positive self-talk, and using crickets to estimate
outside temperatures. Each section includes a place for girls to
"journal" their adventures, thus encouraging a new generation to
develop a zest for challenges and a healthy relationship to risk.
The Gutsy
Girl is Lean In for young girls, a book about the glorious things that
happen when you unshackle from fear and open up to exhilaration. Fully
illustrated and enlivened throughout by bestselling illustrator Wendy
MacNaughton's whimsical pen-and-ink drawings. |
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642 Things about Me: Young Writer's & Artist's
Edition. Chronicle Books, $23.95
A new offering in the wildly popular 642 series, this
unique journal encourages young creators to dive deep into the subject they
know best-themselves! Packed with quirky, thought-provoking, and imaginative
drawing and writing prompts, 642 Things About Me: Young Writer's &
Artist's Edition is a fun way for kids to document their lives, jump-start
their creative talent, and produce a memorable keepsake-or the first draft of
their bestselling memoir. |
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Quiet Power: the Secret Strengths of Introverts. Susan
Cain, $23.99
Susan Cain sparked a worldwide conversation when she
published Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.
With her inspiring book, she permanently changed the way we see introverts and
the way introverts see themselves. The original book focused on the workplace,
and Susan realized that a version for and about kids was also badly needed.
This book is all about kids’ world — school, extra-curriculars, family life, and
friendship. You’ll read about actual kids who have tackled the challenges of
not being extroverted and who have made a mark in their own quiet way. You’ll
hear Susan Cain’s own story, and you’ll be able to make use of the tips at the
end of each chapter. There’s even a guide at the end of the book for parents
and teachers. |
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Making YouTube Videos: Star in Your Own Video! Nick
Willoughby, $9.99
The fast and easy way for kids to shoot, edit, and share
videos on YouTube. Whether looking to go viral or simply wanting to make videos
for their friends, Making YouTube Videos is the place to start. Written
by a filmmaking expert who runs camps for wanna-be filmmakers as young as
seven, this fun and friendly guide takes you step by step through the process:
from idea creation to production to sharing on YouTube.
Filled with eye-popping graphics that make the
information come to life, Making YouTube Videos takes the intimidation
out of working with video technology and offers your child a friendly, trusted
source for expressing their creativity.
- Introduces ideas on framing, lighting, and sound
- Shows kids how to load a video, add transitions, and add effects
- Provides easy-to-follow instruction on uploading a video to
YouTube and setting who can see or not see their video
- Explains how to grab free software and make simple edits, like
cutting out scenes, adding to a timeline, and implementing transitions
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This Is Not a Math Book. Anna Weltman, $21.50
This Is Not a Math Book shows how math can be
beautiful and art can be numerical. Amazing patterns with a mathematical basis
are revealed as you follow the simple activity instructions. Readers will learn
incredible math facts as they draw beautiful designs. A real eye-opener for
kids of all ages with an artistic bent who think that math is dry and boring,
while math enthusiasts will discover new ways to be creative. |
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It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get
Going! Chelsea Clinton, $24.99
In a book that tackles the biggest challenges facing us
today, Chelsea Clinton combines facts, charts, photographs and stories to give
readers a deep understanding of the world around them — and how anyone can make a
difference. With stories about children and teens who have made real changes
big and small — in their families, their communities, in our country and across
the world — this book will inspire readers of all ages to do their part to make
our world a better place.
In addition to informing and inspiring readers about topics including Poverty,
Homelessness, Food Insecurity, Access to Education, Gender Equality, Epidemics,
Non-Communicable Diseases, Climate Change, and Endangered Species, this book
encourages everyone to get going! With suggestions and ideas for action,
Chelsea Clinton shows readers that the world belongs to every single one of us,
and every one of us counts. |
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Cleo Edison Oliver — Playground Millionaire. Sundee Frazier, $8.99
Cleopatra Edison Oliver has always been an entrepreneur,
just like her inspiration, successful businesswoman Fortune A. Davies. So when
Cleo's fifth-grade teacher assigns her class a "Passion Project,"
Cleo comes up with her best business idea yet: the finest
"tooth-pulling" company in town. With the help of her best friend
Caylee, a Nerf gun, her dad's tablet, and her patented Persuasion Power, Cleo's
Quick and Painless Tooth Removal Service starts to take off.
But even the best made plans, by the best CEOs, go awry
sometimes. A minor barfing incident during a tooth-pulling operation causes
Cleo to lose customers. Caylee, initially enthusiastic about the business,
grows distant as Cleo neglects their friendship in lieu of getting more
customers. And when a mean classmate makes fun of Cleo for being adopted,
everything comes crashing down. Will she be able to rescue her business,
salvage her friendship with Caylee, and discover that her true home has been
here all along? |
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Inside of a Dog — Young Readers Edition: What
Dogs See, Smell, and Know. Alexandra Horowitz, Illustrated by: Sean Vidal
Edgerton, $22.99 (ages 8 - 12)
From an animal behaviorist and dog enthusiast comes an
adorable and informative guide to understanding how our canine friends see the
world. Have you ever wondered what your dogs are thinking? What they’re
feeling? Now you finally can! The answers will surprise and delight you as
scientist and dog-owner Alexandra Horowitz explains how our four-legged friends
perceive their daily worlds, each other, and that other quirky animal, the
human. |
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A Year Without Mom. Dasha Tolstikova, $19.95
(graphic novel)
A Year Without Mom follows twelve-year-old
Dasha through a year full of turmoil after her mother leaves for America. It is
the early 1990s in Moscow, and political change is in the air. But Dasha is
more worried about her own challenges as she negotiates family, friendships and
school without her mother. Just as she begins to find her own feet, she gets
word that she is to join her mother in America — a place that seems impossibly
far from everything and everyone she loves. |
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SEX is a Funny Word: a Book about Bodies, Feelings,
and YOU. Cory Silverberg & Fiona Smyth. $23.95
A comic book for kids that includes children and families
of all makeups, orientations, and gender identities, Sex Is a Funny
Word is an essential resource about bodies, gender, and sexuality for
children ages 8 to 10 as well as their parents and caregivers. Topics covered
include:
- What is sex?
- Privacy, safety, and respect
- Boundaries regarding nudity, talking about sex, and touch
- Assigned sex, gender identity, and gender roles
- Names and functions of body parts
- Talking about the word “sexy”
- Protecting yourself against unwanted sexual touch and abuse
- Crushes, love, and sexy feelings
Much more than the "facts of life" or “the
birds and the bees," Sex Is a Funny Word opens up
conversations between young people and their caregivers in a way that allows
adults to convey their values and beliefs while providing information about
boundaries, safety, and joy. Sex Is a Funny Word is the first sex
education book for this age group that is inclusive of lesbian, gay, and
bisexual experience as well as gender creative and gender nonconforming
children. |
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Speak Up! A Guide to Having Your Say and Speaking Your
Mind. Halley Bondy, $21.99
Middle school is a tough time for nearly everyone, but it
can be especially hard on girls. Between social and cultural pressures,
academic challenges, family dynamics, changing hormones, and a growing
awareness of the world around them, middle school girls often end up feeling
voiceless and powerless. They can struggle with speaking in class, standing up
for their beliefs, navigating complicated social situations, and generally
letting their voices be heard.
Speak Up! confronts these issues head on. In
a relatable, frank tone, Speak Up! lets young girls know that
what they have to say is important and that their thoughts are worth hearing.
By presenting real issues and scenarios that girls will recognize from their
own day-to-day lives, as well as exploring the negative thoughts and feelings
that can hold them back, Speak Up! will supply girls with the
tools they need to understand their feelings and speak up in any situation.
Interactive exercises, lists, real-life examples, and attractive graphics will
keep the readers engaged from start to finish. More than a book about
self-esteem, Speak Up! addresses the cultural factors that
hold girls back, and features real strategies to enable them in finding, and
using, their voices. |
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The Arrival. Shaun Tan, $26.99 (ages 12+)
The Arrival is a migrant story told as a series of
wordless images that might seem to come from a long forgotten time. A man
leaves his wife and child in an impoverished town, seeking better prospects in
an unknown country on the other side of a vast ocean. He eventually finds
himself in a bewildering city of foreign customs, peculiar animals, curious
floating objects and indecipherable languages. With nothing more than a
suitcase and a handful of currency, the immigrant must find a place to live,
food to eat and some kind of gainful employment. He is helped along the way by
sympathetic strangers, each carrying their own unspoken history: stories of
struggle and survival in a world of incomprehensible violence, upheaval and
hope. |
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Bounce Back: How to Be a Resilient Kid. Wendy Moss,
$14.50
Think of a bouncing ball. When a bouncing ball hits the
ground, it bounces back. That's what resilience means — the ability to bounce
back from tough times. Some people seem to just automatically bounce back. But
the truth is that resilience is not something you are born with or not — it can
be learned.
Bounce Back will help you find your bounce
using cool quizzes, lots of advice, and practical strategies that build up
resiliency skills. You'll learn how to:
- understand your emotions
- coach yourself with self-talk
- calm yourself when you are upset
- deal with decisions, disappointments, and new challenges
- handle situations that are under your control
- negotiate, compromise, and navigate social conflicts
- cope with or adjust to serious sources of stress
- ask for help and guidance
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George. Alex Gino, $8.99 (novel)
When people look at George, they think they see a boy.
But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll
have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class
play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants
to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part... because she's a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George
comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte — but so everyone can
know who she is, once and for all. |
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The Book of Languages: Talk Your Way Around the World. Mick Webb, $17.95
We use language all day, every day — probably without
thinking much about it. But if you stop and consider it, language is not only
extremely important, it’s fascinating, too! Use of language is one of the key
things distinguishing humans from other animals, and nearly 7,000 languages are
spoken around the world. Without it, we’d be hard pressed to communicate,
express ourselves, or understand others.
The Book of Languages begins with an introduction to
why language is important, how it originated and how it changes. From there,
the book profiles 21 of the world’s languages. Each spread showcases a
language’s history, where it’s spoken, what it looks like and how to speak a
few phrases and count to ten. Rounded out with sections on non-verbal and
animal language, this book will stimulate readers’ curiosity about the world and
spark appreciation for language learning. |
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28 Tips for a Fearless Grade 6. Catherine Austen,
$9.95
Dave Davidson's heart is in the right place. He believes
it's his mission to cure his friends of their fears. But his solutions are
hare-brained at best and often come with unintended and hilarious consequences.
Afraid of dancing at the school dance? Dave's got ways to fix that: sprain an
ankle, eat expired food to get sick, or even get yourself suspended for a few
days. Have a public speaking phobia? Dave can fix that for you too: get
laryngitis, forge a note from a therapist, or get your friends to hold up cue
cards. This hilarious new novel will appeal to reluctant Tween readers,
especially boys. |
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Does This Happen to Everyone? A Budding Adult's Guide
to Puberty. Jan von Holleben & Antje Helms, $34.50
Even before they experience puberty and young love
themselves, girls and boys have many questions about sex and sexuality. Parents
often don’t know the best way to answer them and it’s practically impossible to
find the right time to start a conversation about the birds and the bees.
Especially today, when most young people have access to the internet and its
explicit or dubious content, it is extremely important to address the topic of
sex education with children proactively and give it the attention it needs and
deserves. As daunting as it might be for parents to take the lead, leaving the
internet or a classmate to “explain” sexuality is not an option. Thankfully,
the book Does This Happen to Everyone? offers a welcome
alternative with a contemporary look and feel that is both fitting for kids and
appealing to adults. |
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Friends and Frenemies: the Good, the Bad, and the
Awkward. Jennifer Castle & Deborah Reber, $15.99
Middle school friendships can be a source of great joy
one day, then pain and anxiety the next. Friends and Frenemies examines
the complexities of friendship and helps readers start building communication
tools that will last a lifetime. The book tackles big questions such as: “How
can I make friends?” and “What if I feel like I need to end a friendship?”
Friends and Frenemies includes not just
advice, but also comments from real kids, advice from older teens who have been
there and done that, quizzes, polls, and other interactive elements that
encourage readers to engage with the book, adding their own thoughts and experiences. |
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Growing Up Inside and Out. Kira Vermond, $13.95 (ages 9-12) 
Puberty is something humans have gone
through, quite literally, forever. But that doesn't mean the experience has
stayed the same or that there's nothing new to say about the topic. And though
puberty can often look different for boys and girls (growing facial hair versus
getting a period), kids may be surprised by what all their classmates have in
common: crushes, acne, anxiety, getting mad at their parents. Not only
does GROWING UP, INSIDE AND OUT break with the tradition of having
separate books for separate sexes, it unites kids by showing them that there
are things that everyone goes through. |
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The Kids' Book of Questions. Gregory Stock, $13.95 (ages 8-18)
Kids love to be asked questions almost as much as they
love to ask them. And asking is important — parents know the value of having
meaningful conversations with their kids, especially as family time is under
continuous assault from gadgets and devices. Now the book that solves those
needs is back — announcing a fresh new edition of The Kids’ Book of
Questions. Including subjects like the Internet, school violence, and
climate change, the book remains a timeless treasure.
Here is a collection of questions designed to challenge, entertain, provoke,
and expand young minds. These are the questions that let kids discover how they
feel; let people know what they think; raise issues that everyone loves to
discuss, including:
- Thorny dilemmas: Would you rather have a job you didn’t like
that paid a lot or a job you loved that paid just enough to get by?
- Embarrassing challenges: Would you kiss someone in front of
your whole class for $250?
- Provocative ideas: What things do you think your parents do
just to set an example for you?
- Intriguing fantasies: If you could text any famous person
and be sure they’d read and answer your text, who would you write to and what
would you say?
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The Story of Canada. Janet Lunn & Christopher
Moore, Illustrated by Alan Daniel, $39.99 (ages 9-14)
Award-winning writer Janet Lunn and historian Christopher
Moore tell our country’s story through rich narrative, recreations of daily
life, folk tales and intriguing facts. Coupled with Alan Daniel’s evocative
original paintings, as well as dozens of historical photographs, maps,
paintings, documents and cartoons, The Story of Canada is as splendid to
look at as it is fascinating to read. Includes new material to bring us to the
150th anniversary of Confederation. |
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Hot Issues
Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity and
Put Downs. Sandra McLeod Humphrey, $18.98
Did you know that there are kids out there who don’t even want to get out of bed in the morning because they know what going to school means for them?
- being teased and taunted
- being excluded and rejected
- being afraid that you’re going to be assaulted and possibly hurt
After reading this book, you may just possibly become a kinder, more compassionate human being, someone who treats others the way you want them to treat you. So come along and join the students at Emerson Elementary and help them make some cool choices! |
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Middle
School Confidential Series by Annie Fox
Be Confident in Who You Are. Annie Fox, $14.99
So begins the journey of Jack, Jen, Chris, Abby, Mateo, and Michelle—six
students just trying to figure it all out in middle school. Be Confident in
Who You Are follows these characters as they work to meet new challenges
and survive the social scene—without losing sight of who they are. Book
1 offers insider information on common middle school concerns and practical
advice for being healthy, feeling good about who you are, and staying in control
of your feelings and actions—even when the pressure is on.
Real Friends vs. the Other Kind. Annie
Fox, $14.99
Real Friends vs. the Other Kind, the second book in the
Middle School Confidential series, follows these characters
as they work to forge friendships while navigating tough social
situations. Book 2 explores making and keeping friends,
resolving disputes, and dealing with common middle school concerns—like
gossip, exclusion, and cyberbullying. There's also expert advice
on crushes, peer pressure, and being there for friends who need
help.
What’s Up With My Family: Annie
Fox, $14.99
Follow these young teens as they work on challenges at home. Along the way you’ll find ideas for building trust with adults, getting past hurt feelings and making family relationships stronger. Life at home may not be perfect, appreciating family members and working with them can help everyone get along. |
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Rosie's Dream Cape. Zelda Freedman, $8.95 
Based on a true story, this charming juvenile novel tells
of how eleven-year-old Rosie and her grandmother Bubba Sarah arrive in Toronto
from Russia after fleeing one of the purges that carried away Rosie’s mother, a
famous Russian dancer. To help make ends meet, Rosie works in a factory sewing
velvet capes for Eatons, all the while dreaming of making such a cape from
scraps, and wearing it to Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre. This tale provides
a wonderful insight into how an immigrant child survives with her values and
dreams intact despite the harsh working conditions of a 1921 garment factory. |
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Faith: Five Religions and What They
Share. Richard Steckel & Michele Steckel,
$18.95 (ages 8-12)
This kid-friendly exploration of faith
provides a superb overview of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and
Judaism. Young readers will learn about different aspects of each, including
historical origins and beliefs, holy texts, religious clothing and places of
worship. They will also find out about the values, customs and symbols all five
religions share, such as the golden rule, charity, prayer and candles. Straightforward,
simple text makes the content interesting and accessible, as do the vivid
photos of children around the world. Parents and teachers will find FAITH: FIVE
RELIGIONS AND WHAT THEY SHARE an invaluable tool for teaching respect for
people of different beliefs. |
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Follow Your Money: Who Gets It, Who
Spends It, Where Does It Go? Kevin Sylvester &
Michael Hlinka, $14.95
Accessible and fun, FOLLOW YOUR MONEY is
a vital introduction to the way money flows from creator to distributor to
retailer to customer. Who benefits most from your purchase? Was the price you
paid fair? What happens to your money when you deposit in the bank? This lively
book answers all these questions and more. |
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Girlness: Deal With
It, Body & Soul. Diane Peters, illustrated by Steven
Murray, $12.95
It’s hard enough being a girl on the brink of puberty without
dealing with a barrage of mixed messages about femininity.
From self-image to peer pressure, consumerism to feminism,
girls have a lot to grapple with. This volume looks at issues
relating to gender identity and how girls can cope with the
conflicts that arise when we question what it means to be
female. |
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Guyness: Deal
with It, Body & Soul. Steve Pitt, illustrated by
Steven Murray, $12.95
As boys become men, pressure to fit into set images of masculinity
can be overwhelming. And stereotypes about what makes a man
a man can make the early stages of puberty — the beginning
of physical, emotional, and sexual maturity — all the more
confusing. This volume looks at issues relating to gender
identity and how boys can deal with the conflicts that arise
when boys fit — or do not fit — the masculinity mold. |
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What to
Do When Good Enough Isn’t Good Enough: the Real Deal on Perfectionism.
Thomas Greenspon, $15.99 (ages 9 – 13)
Most children don’t know what perfectionism
is, yet many suffer from it. Nothing they do is ever good
enough. School assignments are hard to start or hand in. Relationships
are challenging, and self-esteem is low. Written for kids
ages 9–13, this book helps them understand how perfectionism
hurts them and how to free themselves. Includes true-to-life
vignettes, exercises, and a note to grown-ups. |
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SuperPowered: Transform Anxiety into Courage,
Confidence and Resilience. Renee Jain & Shefali Tsabary, $27.99 (ages
8-12)
Now more than ever, kids need to feel empowered as they
work through anxiety, overwhelm, and uncertainty brought on by the world around
them. With its helpful, hands-on suggestions and tips, SUPERPOWERED will
be embraced by every kid with insecurities, worries, and anxious thoughts.
Renee Jain (founder of GoZen!) and Dr. Shefali Tsabary
(New York Times bestelling author and Oprah contributor) make readers the
superheroes of their own stories. They introduce a toolkit of
easy-to-understand methods for recognizing anxious behaviors, identifying the
root causes of worried thinking, and realizing that strength can be found in
reclaiming one's inner superpowers. With the help of humorous artwork and
interactive elements, readers find their P.O.W.E.R. (an acronym that inspires
mindfulness and resilience practices) and gain lasting mental strength. |
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We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices. Edited by
Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson, $14.99 (ages 8-12)
What do we tell our children when the world seems bleak,
and prejudice and racism run rampant? With 96 lavishly designed pages of
original art and prose, fifty diverse creators lend voice to young activists.
Featuring poems, letters, personal essays, art, and other
works from such industry leaders as Jacqueline Woodson (Brown Girl Dreaming),
Jason Reynolds (All American Boys), Kwame Alexander (The Crossover), Andrea
Pippins (I Love My Hair), Sharon Draper (Out of My Mind), Rita Williams-Garcia
(One Crazy Summer), Ellen Oh (cofounder of We Need Diverse Books), and artists
Ekua Holmes, Rafael Lopez, James Ransome, Javaka Steptoe, and more, this
anthology empowers the nation's youth to listen, learn, and build a better
tomorrow. |
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The Barren Grounds: Book One of the Misewa Saga. David
Robertson, $21.99 (ages 10++)
Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from
their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in
Winnipeg, Manitoba. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each
other, and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home — until they find
a secret place, walled off in an unfinished attic bedroom. A portal opens to
another reality, Askí, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they
meet Ochek (Fisher). The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa,
Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive.
But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission.
Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline,
they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything — including them. |
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My Name is Konisola. Alisa Siegel, $10.95 (ages
9-12) 
On a freezing cold winter night, nine-year-old Konisola
and her mother step off a plane in Canada, having left Nigeria with nothing but
the clothes on their backs. They are running for their lives, having lived
under the threat of violence. Soon after they land, disaster strikes — Konisola’s
mother is hospitalized and Konisola is forced to fend for herself in a strange
country with no family and no friends. Help comes in the form of a nurse who
befriends Konisola’s mother. But still everything remains uncertain. Will this
new life Konisola has found be taken from her? Will she be allowed to stay in
Canada as a refugee, or will she and her mother be sent back across the ocean?
This novel — based on a true story — is a tale of bravery and determination, of
loss, and of generosity and good will that paved the way for a new family. |
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A Black Woman Did That! 42 Boundary-Breaking,
Bar-Raising, World-Changing Women. Malaika Adero, illustrated by Chanté
Timothy, $14.99 (ages 10+)
A Black Woman Did That! is a celebration of
strong, resilient, innovative, and inspiring women of color. With a vibrant
mixture of photography, illustration, biography, and storytelling, author
Malaika Adero will spotlight well-known historical figures and women who are
pushing boundaries today — including Ida B. Wells, Madam CJ Walker, Shirley
Chisholm, Serena Williams, Mae Jamison, Stacey Abrams, Jesmyn Ward, Ava
DuVernay, and Amy Sherald. Readers will recognize some names in the book, but
will also be introduced to many important black women who have changed history
or who are reshaping the cultural landscape.
Entries on each woman or group highlight their
accomplishments, their world-changing words, and the ways in which their lives
and actions have made the world a better place. The book also includes a robust
resource list of books, audio and visual recordings, and links, inviting
readers, parents, and teachers to learn even more about the amazing black women
featured in the book. |
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Your Happiest You: the Care and Keeping of Your Mind
and Spirit. Judy Woodburn, $14.99 (ages 10-13)
You already know a lot about caring for your body. But
did you know that a little care and keeping are great for your mind and spirit,
too? This book is full of tips, activities, and ideas - plus advice from girls
like you — to help you:
- feel calmer
- be more confident
- find your strengths
- have more fun
- ruly connect with the people you love
- smile inside
- bounce back from setbacks
- get inspired
- focus on what matters and be the happy YOU you're meant to be.
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Love Your Body. Jessica Sanders, illustrated by
Carol Rossetti, $22.99 (ages 8+)
Bodies come in all different forms and abilities. All
these bodies are different and all these bodies are good bodies. There is no
size, ability, or color that is perfect. What makes you different makes you,
you — and you are amazing!
Love Your Body introduces the language of
self-love and self-care to help build resilience, while representing and
celebrating diverse bodies, encouraging you to appreciate your uniqueness. This
book was written for every girl, regardless of how you view your body. All
girls deserve to be equipped with the tools to navigate an image-obsessed
world. Featuring a special poster on the jacket, this book will show you that
freedom is loving your body with all its “imperfections” and being the
perfectly imperfect you! |
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Guts. Raina Telgemeier, $16.99 (graphic novel,
ages 8-12)
Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach.
Her mom has one, too, so it's probably just a bug. Raina eventually returns to
school, where she's dealing with the usual highs and lows: friends,
not-friends, and classmates who think the school year is just one long
gross-out session. It soon becomes clear that Raina's tummy trouble isn't going
away... and it coincides with her worries about food, school, and changing
friendships. What's going on?
Raina Telgemeier brings readers a thoughtful, charming,
and funny true story about growing up and gathering the courage to face — and
conquer — her fears. |
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This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons On How to Wake
Up, Take Action, and Do the Work. Tiffany Jewell, illustrated by Aurélia
Durand, $19.99 (ages 11-15)
Gain a deeper understanding of your anti-racist self as
you progress through 20 chapters that spark introspection, reveal the origins
of racism that we are still experiencing, and give you the courage and power to
undo it. After examining the concepts of social identity, race, ethnicity, and
racism, learn about some of the ways people of different races have been
oppressed, from indigenous Americans and Australians being sent to boarding school
to be “civilized” to a generation of Caribbean immigrants once welcomed to the
UK being threatened with deportation by strict immigration laws.
This book is written for EVERYONE who lives in this
racialized society — including the young person who doesn’t know how to speak up
to the racist adults in their life, the kid who has lost themself at times
trying to fit into the dominant culture, the children who have been harmed
(physically and emotionally) because no one stood up for them or they couldn’t stand
up for themselves, and also for their families, teachers, and administrators.
With this book, be empowered to actively defy racism to create a community
(large and small) that truly honors everyone. |
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The Lookout Tree: a Family's Escape from the Acadian
Deportation. Heather Smith, illustrated by Rachel Wada, $19.95 (ages 8-12) 
It's 1755, and twelve-year-old Fidèle's life is quiet and
pastoral — until a sudden shift in the political situation brings chaos to
Acadie. The English are hunting down and deporting all the Acadians, and the
only way to escape is to run far away or to live in the wilderness. Fidèle's
parents are taken by the English along with their newborn baby. He, his sister,
Prémélia, their grandfather, Pétard, and elderly Rosalie decide to brave life
in the forest near their burned-down house in the hopes that their family
members will return one day. Life in the woods is harsh and unforgiving, and
they only survive with the help and knowledge of their Mi'kmaw friends and a
mysterious spirit who appears during times of dire need.
Spanning two decades of the terrible events of the
Deportation and the long struggle to reunite and resettle afterward, The
Lookout Tree is an English translation of the beloved French classic, La
butte à Pétard, and a testament to the determination of the Acadian people
to survive and thrive in their homeland. |
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Greta's Story: the Schoolgirl Who Went on Strike to
Save the Planet. Valentina Camerini, $23.99 (ages 8-12)
You are never too young to make a difference.
Ever since she learned about climate change, Greta
Thunberg couldn’t understand why politicians weren’t treating it as an
emergency. In August 2018, temperatures in Sweden reached record highs, fires
raged across the country, and fifteen-year-old Greta decided to stop waiting
for political leaders to take action. Instead of going to school on Friday, she
made a sign and went on strike in front of Stockholm’s parliament building.
Greta’s solo protest grew into the global Fridays for Future — or School Strike 4
Climate — movement, which millions have now joined. She has spoken at COP24 (the
UN summit on climate change) and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
This timely, unofficial biography is her story, but also that of many others
around the world willing to fight against the indifference of the powerful for
a better future. |
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The Power Book: What Is It, Who Has It, and Why? Claire
Saunders, et al, $24.99 (ages 7-11)
What makes you the boss of me? What makes a king a king,
or a queen a queen? Why can some people vote for their leaders, but other
people can’t? Does having lots of money make you powerful? Why are there fewer
female scientists, leaders, and artists than men in history books?
These are things that kids wonder about. The Power
Book answers these and other questions in a relatable way for young people,
including thought-provoking discussions on challenging topics, like war,
bullying, racism, sexism, and homophobia. You will gain an understanding of
your place in your family, your school, and the world, and will discover ways
in which you can use your own power to shape the future. As you explore the
many aspects of power, thinking points pose questions that spark
self-reflection and quotes and stories from some of the greatest change-makers — such
as Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Emmeline Pankhurst, Rosa Parks, Malala
Yousafzai, and Stephen Hawking — provide historical context and inspiration. Find
more opportunities for learning at the back with a glossary of terms and
suggestions for further reading.
Gain a greater understanding of how power works, then
learn how to harness it for good with The Power Book. |
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Something Bad Happened: a Kid's Guide to Coping with
Events In the News. Dawn Huebner, $19.95 (ages 7-12)
When we learn about something bad — even when we hear
only bits and pieces of it — our brains get busy trying to make sense of what
we've heard. Seeing distressing events on the news, or hearing about them
later, can feel scary and overwhelming. Talking about what happened, and how we
feel about it, is hugely important.
Something Bad Happened guides children aged 7 to
12 and the adults who care about them through tough conversations about news of
large-scale events, addressing questions such as: "Where did it
happen?" "Why did it happen?" And, "Will it happen
again?" Feelings like sadness, fear and confusion are normalized, and
coping tools provided. For children and parents to read together, or by a child
with a parent nearby, this helpful resource by a child psychologist
best-selling author provides comfort, support and action plans for children
learning about the big bad things happening in our world. |
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The Book of No Worries: a Survival Guide for Growing
Up. Lizzie Cox & Tanda Stevanovic, $16.95 (ages 10+)
Children over 10 often have to deal with a bigger,
scarier school, and increased pressure to study and get good grades while
making and maintaining friendships. Add to that the non-stop nature of social
media and the added pressure that it brings, and it’s no surprise anxiety and
depression is on the increase. From problems at school to relationship woes,
body image issues to troubles at home, all worries are recognized and case
studies and questions from "real-life" anonymous readers offer
positive tips and advice to help young people survive angst and stress that can
bring them down.
Among the other topics covered:
- Bullying
- Drugs and alcohol
- Separation and divorce
- Sex and sexuality
- Unrequited love and being dumped
Focusing on the emotional well-being and mental health of
tweens, this essential guide covers a multitude of worries and anxieties that a
young person may face while growing up — from peer pressure to puberty and all
the worries in between. This friendly and funny book aims to reassure tweens
that their worries and fears are normal and offers practical tips for managing
anxiety and stress, such as practicing mindfulness and meditation. |
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The Women Who Caught the Babies: a Story of African
American Midwives. Eloise Greenfield, illustrated by Daniel Minter, $23.95
(ages 9-12)
The Women Who Caught the Babies highlights
important aspects of the training and work of African-American midwives and the
ways in which they have helped, and continue to help, so many families by
“catching” their babies at birth. The blend of Eloise Greenfield's poetry and
Daniel Minter's art evokes heartfelt appreciation of the abilities of
African-American midwifes over the course of time. The poem “Africa to
America" begins the poetic journey. The poem “The Women" both heralds
the poetry/art pairing and concludes it with a note of gratitude. Also included
is a piece titled “Miss Rovenia Mayo,” which pays tribute to the midwife who
caught newborn Eloise. |
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Alan Cole Is Not a Coward. Eric Bell, $8.50
(novel, ages 8-12)
Alan Cole can’t stand up to his cruel brother, Nathan. He
can’t escape the wrath of his demanding father, who thinks he’s about as
exceptional as a goldfish. And — scariest of all — he can’t let the cute boy across
the cafeteria know he has a crush on him. When Nathan discovers Alan’s secret,
his older brother announces a high-stakes round of Cole vs. Cole. Each brother
must complete seven nearly impossible tasks; whoever finishes the most wins the
game. If Alan doesn’t want to be outed to all of Evergreen Middle School, he’s
got to become the most well-known kid in school, get his first kiss, and stand
up to Dad. Alan’s determined to prove — to Nathan, to the world, to himself — that
this goldfish can learn to swim. May the best Cole win. |
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The UnWorry
Book: an Activity Book to Calm your Mind. Alice James, $15.95 (ages 8-12)
This
illustrated, write-in book is an unworry toolkit, for distracting you from any
anxieties, calming you down, and providing a place to sort through your worries
and thoughts. It includes a variety of activities, from things to write, colour
and design, to calm-down tactics and relaxation exercises. Designed to appeal
to a wide range of ages, with a range of activities and ideas to suit all sorts
of people. Researched and developed with a psychologist to give it weight and
relevance, and make it as useful as possible. Includes internet links to
websites that offer support to young people and parents or carers of worried
children, and details of charities that can help. |
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The Sound of Silence: Growing Up Hearing with Deaf
Parents. Myron Uhlberg, $22.99 (ages 9-12)
Myron Uhlberg was born the hearing son of deaf parents at
a time when American Sign Language was not well established and deaf people
were often dismissed as being unintelligent. In this young reader adaptation of
his acclaimed memoir, Hands of My Father, Uhlberg recalls the daily
difficulties and hidden joys of growing up as the intermediary between his
parents’ silent world and the world of the hearing. |
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The Birdman. Troon Harrison, illustrated by
Francois Thisdale, $24.95 (ages 9-12) 
He walked the plantation fields, freely and with the
owners' permission. He was an ornithologist after all, touring the Deep South
of the 1850s to study the birds. But Alexander Milton Ross was no ordinary
birdman. He was an undercover Abolitionist. And he had news to spread about the
Underground Railroad.
Discover the forgotten life and true adventures of
Alexander Milton Ross, daring Canadian activist, who risked everything — including his life — to help bring freedom and dignity to the heroic men and
women enslaved in the American South. Included at the end of the book:
Historical Notes and a Time Line. |
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Mya's Strategy to Save the World. Tanya Lloyd Kyi,
$18.99 (ages 9-12) 
Mya Parsons runs her school's social justice club with
her best friend, Cleo. Her lifelong desire is to work for the United Nations
and change the world, and then bask in all the ensuing adulation. Her more
immediate desire is to get a phone, preferably one like Cleo's, with a
leopard-print case to match. When her distracted dad and her long-distance mom
(temporarily in Myanmar taking care of Mya's grandmother) both say no, no way,
and possibly never, Mya launches a campaign to prove herself reliable and
deserving. She advertises her babysitting services, takes on more responsibility
around the house, and attempts to supervise her sister's skateboarding lessons.
Her efforts leave her ego bruised and the kitchen slightly scorched. She's no
closer to touch-screen victory, let alone the Nobel Peace Prize she deserves.
But all that changes after an accident leaves Mya to take charge, an experience
which helps her realize how much she's grown, with or without access to proper
communications. |
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A Smart Girl's Guide: Travel — Everything You
Need to Know about Adventuring Near and Far. Aubre Andrus, $18.99 (ages
8-14)
Travel is all about adventure. It's about trying new
things and meeting new people. This book shows you how to be a confident and
happy traveler, whether you are going to your grandma's house just a few hours
away or you're making a trek across the world. Filled with fun quizzes, smart
safety tips, and cool trivia, this book will help you get ready for a lifetime
of adventure! |
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Becca at Sea. Deirdre Baker, $9.95 (ages 9-12) 
Becca has often gone with her parents to visit Gran at
her rustic cabin by the sea. But this year Becca’s mother is expecting a baby,
and Becca visits her grandmother on her own. The prospect of spending time at
Gran’s — with her peculiar plumbing and ridiculous Scrabble rules — is hardly
appealing. Then, on her very first night, Becca finds an oyster full of pearls.
One pearl for every adventure to come?
As her mother’s pregnancy progresses, Becca returns to
the island again and again. And through a busy parade of visiting relatives — some welcome, some not — she faces the cacophony of the annual herring run in a
leaky dinghy, is kissed by a seal, scales a cliff, sails a boat for the first
time and goes skinny-dipping in a sea of luminescence. And by the time her
parents arrive with the new baby, she realizes that adventures, and even
friends to share them with, may have been right under her nose the whole time. |
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Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History. Vashti Harrison, $22.49 (ages 8-12)
An important book for all ages, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of forty trailblazing black
women. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life
both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as
abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball,
politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya
Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash. Whether they were putting pen to paper,
soaring through the air or speaking up for the rights of others, the women
profiled in these pages were all taking a stand against a world that didn't
always accept them. |
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Kids Who Are Changing the World. Sheila Sweeny
Higginson, illustrated by Alyssa Petersen, $6.99 (ages 6-8)
Have you ever wondered what you could do to change the
world? Find out how kids are helping the environment, inventing incredible
medical devices, aiding the homeless, designing apps so other kids won’t ever
have to eat alone in the cafeteria, and more! Learn all about what they’ve come
up with and how their ideas are changing lives in this story of four amazing
kids everyone should meet! A special section at the back of the book includes
extras such as biographies of famous young inventors and contemporary activists
plus interesting ideas for other ways that kids can change the world. |
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Sapphire the Great and the Meaning of Life. Beverley Brenna, illustrated by Tara Anderson (novel, ages 8-12) 
Jeannie’s dad has moved out, her mom is always tired and
snappish, and her older brother just wants to play video games in his room all
day. Jeannie doesn’t understand what’s going on, but she knows one thing: she
really, REALLY wants a hamster. Her mom promised she could buy one with her
Christmas money, but it’s been WEEKS since the holidays and Jeannie’s beginning
to worry she’ll never get her pet. But maybe if she does, her dad will come to
visit. Maybe a hamster will make everything better.
Narrated by Jeannie and Sapphire in alternating chapters, Sapphire the Great and the Meaning of Life is a touching middle-grade
that explores themes of family, friendship, togetherness, and self-identity.
With a cast that includes a transgender neighbor, a father coming out as gay,
and a realistic protagonist who will appeal to fans of Ramona Quimby, Brenna’s
latest offering is an age-appropriate introduction to some difficult subjects
that also abounds with humor and poignancy. |
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HIGH: Everything You Want to Know about Drugs,
Alcohol, and Addiction. David Sheff & Nic Sheff, $23.99 (ages 10 and
up)
With drug education for children more important than
ever, this nonfiction book draws on the experiences of the NY Times bestselling
father/son team of David and Nic Sheff to provide all the information teens and
tweens need to know about drugs, alcohol, and addiction.
This book tells it as it is, with testimonials from peers
who have been there and families who have lived through the addiction of a
loved one, along with the cold, hard facts about what drugs and alcohol do to
our bodies. From how to navigate peer pressure to outlets for stress to the
potential consequences for experimenting, Nic and David Sheff lay out the facts
so that middle grade readers can educate themselves. |
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The A-Z of Wonder Women. Yvonne Lin, $20.99 (ages
8-12)
Highlighting notable and inspiring women from across the
globe and throughout time, The A-Z of Wonder Women features biographies of
trailblazers and groundbreakers, including Ada Lovelace, Oprah Winfrey, Ruth
Ginsberg, and Wajeha al-Huwaider.
This empowering alphabet-style book celebrates a wide
range of skills and masteries in the arts, politics and activism, STEM, and
more, providing accessible facts about these heroic women--and inspiring young
readers to make the change they want to see in the world. |
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Strong Is the New Pretty: a Celebration of Girls Being
Themselves. Kate Parker, $24.95
Girls being fearless. Girls being silly. Girls being
wild, stubborn, and proud. Girls whose faces are smeared with dirt and lit up
with joy. So simple and yet so powerful, Strong Is the New Pretty celebrates, through more than 175 memorable photographs, the strength and
spirit of girls being 100% themselves.
Real beauty isn’t about being a certain size, acting a
certain way, wearing the right clothes, or having your hair done (or even
brushed). Real beauty is about being your authentic self and owning it. Kate T.
Parker is a professional photographer who finds the real beauty in girls,
capturing it for all the world to see in candid and arresting images.
A celebration, a catalog of spirit in words and smiles,
an affirmation of the fact that it’s what’s inside you that counts, Strong
Is the New Pretty conveys a powerful message for every girl, for every
mother and father of a girl, for every coach and mentor and teacher, for
everyone in the village that it takes to raise a strong and self-confident
person. |
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Strong Is the New Pretty: a Guided Journal for Girls. Kate
Parker, $19.95
Inspired by Kate Parker’s internationally bestselling Strong
Is the New Pretty, this guided journal invites girls ages 8 to 12 to
discover and celebrate their independent, wild, silly, powerful selves.
Illustrated with favorite photographs from the book (as well as more than 20
brand-new images), each page features an inspiring, interactive prompt that
encourages writing, doodling, and creative self-expression:
- Draw a picture of yourself as a superhero — what is your
superpower?
- Invent a new language, and write down some translations here.
- What makes you unique? List three things about you that make you
different
As girls make their way through the journal, it becomes a
source of motivation to be their most powerful selves. It’s a personal keepsake
to revisit again and again. |
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Black Women Who Dared. Naomi Moyer, $18.95 (ages
9-13)
Inspirational stories of ten Black women and women’s
collectives from Canadian and American history. Included are leaders and
groundbreakers who were anti-slavery activists, business women, health-care
activists, civic organizers and educators. Celebrate these remarkable women,
some of whom you may be hearing about for the first time, and the profound
impacts they've made. |
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Daniel's Story. Carol Matas, $8.99 (ages 8-14) 
Daniel barely remembers leading a normal life before the
Nazis came to power in 1933. He can still picture once being happy and safe,
but memories of those days are fading as he and his family face the dangers
threatening Jews in Hitler's Germany in the late 1930's. No longer able to
practice their religion, vote, own property, or even work, Daniel's family is
forced from their home in Frankfurt and sent on a long and dangerous journey,
first to the Lodz ghetto in Poland, and then to Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp.
Though many around him lose hope in the face of such terror, Daniel, supported
by his courageous family, struggles for survival. He finds hope, life and even
love in the midst of despair.
This edition includes a chronology, a timeline, and a brand-new
message from the author. |
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Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess. Shari
Green, $14.95 (ages 8-12) 
Sixth grade is coming to an end, and so is life as Macy
McMillan knows it. Already a "For Sale" sign mars the front lawn of
her beloved house. Soon her mother will upend their perfect little family,
adding a stepfather and six-year-old twin stepsisters. To add insult to injury,
what is Macy's final sixth grade assignment? A genealogy project. Well, she'll
put it off — just like those wedding centerpieces she's supposed to be making.
Just when Macy's mother ought to be understanding, she
sends Macy next door to help eighty-six-year-old Iris Gillan, who is also getting
ready to move — in her case into an assisted living facility. Iris can't pack a
single box on her own and, worse, she doesn't know sign language. How is Macy
supposed to understand her? But Iris has stories to tell, and she isn't going
to let Macy's deafness stop her. Soon, through notes and books and cookies, a
friendship grows. And this friendship, odd and unexpected, may be just what
Macy needs to face the changes in her life. |
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Calling All Minds: How to Think and Create Like an
Inventor. Temple Grandin, $24.99 (ages 8-12)
From world-renowned autism spokesperson, scientist, and
inventor Temple Grandin —
Have you ever wondered what makes a kite fly or a boat
float? Have you ever thought about why snowflakes are symmetrical, or why golf
balls have dimples? Have you ever tried to make a kaleidoscope or build a pair
of stilts?
In Calling All Minds, Temple Grandin explores the
ideas behind all of those questions and more. She delves into the science
behind inventions, the steps various people took to create and improve upon
ideas as they evolved, and the ways in which young inventors can continue to
think about and understand what it means to tinker, to fiddle, and to innovate.
And laced throughout it all, Temple gives us glimpses into her own childhood
tinkering, building, and inventing.
More than a blueprint for how to build things, in Calling
All Minds Temple Grandin creates a blueprint for different ways to look at
the world. And more than a call to action, she gives a call to imagination, and
shows readers that there is truly no single way to approach any given
problem — but that an open and inquisitive mind is always key. |
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Stress Can Really Get On Your Nerves! Revised Edition. Trevor Romain & Elizabeth Verdick, $14.99 (ages 8-13)
Stress can make you feel anxious, awful, and afraid. It
can leave you jumpy and jittery, upset and uptight. When kids show signs of
stress, they need stress management tools that work. With jokes, fun
illustrations, and plenty of authentic examples, this book helps kids
understand what stress is — land gives tons of tips to cope. Refreshed to
address modern stressors like electronic devices and social media, this updated
classic helps kids deal with stress like a seasoned panic mechanic. |
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Girling Up: How to
Be Strong, Smart and Spectacular. Mayim Bialik, $24.99
(ages 11+)
Growing up as a girl in today’s world is no easy task.
Juggling family, friends, romantic relationships, social interests and
school…sometimes it feels like you might need to be a superhero to get through
it all! But really, all you need is little information.
Want to know why your stomach does a flip-flop when you
run into your crush in the hallway? Or how the food you put in your body now
will affect you in the future? What about the best ways to stop freaking out
about your next math test?
Using scientific facts, personal anecdotes, and wisdom
gained from the world around us, Mayim Bialik, the
star of The Big Bang Theory, shares what she has learned from her life and her
many years studying neuroscience to tell you how you grow from a girl to a
woman biologically, psychologically and sociologically. Want to be strong? Want
to be smart? Want to be spectacular? You can! Start by reading this book. |
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Trash Revolution: Breaking
the Waste Cycle. Erica Fyvie &
Bill Slavin, $19.99
All the “stuff” that
surrounds us has a life cycle: materials are harvested, the stuff is made and
distributed, it's consumed and then it gets trashed or recycled. Using the
typical contents of a child's school backpack (defined as water, food,
clothing, paper, plastic, metals, electronics), this book explores those stages
in detail, including lots of ways to reduce, reuse or recycle waste along the
way. Children will gain new insight into the routine decisions they make about
their own consuming and trashing or recycling practices. For example: How long
does it take for a cotton T-shirt to decompose in a landfill? Can a bike helmet
be made from recyclable materials? Which is better for the Earth, wrapping a
sandwich in aluminum foil or plastic? By learning to use critical thinking
skills to make informed choices, children will feel empowered by the important,
constructive role they can play in the future health of the planet. |
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The Lotterys Plus One. Emma Donoghue, $12.99
Sumac Lottery is the fifth of seven kids in her (VERY)
large, (EXTREMELY) unruly family. With four parents, a parrot, a dog, a rat and
two cats, the sprawling Victorian house they call Camelottery is already quite
full (in the best sense). But then one day, Sumac gets the news that one of
their grandfathers will be coming to live with them. And not just any
grandfather—a long-dormant one who fell out with his son so long ago that he
hasn’t been part of any of their lives.
Suddenly, everything changes. Sumac has to give up her
room to make the newcomer feel at home. She tries to be nice, but the prickly
old man clearly disapproves of how the Lotterys live: whole grains and strange
vegetables, odd pets, a multicultural household... He’s worse than just
tough to get along with — Grumps has got to go! But can Sumac help him find a
home where he belongs? |
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Krista Kim-Bap. Angela Ahn, $11.95
All Krista wants is to figure out the three F’s: food,
family, and friends...
Krista and Jason have been best friends since preschool.
It never mattered that he was a boy with reddish-brown hair and she was the
“Korean girl” at school. Now in fifth grade, everyone in their class is
preparing their Heritage Month projects. Jason has always loved Krista’s Korean
family, and particularly her mom’s cooking, but Krista is conflicted about
being her school’s “Korean Ambassador”. She’s also worried about asking her
intimidating grandma to teach the class how to make their traditional kimbap.
Combine that with her new friends pulling her away from Jason, and Krista has a
lot to deal with this year! |
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A Boy Called BAT. Elana Arnold, $21.00 (novel)
The first book in a funny, heartfelt, and irresistible
young middle grade series starring an unforgettable young boy on the autism
spectrum, from acclaimed author Elana Arnold and with illustrations by Charles
Santoso.
For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be
full of surprises — some of them good, some not so good. Today, though, is a
good-surprise day. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought home a baby skunk,
which she needs to take care of until she can hand him over to a wild-animal
shelter. But the minute Bat meets the kit, he knows they belong together. And
he’s got one month to show his mom that a baby skunk might just make a pretty
terrific pet. |
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Escape from Syria. Samya Kullab, Jackie Roche
& Mike Freiheit, $19.95 (graphic novel, ages 12++)
Escape from Syria is a fictionalized account that
calls on real-life circumstances and true tales of refugee families to serve as
a microcosm of the Syrian uprising and the war and refugee crisis that
followed. The story spans six years in the lives of Walid, his wife Dalia, and
their two children, Amina and Youssef. Forced to flee from Syria, they become
asylum-seekers in Lebanon, and finally resettled refugees in the West. It is a
story that has been replayed thousands of times by other families. Amina, a
whip-smart grade-A student, tells the story. As she witnesses firsthand the
harsh realities that her family must endure if they are to survive — swindling
smugglers, treacherous ocean crossings, and jihadist militias — she is forced
to grow up very quickly in order to help her parents and brother.
Kullab's narrative masterfully maps both the collapse and
destruction of Syria, and the real-life tragedies faced by its citizens still
today. The family's escape from their homeland makes for a harrowing tale, but
with their safe arrival in the West it serves as a hopeful endnote to this
ongoing worldwide crisis. |
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Awkward. Svetlana Chmakova, $14.50
Cardinal rule #1 for surviving school: Don't get noticed
by the mean kids.
Cardinal rule #2 for surviving school: Seek out groups
with similar interests and join them.
On her first day at her new school, Penelope (Peppi)
Torres reminds herself of these basics. But when she trips into a quiet boy in
the hall, Jaime Thompson, she's already broken the first rule, and the mean
kids start calling her the "nerder girlfriend." How does she handle
this crisis? By shoving poor Jaime and running away!
Falling back on rule two and surrounding herself with new
friends in the art club, Peppi still can't help feeling ashamed about the way
she treated Jaime. Things are already awkward enough between the two, but to
make matters worse, he's a member of her own club's archrivals, the science
club! And when the two clubs go to war, Peppi realizes that sometimes you have
to break the rules to survive middle school. |
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Little Bits of Sky. S.E. Durrant, $24.95
Siblings Ira and Zac have moved between foster homes ever
since they can remember. When they are moved to a group home called Skilly
House, a London-based home for children, they think everything is about to
break, but it may just be the beginning of their new lives. |
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The Theory of Hummingbirds. Michelle Kadarusman,
$12.95 (novel, ages 8-12) 
"Hummingbirds and angels don’t need two good feet.
They have wings.” That’s what Alba’s mother always says. Of course, Alba
doesn’t have wings or two good feet: she has Cleo. Cleo is the name Alba has
given to her left foot, which was born twisted in the wrong direction. When she
points this out, though, her mother just smiles like the world has some
surprise in store she doesn’t know about yet.
Well, Alba has her own surprise planned. After one final
surgery and one final cast, Cleo is almost ready to meet the world straight
on — just in time to run in the sixth grade cross-country race. Unfortunately,
Alba’s best friend Levi thinks there’s no way she can pull it off. And she
thinks there’s no way he’s right about the school librarian hiding a wormhole
in her office. Tempers flare. Sharp words fly faster than hummingbirds. And
soon it looks like both friends will be stuck proving their theories on their
own. |
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The Owner's Manual for Driving Your Adolescent Brain. JoAnn
Deak & Terrence Deak, $22.50 (ages 9-14)
A mind is a terrible thing to waste, so if you haven’t
yet picked up your copy of The Owner’s Manual for Driving Your Adolescent
Brain, here are a few good reasons to, ahem, think about it. This absorbing
book by Drs. JoAnn Deak and Terrence Deak continues the lessons from Your
Fantastic Elastic Brain, offering helpful insights into the brain as it
enters its second decade. |
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Canadian Boys Who Rocked the World. Tanya
Lloyd Kyi, $12.95 
30 lives that achieved greatness before age 20. No one
ever said you had to be a grown-up to do something great. The boys in Canadian
Boys Who Rocked the World have proved this to the world. Breaking world
records, winning hearts in the limelight, changing the face of the scientific
world — these boys have shaken the planet with their achievements. At 17, Louis
Cyr bested the reigning Canadian strongman by lifting a 180 kg granite boulder.
Wayne Gretzky was breaking NHL records by the time he was 18. Oscar Peterson
won his first radio contest for piano at 14 and was awarded his own 15-minute
weekly radio show. Every day, Canadian boys find new ways to rock the world.
This fascinating book profiles young men who are born to greatness as well as
young boys who aspire to it. |
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Canadian Girls Who Rocked the World. Tanya
Lloyd Kyi, $12.95 
Take an adventure with some of Canada`s most interesting
and accomplished young women. An inspiring book, Canadian Girls Who Rocked
the World tells the stories of Canadian girls who won Olympic medals,
discovered dinosaurs, explored their country or shaped its history — all while
still in their teens. For example, when she was just 16 years old, Marilyn Bell
stepped into the icy waters of Lake Ontario and became the first person in
history to swim across it. Subsequently, she became the youngest person to swim
the English Channel and changed the world`s ideas about women`s athletic
abilities and endurance. And pop star Avril Lavigne released her first album
when she was 17, which skyrocketed to the top of the charts, selling 12 million
copies. This revised and expanded edition is packed with yet more tales of
adventure and achievement. New profiles include hockey player Cassie Campbell,
music exec Denise Donlon and environmental activist and leader of the federal
Green Party Elizabeth May. Every day, Canadian girls find new ways to rock the
world. This fun book profiles women who have achieved greatness and contains
quotes from the girls who aspire to follow in their footsteps. |
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The Family Fletcher Take Rock Island. Dana Alison
Levy, $9.50
Wait until you meet the family Fletcher! With two dads,
four adopted brothers, two cats, and one pug, the Fletchers will have you
laughing out loud!
Welcome to Rock Island, Where Time Stands Still!
The Fletchers are back on Rock Island, home of all their
best summer memories. But from the first day they arrive, it’s clear that this
year, things have changed. FIRST, a giant fence is blocking their beloved lighthouse.
SECOND, they have new neighbors. THIRD, who the heck is the weird artist guy
who’s never actually painting? And FOURTH, there’s now an ice cream truck! Can
the island stay the same even with these crazy transformations?
Over the course of the summer, the Fletchers will learn
that sometimes, even in a place where time stands still, the wildest, weirdest,
and most wonderful surprises await. |
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How to Update Your Parents. Pete Johnson, $12.99
What can you do when you're trapped in a technology time
warp? When Louis's parents decide he spends too much time "glued to
screens" they come up with their worst idea ever — a total ban on tablets,
computers and mobiles! Louis needs a plan to fight back, and fast! Can his best
friend, Maddy, come to the rescue? |
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Staying Safe Online. Louie Stowell, $12.95
The internet is full of amazing possibilities but, just
like the real world, there are a lot of potential dangers and difficulties too.
You need to know what to watch out for and how to protect yourself. Whether
you’re worried about oversharing on social media or coming across dangerous
people, this guide gives you tips and tools to take control and stay safe
online. |
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Shu-Li and Diego. Paul Yee, illustrated by ShaolLi
Wang, $8.95 
Shu-Li and her classmate Diego take on the challenge of
taking care of Baxter, a neighbour’s dog. The two friends face disaster when
Baxter runs away and they have to break the news to its owner. Can they find
him before the owner finds out?
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Shu-Li and the Magic Pear Tree. Paul Yee,
illustrated by ShaolLi Wang, $8.95 
Shu-Li has just moved into her new home on Commercial
Drive in Vancouver, British Columbia. She has trouble adjusting to her new
neighborhood but finds surprising help from a "magic" pear tree in
the back garden. |
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Shu-Li and Tamara. Paul Yee, illustrated by
ShaolLi Wang, $8.95 
Shu-Li’s family moved to Canada two years ago. They now
run a Chinese deli in Vancouver’s Commerical Drive area. Her classmate Tamara
recently moved into the neighbourhood. The two girls become good friends, but
an ugly rumour threatens their relationship. |
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Irena Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto. Susan
Goldman Rubin, Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth, $12.99
Irena Sendler was a diminutive Polish social worker who
helped spirit more than four hundred children out of the Warsaw Ghetto during World
War II. Using toolboxes, ambulances, and other ingenious measures, Irena
Sendler defied the Nazis and risked her own life by saving and then hiding
Jewish children. Her secret list of the children's real identities was kept
safe, buried in two jars under a tree in war-torn Warsaw. An inspiring story of
courage and compassion, this biography includes a list of resources, source
notes, and an index. |
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Tatterhood: Feminist Tales From Around the World. Ethel
Johnson Phelps, $21.50
With tales from Japan, Norway, Scotland, and Sudan, Tatterhood brings
readers twelve folk tales — and twelve women whose cunning, hard work, and
physical strength are at the center of the story. |
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Surviving Middle School: Navigating the Halls, Riding
the Social Roller Coaster, and Unmasking the Real You. Luke Reynolds,
$15.99
Author and teacher Luke Reynolds uses irreverent humor,
genuine affection for middle-schoolers, and authenticity that bubbles over as
he ties real-life experiences from his own time in middle school to the
experiences he has from his many years as a teacher.
Covering topics like bullying, peer pressure, grades,
dealing with difficult parents, and love and romance, this rare book reaches
kids at a deeper level during an age when they are often considered too young
to appreciate it. Readers will learn to find their own voice, begin to explore
their genuine identity, and definitely laugh out loud along the way. |
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Building Your Own Robots: Design and Build Your First
Robot! Gordon McComb, $9.99
There's no better way for kids to learn about the world
around them than to test how things work. Building Your Own Robots presents fun robotics projects that children aged 7 – 11 can complete with
common household items and old toys. The projects introduce core robotics
concepts while keeping tasks simple and easy to follow. |
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Getting Started with Coding: Get Creative with Code! Camille
McCue, $9.99
Getting Started with Coding is here to help kids
get started with the basics of coding. It walks young readers through fun
projects that were tested in the classroom. Each project has an end-goal to
instill confidence and a sense of achievement in young coders.
Steering clear of jargon and confusing terminology, Getting
Started with Coding is written in clear, instructive language. Plus, the
full-color design is heavy on eye-catching graphics and the format is focused
on the steps to completing a project, making it approachable for any young
person with an interest in exploring the wonderful world of coding.
- Introduces the basics of coding to create a drawing tool
- Teaches how to create graphics and apply code to make them do
things
- Shows how to make things that respond to motion and collision
commands
- Introduces score-keeping and timing into coding
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Modding Minecraft: Build Your Own Minecraft Mods! Sarah
Guthals, Stephen Foster & Lindsey Handley, $9.99
There’s no doubt about it: Minecraft has taken the world
by storm. Modding allows Minecraft players to modify the game through
code — giving them the ability to add a variety of gameplay changes, ranging from
new blocks and items to new mechanisms to craft. It’s pretty much a Minecraft
enthusiast’s dream brought to life!
Walking young readers through projects that outline how
to create games in Minecraft for single or multiple players, this friendly and
accessible guide takes the intimidation out of coding and instills confidence
in children as young as seven as they complete cool coding projects to mod
their favorite game. Full-color, eye-popping graphics and a short page count
hold their attention while the goal-based format keeps them focused on the task
at hand.
- Kids can complete the projects on their own or alongside an adult
- Introduces getting started with a single-player, single-level
game
- Moves readers on to multi-level game playing
- Finishes with a multi-level, multi-player game based on the
classic “capture the flag” game
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What Goes On In My Head? Big Questions about Your
Brain. Robert Winston, $10.99 (ages 8-12)
Get thinking about thinking! Introducing readers to the
most powerful and complicated computer network they will ever encounter — their
own brain — What Goes on in My Head? explains what the
different parts of the brain do, how they work together, what gives us our
individual personalities, why some people are better at doing certain things
than others, and why, despite its immense complexity, there are still some
things the brain cannot do or understand. Packed with tips and brainteasers
that test memory, perception, reasoning, and reactions, What Goes On in
My Head? also features a wealth of bizarre and fascinating facts to
get readers thinking about thinking. |
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Ruby for Kids for Dummies. Christopher Haupt,
$29.99
Ruby For Kids gears you up to expand your
technology skills and learn this popular programming language. Written in a way
that's easy to follow — and keeping the super tech-heavy stuff to a minimum — it
quickly and easily shows you how to use Ruby to create web and mobile
applications with no experience required.
Ruby is considered one of the best and simplest languages
to start with when you're learning coding. This fun and friendly guide makes it
even easier. Broken down into simple projects designed to appeal to younger
programmers, Ruby For Kids gets you up and running with core coding
concepts in no time. Before you know it, you'll be tackling hands-on projects,
enjoying the support of a vibrant community, and feeling a sense of
accomplishment as you complete projects.
- Navigate the basics of coding with the Ruby language
- Use Ruby to create your own applications and games
- Offers tips for parents and teachers helping kids learn Ruby
So what are you waiting for? Ruby For Kids has
everything you need to get in on one of the most popular topics around! |
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Go Figure! Big Questions about Numbers. Johnny
Ball, $10.99 (ages 8-12)
Numbers create the structure to our universe. Without
numbers, computers would not work and cars would not go. There would be no way
to quantify things. You wouldn't be able to ask "How many?" or
"How much?" We would not understand time or distance. Sports records
wouldn't matter! Go Figure! is a math book filled with the
weird and wonderful side of math and numbers.
Discover why there are 60 minutes in an hour, why daisies
have to have 34, 55, or 89 petals, and why finding a prime number could make
you a millionaire. Go Figure! is also packed with activities
that children can try out on their own or with friends, including brainteasers,
magic tricks, and things to make, while also learning about the simple puzzles
that stumped the world's brainiest mathematicians for centuries. Go
Figure! is a fun and quirky look at the magical world of numbers, without
the effort of a math textbook. |
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The Tween Book: a Growing-Up Guide for the Changing
You. Wendy Moss & Donald Moses, $14.50
The tween years are a time of change and possibility.
They are also a time when kids may begin to feel confused, unsure, and even
different. Have you ever felt like that? This book is for you — the tween!
The Tween Book is chock full of tips, advice,
research, and reflection questions to help you navigate the tween experience,
including:
- Finding the right pace for growing up
- Adjusting to your changing role in your family
- Gaining independence and responsibilities
- Making decisions and setting goals for your future
- Understanding your changing looks and your body image
- Getting crushes on other kids and dating (or not!)
- Making friends and hanging out in groups
- Dealing with rumors, teasing, and even bullying
- Completing schoolwork and getting organized
- And more! Take a look inside and begin your tween adventure!
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Smiley: a Journey of Love. Joanne George, $18.95 (ages 9-18)
While working as a veterinary technician, Joanne George
heard about a puppy mill not far from the clinic and embarked on a rescue
mission with her co-workers. On that special day, Joanne met Smiley for the
first time. He had been born without eyes and with dwarfism and because of his
time in the puppy mill, Smiley was suffering from serious anxiety. While the
other dogs rescued that day were found loving homes, Smiley was going to need
some extra special care. Nothing happens without practice and patience and
Joanne and Smiley learned both those traits together. Gradually Smiley was able
to walk off-leash and started greeting Joanne at the back door. She gave Smiley
a loving home and he taught her patience, understanding and acceptance.
It soon became evident that Smiley would become a
wonderful therapy dog. He trained as a St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog, visiting
hospitals, retirement homes, and schools to offer comfort and hope to those who
were lonely or suffering. |
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Gay & Lesbian History for Kids: the
Century-Long Struggle for LGBT Rights. Jerome
Pohlen, $21.95
Given today's news, it would be easy to
get the impression that the campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender (LGBT) equality is a recent development, but it is only the final
act in a struggle that started more than a century ago. The history is told
through personal stories and firsthand accounts of the movement's key events,
like the 1950s "Lavender Scare," the Stonewall Inn uprising, and the
AIDS crisis. This up-to-date history includes the landmark Supreme Court
decision making marriage equality the law of the land. Twenty-one activities
enliven the history and demonstrate the spirited ways the LGBT community has
pushed for positive social change. |
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Child Soldier. Michel Chikwanine & Jessica Dee
Humphreys, illustrated by Claudia Dávila, $18.95 (ages 10-14)
Michel Chikwanine was five years old when he was abducted
from his schoolyard soccer game in the Democratic Republic of Congo and forced
to become a soldier for a brutal rebel militia. Against the odds, Michel
managed to escape and find his way back to his family, but he was never the
same again. After immigrating to Canada, Michel was encouraged by a teacher to
share what happened to him in order to raise awareness about child soldiers
around the world, and this book is part of that effort. Told in the first
person and presented in a graphic novel format, the gripping story of Michel's
experience is moving and unsettling. But the humanity he exhibits in the
telling, along with Claudia Dávila's illustrations, which evoke rather than
depict the violent elements of the story, makes the book accessible for this
age group and, ultimately, reassuring and hopeful.
The book also contains further information, as well as
suggestions for ways children can help. This is a perfect resource for engaging
youngsters in social studies lessons on global awareness and social justice
issues, and would easily spark classroom discussions about conflict, children's
rights and even bullying. Michel's actions took enormous courage, but he makes
clear that he was and still is an ordinary person, no different from his
readers. He believes everyone can do something to make the world a better
place, and so he shares what his father told him: “If you ever think you are
too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito.” |
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Letters to Leo. Amy Hest, illustrated by Julia
Denos, $8.00
Annie Rossi never, ever thought her father would let her
have a dog. But now that he’s finally given in, she’s found the perfect ear for
the stories of her day. She just writes them in a notebook hidden under the bed
and reads them to Leo in her soft night voice, like the one her mother used
when reading to Annie at bedtime before she died. And Annie sure has a million
stories to tell! There’s mean Edward, who brags about his “noble goldfish” and
gets her in trouble for accidentally lobbing a volleyball into his nose.
There’s her best friend, Jean-Marie, who ups and moves to New Jersey (and wants
to borrow Leo for company!). There’s the poem Annie writes about her mom, which
Miss Meadows asks her to read for the class. And there’s her professor dad, who
is finally coming out of his shell, even though he is an elderly forty-year-old
with a serious personality. Genuine and funny, Amy Hest’s first-person
narration revisits a winning young character as she takes on a new year — and a
new dog — with humor, honesty, and resiliency. |
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26 Tips for Surviving Grade 6. Catherine Austen,
$9.95
Forget social studies, math, and science — this
hilarious novel is about surviving some of the real problems Tween girls
face in the sixth grade. Honest and heartwarming, the story follows
eleven-year-old Becky Lennox over the course of the school year as she figures
out how to survive friendships, first crushes, embarrassing parents and
annoying older brothers. |
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The Secret Life of Money: A Kid's
Guide to Cash. Kira Vermond, Illustrated by
Clayton Hanmer, $13.95 
If discussing money is a difficult task
for adults, it's doubly so where kids are involved. Not only is the subject
loaded with cryptic jargon, but it often fails to click with how a kid sees his
or her world. Many preteens and young teens do not yet have a job, and even if
they do, their responsibilities with their earnings are miles away from
grown-up money issues. In other words, not only is money a little overwhelming
and mysterious, it's also seen as something they can't do anything about.
THE SECRET LIFE OF MONEY is written
to address this last point in particular. This book uses odd anecdotes,
engaging comics, and a wealth of surprising everyday connections to help young
readers see and understand cash from an entirely different angle. From the
history of different currencies to why we buy what we buy, from how credit cards
work to saving and investing, readers will gain not only an appreciation for
the myriad ways that money changes, influences, and (even) betters their lives,
they will arrive to an understanding of the control they have over it. |
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Nobody Knows. Shelley Tanaka, $9.95 (novel,
10+)
It's autumn in Tokyo, and 12-year-old Akira and his
younger siblings, Kyoko, Shige and little Yuki, have just moved into a new apartment
with their mother. Akira hopes it's a new start for all of them, even though
the little ones are not allowed to leave the apartment or make any noise, since
the landlord doesn't permit young children in the building. But their mother
soon begins to spend more and more time away from the apartment, and then one
morning Akira finds an envelope of money and a note. She has gone away with her
new boyfriend for a while.
Akira bravely shoulders the responsibility for the family. He shops and cooks
and pays the bills, while Kyoko does the laundry. The children spend their time
watching TV, drawing and playing games, wishing they could go to school and
have friends like everyone else. Then one day tragedy strikes.
Based on a true story, from the award-winning film by Hirokazu Kore-eda, this
is a powerfully moving novel about four children who become invisible to almost
everyone in their community and manage — for a time — to survive on their own. |
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BYSTANDER: a
Bystander? Or the Bully’s Next Target? James Preller, $8.99 (novel, ages 12+)
Eric is the new kid in seventh grade.
Griffin wants to be his friend. When you’re new in town, it’s hard to know who
to hang out with — and who to avoid. Griffin seems cool, confident, and popular.
But something isn’t right about Griffin. He always seems to be in the middle of
bad things. And if Griffin doesn't like you, you’d better watch your back.
There might be a target on it.
Eric wants to break away, do the right thing. But in one shocking moment, he
goes from being a bystander... to the bully’s next victim. |
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New Kid, New Scene: a Guide to Moving and Switching
Schools. Debbie Glasser & Emily Schenk, $13.50
(ages 8-13)
This book gives kids the ins and outs of
navigating new surroundings, making new friends (as well as staying in touch
with old ones), and finding a place that feels like your own. You'll learn ways
to get adjusted and ease into your new school and surroundings. Every chapter
is packed with stories from other kids like you, useful advice for when you are
worried or upset, and quizzes to help you learn more about who you are. With a
little help, you can be comfortable as the star in your new scene! |
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Journal of a
Schoolyard Bully: CYBERBULLY. Farley Katz, $14.99 (novel, ages 12+)
Niko Kayler is a calculating bully. When his
mom transfers to a new job, in a new town, Niko has the chance
to mend his ways and start fresh. Though he tries to contain
himself, Niko stumbles into the world of cyberbullying and
begins to covertly torture his new classmates. Things seem
to be going his way until the technology is turned against
him, and Niko learns what it’s like to be on the wrong
side of cyberbullying.
Also Available: Journal of
a Schoolyard Bully: Notes on Noogies, Wet Willies, and Wedgies.
Farley Katz, $14.99 (novel, ages 12+)
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Drama-rama! A Quiz Book for a Smart Girl's Guide:
Drama, Rumors & Secrets. Emma MacLaren Henke, $14.99
This quiz-book is designed to help girls understand their
own power in the face of drama. Through thought-provoking questions and
entertaining answers, readers will get a better understanding of why drama
happens and what they can do to stop it. |
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Friends: Making Them and Keeping Them. Patty Kelley Criswell, $12.99 (ages 8 to 12)
Here’s all you need to know about making
friends and making friendships last. The book includes tips and
quizzes, plus true friendship stories. |
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Siblings: You’re
Stuck with Each Other, So Stick Together. James Crist
& Elizabeth Verdick, $14.99 (ages 8-12)
Every sibling relationship has its ups and downs, and moments of complete AAAAAACCCCCK! But siblings are more than annoyers and stuff-destroyers. You and your brothers and sisters can be buddies, allies, helpers, role models, secret-sharers and lifelong friends. It all starts with you! |
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Don’t
Behave Like You Live in a Cave. Elizabeth Verdick
& Steve Mark, $14.99
Is your behavior sometimes out of whack or out of control? Do you tend to get in trouble more than other kids you know? Don’t worry — you’re NOT a problem child. But you may need help with your behavior at home and school — and that’s what this book is for! |
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Dude, That’s
Rude! (Get Some Manners). Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth
Verdick, $11.95 (ages 8 to 13)
Full-color cartoons and kid-friendly
text teach the basics of polite behavior in all kinds of situations—at
home, at school, in the bathroom, on the phone, at the mall,
and more … It seems like light reading, but it’s serious stuff:
Manners are major social skills, and this book gives kids
a great start. |
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