National Day For Truth & Reconciliation Reading List

National Day For Truth & Reconciliation is an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools – the impacts of which are still being felt in communities across Canada. As we reflect this week, here are some books that may help our learning and may equip us with the tools to guide little ones through this impactful day.


With Our Orange Hearts
By Webstad, Phyllis 
Illustrated by Kewageshig, Emily

“Every child matters, including you and me. With our orange hearts, we walk in harmony.” As a young child, your little world can be full of big emotions. In this book, I, Phyllis Webstad, founder of Orange Shirt Day, show that sharing my story with the world helped me to process my feelings. My true orange shirt story encourages young children to open their hearts and listen as others share their feelings, and to be more comfortable sharing their own feelings too. Listening is a first step towards reconciliation. It’s never too early to start.

Get it here!



The Witness Blanket
By Newman, Carey
Illustrated by Hudson, Kirstie

For more than 150 years, thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their families and sent to residential schools across Canada.

Artist Carey Newman created the Witness Blanket to make sure that history is never forgotten. The Blanket is a living work of art–a collection of hundreds of objects from those schools. It includes everything from photos, bricks, hockey skates, graduation certificates, dolls and piano keys to braids of hair. Behind every piece is a story. And behind every story is a residential school Survivor, including Carey’s father. This book is a collection of truths about what happened at those schools, but it’s also a beacon of hope and a step on the journey toward reconciliation.

Get it here!



When We Were Alone
By Robertson, David A
Illustrated by Flett, Julie

Winner of the 2017 Governor General’s Literary Award in the Young People’s Literature (Illustrated Books) category and winner 2017 McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award: Younger Category

When a young girl helps tend to her grandmother’s garden, she begins to notice things that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long, braided hair and beautifully colored clothing? Why does she speak another language and spend so much time with her family? As she asks her grandmother about these things, she is told about life in a residential school a long time ago, where all of these things were taken away. When We Were Alone is a story about a difficult time in history, and, ultimately, one of empowerment and strength.

Also available in a bilingual Swampy Cree/English edition.

Get it here!


Orange Shirt Day September 30th
By Webstad, Phyllis
Orange Shirt Society

Revised 2023 Edition. Orange Shirt Day, observed annually on September 30th, is also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is an official day to honour Residential School Survivors and their families, and to remember the children who did not come home. What was initially envisioned as a way to keep the conversations going about all aspects of Residential Schools in Williams Lake and the Cariboo Region of British Columbia, Canada, has now expanded into a movement across Turtle Island and beyond. Orange Shirt Day: September 30th aims to create champions who will walk a path of reconciliation and promote the message that ‘Every Child Matters’. This award-winning book explores a number of important topics including the historical, generational, and continual impacts of Residential Schools on Indigenous Peoples, the journey of the Orange Shirt Day movement, and how you can effectively participate in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. With end of chapter reflection questions and a series of student art submissions, readers are guided to explore how they, and others, view and participate in Residential School reconciliation.

Get it here!


Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

Grandparent’s Special Day Reading list

We recently celebrated Grandparent’s Special Day at the Museum, and we’re continuing the love with this curated reading list that’s all about these special persons in our lives.


My Baba’s Garden
by Scott, Jordan & Smith, Sydney

A young boy spends his mornings with his beloved Baba, his grandmother. She doesn’t speak much English, but they connect through gestures, gardening, eating, and walking to school together. Marked by memories of wartime scarcity, Baba cherishes food, and the boy learns to do the same. Eventually, Baba needs to move in with the boy and his parents, and he has the chance to care for her as she’s always cared for him.

Inspired by memories from poet Jordan Scott’s childhood, with beautiful, dreamlike illustrations by award-winning illustrator Sydney Smith, My Baba’s Garden is a deeply personal story that evokes universal emotions.

Get it here!


Just Like Grandma
by Rogers, Kim & Flett, Julie

Becca loves spending time with Grandma. Every time Becca says, “Let me try,” Grandma shows her how to make something beautiful.

Whether they are beading moccasins, dancing like the most beautiful butterflies, or practicing basketball together, Becca knows that, more than anything, she wants to be just like Grandma.

And as the two share their favorite activities, Becca discovers something surprising about Grandma.

Get it here!


Berry Song
A Caldecott Honor Book
by Goade, Michaela

On an island at the edge of a wide, wild sea, a girl and her grandmother gather gifts from the earth. Salmon from the stream, herring eggs from the ocean, and in the forest, a world of berries.

Salmonberry, Cloudberry, Blueberry, Nagoonberry.

Huckleberry, Snowberry, Strawberry, Crowberry.

Through the seasons, they sing to the land as the land sings to them. Brimming with joy and gratitude, in every step of their journey, they forge a deeper kinship with both the earth and the generations that came before, joining in the song that connects us all. Michaela Goade’s luminous rendering of water and forest, berries and jams glows with her love of the land and offers an invitation to readers to deepen their own relationship with the earth.

Get it here!


Mexikid
by Martn, Pedro

Pedro Martin has grown up hearing stories about his abuelito–his legendary crime-fighting, grandfather who was once a part of the Mexican Revolution! But that doesn’t mean Pedro is excited at the news that Abuelito is coming to live with their family. After all, Pedro has 8 brothers and sisters and the house is crowded enough! Still, Pedro piles into the Winnebago with his family for a road trip to Mexico to bring Abuelito home, and what follows is the trip of a lifetime, one filled with laughs and heartache. Along the way, Pedro finally connects with his abuelito and learns what it means to grow up and find his grito.

Get it here!


Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

BACK TO SCHOOL READING LIST  

It’s time to head back to school! This week we look at books focused on going back to school and some for those just starting in kindergarten. These finds may just be what you need to help with the transition. 


The Crayons Go Back to School
By Daywalt, Drew
Illustrated by Jeffers, Oliver

The hilarious crayons from the #1 New York Times bestselling The Day The Crayons Quit are ready to go back to school!

The crayons are getting ready to go back to school, and each crayon has a subject they’re looking forward to the most. They’re also ready to meet new friends. . . and let loose during their very favorite time of day: art class. A humorous, small hardcover back-to-school story from everyone’s favorite school supplies.

Get it here!


The World’s Best Class Plant
Vernick, Audrey; Garton Scanlon, Liz
Illustrated by Bontigao, Lynnor

An irresistible picture book about a boy and his classmates who long for a class pet, but discover the joys and rewards of nurturing a class plant.

Room 107 has a cockatiel. Room 108 has a chinchilla. Even the Art Room has a bearded dragon. But in Room 109, Arlo’s classroom, there is a plant. A mostly green, hardly growing, never moving plant. Even though it doesn’t squeak, whistle, or whimper, Arlo’s teacher says the plant is “more than enough excitement for us.” But what could possibly be exciting about a plant?

One day, Arlo decides to name the plant Jerry. Something about naming the plant makes it more exciting. As the class learns to take care of Jerry, he starts to grow . . . greener and longer and twistier. And before long it’s clear that something amazing has taken root in Arlo’s classroom.

Get it here!


The Invisible String Backpack
Karst, Patrice
Illustrated by Lew-vriethoff, Joanne

It’s Mila’s first day of school, but mixed with excitement is worry. What if she can’t find her classroom? What if no one likes her? What if she’s too nervous to speak up? With a little advice from her brother, she learns that she has everything she needs right in her Invisible Backpack: an Invisible Microphone to help her find her voice, an Invisible Flashlight for when she’s feeling lost, an Invisible Net to catch her if she falls, and much more. Her pack is bottomless! The Invisible String is the very first thing that she puts in her pack—and each time she uses it, it gets bigger and better.

Get it here!


Mr. S
Arnaldo, Monica
It was the first day of school.

But even the kindergarteners of room 2B could tell something was seriously wrong . . . Where was the teacher? Who left this sandwich on the desk?

The only clue, written on the chalkboard, were three simple letters: Mr. S

Prepare for plenty of giggles as a kindergarten class arrives for their first day of school, but can’t find their teacher—only a delicious-looking sandwich and the words “Mr. S” scribbled on the chalkboard. Chaos ensues as the kids argue whether or not the sandwich must be their teacher.

Get it here!


Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

NEW YEAR READING LIST

It’s a New Year & we have a new reading list.  Explore the pages of these lovely books as they highlight the themes of family, being together, embracing the past, and looking forward to the future.


Snow Horses
MacLachlan, Patricia and Archer, Micha

From Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia MacLachlan comes a cozy picture book of love, light, and community during New Year’s and taking the past with us as we step into the future, brought to life with tender and intricate cut paper illustrations.

On the very last evening before the new year, when the snow is falling soft and thick, two black horses wait for the jingle of their sled. As they ride about town, they will spread light to their beloved neighbors, bidding farewell to the last night–and saying hello to the first morning.

Get it here!


The Tray Of Togetherness
Leung, Flo

A delicious ode to food, family, and togetherness that celebrates Lunar New Year

A little girl and her family are hosting a New Year party, an event marking the Lunar New Year. There’s a lot to do before the guests arrive! First, a trip to the market to fill up the Tray of Togetherness, a special candy box for the partygoers. Each of the eight lucky snacks in the Tray has an auspicious meaning: peanuts for a long life, pistachios for happiness, candied coconut for strong family ties…As the family returns home, they pass out delicious good wishes to the friends and neighbors they meet along the way.

After the tray has been prepared and the decorations set up, it’s time for the party! A diverse group of relatives and friends gathers, ready to celebrate the New Year with the Tray of Togetherness.

This sensory, food-focused story is brought to life with eye-catching illustrations and a little girl’s cheerful narration. Debut author/illustrator Flo Leung encourages readers to explore culturally specific Lunar New Year practices, while offering a universal message about carrying on traditions and creating community.

Get it here!


A Sweet New Year For Ren
Sterling, Michelle and Ho, Dung

Celebrate the Lunar New Year through a young girl’s family traditions in this charming picture book featuring illustrations by New York Times bestselling artist Dung Ho that also includes a recipe for pineapple cakes!

Little Ren looks forward to the preparation for and festivities of Lunar New Year, but she is always too little to help make the delicious pineapple cakes that are her favorite. She watches family members rolling out the dough and loves the mouth-watering smell. Watching and waiting, when will Ren be old enough?

Get it here!


Freedom Soup
Charles, Tami and Alcantara, Jacqueline

Join the celebration in the kitchen as a family makes their traditional New Year’s soup — and shares the story of how Haitian independence came to be.

The shake-shake of maracas vibrates down to my toes.

Ti Gran’s feet tap-tap to the rhythm.

Every year, Haitians all over the world ring in the new year by eating a special soup, a tradition dating back to the Haitian Revolution. This year, Ti Gran is teaching Belle how to make the soup — Freedom Soup — just like she was taught when she was a little girl. Together, they dance and clap as they prepare the holiday feast, and Ti Gran tells Belle about the history of the soup, the history of Belle’s family, and the history of Haiti, where Belle’s family is from. In this celebration of cultural traditions passed from one generation to the next, Jacqueline Alcántara’s lush illustrations bring to life both Belle’s story and the story of the Haitian Revolution. Tami Charles’s lyrical text, as accessible as it is sensory, makes for a tale that readers will enjoy to the last drop.

Get it here!


Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

 

CHRISTMAS READING LIST

This week’s reading list explores how people celebrate during this season. Dive into these books with your little ones and gain insight into celebrations worldwide and how we can respect those traditions.


The Little Toymaker
Min, Cat

We all know about the guy in the red suit at the North Pole. But what if the world’s toymaker was a little boy?

From the author and illustrator of Shy Willow comes the adorable little Toymaker, who makes wonderful toys… not for children, but for their grandparents and other older folk. (People often forget that they, too, like toys!) But it isn’t always easy.

One morning, an old woman brings the little Toymaker a candy tin she played with as a girl.

The little Toymaker takes the tin and TA-DA! comes back with a sparkling new toy for the old lady. But it seems that what she truly wants was lost a long time ago. And it will take all the Toymaker’s skill, magic, and empathy to bring it back for her.

Get it here!


Lonely Planet Kids; A Time To Celebrate
Baker, Kate

A follow-up to A Place Called Home, this beautifully illustrated lift-the-flap book explores and celebrates different people, places, cultures and traditions from across the world. Featuring eight festivals – at least one from each of the inhabited continents – this title provides a glimpse into diverse traditions, customs and beliefs. By lifting the flaps and reading the gentle, educational text, readers can find out about New Year in China, Christmas in Germany, Carnival in Rio, the Day of the Dead in Mexico and much more.Â

Celebrations include:

  • The Garma Festival, Arnhem Land region, Australia
  • Chinese New Year, Beijing, China
  • Rio Carnival, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilÂ
  • Ramadan in Morocco, Africa
  • Day of the Dead, Oaxaca, Mexico
  • Diwali, Mumbai or Jaipur, India
  • Tu Bi’Shivat Festival, New York, USAÂ
  • Christmas in Frankfurt, Germany

Get it here!


Happy All-idays
Jin, Cindy and Sayegh, Rob

All Season’s Greetings and Happy ALL-idays! Learn how different families celebrate the winter season with this holiday card-inspired board book that captures the meaning of Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and more!

The time has come

to send holiday cheer

to family and friends

far and near.

 

We all celebrate the season

in our own special way.

Let’s look at how families

prepare for each holiday!

 

Whether it’s putting up the Christmas tree, lighting the menorah, or getting ready for Kwanzaa, this story proves that the holiday season is a special time for everyone and a great way to learn about different winter holidays and send cheer to everyone you know!

Get it here!


The Shortest Day
Cooper, Susan and Ellis, Carson

So the shortest day came,

and the year died . . .

As the sun set on the shortest day of the year, early people would gather to prepare for the long night ahead. They built fires and lit candles. They played music, bringing their own light to the darkness, while wondering if the sun would ever rise again. Written for a theatrical production that has become a ritual in itself, Susan Cooper’s poem “The Shortest Day” captures the magic behind the returning of the light, the yearning for traditions that connect us with generations that have gone before — and the hope for peace that we carry into the future. Richly illustrated by Carson Ellis with a universality that spans the centuries, this beautiful book evokes the joy and community found in the ongoing mystery of life when we celebrate light, thankfulness, and festivity at a time of rebirth. Welcome Yule!

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A Coyote Solstice
King, Thomas and Clement, Gary

Trickster Coyote is having his friends over for a festive solstice get-together in the woods when a little girl comes by unexpectedly. She leads the party-goers through the snowy woods to a shopping mall — a place they have never seen before.

Coyote gleefully shops with abandon, only to discover that filling your shopping cart with goodies is not quite the same thing as actually paying for them. The trickster is tricked and goes back to his cabin in the woods — somewhat subdued — though nothing can keep Coyote down for long.

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The Lights That Dance In The Night
Zommer, Yuval

From tiny specks of dust to gleaming rays in the dark, the northern lights travel across the Arctic, uniting every creature in a celebration over land and sea.

In this wonderfully festive picture book, Yuval Zommer imagines the northern lights’ fleeting journey from space to Earth and how they weave a special magic for the animals and people living in the frozen lands below.

With its heartfelt themes of kinship, curiosity, and the wonders of nature, it’s a perfectly cozy story for families to read together.

Get it here!


Green Is For Christmas
Daywalt, Drew and Jeffers, Oliver

In this Christmas story starring the crayons from the #1 New York Times bestseller The Day The Crayons Quit, Green Crayon is certain that he is the only Christmas color in the box. Of course, Red, White, Silver and even Tan have something to say about that…

When Green Crayon claims that green is the only color for Christmas, other crayons let him know that there would be no Christmas without them either. No candy canes or Santa without Red, no snow without White, no bells or stars without Silver, and no cookies or reindeer without Tan! The crayons agree that they all need to come together to make Christmas special.

This humorous, small hardcover Christmas story is the perfect stocking stuffer and a great gift for fans of The Day The Crayons Quit–and all kids who like to color.

Get it here!


Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

WINTER READING LIST

We are back with another reading list and this one is all about snow. Thanks to our friends and partners at McNally Robinson Booksellers, we get to explore the pages of these fun books as they welcome winter.


Once Upon A Northern Night
Pendziwol, Jean and Arsenault, Isabelle

In this exquisite lullaby, the beauty and wonder of a northern winter night unfold, with images of a soft snowfall, the wild animals that appear in the garden, the twinkling stars, the gentle rhythm of the northern lights and the etchings of frost on the window pane.

As the young child sleeps, wrapped in a downy blanket, a snowflake falls, and then another and another. The poem describes the forest of snow-covered pines, where a deer and fawn nibble a frozen apple, and a great gray owl swoops down with its feathers trailing through the snow. Two snowshoe hares scamper and play under the watchful eyes of a little fox, and a tiny mouse scurries in search of a midnight feast. When the snow clouds disappear, stars light up the sky, followed by the mystical shimmering of northern lights – all framed by the frost on the window.

Get it here! 


The Snow Knows
McGrath, Jennifer and Bisaillon, Josee

In this deceptively simple children’s picture book, a pair of award-winning storytellers share the joys of winter. A lyrical prose poem, The Snow Knows introduces readers of all ages to animals both domestic (a tabby cat by the wood stove) and wild (a slinking lynx; a choir of coyotes), celebrating wilderness and outdoor play.

Get it here!


Hello, World! Snow
Mcdonald, Jill

The hit Hello, World! board book series teaches toddlers all about snow! Includes easy-to-understand facts about chilly weather, snowflakes, storms, snowplows, and winter fun.

Young children love to play in the snow. Now Hello, World! can teach them all about winter weather–with colors, shapes, sizes, and super-simple facts. (“Snowflakes come in different shapes, but they all have six sides and six points.”)

It’s a perfect way to bring science and nature into the busy world of a toddler, where learning never stops.

Get it here!


Mother Winter
Carroll, James Christopher

A poetic personification of the winter season, Mother Winter goes walking “on the longest cold night,” inviting the reader along to experience chill winds, icy ponds, white snowdrifts, and other quiet wonders.

Get it here!


Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

REMEMBRANCE DAY READING LIST

In honour of Remembrance Day, we reflect on the sacrifice that many have made through the stories told in these books. These books are sure to introduce you to some unlikely characters and how they made an impact during unprecedented times.


The Eleventh Hour
Goldstyn, Jacques

Jim and Jules are childhood friends, born on the same day in the same village. All their lives, Jim has been first — born two minutes before Jules, always faster, always stronger. When the First World War breaks out in Europe, the two young men enlist in the fight with 30,000 other Canadians.

On the Front, conditions aren’t epic and glorious but muddy and barbaric. Here, too, Jim is the first to attack. Jules is always two minutes behind: lagging in drills, missing the boat, handed chores instead of honors. On November 11, 1918, Jim and Jules are sent out to fight one last time. Jim, always first over the top of the trench, is shot and dies at 10:58am, two minutes before the Armistice takes effect at 11:00am.

Inspired by true events, this picture book is a simple, poignant, thought-provoking story to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the Armistice in 2018.

Get it here!


 

Sergeant Billy
The True Story Of The Goat Who Went To War
Messier, Mireille and Reich, Kass

During World War I, a goat named Billy was adopted by a platoon of soldiers and made his way across the ocean to be part of the war effort.

Billy . . .

  • Trained with the soldiers
  • Was smuggled across the ocean
  • Got snuck into the frontlines in a box of oranges
  • Ate some secret documents and was arrested for treason
  • Got trench foot
  • Head-butted soldiers into a trench and saved them from a shell
  • Came back home a decorated war hero

This charming true story follows Sergeant Billy from his small prairie town to the trenches of World War I and back, through harrowing moments, sad moments, moments of camaraderie and moments of celebration. This unforgettable goat and the platoon that loved him will capture your heart!

Get it here!


Finding Winnie
The True Story Of The World’s Most Famous Bear
Mattick, Lindsay and Blackall, Sophie

During World War I, Captain Harry Colebourn, a Canadian veterinarian on his way to serve with cavalry units in Europe, rescued a bear cub in White River, Ontario. He named the bear Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg, and he took the bear to war.

Harry Colebourn’s real-life great-granddaughter Lindsay Mattick recounts their incredible journey, from a northern Canadian town to a convoy across the ocean to an army base in England . . . and finally to the London Zoo, where Winnie made a new friend: a boy named Christopher Robin.

Gentle yet haunting illustrations by acclaimed illustrator Sophie Blackall bring the wartime era to life, and are complemented by photographs and ephemera from the Colebourn family archives.

Get it here!


Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

 

FAIRYTALES READING LIST

Our special exhibition – The Eaton’s Fairytale Vignettes – opens very soon. As we prepare to welcome a world of fairytales this holiday season, let’s enjoy this reading selection of fairytales from our friends and partners at McNally Robinson Booksellers.

When you’re done, come and explore the last original Eaton’s Fairytale Vignettes – fully restored and open to the public from November 12, 2022, until January 8, 2023.


Endlessly Ever After
Synder, Laurel and Santat, Dan

This funny, original choose-your-path picture book of fractured fairy tales will charm any young fan of the genre, putting the power of storytelling right in the reader’s hands!

Grab your basket and your coat. Put on some walking shoes. Turn the page and begin: Which story will you choose?

Award-winning creators Laurel Snyder and Dan Santat transform a crowd of classic tales into an ever-changing, fascinating, laugh-out-loud choose-your-path picture book, in which you may find a sleeping maiden, waste away in a sticky licorice cage, discover the gold at the end of a wild goose chase, or maybe (just maybe) save yourself–and the day!

Get it here!


Three Billy Goats Gruff
Barnett, Mac and Klassen, Jon

Once there was a bridge and a terrible and VERY hungry troll lived underneath it. When the three Billy Goats Gruff decide to clip-clop across the bridge to get to the grassy ridge, the troll is already imagining all the way to prepare a delicious goat dinner. But the troll underestimates those seemingly sweet but oh-so-savvy goats! This is the first in a groundbreaking new collection of fractured fairy tales crafted by one of today’s most celebrated and acclaimed authors, Mac Barnett, and brought to stunning visual life by award-winning and beloved creator of I Want My Hat Back, Jon Klassen.

Get it here!


Jo Bright and the Seven Bots
Hunt, Meg and Underwood, Deborah

Once upon a planetoid
surrounded by her friends,
a girl, Jo Bright, loved building bots
from scraps and odds and ends!

Snow White gets a stellar upgrade in this clever retelling with a truly inventive heroine. With wit, bravery, and some spare circuit boards, Jo will foil the queen, befriend a dragon, and build herself a celestially happy ending of her own. From the team that created the acclaimed Interstellar Cinderella and Reading Beauty comes another funny and empowering fairytale that’s out of this world.

Get it here!


Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

HALLOWEEN READING LIST

Tomorrow, we celebrate Halloween Howl, but let’s start the fangtastic family entertainment today with these spooky and fun titles.


Leila The Perfect Witch  
Drago, Flavia

Leila Wayward is a little witch who excels at everything she does. She’s the fastest flier, the most cunning conjuror, and the most superb shape-shifter. She has won trophies for potions, herbology, and alchemy–and now she dreams of winning the Magnificent Witchy Cake-off! As the youngest in a long line of masters of the Dark Arts of Patisserie, Leila wants her entry to be perfect. But even with the most bewitching of recipes, she realizes a terrible truth: she’s a disaster in the kitchen.

Luckily, Leila has three magical sisters who are happy to share their culinary secrets with her. What’s more, Leila discovers that baking with them is fun! Win or lose, she has already tasted the sweetest thing of all: acceptance–with a pinch of nightshade and a bit of mandrake. Filled with expressive and fancifully offbeat illustrations, Flavia Z. Drago’s enchanting story of trying your hardest despite your imperfections is sure to delight little witches and novice bakers alike.

Get it here!


Creepy Crayon
Reynolds, Aaron and Brown, Peter

Jasper Rabbit has a problem: he is NOT doing well in school. His spelling tests? Disasters. His math quizzes? Frightening to behold. But one day, he finds a crayvon lying in the gutter. Purple. Pointy. Perfect. Somehow…it looked happy to see him. And it wants to help.

At first, Jasper is excited. Everything is going great. His spelling is fantastic. His math is stupendous. And best of all, he doesn’t have to do ANY work! But then the crayon starts acting weird. It’s everywhere, and it wants to do everything. And Jasper must find a way to get rid of it before it takes over his life. The only problem? The creepy crayon will not leave.

Get it here!


Vampire Baby
Barks, Elias and Persico, Zoe

On every page, and beneath every flap, Vampire Baby! is crawling with Gothic Halloween imagery and creeping with classic Halloween creatures, including a mummy, Frankenstein’s Monster, a ghost, and a gargoyle. Young readers and pre-readers will discover the details of this non-threatening Halloween castle alongside their Vampire Baby avatar, as every spread features a flap revealing a fun, unexpected character or surprise.

Get it here!


The Crayons Trick Or Treat
Daywalt, Drew and Jeffers, Oliver

The hilarious crayons from the #1 New York Times bestselling The Day The Crayons Quit are ready to celebrate Halloween!

The Crayons want to go trick-or-treating, but they’re not sure what to say! In this humorous, small hardcover Halloween story, Purple Crayon teaches the rest of the crayon box the magic words to say when they ring their neighbors’ doorbells. (Hint: It’s NOT “Boo!”)

Get it here!


Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

 

MINI MONDAYS READING LIST

It’s time for another Mini Mondays reading list. Listed below are titles tailored to our little VIPS (children under 4 years old). We hope they bring laughter, curiosity and fun while sparking creative learning.


Bookscape: We Love Books!  
Arrhenius, Ingela P.

Discover a world of books and stories and learn first words with this adorable Bookscape Board Book!

Explore a cozy bookstore, visit a library, and learn all about books in this sweet board book by celebrated illustrator Ingela P Arrhenius. Each uniquely shaped page overlaps with the next to create a complete landscape when closed–and an immersive world to explore with each turn of the page when open.

Simple text and jubilant illustrations introduce babies and toddlers to a word of books and usher in an early appreciation for reading! Delightfully petite, Bookscape Board Books’ chunkiness and unique layers give them a tactile, toylike quality that begs to be picked up–making each book in the series a memorable and irresistible gift.

Get it here!


Snore Like A Bear
LaRue, Nicole

Make believe you’re a big brown bear dozing in your den. Cuddle with your sleeping cubs until it’s spring again.

This adorable board book encourages toddlers to mimic the bedtime behaviors of animals both familiar and exotic. Little ones are encouraged to be drowsy meerkats, tired koalas, and weary walruses. These simple, engaging prompts help children relieve bedtime stress and develop a mind-body connection.

Get it here!


A Kit Story
Farrell, Alison and Tracy, Kristen

I am a fox. Do you see me?

See the world through a fox kit’s eyes in a charming book about finding your place in the world. Over the course of four seasons, Kit comes of age in the forest. In spring, she gambols. In autumn, she races. In summer, she sneaks and slinks. But with her mama, she will always be a little kit.

This is the second in a series of board books that pairs Kristen Tracy’s enchanting, playful text with Alison Farrell’s sweet, endearing art for an adorable treatment of everyone’s favorite topic: baby animals!

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E Is For Earth
Paprocki, Greg

Learn with your toddler all about our amazing planet, Earth, and the things we can do to make it more healthy, sustainable, and even more beautiful.

An engaging collection of illustrations teaching children all about the amazing planet we live on and the things we can do to make Earth more healthy, sustainable, and even more beautiful. Have fun reading with your child as you come across letters such as these: A for activist, C for compost, E for energy, and O for oxygen.

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Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.