Children's Staff Picks 11/2025 | SWAN Consortium

1) Maggie Lou meets her match

Author

Dufour Bowes, Arnolda

Description

"In this sequel to Maggie Lou, Firefox, the irrepressible Maggie Lou acquires a new cousin, and a horse -- both of whom have minds of their own. When Uncle Bobby gets married, Maggie Lou suddenly finds herself with a new cousin, Rosie. Rosie is the same age as Maggie. She also has a fabulous head of curls, although hers are red. And Rosie knows everything about horses and riding -- something Maggie Lou has longed to do. A rivalry sparks between the...

2) Mia the masterpiece: an empowering story about inclusivity and growing up with Down Syndrome

Author

Series

Step into reading. Step 2 book

Description

Tween actress Mia Armstrong celebrates her fun, funny, beautiful childhood living with Down syndrome in this debut picture book. Mia likes many of the things other people like--going to the beach, the color blue, drawing. But she doesn't like when strangers stare at her because she looks different from them. Down syndrome allows Mia to see and understand the world in a way that may not make sense to others. She considers it her superpower--and instead...

3) She speaks: the women of Greek myths in their own words

Author

Description

Written in first-person, we hear from the astute sorceress Medea and her pivotal role in the quest for the Golden Fleece; discover the contributions of Cretan princess Ariadne in the slaying of the Minotaur; witness the strength and resilience of Atalanta, Circe, Helen of Troy, and many other women who have been previously overshadowed by their male counterparts. With her meticulous research and insightful storytelling, readers will be mesmerized...

4) 365 ideas para dibujar Manga

Author

Description

"Desata tu creatividad y empieza tu camino hacia convertirte en el maestro del dibujo manga que siempre quisiste ser. Para progresar en el arte del dibujo, necesitas ser constante y practicar a diario. Este libro sobre cómo dibujar manga te ofrece un reto cada día del año para que practiques un sinfín de posibilidades artísticas, desde personajes singulares y adorables mascotas hasta accesorios y elementos paisajísticos."-- Provided by publisher....

5) The wishing leaf

Author

George, K. (Kallie), 1983-

Description

A young bear patiently waits for the last leaf of autumn to fall so he can make a special wish.

6) Gather grateful

Author

Description

"Lyrical prose and luminous illustrations welcome the arrival of fall in a season of community and thanksgiving. As colors in nature start to change, animals begin gathering items--squirrels their acorns, crows their treasures, raccoons the bits and pieces needed to fortify their homes. Animals of all species prepare to gather with each other too, for warmth, for affection, for sharing food or stories. With lilting, rhythmic prose, Megan Litwin heralds...

7) Signs of friendship

Author

Silvestro, Annie

Description

Sally and Sonia, two best friends who communicate in sign language, plant a garden, but when Sonia befriends Dev and his puppy gets loose in the garden, Sally becomes upset and fears she is losing her best friend.

8) Severe and unusual weather

Author

Foley, Jessie Ann

Description

In this poignant novel, a young girl leaves her troubled home and, while investigating a destructive tornado with the class outcast, learns the importance of letting her guard down. A must-read for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly, Dan Gemeinhart, and Corey Ann Haydu. Nadine has rules for surviving as the new kid: 1. Keep your head down ; 2. Mind your own business ; 3. Don’t stick your neck out for anyone. Especially not for Francis Pepper, the boy everyone...

9) Mother Earth: my favourite artist

Author

GoldenEagle, Carol Rose, 1963-

Description

"A shiny rock, the guiding tracks of a bird, a colourful sunset--what beauty do you see on Mother Earth? Award-winning Indigenous author, CBC journalist, and Poet Laureate of Saskatchewan (2021-2023) Carol Rose GoldenEagle brings readers a radiant tribute to the artwork within the everyday. Paired with stunning illustrations by Hawlii Pichette, My Favourite Artist encourages us to share in the simple wonder of nature, and honour the precious magnificence...

10) Up, up, and away: the history of aviation

Author

Svoboda, Tomáš (Illustrator)

Description

Explore the fascinating history of aviation in this fully illustrated STEM book for young kids that celebrates famous aviators, incredible aircraft, and the amazing events that transformed flight. Join Grandpa Edward and his grandchildren, Molly and Simon, on a thrilling journey through the sky as they explore the rich history of aviation. From the invention of the first flying machines to modern marvels like rescue helicopters and hot-air balloons,...

11) My friend May

Author

Description

A little girl named Margaux has a big black cat named May. One day, May doesn't come home for dinner and, although the family looks and looks, they can't find her. Margaux's auntie helps in the search, but she can't stay long because she is packing to move to the city. Margaux will miss her auntie. She also misses May. Will May ever come home?

12) 100 goats and granny!

Author

Description

"Excitement is in the air as Granny collects more and more goats! Eight are great, fifty are nifty . . . but when their number reaches one hundred, things start to get out of hand. There's a brown goat beeping on the bus, a gray one sitting in the salon, a white goat stealing panties from the line, and one has gone missing altogether--who can count in all this mayhem? . . . a gleeful crowd of children try their best to track them"--Provided by publisher....

Author

Chung, Christine D. U

Description

"Arriving on an Earth devoid of people, a young space traveler discovers a viewfinder that reveals how the planet used to be, in this wordless, adventure-filled graphic novel about resilience and the extraordinary place we call home"-- Provided by publisher.

14) The trickster shadow

Author

Pawis-Steckley, Joshua Mangeshig

Description

"Drawing on Indigenous ancestral wisdom and inner strength, a child is able to master the dark side of his emotions"-- Provided by publisher.

15) There's a skunk in my bunk!

Author

Series

My weird school special volume 11

Description

"School's out for summer! A.J. can't wait to spend his days playing video games, watching TV, and forgetting everything he learned during the school year. But when his parents announce they've signed him up for sleepaway camp, his great plans slip away right before his eyes. Now he's stuck at Camp Ahdoanwanna with his friends. Between the mosquitoes and bees, animals that break into the cabins, and a moose head that guards the mail, this is definitely...

Author

Cantini, Barbara

Series

Ghoulia (Series) volume 1
Ghoulia

Description

"Ghoulia is a typical little girl . . . who happens to be a zombie. She lives in Crumbling Manor with her Auntie Departed and albino greyhound named Tragedy. In search of a real friend, Ghoulia tries to venture past the manor's walls, but she can't hide her pale green skin or the deep purple circles under her eyes. The other children will be afraid of her, and no one will want to be her friend. But when Halloween rolls around, Ghoulia hatches a brilliant...

17) Jellyfish scientist: Maude Delap and her mesmerizing medusas

Author

Cusolito, Michelle

Description

"Maude Delap was the first person to raise a jellyfish and observe its full life cycle"-- Provided by publisher.