This heartfelt picture book follows Mazie, a brave young cancer survivor beginning school with a bald head and only one eye. When she walks into the classroom, curious classmates whisper and imagine wild explanations for her appearance. Their silent stares weigh on Mazie, leaving her feeling alone - until she finds the courage to speak up and invite them to simply ask her about her story. Inspired by the author’s own childhood experience, this book gently guides children to a

A little girl finds a balloon and she’s sure her day just got lucky! But everyone else around her assumes that it must be her birthday. Well, she didn’t lie, but she didn’t correct them either and the simple misunderstanding spirals out of control. The entire group now expects a party with multi-layered cake and frosting and sprinkles. What a humorous book that shows how a harmless fib can blow out of proportion! Highly recommended for K-2!

In an era of ready-to-wear fashion and instant gratification, “A Salwar Kameez for Ambika” is a story that honours the fading tradition of having garments tailor-made. Reading it transported me back to the lanes of my hometown, where my mum and I would take a rickshaw to Sardarji’s stall to buy dress materials. Sardarji would unveil each fabric with theatrical flair, displaying not just his wares but his knowledge of textures and colours, all while intuitively reading the cus

Frank Murphy and Kayla Harren’s “…Like You/Ours” series has always held a special place in my heart. Just when I wondered what more could they possibly add to this beautiful collection, Frank, Carla and Kayla gift us with a new book that will bring every dog lover together in an instant! Anyone who’s ever shared their life with a dog knows they are the most loyal, loving companions - reminding us to stay curious, find joy in life’s simple moments, and care deeply for those we

“Off the Wall” is a lively tribute to the joy of creativity in motion. It all starts with one young girl, a blank wall, and a bucket of chalk. Soon more friends join them for a game of tic-tac-toe, and before long, chalk dust fills the air, hands get smeared with color, and the wall blossoms into something bigger and more beautiful than anyone imagined. In this playful story, Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal come together one more time to celebrate the messy, marvelous ener

A charming and straightforward cat-and-mouse chase unfolds through the galleries of the Met, with each page transforming a work of art into part of the pursuit. Every piece is faithfully reimagined using its original materials and style - from ink paintings and medieval portraits to illuminated manuscripts, Egyptian tablets, and ancient pottery. This is a jaw-droppingly gorgeous book made even more special because of the back matter where Brian Lies takes us through the creat

“Barbed Wire Between Us” is a striking reverso poem that bridges two generations of hardship. In its forward reading, it follows a Japanese American girl confined to an Oklahoma internment camp during World War II. When read backward, the poem uncovers the story of a Latina girl held in the same camp decades later, a victim of the U.S. migrant family separation policy. It is also a reminder of harsh history repeating itself. Book releases on 31 March 2026.

I’m elated to receive the DRC of my mentor and friend Shameer Bismilla’s new book “Zakee and the Quiet Magic of Being You” which hits the shelves on 4 November. A tender story about a quiet child, brought to life by Seyma Arslan’s illustrations, this book is a timely reminder for educators to strike a balance not only in the type of group work assigned in class but also between group work and individual tasks. Beyond the literary and social-emotional merits of the book, this

“Just In Case” – releasing next week – is a captivating and meaningful picture book that introduces children to the vital idea of saving...

Picture books about the trials and tribulations of learning a new language are often heavy and emotional reads. If you are looking for a...

A lyrical nonfiction picture book about the crow community – can it get more gorgeous than “I Am We”? – I doubt it! Though more than 40...

Have you checked out the latest book on Diwali by Namita Moolani Mehra? It is a delight to hold the book, turn the pages and the numerous...

“No More Chairs” deserves a place on every teacher’s read-aloud list this year. Inspired by a true story, this moving picture book...

If you’ve ever dismissed graphic novels as mere child’s play, “Band Nerd” is here to prove you wrong. This isn’t a light-hearted story...

Here is yet another lovely picture book for the littlest ones! It is a book about noticing the interesting things around us. The...

At first, the story seems simple enough - a boy spends a regular school day, meets his mother afterward, and together they share lunch...

I love it when authors step outside their usual style to try something completely different. Matthew Forsythe - of 𝘗𝘰𝘬𝘬𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥...

A pinch of boredom and a spoonful of the right provocation has always proven to be the perfect catalyst for ripe imagination. Stephen...

The school year is in full swing and the next school holiday seems oh-so-far-away! In the midst of this whirlwind, Mariahadessa’s “𝙒𝙚...

We had a pocket of time in the Grade 1 classroom and I picked up Niña Mata’s “𝙉𝙚𝙬” to read to the little ones under my care for the...

A young girl walks through the forest with her grandfather, noticing animals, plants, and the turning of the seasons. Their walk reflects...

There’s something magical about having a place that’s just yours - a secret corner, a hidden hideout, a cozy little nest. This book...

Ready to boost your child’s vocabulary while having fun? Meet the word-loving wombats. Evergreen Forest is a quiet, ordinary place -...

It’s time to add Melissa Stewart’s “𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘉𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘶𝘳𝘱! 𝘈 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘯-𝘈𝘵𝘰𝘮’𝘴 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳-𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺...