Middle Grade Fiction: Expand Your Horizons - Recommendations from the Ottawa Public Library

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share fabulous folktale books with us. This month’s post is by Raven Winn-Desroches, Librarian, Children's and Teen Services at the St Laurent Branch of the Ottawa Public Library.

When kids first start reading novels on their own, it can be difficult to know where to start. There are so many books out there. It can seem quite overwhelming. Often, they will turn to the most popular books. The ones their friends are reading and talking about. While there is nothing wrong with this (I strongly believe that it does not matter what is being read, as long as kids are reading), it can lead to frustration. They do not like the popular books, or do not see themselves represented in its pages. Or they have simply read all the popular books and are now looking for more. 

The list below is meant to help with this issue. These books feature a variety of marginalized voices all the while telling stories that can appeal to everyone. Reading outside of their immediate experiences can help kids learn empathy, and these books teach them about the world around them and the people in it. It is also a great jumping off point for anyone looking to read more diversely, or who simply want to see themselves reflected in the books they read. 

I have also put together a list featuring the books below, and others like it here: Middle Grade: Expand your horizons | Bibliothèque publique d'Ottawa | BiblioCommons 

All books mentioned are aimed at readers aged 8-12, but everyone’s preferences and comfort levels when it comes to reading may vary. 

Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy 

Dear Sweet Pea follows thirteen-year-old Patricia as she grapples with the effects of her parents’ divorce on her life. She is recruited by her neighbour, the town’s eccentric local advice columnist, Flora Mae, to manage her mail while she is away. Patricia cannot help herself: she notices the handwriting on one of the letters and responds to it as Flora Mae. This sets off a chain of events that throws Patricia’s friendships into disarray as she toes the line between right and wrong. 

The Chance to Fly by Ali Stroker & Stacy Davidowitz 

The Chance to Fly is the story of musicals-obsessed Nat Beacon. She is never seen an actor on stage who uses a wheelchair for mobility like she does, but she gets the chance to change that when she moves to a new town and gets cast in the ensemble of an all-kids production of Wicked. 

No Vacancy by Tziporah Cohen 

In No Vacancy, Miriam Brockman and her family move to a small rural town in New York State, where they have purchased a dilapidated motel in the hopes of turning it into a successful business. Seeing her family struggle with this, Miriam and her new friend Kate orchestrate the appearance of a religious image in the town, in hopes of driving up much-needed tourism in the town. This book expertly interweaves Miriam’s Jewish faith, and the reality of antisemitism in today’s world, with themes of family and friendships that everyone will relate to. 

Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff  

Different Kinds of Fruit tells the story of Annabelle Blake as she navigates her budding friendship with a new student at her school. With Bailey, Annabelle’s world opens up, and she learns about things she had never thought of before – including gender, intercommunity conflict, and LGBTQ history. This is a coming-of-age story that shows readers how things like gender and sexuality and acceptance may not be quite so black and white. 

Fifty-Four Things Wrong With Gwendolyn Rogers by Caela Carter 

Gwendolyn Rogers is a fifth grader who, ever since she discovered a list of fifty-four things that are wrong with her (Number 16: she is sneaky. Number 13: She is impulsive), has become determined to fix everything that is wrong with her. Otherwise, she believes, she will only continue to be a bad daughter, student, friend, or person in general. Author Caela Carter pulls from her own experiences as someone with undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia to create a moving and richly told story about self-acceptance. 

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston 

Amari and the Night Brothers is the first book in a fantasy series. Amari Peters’s brother, Quinton, went missing some time ago, but Amari has never given up hope that he is still alive. When she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet containing information about something called the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, Amari cannot help but want to investigate. This plunges her into a world where magicians, fairies, aliens, and all manner of supernatural creatures are real. Now, she must now compete for a spot in the BSA in hopes of discovering what truly happened to Quinton. 

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat 

The Last Mapmaker is a story of identity and integrity, perfect for fans of tales of adventure. It follows twelve-year-old Sai, assistant to Mangkon’s most celebrated mapmaker. The daughter of a notorious conman, Sai hides her identity to maintain a respectable position in society. However, as her ship approaches the Sunderlands – a land of dragons, riches, and dangers untold, Sai must grapple with her lies, and decide what her future is worth to her. The Last Mapmaker deftly approaches themes of colonization and discovery that make it must-read. 

My favourite picture books of 2022 - Ottawa Public Library Recommendations

Want some new picture book ideas for the kids - here is a list of favourites from 2022 compiled by the Ottawa Public Library for us. Let us know if you’ve read any before and which are YOUR favourites.

A Mouthful of Minnows, by John Hare

An alligator snapping turtle named Alphonso, tucked himself between some moss and an old tire at the bottom of the pond.  His mouth is wide open, and his pink tongue is wriggling, waiting for unsuspecting fish to swim in as his breakfast. Soon one minnow arrives; then several more, and then an entire school and a whole family arrives deciding that the “worm” would make a perfect birthday present for grandmother Big Betty. Big Betty said, “I am so glad to have all my children and grandchildren, every one of my sweet babies sharing food with me. This is the very best birthday I could ask for.” Alphonso is so touched, that he not only doesn’t snap shut his enormous mouth to all those minnows, but also saves Big Betty from getting caught on a worm-clad fishing hook.  

This is a humorous picture book about patience, generosity, friendship, and empathy. A Mouthful of Minnows is a surprising and heartwarming picture book that is perfect for story time read-a-loud and bedtime. The backmatter includes fun facts about snapping turtles.

The Baby-Changing Station, by Phett Miller; Illustrated by Dan Santat

James is a regular ten-year-old kid who lives with his parents and a dog. But life changes when his brand-new brother Joe rolled in, and his parents, who adore Joe and, no longer have as much time for James anymore.  At a family pizza night, his exhausted parents ask James to change Joe’s diaper. Above a baby-changing station, James notices a screen and a big advertisement announcing: “turn a crybaby into cool stuff: three options today to send that dumb kid away”. Option 1.  Night-vision specs; two complete sets allow you to see in the dark. Option 2. Two six-string electric guitars. Option 3. Two chemistry sets for the laboratory. Each tempting choice makes James ponder a future without his brother. At the same time, this leads him to realize that he wants to see what his younger brother grows up to be, and he also looks forward to being friends with his younger brother someday. As James carries his younger brother Joe out from the bathroom, Joe shouts out his name, and so his name is Joe’s very first word.

Miller’s humour, playful rhymes along with Santat’s imaginative illustrations, make The Baby-Changing Station stand out amongst other sibling rivalry stories.

The Blur, by Minh Le; Illustrated by Dan Santat

From the beginning, there was something different about this child. The supersonic voice, fantastically elastic limbs, enhanced hearing, and ability to turn invisible, not to mention those ultra-magnetic powers. While those early days were a total blur, every now and then, time stood perfectly still. Until one day, a first step and the child became … The Blur.  Always on the move, racing headfirst toward danger! Leaving no stone unturned! No corner unexplored! Nothing stands in the way as The Blur takes the world by storm. The Blur flew into life, zipping through days, blazing across weeks, and zooming over the years until … time stops again. The last page shows a girl driving a car alone leaving for college.

This book uses a few simple sentences, with vivid bold and bright illustrations, to depict the moment the infant arrives home until the day the child drives off to college. Mom and dad just wonder “how did we get here so fast? It’s all a blur”. The audience for this picture book is parents, and every parent will relate to the scenes depicting an entire childhood of their kids. Time flies, and it will pull at the heartstrings of every parent. 

Me and Ms. Too, by Laura Ruby; Illustrated by Dung Ho

For as long as Moly can remember, it’s always just been her and Dad.  They splashed at the pool, and spun in the park, and baked cookies together.

But that was before Dad married Ms. Too.

Ms. Too doesn’t like to splash. She doesn’t like to spin, and she doesn’t like to bake. Now everything has changed.

Even though Moly liked Ms. Too before, as the school librarian, she doesn’t like her at all as her step- mother. It is nice to read how this complex relationship develops, from dislike to having fun doing a lot of things together, to eventually make for a happy blended family.

It’s a heartwarming, playful, and deeply felt story about a blended family. It’s the perfect book for kids and adults who may be in a similar situation.

Knight Owl, by Christopher Denise

Since the day he hatched, Owl had one wish: to be a knight. Eager owl’s chance comes when knights start to go missing in the kingdom. Owl applies to Knight School and is surprisingly accepted. He is much smaller than the other knights-in-training, struggles to wield weapons, and has a habit of nodding off during the day.  But he works hard and graduates with honour. He is assigned to the Knight Night Watch and does a very good job, until one day, he encounters a hungry dragon who wants to eat him as a midnight snack.  Clever Owl offers pizza to the dragon, and it turns out that the dragon loves pizza. The two talk about how each of them hatched from eggs, how much they liked the night, and how flying was hard to explain to someone who had never done it before. It turns out they really have a lot in common, and clever owl ends up defeating the dragon through friendship.  The following week, and the week after that, not a single knight disappeared.

The expressive illustrations and playful language combine for an engaging story and is the perfect read-a-loud.

King Kong’s Cousin, by Mark Teague

Kong was the most famous gorilla in the city. His cousin, Junior, was not famous at all.  Kong was as big as an apartment building. Junior lived in an apartment building with his mother and his cat. Kong did heroic things, Junior did chores.  “You’re just as special as your cousin,” said his mother, but Junior didn’t believe her. Junior wants to be as big and as strong and as special as his cousin, Kong.  Until one day Junior rescues his cat who was stuck in a very tall tree, and so he starts to feel a little bigger.

This book will encourage kids who strive to be taller and stronger, to do great things and believe in themselves. This is a cozy family read to enjoy together.

Farmhouse, by Sophie Blackall

This book was written by two-time Caldecott medalist Sophie Blackall. It is another masterpiece and has the potential to earn Caldecott again.

“This is a book about a particular farmhouse and the family who lived there, but it’s also about any house and any family and the passing of time, and about the things we leave behind and how stories are the things that remain; stories that we pass down through generations, and stories that outlast us all. Farmhouse is written in one long sentence, and the images are essentially one giant piece of art seen in glimpses, and at the end, as a whole. The illustrations are made of layers with the reverse side of a roll of wallpaper and added floors and walls and furniture made from the scraps and fragments I found in the falling down house, stories about everything and nothing much that stay alive long after children grow up and houses fall down while wildflowers nod their heads in the sun.” This is from Behind the page: Sophie Blackall presents Farmhouse. 

Mina, by Matthew Forsythe

Reader mouse Mina lived in her own little world, where nothing ever bothered her. Until one day, when her dad brings home an animal, declaring it to be a squirrel. But Mina doesn’t think so. Later, his dad brings home two more “squirrels”. Curious that none of the three “squirrels” eat acorns. Mina’s father seeks the advice of a doctor, who determines they are not squirrels; instead, they are cats. Then there are three cats chasing three mice. And just as they are about to eat the mice, a stick insect walks slowly into the fray. She licks her finger and opens a book, and starts reading out loud, and the cats slowly fall asleep.

The whole book is full of humor, suspense, and charm, with captivating illustrations. Kids will enjoy this suspenseful fantasy.

Night Lunch, by Eric Fan; Illustrated by Dena Seiferling

A horse pulls a magical lunch cart to provide meals for nocturnal animals. The chef owl prepares different tasty meals for different creatures. Owl spots mouse, a poor street sweeper, who is trembling. Owl invites the little mouse for a night-time lunch feast together. This dreamlike picture book from the imagination of two acclaimed picture book creators, reveals how empathy and kindness, as well as unexpected generosity and gratitude, can be found -and savored – in the most unexpected places.

Sylvie, by Jean Reidy; Illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins

Sylvie is a story about courage. It’s a story about community. It’s a story about friendship. It’s a story about one small spider with a big bold heart. A spider named Sylvie, observes four families in an apartment building. Lately, she notices that they are all quiet, and don’t do the things they did before.  Sylvie beckons each one to the building’s rooftop, where they quickly bond and transform the space into a community gathering place.  It is a warm story to bring people together, especially during these pandemic times.

For more best picture book recommendations, please check my favorite picture book list at Ottawa Public Library.

This blog is a compilation of a variety of reviews and the info of publisher’s catalogues and was submitted by the Ottawa Public Library.

Fabulous Folktale Books from the Ottawa Public Library

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share fabulous folktale books with us. This month’s post is by Véronique Dupuis, Librarian, Children's and Teen Services at the Sunnyside Branch of the Ottawa Public Library.

Usborne Little Board Books

Publisher Usborne has board books of all sorts for little hands, and this includes many favourite tales such as The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, always with lovely illustrations. Perfect for some quality lap time with your little one – without being afraid that they will tear the pages out! Ages 18 months to 4 years old.

Tomie DePaola’s Favorite Nursery Tales

First published in 1986, this collection of 30 classic tales by the Brothers Grimm, Aesop, Hans Christian Andersen and other authors is a must-have for any family’s library. Tomie DePaola’s illustrations are simple and timeless. The perfect book to keep at your children’s bedside. Ages 3-6.

Riding a Donkey Backwards / retold by Sean Taylor & the Khayaal Theatre

This collection of short tales (one page or two) feature Mulla Nasruddin, “the wisest fool of them all”, a beloved character that has been known all over the Middle East and Central Asia for centuries. They all end with a punch and are guaranteed to make you laugh. Ages  4-8.

Books by Jerry Pinkney 

Jerry Pinkney has received many prestigious awards over his extensive career, and you will know why simply by looking at the covers of his books – his watercolor illustrations are outstanding. Some retell much beloved-tales in detail (The Little Mermaid), and others have fewer words which make them easier to read with smaller children (The Tortoise & the Hare) or even no words at all (The Lion & the Mouse)! Recommended age varies from title to title.

On the Shoulder of a Giant / retold by Neil Christopher

The tale of a solitary hunter on the tundra who gets mistaken for a little child by a giant, Inukpak, who adopts him and cares for him. We liked that the book includes at the end an information section on giants, creatures which often appear in stories from all over the Arctic. Ages 5-7.

Delightfully Different Fairy Tales / by Lynn Roberts-Maloney and David Roberts

Imagine Cinderella at a 1930’s flapper party, Rapunzel as a David Bowie fan and living in a tall apartment building with her mean dinner-lady aunt, and Sleeping Beauty as a wanna-be engineer who dreams of seeing what cities will look like in the distant future. You will find these three tales in this wacky book! Ages 5-9.

Véronique Dupuis, Children's Services Librarian at the Ottawa Public Library.

Great Graphic Novels

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some great graphic novels books with us. This month’s post is by Lise Dumas, Supervising Librarian, Children's and Teen Services at the Main Branch of the Ottawa Public Library.

My love for graphic novels has not waned throughout the years. I still love how the story is told in both words and images, lending depth to a story that is not always possible with words alone.  The images can also evoke emotions words cannot. Graphic novels are particularly helpful for struggling readers, second language learners and reluctant readers as they help develop literacy skills. Many also address difficult issues children might face so they do not feel alone in their struggles. 

For those of you who love graphic novels, the Ottawa Public Library has a wonderful collection for all ages.  Here are some of my favourite children’s selections this year: 

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

Ages 8—12

This story is about overcoming adversity and making friends in unexpected places. It is an inspiring book about facing challenges and working hard to achieve success. 

The Aquanaut by Dan Santat

Ages 8-12

Fun adventure story involving sea creatures, a marine park, and a daring escape!

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh 

Ages 10-14

This excellent graphic novel explores themes such as the acceptance of others regardless of gender, skin tone, age and body shape as well as the importance of friendship and love. 

Smaller Sister by Maggie Edkins Willis

Ages 8-12

This story explores the relationship between sisters, body image issues, self-acceptance and ultimately the healing of family ties. 

Button Pusher by Tyler Page

Ages 10-14

This autobiographical story chronicles Tyler’s experiences and struggles with ADHD.

Realm of the Blue Mist by Amy Kim Kibuishi

Ages 9-15

Engrossing science fiction adventure about a fifteen-year-old girl determined to find out what happened to her father as she travels in a distant world of magic. 

Apple Crush by Lucy Knisley

Ages 8-12

This book is the second in the Peapod Farm series for children. Its themes include a budding tween romance, awkward interactions, farming, autumn and overcoming new challenges. 

Lightfall. Book Two, Shadow of the Bird by Tim Probert

Ages 8-12

Fans of Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi will love this adventure.  Bea and Cad are on a quest to locate her grandfather Alfirid the Pig Wizard and stop the Kest from destroying their world.

The arrival of a new sibling Ottawa Public Library

Thank you to Doris Jordan, Children’s Programming and Public Service Assistant from the Ottawa Public Library – Beaverbrook Branch for this submission!

 The arrival of a new sibling can have a big impact on a family.   

Welcoming a new baby to the family is a wonderful and exciting experience but for some toddlers and preschoolers, it can also be a time of uncertainty, confusion and anxiety.  Here are a few juvenile picture books from the Ottawa Public Library that can help prepare your child for the arrival of a new sibling.  

New Baby and Me by Christine Kidney (Illustrated by Hoda Haddadi  )

Awaiting the arrival of a new baby, five brothers imagine what their new sibling will be like. Will he be a scientist or a dreamer? An explorer or an artist?  It is a beautiful picture book with collage illustrations that celebrates individuality and imagination.  Additional ideas for art and collage activities included at the end of the book to help prepare for a new sibling.   

It’s big brother Time!  By Nandini Ahuja 

Illustrated by Catalina Echeverri 

Beautifully illustrated featuring a multiethnic family, this book focuses on the possibilities for fun and companionship rather than the disruptions that a new member, especially a newborn, brings to the mix.  A lovely heartwarming story focusing on the developing bond between big brother and his new sibling.   

The Big Sibling Getaway by Korrie Lear 

A new baby means a lot of crying.  It becomes too much for big sister Cassie and she needs some space.  An empty box is the perfect getaway vehicle to any place her imagination can take her.  After a much-needed break, she realizes she misses her new baby brother and that it’s not always fun being alone.   

Mama’s Belly by Kate Hosford (Illustrated by Abigail Halpin  )

A beautifully illustrated book about a curious little girl awaiting the arrival of her baby sister.  This charming picture book tells the story of a family’s journey through mama’s pregnancy.  The story addresses both the joys and anxiety of becoming a big brother or sister and does it in such a heartfelt way.  It not only describes the excitement the family feels as they approach the big day, but it also describes the realistic side of pregnancy.  It tells us sometimes Mama is too tired to play and sometimes she is grumpy.  It also shares some of the little sister’s concerns when she wonders if she will need to share her favorite blanket with her sister and when she asks her mama, “when my sister comes, will you have enough love for both of us?”  However, with lovely comforting words and illustrations, the book shows the joys that the little girl feels as she anticipates becoming a big sister and sharing the world with her.  

While We Wait by Judy Ann Sadler (Illustrated by Elodie Duhameau) 

A lovely story of a little boy and his grandma as they knit a gift, dance, sing, talk and play with their dog while they wait for the arrival of a new baby.  A sweet, endearing picture book showcasing the bond between generations, the value of patience and that some things are well worth the wait.   

Shhh! The Baby is Sleeping by JaNay Brown-Wood (Illustrated by Ellisambura)

An adorable rhyming picture book.  A story centering around the one issue parents and family members can all relate to ---- don’t wake the baby! Filled with humor, bright bold illustrations and bouncy rhyming text, big brother tries to keep his loud and expansive family from waking up his baby sister.