12 Canadian books to get kids and teens reading as they head back to school
With summer holidays winding down, now is a great time to emphasize the fun that can be found between the pages of a book.
To ease them into the school year — and continue to foster a love of reading — CBC Books has pulled together a list of some of our favourite new books for kids, tweens and teens.
There's something for every age and interest from a STEM-focused picture book to a prep school murder mystery.
The Biggest Smallest Thing by Sara de Waal, illustrated by Ana Stretcu
Sunnysill Elementary is having its annual Scintillating Science Symposium and nobody is more excited than budding chemist Mo. He loves science and is determined the win. Mo isn't worried about his competition — least of all his classmate Muriel, who wants to be a cat when she grows up. The Biggest Smallest Thing is a charming STEM-focused picture book that shows that a love for science can come in many different forms.
The Biggest Smallest Thing is for ages 5 to 8.
Sara de Waal is a writer and educator from British Columbia. When she is not writing, she teaches music and art. She is currently based in Iowa. Her previous books include the 2022 Blue Spruce Award finalist 48 Grasshopper Estates.
Ana Stretcu is an illustrator from Romania.
Amoya Blackwood Is Brave by Chantaie Allick, illustrated by Aaron Marin
In this empowering and brightly-illustrated picture book about braveness and self-esteem, we are introduced to Amoya Blackwood, who is carefree and confident. Amoya loves making her friends laugh and putting her hand up in class. But that changes one day when Amoya realizes the adults in her life want her to be smaller and quieter. A conversation with her Gran helps remind Amoya who she is in Amoya Blackwood Is Brave.
Amoya Blackwood Is Brave is for ages 3 to 7.
Chantaie Allick is a Toronto-based writer, strategist and freelance journalist. Amoya Blackwood Is Brave is Allick's debut picture book.
Aaron Marin is an illustrator based in New York.
T Is for Terry by Denise Dias, illustrated by Noémie Gionet Landry
The Terry Fox Run is in its 45th year, with many schools across Canada taking part every September. T Is for Terry is a new picture book that celebrates the life and work of the Canadian icon through an ABC format. It tells the story of Fox's life, ambitions, personality and legacy.
T Is for Terry is for ages 3 to 8.
Denise Dias is a Toronto-based writer, columnist and children's book author. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and Toronto Life.
Noémie Gionet Landry is a New Brunswick-born artist, children's book illustrator and rheumatologist.
Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day by Lana Button, illustrated by Suharu Ogawa
In Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day, nine-year-old Brianna struggles to fit in with her peers. Brianna really wants to make a friend, but she finds it tricky, especially when she loses her temper or gets distracted. She decides to put her name up for classroom helper, in hopes of making a friend, but is disappointed when her classmate Rumi is selected instead. This illustrated early-chapter book blends humour and warmth as Brianna comes to understand what it means to be a good friend.
Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day is for ages 6 to 8.
Lana Button is a children's writer and educator based in Burlington, Ont. Her other books include Willow Finds a Way, which was shortlisted for the Blue Spruce Award, Percy's Perfect Friend and The Only Lonely Fairy, which was longlisted for CBC Kids Reads 2025.
Suharu Ogawa is a Toronto artist and instructor originally from Japan. She teaches illustration at OCAD University. Ogawa has illustrated numerous children's books, including Hooray for Trucks!, This Is How a Ball Rolls, All Consuming and the upcoming Brianna Banana, Worst Surprise Ever.
The World of Maxime by Lucile de Pesloüan, illustrated by Jacques Goldstyn, translated by Helen Mixter
In The World of Maxime, a picture book with graphic-style illustrations, 10-year-old Maxime loves books and cats — especially her own cat, Turmeric. She feels different from other kids, preferring the quiet company of her book characters over her noisy classmates at school. She wishes she were brave enough to talk to the new girl at school. When she discovers mysterious bowls in an alley, Maxime becomes a detective and meets Catamou, an older woman who feeds stray cats. The two form a friendship, and with Catamou's encouragement, Maxime finds the courage to reach out to the new girl.
The World of Maxime is for ages 7 to 10.
Lucile de Pesloüan is a Montreal-based writer. Her first book was the graphic novel What Makes Girls Sick and Tired.
Jacques Goldstyn is a writer, illustrator and political cartoonist from Montreal. In 2017 he won the Governor General's Award for young people's literature — illustrated books (French) for Azadah and has twice won Le Grand Prix du Journalisme Indépendant for his illustrations.
Helen Mixter is a Toronto-based writer and the translator of several children's books, including the 2009 Governor General's Award-winning Harvey.
Way Off Track by Carl Brundtland, illustrated by Claudia Dávila
Way Off Track is a fun and fast-paced middle-grade graphic novel that follows a young girl named Nansi on her determined, and sometimes misguided, journey. Nansi is a runner who is used to winning every race — and being the fastest kid in Grade 7 — until her nemisis, Tania, beats her. Convinced it's all because of Tania's fancy shoes, Nansi has to get a pair before track tryouts. But where is she going to find $338?
Way Off Track is for ages 8 to 12.
Carl Brundtland is a Jamaican Canadian writer based in Toronto. Growing up, his favourite stories were those about Anansi the spider, which inspired the antics found in this debut graphic novel.
Claudia Dávila is an illustrator from Toronto. She has illustrated the nonfiction books Child Soldier by Michel Chikwanine and Jessica Dee Humphreys, and Change It!, Move It! and Touch It!, all written by Adrienne Mason. She also wrote and illustrated the picture book Super Red Riding Hood.
Bea Mullins Takes a Shot by Emily Deibert
Bea Mullins Takes a Shot is a middle-grade novel about a seventh-grader who joins her school's first all-girls hockey team and develops a crush on the captain. Bea has never loved sports, but when gym class is cancelled, her school announces that students must join an after-school activity to replace it. Reluctant at first, Bea surprises herself by how much she enjoys being part of the team, and when low funding threatens to shut the Glenwood Geese down, Bea is ready for the fight to save it.
Bea Mullins Takes a Shot is for ages 8 to 12.
Emily Deibert is a children's book writer and astronomer from Toronto, currently living in La Serena, Chile. Bea Mullins Takes a Shot is her debut novel.
Old School by Gordon Korman
In the middle-grade novel Old School, 12-year-old Dex lives with his grandmother at The Pines Retirement Village, where he has been homeschooled by the residents for the past six years. All that changes when a truant officer announces that Dex has to attend his local middle school. Dex struggles to fit in and misses his old life, but when he finds out that his new school is in need of some serious repairs, he's excited that he has the skills to help. Soon, Dex finds himself in a situation where his old and his new lives collide.
Old School is for ages 9 to 12.
Gordon Korman is an author of over 100 novels for young readers, including the Macdonald Hall series, I Want to Go Home, Mixed Up, The Superteacher Project and Slacker. Born in Montreal, Gordon grew up in Thornhill, Ont., and now lives in New York.
How to Save a Library by Colleen Nelson
In the middle-grade novel How to Save a Library, Casey feels like he's finally found his place at both his new school and in the community where he is living with his dad, who until now was always on the move. Settling into life at The Gates, he makes friends and grows to love his new home. But when the local library where his dad works is at risk, Casey must face uncertainty once again. He joins the Kids Community Action Network to help save the library.
How to Save a Library is for ages 8 to 12.
Colleen Nelson is a children's and YA writer based in Winnipeg. She is the author of more than 20 books for young readers, including Mystery at the Biltmore, If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It, which she co-wrote with Kathie MacIsaac, Pulse Point, Spin, Harvey Comes Home and Harvey Holds His Own.
You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh
You Started It is a YA romance about high school senior Jamie Taher-Foster. After three years with her boyfriend Ben, Jamie is set on a check list of things to do before graduating. What she doesn't expect is for Ben to come back home after the summer ends and break up with her. Now Jamie's new plan is to get him back by fake dating Axel — a chilled out guy she has nothing in common with except for being Arab. As Jamie reckons with all these surprises in her senior year, and the anxiety that comes with it, she begins to understand Axel and herself even better.
You Started It is for ages 12 and up.
Jackie Khalilieh is a Palestinian Canadian YA writer who lives just outside of Toronto. Her first novel, Something More, was shortlisted for a Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award and was named by CBC Books as one of the best Canadian books for kids & teens in 2023.
This Place Kills Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Nicole Goux
This Place Kills Me is a YA mystery graphic novel set at the prestigious Wilberton Academy, home of the elite and exclusive Wilberton Theatrical Society. Elizabeth Woodward is a talented and popular thespian who is starring as Juliet in the Society's performance of Romeo and Juliet. But Elizabeth is found dead the morning of opening night, and transfer student Abby is the last person to see her alive. Abby gets pulled into the mystery of Elizabeth's death and what is really going on at her new prep school. This Place Kills Me is told through letters, diary entries, news articles and comics.
This Place Kills Me is for ages 14 and up.
Mariko Tamaki is a Toronto-born writer. Her other books include the YA novels (you) Set Me On Fire and Saving Montgomery Sole. She's also the author of many superhero comics for DC Comics, Darkhorse and Marvel. In 2024, she won three Eisner Awards for the graphic novel Roaming, created with her cousin Jillian Tamaki, and in 2025 she won the Eisner Award for best limited series for Zatanna: Bring Down the House, which she created with Spanish artist Javier Rodriguez.
Nicole Goux is an Eisner-nominated illustrator and cartoonist based in Los Angeles.
LISTEN | Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki on The Next Chapter
A Mastery of Monsters is the first novel in a YA dark academia series about a secret society of shocking monsters and one girl's quest to save her brother. Everyone thinks that August's brother ran away on his own accord before their sophomore year, but August is doubtful. After she is attacked by a large and terrifying monster, August reluctantly strikes a deal with Virgil Hawthorne. A monstrous form lies within Virgil, and August must partner with it to keep him tame, entering them both into a competition with deadly consequences.
A Mastery of Monsters is for ages 14 and up.
Liselle Sambury is a Trinidadian-Canadian YA writer and blogger. Her debut novel, Blood Like Magic, was on the shortlist for the 2021 Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — text. Her other novels include Blood Like Fate and Delicious Monsters.
LISTEN | Liselle Sambury on The Next Chapter
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