Books from Canadian Authors

Books make wonderful holiday gifts for anyone, any age! The recently published Nosy Parker by Lesley Crewe makes a wonderful novel for young adults and adults. The following two picture books by Canadian authors - Beautiful You, Beautiful Me and Revenge of the Raccoons, would make meaningful gifts to give young children.

Nosy Parker by Lesley Crewe is written in the perspective of a twelve year old girl, Audrey Parker, aka Nosy Parker. It is filled with emotions - it brought laughter, curiosity, suspense, and tears. I couldn't stop reading! I like how the author is descriptive of everything around Audrey, which makes it easy to imagine the streets of Montreal in the late 1960s where the story takes place. 

It is quite the adventure to read what happens in Audrey's life as she spies, makes friendships, goes through changes and trials of life, as well as tries to find out more about her mother from her father - who doesn't really share anything about her mother. I love that the author included an epilogue - it felt fulfilling to know what happens to most of the main characters. After reading this awesome novel, I look forward to checking out other books written by Lesley Crewe. 

Beautiful You, Beautiful Me by Tasha Spillett-Summer, illustrated by Salini Perera tells the story of a child that comes from a multiracial family. It is about identity and belonging, drawn from the author's own experience growing up as an Afro-Indigenous girl.

Izzy's favourite place to be is in Mama's arms - skin to skin, safe and warm. One night, cuddled up on Mama's lap, Izzy notices something she's never noticed before: her skin is the colour of chocolate, but Mama's skin is the colour of sand.

When Izzy realizes she's different from her mother in other ways as well, she feels sad and confused. She wants to be beautiful like her mother. Her mother addresses Izzy's disappointment with a gentle, loving refrain: You're part of me, and I'm part of you. I'm beautiful like me, and you're beautiful like you. Finding lessons from nature and repeating her affirming message, Mama encourages Izzy to see her own unique beauty.

The lyrical text and warm, lively illustrations show Izzy's journey as she learns to celebrate the differences that make her uniquely beautiful, and the connection to her mother that transcends physical traits.

Revenge of the Raccoons By Vivek Shraya and illustrated by Juliana Neufeld is about the bushy-tailed bandits taking over the town, swinging from cranes, scampering through subway cars, and pestering the police. This story is in the perspective of raccoons describing themselves as humans see them: thieving "trash pandas" that steal doughnuts and cash, topple our green bins, and frighten our cats. But when asked why they're invading the city, the raccoons insist they aren't pests, but survivors of the real invaders: humans.

Revenge of the Raccoons is both a riotous tale of underdog uprising and a clever commentary on humans' sense of ownership over the cities we live in. Playful rhyming text and vibrant illustrations inspired by classic horror movie posters bring the raccoons’ antics to life.

As the raccoons frolic into the night, readers will enjoy cheering on the creative and cunning antiheroes, and maybe even reconsider who rules the city.

Giveaway:

If you live in Canada enter to win a copy of the novel Nosy Parker using the giveaway tool below. This giveaway ends on November 28. Please leave comments and follow my social media networks to be eligible to win.

Update: The winner is Shirley

Entry-Form

Disclosure: These books were received for review. Please note that all opinions and thoughts expressed are my own. All rights reserved on photographs and written content Createwithmom © 2010 - 2022. Please Ask First