Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

From chapters.ca:
Eleven- year- old Elijah lives in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves near the American border. He's the first child in town to be born free, and he ought to be famous just for that. Unfortunately, all that most people see is a "fra-gile" boy who's scared of snakes and talks too much. But everything changes when a former slave steals money from Elijah's friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Now it's up to Elijah to track down the thief - and his dangerous journey just might make a hero out of him, if only he can find the courage to get back home.

Pete and Pickles by Berkeley Breathed

From chapters.ca:
Pete is a perfectly predictable, practical, uncomplicated pig. At least, he was...before a runaway circus elephant named Pickles stampeded into his life, needing a friend. Pickles is larger than life and overflowing with imagination. She takes Pete swan diving off Niagara Falls. (Sort of) And sledding down the Matterhorn. (Sort of) Pete goes along for the wild ride and actually begins to enjoy himself...until Pickles goes too far. And Pete tells her she must leave. Yet sometimes the simple life isn't all it's cracked up to be. Pulitzer Prize- winning cartoonist Berkeley Breathed offers two new irresistible characters and a heartfelt, hilarious look at the rarity of true friendship.

Bedtime at the Swamp by Kristyn Crow, illustrated by Macky Pamintuan (rhyming text)

From chapters.ca:
Splish splash rumba-rumba bim bam boom! It's bedtime at the swamp— except somebody's not ready. Somebody's still splashing in the water and the mud. Is there a monster on the loose? Kristyn Crow has taken every child's worst nightmare and transformed it into a frolic through swampland. With funny illustrations and a catchy refrain, this story won't scare little monster too much before bedtime.

Little Rabbit's New Baby by Harry Horse

A new baby can be hard on an only child.
Little Rabbit is going to have a new baby in the family. He is really looking forward to playing games with the baby and does not exactly get what he expects.

What's Under the Bed by Joe Fenton

From chapters.ca:
Fred doesn''t want to go to sleep, he''s worried about what is hiding underneath his bed. Is it big? Is it small? Is it skinny? is it tall? Hardly any text is needed to tell this adorable story because the accompanying illustrations are so lively and bold. And never fear, what is under the bed is as harmless as Ted, Fred''s stuffed bear.

The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers

In the forest bits of people's homes are suddenly missing. Where are all the trees going?

Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles Book 2: A Giant Problem

From chapters.ca:
Talk about out of the frying pan, into the fire! I was pretty sure that my freaky stepsister and that freaky field guide of hers would ruin my life. But now it looks like they're going to ruin all of Florida, too! Okay, maybe that's not fair. Maybe all these stupid giants would be waking up anyway, but if it wasn't for her and that book, I'd be home playing video games and this would be someone else's giant problem!

Book 2 of Beyond the Spiderwick Chronickes

Thing-Thing by Cary Fagan and Nicolas Debon

From chapters.ca:
Thing-Thing was neither a Teddy bear nor a rabbit; not a stuffed dog or cat. It was something like each of those, and nothing at all you could name. But it had something special. It had the hope that one day it would find a child to love it and talk to it and make it tea parties and take it to bed. A child it could love back. Certainly Archibald Crimp was not that child. He had just thrown Thing-Thing out the open sixth- floor window of the Excelsior Hotel. Oh, dear, thought Thing-Thing to itself. This is bad, this is very bad. Cary Fagan and Nicolas Debon have created a story so rich in words and images that, despite taking place in a matter of seconds, Thing-Thing will be remembered as vividly as a child’s favourite toy.

My New Shirt by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Dusan Petricic

From chapters.ca:
Receiving the yearly birthday gift from his grandmother has become David’s living nightmare. The "surprise" she always has for him never varies. How can he stop this never- ending flow of stiff, white, scratchy shirts — "perfect gentlemen" shirts that make him squirm and pull and shift and twitch? David closes his eyes and imagines a long line of shirts — one for every year of his life — stretching on forever. Then suddenly, without really intending to, he has done the unthinkable.

The Nice Book by David Ezra Stein

From chapters.ca:
"It's so nice to be nice Cuddle Nestle Nuzzle Don't tickle...well, maybe a little."
An adorable menagerie of irresistible animals populate this gentle look at friendship. Getting close to someone is an art and these little creatures demonstrate the simple ways to show you care. David Ezra Stein's expressive illustrations ooze charm and will inspire readers to be very nice indeed.

Sputter, Sputter, Sput by Babs Bell, illustrated by Bob Staake (rhyming text)

From chapters.ca:
Suddenly my car won't go! Sputter, Sputter, Sput! What's the matter? I don't know! Riding in the car can be lots of fun— going fast and far, uphill and downhill, zooming all over town. But suddenly — with a sputter! sputter! sput! — the car slows down and stops. What can be wrong? Babs Bell's simple text, complete with all the sounds a car makes, combines with Bob Staake's bright, stylish illustrations to make an enjoyable ride.

Cat by Mike Dumbleton, illustrated by Craig Smith

From chapters.ca:
With very few words used to convey all kinds of action, Mike Dumbleton's sparse yet descriptive text joins perfectly with Craig Smith's whimsical illustrations. Cat will have young listeners on the edges of their seats, ready to join Cat...thank goodness for that!

Alice, I Think by Susan Juby

From chapters.ca:
After her first counsellor has a meltdown, Alice MacLeod and her new counsellor decide that Alice’s horizons should be expanded. Enter Alice’s Life Goals List. It’s time to grow up, act her age, maybe even go back to high school after years of being taught at home. Alice is on the hunt for a look, a social life, a job, a boyfriend, and, most importantly, a half- decent haircut. But getting those things in Smithers, B.C., isn’t easy. Particularly if Irma of Irma’s Salon is in charge of the new look. Sporting a new haircut that is reminiscent of a large construction helmet, Alice is attacked by marauding headbangers as she sits in the family station wagon in the parking lot of the Smithers Grocery Giant. Her mother comes to the rescue and the situation ends up in a brawl. An ageing hippie chick who makes her children wear lead aprons in front of the computer, Alice’s mom is just one of the novel’s wonderful and wacky characters. Written in diary style punctuated by Alice’s often caustic wit and ability to drop- kick the pretencions of family, high school, dating and work, Alice, I Think is often hysterically funny, a terrific new take on adolescent angst.

Something is Coming by Bernice Chardiet, illustrated by Pamela Cote

Something is coming...what could it be?

Peace at Last by Jill Murphy

It's bedtime and everyone is tired, but papa bear can't get any sleep!

All About Ama by Kathy Knowles

Ama has two hands, two feet, and one nose, same as you.

Off go Their Engines off go Their Lights by Janice Milusich, illustrated by David Gordon

From chapters.ca:
How do cars and trucks go to sleep? As the sun sets and the buzz of the city changes to a hum, a yellow taxi picks up a fare. Travelling through the streets, it passes different types of vehicles finishing their workday. A red pumper truck has been putting out fires. A green dump truck has been hauling dirt. A police car has been helping to keep the city safe. But each vehicle must end its busy day.

Potato Joe by Keith Baker

From chapters.ca:
This fresh adaptation of the classic "One Potato, Two Potato" nursery rhyme is a counting adventure and rollicking good time rolled into one. Spunky leader Potato Joe and his nine spuds pals count up to ten and back down again, all while playing games and meeting up with other garden friends. With its playful tone and hilariously expressive potatoes, "Potato Joe" is a spud- tastically fun read- aloud.

A Very Marley Christmas by John Grogan, illustrated by Richard Cowdrey

From chapters.ca:
With all the excitement of Christmas approaching, it's no surprise that Marley, the lovable pup with a nose for trouble, wants to get in on the action. Anticipating his very first snowfall and Santa's arrival, Marley jumps in to help his family every way he can. But Marley, being Marley, always ends up on the wrong side of right. It's not long before he tears down the twinkle lights, attacks a chain of paper snowflakes, and mistakes the Christmas tree for...well...his very own indoor bathroom. Will Marley's good intentions ruin everything before Christmas begins? Or will he manage to share some Christmas magic with his family after all?

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by John Rox, illustrated by Bruce Whatley

Wonderfully whimsical illustrations to a favourite old Christmas song.

Russell's Christmas Magic by Rob Scotton

From chapters.ca:
When Santa and his broken sleigh are stranded in Firefly Wood, Santa is sure that Christmas will have to be cancelled. That is, until Russell the Sheep comes to the rescue! With a clatter and a bang, Russell shows that hard work and a little imagination can make a magic that is all his own.

The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Brett Helquist

From chapters.ca:
This is a story about a lump of coal who can think, talk, and move itself around. Is there a more charming holiday tale to behold? Probably, but Lemony Snicket has not written one.

What! Cried Granny: An Almost Bedtime Story by Kate Lum, illustrated by Adrian Johnson

It's time for bed...but there isn't a bed! What will Granny do?!

Monster Mess by Margery Cuyler, illustrated by S. D. Schindler

From chapters.ca:
Crash, crash! Stomp, stomp! A tired monster goes up the stairs. But zzzz, zzzz, a boy is sound asleep. And ick, ick, his room is not so neat - not neat enough for a monster to take a nap! So whishtt, whishtt, the monster starts to clean.

Marveltown by Bruce McCall

From chapters.ca:
What's it like growing up in a town founded by inventors? On Saturdays, the adults open the doors of the Invent-o-Drome and give local children free rein to create whatever gadgets they can think up. Hypno-Goggles, a Rocket Chair, a homework- eating robo- dog - the can- do kids of Marveltown are never at a loss for ideas. But when an unfortunate short circuit causes a group of giant robot workers to go berserk - and the adults flee for their lives - are the kids ready to put their know- how to the test? In his first book for children, veteran illustrator Bruce McCall has crafted a tale of ingenuity and mayhem with pictures that pop with retro charm and crackerjack wit.

Naptime for Thaddeus by Adam Nicely

From chapters.ca:
Thaddeus is a very busy little rabbit. The problem is, he's so busy he doesn't know what to do first! Should he make friends with a giant, or stand on top of the world? His new flower- picking machine is awfully tempting, or maybe he'll just throw some mud cakes. How about growing a moustache? Or flying a plane? Or driving a submarine through traffic? No, wait - he'll be the first pirate on the moon! Thaddeus can do all these things, because in dreams, all things are possible. Adam Nicely's vibrant, fantastical illustrations are the perfect complement to this imaginative story.

Mery Christmas, Ollie by Olivier Dunrea

From chapters.ca:
It's Christmas Eve. Gossie and Gertie hang their bright-coloured boots in the barn. Peedie and BooBoo hang their striped stockings in the barn. Ollie stomps through the snow. It's not easy to wait for Father Christmas Goose! With ample wry humour, gorgeous ink- and- watercolour pictures, and irresistible charm, Olivier Dunrea shares the first holiday story of Gossie and friends. Ollie perfectly encompasses the adorable impatience of young children waiting for Christmas to finally come.

Robot Dreams by Sara Varon

From chapters.ca:
This moving, charming graphic novel about a dog and a robot shows us in poignant detail how powerful and fragile relationships are. After a Labour Day jaunt to the beach leaves the robot rusted, immobilized in the sand, the dog must return alone to the life they shared. But the memory of their friendship lingers, and as the seasons pass, the dog tries to fill the emotional void left by the loss of his closest friend, making and losing a series of friends, from a melting snowman to epicurean anteaters. But for the robot, lying rusting on the beach, the only relief from loneliness is in dreams.

Time is When by Beth Cleick, illustrated by Marthe Jocelyn

From chapters.ca:
What is time? This question, asked nearly fifty years ago by author Beth Gleick’s young son, prompted her to answer in a picture book for preschoolers, using simple language and familiar scenes: "In one second, you can bounce a ball, or jump, or say hello, or turn a page." Beth Gleick’s clean turn of phrase cleverly explains the passing of seconds, minutes, hours, on up through seasons and years. First published in 1960, this book is lovingly re- illustrated by collage- artist Marthe Jocelyn, who pays homage to the original art while simultaneously creating a world of her own, cutting patterned papers and printed fabrics with whimsy, ingenuity, and precision of, yes, time....

Looking for Miza: The True Story of the Mountain Gorilla Family who Rescued one of their Own by Juliana Hatkoff, et al, photos by Peter Greste

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In a place called Congo, in the volcanic mountains of Vigunga National Park, a young female Mountain Gorilla named Miza was orphaned when her parents were killed. Miza, who had no one to protect her or teach her how to live, was rescued by a young Silverback Mountain Gorilla named Kabirizi and his family of twenty- seven Mountain Gorillas. It's almost unheard of for a gorilla family to take in an orphan. Experts and the people who care deeply about these gorillas are thrilled and hopeful. Mountain Gorillas face an especially uncertain future. Not only are they an endangered species, but the delicate and harsh political situation in Congo has put them in grave danger. The amazing Congolese Mountain Rangers, for no pay, risk their lives every day to protect these majestic creatures, but it will take more than their protection to keep Miza, her family, and other Mountain Gorillas safe. Filled with lush photographs by award-winning photographer Peter Greste, Looking for Miza is a powerful call to action. The fate of Mountain Gorillas is in our hands.

Creaures Yesterday and Today by Karen Patkau

From chapters.ca:
From the worlds of insects, fish, mammals, sea jellies, reptiles, amphibians, birds, crustaceans, arachnids, and mollusks, she presents living animals and their prehistoric ancestors. Meet Diplodocus and Skylark; Cameroceras and Blue- Ringed Octopus; Brontoscorpio and Fat- Tailed Scorpio; and learn what links them across the ages. Scientists obtain clues from fossils about how these prehistoric creatures looked and lived, and Karen Patkau examines many of them in this fascinating look at extinct and present- day species.

The 39 Clues Book One: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

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Minutes before she died, Grace Cahill changed her will, leaving her descendants an impossible decision: "You have a choice - one million dollars or a clue." Grace is the last matriarch of the Cahills, the world's most powerful family. Everyone from Napoleon to Houdini is related to the Cahills, yet the source of the family power is lost. 39 Clues hidden around the world will reveal the family's secret, but no one has been able to assemble them. Now the clues race is on, and young Amy and Dan must decide what's important: hunting clues or uncovering what REALLY happened to their parents. The 39 Clues is Scholastic's groundbreaking new series, spanning 10 adrenaline- charged books, 355 trading cards, and an online game where readers play a part in the story and compete for over $100,000 in prizes. The 39 Clues books set the story, and the cards, website and game allow kids to participate in it. Kids visit the website - www.the39clues.com - and discover they are lost members of the Cahill family. They set up online accounts where they can compete against other kids and against Cahill characters to find all 39 clues. Through the website, kids can track their points and clues, manage their card collections, dig through the Cahill archives for secrets, and "travel" the world to collect Cahill artifacts, interview characters, and hunt down clues.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling

From the back of the book:
The Tales of Beedle the Bard contains five richly diverse fairy tales, each with its own magicacl character, that will variously bring delight, laughter, and the thrill of mortal peril. Additional notes for each story penned by Professor Albus Dumbledore will be enjoyed by Muggles and wizards alike, as the Professor muses on the morals illuminated by the tales, and reveals snippets of information about life at Hogwarts. A uniquely magical volume, with illustrations by the author, J.K. Rowling, that will be treasured for years to come.

Pendragon Book One: The Merchant of Death by D. J. MacHale

From chapters.ca:
Bobby Pendragon is a seemingly normal fourteen- year-old boy. But there is something very special about Bobby: He is going to save the world. Now Bobby's fans can join him once again as he travels through space and time to other worlds. From the alternate dimension of Denduron to the underwater territory of Cloral to the world of First Earth, Bobby's mission is nothing less than to save the universe from ultimate evil.

The Wheels on the Bus by Paul O. Zelinsky

From chapters.ca:
When The Wheels on the Bus, by Caldecott Medalist Paul O. Zelinsky, broke onto the scene twelve years ago, it created a sensation with its clever characters, sly subplots, luscious colours, and the incomparable flair of its moving parts. Almost a million young readers have enjoyed the wheels that go round, doors that open and shut, and people who go bumpety- bump. Today it remains as fresh and engaging as when it was first published.

The Little School Bus by Carol Roth, illustrated by Pamela Paparone

From chapters.ca:
Here comes the school bus, beep, beep, beep! Step right up and take a seat with a sleepy sheep, a squirmy worm, a hairy bear, a quick, quick chick, a fox with socks, a pig in a wig, and a goat in his coat, and ride the bus to school, to school, and ride the bus to school! The bouncy, rhyming text and the bright, witty pictures make The Little School Bus a ride that children will want to take over and over again.

Farmer Joe Baby-Sits by Nancy Wilcox Richards, illustrated by Werner Zimmermann

From chapters.ca:
Farmer Joe is baby- sitting three- year- old Jennifer and he's never done anything quite so complicated! Jennifer must have a nap and she never falls asleep without her blanket. But at nap time, the blanket is nowhere to be found. After an exhausting search all over the farm, Jennifer quietly solves the problem herself. In this third book in the Farmer Joe series, the delightful characters create a playful story that is fun for nap time or any time.

A Babysitter for Billy Bear by Miriam Moss, illustrated by Anna Currey

From chapters.ca:
Having a babysitter for the first time is a big moment. Something's bothering Billy Bear and his toy rabbit. They want to go to Mom's pottery class but they have to stay home. For the first time, a babysitter will be putting them to bed, and it's just not the same. Will she forget to kiss Rabbit good night? What are those scary noises in Billy's room? And how will Mom find her way home in the dark? The first time with a babysitter is a stepping stone in every toddler's life. Every kid will be comforted by Billy Bear's charming tale.

Little Panda by Renata Liwska

From chapters.ca:
In the misty mountains a little panda bear climbs tall trees, munches sweet bamboo, and curls up in his favourite perch to sleep. It is just right - until Mother Panda goes looking for a snack and Little Panda's nap is disturbed by something unexpected. What was it that his mother told him he should do? This is the perfect story to reassure little ones that parents always return.

Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel

From the back of the book:
At long last, Matt Cruse is at the helm. Though it's only a summer job piloting a humble aerocrane, he's thrilled to be a small part of something big. With every load, he's helping to build the Celestial Tower, Paris's extraordinary gateway to outer space. But Matt's idyllic summer is short-lived. He narrowly survives a deadly attack by the fanatical Babelites, who are opposed to human beings reaching the heavens. Worse still, his nights spent stargazing with Kate de Vries end when her parents summon her back to Lionsgate City. It's time she began to think about getting married. But then a chance of a lifetime boosts Matt's hopes of being airborne once more. Canada wants to reach space first, and the Canadian Minister of Air has asked Kate to join the first expedition as an expert on aerial zoology. There's a place for Matt, too - if he can pass the gruelling tests to become one of the world's first astralnauts on board the incredible ship, Starclimber.

Imagine a Place by Sarah L. Thomson, illustrated by Rob Gonsalves

From chapters.ca:
If you can imagine a place, you can go there. Imagine a place that makes you feel as free as a bird. Imagine a place where getting there is worth whatever it takes. Imagine a place that makes you feel like it's always been your destination. Imagine a place made out of pure imagination. Imagine a Place is a gorgeous companion to the critically acclaimed Imagine a Night and Imagine a Day, and reminds us that imagination is powerful enough to take us anywhere we want to go. And Rob Gonsalves's exquisitely conceived paintings leave you in awe...of his imagination.

Sheep on a Ship by Nancy Shaw illustrated by Margot Apple

From chapters.ca:
The lovable mutton-heads who made their first appearance in Sheep in a Jeep are back, this time as busy - but not very ferocious - pirates.

Who are you Stripy Horse? by Jim Hemore and Karen Wall

From the back of the book:
A stuffed and stripy horse let out an enormous dusty sneeze and woke himself up. And so begins a journey of discovery, as the stripy horse tries to find out who and what he is...

Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw illustrated by Margot Apple

From chapters.ca:
A flock of hapless sheep drive through the country in this rhyming picture book.

It's Funny Where Ben's Train Takes Him by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Joanna Yardley

From chapters.ca:
Ben's amazing imagination concocts a magical train that takes bedtime adventurers from snowy mountain peaks to green hills sprinkled with cows and horses to city skyscrapers.

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

From chapters.ca:
Stunned by his mother's recent death and appalled by the way his father sleepwalks through life, Jerry Renault, a New England high school student, ponders the poster in his locker - Do I dare disturb the universe? Part of his universe is Archie Costello, leader of a secret school society - the Virgils - and master of intimidation. Archie himself is intimidated by a cool, ambitious teacher into having the Virgils spearhead the annual fund-raising event - a chocolate sale. When Jerry refuses to be bullied into selling chocolates, he becomes a hero, but his defiance is a threat to Archie, the Virgils, and the school. In the inevitable showdown, Archie's skill at intimidation turns Jerry from hero to outcast, to victim, leaving him alone and terribly vulnerable.

Oscar and the Cricket: A Book About Moving and Rolling by Geoff Waring

From chapters.ca:
One day Oscar sees a ball in the grass. "Try pushing it!" says Cricket. Oscar learns that the ball rolls slowly in grass and faster on a path, until it bounces off a tree and changes direction. Some things need a push to move, and others use their muscles to move themselves — and to move plenty of other things, too.

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry

From chapters.ca:
Filled with truck sounds and animal noises, this tale about a little blue truck that finds his way out of a jam is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.

Mars Needs Moms! by Berkeley Breathed

From chapters.ca:
Milo doesn't get it: What's the big deal about moms? They're just slave driving broccoli bullies. Yet they are worshipped the world over - perhaps even the galaxy over - because here come Martians and they're after one thing only: moms. Milo's mom in particular. Who better to drive them to soccer practise and to pizza parties? That's quite a long way to come for a mom - could it be that Milo has been overlooking something special?

Peeper has a Fever by Charlotte Cowan, illustrated by Susan Banta

From chapters.ca:
In her story for children ages 4-8, Dr. Cowan empathizes with the aches and chills and misery of small children with fevers. In Peeper Has a Fever Dr. Cowan captures the unhappiness of her patients and writes with confidence and humour to comfort them. Peeper's story is as educational as it is entertaining and will offer reassurance to any parent and child dealing with fever.