By Yolanda T. Marshall

It’s December, and the Christmas elves have entered the building! How is your shopping list shaping up? Don’t forget to add books to your list this year. I will be sharing the best Canadian Christmas books later this month. Here are a few stories you should have on your children’s and teens’ bookshelves.  

Water Love

Written by Natalie Hodgson and Rajean Willis, both Indigenous Black Nova Scotians. Hodgson is a counsellor in the justice system, and Willis is a social work clinician and scholar. Sahle Robinson beautifully illustrated this book.

“A young Black girl loves water and is told that swimming is not a “Black sport.” She has to overcome discrimination, stereotyping, and peer pressure to finally catch a wave. Told in spoken word, Water Love is a story that will inspire children to follow their passion and make their dreams come true.” – Plumleaf Press Inc., 2022.

My Ears Don’t Work

Written by Dornalee Saunders, a Jamaican Canadian children’s author. She aims to educate others about the difference between deafness and hard of hearing while advocating for proper accommodations.

“Zuli is a little girl struggling with self-acceptance and making new friends because of her challenges with being deaf and living with hearing loss. With the help of her sister, she faces her fears of friendships, gains confidence, and restores her self-esteem. Young readers of this book will learn a general introduction to sign language and will see friendship despite diverse differences. She is helping young readers learn how to communicate and understand those who are deaf and living with hearing loss.” –  Priceless Publishing. 2011.

My Big Dream

Written by Stephanie Duff, a Canadian educator and author dedicated to maximising learning, promoting a healthy sense of self, encouraging leadership skills and fostering critical thinking.

“Career day is a few days away, and Rayne is excited to share with her class what she wants to be when she grows up.” – WestBow Press, 2022.

My Papa is Important

Written by Miss Natasha, an incredible educator and mental wellness strategist.

“My Papa is Important is a child’s view of why their father is important to them. A picture book that builds on variations of fathers that exist in our world and how much each child in the book wants their father to exist, “My Papa is Important” reiterates the notion that fathers are important—showcasing many different types of fathers but displaying the same visual message of love.” – Miss Natasha, 2022.

You Can Be

Written by Hezzy, an award-winning author of cultural stories to motivate, elevate and educate all.

“You Can Be is an empowering tale exploring in rhyme all the things a child can become. You Can Be, teaches children about the possibility, opportunity, and the ability to make their dreams a reality”. Please visit the author’s website for more information https://hezzyelevatesminds.com

The Eastbrook Diaries

Written by Michelle Richards-Graham, a Canadian writer who emphasises issues teens may face while on their journey to adulthood.

“Whenever Mya Brooks thinks about it, her palms get sweaty, she gets a queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, and her mouth goes desert dry. Starting high school can do that to a girl. She soon discovers that fitting in at Eastbrook High School is the key to survival. As Mya and her friends begin grade 10, their friendship is put to the test. Jasmine Price always vowed she’d never hang with a popular girl after one of them walked off with her boyfriend, but she believes she has what it takes to be one of them.” – iUniverse. 2015. Please visit the author’s website for more details https://www.michellerichardsgraham.com

Please support your local bookstores, such as A Different Booklist, Nile Valley Books, Knowledge Bookstore and Manifest Bookstore.