Our top picks of the best Canadian children's books for building reading readiness in kids under five. Because the first books you share with your child should also be the best!
Bright Lights and Summer Nights
Shauntay Grant and Zach Manbeck
Children and animals come together at a magical late night carnival.
Go, Sloth, Go!
Gabrielle Prendergast and Sophie Benmouyal
In this cute rhyming picture book, a sloth tumbles from a tree onto a road and hurts its toe, but a truck driver steps in to bring the sloth to a wildlife vet, and soon enough the sloth is returning to its wilderness home.
I Need Pants!
Susan Sweet and Cailin Doherty
Fish has a wish for pants, but Octopus points out that fish don’t wear pants because they don’t have legs! So begins this imaginative and goofy tale of friendship and being true to yourself.
Ins and Outs
Elizabeth Withey and Salini Perera
This playful picture book, consisting of only the words "In" and "Out," starts with simple examples, such as a cat moving from inside to outside, and moves on to more creative interpretations, including a child’s bare hand on a winter day ("out") being enveloped in their caregiver's mitt ("in").
The Last Last
Wendy J. Whittingham and Brianna McCarthy
A young girl emigrating from Jamaica to Canada savors her cherished 'last' moments at home and discovers her first new memory, showing how new beginnings can coexist with the memories of one's first home.
Lights at Night
Tasha Hilderman and Maggie Zeng
In this bedtime picture book, two special families embark on an illuminating journey through the seasons as they explore all the different lights we see at night.
The Monarch
Kirsten Hall and Isabelle Arsenault
With sweetly fluttering verse and lush, gorgeous illustrations, this brightly beautiful picture book celebrates the wonders of monarch butterflies—a treasured species in need of care and preservation!
Nevin Knows
Mireille Messier and Elena Comte
Nevin enjoys a spring day at the park with his grandpa, confidently leading the way—from choosing the right running shoes to picking the flowers for Nana—proving that even though he is little, he knows exactly what he is doing.
pêyak little duck
Sandra Lamouche and Mando Littlechild
In a celebration of the connection between language learning and the land, a young child enjoys a walk in nature to spot different birds while practicing counting from one to ten in Plains Cree.
Sand Cakes
Kallie George and Devon Holzwarth
A fun day at the beach leads to all kinds of “delicious” baked creations—cakes, pies, buns, rolls, tarts and cream puffs—but nobody wants to eat our intrepid little “baker’s” sandy sweets!