It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we’re getting ready to celebrate with all our loved ones! If you’re celebrating the holidays or just looking to add to a little reader’s library, BC’s authors and publishers have you covered. Here is our gift guide, featuring books for kids of all ages and interests.
Books for Animal and Nature Lovers
Budding biologists and nature lovers will love these books dedicated to our furry friends and the wildlife around us! This collection includes books about BC’s animals, creatures from around the world, and tips on how we can leave our planet in better shape than how we found it.
The Late, Great Endlings: Stories of the Last Survivors by Deborah Kerbel, illustrated by Aimée van Drimmelen (Orca Book Publishers)
The Late, Great Endlings pays homage to some of the more well-known endlings of the past century with rhyming stanzas that accompany watercolor illustrations and factual descriptions of each animal.
Luminous: Living Things That Light Up the Night by Julia Kuo (Greystone Kids)
Kids 4 to 8 will marvel at the brightly glowing creatures and other living organisms in this stunning, poetic, and science-based exploration of bioluminescence.
Big Sharks, Small World by Mark Leiren-Young (Orca Book Publishers)
Meet different sharks from around the world in this rhyming board book.
Ben the Sea Lion by Roy Henry Vickers (Harbour Publishing)
Tsimshian storyteller and artist Roy Henry Vickers shares an adventure from his childhood in the Indigenous village of Kitkatla, on BC’s north coast.
A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee: Creating Habitat for Native Pollinators by Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla, illustrated by Ann Sanderson (Douglas & McIntyre)
An inspiring and practical guide to creating beautiful habitat gardens full of life.
Books for Kids in STEM
Have an aspiring scientist on your hands? Pique their curiosity with a book dedicated to STEM—Science, technology, engineering or math.
Superpower? The Wearable-Tech Revolution by Elaine Kachala, illustrated by Belle Wuthrich (Orca Book Publishers)
Super strength, super hearing, super vision and super connection. Wearable technology may soon give humans superpowers.
Do Trees Have Mothers? by Charles Bongers (Douglas & McIntyre)
A wonder-filled picture book inspired by the science of trees.
Time to Wonder – Volume 2: A Kid’s Guide to BC’s Regional Museums by S. Lesley Buxton and Sue Harper (Rocky Mountain Books)
The second volume in a series of guidebooks designed for kids and families looking for museum adventures throughout British Columbia.
Books for Creative Kiddos
Artists and creatives will be inspired by this collection of books dedicated to crafts, visual art and the written word! You’ll find tales of talented artists and writers, activity guides to create art in your own home and biographies of artists who influenced Canada.
Nature is an Artist by Jennifer Lavallee, illustrated by Natalia Colombo (Greystone Kids)
For kids who love to draw and create, this captivating picture book fosters an appreciation for nature and features craft ideas to inspire young artists.
Drawing Outdoors by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng, translated by Elisa Amado (Greystone Kids)
Drawing Outdoors celebrates the amazing impact of teachers, and the wonderful worlds kids can create while drawing.
The Ferryboat Ride by Robert Perry, illustrated by Greta Guzek (Nightwood Editions)
Robert Perry’s simple four-line rhymes, paired with Greta Guzek’s vibrant illustrations, take readers on a ferry ride along the magical British Columbia coastline.
Kiddo by Cynthia Nugent (Tradewind Books)
Can Kiddo get enough community points, improve her spelling, and stay out of trouble long enough to become the next Junior Journalist?
Books to Read Together
We can’t think of a better gift than the joy of spending time together. Curl up and enjoy these cozy tales all about love and family, perfectly suited for a read-along!
A Cabin Christmas by Glynnis Hood, illustrated by Ardis Cheng (Rocky Mountain Books)
Colourful and lively illustrations draw you into a touching tale about how a community of all shapes and sizes comes together, just in time for Christmas.
My Promise by Dr. Jillian Roberts, illustrated by Slavka Kolesar (Orca Book Publishers)
A stunning board book that shows little ones they will be loved unconditionally and empowers parents and caregivers to raise well-rounded, resilient individuals.
To My Panik: To My Daughter by Nadia Sammurtok, illustrated by Pelin Turgut (Orca Book Publishers)
In this lovingly told book, a mother recounts for her daughter all the things she loves about her, connecting each attribute to an element of the Arctic landscape or Inuit traditional life.
Still This Love Goes On by Buffy Sainte-Marie, illustrated by Julie Flett (Greystone Kids)
A love letter to Indigenous communities everywhere, this picture book gorgeously illustrated by Julie Flett celebrates seasons, nature, and community.
What Grandma Built by Michelle Gilman, illustrated by Jazmin Sasky (Harbour Publishing)
The poignant story is of one family and its extraordinary grandmother, and is a whimsical take on the difference between a house and a home.