On World Teachers’ Day, we’re celebrating the vital role that educators play in society shaping future generations through literacy and education. Educators inspire curiosity, nurture critical thinking, and open the door to lifelong learning. These books capture the spirit of teaching through inspiring stories that help us learn about ourselves, our emotions and the way we cope with life’s challenges, and the world around us. Happy learning!
Brianna Banana, Worst Surprise Ever by Lana Button, illustrated by Suharu Ogawa (Orca Book Publishers)
Young readers who have experienced big feelings, social struggles, emotional dysregulation, or difficulties with attention will find comfort in its relatable main character. Brianna Banana, Worst Surprise Ever is a funny and feel-good story of helping and heroism about third-grader Brianna, who misses out on being Helper of the Day when a substitute teacher takes over the class. When Brianna realizes that adapting to her new circumstances means she can still be a helper without the title, she learns that there is more than one way to be the Helper of the Day.
Available October 14
Brave Like the Buffalo by Melissa Allan, illustrated by Jadyn Fischer-McNab (Rocky Mountain Books)
Brave Like the Buffalo is a children’s book for ages 0–6, with a message that will inspire all readers to face the storms in their life with the help of their support systems. This story uses a powerful animal, the buffalo, as a symbolic message and connection to Indigenous ways of knowing and being that helps to create a heartwarming message around facing adversity.
Out Now!
All the Things We Found by Joanne Levy (Orca Book Publishers)
In this story, author Joanne Levy tackles the difficult topics of grief and stillbirth through the eyes of a child who feels powerless against death and the choice of a parent to have a new baby and risk more loss. When Ruthie’s mom announces she’s pregnant again, three years after a stillbirth, Ruthie must navigate a wave of emotions. With the support of her family and friends, she learns to process her grief and rediscover hope.
Out Now!
The Piano Teacher: A Healing Key by Dorothy Dittricht (Talonbooks)
Winner of the 2022 Governor General’s Literary Award, The Piano Teacher is a play about moving through grief, love, friendship, and the healing power of music. When Erin, a classical pianist, experiences the loss of the life she knew, she begins to struggle with finding her musical voice. Helping her navigate through this change is the unconventional piano teacher she meets, who gives her a new hope to reacquaint herself with her love of music.
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Once Upon This Land by Robert J. Muckle (UBC Press)
Reading Once Upon This Land is like chatting with your favourite retired archeology professor over a beer. You learn how artifacts that are displayed in museums are found and interpreted, the current purpose of archeology, and the stories that the archeological record tells us about the land now known as BC from 15,000 years ago to the present day. This unique book will appeal to readers who want to explore more about the province’s archaeological sites and history.
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Shadows of Tyranny: Defending Democracy in an Age of Dictatorship by Ken McGoogan (Douglas & McIntyre)
Shadows of Tyranny is an alarming and engrossing work of non-fiction from acclaimed author and historian Ken McGoogan. McGoogan traces the ways democracy succumbed to paranoia, polarization, and scapegoating less than a hundred years ago—drawing striking parallels to the political climate of the Trump era in the US. Shadows of Tyranny offers a galvanizing image of a dark possible future, as well as sounding the alarm about the possibility of democratic collapse in the US and its implications for Canada.
Out Now!