This is the third and final segment of our annual holiday book picks blog series. This is always a fun list for our staff to compile and we end up adding to our own To Be Read lists from reading each other’s suggestions! We wish you a wonderful holiday season, full of great stories. Be sure to check out the last two blog segments here and here.
The Misewa Saga by David A. Robertson
The Misewa Saga is described as a “Narnia-esque” fantasy rooted in traditional Indigenous stories of the sky and constellations.
The book tells the story of Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children who are separated from their families and struggling to fit in while living in a foster home in Winnipeg. One day, they discover a portal in the attic to a frozen world called Askí where they meet Ochek (Fisher), a hunter trying to save his starving community. With the help of a mischievous squirrel named Arik, they embark on a dangerous mission to survive the harsh winter and save the community of Misewa.
David A. Robertson is an Indigenous author and member of the Norway House Cree Nation. He is a two-time recipient of the Governor General’s Literacy Award and has written over 25 books across various genres. The Misewa Saga would be a great gift for a middle-grade reader or a fan of fantasy stories.
- Belinda Breadmore, Project Specialist – Youth Literacy and Communications
The Animal People Choose a Leader by Richard Wagamese, illustrated by Bridget George
The Animal People Choose a Leader is a beautifully written story about animals wishing to have a leader. The story begins with the animals discussing the attributes of a good leader. After many good ideas, it is decided that the way to choose a leader is through a race.
The ensuing race with Horse, Buffalo, Cougar, Wolverine and Rabbit is an interesting tale that offers teaching to children of all ages. This story is wonderfully told and the illustrations by Anishinaabe illustrator Bridget George are soft and inviting.
I will gift this book to an early elementary aged child.
- Kathryn Barry Paddock, Executive Director
Kate Quinn books
I love Kate Quinn’s books. I often give them as gifts to other people. My favourite is The Alice Network, but I also like The Huntress and The Rose Code. The Alice Network is a spy story based on the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I. Eve Gardiner is trained as a secret agent. Thirty years later she meets up with a young American girl who is trying to find out what happened to her beloved cousin during World War II, and the two women go on a mission to find the truth. Much of this story is based on fact.
- Helen Balanoff, Project Manager
What You Need to be Warm (a Poem of Welcome) by Neil Gaiman
I don't have my own kids, but I have always loved collecting beautiful children's books for my home. I appreciate how important the illustrations are to the storytelling, and how hopefully the stories are written. What You Need to be Warm (a Poem of Welcome) is one of my favourites from the past year. The book explores extreme cold and darkness in the winter, which is lived out by children in the North. Neil Gaiman and the book's several illustrators lay out a beautiful picture of how people around the globe stay warm, connect with their family, and care for their community in the coldest seasons. Thoughtfully, the author reminds us of the people who cannot access their rights, due to displacement, war, and other threats to safety. By inspiring us to think about cozy memories during the cold season, the message to readers is that we all have the right to be safe, warm, and loved.
The story is very moving to me and I recommend it to all. I love when books can help us talk with children about how their rights in the North are connected around the world.
- Jordyn Riou, Project Specialist -- Family Literacy
Grampy’s Chair by Rebecca Thomas
I picked up this book after hearing wonderful reviews, and I was intrigued with the storytelling style of a book written from the perspective of a chair. I immediately fell in love with the book, and its two main characters, Grampy and his beloved granddaughter. I thought of the well-loved and worn chairs in each of my grandfathers’ living rooms, and the loving moments they have been witness to over decades. I recommend this to anyone nostalgic for a snuggle in their Grampy’s chair and for a conversation opener with children to talk about grief, and ways we remember those we have lost.
- Katie Johnson, Program Director
There, There by Tommy Orange
The book There, There introduces us to 12 Indigenous characters who are all from different Indigenous communities and are all travelling to the big Oakland Powwow. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character and, as the novel progresses, the connections between these characters begin to merge into one. In their stories, some are hopeful, some are angry, some are lost, and some are trying to find their way back to something they feel they lost. The powwow, which serves as both a literal and symbolic gathering, becomes a moment where the characters finally come together, not just as individuals but as part of a larger, enduring community that continues to fight against the erasure of their culture and history. I slowly started this journey this year by reading books made by Indigenous authors and I really recommend this book. I am looking forward to reading more!
- Daina Sanderson, Project Specialist -- Family Literacy
Atlas of Paranormal Places by Evelyn Hollow
Parapsychologist Evelyn Hollow is one of the UK’s leading experts on the paranormal world. I am a huge fan of the BBC’s Uncanny podcast and first learned of Evelyn and her research through her frequent appearances on the podcast.
Atlas of Paranormal Places is a comprehensive look at 38 supernatural locations around the world, and includes many detailed photos, illustrations, maps, floorplans, and notes on the cultural and spiritual history of these spaces. This would be a great gift for anyone who is as intrigued by the mysteries of the supernatural as I am. For those who are interested in further exploration of the paranormal, I also highly recommend Danny Robins’ book Into the Uncanny (2023).
- Belinda Breadmore, Project Specialist – Youth Literacy and Communications
