This weekend, our Book Lovers’ Holiday Gift Guide Saturday Spotlight takes you province by province for great gift ideas with books from New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and PEI. These books and more can be found in our Book Lovers’ Holiday Gift Guide. A list of participating retailers can be found here.

New Brunswick

Hiking Trails of New Brunswick, 4th Edition
Marianne and H.A. Eiselt
Goose Lane Editions

Newly illustrated in full colour with striking photographs and maps, veteran trail enthusiasts Marianne and H.A. Eiselt lead hikers from one end of the province to the other while covering more than 100 trails.

New Brunswick Underwater
Lisa Hrabluk, Photo Editor: Michael Hawkins
MacIntyre Purcell Publishing Inc

When the mighty Saint John River crested its banks in the spring of 2018, it caused the worst flooding in 50 years. At its height, more than 300,000 cubic feet per second of water raced through the Mactaquac dam just above Fredericton, 3.5 times more water than normal. In New Brunswick Underwater, Lisa Hrabluk tells the story in words and images of the evacuees, volunteers, and first responders who raced the rising river to save their communities. 

The Creative City of Saint John
Edited by Gwendolyn Davies, Peter Larocque, and Christl Verduyn 
Formac Publishing

An extensively illustrated account of a wide range of creators and creative work — writing, painting, natural history scholarship, filmmaking —which are part of Saint John’s colourful history.

The Lost City: Ian MacEachern’s Photographs of Saint John
John Leroux
Goose Lane Editions

Architectural and social historian John Leroux presents 75 black-and-white photographs drawn from MacEachern’s exceptional archive, documenting a lost city and the effect of urban renewal on its neighbourhoods and residents.

Newfoundland

Agnes Ayre’s Notebook: Recipes from Old St. John’s
Roger Pickavance, Agnes Marion Murphy 
Boulder Publications

No surprise that recipes collected during World War One by one of Newfoundland’s most outspoken advocates for women’s rights are often original and daring.

Album Rock: Looking back through the lens of Paul-Émile Miot
Matthew Hollett
Boulder Publications

Why are French sailors painting the word “ALBUM” on a Newfoundland rock in the mid-1800s? Matthew Hollett explores the mystery.

The Flanker Dictionary of Newfoundland English
Garry Cranford 
Flanker Press

The only dictionary of Newfoundland English you’ll need, bringing together words from Indigenous and English cultures from the discovery of Newfoundland in 1497.

The Most Perfect Gift
Hubert Furey 
Flanker Press

Stories of Christmas in Newfoundland and Labrador, a special time of year to gather around a festive table and enjoy the company of family and friends.

Saltwater Mittens From the Island of Newfoundland: More than 20 heritage designs to knit
Christine LeGrow, Shirley Scott
Boulder Publications

Full colour with easy-to-follow knitting designs. This is a must-have for knitting enthusiasts.

Unchained Man: The Arctic life and times of Captain Robert Abram Bartlett
Maura Hanrahan
Boulder Publications

This biography of a legendary hero reveals his drive for success and the inner conflicts of a man who found peace in the Arctic.

Nova Scotia

Bluenosers’ Book of Slang
Vernon Oickle
MacIntyre Purcell Publishing Inc

From Nova Scotia’s greatest collector comes the Bluenosers’ Book of Slang: How to Talk Nova Scotian, the ultimate collection of Nova Scotianisms. From blowin’ a gale, bed lunch, and fill yer boots, this is a book that will make you feel “some good.”

Historic House Names of Nova Scotia
Joseph M.A. Ballard
Nimbus Publishing

Uniacke House, Winckworth, Saint’s Rest, Spruce Tree Cottage. Ever wonder how Nova Scotia houses got their names? This book provides a fascinating look at the house-naming tradition in Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia’s Lost Communities
Joan Dawson
Nimbus Publishing

In this fascinating book, author Joan Dawson looks at 37 of Nova Scotia’s lost communities: places like Electric City, Indian Gardens, and the Tancook Islands.

The Nova Scotia Book of Lists
Vernon Oickle
MacIntyre Purcell Publishing Inc

From Jimmy Rankin’s 10 favourite songs performed by a Nova Scotian to Michael de Adder’s list of the top Nova Scotians that a political cartoonist likes to draw, this is a collection that is sure to start family arguments, provoke a wry smile, or just generally entertain you on a cold winter night.

The Tides of Time: A Nova Scotia Book of Seasons
Suzanne Stewart
Pottersfield Press

Second Place Winner of the Pottersfield Prize for Creative Nonfiction

A most literary look at the work we do in Nova Scotia: fishing, farming, baking, dairy work, maple syrup production, raising sheep, beekeeping, blueberry harvesting, foraging for wild mushrooms, and more.

Waterfalls of Nova Scotia: A Guide
Benoit Lalonde
Goose Lane Editions

Nova Scotia is blessed with numerous must-see waterfalls, and this book brings together 100 of the province’s best. Features gorgeous colour photographs and individual maps of each location.

Where the Ghosts Are: A Guide to Nova Scotia’s Spookiest Places
Steve Vernon
Nimbus Publishing

Author Steve Vernon has covered every corner of the province in search of the spooky, bizarre, and unexplained. The perfect companion for those interested in the history of the province and thrill-seekers alike.

Prince Edward Island

The Cove Journal: Life on the Island’s South Shore
JoDee Samuelson
Island Studies Press

A charming collection of JoDee’s monthly columns written for The Buzz, these seasonal essays and illustrations capture the soft edges of rural life on Prince Edward Island.

Photographer’s Guide to Prince Edward Island
John Sylvester and Stephen DesRoches
Acorn Press

For anyone interested in photography or just looking for the most beautiful sites on PEI, this new book by award-winning photographer team is the perfect gift.

Island at the Centre of the World: The Geological Heritage of Prince Edward Island
John Calder
Acorn Press

Even the most fossil-crazed readers will be shocked by this in-depth look at the geological history of PEI. With important historical finds, this book tells the untold story.

A Seasonal Title for all of Atlantic Canada:

Christmas in Atlantic Canada
David Goss
Nimbus Publishing

In Christmas in Atlantic Canada, prolific folklorist David Goss traces the history of the holiday in our region, from its earliest celebration, quite possibly in 1604, to modern times.

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Don’t forget to check out our other spotlights on Art, Poetry, and Music Books, Books for Young Readers and Hot New Fiction.

See more gift ideas in our Book Lovers’ Holiday Gift Guide! View it online here or pick it up at your local bookstore or library.