Locate me
This weekend, our Book Lovers’ Holiday Gift Guide Saturday Spotlight is on Books for Young Readers! These gift ideas for young (and young at heart!) readers and many more can be found in our Book Lovers’ Holiday Gift Guide. A list of participating retailers can be found here.
Children’s Picture Books
A Giant Man in a Tiny Town
Tom Ryan/Christopher Hoyt
Nimbus Publishing
This is the story of the “giant” Angus MacAskill who traveled the world performing for crowds but never stopped longing to return to the place he loved the best: his Cape Breton home.
A Halifax Time-Travelling Tune 
Jan Coates/Marijke Simons
Nimbus Publishing
This dreamy, lyrical story follows a young child and his dog who travel back in time to 1950s Halifax with a whimsical tune. Follow the pair through Halifax landmarks, showing off all the sights and sounds of the city.
A Toot in the Tub
Nicolette Little/Tara Fleming
Pennywell Books
Offers a lighthearted rhymed look at “healthful release” for kids, while upholding the importance of being kind to others!
Be a City Nature Detective
Peggy Kochanoff
Nimbus Publishing
Why are some grey squirrels black? Does goldenrod cause hay fever? Naturalist and artist Peggy Kochanoff answers these questions and more in this illustrated guide to solving nature mysteries in the city.
EveryBody’s Different on EveryBody Street
Sheree Fitch/Emma FitzGerald
Nimbus Publishing
Sheree Fitch’s playful words invite you to celebrate our gifts, our weaknesses, our differences, and our sameness. Fitch’s quick, rollicking rhymes are complemented by Emma FitzGerald’s lively illustrations.
Follow the Goose Butt to Nova Scotia
Odette Barr/Colleen Landry/Beth Weatherbee
Chocolate River Publishing
Cameila Airhart, the loveable Canadian goose with the faulty Goose Positioning System is off on an adventure to Nova Scotia. She has promised to follow the goose butt, but will she stay focused long enough to keep her promise?
My First Book of Canadian Birds
Andrea Miller/Angela Doak
Nimbus Publishing
Simple, gentle text gives readers a peek into the habitats of Canadian birds and introduces child and parent to fun facts about everything from bird sounds to egg sizes!
Night at the Gardens
Nicole DeLorey/Janet Solet
New World Publishing
What really happens in the Public Gardens after dark? Statues “come alive” and one night Fountain Nymphs convince Juan Swans to fly to the ocean—chaos! Robbie Burns helps, but is it enough?
Santa Never Brings me a Banjo
David Myles/Murray Bain
Nimbus Publishing
Based on the beloved holiday song, follow the ups and downs of the holiday season with David, his furry friends, and his family, as he pines for his most-wished-for holiday gift.
Summer in the Land of Anne
Elizabeth Epperly/Carolyn Epperly
Acorn Press
Told through the eyes of a family travelling to PEI, this is a celebration of the books we love and all the ways they inspire us.
The Lady From Kent: A Story for Girls
and Bees Dressed Up As Fleas and Crocodiles. Also Elves.
Barbara Nichol/Bill Pechet
Pedlar Press
“Barbara Nichol is an original—brilliant and entertaining…a book to read and reread and then read again, to yourself or out loud, depending on how generous you’re feeling.” —Eleanor Wachtel
Time for Bed
Carol McDougall/Shanda LaRamee-Jones
Nimbus Publishing
A fun and simple step-by-step bedtime story for babies and toddlers. From bathtime to storytime, this book guides families through a healthy nightly routine with simple text and joyful photos.
You Make Me Happy
Doretta Groenendyk
Acorn Press
Whether it be sitting by the fire, reading in the bath or travelling, this book explores the importance of finding happiness all around you.
Indigenous Stories
Counting in Mi’kmaw / Mawkiljemk Mi’kmawiktuk
Loretta Gould
Nimbus Publishing
Counting from one to ten in English and Mi’kmaw, young readers will be introduced to both the ancestral language of Mi’kmaki and to Mi’kmaw culture and legend, through beautifully rendered illustrations of the natural world.
IKWE Honouring Women: An Indigenous Colouring Book
for Adults and Children
Jackie Traverse
Roseway Publishing
IKWE is a new colouring book by Anishinaabe artist Jackie Traverse. The stunning images celebrate the spiritual and ceremonial aspects of women and their important roles as water protectors.
Mi’kmaw Animals / Mi’kmaw Waisisk 
Alan Syliboy
Nimbus Publishing
Colourful images depicting Canadian animals like moose, whales, and caribou, and more make this vibrant book a perfect introduction to the Mi’kmaw language.
The Gathering
Theresa Meuse/Arthur Stevens
Nimbus Publishing
A young Mi’kmaw girl attends her first spiritual gathering in this vibrant picture book from the team behind the bestselling The Sharing Circle.
Une Journée Poney ! Pemkiskahk’ciw Ahasis ! A Pony Day !
Hélène De Varennes/Opolahsomuwehs (Imelda Perley)/Paul Lang
Bouton d’or Acadie
Both bursting with laughter, a grandpa takes his granddaughter Josephine on her first pony ride. Many surprises are awaiting her!
Fiction for Young Readers
Dylan Maples Adventures
The Mystery of Ireland’s Eye
Shane Peacock
Nimbus Publishing
Dylan is going kayaking to the island of Ireland’s eye off the coast of Newfoundland to see the ghost town. Why does an old man on the dock of St. John’s tell him to beware?
The Secret of The Silver Mines
Shane Peacock
Nimbus Publishing
A Toronto millionaire has hired Dylan’s dad to retrieve a fortune in silver allegedly stolen from his grandfather years ago. But was the fortune really stolen? And if so, where has it been hidden?
Bone Beds of the Badlands
Shane Peacock
Nimbus Publishing
Bone Beds of the Badlands transports readers to the heart of dinosaur country in Alberta, in the most gripping and terrifying Dylan Maples Adventure yet.
Secrets of Sable Island
Marcia Pierce Harding
Nimbus Publishing
Shipwrecked on Sable Island, Caleb befriends the ghostly girl who rides bareback over the dunes, and realizes that he must do whatever he can to save her, and himself.
Headliner
Susan White
Acorn Press
This stunning new middle grade novel by Ann Connor Brimer Award-wining author Susan White deals with the aftermath of a tragic accident and its effect on the surviving family.
Piper
Jacqueline Halsey
Nimbus Publishing
Dougal Cameron and his family sail from Scotland aboard the Hector, on their way to Nova Scotia. When a violent storm knocks the ship off course, Dougal must fight to stay alive.
Rika’s Shepherd
Orysia Dawydiak
Acorn Press
This action-packed adventure by Hackmatack-nominated author Orysia Dawydiak tells the struggles of a young shepherd and will delight any young reader.
Fiction for Teens
The Goodbye Girls
Lisa Harrington
Nimbus Publishing
Lizzie and her friend Willa devise a genius business – personalized breakup baskets for her classmates. Then things go horribly wrong and soon family, friendship, and a budding romance are on the line.
Worthy of Love
Andre Fenton
Formac Publishing
Halifax slam poet Andre Fenton’s vivid and readable novel for teens.
Nonfiction
100 Things You Don’t Know About Atlantic Canada (For Kids)
Sarah Sawler
Nimbus Publishing
The author of the bestselling 100 Things You Don’t Know About Nova Scotia has collected the most interesting, most surprising, and bizarre facts that you never know about Atlantic Canada, just for kids.
50 Things to See with a Telescope: A young stargazer’s guide
John A. Read
Formac Publishing
A new guide for anyone who’s looking at the heavens and wonders what they’re seeing.
Be Prepared!
Frankie MacDonald and Sarah Sawler
Nimbus Publishing
Nova Scotia’s favourite weather reporter, Frankie MacDonald, along with author Sarah Sawler, shares stories from Frankie’s early years, along with facts about all things sunny, rainy, snowy, and stormy.
Black Women Who Dared
Naomi M. Moyer
Second Story Press
Inspirational stories of ten Black women and women’s collectives—anti-slavery activists, business women, health-care activists, civic organizers and educators. Remarkable women whose stories will fascinate and educate.
Hope Blooms 
Hope Blooms
Nimbus Publishing
The inspiring story of Dragons’ Den darlings Hope Blooms: a Halifax-based, youth-driven social enterprise focused on growing sustainable, healthy food and youth mentorship.
My River: Cleaning Up the LaHave River
Stella Bowles and Anne Laurel Carter
Formac Publishing
Kids who care about the environment will love Stella’s story of her science project on the dirty LaHave River that brought real change.
There be Pirates!
Joann Hamilton-Barry
Nimbus Publishing
Learn about what everyday life was like for some of the fiercest pirates of all time. Explore the history of piracy, from the ancient Romans and Greeks to modern-day pirates.
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.
Don’t forget to check out last week’s spotlight on Art, Poetry, and Music books for the art-lovers on your list!
