Children’s literature: our suggestions | The Press

Some suggestions for youth books for toddlers, children and teenagers.

Veronique Larocque
The Press

For the little ones: back to school with Cœur de pirate

In the schoolyard on the first day of school, Clou is heartbroken. All the other puppies already seem to be friends and the only one who deigns to talk to him laughs at his spotted coat. With the support of his parents and his teacher, the little sheepdog will overcome his fears and carve out a place for himself with his friends. Nice lesson of opening to the other, this first children’s book signed by Cœur de pirate comes at the right time to help students tame the fears related to returning to class. The story is accompanied by a sweet song created by the singer-songwriter.

Clou – We are all different!

Text by Cœur de pirate, illustrations by Jess Pauwels

Auzou Editions

From 3 years old

For children: unlikely friendship

A solitary young girl, Maxime loves two things in life: reading and cats. One day, on her way home from school, she is surprised to discover that bowls of feline kibble have appeared in the alley. Who could have put them there? Maxime’s investigation will allow him to meet a very special person. A touching story of friendship between a young girl and an elder, written by Lucile de Pesloüan and embellished with the unique illustrations of Jacques Goldstyn.

Maxim’s world

Text by Lucile de Pesloüan, illustrations by Jacques Goldstyn

Editions La Watermelon

From 8 years old

For teenagers: the view of a young Cuban

Like all young Cubans, Talía looked forward to celebrating her 15th birthday. This evening during which she would feel like a real princess. However, the celebrations are not even over that she feels a huge dizziness. What will its future look like? On this island of limited possibilities, her life already seems to be mapped out. The reunion with a childhood friend will push her to choose a new path. With this first novel, Cuban-born author María Carla, who immigrated to Canada in 2013, offers a rare insight into the daily lives of young people on her native island. A moving story that helps to better understand the risks taken by thousands of migrants in search of a better life.

Olas

Maria Carla

Lemeac Editions

From 12 years old

Comic: funny alien

Invited by his teacher to draw the most extraordinary person he would like to meet, Marco invents Marco Bleu. This funny alien who looks like two drops of water to the young boy, but in a monochrome version, lives on a very special planet: the week only includes two days, the sweets all taste the same, the gifts are distributed by machines and friends hide in closets. This foray into an exploded and wacky universe imagined by Larry Tremblay was first a puppet theater show before becoming this amusing comic strip.

Marco Blue

Text by Larry Tremblay, illustrations by Julien Castanié

Editions La Bagnole

From 4 years old

Documentary: do like the grown-ups

Does your little one look longingly at their brother or sister going back to school? Your granddaughter is starting kindergarten and can’t wait to learn to read and write? What if they had their own dictionary? With over 1000 illustrations, My first dictionary offers children a first contact with this reference work. Designed in Quebec, the book containing more than 1200 entries offers definitions and simple examples adapted to the reality here. A tool that will also be useful for the first written productions, although some young people might find the images a little too childish.

My first dictionary

Texts by Naila Aberkan, illustrations by Yadira Cruz and Svetlana Peskin

Mega Editions

From 4 years old