To celebrate National Maple Syrup Day, we are recommending ten children’s books that were written by Canadian authors. Each of these books takes place around the holiday season, whether it be Christmas or Hanukkah. Secondly, there are themes of the winter season, ice, and more. One of these Canadian children’s books can be the one your child reads during December.
1. Baseball Bats for Christmas by Michael Kusugak, Illustrated by Vladyana Langer Krykorka
Never having seen trees before, the children in Repulse Bay decide that the peculiar things delivered to them on Christmas must be used for making baseball bats.
2. Meet the Latkes by Alan Silberberg
Lucy Latke’s family is just like everyone else’s, except they are potato pancakes and a really clueless bunch. After the menorah is lit, Grandpa Latke tells everyone a Hanukkah story, if only they can pay attention. This book discusses Hanukkah traditions and family.
3. The Boy Who Moved Christmas by Eric Walters and Nicole Wellwood, Illustrated by Carloe Liv
Seven-year-old Evan lives in a town that is ready for the holiday parade in October. However, the bump on Evan’s head indicates that he might not make it to December. Family, friends, and hundreds of strangers decide to instead bring Christmas day to him. But Evan wonders will Santa have heard the news, and will he be there for his Christmas celebration?
4. Song for the Snow by Jon-Erik Lappano, Illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler
Freya loves how the snow falls on the trees like powdered sugar. But the snow hasn’t come to her town in two winters. One day, she finds a snow globe at the market that plays a special melody. This song has been used to call for the snow to the town for several generations. Every day since, Freya goes outside and sings the song, but to no avail. With the help of her town, can she figure out a way for the snow to come?
5. Malaika’s Winter Carnival by Nadia L. Hohn, Illustrated by Irene Luxbacher
Malaika is finally reunited with her Mom, but they are moving to icy Quebec in Canada. Carnival is different here, not like at home in the Caribbean. Soon her mom marries Mr. Frederic, and she has a new sister named Adele. With these new changes, Malaika just wants something familiar, and she misses her grandmother. When Frederic and her Mom bring her and Adele to Carnival, she gets angry and doesn’t like the change of tradition. Will Malaika learn to appreciate and love her new home?
6. Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen: Peril at Owl Park by Marthe Jocelyn, Illustrated by Isabelle Fullath
Aggie is an aspiring writer who is looking forward to Christmas. After just solving a murder mystery in Torquay, England, she is looking forward to seeing her sister Marjorie at Lady Greyson Manor in Owl Park. There, she meets Grannie Jane and her partner in crime, Hector, her cousin Lucy, and visitors from Ceylon. She finds secret passages and has fun. Despite senior Lady Greyson’s attitude, Aggie is enjoying her Christmas. But when a body is discovered under the tree on Christmas morning, Aggie ad Hector work together to figure out who committed the crime.
7. One Wild Christmas by Nicholas Oldland
Best friends Bear, Moose, and Beaver have been so busy decorating for Christmas that they forgot the most important thing: the Christmas tree! When traveling into the forest, they reject several trees until they find the best one. As Beaver is ready to chop it down, Bear disagrees and thinks the tree is too beautiful to be chopped. But Moose and Beaver otherwise. Can they find common ground and have a good Christmas?
8. Lucy Tries Hockey by Lisa Bowes, Illustrated by James Hearne
Lucy and her family are skating at the public ice rink when Lucy notices a hockey game going on. She finds it to be a fun, yet challenging sport. With her parents’ encouragement and support, they enroll her in a hockey clinic. There, Lucy learns the basics with her new friends and has fun on the ice. This book series helps encourage children to be more active and social in recreational sports programs.
9. When the Moon Comes by Paul Harbridge, Illustrated by Matt James
In this atmospheric story, a group of kids wants to play hockey on this river. The ice has finally frozen over and the lake is ready. Once the full moon hits, it’s time to play.
10. The Snow Doves by Nancy Hartry, Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Sami arrived in a new country. Snow is a huge foreign surprise, and it’s piled high up. Joy, his neighbor, doesn’t speak his language, but that doesn’t stop her from befriending Sami. Joy helps Sami with his inner fears. Soon Sami discovers the magic of snow and the joys of being outside.