Reviewing Toronto author Leslie Shimotakahara’s After the Bloom

Was Lily, the main character in Toronto author Leslie Shimotakahara's After the Bloom ($21.99, Dundurn), the way she was simply because that is who she was or because she had such horrible things happen to her from the time she...

Book Time is on (a summer) vacation

I won't be posting for the next week as I am on vacation, which makes this pile of books kind of funny. I am one of those travellers who embraces her destinations. So, while it sounds fabulous, it's unlikely I...

Activity and sticker books perfect for a summer road trip to Quebec City

  We are getting ready to head out on our annual summer road trip, this time to Quebec City, a perfect location to explore for Canada150. And while my eight-year-old son will get some screen time during the ride, I...

Lots of great information about Amazing Animal Journeys in this DK Readers book

I learned a lot about four animals and their annual migration while my son read me DK Readers' Amazing Animal Journeys ($4.99, dk.com, by Liam O'Donnell). The Reading Level 3 book included information about the journey of the caribou, monarch...

Wesley James ruined My Life was laugh out loud funny

Book by Vancouver, British Columbia, author releases today, July 18 Wesley James ruined my Life ($15.99, Raincoast Books, Swoon Reads) by British Columbia author Jennifer Honeybourn made me laugh, often out loud. Quinn, or Q as Wesley James called her,...

Good versus evil in Lint Boy, a graphic novel for kids

Lint Boy by Aileen Leijten ($23.99, Raincoast Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) is a strange book. A graphic novel about good versus evil, Lint Boy tells the story of Lint Boy and his brother Lint Bear who live in their cozy...

Textrovert is a quick read, perfect for a summer afternoon at the beach

Textrovert by Lindsey Summers ($18.95, KCP Loft) was a quick, fun read perfect for a hot sunny day at the beach – or a rainy day on the couch as the case may be. This young adult love story begins...

DK Eyewitness books are perfect reading materials for a summer road trip

I think my eight-year-old son perfectly summed up the reason DK Eyewitness Books are the best - “they are perfect for the car.” I think he is absolutely correct. We spend a lot of time in the car – both...

Q&A with young adult author Jennifer Honeybourn

Wesley James Ruined My Life, published by Swoon Reads, releases July 18 Q. Your book launches in July. Can you please tell me what you are doing to celebrate the launch. A.  Now that we’re getting close to the release...