Experts select the very best of Canadian children’s books in English

This is an entertaining and easy-to-use guide to the very best in Canadian children’s books for parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians, and anyone else interested in the field. The first book of its kind in Canada, it deals with over 500 recommended titles, all by Canadian writers and illustrators, selected by two recognized experts. Organized by age and genre, it includes chapters on board books, concept books, picture books, traditional tales, poetry and rhyming stories, books for beginning readers, novels for those aged 7 to 12 and those 12 and up, as well as non-fiction books.

Each entry gives bibliographic information and then a short summary of the book, a critical assessment, and the reason for its inclusion. Detailed indexes allow the user to find books based on author, title, subject matter, locale in which the story occurs, and area in Canada in which the author lives.

This is an invaluable guide for those who use children’s books in their work or for those who want to select the perfect book for a special child.

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Deirdre Baker has a Ph.D. in Medieval Studies and has taught English literature, including children’s literature, at several universities in the U.S. and Canada. She currently teaches at the University of Toronto. She has reviewed children’s books for the Toronto Star since 1998 and is the author of one short story for children.

Ken Setterington is a well-known figure in the Canadian library system and an international authority on children’s books. He was named the first Children and Youth Advocate for Library Services by the Toronto Public Library and won a prestigious Toronto Art Award for Writing and Publishing for his promotion of children’s literature. His reviews have appeared on CBC’s “This Morning” and in Canadian Living Magazine. He is also the author of the popular children’s book The Snow Queen.

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