Read the North

  • Small in the City

    Sydney Smith

    Small in the City

    Sydney Smith

    Indigenous wisdom meets scientific knowledge in this deeply poetic book.

    Paperback

    $14.99

    Indigenous wisdom meets scientific knowledge in this deeply poetic book.

  • "Last stop! Everybody out!" Jonathan is trying not to make a mess, but someone has put a subway station in his apartment. So Jonathan goes to City Hall to fix the computer.

    Picture Book (2018 A)

    $7.95

    "Last stop! Everybody out!" Jonathan is trying not to make a mess, but someone has put a subway station in his apartment. So Jonathan goes to City Hall to fix the computer.

  • The Bear Out There

    Jess Hannigan

    The Bear Out There

    Jess Hannigan

    DON’T SCREAM! There’s something scary out in the forest, but you’re in good hands in this story by Jess Hannigan, author of the wryly silly Spider in the Well. Just make sure you keep a cool head, and watch out for any intruders…

    The signs are clear—there’s a BEAR OUT THERE!

    You’re lucky to be safe in this cabin in the woods, with a host who is levelheaded, trustworthy, and smart about bear safety.

    There’s certainly no need to worry about any dark shadows or sneaky schemes in this book…RIGHT?

    Jess Hannigan is back with another bold and brazen tale that’s not too silly, not too scary, but just right.


    Hardcover

    $24.99

    DON’T SCREAM! There’s something scary out in the forest, but you’re in good hands in this story by Jess Hannigan, author of the wryly silly Spider in the Well. Just make sure you keep a cool head, and watch out for any intruders…

    The signs are clear—there’s a BEAR OUT THERE!

    You’re lucky to be safe in this cabin in the woods, with a host who is levelheaded, trustworthy, and smart about bear safety.

    There’s certainly no need to worry about any dark shadows or sneaky schemes in this book…RIGHT?

    Jess Hannigan is back with another bold and brazen tale that’s not too silly, not too scary, but just right.


  • Prepare for plenty of giggles as a kindergarten class arrives for their first day of school but can't find their teacher—only a delicious-looking sandwich and the words "Mr. S" scribbled on the chalkboard. Chaos ensues as the kids argue whether the sandwich must be their teacher. A comical first-day-of-school book of mayhem and chaos by Monica Arnaldo, perfect for fans of Miss Nelson Is Missing.

    “This might be the funniest first-day-of-school book I’ve ever read." —Adam Rex, New York Times bestselling author of School’s First Day of School

    It was the first day of school.

    But even the kindergarteners of room 2B could tell something was seriously wrong. . . . Where was the teacher? Who left this sandwich on the desk?

    The only clue, written on the chalkboard, were three simple letters: Mr. S

    Praise for Mr. S:

    "Confusion, mystery, and laughs are on the menu in Arnaldo’s deliciously goofy back-to-school tale." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

    "The tale's genuinely absurd situation, the mystery of the teacher's identity, and the deadpan storytelling make this a memorable read-aloud choice." —ALA Booklist (starred review)

    "Mysteries for young readers are few and far between and this one is fun and entertaining." —School Library Journal (starred review)

    An Amazon Best Book of the Month * A Junior Library Guild Selection * Indigo Staff Pick of the Month * Governor General's Literary Award Finalist * Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year * Indigo Best Book of the Year * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best List * New York Public Library Best Book of the Year * School Library Journal Best Book of the Year * Booklist Editor's Choice

    Hardcover

    $24.99

    Prepare for plenty of giggles as a kindergarten class arrives for their first day of school but can't find their teacher—only a delicious-looking sandwich and the words "Mr. S" scribbled on the chalkboard. Chaos ensues as the kids argue whether the sandwich must be their teacher. A comical first-day-of-school book of mayhem and chaos by Monica Arnaldo, perfect for fans of Miss Nelson Is Missing.

    “This might be the funniest first-day-of-school book I’ve ever read." —Adam Rex, New York Times bestselling author of School’s First Day of School

    It was the first day of school.

    But even the kindergarteners of room 2B could tell something was seriously wrong. . . . Where was the teacher? Who left this sandwich on the desk?

    The only clue, written on the chalkboard, were three simple letters: Mr. S

    Praise for Mr. S:

    "Confusion, mystery, and laughs are on the menu in Arnaldo’s deliciously goofy back-to-school tale." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

    "The tale's genuinely absurd situation, the mystery of the teacher's identity, and the deadpan storytelling make this a memorable read-aloud choice." —ALA Booklist (starred review)

    "Mysteries for young readers are few and far between and this one is fun and entertaining." —School Library Journal (starred review)

    An Amazon Best Book of the Month * A Junior Library Guild Selection * Indigo Staff Pick of the Month * Governor General's Literary Award Finalist * Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year * Indigo Best Book of the Year * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best List * New York Public Library Best Book of the Year * School Library Journal Best Book of the Year * Booklist Editor's Choice

  • Colette's Lost Pet

    Isabelle Arsenault

    Colette's Lost Pet

    Isabelle Arsenault
    A charming and funny story about navigating new places and friendships. Perfect for fans of Uni the Unicorn and Sparky.

    Colette is exploring her new neighborhood and wants to make friends. But when she encounters someone her age she’s never met before, she doesn’t know what to say—so she hastily invents a lost pet! Things spiral a bit out of control as a neighborhood-wide search party is assembled and Colette makes her pet bird more amazing with each telling. Will the neighborhood kids catch on to her ever-growing fib?
     
    This charming story both clearly identifies the struggle of navigating a different experience and demonstrates to kids a lovely and welcoming way to treat someone new in their community.

    Hardcover

    $22.99
    A charming and funny story about navigating new places and friendships. Perfect for fans of Uni the Unicorn and Sparky.

    Colette is exploring her new neighborhood and wants to make friends. But when she encounters someone her age she’s never met before, she doesn’t know what to say—so she hastily invents a lost pet! Things spiral a bit out of control as a neighborhood-wide search party is assembled and Colette makes her pet bird more amazing with each telling. Will the neighborhood kids catch on to her ever-growing fib?
     
    This charming story both clearly identifies the struggle of navigating a different experience and demonstrates to kids a lovely and welcoming way to treat someone new in their community.
  • Hardcover

    $24.99
  • In the days of Roch’s childhood, winters in the village of Ste. Justine were long. Life centered around school, church, and the hockey rink, and every boy’s hero was Montreal Canadiens hockey legend Maurice Richard. Everyone wore Richard’s number 9. They laced their skates like Richard. They even wore their hair like Richard. When Roch outgrows his cherished Canadiens sweater, his mother writes away for a new one. Much to Roch’s horror, he is sent the blue and white sweater of the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, dreaded and hated foes to his beloved team. How can Roch face the other kids at the rink?

    Board Book

    $12.99
    In the days of Roch’s childhood, winters in the village of Ste. Justine were long. Life centered around school, church, and the hockey rink, and every boy’s hero was Montreal Canadiens hockey legend Maurice Richard. Everyone wore Richard’s number 9. They laced their skates like Richard. They even wore their hair like Richard. When Roch outgrows his cherished Canadiens sweater, his mother writes away for a new one. Much to Roch’s horror, he is sent the blue and white sweater of the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, dreaded and hated foes to his beloved team. How can Roch face the other kids at the rink?
  • Our Little Kitchen

    Jillian Tamaki

    Our Little Kitchen

    Jillian Tamaki

    A picture book about a lively evening in a community kitchen from Governor General’s Award–winning author and illustrator Jillian Tamaki.

    Tie on your apron!
    Roll up your sleeves!
    Pans are out, oven is hot.
    The kitchen’s all ready,
    Where do we start?

    In this lively, rousing picture book from Caldecott Honoree Jillian Tamaki, a crew of resourceful neighbours come together to prepare a meal for their community. With a garden full of produce, a joyfully chaotic kitchen and a friendly meal shared at the table, Our Little Kitchen is a celebration of full bellies and people looking out for one another.

    Includes two recipes and an author’s note about the volunteering experience that inspired the book.

    Key Text Features
    illustrated recipes
    author's note
    speech bubbles

    Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

    CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
    Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

    CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.4
    Describe how words and phrases (e.g., regular beats, alliteration, rhymes, repeated lines) supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem, or song.

    Hardcover

    $19.95

    A picture book about a lively evening in a community kitchen from Governor General’s Award–winning author and illustrator Jillian Tamaki.

    Tie on your apron!
    Roll up your sleeves!
    Pans are out, oven is hot.
    The kitchen’s all ready,
    Where do we start?

    In this lively, rousing picture book from Caldecott Honoree Jillian Tamaki, a crew of resourceful neighbours come together to prepare a meal for their community. With a garden full of produce, a joyfully chaotic kitchen and a friendly meal shared at the table, Our Little Kitchen is a celebration of full bellies and people looking out for one another.

    Includes two recipes and an author’s note about the volunteering experience that inspired the book.

    Key Text Features
    illustrated recipes
    author's note
    speech bubbles

    Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

    CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
    Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

    CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.4
    Describe how words and phrases (e.g., regular beats, alliteration, rhymes, repeated lines) supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem, or song.

  • Evie wants to be scared, but she'll get more than she bargained for in this thrilling, witchy chapter book adventure! For fans of Sir Simon: Super Scarer and other spooky, kid-friendly books.

    Evie wants to be scared, and the usual scary stories just aren't doing it for her anymore. When she stumbles across a different sort of book, The Truth about Witches, she hopes she's found something thrilling . . . but she's forbidden by a kindly shopkeeper from reading the last page out loud! Naturally, her curiosity gets the better of her, and upon reading the last page out loud -- a real summoning spell -- Evie is spirited off to a strange land of magic, weird creatures, feasts and actual witches! They're not as scary as they seem, until Evie asks to join their ranks . . . and only once she does is her quest for true scariness satisfied . . .

    Hardcover

    $16.99
    Evie wants to be scared, but she'll get more than she bargained for in this thrilling, witchy chapter book adventure! For fans of Sir Simon: Super Scarer and other spooky, kid-friendly books.

    Evie wants to be scared, and the usual scary stories just aren't doing it for her anymore. When she stumbles across a different sort of book, The Truth about Witches, she hopes she's found something thrilling . . . but she's forbidden by a kindly shopkeeper from reading the last page out loud! Naturally, her curiosity gets the better of her, and upon reading the last page out loud -- a real summoning spell -- Evie is spirited off to a strange land of magic, weird creatures, feasts and actual witches! They're not as scary as they seem, until Evie asks to join their ranks . . . and only once she does is her quest for true scariness satisfied . . .
  • Pokko and the Drum

    Matthew Forsythe

    Pokko and the Drum

    Matthew Forsythe
    Four starred reviews!
    A Today Show Best Book of the Year
    An NPR Favorite Book of 2019
    A New York Magazine Best Book to Gift Little Kids 2024

    From E.B. White Read Aloud honor artist Matthew Forsythe comes an “extraordinary” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) picture book about a magical drum, an emerald forest, and the little frog who dares to make her own music.

    The biggest mistake Pokko’s parents ever made was giving her the drum. When Pokko takes the drum deep into the forest it is so quiet, so very quiet that Pokko decides to play. And before she knows it she is joined by a band of animals —first the raccoon, then the rabbit, then the wolf—and soon the entire forest is following her. Will Pokko hear her father’s voice when he calls her home?

    Pokko and the Drum is a story about art, persistence, and a family of frogs living in a mushroom.

    Picture Book

    $24.99
    Four starred reviews!
    A Today Show Best Book of the Year
    An NPR Favorite Book of 2019
    A New York Magazine Best Book to Gift Little Kids 2024

    From E.B. White Read Aloud honor artist Matthew Forsythe comes an “extraordinary” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) picture book about a magical drum, an emerald forest, and the little frog who dares to make her own music.

    The biggest mistake Pokko’s parents ever made was giving her the drum. When Pokko takes the drum deep into the forest it is so quiet, so very quiet that Pokko decides to play. And before she knows it she is joined by a band of animals —first the raccoon, then the rabbit, then the wolf—and soon the entire forest is following her. Will Pokko hear her father’s voice when he calls her home?

    Pokko and the Drum is a story about art, persistence, and a family of frogs living in a mushroom.
Jon Klassen
Jon Klassen

About Jon Klassen

JON KLASSEN is the New York Times-bestselling author and illustrator of several books, including the iconic I Want My Hat Back, which was named a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book, a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year, and a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of the Year. The second Hat book, This Is Not My Hat, won the Caldecott Medal and became a New York Times bestseller. His book The Skull was a #1 New York Times bestseller, earning six starred reviews and a piece in the New York Times Book Review in which Ransom Riggs refers to Jon as both “the dean of deadpan” and a “national treasure.” He is the co-creator, with Mac Barnett, of “Shape Island,” a stop-motion animated series on Apple TV+, based on their best-selling Shapes series of picture books. His latest books are the Your Places series of board books.