Five New Children's Books to Spark Joy and Learning in 2025
Happy New Year! As we adjust to writing 2025, we’re excited to share five new children’s books to spark joy and learning with your child and foster their early literacy skills.
These books are available for free borrowing from the Calgary Public Library. All you need is a library card, which you can sign up for here.
Baby Garbage Truck Goes to School
Written by Jelia Vesova
Illustrated by Svetlana Sadykova
Baby Garbage Truck is going to schoo l! He needs to learn the rules of the road . What do the street signs mean? What color in the traffic light means "go"? There's so much to learn! Can he do it?
Calgary Public Library link: https://calgary.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S95C1670333
Sarah Ponakey, Storycatcher and Âhâsiw's Forest Powwow
Written by Sita MacMillan
Illustrated by Azby Whitecalf
Sarah Ponakey has moved to the city from her home community with her mom and it's the pits! She misses her Kôhkom, her best friend Eden, and the forests around her community. She's had a hard time making new friends at school but at least she keeps in touch with Eden through meticulously written letters with very big words. After a particularly tough day where she nearly loses her favorite stuffed animal, Âhâsiw, and is brushed off by her mom, Sarah finds herself transported to a magical forest powwow . . .
Accompanied by a life-sized Âhâsiw in his beautiful regalia, Sarah watches in excitement as a chipmunk emcees, and bears play the host drum at her first ever powwow. The more she sees, the more her confidence grows. As she joins in the celebration, Sarah discovers that she can connect to her Cree culture no matter where she is. Her Kôhkom's going to love this story! Âhâsiw's Forest Powwow, the first book from debut children's author Sita MacMillan, features Cree words throughout the story and a note to the reader. Azby Whitecalf's dynamic illustrations bring life to this warm, charming, and funny introduction to Sarah Ponakey, the storycatcher.
Calgary Public Library link: https://calgary.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S95C1668962
Live Like a Viking
Written by: Claire Saunders
Illustrated by: Ruth Hickson
Live Like a Viking is a fascinating and informative journey back in time to find out what it was really like to live in the Viking age. Dotted throughout are fictional accounts by a young girl that bring the Viking era to life and enable readers to understand what it was like to live like a Viking.
The Vikings have a fearsome reputation as warriors. In reality, they were much more than that. From farmers and craftsmen to musicians and explorers, Viking society and culture has left a lasting impression on our modern world.
At the peak of their power, the Viking population soared to two million! Get ready to discover what it was like to live in this epic era. Learn about out how these master seafarers invaded countries across Europe using iconic wooden longships, about family life, their beliefs, the place of women in society, how they dressed and what they ate, as well as their language, customs and rituals.
The book also includes step-by-step craft activities and recipes to have a go at.
Calgary Public Library Link: https://calgary.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S95C1670695
Pete the Cat and the Wright Brothers
by Kimberly & James Dean
Pete the Cat helps the Wright brothers build their first flying machine in this historical fiction Level 1 I Can Read from New York Times bestselling creators Kimberly and James Dean.
When Pete the Cat learns that the Wright brothers' flying machine can't fly without the wind, he has an idea. What if it didn't need wind to fly Together, the cats invent the perfect solution. Pete may even get the chance to fly! This early reader includes an author's note about the real life Wright brothers and the true story of the first flight.
Find out in this Level 1 I Can Read book complete with original illustrations from the creators of Pete the Cat, Kimberly and James Dean. Pete the Cat and the Wright Brothers is perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts of Level One books support success for children eager to start reading on their own.
Snow Day
Written by Linday Gloade-Raining Bird
Illustrated by Ashley Thimot
A joyful, rhyming story in the vein of Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day, this debut children's picture book follows an Indigenous family as they enjoy the magic of a winter storm.
All is quiet on the snow-laden street. Not a single soul makes a teeny-tiny peep. Then, with a bound and a bang and a funny kind of twirl out comes a bundled-up joyful little girl.
Capturing the magic of a snowfall, Snow Day follows an Indigenous family as they experience all of the delights of a winter's day. While Mom shovels the driveway and Dad cares for her brother by the fire, a young girl and her dog make snowflake tea, build a snow caterpillar, catch snowflakes on their tongues, and make snow angels. All while the snow continues to fall. At the end of the day, the girl is beckoned inside by the promise of hot chocolate, and regails her family with her adventures' and dreams of doing it all again tomorrow.
Atmospheric, nostalgic, and full of winter fun, the debut picture book by mixed-Cree journalist, book reviewer, and podcast host Lindsay Gloade-Raining Bird is a celebration of Indigenous joy and childhood wonder. Features warm, colourful artwork rendered in traditional gouache and coloured pencil from debut illustrator Ashley Thimot.
Calgary Public Library Link: https://calgary.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S95C1670370
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