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First and Best 2017

Our top picks of the best Canadian children's books for building reading readiness in kids under five. Because the first books you share with your child should also be the best!

Ages: 0-5 years

A Horse Named Steve

Kelly Collier

Steve is a fine horse, but he wants to be exceptional. When Steve finds a gold horn just lying there on the ground, he considers himself very lucky. That is until all of Steve’s friends want to be exceptional too, and silliness ensues.

Charlotte and the Rock

Stephen W. Martin

Charlotte wants a pet very badly; a dog or a hamster would be great! When Charlotte’s parents buy her a pet rock for her sixth birthday, it wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. Soon she comes to love her new pet and discovers things are not always what they seem.
Also Available in eBook

There’s Nothing to Do!

Dev Petty

Frog is bored and can’t find anything to do, no matter how many great suggestions his dad and friends make. Will he find an exciting way to spend his day?
Also Available in eBook

I Love My Purse

Belle DeMont

A young boy’s unselfconscious determination to stay true to his style instincts inspires others to embrace their own uniqueness.

Picture the Sky

Barbara Reid

Expressive Plasticine artwork and poetic text demonstrate many different ways in which the sky can be pictured and invite the readers to explore what they think of the sky.
Also Available in French

I Am Canada: A Celebration

Heather Patterson

A beautiful tribute to Canada and the children who live here. The text and images, by Canada’s finest illustrators, celebrate our realities and aspirations as a nation.
Also Available in French

Wild One

Jane Whittingham

Follow this energetic little one through a day of wild activities and adventures that ends with a sweet goodnight and snuggles.

Bugs from Head to Tail

Stacey Roderick

Readers are challenged to guess which bug a particular body part belongs to. Informative, colourful and best of all: filled with bugs!

Hello Humpback!

Roy Henry Vickers and Robert Budd

Gentle, rhyming text and bold illustrations, by First Nations artist Roy Henry Vickers, depict the wild beauty of the West Coast for the youngest of readers.

Different? Same!

Heather Tekavec

A tiger lives in a jungle, a walrus in the Arctic, a wombat in a forest, and a dog in a house, yet they all have something in common. Children will have fun guessing the similarities in this clever exploration of animal characteristics.
Also Available in eBook

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Toronto Public Library- First and Best

Our top picks of the best Canadian children's books for building reading readiness in kids under five. Because the first books you share with your child should also be the best!

Ages: 0-5 years