Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave
By Laban Carrick Hill
Illus by Bryan Collier
"To us it is just dirt, the ground we walk on...But to Dave it was clay, the plain and basic stuff upon which he learned to form a life as a slave nearly 200 years ago." Dave was a slave who lived in South Carolina in the 1800's, but that did not define him, Dave was an amazing artist, potter, and poet. This beautifully illustrated story tells the life of Dave full of history, hope, and heart. (Ages 4-8)

Free as the Wind: Saving the Horses of Sable Island
By Jamie Bastedo
Illus by Susan Tooke
Hundreds of wild horses live on the windy beaches and dunes of the remote Sable Island. This story is a re-creation of an intriguing episode in the early 1960's when the government decides to sell all the Sable Island horses for dog food. After the horses are removed Lucas decides to write a letter to the Prime Minister asking him to send the horses back to the island. Hundreds of school children across Canada also wrote letters. A touching story of how young people can make a difference. (Ages 7-10)

If the World Were a Village - Second Edition: A Book about the World’s People
By David J. Smith
Illus by Shelagh Armstrong
"Earth is a crowded place, and it is getting more crowded all the time. As of 2010, the world's population was more than 6 billion, 900 million." It's hard to imagine numbers that big, so this book imagines the whole population of the world as a village of just 100 people. In this global village we can learn about who these people are and how they live. You'll discover their nationalities, languages they speak, religions, ages, food they eat, air and water quality, school and work, and much more. A great way to introduce children to the people of the world and ways in which we are similar and different. (Ages 9-12)

Kazaak!
By Sean Cassidy
Young Spike is cleaning his quills for the first time, and he realizes how sharp his quills are! Spike doesn't think this is great, but his friend Rupert tries to convince him that quills are the best. When a hungry bear finds the two friends in the forest Rupert is convinced that with one kazaak across the face with his tail will scare the bear away. But Spike lost most of his quills when he kazaaked a tree, so now it's up to Spike to convince the bear that his friend would not make a good snack. A fun story about friendship. You'll also find porcupine facts and instructions on how to draw a porcupine in the back of the book. (Ages 4-8)

Super Hero Splash Down (DC Super-Pets)
By Jane Mason
Illus by Art Baltazar
The Green Lantern super pet B'dg is spending a relaxing day at the Waves o' Fun water park. B'dg spends most of his time protecting outer space, and it's a tough job, so he's overdue for some rest and relaxation. Everything is perfect, until B'dg spots Dex-Starr, a feline Red Lantern who gets his power from anger. But soon these two foes discover a common enemy, the Sinestro Dog Corps. Can the two Lanterns unite to save their favorite water park from the destructive dogs? A fun superhero story young readers will enjoy. (Ages 4-8)

The Listening Tree
By Celia Barker Lottridge
It's 1935 and Ellen's farm in Saskatchewan is drying up without rain. Her father leaves on a freight train to find work, but Ellen and her mother barely have enough to survive on. They soon leave the farm to board with Aunt Gladys in Toronto at her boarding house. Ellen is intimidated by her surroundings and watches the outside world from a large tree near her window, but instead of joining the world Ellen just watches. One day she overhears a plot to evict the family next door, and Ellen knows she must find the courage to do something. A touching story of courage, determination, and survival. (Ages 9-12)

This Child, Every Child: A Book about the World’s Children
By David J. Smith
Illus by Shelagh Armstrong
"Children make up one-third of the world's population. But who are these 2.2 billion children and what are their lives like?" You may know about the children who live near you, the ones you go to school with, and the ones you play sports with, but what about other children from all over the world? What are their lives like? This book introduces young readers to children all over the world, and how their lives measure up to United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. You'll discover what family lives are like, the health and safety of children all over the world, how different school life is, and children at work, play, and war. A great introduction to various cultures and lives of children all over the world. (Ages 9-12)

Wild Geese
By Caroline Pignat
In this sequel to the award winning novel "Greener Grass" readers follow fifteen-year-old Kit Byrne and her friend Mick O'Toole as they flee famine-ravaged Ireland. Mick is hired as a sailor while Kit, running from the law in Ireland, disguises herself as Mick's younger brother. Life on board the ship is rough, and as they reach Canada the passengers are all quarantined on Grosse Isle where thousands of immigrants suffer from disease. Kit survives the fever and is determined to find her mother, brother, and sister to reunite them as a family. But Kit soon learns she and her siblings are now orphans, and she is willing to sacrifice everything to keep the rest of her family together. Kit discovers that sometimes the best thing to do is let go. A touching story about love, family, hardships, and survival. (Ages 9-12)