19 kids' books about Canada

Written by Heather Patterson and illustrated by Jon Klassen, Barbara Reid, Marie-Louise Gay, Danielle Daniel, Genevieve Cote, Ashley Spires, Qin Leng, Jeremy Tankard, Eva Campbell, Irene Luxbacher, Cale Atkinson, Ruth Ohi and Doretta Groenendyk, Scholastic Inc. (AGES 3+). Discover the magic that is Canada through artwork from 13 of Canada’s finest illustrators. There are so many places, people and things that make this country special and many are captured in this book  (also available in French!). $20, amazon.ca

Written and illustrated by Geraldo Valerio, OwlKids (AGES 2–5). How many Canadian critters can your little one count? This book is a great way to teach kids about numbers and how to identify owls, plovers, salmon, lemmings and other wildlife found across the country. $17, indigo.ca

Written by Joseph MacLean and illustrated by Brendan Heard, nuMedia Group (AGES 9+). Each letter in this book represents a place, person or event part of Aboriginal history and culture. Kids can learn informative facts and stories about the communities who first lived in Canada. $25, indigo.ca

Written by Vivien Bowers and illustrated by Dan Hobbs and Dianne Eastman, Maple Tree (AGES 9-12). Follow 11-year-old Guy as he and his family travel to every province and territory in Canada. Learn all about the country’s history, its hidden gems and some super-cool facts. (PS: This book makes the perfect road-trip companion!) $20, amazon.ca

Written by Carlotta Hacker and illustrated by John Mantha, Kids Can Press (AGES 10-12). In this book, your kid can learn all about the potlatch ceremonies of the west coast First Nation peoples, the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the battle of Vimy Ridge, the role that women played in the Second World War and more. The fact boxes, profiles, timelines and maps are sure to keep your kid engaged. $15, indigo.ca

Written by David A. Robertson and illustrated by Julie Flett, Portage & Main Press (AGES 4-8). While gardening with her grandma, a little girl starts to wonder why she has long, braided hair, wears colourful clothing, speaks a different language and is always spending time with her family. Her grandma begins to explain that there was once a time when all these things were taken away from her at something called a residential school. This book is the perfect way to teach kids about this difficult time in Canadian history and open up conversation around how it still affects people today. $20, indigo.ca

Written by Jo Bannatyne-Cugnet and illustrated by Song Nan Zhang, Tundra Books (AGES 7-9). On one snowy morning, Xiao Ling Li and her family are about to participate in a ceremony that will make them Canadian citizens. With a baby sister (or brother!) on the way, Xiao Ling decides to make a scrapbook for her future sibling so they, too, can experience what happened that day. $13, amazon.ca

Written by Maxine Trottier and illustrated by Brian Deines, Scholastic Inc. (AGES 5-9). Does your kid know what the maple leaf represents? This book takes a heartfelt look at what our flag means to everyone in Canada. $8, amazon.ca

Written and illustrated by Paul Covello, HarperCollins (AGES 0-4). D is for Dogsled, I is for Inuksuk, L is for Loonie… Baby can learn all about Canada’s iconic symbols, locations and events in this book. $12, amazon.ca

Written by Katrine Crow and illustrated by Mark Kummer, Flowerpot Press (AGES 5-10). Take a cross-Canada adventure with two young explorers and Barry Beaver and visit some of Canada’s most iconic landmarks such as the lobster statue in New Brunswick, the sign post forest in Yukon and the Hotel De Glace in Quebec! $9, amazon.ca

Written by Kim Bellefontaine and illustrated by Per-Henrik Gürth, Kids Can Press (AGES 2-6). Cute characters in this board board teach your kid all about Canada (and how to count, of course!) $16, indigo.ca

Written by Kids Can Press and illustrated by Ted Harrison, Kids Can Press (AGES 5-7). It wasn’t that long ago that O Canada became Canada’s official anthem. In this book, not only do we get a lyric from the anthem on each page, but famous Canadian painter Ted Harrison takes us from coast to coast through beautiful illustrations of our home and native land. $14, amazon.ca

Written by Katherine Dearlove and illustrated by Lori Joy Smith, Owlkids Books (AGES 4-8). Chock-full of icons and labels to help your kid remember capital cities, important bodies of water and memorable landmarks, this atlas is a fun way to learn all about the Canada’s geography. $19, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Per-Henrik Gürth, Kids Can Press (AGES 3-7). Join a group of adorable animal characters as they set sail in Quebec, bike in PEI, hike a glacier in Yukon and more! $16, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Andrea Beck, Scholastic Canada Ltd. (AGES 0-3). Before a little kid from Newfoundland hits the hay, he starts to wonder what other kids in Canada are up to. He decides to bid them all goodnight, listing off all the provinces and territories. $17, amazon.ca

Written by Linda Bailey and illustrated by Kass Reich, Tundra Books (AGES 4-8). Little old Annie Magruder and her dog Carson live in British Columbia and are about to go on a road trip to visit Annie’s sister in Newfoundland. As they drive through the country, they experience something special at each stop. $22, amazon.ca

Written by Elizabeth MacLeod and illustrated by Sydney Smith, Kids Can Press (AGES 8-12). Your little history lover will adore this book that covers Canada’s story from the country’s “official” founding in 1867 all the way up to when Justin Trudeau got elected Prime Minister. $22, indigo.ca

Written by Christopher Moore and illustrated by Bill Slavin, Tundra Books (AGES 9-12). Your kids can learn all about Canda’s land, culture and people in this beautifully illustrated book. $46, amazon.ca

Written by various authors, Scholastic Inc. (AGES 9-12). In this series of historical novels, each book recounts a true event in Canadian history, as told in first-person by a girl. The novels include the diary entries of a girl who escapes the war in England, a prarie girl who contracts polio during The Great Depression, and most recently, the residential school diary of an Indigenous girl taken away from her home. $17, indigo.ca

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