Here are some books that are sure to engage even your most reluctant readers. These beautiful picture books feature animals with some pretty cool adaptations that have allowed them to survive. Some of my favourite authors...

Cute as an Axolotl and What Makes a Monster? by Jess Keating, with illustrations by David DeGrand, introduce readers to some of the most fascinating creatures on earth. In Axolotl, you'll learn about the more adorable animals on earth, including the pom-pom crab, pygmy hippo and dwarf flying squirrel (look them up - they're real!). Monster features the world's scariest animals, including my personal favourite (although I never want to meet it!) - the horror frog (shudder!!!!). The text features provide great opportunities for teaching how to read non-fiction, and if the fascinating information doesn't grab you, the notes at the back of the book will. Why do we perceive some things as "cute," and others as "scary?" This is a great opportunity for a unit on how humans create perceptions, but also how we may differ in opinion. These two texts and Keating's Pink is for Blobfish make up a trilogy you'll definitely want to own!

The Triumphant Tale of the House Sparrow follows The Tragic Tale of the Great Auk (a Canadian Children's Literature Award winner), both by author Jan Thornhill. Unlike the Great Auk, the House Sparrow has thrived for thousands of years, thanks to its ability to adapt to its changing surroundings. How and why has it changed over the years, from Ancient Egypt, to Europe, to North America? And why is it so despised? I love both of these books for the opportunity to teach about animal adaptations, and the how humans affect nature.
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​My brand new book (just released this week!) is Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs, written by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by Stephanie Laberis. This book informs the reader about animals that are considered underdogs, due to their clumsy, shy, slow, stinky, and other unfortunate attributes. I learned about some creatures I have not heard of before, including the zorilla (I love that name!) and the hoatzin, and celebrated some of my all-time favourite animals, including the naked mole rat. The text is lively, conversational, and funny, and young children will eat it up!