National Network for Equitable Library Service

Introduces learners to some of the different roles community members play in their neighborhood through fun lyrics and positive illustrations.

Two fearless Olympians sled to victory in this delightful new picture book Max and Marla are best friends. And aspiring Olympians! With their eyes on the prize, they know exactly what it'll take to reach sledding success: preparation, practice and perseverance. So when rusty blades, strong winds and difficult slopes get in their way, Max and Marla realize true joy lies not in winning but in friendship. Obstacles turn into victories! With delightful illustrations and charming text, Alexandra Boiger brings to life the story of two unstoppable pals; true Olympians who never give up!

When Malaika moves to Canada, there's a lot to get used to, especially Carnival in the wintertime! Malaika is happy to be reunited with Mummy, but it means moving to Canada, where everything is different. It's cold in Québec City, no one understands when she talks and Carnival is nothing like the celebration Malaika knows from home! When Mummy marries Mr. Frédéric, Malaika gets a new sister called Adèle. Her new family is nice, but Malaika misses Grandma. She has to wear a puffy purple coat, learn a new language and get used to calling this new place home.

Caldecott Award winner Brian Floca gives a heartfelt thank you to the essential workers who keep their cities going during COVID-19 quarantine in this tenderly illustrated picture book. We are here at home now, watching the world through our windows. Outside we see the city we know, but not as we've seen it before. The once hustling and bustling streets are empty. Well, almost empty. Around the city there are still people, some, out and about. These are the people keeping us safe. Keeping us healthy. Keeping our mail and our food delivered. Keeping our grocery stores stocked.

Amazon Editors' Picks: Best Books Ages 6-8 (2021). When Ms. Underwood asks if anyone wants to help Kyle, Zahra always volunteers. She loves spending time with Kyle; he's creative and generous, and he makes the funniest jokes at lunch. But when Zahra's other classmates start teasing her for helping him, she starts making choices she regrets. I Can Help is a gentle, sensitive portrayal of reaching out, facing peer pressure, and learning from past mistakes.

Dog lovers will adore this imperfect yet endearing mutt and his quest for excellence! Everyone in the Ellis family is excellent—except Ed. Ed wonders if this is why he isn't allowed to eat at the table or sit on the couch with the other children. So he's determined to find his own thing to be excellent at—only to be (inadvertently) outdone by a family member every time. Now Ed is really nervous—what if he's not excellent enough to belong in this family?

Teach your little one about different career options with this illustrated guess-and-reveal book perfect for reading aloud with preschool-age children and up. Who wears what to work? The clues in each lively verse can be spotted hanging from the clotheslines. A mail carrier's uniform, the artist's brushes, and the chef's apron all hang from the clothesline. Then turn the page to learn which professionals wear and use the special gear in the jobs they do.

From the author-illustrator of Pardon Me! and Float comes a funny and fun picture book about a little bug who proves that even the small can be mighty. When a power-hungry grasshopper king wants a throne to loom over his bug subjects, he summons each of them to "bring me a rock!" One by one, the bugs bring him the biggest rocks they can carry, but one little bug can contribute only a very small pebble. The grasshopper king shuns the little bug. But when his throne is in danger of tipping, that little bug might be the only one who can save him.

Pierre and Paul are neighbors, friends, and explorers. Pierre speaks French and Paul speaks English, but that doesn't stop them from sharing their adventures. The boys imagine everyday situations into grand exploits—today, they are climbing the Himalayas! To fuel their journey, they decide to make a mountainous sandwich. Pierre and Paul add ingredients until the sandwich staggers, topples, and...avalanche! Ham and fromage, laitue and cucumber jumble until they become a salad. The boys don't really like salad...but explorers have to be brave.

Snuggle up with your little one and enjoy this Made-in-Alberta lullaby, a tribute to our big skies and wide open landscapes. Marvel at the beauty of our province with rhyming verses by Pat Hatherly and watercolour paintings by Jesse Horne. Listen to the song, Alberta Blue, by the Travelling Mabels wherever you get your music, or download it at thetravellingmabels.com