National Network for Equitable Library Service

Thirteen-year-old Simon and his friend Abbey become embroiled in mysterious and fantastical events surrounding the ancient Egyptian mirror of Simon’s elderly neighbor, Mr. Hawkins. When the old man dies, a suspicious couple claiming to be his relatives move in. Simon, who has been plagued with a strange illness since first looking into the mirror, retrieves it from Mr. Hawkins’ hiding place and seeks the help of a museum curator to unravel a dark spell tied to its original owner and to Mr. Hawkins’ so-called niece.

Sam and Crystal’s coastal adventure continues as brother and sister dive deeper into the marine habitats of Eagle Cove, home of Aunt Kate and Uncle Charlie. In their latest adventure, the kids learn about one of the most ecologically important ecosystems on the west coast: the eelgrass meadow. This rich habitat provides food and shelter to countless marine critters—from tiny micro-organisms to juvenile fish—and is the basis of a gigantic food web that supports herring, salmon, black bears, humpback whales, and many other species.

Set between Kansas and Saskatchewan in 1907, this middle-grade novel follows a young boy who gets separated from his family en route to Canada and must find his way alone across the immense prairie landscape. Following the sudden death of his eldest brother, twelve-year-old Peter is chosen by his father to travel by train from Kansas to Saskatchewan to help set up the new family homestead. But when Peter's boxcar becomes uncoupled from the rest of the train somewhere in South Dakota, he finds himself lost and alone on the vast prairie.

Linked short stories follow the interconnected lives of children living in one apartment building as they shelter in place during the pandemic.

A children's book inspired by the true story of Jewish orphans who came to Canada to learn farming only to find their way to Carnegie Hall. Thirteen-year-old Jacob's life is hard in 1920s Poland, where he lives in an orphanage for Jewish children. His days are brightened by playing in the mandolin orchestra. When an American benefactor arrives with the promise of a new life at the Canadian Jewish Farm School--and even the dream of playing a benefit concert at New York's Carnegie Hall--Jacob and his friends are thrilled. But can they trust this man to keep his promises?

Inspired by real events and a real-life "cookie war." Life in her traditional Mennonite community is peaceful if a little dull for twelve-year-old Beth, who dreams of being an artist. One day excitement shows up in the form of a determined lawyer from New York who insists she needs a family cookie recipe to win a million-dollar lawsuit. Beth's parents are bemused, but her grandmother is determined that the recipe will not leave her kitchen.

The four cousins from the Windy Lake First Nation are back for another mystery in Book Three of the Mighty Muskrats Mystery Series -- the first two books in the series are The Case of the Missing Auntie (Book Two) and The Case of Windy Lake (Book One). The National Assembly of Cree Peoples has gathered in the Windy Lake First Nation, home to the Mighty Muskrats: Chickadee, Atim, Otter, and Sam. But when the treaty bundle, the center of a four-day long ceremony, is taken, the four mystery-solving cousins must set out to catch those responsible and help protect Windy Lake's reputation!

Olive longs for a calf of her own so she can enter the 4-H calf competition. So, naturally, she is upset when she realizes that some of the older kids think she can't take care of one because she uses a wheelchair to get around. But her dismay turns to delight when her parents tell her she can choose a calf from the ones on their farm. Olive chooses a Jersey calf that was born late and is smaller than any of the others. But raising a calf isn't easy. Olive has to draw on all of her problem-solving skills and work harder than she ever has before.

Witches are hated in Württemberg, Germany, in the eighteenth century. It’s not so long since they were burned, and any woman who knows too much, who’s too clever or quick or skilled at healing, is suspect. Young Lilli knows this, and yet she also knows that the wise woman she’s learning from, Alisz, isn’t evil. She is teaching Lilli which plants cure a fever, which help a cough, which speed a difficult labour. She only wants to help people, and so does Lilli. But Lilli’s father hates any sign of witchcraft and is furious at their connection.

Tulia May lives in rural Nova Scotia with her mother, who works in the laundry of the nearby Ideal Maternity Home. It's a place where unwed mothers can discreetly give birth, a place where adoptions by rich Americans can be quickly arranged. Tulia doesn't think about the workings of the home much; mostly she hates being roped in to helping scrub the endless diapers. Her friend Finny Paul has suspicions that the home is holding sinister secrets—the worst being that unadoptable babies are being buried in butterboxes—but Tulia thinks he's being ridiculous.