We love reading about animals, whether they are featured as cuddly, vulnerable, or brave. Through time, we see ourselves mirrored in their lives, their adventures, and their stories. As Canadians have a special tie to nature, of course our authors feature these creatures best.

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The Very Very Far North, by Dan Bar-el

This story caught my heart, and those of my students. They ached for a sequel, and luckily there was one. Votes for favourite characters were varied, the characters' range as broad as my students own personalities. This story was simple in its narration, yet complex in its themes and was a beautiful tale of creatures trying to figure out who they are and where they belong. 

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Owls in the Family, by Farley Mowat

When I was growing up in the '80s and '90s, three Canadian authors loomed large in my mind: Robert Munsch, Stuart McLean, and Farley Mowat. Mowat's appeal was highly influenced by the love passed down from my mother, who'd grown up with his tales herself. This one is a classic. 

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The Paper Bag Princess, by Robert Munsch

If you don’t think a dragon fits in with this list of animal tales, that’s fair. But what would you classify a dragon as? It’s certainly not human! Besides, The Paper Bag Princess is iconic, known as well as Munsch’s other tales like Love You Forever, Stephanie’s Ponytail, Thomas’ Snowsuit —there’s too many to count. The Paper Bag Princess is a treasure that every little child should read, or have read to them, which teaches that appearances don’t matter as much as intelligence, that princesses don’t have to be weak, and that a person should have a standard for how they can be treated. Not bad for a children’s book of less than 20 pages.

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Life of Pi, by Yann Martel

Truly a storytelling marvel, the book Life of Pi isn’t for young readers, but it’s a great story for their parents to delve into once the littles have gone to bed. Full of magic and mystery, it’s a story that needs to be told. Each section adds a bit more to the narrative, and the understanding that comes with it.

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Silverwing, by Kenneth Oppel

Kenneth Oppel picks an unlikely hero—a silverwing bat. Normally people cringe at the idea of a bat, but not in this story. Shade is a brave soul who wants to explore the world. For every person who’s felt too small to make a difference, they will root for this "runt of the litter" who makes mistakes and learns from them, surviving impossible odds and becoming more than just the small bat that he is.

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Moose, by Robert Munsch

Of course Robert Munsch is going to wind up on this list twice. It’s a miracle he didn’t end up on it three times. He’s a fantastic storyteller who makes children love reading. Each of his books can be treasured alone, but also thrive as read-alouds. And nothing says Canadian literature like a book featuring a giant moose.

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Goodnight Canada, by Andrea Beck

The diversity of our lovely country is celebrated and explored in this masterful story that reads like poetry and a patriotic love song. The images can be studied for hours and still have treasures left hidden inside. This book shares the joy that is Canada, in its unique culture and beauty from coast-to-coast.

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I Want My Hat Back, by Jon Klassen 

Ready for a short tale that will have you laughing for hours? Look no further than Jon Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back. While my husband didn’t love reading stories aloud when the munchkins were young, he always chose this story when it was his turn… or one of the sequels. Thanks, Jon Klassen, for making 2 a.m. back-to-sleep storytime a bit easier on a 38 year-old-man.

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Learn more about An Owl Without a Name: 

The charming story of a young owl’s strange and disorienting journey to discover who he is and where he belongs.

When a young Great Horned Owl wakes up to find himself on the ground with a broken wing, he can’t figure out where he is, how he got there, or how to get back to the tree where he lives with his parents and older sister. Is this a test, to see if he is ready to leave the nest? Is he being punished for something? Before he knows what is happening, he is whisked away to a rescue centre, where he meets other owls who are also recovering from injuries before being released back into the wild.

Lonely, confused, and very self-conscious of the fact that he doesn’t have a name, the young owl slowly adapts to his new surroundings. He makes friends, finds his courage, heals from his injury, and realizes that identity is about more than a name that is given to you. It’s about the character that you develop, especially when you face hard times. Heartwarming, whimsical, and inspirational, An Owl without a Name is an uplifting tale for young readers.