Welcome to Top Grade: CanLit for the Classroom, a blog and video series that features new releases from Canadian book publishers ideal for use in K-12 classrooms and school library collections. Throughout the year, we dive into new titles, highlighting relevant curriculum links and themes.

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Written by educator and researcher Spencer Miller

Concerned for the rights of newcomers, a recent report from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights raises red flags about Canadians’ changing attitudes towards immigration. According to their 2024 survey, there was a sharp increase in Canadians who felt there was “too much attention focused on the rights of newcomers” and a significant decrease in respondents who believe that “immigrants make the country better.”

While the report suggests more research is needed to understand the roots of this trend, one thing is certain: newcomer students in our classrooms need more support and inclusion than ever before. 

Around 1 in 3 students in Canada are newcomers or have newcomer parents. Newcomer students face compounded challenges as they confront language barriers, cultural differences, and prejudice. These challenges can negatively impact students’ learning and mental health.

School Mental Health Ontario provides advice for educators on how to make their classrooms a welcoming space for newcomers including:
•    Learning about the newcomer experience from credible information sources
•    Take time to get to know the unique stories and strengths of newcomers
•    Promote compassion and understanding and address instances of intolerance directly

Reading together is one way to share information, include stories, and promote compassion. These new and upcoming books from Canadian creators shine a light on the unique stories and strengths of newcomers:

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Carlito’s Butterfly / La mariposa de Carilto (ages 3-5) follows friends Carlito and Samia as they discover they can have two countries to call home, just like the butterflies. This bilingual book includes full text in both English and Spanish.

In Class: Dual-language books are a great way to help English language learners get involved in storytime. If you have any Spanish speakers in your class, invite them to help you read the Spanish words in the story.

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The Eidi Bag (ages 4-7) is a cheerful holiday story that gently explores an experience kids who immigrate to new countries often face: adapting to new traditions. In the story, a young girl named Sarah celebrates her first Eid Ul Fitr in her new country.

In Class: Sharing holiday stories together builds an inclusive classroom environment. Time your reading of The Eidi Bag with this year’s holiday which will take place on March 29th, 2025, or March 30th, 2025, depending on the sighting of the moon.

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It’s Okay, Just Ask (ages 4-7) is an uplifting immigration story about tackling new experiences with curiosity. In the story, a little girl is full of questions as her family prepares to emigrate to a new country.

In Class: Collaborate with your students to make a list of questions newcomers might have about moving to Canada. Use this activity to encourage your students to ask questions when they’re feeling uncertain or trying something new.

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Patty Dreams (ages 4-7) is a tasty celebration of family, food, and culture. In the story, August and his Daddy bake Jamaican patties that remind them of home. August shares the patties with his friends and neighbours and the demand for patties grows. 

In Class: Enjoy this storytime video with author Nadia L. Hohn.

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Veena and the Red Roti: A Story of Hope During Partition (ages 4-8) is a moving story about a young girl who helps others during a difficult time by cooking and sharing her favourite dish. The story is based on the experience of author Namita Moolani Mehra's grandparents, who fled Sindh province in 1947 during the Partition of India.

In Class: This special story is an excellent starting point for classroom discussions about immigration, refugees, conflict and change. 

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I, Too, Am Here (ages 6-8) takes inspiration from a Langston Hughes poem to tell a multigenerational story of immigration, racism, and what it truly means to belong. Readers are introduced to a young girl and her family who live on a street with neighbours from all over the world.

In Class: Create a map that celebrates all the places that neighbours in your community come from.

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Alina in the Deep (ages 6-8) is the sequel to Alina in a Pinch, an award-nominated illustrated chapter book. In this story, Alina’s cousin Safi arrives from Kenya to spend the summer with Alina and her family in Calgary.

In Class: Compliment your reading with Same Here! to learn more about the similarity and differences that children share in different parts of the world.

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Waltraut (ages 9-12) is a middle-grade novel that follows eleven-year-old Waltraut, a first-generation-Canadian girl, growing up in Winnipeg in the shadows of the Second World War. Waltraut worries that she and her German family will never fit in.

In Class: Use this video to add context to your reading by learning about “If Day,” a forgotten piece of Winnipeg wartime history.

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Straight Outta Busan (ages 11-13) is a collection of short cartoons from Stefano Jun chronicling his experiences growing up a Korean immigrant in Western Canada. Having moved to Canada as an 8-year-old with no knowledge of English, Stefano encounters culture shock, family love, friendship, and ultimately finding a place for himself in the vast country he has called home for 20 years now.

In Class: Invite students to create a biographical comic strip of their own.

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Spencer Miller is a teacher, writer, reader, and fan of the Toronto Raptors. He is currently pursuing graduate studies at the University of Calgary (Treaty 7). You can follow more of Spencer’s passion for books on Instagram @SpencerBMiller.