Book reviews

By Trevor J. Adams

Screech! Ghost Stories from Old Newfoundland

By Charis Cotter

Art by Genevieve Simms

Nimbus Publishing

Ages 8 to 12

If you come from a Newfoundland family with strong storytelling traditions (and is there any other kind?), the tales in this collection will have a familiar ring. With spooky stories like “A Visit from the Old Hag,” “The Blueberry Ghost,” and “Alone on the Barrens,” author Charis Cotter reimagines the Rock’s traditional tales, introducing a new generation of readers to centuries-old lore. Genevieve Simms’s moody black and white illustrations complete the supernatural vibe. The book even includes an overview of Newfoundland’s storytelling tradition, and tips for new storytellers—an ideal pre-Halloween read.

World So Wide

By Alison McGhee

Art by Kate Alizadeh

Two Lions

Ages 4 to 8

“Somewhere in the world, the world so far, the world so wide / Someone is the youngest person alive.” With that moment of Zen, New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize nominee Alisa McGhee opens this touching exploration of nascent life, parental love, and the boundless potential of the world that awaits. Kate Alizadeh tenderly and evocatively illustrates the lyrical writing, the two talents combining on a story that will spark little imaginations while hitting parents right in the feels.

A Great Big Night

By Kate Inglis

Art by Josée Bisaillon

Nimbus Publishing

Ages 4 to 8

Kate Inglis always writes with a healthy dollop of whimsy, a tradition she continues with A Great Big

Night, the tale of three travelling frog musicians, rolling on their painted bicycles. She crafts a timeless fable about friendship, compassion, and empathy. As much as the elegantly sparse verse, Josée Bisaillon’s lavish illustrations tell the story with warmth, humour, and colourful vibrancy. A fun, easy read and a visual feast— this book is sure to enchant young readers.

Parent's Pick: Life After COVID-19

By Bob Gordon

Banovallum Books

For parents pondering what a post-COVID world will look like for their children, this book is a useful primer. Author Bob Gordon looks at our past—from the Black Death to 20th-century scourges like the Spanish flu and Ebola— to paint a picture of what awaits us in our post-pandemic world. With meticulous research, he considers the likely long-term impacts on education, travel, entertainment, retailers, and even the global balance of power. It’s not a light read (and given the subject, really couldn’t be), but it is a timely and richly informative one.