EASY

Because Amelia Smiled By David Ezra Stein

Because Amelia smiles as she skips down the street, her neighbour Mrs. Higgins smiles too, and decides to send some cookies to her grandson, Lionel ... in Mexico. And so the good feelings travel across the world, inspiring more smiles, kindness, and love along the way.

Ladder to the Moon By Maya Soetoro-Ng

On a night bejeweled with stars, a golden ladder unfurls outside little Suhaila’s window. Her Grandma, perched on its lowest rung, invites her to climb up for an adventure. Together they look back at Earth while opening their minds and hearts, sending a healing glow to wrap the globe in an embrace as wide and warm as Grandma Annie’s own.

FUN FACTS

The Ultimate Dog Treat Cookbook: Homemade Goodies for Man’s Best Friend By Liz Palika

Which would a dog prefer: Peppermint Cookies or Liver and Oat Drop Cookies? Dogs love liver even if it is not always a human’s first choice. Have fun cooking up special treats for your favourite canine. Included are treats for special occasions and for special needs.

Show Me a Story! Why Picture Books Matter By Leonard S. Marcus, ed.

21 celebrated illustrators for children’s books discuss what led them to their careers. Each takes their responsibility as an artist seriously, and recognizes that their work plays a huge role in children’s visual literacy, energizing the imagination, and developing a sense of humour. Find your favourite illustrator here and read up!

JUNIOR

Diary of a Parent Trainer By Jenny Smith

Meet Katie Sutton, an expert on operating grown-ups. She knows exactly how to get the best out of them, so she decides to write a guide to help the world's teenagers do the same. But then Katie's mom starts dating, and suddenly her mom is totally out of control! For everyone’s sake, Katie needs to use all her expertise to get rid of him – and quick!

The Templeton Twins Have an Idea By Ellis Weiner

Once there were 12-year-old twins, named John and Abigail Templeton. John was pragmatic and played the drums, and Abigail was theoretical and solved crosswords. But there were another set of twins, named Dean D. Dean and Dan D. Dean, who kidnapped the Templeton twins in order to get their father to turn over one of his genius (sort of) inventions. Yes, I said kidnapped!

YOUNG ADULT

Splintered By A.G. Howard

Alyssa hears the whispers of bugs and flowers: the same affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital. The family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. When Alyssa learns that Wonderland is real she may finally have a chance to save her family, and herself, from their curse.

Rookie: Yearbook One By Tavi Gevinson

RookieMag.com is not a guide to being a teen. It’s a site where girls make the best of the cringe-worthy awkwardness and the sometimes beautiful pain that is adolescence. This book highlights the best of Rookie including: rants and manifestos on street harassment, love, being happy or sad, thrift shopping tips or just plain fangirling on everything from outer space to The Golden Girls.

ADULT

The Flight of Gemma Hardy By Margot Livesey

For Robert Burns Day (January 25), Livesey recreates Jane Eyre in 1960s Scotland, following the life of Gemma Hardy, a determined Scottish orphan seeking answers to questions about her past. Gemma sets out on a journey to escape her oppressive childhood, and to find independence on her own terms.

The Light Between Oceans By M.L. Stedman

For Australia Day (January 26), a beautiful debut novel set on a remote island off Australia. Tom Sherbourne is a First World War veteran who takes a lighthouse keeper's post with his wife Isabel. One morning a boat washes ashore carrying a dead man and a crying infant – and their lives are changed irrevocably.