The Richmond Public Library has created a list of books for children, teens and adults in celebration of Canada Day!
Picture books
Goodnight, Anne by Kallie George
In this picture book version of Anne of Green Gables, Anne is getting ready to go to bed, but before she can go to sleep, she must say goodnight to everyone and everything she loves.
See 30 of Canada’s iconic symbols come to life in this beautifully illustrated book about what it means to be Canadian.
Follows a pod of Orcas that call the oceans of the North Coast of British Columbia home. This picture book gives readers a glimpse into the life of these beautiful creatures.
Middle Grade books
Papergirl by Melinda McCracken
A historical novel about 10-year old Cassie who lives in Winnipeg in 1919. Her family has survived World War I and the Spanish Flu, but are now frustrated with the long working hours and working conditions. When the workers start a strike, Cassie is desperate to help out.
Canada Year by Year by Elizabeth MacLeod
A year-by-year tour of Canada's history highlighting a single milestone for every year from the country's founding in 1867 up to its 150th anniversary in 2017.
Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier
Victorian London relied on "climbing boys"--orphans owned by chimney sweeps--to clean flues and protect homes from fire. The work was hard and dangerous. Eleven-year-old Nan Sparrow is possibly the best climber who ever lived--and a girl. With her wits and will, she's managed to beat the deadly odds.
Teen books
The Field Guide of the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe
Norris Kaplan is clever, cynical, and quite possibly too smart for his own good. A Black French Canadian whose family just moved to Texas, Norris catalogues everyone he meets. He's amusing himself until it's time to go back to Canada. When Norris screws everything up on prom night, will he be able to stop hiding behind his snarky opinions, and start living his life?
Comics Will Break Your Heart by Faith Erin Hicks
Miriam's family should be rich, but now they have practically nothing. How can Miriam afford college when her family can barely keep a roof above their heads? Miriam's life gets much more complicated when a cute boy shows up in town . . . the grandson of the man who defrauded Miriam's grandfather.
Adult books - Fiction
Greenwood by Michael Christie
A multigeneration family story linking five people to a remote island off the British Columbia coast where one of the world’s last remaining forests continues to grow. Jake Greenwood, an overqualified tour guide, is given a book showing that the island’s connection to her family name isn’t just a coincidence. Winner of the 2020 Arthur Ellis Award for excellence in Canadian crime writing.
Moccasin Square Gardens by Richard Van Camp
This short story collection captures the shifting and magical nature of northern Canada. A hilarious short story collection, it’s also haunted by the Wheetago, human devouring monsters that have returned due to global warming and the greed of humanity.
Molly of the Mall: Literary Lass and Purveyor of Fine Footwear by Heidi Jacobs
Molly MacGregor, English major and aspiring novelist, lives in Edmonton, where she writes university term papers instead of novels and works in a mall selling shoes. Winner of the 2020 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour.
Adult books – Non-fiction
Blanket Toss Under Midnight Sun: Portraits of Everyday Life in Eight Indigenous Communities by Paul Seesequasis
After the release of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission on the residential school system Seesequasis embarked on a project to collect archival photos and stories capturing everyday life in indigenous communities from the 1920s to the 1970s.
Bush Runner: The Adventures of Pierre-Esprit Radisson by Mark Bourrie
A biography of 17th Century French fur trader and explorer Pierre-Esprit Radisson. He lived through being captured by the Mohawks, co-founding the Hudson’s Bay Company and running with pirates. Winner of the 2020 RBC Taylor Prize for non-fiction.
Chop Suey Nation: The Legion Cafe and Other Stories from Canada’s Chinese Restaurants by Ann Hui
Why is there a Chinese restaurant in every Canadian small town? Driving from sea to sea, Hui discovers the unlikely history behind classics like the Chinese Perogies of Alberta, and Newfoundland Chow Mein.
