November 20^th is World Children’s Day, and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate and help children around the world reach their potential than through reading great books!

At Firefly Books we take pride in publishing beautiful, high-quality books for kids of all ages. From science explorations to hilarious picture books to children’s classics, this list of five great books for kids has something for every young reader.

 

1. Bugs in the Backyard by Camilla de la Bédoyère

“Readers will respond with gruesome fascination to the giant close-ups of such creatures as the cat flea, water bear, and tick. Some will be pleasantly grossed out by learning that shield bugs (stink bugs) are cooked and eaten in some countries. YUM!”

Review in Resource Links

 

2. National Film Board of Canada series: My Grandmother Ironed the King’s Shirts by Torill Kove & The Cat Came Back by Cordell Barker

“My Grandmother Ironed the King's Shirts is a splendid side story that illuminates how a country outside of the key players could withstand and triumph during World World II. By keeping her tale absorbing while boisterous in colour and cartoon-like illustrations, Torill Kove tells history in a way that goes beyond both truth and tragedy, something few stories of WWII can achieve.”

Review in CanLit for Little Canadians Blog

 

“Rollicking good fun. The little yellow cat that arrives at Mr. Johnson’s door looks innocent enough at first, but quickly begins wreaking havoc… Barker’s bold and colourful illustrations drive the cartoon action forward.”

Review in Quill & Quire

 

3. Once Upon a Jungle by Laura Knowles, illustrated by James Boast

“The text is succinct, with only a few words per page, and the illustrations are clean and stylized with bright colors against a black background, but their sum total is a marvel...”

Review in Kirkus

 

4. I Want to Be series by Dan Liebman

“The I Want to Be series provide young readers with some exciting opportunities to think about...”

Review in Library Media Connection

 

5. Love You Forever Pop-Up Edition by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Sheila McGraw

“A humorous, sentimental page-turner that rarely — let's say never — leaves a reader with a dry eye.”

Review in Globe & Mail

 

---

Get the books:

 Bugs in the Backyard

 My Grandmother Ironed the King’s Shirts

 The Cat Came Back

 Once Upon a Jungle

 I Want to Be series

 Love You Forever Pop-Up Edition