35 best Canadian books for preschoolers
There's a ton of great books for preschoolers. Read on to find out which ones made our list of top Canadian kids' books.
Stella, Star of the Sea
Marie-Louise Gay, Groundwood Books
Stella is eager to swim in the sea, but her little brother, Sam, has some reservations in this whimsical first book of the Stella series.
This is Not My Hat
Jon Klassen, Candlewick Press
A little fish steals a large sleeping fish’s teeny bowler hat. He’s pretty sure the big fish won’t catch him!
The Paper Bag Princess
Robert Munsch, Michael Martchenko, Annick Press
In this classic girl-power tale, Elizabeth’s betrothed, Prince Ronald, is captured by a terrible fire-breathing dragon. She uses her wits to save him, but was it worth it?
Scaredy Squirrel
Mélanie Watt, Kids Can Press
The perfect character for kids with fears to conquer, this teeny rodent is afraid of everything. But one day, he has to leave his comfort zone. How will he ever make it through?
The Party
Barbara Reid, Scholastic Canada
A backyard family party is seen through the eyes of a child. Accompanied by Reid’s signature Plasticine images, it’s the perfect depiction of a family’s love.
Something from Nothing
Phoebe Gilman, Scholastic Canada
As a boy’s homemade blanket gets tattered, his grandfather creates something new from the fabric again and again. But what happens when there’s no fabric left?
A Visitor for Bear
Bonny Becker, Kady MacDonald Denton, Candlewick Press
No, thank you, no visitors for bear, he likes to be alone—until one day, when a sneaky little mouse knocks on his door.
Franklin in the Dark
Paulette Bourgeois, Brenda Clark, Kids Can Press
Everyone’s favourite turtle, Franklin, sets out to find help with his fear of the dark and meets friends who are overcoming worries of their own along the way.
Chester
Mélanie Watt, Kids Can Press
Chester the cat and writer-illustrator Mélanie Watt duke it out to be the primary storyteller in this cheeky picture book that will entertain grown-ups as much as the kids.
I Want My Hat Back
Jon Klassen, Candlewick Press
When Bear can’t find his hat, he asks around to see where it could have gone. Someone is going to be in big trouble…
Sing a Song of Mother Goose
Barbara Reid, Scholastic Canada
This collection of much-loved rhymes like “Georgie Porgie” and “Sing a Song” are accompanied by beautifully detailed Plasticine images.
Chicken, Pig, Cow
Ruth Ohi, Annick Press
Cow, Pig and Chicken live in a doorless barn made out of Popsicle sticks. Life is grand, except for the slobbery dog that keeps drooling on them.
Alphabeasts
Wallace Edwards, Kids Can Press
Exotic animals from A to Z—like an alligator waking from a dream and a zebra taking a bath—live together in a Victorian mansion.
Jillian Jiggs
Phoebe Gilman, Scholastic Canada
Jillian Jiggs’ mother just wants her to clean up her room, but there’s no stopping this energetic and imaginative girl.
Perfect Snow
Barbara Reid, North Winds Press
It’s snowing, and Scott and Jim are eager to get outside for recess to play!
Wild Berries
Julie Flett, translated by Earl N. Cook, Simply Read Books
Grandmother and Baby spend the day picking berries and meet many woodland creatures along the way. Written in English and Cree.
Mortimer
Robert Munsch, Michael Martchenko, Annick Press
Mortimer doesn’t want to go to bed. All he wants to do is sing, sing, sing!
Garbage Delight
Dennis Lee, Frank Newfeld, HarperCollins Publishers
With 42 silly and perfectly constructed sing-a-long rhymes, kids will love reciting the tongue-twisting stanzas.
Grumpy Bird
Jeremy Tankard, Scholastic Canada
Grumpy little ones will relate to Bird, who wakes up on the wrong side of the nest only to realize that, sometimes, grumpiness loves company.
Stanley’s Party
Linda Bailey, Bill Slavin, Kids Can Press
Stanley is a good dog—most of the time. But when his people go out, he throws a party!
Please, Louise
Frieda Wishinsky, Marie-Louise Gay, Groundwood Books
When Louise won’t leave her brother alone, he wishes she would turn into a dog. What happens if his wish comes true?
Along a Long Road
Frank Viva, HarperCollins Publishers
Hop on your bike and cruise a road that goes by the sea and around the countryside in this book by famed graphic designer Frank Viva.
When You Were Small
Sara O’Leary, Julie Morstad, Simply Read Books
A father and son reflect on the boy’s life when he was littler (and able to fit in a teacup!), in this magical picture book.
A Porcupine in a Pine Tree
Helaine Becker, Werner Zimmermann, North Winds Press
It’s a very Canadian Christmas where loons canoe, the Toronto Maple Leafs leap and squirrels curl.
The Quiet Book
Deborah Underwood, Renata Liwska, HMH Books for Children
There are many types of quiet—from “making a wish” quiet to “top of a roller coaster” quiet to “bedtime kiss” quiet.
Boy Soup
Loris Lesynski, Michael Martchenko, Annick Press
A giant has a cold, and his medical book calls for soup made from little boys. Will the kids he captures be able to outsmart him?
Love You Forever
Robert Munsch, Sheila McGraw, Firefly Books
After losing two stillborn children, Munsch wrote this sniffle-inducing book about a mother’s never-ending love for her son—no matter how old he gets.
The Loon’s Necklace
Elizabeth Cleaver, retold by William Toye, Oxford University Press
A blind man feels he’s not able to provide for his family, so his friend Loon swoops in to help.
Julia, Child
Kyo Maclear, Julie Morstad, Tundra Books
Simca and Julia are best friends who love to cook. This delightful tale is based loosely on the relationship between real-life friends chef Julia Child and Simone (Simca) Beck.
The Mole Sisters and the Rainy Day
Roslyn Schwartz, Annick Press
When rain dampens the sisters’ outdoor plans, they make the best of it by turning their mole hole into a swimming pool.
Fox Walked Alone
Barbara Reid, Scholastic Canada
In this beautiful spin on the story of Noah’s ark, Fox has always been alone, until the day everything changes.
Big Bear Hug
Nicholas Oldland, Kids Can Press
A friendly bear who loves to hug embarks on a mission to preserve his forest home when he meets an axe-wielding woodsman.
Henny Penny
Werner Zimmermann, Scholastic Canada
Silly Henny Penny is hit on the head by an acorn, and chaos ensues as she tries to let the king know the sky must be falling.
My Name is Elizabeth
Annika Dunklee, Matthew Forsythe, Kids Can Press
Her name is Elizabeth, so please don’t call her Lizzy or Beth. And don’t even think about calling her Betsy.
Shoe Shakes
Loris Lesynski, Michael Martchenko, Annick Press
This book of cleverly written poems is primarily dedicated to feet and shoes, and all the wonderful places they take you.
Wishes
Jean Little, Geneviève Côté, North Winds Press
The best thing about a wish is that there are no limits, and this whimsical poem demonstrates just that.
Read more:
8 best Canadian books for babies and toddlers
31 best Canadian books for little kids
26 best Canadian books for big kids
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Amy is a freelance writer and editor based in Toronto, Ontario. Her work can also be found in publications like Chatelaine, Toronto Life and The Globe and Mail.