35 best Canadian books for preschoolers

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. 

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!

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?

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?

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.

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? 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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…

Barbara Reid, Scholastic Canada

This collection of much-loved rhymes like “Georgie Porgie” and “Sing a Song” are accompanied by beautifully detailed Plasticine images.  

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. 

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. 

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. 

Barbara Reid, North Winds Press

It’s snowing, and Scott and Jim are eager to get outside for recess to play! 

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.

Robert Munsch, Michael Martchenko, Annick Press

Mortimer doesn’t want to go to bed. All he wants to do is sing, sing, sing! 

Dennis Lee, Frank Newfeld, HarperCollins Publishers

With 42 silly and perfectly constructed sing-a-long rhymes, kids will love reciting the tongue-twisting stanzas. 

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.

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! 

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? 

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.

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. 

Helaine Becker, Werner Zimmermann, North Winds Press

It’s a very Canadian Christmas where loons canoe, the Toronto Maple Leafs leap and squirrels curl. 

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. 

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?

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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