Debbie Ohi

“Tress settled down, thinking about people and how the holes in them could be filled by such simple things, like time, or a few words at the right moment.”
Delightful original fairy tale, wonderful world-building.

Engaging and thoroughly satisfying read. I'm a big fan of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series as well. He's so good at world-building! Just bought #2 in the Skyward series, can't wait to read.

A thought-provoking suspenseful mystery that encourages readers to question the wisdom of celebrating events and people who have helped propagate stereotypes about Native people. Love the twist on the traditional haunting story. Great reminder of the importance of speaking up when it's important, even if it causes awkwardness. A must-have for every school library.

This HUGELY entertaining alphabet book by debut picture book author Anna Lazowski and illustrated by Steph Laberis also has an uplifting message of empowerment for young readers: it's ok not to be good at everything right away, and you can still have fun. Plus the back matter has an alphabetized factoid list of “all the amazing things animals CAN do!” This is an alphabet book that can be appreciated by grown-ups as well as young readers, with lots of potential discussion points. Steph Laberis's illustrations of animals in ridiculous situations are so SOOOOO FUN — omigosh, even as I'm writing this post, I went back to look through the digital ARC and can't decide which is my favourite, though I'm leaning toward the “Cheetahs can't chew bubble gum” page. Highly recommended.

Hilarious, action-packed, dynamic and fun illustrations. Love that Missy (the main character) is Asian but the story isn't about being Asian. Also love the original twist on superhero/supervillain stories!

Wonderful author/illustrator debut! Hilarious story and illustrations, plus I love the underlying message about appreciating other people's perspectives.

A comforting, grounding bedtime read written by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple, with gorgeous illustrations by Melissa Sweet. In gentle rhyming text, a mother describes to her child the types of nests created by different bird species, always coming back to the refrain “you nest here with me.”

Hilarious and uplifting! Perfect gift for a young writer ... and not-so-young writers who might identify with Grumpycorn, who TALKS more about writing a fabulous book than actually doing the writing. Creativity, friendship, delightful illustrations – so much here for both kids and adults.

A delicious story about embracing different cultures through food and friendship. This comfort book lifted me up, gave me hope. Also, it made me hungry!

Delicious, evocative language. I found myself slowing down so I could savour the lyrical voice. I loved everything about this book, and found myself thinking about it long after I finished reading.

“I am the storm. And when the storm passes, as it always does, I am the calm, too.” Beautifully illustrated, lyrical and moving text. This gorgeous picture book would be a perfect read for children who are anxious about storms, but there are also so many opportunities for deeper discussions about personal empowerment.

Adorable and fun graphic novel debut from Jess Keating (whose middle grade novels I already adore)! You don't need expensive and/or elaborate gear to be on Team Fancy — all you need is a little imagination, enthusiasm and a kindred spirit. I could easily see this book pairing up with a creative hands-on activity: putting together a Team Fancy Party!

Who could not love a story about pigeons who tap dance, knit and make pancakes? Adorable art, wonderful read-aloud, and such a wonderful underlying message: we don't have to be all the same to belong together!

I read this YA book in one sitting - thoroughly enjoyed. CUB is part of Orca's Soundings series: short, high-interest novels for teens. Themes in CUB include LGBTQ+, body positivity and more, a great way to jumpstart discussions about difficult subjects as well as encouraging readers to recognize and being proactive in handling toxic behavior. Also, the cooking/baking descriptions made me SO HUNGRY.

This would make a perfect gift from a grandparent to a grandchild, or for any young dinosaur fan. Sure to generate some fun discussions about what types of dinosaur we'd all turn into, should magical museum dust get up OUR noses! I also love Shannon O'Toole's bright and delightful illustrations, full of energy and humour.

A heartwarming story about Boomer, a newly-graduated service dog who is struggling to find his place in the world. I love that young readers can see that some of Boomer's perceived rejections aren't really about him at all (good for all of us to remember, really) but just circumstances. Author's note at the end has great info about service dogs plus tips for young readers about what to do and not to do when encountering a dog. WONDERFUL illustrations by Adriana Hernandez Bergstrom!

A compelling and eye-opening story from the viewpoint of a young Pakistani girl who is forced to become an indentured servant to pay off a debt to a tyrannical feudal landlord. This has been on my to-read pile for ages, and I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting. SO good! All the accolades are well-deserved. Amal's story made me better appreciate the strength and courage of those who fight for their rights in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds.

Just finished reading Charlene Chua's debut picture book, HUG. LOVE! This isn't just about hugs; it's about knowing when to set boundaries while still being kind. Hilarious (I laughed out loud at the tiger scene) but also with moving moments and a thoroughly satisfying ending. Highly recommended.

As a word nerd, I love that the narrator of this book is a DICTIONARY! Such a fun story and I adore the illustrations by Mike Deas.

Satisfying conclusion to an exciting and thought-provoking trilogy.

Now I want to try making baos! Family, food, and a delightfully optimistic protagonist: a perfect comfort read. Love the illustrations!

Hilarious and heartwarming story, from the viewpoint of an older sibling. So many little moments that will make older siblings think “YES, that's exactly how I feel sometimes!” including frustration ...but also protectiveness, understanding and love.

“Sometimes getting up in the morning and being you, no matter what's happened to you and no matter what anybody says, is the bravest, most defiant thing a woman can do.” Loved this book so much. I had planned to read it over several evenings but ended up finishing it one sitting; I couldn't put it down! This book needs to be in every school library. I wish it had been in mine. (Also, I am now dying to try all the yummy-sounding cricket recipes mentioned in the book. Never thought I'd use “yummy” and “cricket” in the same sentence, but there you go.)

LOVED this. Diana, Princess Of The Amazons is not just a suspenseful and entertaining coming-of-age story about a young Wonder Woman, but it's also about friendship and finding one's place in the world. I especially enjoyed the friendship story thread, how Diana desperately yearns for a companion and does end up finding one....but her new friend begins making demands which initially seem fun but then make Diana increasingly uncomfortable. I wish I had read this book in my childhood; it might have helped me be better about recognizing destructive friendships.

In addition to wonderful storytelling by Shannon and Dean Hale, I want to also praise Victoria Ying's her ability to convey emotions in Diana's facial expressions and body language...fantastic!

Highly recommended.

Perfect summer reading and activity for young mermaid fans. Fun read-aloud, and I love the bright, engaging illustrations! Includes fascinating mermaid lore (I learned things I didn't know, too) plus instructions on how to make a mermaid crown. For those who don't live near a beach, the book encourages young readers to adorn their paper crowns with other craft items found at home. “Your choices are as deep as the ocean. Make one for yourself or a friend, or both....”