We take reading very seriously at our house.  And Lucie has developed some amazing taste in books.  So please have a gander at our picks of the year!

Pokko and the Drum - Matthew Forsythe

This is the best book.  Pokko literally marches to the beat of her own drum, and I love that this book doesn’t shy away from a little honest animal kingdom realism.  So funny and so fun to read.

Please note that it’s very important to include your own drumming sounds. We’re particularly fond of “boom, boom, boom”, but I imagine the more musically among you would be able to come up with some great beats of your own. 

Also,we have matching wrapping paper. Can it get any more perfect as a gift.

Little Lulu - John Stanley

When I was pregnant, we learned that Drawn & Quarterly had gotten the rights to Little Lulu and we couldn’t think of a better namesake than this feisty and fiery little girl.  Lucie is our very own little Lulu and we hope that she grows up as clever and hilarious as the original.  

A Potato on a Bike - Elise Gravel

I’ll be honest, we’ve got a worn through copy of the French version, but I’m so happy to see that this book has finally been translated into English that I had to include it.  This book has been so fun to read together. Lucie really gets into the “No Way” part of it with a very serious finger wagging, head shaking, top of her lungs yelling “no”.

The Midwinter Witch - Molly Knox Ostertag

I don’t know why this book peeked Lucie’s interest so much given that it is WAY over her age level, but it did, and she sat through the whole book in one sitting.  Not only that but she continues to come back to it. She loved looking at it and loved hearing me do all the voices. I liked it too and I’ll be passing it on to my niece who’s a little bit closer to the intended age level of 8-12 .

In this follow up to Toto's Apple, or Toto veut la pomme in French our industrious friend Toto gets saved by Tata (also rather industrious) after he's been swallowed.  I'm not sure who likes this book more, me or Lucie.  In any case the illustrations are perfect, the story is hilarious, what's not to like.

Animaux : autour du monde
Lucie adores this big book. It is almost as big as her, yet she manages to carry it around and ask for it by name.  The illustrations are beautiful, like all of Ingela Peterson Arrhenius work.

The Wagers - Sean Michaels

This is a must read for anyone that lives in the neighbourhood.  I loved seeing the Mile End and it’s community reflected in this fun and magical adventure story.  But it’s not just for Mile-Enders! It’s a great romp around the neighbourhood and the world. It makes for perfect holiday reading for anyone.  

The Follies of Richard Wadsworth - Nick Maandag

Do you love candies so sour they hurt your teeth?  Then this may be the book for you. I love a good cringe and on a scale of 1-10 of cringe-worthiness this is definitely an 11.  I happen to really love following a terribly awkward protagonist, so this fits my tastes perfectly. Maybe it makes me feel better about all my own awkward exchanges?  Like the time I emailed all the staff letting them know that Richard Wadsworth was long form for Dick Wad? I was so excited I forgot to give them any context (like that we’re about to publish a book with that title…), which is probably why all I got back from that email was crickets and weird looks.

Bradley of Him - Connor Willumsen

So I used to run quite a lot, some might even say I was a little bit obsessive.  There was definitely a time when I had tan lines from my running watch/tights/sunglasses/sweatband, and thought that running clothes were appropriate apparel in any space so I definitely relate to the main character in this book.  But even if I didn’t relate to this character so personally it’s incredibly drawn and plays with the comics medium in unexpected ways.

Paul à la Maison - Michel Rabagliati

If you live in Quebec and you don’t know Paul yet, then you’d better get over here.  Although you’ll have to wait for this one to be translated you can get ready by reading the previous books in the series, or why not take this opportunity to practice your French?!  This latest installment follows Paul through many painful and common experiences of aging with the careful storytelling and tenderness we know to expect from Michel Rabagliati.

In the Dream House - Carmen Maria Machado

I almost hesitated to include this book, because I spent a good two months already telling everyone in every possible form of media how incredible it is.  If you missed our event, then you must at least get a signed copy from the store. I have never read another book that is so intimate and haunting and so factually researched. Once you read it then you simply must come to the Gay Reads Book Club to discuss it on Feb 4th.  Our host Kathleen Fraser is one of the most intelligent and welcoming people I know, and this book is certainly worthy of discussion.

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat - Samrin Nosrat

Hard not to love a book that gives you license to add salt to everything.  Careful though, I accidentally took that chapter a bit too much to heart and learned the very real possibility of over salting.  In any case, this book is a great read and a very interesting reference that puts the power of cooking into the readers hands. The goal is to develop skills to making great food without recipes, although there are some very good recipes in this book to help get you started. Our book club for it was delightful!