2019 Books

The link to buy the books is not an endorsement.  We wanted to provide the preview to give you a sample.  Scroll down for more details.

This year we invite Grades 3 to 6 classes to read:

This year we invite Grades 6 to 8 classes to read:

Please take the time to read your chosen book in advance to make sure it's suitable for your students.  

One option is to get an audio recording to preview the book. Some companies will allow you to download one free book. Search the book title and "free audiobook" for options.

Here are the publishers' descriptions for each book:

Innocent Heroes by Sigmund Brouwer

A unique celebration of the important role animals play in war, and an insightful look at the taking of Vimy Ridge from the perspective of 3 men in a Canadian platoon.

Never before have the stories of animal war heroes been collected in such a special way. This book consists of eight connected fictional stories about a Canadian platoon in WW1. The Storming Normans have help from some very memorable animals: we meet a dog who warns soldiers in the trench of a gas attack, a donkey whose stubbornness saves the day, a cat who saves soldiers from rat bites, and many more. Each story is followed by nonfiction sections that tell the true story of these animals from around the world and of the Canadian soldiers who took Vimy Ridge. Through the friendship that grows between three of these soldiers in particular, we get a close-up look at life in the trenches, the taking of Vimy Ridge, the bonds between soldiers and their animals and what it meant to be Canadian in WW1.

You may wish to check out this interview with Sigmund Brouwer.

Hawk by Jennifer Dance

When a First Nations teen rescues a fish-hawk from a tailings pond in Alberta's oil sands, he has no idea that soon they will both be fighting for their lives.

As a cross-country runner, Adam aims to win gold in the upcoming provincial championship. But when he is diagnosed with leukemia, he finds himself in a different race, one that he can't afford to lose. He reclaims the name Hawk, given to him by his grandfather, and begins to fight, for his life and for the land of his ancestors and the creatures that inhabit it. With a little help from his grandfather and his friends, he might just succeed.

Check out this promotional video!