Small Tales, Big Lessons
The CBC looks for a theme to spotlight in each month’s Hot Off the Press list so that we can alert parents, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and all children’s book enthusiasts to cool new offerings from our member publishers.
Fables are short, imaginative stories that often use animal characters to impart lessons about behavior, manners, and how we treat others. Some of these timeless tales have been passed down for generations, while others offer a fresh, modern twist—but all are rich with opportunities for social-emotional growth. You’ll meet characters who make choices that lead to kindness, fairness, cooperation, or sometimes trouble. These tales from our August Hot Off the Press list are fun to explore, offering teachable moments—and they just might reveal something unexpected about how we relate to others, and to ourselves.
Anansi and the Magic Pot, by Lydia Okutoro; illustrated by Ken Daley (Benchmark Education / Reycraft Books) — Folklore / Fairytales / Myths, Food / Cooking, Social Emotional Learning, Kindness / Generosity, ages 7-12.
Anansi loves to eat all the delicious things his grandmother cooks with her magic pot. The sneaky spiderling decides to use the pot to make heaps of food all for himself – he won’t share a single bite!
Coco Holds On to Her Leaves, by Ann Deckers; illustrated by Nadine de Burlett (Clavis) — Social Emotional Learning, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Animals, Science / Nature, ages 7-12.
A sweet picture book about a tree who honors her true self, just like the trees surrounding her. For nature friends ages 5 years and up.
Coco is a colorful hazelnut tree, nestled in a forest full of pine trees. She loves sharing her leaves and hazelnuts with all her forest friends. Until the day a dormouse makes fun of her falling leaves and bare branches. Then Coco feels sad and wishes she could stay full and green like the pine trees. Will holding on to her leaves make Coco feel better? Journey into the forest to see . . .
With gorgeous illustrations by debut illustrator Nadine de Burlett, this heartfelt story from Clavis Dream Academy captures themes of self-acceptance and embracing what makes us unique. Young readers learn that it’s okay to be different and to accept their own unique characteristics. A must-have for every library, home collection, and classroom.
The Fire Breathing Duckling, written & illustrated by Frank Cammuso (Toon Books) — Folklore / Fairytales / Myths, Humor, Social Emotional Learning, ages 4-6.
This graphic novel for young readers ages 5 to 7 updates the story of an ugly duckling becoming a beautiful swan—but the odd duck out is actually a dragon!
It’s the classic ugly duckling tale—but this time around, the little one turns out not to be a swan, but a dragon. And when their duckling siblings find themselves in trouble, it’s our little fire-breathing friend who saves the day. Whereas Hans Christian Andersen’s original is synonymous with inner beauty, Frank Cammuso’s loving update turns it into a parable of inner strength.
I Am So Strong, written & illustrated by Mario Ramos (Gecko Press) — Folklore / Fairytales / Myths, Humor, Social Emotional Learning, ages 4-6.
In this fractured fairytale picture book with humorous, expansive language and a twist ending, the big bad wolf gets an unexpected and satisfying taste of his own medicine.
The big bad wolf knows he rules the forest—but he likes to hear the others tell him so.
He marches through the woods, asking: “Tell me, who is the strongest?” Everyone, from Little Red Riding Hood to the Three Little Pigs to the Seven Dwarfs, agrees he is the strongest, the toughest, the terror of the woods. So when “a little toad of some sort” stands up to him, the wolf is furious—then quickly learns his lesson.I Am So Strong is a great read-aloud for families and classrooms, and a delightful story for anyone who’s known an overconfident wolf.
The Slightly Spooky Tale of Fox and Mole, written & illustrated by Cecilia Heikkilä; translated by Polly Lawson (Floris Books) — Friendships, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths, Social Emotional Learning, ages 7-12.
“Fox opened the first page of a book. Mole settled cosily, spilling cookie crumbs everywhere. This was how it always was in autumn.
‘The Legend of the Scuffling Monster,’ read Fox. ‘Once upon a time…'”
Fox and Mole live alone on a headland, in two houses, side by side. Mole is carefree and self-centred. Fox is responsible and self-sacrificing.
As autumn draws in, the friends read a spooky story together (that Mole keeps interrupting) about a raccoon who transforms into a scuffling monster (a slightly spooky bit) while Mole eats Fox’s cookies (all of them). Fox’s anger with Mole’s lack of consideration builds, and when Mole forgets Fox’s birthday, Fox too begins to transform…
Can Mole recognise what’s wrong and fix things before it’s too late?
This humorously hair-raising gothic tale, told in four chapters, is perfect for older picture book lovers to curl up with on long, dark evenings.
Squirrel and Bird, by Laura Baker; illustrated by Stacey Thomas (Tiger Tales Books) — Friendships, Social Emotional Learning, Animals, ages 4-6.
Squirrel and Bird are best friends, but they’re very different. Squirrel is LOUD. Bird is quiet. Squirrel is confident. Bird is shy. And that’s all there is to know about them…or is it?
This eye-opening book for children ages 3-7 celebrates the wonderful variety of traits that make us who we are.
Squirrel and Bird are the best of friends, but they’re very different. Squirrel is loud, busy, and the life of the party. Bird is quiet and shy–but is that all there is to them? This eye-opening, thought-provoking story encourages us to embrace the wonderful variety of traits that make us who we are, and challenge the reductive labels others may place upon us.
For more great book suggestions, be sure to check out the full August Hot Off the Press list!
List compiled by CBC’s resident children’s book aficionado, Brooke Pisarsky. Check out other Hot Off the Press Spotlight booklists on our blog.
