Every Little Bit Olive Tran By: Phuong Truong

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grade 3-5

"Every Little Bit Olive Tran" is a Silver Birch Express 2026 nominee.  This is the story of Olive who is thrilled to be turning ten.  Turning ten means more independence, like walking to school on her own.  Olive is planning a big birthday party with her whole class invited.  But when Olive finds out that Mrs. Ly was pushed onto the street and that other Asian people have been the victims of cruelty, her happy world begins to change.  This book was not what I was expecting from a Silver Birch Express nominee.  The book deals with racism in a way that is easy for younger students to understand.  This book could be used to promote serious discussions.  It is a story of friendship and helping others out.  I recommend this to fans of realistic fiction or as a read aloud to stimulate discussions about racism.

Ghost Girl By: Brooke Carter

Genre: Fiction - Ghost Story
Age Recommendation: Grades 3-5

"Ghost Girl" is a Silver Birch Express 2025 nominee.  This is the story of Sly's first visit to their grandma Madsen's house.  Grandma lives in a big, old house known as Madness Mansion.  Grandma herself is a fortune teller and believes in all things mysterious and supernatural.  Shortly after arriving, Sly hears someone calling their name.  Sly investigates and ends up in a race against time trying to free a ghost girl and grandma Madsen from an enchanted mirror. This is an entertaining, quick read with just a bit of mystery and supernatural.  I recommend this book to fans of Goosebumps or Haunted Canada.  It's a great Halloween read!

Birds On The Brain By: Uma Krishnaswami

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grades 3-4

"Birds On The Brain" is a Silver Birch Express 2025 nominee. This quick read is set in India and finds three friends, Reeni, Yasmin, and Anil tasked with a school project of creating and implementing a survey.  Reeni loves birds, Yasmin loves books and Anil is into karate.  Can the three friends combine their interests to create a survey and make a change in their city?  This is a story of friendship and shows how even younger community members can make a difference.  I recommend this book to fans of realistic fiction.

Sarah Ponakey, Storycatcher and the Ahasiw's Forest Powwow

Genre: Realistic Fantasy Fiction

Age Recommendation: Grades 3-4

This is the first book in the Sarah Ponakey series.  Sarah and her mom have moved to the city and Sarah is missing her Kohkom (grandmother) and her best friend, Eden.  Sarah also misses being surrounded by nature and learning more about her Cree culture and traditions from her Kohkom.  Sarah is not feeling comfortable yet at her new school and after a particularly difficult day, Sarah comes home and takes a nap.  Sarah wakes up in a magical world where her crow stuffie is talking and walking along with other animals who introduce Sarah to the powwow tradition.  This book is a Silver Birch Express 2025 nominee and introduces the reader to some Cree words and traditions.  This would be a fun and easy read for students in grades 3-4 or strong grade 2 readers.

The Nguyen Kids - The Mystery of the Painted Fan By: Linda Trinh

Genre: Realistic/Fantasy Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grade 2-4

This is the third book in The Nguyen Kids series and is a Silver Birch Express 2024 nominee.  The main character is the youngest Nguyen sibling, Jacob.  Jacob likes to play hockey and is excited about trying things that make him feel happy, like dancing in the Lunar New Year performance.  When Jacob feels confused and frustrated about the way people react to some of the things he wants to try, he notices that the special painted fan is grandma gave him is doing mysterious things.  Will the painted fan be able to help Jacob figure out what's right for him?  Read the book to find out!

Bear in the Family By: Eric Walters

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grade 2-4

"Bear in the Family" is a Silver Birch Express 2023 nominee.  This is the story of a family returning to their home after being evacuated because of a forest fire.  Fortunately, their home, which was designed with forest fires in mind, remains.  When checking on a neighbour's home, they find a lone bear cub.  The family brings the cub home and contacts animal rescue.  With the forest fire creating a number of displaced animals, the family agrees to care for the cub for a couple of weeks.  The students who read this book enjoyed the story and the book won the Silver Birch Express award.  I personally, can see the appeal of this story, but do not entirely agree with the way the story was written. The family allowed a bear cub with sharp claws and teeth to roam around their home.  The author does have a note at the back explaining that wild animals are not to be approached, but I feel like the story could have handled this in a more realistic way. 

Alina In A PInch By: Shenaaz Nanji

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Recommendation:  Grade 3-5

"Alina In A Pinch" is a Silver Birch Express 2023 nominee.  Alina just started at a new school and is having a hard time finding a way to fit in.  When her parents need to leave unexpectedly to help a sick relative, Alina's grandmother, Nani, comes to take care of her.  Alina loves Nani and the delicious Indian food she prepares, in fact, Alina is a bit of a chef herself.  As much as Alina loves Nani's cooking, she is embarrassed about eating Indian food at school, especially since someone left her a nasty note about her lunches.  Will Alina find friendship at her new school?  Will she find out who left the nasty note?  Read the book to find out.  It's sure to leave you feeling hungry!

Crimson Twill: Witch In The City By: Kallie George

Genre:  Fantasy

Age Recommendation: Grade 2-4

This delightful Silver Birch Express 2023 nominee tells the story of Crimson Twill's first trip to the big department store in New Wart City.  Crimson is a country witch who has a unique style and she is very excited about visiting Broomingdale's and spending the money she has earned.  As she explores some of the interesting floors of Broomingdale's she finds things, but doesn't actually spend any of her money.  This is a sweet story about being true to yourself.  I can't wait to read another Crimson Twill story.

Duck Days By: Sara Leach

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grade 3-6

Lauren is in the third grade and her best friend is Irma.  Irma and Lauren love spending time together and Irma recognizes all the strategies Lauren uses when her Autism Spectrum Disorder makes it hard to "go with the flow". When Irma becomes friends with her new neighbour, Jonas, Lauren worries that Irma won't be her best friend anymore.  To top things off, there is going to be a mountain biking day at school and Lauren still uses training wheels to ride her bike.  How will Lauren face these new challenges?  This Silver Birch Express 2022 nominee is a great story of friendship and overcoming obstacles.  This is the third book about Lauren and after reading this, we must get Slug Days and Penguin Days for our school library.

Wednesday Wilson Gets Down To Business By: Bree Galbraith

Genre:  Realistic Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grade 3-6

Wednesday is a grade three student with a younger brother named Mister and a best friend named Charlie.  Wednesday Wilson is going to be a successful business person, she just needs to find a winning idea and start her business. This is the story of how Wednesday gets pressured into coming up with a business idea fast thanks to an accidental incident between her, a piece of kale and the "Emmas".  This illustrated chapter book is a Silver Birch 2022 nominee and is a fun introduction to a sure to be favourite character.  I can't wait to see more Wednesday Wilson books on the shelves.

Genius Jolene By: Sara Cassidy

Genre:  Realistic Fiction
Age Recommendation:  Grade 2-4

"Genius Jolene" is a Silver Birch Express 2021 nominee. Jolene is 8 years old and every year she takes a trip with her dad in his 18-wheeler to deliver newsprint.  One of their favourite road trip traditions is trying and rating a type of food at every stop.  This year they are taste testing onion rings.  This year has been different for Jolene because her parents recently separated and the reader learns about some of the changes this has brought.  "Genius Jolene"  is an interesting book.  I recommend this book to students who like realistic fiction or stories about family. 

Wicked Nix By: Lena Coakley

Genre:  Fantasy
Age Recommendation:  Grade 3-5

Nix is a fairy, but for some unknown reason, the Fairy Queen went to the Summer Country with the other fairies and left him alone in the forest for a whole year.  Fortunately, Nix has Mr. Green to look out for him and a special little girl named Rose to keep him company.  When a man moves into the abandoned cottage in the forest, Nix tries everything he can to get rid of the man before the Fairy Queen returns to the forest on Midsummer's Eve.  This is an interesting story with a twist ending that is sure to please those who like stories with a little bit of magic.  This book is a Silver Birch Express 2020 nominee.

 

Mega Bat By: Anna Humphrey

Genre:  Animal Fiction
Age Recommendation:  Grade 2-4

Daniel isn't thrilled about moving to a new house.  He misses his friends and doesn't like his attic bedroom with its creaks and mysterious puddle.  When Daniel discovers that the puddle was made by a tiny talking fruit bat, he finds himself on a mission to reunite the lonely little bat with his bat family.  This is a fun story and Mega Bat has a mega cute way of speaking.  If you enjoy stories about friendship, you'll like this Silver Birch Express 2020 nominee.

Dragons in a Bag By: Zetta Elliott

Genre:  Fantasy
Age Recommendation:  Grade 2-5

Jax lives with his mother and lately, things have been tough for them.  Their landlord is trying to evict them and his mother has to go to court to fight for them to be able to stay in their apartment.  This means that Jax ends up spending the day with a woman he's never met before who everyone calls Ma.  Jax ends up on an unlikely adventure to return three dragons to a magical world where they can survive.  This book is a Silver Birch Express 2020 nominee and is the first book in a series.  If you enjoy books about magic, witches, and dragons, this is the book for you.

Where's Burgess? By: Laurie Elmquist

Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Age Recommendation:  Grade 2-4

Burgess is Reece's pet frog.  Reece found Burgess on a camping trip with his dad.  Reece's parents recently separated and he misses his dad.  Then Burgess goes missing and no matter how many posters Reece puts up, he can't find his pet.  Will Reece ever find Burgess? This is a Silver Birch Express 2019 nominee.

The Theory of Hummingbirds By: Michelle Kadarusman

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Recommendation:  Grades 3-6

Alba was born with talipes equinovarus or a club foot, that she calls Cleo.  After a number of surgeries, it seems her foot will finally be normal and she'll be able to run in the school's long distance running event.  Alba's best friend is science obsessed Levi.  They share a love of hummingbirds and finding ways to stay in at recess, but things are changing for Alba and their friendship.  This is an interesting Silver Birch Express 2019 book with good lessons about determination, friendship and hummingbirds.

The Hollow Under The Tree By: Cary Fagan

Genre:  Fiction

Age Recommendation:  Grade 3-6

The Hollow Under The Tree is set in 1925.  A train carrying circus animals loses the car holding a lion.  The lion ends up in High Park in Toronto where he hides in a hollow under a tree.  Sadie happens to find the lion and a friendship begins.  Will the lion make its way back to the circus or to Africa, as Sadie hopes?  And most importantly, is this based on a true story?  Cary Fagan hits at this in the last chapter.  An enjoyable quick read for Silver Birch Express 2019.

A Boy Named Queen By: Sara Cassidy

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Recommendation: Grade 3-5

Even though Queen is new at school and Evelyn is the only one who befriends him, he doesn’t mind. Queen is happy and content as he is and their friendship teaches Evelyn a lot about herself. This book deals with the themes of accepting yourself and others. My only complaint about this book is that it is too short. I wanted to know more.

The Heartwood Hotel - A True Home By: Kallie George

Genre: Animal Fiction/Illustrated Chapter Book

Age Recommendation: Grade 2-4

Mona the mouse lives on her own in the forest and unfortunately keeps having to find a new place to call home. When she gets swept away by a storm and ends up at the Heartwood Hotel, a safe place for animals, her life changes for the better. This sweet story includes themes such as, believing in yourself and accepting others. The illustrations help to bring the Heartwood Hotel to life.