Staff Picks

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a time to honour Survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and reflect on the lasting impacts of residential schools. Explore this reading list to learn from Indigenous voices and deepen your understanding of truth, reconciliation and the ongoing impacts of colonialism.

Killing the Wittigo: Indigenous Culture-based Approaches to Waking up, Taking Action, and Doing the Work of Healing; A Book for Young Adults

Suzanne Methot

Beaver Hills Forever

Conor Kerr

Indigenous Rights in One Minute: What You Need to Know to Talk Reconciliation

Bruce McIvor

Finding Otipemisiwak: The People Who Own Themselves

Andrea Currie

Oblivious: Residential Schools, Segregated Hospitals, and the Use of Indigenous Peoples as Slaves of Race Science

Elaine Dewar

Ukrainian Heritage Month

Celebrate Ukrainian Heritage Month with stories that highlight the rich culture, history, and traditions of Ukraine. From beloved authors to contemporary voices, this collection offers meaningful reads for all ages.

Ukrainian Ritual on the Prairies: Growing a Ukrainian Canadian Identity

Natalie O. Kononenko

Yellow Butterfly: A Story From Ukraine

Oleksandr Shatokhin

Away From the Dead

David Bergen

Our Stories Carried Us Here: Escaping Ukraine, Finding Hope

Mila Mostova; illustrated by Diana Maksymenko; translated by Mila Mostova

The Authentic Ukrainian Kitchen: Recipes From a Native Chef

Ievgen Klopotenko

Kidnapped from Ukraine (#1): Under Attack

Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

A Brief History of a Long War: Ukraine's Fight Against Russian Domination

Mariam Naiem; illustrated by Yulia Vus & Ivan Kypibida

The Mitten

Retold by Jim Aylesworth; illustrated by Barbara McClintock

The Silver Bone: A Novel

Andrey Kurkov

The Lost Year

Katherine Marsh

The Land of Tears and Hope: The Ukrainian Story

Illia Ponomarenko

Dedushka: Memories of my Grandpa and Ukraine

Katerina Spaeth

Endling: A Novel

Maria Reva

War in Ukraine

Tamara L. Britton

Ukraine: The Forging of a Nation

Yaroslav Hrytsak

Quiet Night, My Astronaut: The First Days (and Nights) of the War in Ukraine

Oksana Lushchevska; illustrated by Kateryna Stepanishcheva

The Ukraine

Artem Chapeye

A Boy is Not a Bird

Edeet Ravel; illustrations by Pam Comeau

Mysteries of Ancient Ukraine: The Remarkable Trypilian Culture, 5400-2700 BC

ROM (Royal Ontario Museum)

Brave Volodymyr: The Story of Volodymyr Zelensky and the Fight for Ukraine

Linda Elovitz Marshall; illustrated by Grasya Oliyko

The Arts are Everywhere

In celebration of Ontario Culture Days (Sept 18-Oct 4), explore stories inspired by the many ways we create, express, and connect through the arts. From music and theatre to visual art, dance, writing, and beyond, these reads highlight the power of creativity to inspire new ideas, spark conversations, and bring people together. Discover the artists, dreamers, and storytellers who remind us that the arts truly are everywhere.

The Dark Cove Theatre Society

Sierra Marilyn Riley

Claude

Phyllis Harris

Art with Markers: A Step-by-step Guide to Creating Vivid Landscapes and Cityscapes with Acrylic Pens

Angela Pan

The Elephant and the Piano

Colette Hiller; illustrated by Nabila Adani

Shades of Emily: A Novel

Leslie Howard

Off the Wall: Making Stuff Together

Molly Idle

Tell Others: Storytelling for a World in Turmoil

Kim Echlin

Bollywood Beat!

Anita Yasuda; illustrated by Devika Oza

The Resistance Painter: A Novel

Kath Jonathan

Ballet Brown: Dancing with Heart

Bellen Woodard

Wild Grace: The Untamed Women of Modern Dance

Sara Veale

The Stage of Shadows

Mina Finch

Between Classes

Angelot Ndongmo

Dare You to Dance

Rebecca Mock

Push the Wall: My Life, Writing, Drawing, and the Art of Storytelling

Frank Miller

Mini Architects: 20 Projects Inspired by the Great Architects

Joséphine Seblon; illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

Wreck Your Heart: A Mystery

Lori Rader-Day

42 Works of Art Everyone Should Know

Brad Finger

The Last Movement

Robert Seethaler

Your Story Matters: A Surprisingly Practical Guide to Writing

Richard Scrimger; illustrated by D. McFadzean

Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A '90s Rock Memoir

Melissa Auf der Maur

Finding Your People

Back-to-school season isn’t just about new classes. It’s also about making new friends, finding your place, and building meaningful connections. These staff picks celebrate found families, unexpected connections, and the special bonds that help us feel at home wherever we are.