Dear Teachers and Librarians,
Like you, we believe in the importance of literacy for kids. We know getting kids to read is best done by giving them books that they want to read – ones that appeal to their own interests and reflect their daily lives. That's why we are careful to publish books with themes and issues that resonate with Canadian kids and teens today and why we publish them in series. There's comfort and familiarity in a series, making them easier for you to recommend and more likely for kids to want to keep reading.
Take some time to browse this website, and you'll find terrific fiction from emerging voices in Canadian children's literature and many by well-known veterans. Our series which are described below and whose books have been selected as Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Bets and nominated for reader's choice awards throughout the country, are rich with enticing reading for kids of all ages and abilities. We know that getting kids reading is what you want the most - and we are doing our best to help you achieve that.
— Carrie Gleason, children's editor
— James Lorimer, publisher
Our children's and teen series:
Sports Stories: Sports Stories are sports fiction for boys and girls ages 10-13. There are over 100 books in the series which address common sports issues and focus on popular sports like hockey, basketball, and soccer, along with some more specialized ones like rock climbing, skateboarding, and kayaking. This combination of fast-paced, sports-driven plot and a low reading level (3.0 to 4.9) make these novels a hit with a wide range of young people. They're great for reluctant, struggling readers.
SideStreets: SideStreets are edgy, issue-based contemporary fiction for young adults. These books offer drama and emotion, but with a realistic approach. Their low reading level (3.5 to 5.5) makes them suitable for a wide range of teens.
Streetlights: Streetlights books are novels for boys and girls ages 8-10 written by new and favourite Canadian authors.
Deal With It: Deal With It books are 32-page, graphic novel style non-fiction books that help kids (ages 9-12) deal with all forms of conflict by giving them realistic scenarios, question and answers, and quizzes to help them work their way through problems. The series includes books on bullying, cyberbullying, fighting, teasing, racism and many other topics. They are best used in a teacher or counsellor-lead session, or in groups with their peers. (A Resource Guide is also available for these books.)
Recordbooks: Recordbooks are hi/lo sports history books that show how sport has lead to social change. The focus is on sports stars who have addressed issues of race, gender equality and discrimination. An easy-to-read design including plenty of text boxes and photos and a narrative non-fiction style of writing helps ensure these short books appeal to reluctant and struggling readers ages 12 and up.
