2027 Silver Birch Express Award® Nominees
Grades 3-4, fiction, non-fiction
Discussion Themes/Content for all 10 titles
Booktalking Video for all 10 books
Bompa’s Intertidal Adventure
Written by David Suzuki, Sarika Cullis-Suzuki & Tanya Lloyd Kyi
Illustrated by Qin Yeng
Published by Greystone Kids
It’s time for the twins to go on another nature expedition with their Bompa. But this time, they want to take HIM on an adventure—to the seashore! What will they discover this time?
This exciting and educational tribute to the intertidal zone features:
- Amazing facts about intertidal zone creatures, including extensive backmatter pages and a shoreline search-and-find
- Key information on how families can protect the intertidal zone and help these areas thrive
- A celebration of grandparents: depicts the fun two children have with their grandfather
Featuring gorgeous art by Qin Leng, Bompa’s Intertidal Adventure is an imaginative exploration of the natural world, based on the true-life adventures of David Suzuki and his grandkids.
Content / Discussion Themes:
marine life, ecological preservation, beach/tidal exploration, nature, environmental science
Charlie the Matachewan Moose
Written by Shawna Lee Corbold
Illustrated by Jessica Somers
Published by Strong Nations
There, in the middle of the forest, the young calf stood alone.
When a young moose calf gets lost in a storm, he is found by Nana and Papa, a kind couple who offer him shelter and a name: Charlie. They bring him home to Matachewan First Nation, where two dogs, Spike and Molly, happily welcome him into their pack. Together, Charlie and his friends spend their days digging holes on the beach, playing fetch, and having fun.
But Charlie is growing fast, and soon it will be time for him to return to the forest. With Spike and Molly by his side, Charlie sets off on an adventure to learn more about himself—and what it means to be a moose.
The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne
Written by Laura Alary
Illustrated by Yas Imamura
Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Cecilia Payne loved learning to see nature’s wonders, even things other people called impossible. While studying at Cambridge, she dreamed of becoming a great astronomer like the ones she read about in the library. But too many people thought women didn’t belong among stars or atoms.
So, Cecilia packed her bags for Harvard, where she could surround herself with women who also loved astronomy and physics. These “Harvard Computers” shared their treasures with her—thousands of photographs of starlight. Cecilia found a way to read the patterns in these photos and started asking big questions. Could these photos show her what stars are made of? What if they showed Cecilia something all the great astronomers called impossible?
With stellar gouache and watercolour art and thrilling scientific details, this biography is a loving tribute to the joy of curiosity, the value of community, and the struggle to find confidence in your own voice. Extensive back matter helps readers learn through an author’s note, timelines of Cecilia’s life and of discoveries that led to hers, a list of Cecilia’s honours and awards, and resources for further reading.
Content / Discussion Themes:
astronomy, stars, perseverance, women in STEAM, biography
Diary of a Dino Ghost
Written & Illustrated by Monica Arnaldo
Published by Scholastic Canada
This hilarious, friendship-themed series follows a ghost-dinosaur named Cobble who’s been roaming the world alone for millions of years. Cobble starts a diary because he has begun losing track of the passing days. He has a set routine everyday: He commutes on the bus, visits the haunted lighthouse, and observes a seven-year-old boy named Kevin who’s obsessed with ketchup. But Cobble’s world gets turned upside-down when he meets Bonny, a goldfish ghost (who’s forever trapped in the fishbowl where she died by ketchup!). Bonny is determined to travel to the ocean, but Cobble is worried about breaking his routine, which could have horrible consequences… There are ghost rules that need to be followed! Will Cobble agree to help Bonny reach the ocean?
With engaging black-and-white artwork on every page, and speech bubbles peppered throughout, this book is a total page-turner! Kids won’t be able to put down this hilarious story!
Content / Discussion Themes:
pet death, ghosts
Fiddlehead Forest
Written & Illustrated by Jana Curll
Published by Greystone Kids
When a tree falls in the forest, Fern is determined to step up and lead a rescue mission to raise it back up to its grand height. With the help of her quirky and ambitious forest friends—Millipede, Moth, Slug, Lichen, and Mushroom—the crew springs to action in search of LOG-ical solutions to restore the tree to its upright position. Will they succeed in their mission? You’ll never be-LEAF what happens next!
Packed with humour, playful puns, and fun facts about nurse logs and forests, this beautifully illustrated graphic novel dives into the fascinating world hidden within this tiny and important ecosystem.
Content / Discussion Themes:
nurse logs, ecosystems, food chains, trees, forests, environmental science, nature
The Great Puptective: The Big Mousetake
Written & Illustrated by Alina Tysoe
Published by Simon and Schuster
Poppy the Puptective is here to prevent an epic cake caper by a trio of mischievous mice in this third hilarious book in the graphic chapter book series perfect for fans of InvestiGators and Narwhal and Jelly.
Truffles the cat hates parties, especially birthday parties. So when a trio of mice calling themselves the Cheesy Crew crashes Truffles’s human’s birthday bash to steal the cheesecake, Truffles offers assistance. After all, no cake means no party, which means peace and quiet!
The would-be saboteurs should have known better than to cross the likes of Poppy the Great Puptective! Unlike Truffles, Poppy wants Sasha to have the best party ever, and the pup is on high alert! But with traps and distractions as far as she can see, will Poppy accidentally be party to the greatest caper in Cheesy Crew history?
Content / Discussion Themes:
teamwork
Salma Keeps her Word
Written by Danny Ramadan
Illustrated by Anna Bron
Published by Annick
AWARD-WINNING EARLY CHAPTER SERIES: Book 5 in this easy-to-read, contemporary chapter book series featuring Salma, a spirited young girl navigating family and culture. More adventures with Salma are on the way! Explores the challenges and joys of multilingualism, intergenerational connection, and finding creative ways to communicate across languages.
Highlights the richness of Arabic language and culture through Salma’s interactions with her grandmother and friends, offering nuanced portrayal of a diverse, diasporic Muslim family, as well as an immigrant family experience.
Salma draws on her ingenuity, from backgammon games to music and body language, showing readers that communication is about more than words.
Content / Discussion Themes:
universal themes, muslim & immigrant representation, creative problem-solving, multilingualism, LGBTQIA+
Star Sailor, The Story of Words
Written by Sara Cassidy
Illustrated by Julie McLaughlin
Published by Orca Book Publishers
Humans need words to communicate, whether they are spoken, written, signed, or even sung. But what exactly is a word? And why does the way we use words continue to change?
The English language has morphed, melted and remade itself since its beginning. From imitating the sounds of the world to squishing two words together to describe something unique, words on their own and strung together are capable of expressing many meanings. Star Sailor, The Story of Words ventures into the history of how language came to be and explores the ways words reveal a whole new impression of the world around us.
Context / Discussion Themes:
language, words, communication, history of language, language arts
This Book Stinks
Written by Danielle St. Onge and Jeff Szpirglas
Illustrated by Alyssa Waterbury
Published by Orca Book Publishers
All the kids at Alpine Elementary School love the Fart Face book series, and Drita is their newest fan.
She and her fellow library helper, Josh, even start the Fart Face Fan Club. But when parents get a whiff of the books’ “toilet talk,” they wonder if the books are appropriate for their children. In response, the school decides to take the Fart Face books off the library shelves. Drita and Josh know this isn’t fair, so they resolve to save their favorite series. Drita hatches a plan to prove that the Fart Face books offer more than just fart jokes—they encourage scientific learning and a love of reading.
Content / Discussion Themes:
book banning
This Skirt Won’t Work! How Women Athletes Changed Their Clothes and Changed the Game
Written by Jennifer Cooper
Illustrated by Eva Byrne
Published by Sourcebooks eXplore (Sourcebooks Kids)
Imagine trying to play tennis in a long dress or swimming laps wearing heavy petticoats! That’s how it used to be for girls and women in sports… until a few found a better way!
See how women like cyclist Kittie Knox, swimmer Annette Kellerman, and Albertine LePensee and her Canadian hockey teammates flouted convention and risked scandal to wear things they could move in. They sewed their own knickerbockers, donned sleek swimsuits, shortened skirts, and, in the process, helped change society’s ideas about what women and girls could wear—and do! Features back matter with cool facts about each woman and team, as well as a look at women athletes today who continue to take a stand for more comfortable, inclusive clothing.
Context / Discussion Themes:
athletes, history of sport, women in sport, trailblazers, inclusivity, equity, biography