New Picture Books in Bloom 🌸

In our line-up of new picture books you’ll discover stories about rock-solid friendships, stories about art and self-expression, stories about family and community, biographical books that are based on real peoples’ stories, and more! A season of captivating stories that make great read-alouds, offer valuable social-emotional learning opportunities and are as colourful and nourishing as the produce from a summer garden.

Send me an email if you’d like me to help curate a list of books for your collections.

Happy reading!

Laura Bowman, Educational Sales and Marketing laurabowman@orcabook.com

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NEW! Picture Book | Gr. 1–3

Hardcover $21.95 | Accessible ebook $17.99

Explores grief and resilience through nature, art and the transformative power of friendship.

Maeve and Fern create a connection that helps them both heal and honor the family they lost in this moving picture book.

NEW! Picture Book | Gr. 1–3

Hardcover $21.95 | Accessible ebook $17.99

Lena compares her art to someone else’s and feels discouraged—until a whale in her dream takes her on an adventure to study modern art and she rediscovers her passion.

Includes an index of the art pieces and artists featured in the book, a great resource to support art classes.

Art activity

NEW! Picture Book | Gr. 1–3

Hardcover $21.95 | Accessible ebook $17.99

Read the authors’ Q&A

An authentic look into life as a child in a refugee camp, inspired by co-author Souad Shehab’s personal experience.

Ayah has always lived in a refugee camp, and she isn’t sure what she wants to be when she grows up. But then she dreams of a visit from a swallow who shows her the world, and she learns that there are many possibilities beyond the confines of her camp.

“This lovely and accurate story supports readers in developing empathy and imagination.” —SLJ

Also available in French

NEW! Picture Book | Gr. 1–3

Hardcover $21.95 | Accessible ebook $17.99

New from Monique Gray Smith!

Charlie loves visiting his kohkom, and today she tells him about how she recently received her first drum. Kohkom’s story gives Charlie the idea to teach her a song so they can play their drums together.

An age-appropriate introduction to the topic of the Sixties Scoop and the trauma its survivors carry.

Downloadable poster

Available in French and bilingual Plains Cree and English editions.

NEW! Picture Book | Gr. 1–3

Hardcover $21.95 | Accessible ebook $17.99

Downloadable poster

This picture book biography set in 1959 celebrates four pioneering women scientists who travelled to Macquarie Island in the subantarctic to study the island’s unique wildlife such as penguins, seals and seabirds.

Includes a timeline of Macquarie Island, a breakdown of each scientist’s area of expertise, and tips for young naturalists.

NEW! Picture Book | PreK–K

Hardcover $21.95 | Accessible ebook $17.99

Friendship activity

A lighthearted but surprisingly touching meditation on friendship.

A dog makes a new friend at the park—a statue who doesn’t throw balls or give treats or pets. But as the seasons pass, he learns that she has her own strengths that make her a rock-solid friend.

NEW! Picture Book | PreK–K

Hardcover $21.95 | Accessible ebook $17.99

Featuring Coast Salish art and Traditional Storytelling techniques, a Salish woolly dog finds natural fibers for his people to spin and weave into blankets.

Includes a glossary and pronunciation guide, and an introduction to the now-extinct Salish woolly dog breed.

Downloadable poster