11 Canadian children's books to read on Pink Shirt Day

Pink Shirt Day falls on Feb. 22in 2023. Pink Shirt Day started in 2007 in Nova Scotia when two students noticed a classmate being bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school.

Check out these 11 children's books with themes of kindness, anti-bullying and empathy.

Little Wolfby Teoni Spathelfer, illustrated by Natassia Davies

The picture bookLittle Wolftells the tale of a major life transition as ayoung Indigenous girl and her family move to the city.The girl is dealing with bullies at the new school but she learns to make sense of her new surroundings and, with the help of her mother, she makes connections with the human and natural world.Little Wolfis the first in a trilogy.

Little Wolfis for ages 4to 8.

Teoni Spathelferis a radio journalist andauthor who is a member of the Heiltsuk Nation from coastal B.C.

Natassia Daviesis an artist and graphic designer from Victoria and is of Coast Salish ancestry.

Hold That Thought!by Bree Galbraith, illustrated by Lynn Scurfield

Hold That Thought!isa humorous picture book featuring Finn, a person with an exciting idea. Finnshares the idea with theirfriends and it grows and grows. But when a bully puts down the idea, it starts to shrink. But Finn still believes in theiridea, andwith the help of theirfriends, it starts to grow all over again.Hold That Thought!is about the power of ideas, creativity and community.

Hold That Thought!is for ages 4 to 8.

Bree Galbraith is a Vancouver children's book author whosepicture books includeUsha and the Stolen Sun,Milo and GeorgieandOnce Upon a Balloon.

Lynn Scurfieldis anartist and illustrator from Ontario. She also illustrated the picture bookAll the Ways Homeby Elsie Chapman.

The Dollby Nhung N. Tran-Davies, illustrated by Ravy Puth

The Dollis inspired by the true story of author Nhung Tran-Davies's arrival in Canada as a refugee from Vietnam. She was given a doll by strangers that came to represent the kindness and compassion in her new home. Decades later she grows up to pay the gift forward to another family in need.

• Alberta author chronicles family's escape from war-torn Vietnam

Tran-Davies is an Alberta author, physician and advocate for social justice through education. Her family came to Canada as refugees from Vietnam in 1978.

Ravy Puth is a Montreal-based visual artist and illustrator.

Restart by Gordon Korman

Restartis a YA novel about Chase Ambrose, a teen who forgets everything, including his name, after falling off a roof and losing consciousness. While Chase recovers, he finds out that he was the neighbourhood bully and not a nice person. Chase is determined to change and befriend those he had once hurt.

Restartis for ages 8 to 12.

• Gordon Korman on his middle-grade heroes, Judy Blume, Farley Mowat and J.K. Rowling

Gordon Korman famously wrote his first bookThis Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Halla Grade 7 English assignment at the age of 12. The middle-grade novel was the start of an iconic Canadian series about best friends Bruno and Boots and their hilarious antics at boarding school. Korman, now 54, has written over 80 books for young readers, includingUngifted,RestartandI Want to Go Home.Korman's books have been translated into 32 languages and sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

Korman grew up in Toronto and now lives in Long Island, New York.

Lala's Wordsby Gracey Zhang

Lala's Wordsis a picture book about the power of kindness. Featuring muted colours and illustrations, it's a look at a girl named Lala who is determined to make a garden grow. She waters them everyday but it is her loving words and care that truly make her plants thrive.

Lala's Wordsis for ages 4 to 8.

Gracey Zhang is a Canadian artist, illustrator and author from B.C.who isnow based in New York.Lala's Wordsis her first picture book.

When We Are Kindby Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt

When We Are Kindis a picture book that walks children throughsimple acts of everyday kindness. Itwascreated with the aim toencouragechildren to explore their feelings and to use kindness each and every day.

When We Are Kindis for ages3 to 5.

• Why Monique Gray Smith almost stopped writingSpeaking Our Truth

Monique Gray Smithis amixed-heritage Cree, Lakotaand Scottish author who often writes and speaks about the resilience of Indigenous communities in Canada. She is also the author of the children's booksSpeaking Our TruthandYou Hold Me Upand the novelsTillyandTilly and the Crazy Eights.

Nicole Neidhardt is a Dinvisual artist and illustrator.When We Are Kindis her first children's book.

The Great Bearby David A. Robertson

The Great Bearis the second book in David A. Robertson'sNarnia-inspired Indigenous middle-grade fantasy series.Eli and Morgan journey once more to Misewa, travelling back in time. Each are struggling with personal issues and bullies at school, but Eli and Morgan turn to the place where they know they can learn the most, and make the journey to Misewa to visit their animal friends. But they are faced with personal, physical and emotional challenges that will force them to find the resolve to save themselves and everything they care for.

The Great Bearis for ages 10 and up.

• Cree author David A. Robertson on writing everything from graphic novels to a memoir

Robertson is an author andgraphic novelist based in Winnipeg.The multi-talented writer of Swampy Cree heritage has published 25 books across a variety of genres, including the graphic novelsWill I See?andSugar Falls, aGovernor General's Literary Award-winning picture book calledWhen We Were Alone,illustrated by Julie Flett and the YA bookStrangersand the memoirBlack Water.The Barren Groundsisa finalistfor the 2020 Governor General's Literary Prize for young people's literature text.

Everybody!by Elise Gravel

Everybody!is a book for children that explores empathy,unity and thinking about others. Using quirky monster characters,Everybody!looks at the range of emotions we all have and why it is important to feel valued and loved.

Everybody!is for ages 3 to 8.

• Elise Gravel is committed to creating books that help children change the world

Elise Gravel is a Quebec author and illustrator. She is the author of several books for children, includingThe Bat,The Worst Book Ever,The Mushroom Fan Club,I Want a Monster!andWhat Is a Refugee?

The Only Way Out by Katie Kuperman

The Only Way Outis a YA novel aboutKaitlyn and Rebecca, two teens who are bothneighbours and the best of friends. But after Rebecca is bullied at school and Kaitlyn is a bystander to a horrible event, the teensare affected both mentally and emotionally. Inspired by the real-life story of Amanda Todd,The Only Way Outis a story of anti-bullying and about standing up and speaking up in the face of injustice.

The Only Way Outis for ages 13 and up.

Katie Kuperman is a Toronto copywriter and author.The Only Way Outis her first book.

The Girl Who Was Convinced Beyond All Reason That She Could Flyby Sybil Lamb

In this YA illustrated novel, a homeless girl named Eggs has the power to fly. In a gritty unnamed city, Eggs flits across city rooftops, encounters a wild cast of characters and must navigate her own survival when a neighbourhood bully targets her for revenge.The Girl Who Was Convinced Beyond All Reason That She Could Flyis an otherworldly look at the power of hope and resilience.

The Girl Who Was Convinced Beyond All Reason That She Could Flyis for ages 14and up.

Sybil Lamb is a Canadian trans author and artist. She is the author of the 2014 YA novelI've Got a Time Bomb.

Like Homeby Louisa Onom

The YA novelLike Hometells the story of a teen named Chinelo,Nelo for short. Her best friend is Kate and life is good. Nelo's family owns a convenience store in a popular neighbourhood known as Ginger East. But when the store is vandalized and police get involved, Nelo is emotionally affected and her relationship with her friends and family change forever.Like Homehas themes of anti-bullying, kindness and coming together as a community.

Like Homeis for ages 14 and up.

Louisa Onom is a Nigerian Canadianlivingin Toronto.Like Homeis her debut novel.

Watch a CBC Kids video about Pink Shirt Day

Pink Shirt Day

3 years ago

Duration 1:01

Tony and Cottonball spread some kindness on Pink Shirt Day!