Why am I passionate about this?

When I learned to read on my own, my world changed. I remember wondering how writers created these fantastic worlds - ones in which I could jump into and imagine myself right there with them. I also was lucky to have two amazing teachers. My Grade 3 teacher read Winnie the Pooh most afternoons before she dismissed us and made me wish that the school day wouldn’t end. And my high school English teacher screamed at me a lot about how there are good short sentences and lousy ones. Ultimately, I think it was those good short sentences that put my books on the map.


I wrote

Spectacularly Beautiful: A Refugee's Story

By Lisa Lucas, Laurie Stein (illustrator),

Book cover of Spectacularly Beautiful: A Refugee's Story

What is my book about?

I worked in high-needs schools in Toronto, Canada for many years. I taught kids who have challenges that would bring…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Story of Ferdinand

Lisa Lucas Why did I love this book?

With today’s societal divisions in science, politics, and economics, this beautiful book about the passive resistance by a bull, Ferdinand, is a must for everyone to read, not just kids. Although it was written in 1936 and begins with an outdated introduction, “Once upon a time…”, it’s basically perfect. The reader instantly grows to love Ferdinand as a young bull as he sits quietly and smells the flowers under a cork tree with absolutely no interest in the aggressive activity of the other little bulls who are butting heads. With the help of lines like, “and you know who that was” and “what would you do?”, Leaf strategically brings the reader a little closer to Ferdinand’s peaceful and happy life. In other words, there are other, more peaceful ways to behave, even for bulls.

The only small weakness I see in the book is at the end when Ferdinand refuses to fight the Banderilleros, the Pecadores, and the Matador and so they take him home. I thought Leaf could have written more about Ferdinand’s passive behaviour in the ring rather than abruptly carting Ferdinand home. A slightly more developed connection between those two scenes might have enhanced the poignancy of that moment. Lawson’s black and white drawings are spectacular - loose, somewhat abstract, and full of humour, making the reader fall in love with Ferdinand with every illustration.

No wonder this gem of a book was used as a call sign by the British Air Transport Auxiliary who were non-combatants after D-Day. And no wonder this book has never been out of print. In fact, with the world being upside down, it can never go out of print.

By Munro Leaf, Robert Lawson (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Story of Ferdinand as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

Once upon a time in Spain, there was a little bull and his name was Ferdinand . . .

Unlike all the other little bulls - who run, jump, and butt their heads together in fights - Ferdinand would rather sit under his favourite cork tree and smell the flowers. So what will happen when Ferdinand is picked for the bull fights in Madrid?

Beloved all over the world for its timeless message of peace, tolerance and the courage to be yourself, this truly classic story has never been out of print in the US since its release in 1936.…


Book cover of The Paper Bag Princess

Lisa Lucas Why did I love this book?

This book is an important read for everyone. It smashes the stereotype of the perfect princess to smithereens.

When a fire-breathing dragon destroys Princess Elizabeth’s castle and then burns her clothes and kidnaps her fiancé, Ronald, she immediately gets to work. She puts on the only thing she can find - a paper bag. She then cleverly outwits the dragon and rescues Ronald, who turns out to be a selfish narcissist, and tells her to come back when she looks more like a princess. Elizabeth, strong and resilient, is unfazed and rejects him on the spot as she dances off into the sunset.

The illustrations by Martchenko are every bit as important as the words - there are so many visual gems hidden among Elizabeth, Ronald, and the Dragon. Keep looking especially at the Dragon. You’ll find them. This book came out in 1980 when the woman’s movement was gaining momentum but for many, not fast enough. This book cleverly told young readers that girls were smart and strong and resilient and could look and be any way they wanted. Go Princess Elizabeth! You probably emboldened a generation of young girls.

In my opinion, The Paper Bag Princess should be given to every newborn in every maternity ward or birthing centre around the world.

By Robert Munsch, Michael Martchenko (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Paper Bag Princess as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Over five million copies in print!

When the fiercest dragon in the whole world smashes Princess Elizabeth's castle, burns all her clothes, and captures her fiance, Prince Ronald, Elizabeth takes matters into her own hands. With her wits alone and nothing but a paper bag to wear, the princess challenges the dragon to show his strength in the hopes of saving the prince. But is it worth all that trouble?

Readers the world-over have fallen in love with this classic story of girl power. Now a newly designed Classic Munsch edition will introduce the tale to a new generation of…


Book cover of Love You Forever

Lisa Lucas Why did I love this book?

This book oozes the love between a mother and child over time better than anything I’ve ever read. Even though the mother’s son can be exasperating, she always cradles him in her arms at the end of each day and sings a short lullaby about how she will always love him. When her son finally leaves home she sometimes sneaks into his bedroom to sing the lullaby. Eventually, she grows old and sick and the boy, now a man, cradles his mother and sings the same lullaby, somewhat altered, vowing to always love her.

When I first picked it up, I thought the illustrations were a bit blah. But over time, I realized that they were that way for a reason. There was no need for a big artistic statement - the gentle illustrations are perfect with this beautiful story. This book exudes the best kind of love - unconditional and should be considered a classic. Since it has sold more than 7 million copies, I guess it is!

I’ve read it many times and I can’t get through it without tears and lots of Kleenex. Test yourself - I bet you’ll be a slobbering mess by the end.

By Robert Munsch, Sheila McGraw (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Love You Forever as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A young woman holds her newborn son And looks at him lovingly. Softly she sings to him: "I'll love you forever I'll like you for always As long as I'm living My baby you'll be." So begins the story that has touched the hearts of millions worldwide. Since publication in l986, Love You Forever has sold more than 15 million copies in paperback and the regular hardcover edition. AGES: 4 to 6 AUTHOR: Robert Munsch is the bestselling, widely celebrated author of more than 50 books for children. Love You Forever is his internationally bestselling book with over 30 million…


Book cover of Harry the Dirty Dog

Lisa Lucas Why did I love this book?

When Harry, the family dog, runs away from home and gets covered with dirt, his family no longer recognizes him. Frantic, Harry tries everything to help them figure it out, even digging up a brush that he had buried earlier. But nothing works until the family gives the strange dog a bath and, voila, their beloved Harry is back!

The illustrations are stylized in a way that connect well with the simplicity and wholesomeness of the story. This story makes no attempts to teach kids a lesson. It’s simply telling kids an adorable and uncomplicated story about a family dog. In our complicated world, there is huge value in that. No wonder it was chosen as one of the “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children” by the US National Education Association.

By Gene Zion, Margaret Bloy Graham (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Harry the Dirty Dog as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

Harry is a black and white dog who hates having a bath - so when he sees his owner with the dredded bath, he runs away. But in the end, harry gets so dirty that his owners dont recognise him and so he has to beg for the thing he used to dread so much so they let him back into the houshold.


Book cover of On the Night You Were Born

Lisa Lucas Why did I love this book?

This book should be a classic. I picked up this book about 10 years ago when my child was going through a rough time. I walked into a bookstore with a few tears already welling up and picked up this book. That’s when my few tears became a waterfall. This story that celebrates every birth, every child and basically every living thing appeared in my life at the perfect time. Thank you Nancy Tillman for writing such a beautiful book.

On a less personal note, Tillman does a wonderful job at celebrating the magic and awe of birth but never, not once, overdoes it. There is a gentle flow to the words and illustrations that move along in an understated way. That’s not easy to do but Tillman handles both with utmost care. This book is sure to bring lots of tears so bring Kleenex along.

By Nancy Tillman,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked On the Night You Were Born as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 1, 2, 3, and 4.

What is this book about?

On the night you were born,
the moon smiled with such wonder
that the stars peeked in to see you
and the night wind whispered.
"Life will never be the same."
On the night you were born, the whole world came alive with thanksgiving. The moon stayed up till morning. The geese flew home to celebrate. Polar bears danced.
On the night you were born you brought wonder and magic to the world. Here is a book that celebrates you. It is meant to be carried wherever life takes you, over all the roads, through all the years.
This debut…


Explore my book 😀

Spectacularly Beautiful: A Refugee's Story

By Lisa Lucas, Laurie Stein (illustrator),

Book cover of Spectacularly Beautiful: A Refugee's Story

What is my book about?

I worked in high-needs schools in Toronto, Canada for many years. I taught kids who have challenges that would bring many adults down. And I marvelled at their resilience and grit. They didn’t crumble. They didn’t fall. They moved forward…sometimes a little more slowly, but forward is forward. Shahad was one of those students. And though the injuries inflicted on her were far more serious than those depicted in this book, her feisty self-confidence, and forward-thinking inspired me to write this book. She really is "Spectacularly Beautiful".

Book cover of The Story of Ferdinand
Book cover of The Paper Bag Princess
Book cover of Love You Forever

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Book cover of Glimmer of the Other

Heather G. Harris Author Of Glimmer of the Other

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Heather's 3 favorite reads in 2024

What is my book about?

Delve into this internationally best-selling series, now complete! A fast paced laugh-out-loud mix of Urban Fantasy and Mystery.

I can tell when you’re lying. Every. Single. Time. I’m Jinx, a PI hired to find a missing university student, I hope to find her propped up at a bar–yet my gut tells me there’s more to this case than a party girl gone wild. Firstly, she’s a bookish soul who’s as likely to go off the rails as Mother Theresa. Secondly, I’m not the only one on her trail; she’s also being tracked by the implacable and oh-so-sexy Inspector Stone. Stone…

By Heather G. Harris,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Glimmer of the Other as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

I can tell when you’re lying. Every. Single. Time.

I’m Jinx. As a private investigator, being a walking, talking lie detector is a useful skill – but let’s face it, it’s not normal. You’d think it would make my job way too easy, but even with my weird skills, I still haven’t been able to track down my parent’s killers.

When I’m hired to find a missing university student, I hope to find her propped up at a bar – yet my gut tells me there’s more to this case than a party girl gone wild. Firstly, she’s a bookish…


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