Books We Love

These are stories we’ve returned to again and again in our families. Their rhythm, warmth, and honesty resonate with both toddlers and the grown-ups who read to them. Some are classics, some are quiet favourites that we had to share. All are part of the conversation around growing up gently.

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Cover of The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton, illustrated picture book showing a small red house in the countryside beneath a smiling sun, winner of the Caldecott Medal, featured in Little Goodbyes Press Books We Love collection.

The Little House

by Virginia Lee Burton

A family favourite for generations. The Little House follows a small country home as the world changes around it, offering a thoughtful look at time, place, and the passage of generations. A timeless picture book that continues to resonate with readers of all ages.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Cover of Happy New Year, Everywhere! by Arlene Erlbach, illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm, showing bright, festive illustrations including a red dragon, fireworks, candles, drums, and colourful New Year decorations from different cultures surrounding the title.

Happy New Year, Everywhere!

by Arlene Erlbach
Illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm

A lively picture book that explores how children around the world welcome the New Year, highlighting different traditions, sounds, and celebrations through colourful, story-driven illustrations.

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Cover of the picture book Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr. A child in a red coat walks through a snowy forest at night beside an adult, their breath visible in the cold air. An owl perches quietly on a tree branch under a deep blue winter sky, creating a calm, reflective mood.

Owl Moon

By Jane Yolen
Illustrated by John Schoenherr

Owl Moon is a quiet winter story about a child and parent walking through a snowy forest at night, hoping to see an owl. The story focuses on waiting, noticing, and sharing the moment together. A wonderful winter story to share.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble

Cover of The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. A small child in a red snowsuit stands in deep winter snow, looking down at a line of blue footprints. A bright orange and purple sky fills the background, with a green traffic light on the right. A large gold Caldecott Medal seal appears on the left. The title “The Snowy Day” is printed in bold white letters above the child.

First published in 1962 and beloved ever since, The Snowy Day captures the small discoveries, calm moments, and pure joy that children find in the world around them.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Cover of Franklin’s New Friend by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark. Franklin the turtle stands outdoors holding a soccer ball and a blue book, wearing a red cap and backpack. He faces a shy-looking young moose who is stepping toward him from the grassy yard. A house with flowers and a blue door sits in the background.

A story about meeting someone new and discovering that first impressions can change. Franklin learns to be curious instead of cautious, and the book handles friendship, differences, and openness with warmth and humour.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble

Cover of The Mitten by Jan Brett. A group of winter animals crowd around a single white mitten lying in the snow. A bear peers in from the left, with an owl hovering above it. A rabbit, badger, fox, hedgehog, and tiny mouse watch from the right. Snowy branches frame the scene, and the title “The Mitten” appears in large red letters at the bottom.

One by one, creatures of all sizes squeeze into the mitten until it becomes a cosy hiding place full of surprises. Jan Brett’s detailed artwork and storytelling make this a favourite winter read for families, perfect for sharing with young children who love animals, snow days, and playful tales that grow with each page turn

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble

Book cover of Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner. The winter scene shows a row of smiling snowmen holding hands and dancing under a glowing full moon at night, with colourful houses and more snowmen in the background. The title “Snowmen at Night” appears in large playful lettering across the center of the cover.

Snowmen at Night imagines what snowmen get up to after dark, revealing a playful nighttime world full of dancing, laughter, and winter magic. With rhythmic text and expressive illustrations, this cozy picture book invites young readers to see familiar winter scenes in a whole new way.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Cover of The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. A bright blue fish with shiny silver and rainbow-coloured scales swims through an underwater scene with green sea plants and coral.

A modern classic about friendship, generosity, and learning to share what makes us special. With its shimmering scales and gentle message, this story has captivated readers around the world since its first publication in Switzerland.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Cover of Goodnight, Canada by Andrea Beck, showing a child snuggled under a patchwork quilt with a beaver, moose, and dog beside them, as landmarks like the CN Tower and mountains appear under a starry night sky.

A gentle bedtime journey across the provinces and territories, Goodnight, Canada by Andrea Beck celebrates the beauty and diversity of our country as a child says goodnight from coast to coast. A warm, classic Canadian favourite.

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Also available from Chapters Indigo

Book cover of The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier, illustrated by Sheldon Cohen, showing a boy holding up a blue Toronto Maple Leafs hockey sweater as children get dressed into their hockey gear.

A timeless Canadian favourite about identity, belonging, and the heartbreak of being sent the wrong jersey. When Roch dreams of wearing the same Montreal Canadiens sweater as all his friends, a mix-up from Eaton’s delivers a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater instead, and, of course, chaos on the ice follows.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Cover of Players in Pigtails, a children’s picture book by Shana Corey, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon. The artwork shows a girl in a vintage yellow baseball uniform and blue socks holding a glove on a baseball field, celebrating the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.

A joyful tribute to the women who changed the face of baseball, Players in Pigtails tells the story of girls who stepped up to the plate during the 1940s and proved they could play with skill, spirit, and style.

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Cover of Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. The illustration shows a mother duck leading her ducklings in a line across the ground, drawn in a classic sepia-toned sketch style. The title appears in large white letters at the top, with the author’s name beneath.

The story follows Mr. and Mrs. Mallard as they search for the perfect place to raise their ducklings in Boston.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Cover of the children’s classic “Harold and the Purple Crayon” by Crockett Johnson. The illustration shows Harold, a small boy in blue pajamas, holding a purple crayon that draws looping lines across a black background. A round badge notes the 60th anniversary edition.

With just a purple crayon, Harold creates his own world and adventures, showing children the endless possibilities of storytelling and art.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Cover of The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, illustrated by Dan Santat, showing a smiling blue train pulling colorful cars with animals and children, classic children’s book celebrating perseverance and optimism.

This story follows the determined little blue engine who proves that believing in yourself can make even the biggest challenges possible.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Cover of The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater, showing a bright orange house with green windows, a large orange splash on the roof, and a smiling man looking out the window—classic children’s picture book celebrating creativity and individuality.

This story follows the determined little blue engine who proves that believing in yourself can make even the biggest challenges possible.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble

Cover of the children’s book “Franklin in the Dark” by Paulette Bourgeois, illustrated by Brenda Clark. A young green turtle named Franklin sits cross-armed in pajamas beside his large empty shell, looking worried in a dimly lit bedroom with toys, books, and a stuffed turtle nearby.

Franklin in the Dark introduces readers to Franklin the turtle, who is afraid of crawling into his own shell.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Book cover of Alligator Pie by Dennis Lee, illustrated by Frank Newfeld. The illustration shows a group of children riding in a colourful hot air balloon drifting through the sky, with playful details in Newfeld’s signature whimsical style.

Alligator Pie is a beloved Canadian classic by Dennis Lee, filled with playful rhymes that generations of children have grown up reciting.

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Also Available from:

Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble

Cover of the picture book “Corduroy” by Don Freeman. A brown teddy bear wearing green overalls stands on a bright pink background, looking at a missing white button on the floor. The title “Corduroy” is written in large yellow letters above him, with a green banner at the top reading “Celebrating 50 Years.”

Corduroy and the rest of the series is a classic first published in 1968, this story follows a teddy bear in green overalls on his search for a missing button.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Cover of Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina. A peddler naps under a tree while a troop of monkeys looks down from the branches, each wearing one of his caps.

A classic tale first published in 1940, Caps for Sale follows a peddler whose neatly stacked caps are stolen by a group of playful monkeys.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Cover of Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey. The illustration shows a young child with tousled hair, peeking out from a blueberry bush while holding a berry. The palette is limited to deep blue and soft yellow, with vintage-style linework. A silver Caldecott Honor medal appears in the top right, and a circular orange badge on the bottom right reads "Celebrating 75 years, 1948–2023." The title is in bold cream-colored text at the bottom. Little Goodbyes Press books we love

A quiet classic that captures the simple joy of picking berries with a parent, Blueberries for Sal celebrates independence, togetherness, and the unexpected ways we mirror each other.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

A wonderful story about perseverance and growing up, told through Peter’s simple goal of learning to whistle.

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Cover of Stella, Star of the Sea by Canadian author Marie-Louise Gay. Illustration of a red-haired girl floating on her back in the water, wearing an orange swimsuit with yellow stripes. The water is a soft turquoise with starfish and seaweed around her. The title “STELLA” appears in large teal letters above, with “Star of the Sea” in smaller script beneath.

A whimsical Canadian classic that follows curious, confident Stella and her little brother Sam on a day at the beach.

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Also Available from:

Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Book cover of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. The illustration shows a large furry Wild Thing with horns sitting peacefully among tall trees by a river, while a small yellow sailboat floats nearby. A gold Caldecott Medal seal is displayed on the bottom left corner.

Max’s journey to the land of the Wild Things has captivated generations with its bold artwork and heartfelt simplicity.

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Also Available from:

Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Cover of Goodnight moon by Margaret Wise Brown Pictures by Clement Hurd

A bedtime favourite that never gets old after 75 years!
Gentle rhymes, soft illustrations, and a peaceful tone that eases little ones toward sleep.

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Also Available from:

Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Cover of The Paper Bag Princess book

Smart, funny, and proudly Canadian.
This one flips the princess story on its head, and we love it.
Timeless even after 40 years!

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Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

A beautifully illustrated adventure with one mischievous bunny.
Classic, charming, and just the right mix of naughty and sweet.
These tiny hardcover books are the perfect size for little hands to hold.

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Also Available from:

Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

Another wonderful story by a Canadian author.
This classic book is all about the bond between parent and child.
So many families have shared tears and giggles over this one all over the world.

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Also Available from:

Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

A soft and reassuring story about waiting, worry, and the comfort of being reunited.

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Also Available from:

Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

A classic for over 65 years! We meet the polite little bear in this book as we follow along on his marmalade-loving misadventures.

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Also Available from:

Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

A whimsical, hopeful journey through the ups, downs, and in-betweens of growing up.

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Also Available from:

Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

A gentle story of love and reassurance, perfect for little ones facing separation, new routines, or uncertain moments.

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Also Available from:

Chapters Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Waterstones UK

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