Hamilton Reads — KidLit Holiday Edition

From picture books about difficult subjects such as homelessness, and grief, to collections of letters and art by Indigenous voices, laugh-out loud read-alouds, and spine-tingling poems, there are many choices this holiday season for the young reader on your list.

As a parent, you think you’re supposed to have the answers to all your children’s questions. However, when the city park across the street from us became an encampment, I found myself navigating conversations about homelessness, poverty, and inequality with two toddlers who can’t even tie their shoes. Lately, we’ve been reading Home for Margaret, a sensitive portrayal of a person experiencing homelessness, as seen through the eyes of a child, written by Hamilton journalist Denise Davy. It, like so many other picture books, gives parents the opportunity to use stories to begin difficult, but necessary, conversations. 

Boasting a vibrant literary community, Hamilton is home to many children’s book authors and illustrators who entertain and educate young readers, many inspired by the city they live in. This holiday season, there’s no better gift than a good book — especially one written or illustrated by a local author. Visit your local bookseller for one of these local reads created with a young audience in mind. 

Home for Margaret

Written by Denise Davy, Illustrated by Bérengère Delaporte

In Home for Margaret, the first picture book by former Hamilton Spectator journalist Denise Davy, Emma and her mom — a social worker — are hiking through Cherry Hill Forest when they meet Margaret, who is experiencing homelessness. Drawing from her experience as an award-winning journalist who specializes in writing about mental health, homelessness, and gender issues, Davy crafts a powerful story in which Emma and her mom visit Margaret throughout the winter, worrying when by spring they no longer find her at her tent. “No one chooses to be homeless” is just one of the book’s many important take-aways for young readers. Adult readers of non-fiction will remember Davy’s book, also about Margaret, called Her Name Was Margaret: Life and Death on the Streets, released by Wolsak and Wynn in 2021. 

The Bear Out There

Written and Illustrated by Jess Hannigan

The Bear Out There is the second book written and illustrated by Hamilton’s Jess Hannigan following her debut picture book, Spider in the Well, which quickly became a fan favourite among local readers. Equally as clever and colourful as the first, The Bear Out There brings young readers into the forest, safe in a cabin in the woods, where they’re treated to a zany look at, of all things, bear safety! The perfect silly read-aloud is the perfect gift for young readers who love to laugh. 

The Pink Pajamas

Written and illustrated by Charlene Chua

The Pink Pajamas, the second book both written and illustrated by Hamilton’s Charlene Chua, is a heartfelt story about love and loss in which a young girl honours her aunt’s memory by wearing the perfectly tailored pink pajamas Ah Yi sewed for her before she died. An exploration of grief, this colourful picture book is a tender look at death made perfect for young audiences likely navigating it for the first time. The Pink Pajamas is one of two books released by Chua in 2025. Originally from Singapore, Chua also illustrated When You Go To Dragon School, written by Chelsea M. Campbell, a hilarious read-aloud featuring the unlikeliest of classmates.

When I Visited Grandma

Written by Saumiya Balasubramaniam, Illustrated by Kavita Ramchandran

Picture book author Saumiya Balasubramaniam was recently named the Hamilton Public Library’s 2025-26 Writer in Residence, where she’ll mentor creative writers in the Hamilton community, providing feedback on submissions in one-on-one meetings. Her most recent book is When I Visited Grandma, which explores the challenges of cross-cultural and intergenerational relationships through Maya, who is visiting her grandma in India. The book is a companion to When I Found Grandma, which Balasubramaniam released in 2019. 

You Were Made for This World 

Edited by Stephanie Sinclair and Sara Sinclair

You Were Made for This World, a groundbreaking collection of letters and art for young people, brings together celebrated Indigenous voices from across Turtle Island including writers Tanya Tagaq and Cherie Dimaline and visual artists George Littlechild and Christi Belcourt. Edited by Stephanie Sinclair, who lives in Hamilton, and Sara Sinclair, it features 40 Indigenous writers, artists, activists, athletes, scholars and thinkers with a joint purpose: “to celebrate the potential of young people, to share a sense of joy and pride in language, traditional and personal stories and teachings, and shared experiences, and to honor young people for who they are and what they dream of.” It’s an essential collection for readers of all ages. 

Nightmare Jones

Written by Shannon Bramer, Illustrated by Cindy Derby

The 28 poems in Nightmare Jones are sure to send shivers down the spines of young readers. Written by Shannon Bramer, who now lives in Toronto but was born in Hamilton, the collection is inspired by magic, fairy tales, folklore, and ghost stories, accompanied by evocative line and watercolour illustrations by author, illustrator and puppeteer, Cindy Derby. The poems in this collection are clever and mischievous, and always entertaining, proving that poetry is a playful and exciting genre for young people that’s often overlooked. 

One Can

Written by Lana Button and Eric Walters, Illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant

Another book to spark important conversations, One Can, co-written by Burlington’s Lana Button, is the story of a child who donates a can of food to their school food drive, only to find the same can of Zoodelicious among the groceries their mom brings home. “Mom, are we the people in need?” they ask. Older fans of Lana Button will be a fan of her Brianna Banana series. With two titles released in 2025, the most recent title in the series of entertaining short chapter books aimed at readers between ages six and eight, is Brianna Banana, Worst Surprise Ever, released in October. 

The Rehearsal Club

By Kate Fodor and Laurie Petrou

Do you have a slightly older reader on your holiday list this year? The Rehearsal Club, co-written by Laurie Petrou, who lives nearby in Grimsby, is a mystery novel aimed at readers ages nine to 12. A story of sisterhood, friendship and following your dreams under marquee lights, this page-turner spans decades, moving back and forth between 1954 and present day. Set at the Rehearsal Club, a historic boarding house for aspiring actresses, the book’s protagonists quickly realize the building has its own story to tell.