TORONTO — Penguin Random House Canada is closing out the year with a dazzling collection of children’s and young adult titles that capture the wonder, curiosity, and courage of growing up. The publisher’s Fall & Winter 2025 lineup features a blend of whimsical picture books, gripping middle-grade adventures, and emotional YA stories — each one spotlighting imagination, identity, and the enduring power of storytelling.
Picture Books that Inspire Wonder
Among the standout releases, The Newest Gnome by Lauren Soloy (Oct. 7) offers a beautifully illustrated meditation on nature, mindfulness, and community. The One About the Blackbird (Oct. 21) by Melanie Florence and Matt James delivers a heartwarming story of music and memory, showing how a song can reconnect generations. And for readers who love a laugh, Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) (Oct. 28) by Linda Bailey and K-Fai Steele proves that bravery comes in all shapes — even feathered ones.
Middle-Grade Magic and Mystery
For readers ready for adventure, Robot Island by Cary Fagan (Oct. 14) whisks kids to a strange world of robots and secrets, while A Riddle of Thorns (Oct. 14) by Mississauga-based twins Sarena and Sasha Nanua invites readers into an Edwardian Paris brimming with riddles, gods, and Gothic intrigue. In Invisible: The (Sort of) True Story of Me and My Hidden Disease (Oct. 14), filmmaker David Soren turns his real-life experience with Crohn’s disease into a moving, illustrated novel about friendship, creativity, and resilience.
Nonfiction readers will find empowerment in The Amazing Generation (Dec. 30) by Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price, a follow-up to The Anxious Generation that helps kids navigate technology, self-esteem, and the digital world with optimism and confidence.
Epic Tales for Young Adults
YA readers can look forward to high-stakes storytelling in Destiny (Sept. 23) — the climactic finale of M.L. Fergus’ Fractured Kingdom trilogy — and the darkly atmospheric We Fell Apart (Nov. 4) by E. Lockhart, a haunting seaside mystery about family secrets and self-discovery. Fans of fantasy won’t want to miss Dragonborn (Oct. 14) by Struan Murray, where a young girl awakens the dragon within herself amid an epic clash of worlds.
For Every Reader, A New Adventure
From fantastical escapism to heartfelt realism, Penguin Random House Canada’s 2025 children’s lineup offers stories that empower, entertain, and expand the imagination. Each title reaffirms the company’s commitment to diverse voices and storytelling that resonates with readers across generations.
Visit penguinrandomhouse.ca for full title details and availability.
Follow GTA Weekly for more book and culture news. #GTAWeekly #GTAToday
Leave a Reply