A girl panics when the pool she is swimming in becomes overcrowded with other swimmers. There are so many people that there is no room for even her tears. Feeling out of place, she swims to the very bottom of the pool’s drain, only to emerge into an old swamp. There, she comes to terms with her feelings of being “unnatural” and returns to the pool to inspire others to be their “unnatural” selves too. The illustrations in this picture book, although beautiful, are also uncanny. This is perhaps to highlight the protagonist’s feelings of being “unnatural”, but they may be a little too eerie for readers under the age of 6. The message of this story, although confusing at first, seems to be that one must sit with their feelings and come to accept themselves for who they are. Although the intent behind Unnaturally Blue is a good one, unless a child has great inferencing skills, I feel the message will be lost on younger readers. It would be better recommended in a class setting, where the metaphors and messages in the story could be explained in detail and discussed with an adult.

The beloved Hockey in the Wild is back in paperback format! Beaver goes to swim one day and realizes that the lake is now ice. Excited, he calls over Moose and Bear to play hockey… only to realize that the lake is not thick enough to play hockey as they fall into the ice. Hilarity ensues as they wait for the lake to freeze over enough to play. The three delightfully funny critters are sure to please both children and adults alike with their quirky antics. The illustrations are fun and lively, in Nicholas Oldland’s usual style. This more affordable version of the picture book would be a wonderful addition to any library catering to children.

Aggie is excited to move out on her own, but discovers a ghost haunting her house. At first, Aggie tries to get along with the ghost by establishing some house rules. But the ghost constantly breaks them, leading Aggie to challenge the ghost to a game of tic-tac-toe: if the ghost loses, he must move out. They tie the game and return home together, but the next day the ghost is gone, and Aggie quickly realizes being alone is not everything she hoped for. Making one final rule, Aggie tells the ghost to never visit her every now and then, which, of course, the ghost breaks, and they become good friends (though not the best of friends). Illustrations are composed of soft lines and a cozy colour palette, which add additional meaning to the 2-4 lines of text per page. Aggie and the Ghost would make an excellent addition to a school or public library children’s collection for ages 4-8, as Aggie navigates setting boundaries with a companion that constantly oversteps.