Annick Press

29/09/2025

This week we have two exciting new releases hitting shelves! 🤩

🐶Teddy vs. the Snuggly Menace by Braden Hallett

Book 3 in The Secrets of Ravensbarrow series is here! Teddy is back for his most hilarious and hair-raising adventure yet. Living next to Ravensbarrow’s mysterious forest is tough enough, but now he is being tormented by Hashbrown, a corgi with “unfettered corgish malice.” To make matters worse, Teddy’s beloved cat Mr. Fuzzikins has transformed into the indomitable Hunter Hollowfang and vanished into the forest, determined to confront its most formidable forces. Hunter already has a fearsome reputation for defeating Ravensbarrow’s past monsters, but Teddy cannot accept that his cuddly friend is gone. With the help of his misfit crew, he sets off on a perilous quest to bring Mr. Fuzzikins home.

🥁 Ra! Ta! Ma! Cue! by Howie Shia
This bold and imaginative picture book is an exhilarating celebration of rhythm, courage, and the unstoppable power of kids. Months have passed since the grown-ups were captured by the Growlies, leaving the children to fend for themselves. At last they decide: Ratamacue—it means no more waiting. With their drums in hand and a battle cry on their lips, they set off on a daring rescue mission. Each beat powers them forward, overcoming every obstacle in their way. In the end, the Growlies’ meanness is no match for the kids’ collective music. A story that is as visually stunning as it is empowering, Ra! Ta! Ma! Cue! will inspire readers of all ages to pick up a drum and make some noise.

✨ Both books are out this week, perfect for readers looking for adventure, laughs, or a beat to march to!

26/09/2025

We asked Phoebe Xiao to show us her studio where she illustrated Yaya and the Dan-Tats for todays

“As I was creating this book, I found myself moving around quite a bit! I kicked things off in my cozy little space in Toronto, where I worked on the character studies and sketched out some rough ideas. Then, I took the leap to study in Hangzhou, China, and finished up the illustrations in my dorm, maybe a bit at my paraents house in Suzhou a bit too. Even with the change of scenery, my setup stayed pretty much the same! I always had my laptop connected to my Wacom tablet right on my desk. I loved working on my roughs and color roughs on my iPad, too. Of course, I was never without a drink—mostly coffee—and some tasty snacks to keep me fueled. Plus, I had two adorable stuffed dolls hanging out with me for some extra company!” — Phoebe Xiao

We hope you enjoyed this behind the scenes look at the creation of the illustrations in Yaya and the Dan-Tats! Make sure to pick it up from your local indie bookstore today. ❤️

25/09/2025

For todays we are getting the inside scoop of what went into the character design process for Yaya and the Dan-Tats! 🤩

“The character design process was such an inspiring journey for me! It really helped me nail down the overall vibe and foundation for the book. I started off by focusing on the main character and Yaya, since they’re the stars of the story. I went through a few different versions of the main character, experimenting with her face shape, hairstyles, and height. I’m really thrilled with her final design—a tomboyish girl with a curious spirit! Designing Yaya was surprisingly smooth! Once I had the main character figured out, I had a clear vision for him. I wanted him to resemble his granddaughter, so they both have a rounded figure. To add a touch of cuteness and hint at his mischievous side, I gave him a playful look. And to keep it cozy, he’s always got a blanket on his lap, as he’s older.
As for the other characters like Ms. Chan, Mr. Lee, and Nurse Anna, their designs came together really naturally as well. The vibe of the main character and Yaya set a lovely tone that guided the creation of the others. It was a fun and smooth process!” — Phoebe Xiao

✨Check back tomorrow for a look at where Phoebe created the gorgeous illustrations from the book.

25/09/2025

For todays we are getting the inside scoop of what went into the character design process for Yaya and the Dan-Tats! 🤩

“The character design process was such an inspiring journey for me! It really helped me nail down the overall vibe and foundation for the book. I started off by focusing on the main character and Yaya, since they're the stars of the story. I went through a few different versions of the main character, experimenting with her face shape, hairstyles, and height. I’m really thrilled with her final design—a tomboyish girl with a curious spirit! Designing Yaya was surprisingly smooth! Once I had the main character figured out, I had a clear vision for him. I wanted him to resemble his granddaughter, so they both have a rounded figure. To add a touch of cuteness and hint at his mischievous side, I gave him a playful look. And to keep it cozy, he’s always got a blanket on his lap, as he’s older.

As for the other characters like Ms. Chan, Mr. Lee, and Nurse Anna, their designs came together really naturally as well. The vibe of the main character and Yaya set a lovely tone that guided the creation of the others. It was a fun and smooth process!” — Phoebe Xiao

✨Check back tomorrow for a look at where Phoebe created the gorgeous illustrations from the book.

24/09/2025

Over the next couple of days we will be getting an exclusive for the brand new picture book YaYa and the Dan-tats! Today, illustrator Phoebe Xiao tells us about her creative process and we see a glimpse of her thumbnails. ✍🏻🎨

“In creating this book, I began by immersing myself in the script to truly understand the story’s essence. As I delved deeper, I found myself connecting with the characters on a personal level, which greatly shaped my vision for the book’s visual narrative. It felt like a guiding journey where trusting the process was key. Ultimately, I chose to highlight the warmth and harmony that define this beautiful tale, centered around the loving relationship between the main character and her grandpas, as well as the other residents of the nursing home. My hope is to dispel the common stereotypes associated with nursing homes, especially for children, and to present a more compassionate perspective that reflects the true bonds of love and community.

After creating the character thumbnails, I started to get a sense of how the book should come together. I dove into making the thumbnails, using rough shapes and lines for each spread to get a general visual. Once I put everything together, I could see how it all fit with the narrative. After discussing it with the team, we pinpointed what was working well and what needed a little tweaking. Then, I moved on to the linear sketches, and eventually to the final line work, color roughs, and then the finished colored spreads. The whole experience of working on this book was such a breeze and a blast! I felt so free with my illustrations, and the team was incredibly supportive throughout the entire process. The step-by-step approach made everything feel very clear and smooth, and I honestly had so much fun drawing and creating!” — Phoebe Xiao

✨Come back tomorrow for a look at Phoebe’s character design!

23/09/2025

We’re so excited to share that Yaya and the Dan-tats, written by Camellia Koo and illustrated by Phoebe Xiao, is out in the world today! 🎉📚

This joyful picture book follows a young girl on her weekly visits to her Yaya at his long-term care home. With a box of dan-tats in hand, she tries to keep up as Yaya zooms through the halls in his wheelchair, meeting new friends, bumping into busy nurses, and finding community in the most unexpected places. At the end of their adventure, a trail of custard tart crumbs leads her right back to where she belongs: by Yaya’s side, sharing their favorite treat.

💛 Yaya and the Dan-tats is a gentle and heartwarming story of family, friendship, and intergenerational connection

Over the next few days, we’ll be sharing some special behind-the-scenes content from illustrator Phoebe Xiao, so stay tuned! 👀✨

22/09/2025

The Word on the Street Toronto Book & Magazine Festival is happening THIS WEEKEND! 🤩 Visit us at the Annick booth to say hello 👋🏻 and enjoy 25% off all our books. This year our creators are joining exciting events on Saturday, and our comic creators will also be signing books at the booth—swipe ➡️ to see when and where!

📍Location: David Pecaut Square 215 King Street W
🗓️When: Saturday, Sept. 27 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sunday, Sept. 28 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
🎟️The festival is FREE to attend

Can’t wait to see you at Word on the Street!✨📕

18/09/2025

Join us for the book launch of Yaya and the Dan-Tats by Camellia Koo, illustrated by Phoebe Xiao 🤩 . There will be a reading from the author, refreshments, and of course, dan-tats!

🗓️When: October 5,, 2025 @ 6PM
📍Location: Another Story Bookshop, 315 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON M6R 2M6
🎟️The event is FREE to attend

Sign up through the link in our bio!

See you there 👋

16/09/2025

📢 Applications for our Editorial Mentorship Program are officially OPEN! ✨

We’re back with part two of our FAQ, featuring more of your most-asked questions. ➡️ Scroll through to find answers that will help you with your application.

💬 Still don’t see your question? Reach out to [email protected]!

15/09/2025

We love you Robert Munsch!❤️

This New York Times article by Katie Engelhart offers a powerful glimpse into the man behind the stories, and we join those who have expressed profound gratitude for this chance to understand and connect with Robert Munsch in a new way.

It’s an incredibly generous act to open up like this, and it reminds us, once again, why Robert’s work continues to touch many generations.

We love you forever.
Scholastic Canada, Annick Press & Firefly Books

For more information - When Dementia Steals the Imagination of a Children’s Book Writer by Katie Engelhart is available to read on New York Times website.

Robert Munsch

12/09/2025

If you love books with pictures you must be at IMAGINE + DRAW + WRITE: a discussion about making books with pictures, featuring Matt Forsythe (Grammar of Fantasy), Sid Sharp (Bog Myrtle), Claudia Bedrick (Publisher, Enchanted Lion) and moderated by Serah-Marie McMahon (Comics Editor, Annick Press)

📍OCADU Auditorium, 100 McCaul Street
📆 October 2, 2025, 7pm-9pm
📖 books available courtesy of
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC & FREE!

08/09/2025

Get ready for a marvellous, MUNSCHY, creative writing extravaganza! 🤩

In honour of Annick Press’s 50th anniversary and The Paper Bag Princess’s 45th, Annick Press and Robert Munsch invite Grade 3 teachers across Canada to celebrate this timeless classic by having their students write what happens next in the Mega Munsch Writing Challenge!

✨Sign up on our website (link in bio) to get the official DIGITAL CONTEST KIT with classroom resources, writing tips from authors, permission forms, and more!