A recent visit to Canada reminded me of all of the wonderful Canadian authors who write children's books. One of my favorites is Jean Little, who is internationally known for her novels and her books for beginning readers. My two favorite Jean Little books for 9 to 12 year olds are "Hey World, Here I Am!" and "From Anna." In "Hey World, Here I Am!", the author takes the reader into the mind of early teen Kate Bloomfield through Kate's journals: her poems and brief takes on family, friends, and love. "From Anna" is a fascinating novel that portrays a time of profound change, both external and internal, for the main character. Another of my favorites, this one for beginning readers, is "Emma's Yucky Brother" (see my review), about a little girl adjusting to her newly adopted little brother. It's the first of several books about Emma and her family.