“Wrapped in stiff canvas like an ancient mummy lay the old red canoe, its fragile ribs grown brittle with age.” In this richly illustrated tale, readers go back in time to the red canoe’s first days on the river with his boy. As the boy grows, he and the canoe together learn the hidden ways of the water and nearby animals — wolves, deer, bears, birds, and more. But when the boy doesn’t return from war, the red canoe waits patiently to be used again. With elements reminiscent of Huck Finn’s adventures and the velveteen rabbit’s love, The Red Canoe’s classic storytelling will keep kids and adults returning to this story — especially Christians who prize redemption stories. — Emily Whitten

Award— WORLD Magazine’s Children’s Books of the Year 2022, Runner-up