A Line Runs Through It: A Story of Sexual Abuse, Addiction, and Redemptionby Niall SchofieldPublished by Wood Dragon BooksReview by Toby A. Welch  $22.99 ISBN 9781990863868 One of my goals for 2026 is to be a more empathetic person. Everyone is carrying something and learning to give people grace feels more necessary than ever. So when A Line Runs Through It landed on my bookshelf, I couldn’t wait to dive in. It’s a powerful reminder that everyone has a story, everyone struggles, and kindness costs us very little. But enough about me – this moment belongs to Niall Schofield. His memoir is gripping, tender, and emotionally disarming. I found myself laughing in some moments, crying in others, and picking my heart up off the floor and putting it back together in other parts. This is the kind of story that stays with you. What makes A Line Runs Through It work so well is Schofield’s vulnerability. He is unflinchingly honest about his past, his mistakes, and the choices that shaped his life. Rather than diminishing him, that honesty deepens the reader’s admiration. He has endured more in his first five decades than most experience in a lifetime, and he tells it without self-pity or pretense. …

Li’l One – oskawasisby Treena WynesIllustrated by Olha TkachenkoTranslated by Charlotte RossPublished by Your Nickel’s Worth PublishingReview by Sally Meadows$19.95 ISBN 9781778690631 In the opening scene of Li’l One – oskawasis, a very pregnant woman looks up to the sky, arms wrapped around her belly, almost certainly daydreaming about her little one who will soon arrive. Gathered in the background, her extended family members smile with expectancy. This book is ostensibly about the birth of a child, but what really struck me was the emphasis on the significant role community–both people and natural setting–plays in welcoming a First Nations baby into the fold. This beautifully illustrated story is told with eager anticipation, as the entire family prepares for the child’s birth. We see key cultural elements of Cree-speaking peoples as grandparents lovingly craft a cradle board and moccasins, while aunties and uncles, respectively, bead regalia and hunt for the impending celebratory feast. We also see how nature–the birds, the wind, the trees, and the moon–extend a welcoming invitation to the baby soon to be born. The book is replete with lovely phrasing from author Treena Wynes including this one: “You’re a gift from Creator is what we are told, borrowed…

Broken Scarecrows: Deceit and Cheatby D.R. CameronPublished by Cameron NarrativesReview by Toby A. Welch$25.00 ISBN 9781738687763 Broken Scarecrows is the third book in D. R. Cameron’s satirical fiction series exploring regulatory bodies and whistleblowers.  The series begins with Dysfunctional Regulatory Bodies: Scarecrows and Stupidity, where readers are introduced to BruceG, a man locked in battle with regulatory bodies. The conflict escalates in book two, Dysfunctional Regulatory Bodies: Cowpies and Lies, as BruceG takes on the environment ministry (Ministry of GoodforAll.) By the time you dive into Broken Scarecrows, the regulatory system is almost entirely broken – and it’s time to start fixing things.  In this third book, BruceG clashes with the LOG (League of Growers) and the LOP (League of Prosecutors) after whistleblowing on questionable bylaws passed by council. While the story builds on earlier events, new readers to the author’s work don’t need to worry about jumping in here. Cameron includes a detailed preface summarizing the first two books, along with appendices at the back that provide even more background. Even though I read the first two installments, I found these sections helpful as a refresher. Given the large cast of characters in Broken Scarecrows, Cameron thoughtfully provides a list of main characters near the front of…

Webster the Smiling Dogby Traci DeckIllustrated by Maria DaghPublished by Your Nickel’s Worth PublishingReview by Sally Meadows$19.95 ISBN 9781778690594 Webster lives in a pet store where he and his siblings wait for their forever homes. First, his sister is adopted, then his brother. Other dogs, including two playful beagle puppies and two endearing cairn terriers come and go. Despite his sunny disposition, Webster is still at the shop five months after his arrival. Will Webster ever get the family he longs for? I couldn’t help smiling when I picked up my copy of Webster the Smiling Dog. With its bright yellow cover adorned with the face of an adorable, fluffy white pup, the book is visually appealing and will draw children (and those who read to them) to it, whether they long for a furry friend or are reminded of their own pet’s origin story. I appreciated how author Traci Deck highlighted the different kinds of adoptive families (ones with kids, couples, and singles) eager to welcome a new pet into their life. I can see this book being a favourite in classrooms and in the home, with a story kids will want to read over and over again. The…