Ken Kilback
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kennethkilback.bsky.social
Ken Kilback
@kennethkilback.bsky.social
Kidlit writer, teacher, picture book reviewer, SCBWI member, SCBWICanadaWest member, Canadian Children's Book Centre member, CANSCAIP member
Sophie is found floating in a cello case following a ship's sinking. Fellow survivor Charles raises her under the hateful glare of child protection officer. When in danger of being separated, they escape to France where Sophie roams the rooftops following clues in hopes of finding her mother. Fab!
October 30, 2025 at 4:48 AM
As swamp scouts, raccoon brothers Bingo & J'miah serve the Sugar Man. When Sonny Boy threatens to turn the swamp into a theme park & hogs threaten to eat the canebrake, & Chap tries to find a way to save the swamp & his home, the brothers must wake up the Sugar Man who can be irritable or wrathful.
October 30, 2025 at 4:44 AM
After the loss of her unborn sister, Minn is sent to live with her sour grandmother for the summer. She finds her life turned around when she learns about graves from an historical shipwreck eroding into the sea, she meets a mysterious boy, & she believes she'll never see mom again. Wonderful book!
October 30, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Yared has only himself, Uncle Moti, & bionic lioness Besa to rely upon. When he participates in an underground augmented reality game, he's forced to use his real name. After a giant robotic monster attacks his world, he's forced to go on the run to find help & save his uncle & world. Fun & fab!
October 30, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Kotoko blames herself for the death of her brother. When she decides to eat at the Chibineko Kitchen restaurant, the chef prepares her brother's favourite meal, the world falls silent, a mist appears, & she experiences something that renews her. Fabulous!!
October 30, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Catharina Bach has a hard time speaking to her famous dad. Only her mom knows how music infuses her life. Hannah has lost her mother & struggles to play Bach's Concerto for Two Violins; she can't talk to dad about her mom. The two girls reach across time to help one another find courage. Fab book!
September 27, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Knox & siblings move to the States with mom to get away from the coronavirus in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, the situation there gets worse, Mom loses her job & Dad's pay in HK gets cut. Knox & his siblings come up with a plan to bring Dad home to the States while also combatting racism. Great book!
September 26, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Felix's life is in a mess right now. Mom depressed and finding it hard to keep a job & the 2 of them no longer having a place to live except the van. Felix can't even tell his friends what's happening. Can his love for remembering facts & trivia save them? Fabulous book!
September 26, 2025 at 11:49 PM
A collection of 5 graphic comic horror tales. Anything can happen when you live near or in the woods. The artwork by Emily Carroll is stunning and powerful! Enjoy!
September 26, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Sadly, a great Canadian children's writer has passed away, Norma Charles. A wonderful writer and a wonderful person. She spoke at one of our #SCBWICanadaWest events years ago. bookcentre.ca/blogs/indust... @scbwicanadawest.bsky.social
In memoriam: Norma Charles
It is with great sadness that we share with you that children's book author Norma Charles passed away on August 19 after an illness. Born in St. Boniface, Manitoba, Norma moved to the west coast when ...
bookcentre.ca
September 6, 2025 at 3:26 AM
When a mysterious free library appears overnight, Evan takes 2. One book seems to hold a clue to the fatal fire that destroyed the only & never replaced town library, a fire no one wants to talk about. And steadfast under the free library is an orange cat named Mortimer with his own secrets. Fab!
September 5, 2025 at 10:43 PM
While mom has returned to Turkey to retrieve documents for immigration services, Silas goes along on a work call for dad, she discovers a kind older man who has a connection to her past. As their friendship grows, both their lives & those of others are transformed in amazing and unexpected ways.
September 5, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Lina finally joins her family in America--but things are not as described in her parents' letters. Lina gets laughed at while learning English & refuses to talk. When a fav book is banned, Lina must learn to speak for herself so that she & others can finally be seen. Beautiful! Fab book!
September 5, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Shad is a loner, spending time with Teta, his grandmother, creating amazing food dishes-until he's attacked by some kind of shadowy creature. A mysterious mentor sends him to a school for alchemists where he discovers evil necromancers have a secret agenda for taking over the school & the world.
September 5, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Genie & big brother Ernie are sent to their grandparents' place in the rural woods for the summer. Grandpop is odd & Grandma gives them chores. As Genie discovers more oddities about Grandpop, he also learns how complex the past can be and how it can impact the present in unexpected ways. Beautiful!
September 5, 2025 at 9:47 PM
After washing up on shore, Hans grows up to be a graverobber's apprentice, which he hates doing. Countess Angela tries to outwit the evil duke forcing her into marriage. When they come together, Hans & Angela must discover Hans' true ID & save her parents & the kingdom. Lots of Shakespearan fun!
September 5, 2025 at 9:39 PM
After several different foster homes, Nova is alone, waiting for her sister to return so they can watch the launch of space shuttle Challenger together. This story of a non-verbal autistic child is powerful, & deeply touching. Highly rec'd! @nicwritesbooks.bsky.social @randomhousekids.bsky.social
July 30, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Leo & new kid Tia suspect something strange is going on when Mr. Bob starts taking left over lunches from the garbage & taking them down into the basement. In the 2nd book, the friends find them face to face with real werewolves at Halloween. Lots of fun! GNs Dom Pelletier
July 30, 2025 at 4:59 AM
In these first two books of a GN series for young readers, Juniper Mae is an inventor with no friends. In one book, she must get the city's power back from invading bug-bots. In the other book, she & Albie must stop a monster from the past. Great! @sohsilly.bsky.social @flyingeyebooks.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Squire is brainy & bookish; Knight is brawny, egotistical, & somewhat inept. In the first book, they arrive in a village cursed by a destructive dragon. In the second, they are taking Cade to Wizard school but find themselves going in circles & attacked by beasts. Fab! @01firstsecond.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 6:32 AM
I love Steve in his picture books; and I love him too in these early graphic novels. In Pretty Exceptional Horse, he finds something that he thinks makes him look more than ordinary. In A Rare Egg, he finds a Thingamabob that must be a very special egg. Funny! @kidscanpress.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Freddy & Peter are perfect twin socks. But when a dog chases Freddy into a washing machine's spin cycle, he ends up in the sock-verse. In his desperation to find Peter, Freddy begins a search to find a mysterious being who may be able to send him home. Fab! @andrewsmcmeelkids.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Once again, @kaaauthor.bsky.social writes a powerfully touching story of friendship, courage, adversity, and grief. When Ruby sees a familiar person from her past in Africa, she shares her life story with Ivan & Bob. An amazing addition to the series! @kaaauthor.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Nizhoni can see monsters. When one attacks her & then kidnaps her dad, she, her brother, & her best friend Davery run away, their only clue to search for the Navajo's Spider Woman, then race to the house of the Sun for weapons to defeat the monsters. Great story! @rebeccaroanhorse.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Davis & Emily's teacher wants everyone to share spooky, chilling stories. Each student tells an eerie tale until it's finally Emily's and then Davis' turns. The stories they tell will reveal the deepest secrets of the school itself. Fab book! @grickle.bsky.social @01firstsecond.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 6:02 AM