All Points West February 2026: Animal Insights

Looking for a fresh take on the world? Perhaps from the perspective of a different species? From prose poetry to Foxlish, from climate fiction to cozy mysteries, and picture books from GVPL's updated list of 100 Books to Read Before Kindergarten, there is something in this booklist for most humans to enjoy.

Updated February 5, 2026
G
Greater Victoria Public Library
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Three bags full
Swann, Leonie
Paper Book
A witty philosophical murder mystery with a charming twist: the crack detectives are sheep determined to discover who killed their beloved shepherd. On a hillside near the cozy Irish village of Glennkill, the members of the flock gather around their shepherd, George, whose body lies pinned to the...

Also available as an ebook through Overdrive/Libby.

Hollow kingdom : a novel
Buxton, Kira Jane
Paper Book
In this hilarious, "dazzling" romp, a foul-mouthed crow is humanity's only chance to survive a zombie apocalypse-think Watership Down meets Dawn of the Dead (Mona Awad, author of Bunny). S.T. is a bird of simple pleasures:...
The Bees A Novel
Paull, Laline.
Paper Book
The Handmaid's Tale meets The Hunger Games in this brilliantly imagined debut set in an ancient culture where only the queen may breed and deformity means death. Flora 717 is a sanitation worker, a member of the lowest caste in her orchard hive where work and sacrifice are the highest...

Available as large print book, as well as ebook and e-audiobook through Overdrive/Libby.

Fox 8 : a story
Saunders, George
Paper Book
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lincoln in the Bardo, a darkly comic short story about the unintended consequences unleashed by our quest to tame the natural world--featuring gorgeous black-and-white illustrations by Chelsea Cardinal. Fox 8 has...

Also available as an ebook and e-audiobook through Overdrive/Libby.

https://tinyurl.com/39k896hw
We are thrilled to bring back the much-loved 100 Books to Read Before Kindergarten list. This carefully curated collection of classic favourites and engaging new stories is designed to inspire young readers, spark curiosity, and support early literacy at home. Whether you\'re preparing for a child’s September kindergarten start or simply looking for enjoyable stories to share, this list offers a trusted starting point for building reading routines and discovering new favourites.
We all play = kimêtawânaw
Flett, Julie
Paper Book
A BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR: New York Times, Washington Post, New York Public Library, Kirkus Reviews, Globe and Mail, Horn Book, and Boston Globe "This celebration of nature is sprinkled with words from the Cree language...

Available as picture book and board book.

I don't want to be a frog
Petty, Dev
Paper Book
The hit book about a willful young frog with a serious identity crisis and his heard-it-all-before father. Perfect for fans of Grumpy Monkey and The Bad Seed. Frog wants to be anything but a slimy, wet frog. A cat, perhaps. Or a rabbit. An owl? But when a hungry wolf...

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