Alison Hughes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lost in the Backyard

(Orca Book Publishers, 2015)

​

*Silver Birch Award nominee 2016

​*Ontario Library Association Best Bets Award 2016

*Hackmatack Award nominee 2016-17

*Diamond Willow nominee 2016

*Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award (SONWA), Young Adult Notable Book 2016

*Red Cedar Award nominee 2016/2017

*Surrey Schools' Book of the Year nominee 2016-17

*Ottawa Public Library selection for One School, One Book Project 2016

 

Flynn's walk in the woods leads him to being lost in the wilderness.  Can half a stick of gum, some gross lichen and a handful of snow sustain him until he's rescued?  And will he live long enough to recharge his phone?

 

VOYA "a satisfying tale of a young man’s personal growth."

Booklist Online "A book that will grab many, including reluctant middle-school readers."

CM Magazine "Highly recommended for those who love adventure and the outdoors [and] readers who just want a quick exciting read."

Kirkus Reviews “Flynn is a 13-year-old with a cocky attitude, eyes that are quick to roll and a flip brashness. The insights he gains during his three-day adventure as he is injured, faces wild animals and becomes hypothermic are satisfying.” 

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On a Scale From Idiot to Complete Jerk

(Orca Book Publishers, 2014)

​

*Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens 2014

*Translated into Korean and Dutch

​

Beginning with the dawn of humankind and concluding conclusively, J.J. Murphy's eighth grade science project dissects jerkosity through case studies, charts and graphs, and explores the who, what, when, why and how of the jerks of this world. 

 

Quill & Quire "A quirky, funny glimpse into the life and mind of a 13-year-old boy. ...author Alison Hughes deserves an A+ for her smart, engaging middle-grade read."

Canadian Family Magazine  "A wonderfully cheeky and smart read."

Canadian Children’s Book News "J.J.’s descriptions will have readers not only laughing out loud but also reading passages aloud to whoever will listen."

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poser 

(Orca Book Publishers, 2013)

​

*Red Cedar Award nominee 2015

*Hackmatack Award nominee 2015-16

 

​Twelve-year-old Luke "Spin" Spinelli is sick of fake-running, fake-laughing and fake-pointing. Sure, he once made the cover of Baby Show magazine, but now his secret modeling career is making him miserable.  

 

Kirkus Reviews "The entertainment value stays high. Plenty of fun, and substance too."

CM Magazine "funny and easy to read and will be extremely popular. Highly Recommended."

Resource Links "Hughes inserts life lessons in her humourous prose."

Booklist Online  "The tone is breezy and the characters just larger than life ... a fun jaunt through school, friendship, hockey, and the unglamorous life of the child model."

School Library Journal "A witty narrative that embraces important themes...this laugh-out-loud funny novel considers bullying, lying, and appreciating one’s special gifts."

​

​

​

 Early Reader 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beatrice More and the Perfect Party

Illustrated by Helen Flook (Orca Book Publishers, 2019)

Hyperorganized perfectionist Beatrice More is determined to plan a spectacularly professional birthday party for her little sister, Sophie. But she is foiled at every turn.

​

Kirkus Reviews "Beatrice is quirky and familiar, with well-meaning parents...

An appealing family story with a sincere and goodhearted protagonist." 

CM Magazine (Highly recommended) "Some really good lessons for kids who struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, or the ability to adapt to changing circumstances."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beatrice More Moves In 

Illustrated by Helen Flook (Orca Book Publishers, 2015)  

​

Beatrice More is no average third-grader. She is a list-making, hyperorganized perfectionist whose laid-back parents and messy little sister frustrate her high standards. But she discovers that some of the best experiences are the ones you can’t control.

 

Kirkus Reviews "Clearly comedic hyperbole...Frequent, equally exaggerated illustrations add to the fun."

School Library Connection "A good early chapter book for many young readers. Recommended."

CM Magazine "Beatrice [learns] that perfection isn't possible...sometimes being on a schedule is no fun. Recommended."

 

 

 Picture Book 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cold Little Voice

Illustrated by Jan Dolby (Clockwise Press, 2019)

* CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens 2019

 

What can we do when that cold little voice inside our own head tells us that we aren't good enough or smart enough to matter? Sometimes all it takes is a bit of self acceptance to make that voice warm up so that we can become our own best friend. 

​

Youth Services Book Review (starred review) "There is probably not a single time in a child’s life where this book will not come in handy...This is a very positive book about being yourself and silencing the doubts that keep whispering in your ear."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Silence Slips In

Illustrated by Ninon Pelletier (Orca Book Publishers, March 2019)

* Translated into French

* Willow Awards nominee 2020

* CCBC Finding Hope in Hard Times Reading List 2020

* CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens 2019

​

When the party's over and the baby finally falls asleep, when the dog is all barked out and the screens are dark, the Silence pads in on soft, furry feet. This is a quiet story about learning to find calm in the busy world around you.

​

Kirkus Reviews  "This ode to mindfulnes...[is] just right for busy families who seek balance and mindfulness." 

Publishers' Weekly "gently alludes to the benefits of finding contentment in quietude and how learning to do so might benefit readers for years to come."

CM Magazine (Highly Recommended) "a lovely book about finding the silence and calm in life...fits well when discussing self-regulation and mindfulness with children." 

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Creepy-Crawly Thought

Illustrated by Jennifer Rabby (2019)

 

When creepy thoughts slither in and refuse to leave, what can an anxious child do? This story answers with a wild, rollicking list of strategies to help chase bad thoughts away and provides a gentle opening for talking about fears, anxiety, wellness and resilience.

​

Kirkus Reviews "will generate enough smiles to put creepy-crawlies on the run. A silly picture book that offers readers humor to confront anxieties."

Canlit for Little Canadians "..with a variety of strategies for dealing with those creepy-crawlies, Alison Hughes ensures that there's at least one that will work for any child. Moreover her rhyming text, sure to annoy those monstrous thoughts, brings a lightness and manageability to the plight of a child dealing with anxiety."

 

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Matters 

Illustrated by Holly Hatam (Orca Book Publishers, 2016)

​

*Children's Book Council Spring 2020 Showcase "Champions of Change" selection

*2017 Alberta Literary Awards' R. Ross Annett Award for Children's Literature, nominee

*2017 Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Awards (USA), Honorable Mention

*Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators' Winter Reading List 2016

*CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens 2017, starred selection

*Translated into Turkish

 

From the miniscule to the universal, What Matters explores nature's connections and traces the ripple effects of one child’s act to show how we can all make a big difference.

 

Kirkus Reviews "A beguiling, environmental musing on how one small act can have far-reaching consequences."

School Library Journal "A charming addition that teaches about the interrelationships in nature and the importance of recycling."

CM Magazine (Highly Recommended) "a very small book with a very large message.." Canadian Children's Book News "A perfect read-aloud picture book for primary classrooms...conveys a positive and powerful message to young readers: you are not too young to make a difference."

​