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Jon-Erik Lappano

@jelappano

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Curious books for a curious world | Governor General Literary Award winner | TD Canadian Childrens Literature Finalist | White Raven Award | Up late

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This pairing of picture books ponders what it means to be unique, using birds as a theme. THE WHITE RAVEN by @kathrynotoshi wonders if a white raven will be rejected by its flock for being different and how it will cope. She notes that a group of ravens is called an “unkindness.” It turns out in real life that there are thriving families of white ravens in Alaska and Canada. // THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS by @jelappano and illustrated by @zachmanbeck introduces the reader to Mira, a young girl who has a gift for understanding birds but struggles with people. But when a new boy comes to school, her crow friend helps her use art instead of words to connect. // Both these picture books are great for #backtoschool as they remind us about the power of kindness and compassion, and the power of being unique.

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The Language of Birds is a 2025 picture book about a girl named Mira and is better with birds than with people. When she meets a new kid at school that seems to get trees like she gets birds, a possible friendship blooms.

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The first half of 2026 has been filled with incredible people and books. So many events. Thank you to this amazing community for supporting us and encouraging us. We couldn’t do this without you. Thank you.

And a HUGE thank you to our incredible partners @brucestratford and @matilda.galleryartbar and to our fellow small business friends and neighbours @theliveryyard @bettyswinebar @mosaicoutfitters @stratfordbusinesscentre @longandmcquade @visitstratfordon for our creative collaborations and support. Thank you to all the authors who have visited, or about to visit, all the publishers we continue to work with, and to the hundreds and hundreds of you who have attended our events - we wouldn’t be here doing what we love (championing books and authors) without you.

Can’t wait for the second half of 2026. Let’s go.

#stratford #artsandlectures #authortalks

#stratford #authortalks

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We're delighted to see so many of our titles on the Bank Street 2026 Best Children’s Books of the Year list! Congrats to all 🥳

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💚The Language of Birds 💚patience & friendship 💚

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The Bank Street Experts have spoken and we think they are all excellent choices!

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If you are thinking of what children’s book to have in your library to raise a bit of a more environmentally conscious and creative child, even if it’s your inner child -

Those are my motherhood pick))

And I’m a big fan of all books illustrated by @jelappano

And last photo is the garden view of my morning worksite today
Upcycling clothes, battling consumption, tackling the fashion waste crisis … all so that hopefully future generations as well as animals get to enjoy the clean ocean and those views…

If we get extinct because of our overconsumption and greed, I’m sure the nature will do just fine and recover from us…
So I’m more worried about the kids who get to live in the world we leave after ourselves

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What an incredible day we had yesterday celebrating our first #canadianindependentbookstoreday in Stratford. Thank you so much to the talented and fabulous authors, generous and thoughtful readers and a supportive and positive community. We love you all ❤️ thank you for showing up for us again and again. We’re so lucky. What a day! What a year!! And thank you to the awesome Leah and Lauren and Matilda for making the day as awesome as you all are.

I never take enough photos so if you took some please tag us. I’d love to see them. Thank you all.

#localindiebookstore #canadianbookstore #stratford

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If you aren’t busy tomorrow morning, come hang out with me at my FREE virtual workshop with the @soi128 I will be doing a reading of “The Language of Birds” and talking about my artistic process, and afterwards we are going to make a fun paper-bird craft together! RSVP link in my bio 🐦‍⬛

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✨ THIS SATURDAY ✨

Come celebrate Canadian Independent Bookstore Day with us, SAL’s BOOK BAR at Matilda Gallery & Art Bar.

Meet and Greet/Book Signings with your fave local authors, music by Mitch Langdon, book sales galore, giveaways, freebies, drink specials, great vibes, and more.

1pm to 5pm

85 Downie Street
Stratford, ON

Come out and help us celebrate our first CIBD in Stratford.

How you can participate:

Join us ❤️
Bring a book lover friend 💕
Spread the word ❤️
Talk to an author about their book 💕
Enjoy the beautiful art ❤️
Treat yourself to a crafty cocktail or mocktail 💕
Meet other book people ❤️
Bedazzle a bookmark (or book) 💕
BUY A BOOK ❤️

And so much more!

Can’t wait to see you, you book party people 😀

#saturday #cibd #stratford #bookevent #authorevent

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BOOK FEATURE! A moving picture book about an anxious girl who can talk to birds but finds it hard to talk to people. When a new boy at school connects with trees the way she does with birds, they begin to form a friendship.

ENJOY & SHARE! REPRESENTATION MATTERS!
#generationwe #jointhegeneration #storiesofbelonging #representation #representationmatters #diversity #inclusivity #inclusivitymatters #kidlit #kidlitart #storytime #bookstagram #inclusivestories #anxiety #autism #friendship

@jelappano @zachmanbeck @penguinrandomhouse @randomhousestudio

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As an avid reader, aspiring writer, and a language and literacy teacher, I love words. Words are how I best express myself and understand other people. What about you?

For Mira, she has a special gift– she understands birds, in THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS (written by Jon-Erik Lappano, illustrated by Zach Manbeck, published by Random House Studio). Ever since she was little, Mira just had a way of communicating with birds. She couldn’t say the same about people though, often finding them confusing, especially when their words and actions told opposite stories. As a result, Mira was often alone during recesses at school… until one day, a new boy named Jad arrived. Like Mira, Jad was a little different. He often painted pictures of trees, just like she often drew pictures of birds. Mira wanted to say hello, but her words just scattered away. Will Mira find a way to communicate with Jad? Can they be friends?

THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS is a beautiful, touching story about two young children who each are alike in the sense that they are a little different from others. I love that they both see, appreciate, and understand other living things that many of us take for granted. The warm illustrations capture the warm solace that Mira and Jad find in their respective connections with birds and trees– and in their eventual friendship. This is a heartwarming story about friendship, connecting with nature, and appreciation of all the ways in which we are gifted.
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Birds, trees, connections with nature, friendships, inclusive children’s books, diverse children’s books
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#theinclusivebookshelf #TheLanguageOfBirds #friendships #inclusivechildrensbooks #diversechildrensbooks

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