From a chicken channeling its inner dinosaur, to raising dragon eggs in P.E.I., to a teen fauxmance, The Next Chapter’s children’s book panel is back with a new holiday reading list. Writer and broadcaster Bee Quammie and CBC books producer Lucy Mann share six books to engage readers from pre-school to high school.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Lena the Chicken (But Really A Dinosaur!) by Linda Bailey, illustrated by K-Fai Steele

The One About the Blackbird by Melanie Florence, illustrated by Matt James

Fresh Start by Gale Galligan

Kindred Dragons by Sarah Mensinga

You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh

Songs for Ghosts by Clara Kumagai

Kerry Clare is the first to admit that if her own book was selected for a prize her opinion would probably change. At least part of it. The writer and critic joins the show to shed light on a few of her favourite books that were left off the awards circuit this year. CBC Books producer Lucy Mann recommends one of the most popular, out of this world books of 2025. Plus, find out what musician Logan Richard reads to remind himself to be grateful.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

The Seaside Cafe Metropolis by Antanas Sileika

Starry, Starry Night by Shani Mootoo

Property by Kate Cayley

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

In his 20th year in the music business, the rapper Shad has shown no signs of slowing down. The Juno-winning musician has also had an illustrious career as a broadcaster, hosting hit shows like the documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution on Netflix. His latest album is called Start Anew, and he joins the show to go back and talk about how he first discovered the power of words and shares some of the books that have shaped his life.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Black Noise by Tricia Rose

July, July by Tim O’Brien

A Confession and Other Religious Writings by Leo Tolstoy

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Columnist Mirian Njoh shares what made her fall in love with Flirting Lessons by bestselling author Jasmine Guillory. The buzzy sapphic romance follows two contrasting characters' growing connection in Napa Valley. Plus, Fiona Sauder and Victor Pokinko talk about adapting The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis for the stage at Bad Hats Theatre this holiday season.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has become a cultural phenomenon. Pulling from his most embarrassing moments growing up paired with the fun house version of his own family, the journal inspired covers have become a cornerstone of young readers' bookshelves across the world. He talks about his early inspirations, and the 20th installment in the series titled Partypooper. Plus, Jake Charron from The East Pointers shares his fantasy book pick.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Partypooper by Jeff Kinney

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Before he won the academy award for best actor, Brendan Fraser was a kid who loved reading captivating stories, the weirder the better. He joins The Next Chapter to share a first look at his new audio series The Downloaded 2: Ghosts in the Machine by Robert J. Sawyer, and talks about what childhood books ignited his creative spark. Plus, a CBC Books producer helps answer the question: what is a cozy read?

Books discussed on this week's show include:

The Downloaded 2: Ghosts in the Machine by Robert J. Sawyer

The Swan by Roald Dahl

The Quiet American by Graham Greene

It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard

A Little Holiday Fling by Farah Heron

A Season for Spies by Iona Whishaw

You can take the man out of Newfoundland, but you can’t take the Newfoundland out of Alan Doyle…and why would you want to? Fresh off a run of the musical he co-wrote Tell Tale Harbour, the beloved musician, actor and writer joins The Next Chapter to discuss his new book The Smiling Land: All Around the Circle in My Newfoundland and Labrador and the stories that have helped shape who he is today.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

In a Sunburned Country (Down Under) by Bill Bryson

The Game by Ken Dryden

Sweetland by Micheal Crummey

The Story of Bobby O’Malley by Wayne Johnston

The Smiling Land: All Around the Circle in My Newfoundland and Labrador by Alan Doyle

CBC Books’ Ryan B. Patrick gives his take on Flesh, this year's Booker Prize winner. David Szalay’s buzzy book follows the life of man from adolescence in Hungary to his wealthy middle age in London. Plus, writer Rabindranath Maharaj shares the most influential books in his life.

Books discussed on this week's show include:

Flesh by David Szalay

A Quiet Disappearance by Rabindranath Maharaj

Coral Island by R. M. Ballantyne

Watchmen by Alan Moore, illustrated by Dave Gibbons, coloured by John Higgins

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

A House for Mr Biswas by V.S. Naipaul