A collection of stories and essays gathered by literary critic, writer, and editor John Metcalf. Featuring six Canadian fiction writers, among them the winners of the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, The Butler Book Prize, and the Marian Engel Award, these collected works offer an in-depth look at the processes and inspiration behind their stories.

Seven-year-old Bruno is back and tackling problems with his trademark originality. He defeats hiccups. He trades his mother for a new hat. He skillfully avoids math. And thanks to his special Flutter Kick, he easily advances to the next level--in swimming and in life! Bruno is ready for any challenge as he learns all there is to know about being a boy.

In "Bruno for Real," the sequel to "I, Bruno, " award-winning author Caroline Adderson shares more of Bruno's really real adventures. Caroline lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with her husband and the son who lied to her when he said he'd always be seven.

Isabel and Zoe are favourite friends - most of the time. They have side-by-side cubbies at school. They never take off their friendship bracelets. And they make each other laugh like nobody else. But some of the time, Isabel isn't Zoe's favourite friend at all. Because some of the time, the fun things they do end in a no-fun way. Like how they've been sent to the principal's office because of Isabel's shenanigans with some kindergartners. Now Zoe is mad at Isabel. Isabel is trying everything to win her friend back. Will getting a new puppy help Isabel mend her friendship with Zoe?

Now in its 49th year, Best Canadian Stories has long championed the short story form and highlighted the work of many writers who have gone on to shape the Canadian literary canon. Margaret Atwood, Clark Blaise, Tamas Dobozy, Mavis Gallant, Douglas Glover, Norman Levine, Rohinton Mistry, Alice Munro, Leon Rooke, Diane Schoemperlen, Kathleen Winter, and many others have appeared in its pages over the decades, making Best Canadian Stories the go-to source for what's new in Canadian fiction writing for close to five decades. Selected by guest editor Caroline Adderson, the 2019 edition draws together both newer and established writers to shape an engaging and luminous mosaic of writing in this country today-a continuation of not only a series, but a legacy in Canadian letters.

In this poem addressed to a young child, author Caroline Adderson outlines the ten things a mother loves about her little one. From his scaly elbows and knees all the way to his twitchy tail, every inch of this little “monster� is itemized and admired. Gentle and humorous illustrations by Christina Leist show how one tired parent decides to participate in a bit of rowdy play at bedtime, with the result being a happily tired child and a mother who is even more in love with her offspring than she was at the beginning of the book. This satisfyingly unconventional bedtime story will encourage children and parents to appreciate each other just a little bit more every time they read it.