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    My Best Friend Is a Butternut Squash

    Author Heather Smith
    Illustrated by Kass Reich
    Hardcover
    $18.99 US
    Tundra Book Group | Tundra Books
    9.94"W x 9.88"H x 0.43"D   (25.2 x 25.1 x 1.1 cm) | 17 oz (493 g) | 24 per carton
    On sale Jun 16, 2026 | 40 Pages | 9781774886632
    Age 4-8 years | Preschool - 3
    Sales rights: World
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    A heartwarming picture book about a young boy whose only friend, a butternut squash, helps him create a rich and imaginative world for himself, ultimately leading him to a new human friend.

    Alex’s best friend is a butternut squash. They play pretend all day long. Sometimes his butternut squash is a baby. Alex pushes him in a stroller all around town. Sometimes his butternut squash is a pirate.They have spectacular swordfights! Sometimes Alex thinks that his butternut squash might like to join the other kids in the playground, but he doesn’t want his squash to get his hopes up. What if the other kids don't want to play with him? Then one day, they meet someone new. Could Alex and his butternut squash have found a new friend?
    "An engaging tribute to the value of best friends no matter what shape they take." —Kirkus Reviews
    © Donald P. Barnes
    HEATHER SMITH is originally from Newfoundland and now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her husband and three children. Her east coast roots inspire much of her writing. Her novel, The Agony of Bun O'Keefe, won both the Ontario Library Association's White Pine Award and the Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Award, and was also shortlisted for several others. It also received starred reviews from Kirkus and Quill & Quire, and was named a best book by Kirkus, Bank Street College of Education, Globe and Mail and Quill & Quire (honorable mention), as well as selected as an Outstanding International Book by USBBY. 

    Tig was the winner of the 2025 Governor General’s Award, as well as an Ontario Library Association Red Maple Honor, among other honors. View titles by Heather Smith
    © Stephanie Coffey
    KASS REICH works as an artist and educator and has spent the majority of the last decade travelling around the world. She earned a degree in Art Education from Concordia University and was an early childhood educator in Beijing, which inspired her to start making picture books for very young readers. Kass loves illustrating books for all ages, including the Megabat series, Sergeant Billy, Carson Crosses Canada and Hamsters Holding Hands. She now lives and works in Toronto, Ontario. View titles by Kass Reich
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    About

    A heartwarming picture book about a young boy whose only friend, a butternut squash, helps him create a rich and imaginative world for himself, ultimately leading him to a new human friend.

    Alex’s best friend is a butternut squash. They play pretend all day long. Sometimes his butternut squash is a baby. Alex pushes him in a stroller all around town. Sometimes his butternut squash is a pirate.They have spectacular swordfights! Sometimes Alex thinks that his butternut squash might like to join the other kids in the playground, but he doesn’t want his squash to get his hopes up. What if the other kids don't want to play with him? Then one day, they meet someone new. Could Alex and his butternut squash have found a new friend?

    Praise

    "An engaging tribute to the value of best friends no matter what shape they take." —Kirkus Reviews

    Author

    © Donald P. Barnes
    HEATHER SMITH is originally from Newfoundland and now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her husband and three children. Her east coast roots inspire much of her writing. Her novel, The Agony of Bun O'Keefe, won both the Ontario Library Association's White Pine Award and the Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Award, and was also shortlisted for several others. It also received starred reviews from Kirkus and Quill & Quire, and was named a best book by Kirkus, Bank Street College of Education, Globe and Mail and Quill & Quire (honorable mention), as well as selected as an Outstanding International Book by USBBY. 

    Tig was the winner of the 2025 Governor General’s Award, as well as an Ontario Library Association Red Maple Honor, among other honors. View titles by Heather Smith
    © Stephanie Coffey
    KASS REICH works as an artist and educator and has spent the majority of the last decade travelling around the world. She earned a degree in Art Education from Concordia University and was an early childhood educator in Beijing, which inspired her to start making picture books for very young readers. Kass loves illustrating books for all ages, including the Megabat series, Sergeant Billy, Carson Crosses Canada and Hamsters Holding Hands. She now lives and works in Toronto, Ontario. View titles by Kass Reich

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    •     Antarctica
    •     Antigua/Barbuda
    •     Argentina
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    •     Aruba
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    •     Bangladesh
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    •     Bermuda
    •     Bhutan
    •     Bolivia
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    •     Botswana
    •     Bouvet Island
    •     Brazil
    •     Brit.Ind.Oc.Ter
    •     Brit.Virgin Is.
    •     Brunei
    •     Bulgaria
    •     Burkina Faso
    •     Burundi
    •     Cambodia
    •     Cameroon
    •     Canada
    •     Cape Verde
    •     Cayman Islands
    •     Centr.Afr.Rep.
    •     Chad
    •     Chile
    •     China
    •     Christmas Islnd
    •     Cocos Islands
    •     Colombia
    •     Comoro Is.
    •     Congo
    •     Cook Islands
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    •     St Barthelemy
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