Canadian authors and illustrators have a strong presence on this year’s USBBY list of Outstanding International Books, with several titles published by Groundwood Books.

The annual list, selected by a committee appointed by USBBY (the U.S. arm of the International Board on Books for Young People), aims to reflect the best in children’s literature from around the world (excluding the U.S.) for readers from preschool to age 12.

Books by homegrown talent stand alongside those from the U.K., Australia, Portugal, Finland, and others, presenting a global perspective on the lives of children.

Here are the Canadian titles that made the list:

• The Animals Arc by Marianne Dubuc (Kids Can Press)
• Malaika’s Costume by Nadia L. Hohn and Irene Luxbacher, ill. (Groundwood Books)
• Hurry Up, Henry by Jennifer Lanthier and Isabelle Malenfant, ill. (Puffin Canada)
• A Family is a Family is a Family by Sara O’Leary and Qin Leng ill. (Groundwood)
• The White Cat and the Monk by Jo Ellen Bogart and Sydney Smith, ill. (Groundwood)
• Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami and Julianna Swaney, ill. (Groundwood)
• The Pact by Amanda West Lewis (Red Deer Press)
• Pride: Celebrating Diversity and Community by Robin Stevenson (Orca Book Publishers)
• Away Running by David Wright and Luc Bouchard (Orca)