DEBORAH KERBEL

Picture Book

Middle Grade

Young Adult

Author

-Kirkus Reviews

When Molly Drew Dogs Cover.jpeg

"Kerbel deftly crafts

a gentle argument for

more empathy."

Quill & Quire

Starred

Review

*

Winner

2019 Northern Lights

Book Award

Best Illustration

“Lullabylike....

Del Rizzo brings eye-catching allure to

Kerbel’s wistful welcome.”

-Publisher's Weekly

Reviews

BeforeYouWereBorn Cover.jpg

& NOMINATED BOOKS

AWARD WINNING

"a tender story of the devotion between a boy and his dog.

Juno may be a puppy in the Arctic Circle, but

children everywhere will relate to her.”

-Kirkus Reviews

Feathered

A middle-grade novel

Finch’s family is falling apart, and her best friend has dropped her. She’s stuck with the meanest teacher in school, and at home her brother is always with his awful friend Matt.

One day, Finch lets out her frustration with a grafitti message in a school bathroom stall. When she returns the next day, she’s surprised to find her message has been answered! Suddenly Finch doesn’t feel so alone anymore, and a friendship begins.

But her new friend is secretive in ways Finch doesn’t understand. When those secrets lead to trouble, Finch knows that flying away isn’t the answer. She needs to dig deep and speak up if she’s ever going to see her friend again.

WHAT reviewers are SAYing...

"Excellent...

more than a regular coming-of-age story."

— Resource Links Library Journal

one of CBC's

'Must-Read Books for Kids this Summer'

CBC Books - The Next Chapter, June 2016

2016 MYRCA Finalist

BYE-BYE, EVIL EYE

13 year-old Dani Price has the kind of life every girl wants. She's pretty, rich, and popular. But after spending three weeks vacationing in Greece with her best friend Kat, she becomes the innocent victim of a powerful curse. As bad luck spirals into danger, Dani becomes desperate to save herself, her family, and her new boyfriend from the Evil Eye. With Kat's help, she must discover how to lift the curse before she loses everything. But first she needs to figure out who to trust. And just how much she's willing to give up.

Funny...fresh...readable and engaging.

CM Magazine

Hilarious! Reality and fancy all wrapped up in a delightful tale.

CanLit for Little Canadians

'Gone Girl' for tweens.

Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Awards

This House is Home

An empowering story about coming to terms with change through creative problem solving

Lily’s family is happy in their old green house at the end of the lane, but progress soon encroaches. When Grandma refuses to sell their home to developers, the city just builds around them. Soon their house is smack-dab in the middle of a multi-lane highway. As traffic rushes by day and night, Lily and her family begin to feel differently about their beloved home.

Slow Moe

“A sweet harangue...filled with wonderful details…Reminds readers that we are different people depending upon whom we are with and that familial relationships are complex and simple at the same time.”

— Kirkus Reviews

Snow Days Cover

First snow, surprise snow:
Nature’s sparkly magic show

For small children, snow is a wonder. It sparkles and glitters. It transforms the outside world. Every kind of snow brings its own magic. It invites snow angels, skating, fort-building, and snowballs. Even blizzard days are exciting, when routines are overturned and everyone bands together to clear the snow away. For the youngest among us, winter is magical.

When Molly Drew Dogs

"Kerbel deftly crafts a gentle argument for more empathy for others and yourself.
An artful plea for emotional acceptance."
-Kirkus Reviews

Before You Were Born

“A gorgeous, captivating, and moving story, this book will touch the hearts and mesmerize the eyes of readers both young and old. New parents will love reading this book as they prepare for and welcome new additions to their home.”
-School Library Journal

My Deal With the Universe

All twelve year-old Daisy Fisher wants is to be normal — or at least to not stick out like a sore thumb. But growing up in the “Jungle” makes that pretty much impossible. When your parents are hippies and your house is overrun with vines and critters, it’s not so easy to fit in. And it definitely doesn’t help when the neighbours declare your family public enemy number one.

Sun Dog

Juno and her boy live at the top of the world. One day Juno will be big and strong enough to help pull a sled across the tundra, but for now she is just a small puppy with a big-dog heart. Puppies have to go to bed when their boys do, but Juno can’t sleep with the midnight sun shining out across the town. She slips outside to play. Returning to see a hungry polar bear sniffing around the open door, Juno has no time to be afraid. It’s time to find her voice and save her beloved boy.

"Set in 1980 during Terry Fox’s marathon, Finch’s story still rings true today."

- Kirkus Reviews

"'Gone Girl' for tweens."

-Manitoba Young Reader's Choice Award

“Excellent…charming…authentic. Lily is a wonderful achievement.”

-Resource Links Library Journal

"Exciting to the very end. Highly recommended."

-CM Magazine

“Kerbel’s depictions of each girl’s very different brands of personal pain are stirring.”

-Publishers Weekly

“Deftly portrayed...this solid coming-of-age story offers a unique setting and a likeable young heroine.”

-VOYA Library Magazine

This House is Home

An empowering story about coming to terms with change through creative problem solving

Lily’s family is happy in their old green house at the end of the lane, but progress soon encroaches. When Grandma refuses to sell their home to developers, the city just builds around them. Soon their house is smack-dab in the middle of a multi-lane highway. As traffic rushes by day and night, Lily and her family begin to feel differently about their beloved home.

Slow Moe

“A sweet harangue...filled with wonderful details…Reminds readers that we are different people depending upon whom we are with and that familial relationships are complex and simple at the same time.”

— Kirkus Reviews

Snow Days Cover

First snow, surprise snow:
Nature’s sparkly magic show

For small children, snow is a wonder. It sparkles and glitters. It transforms the outside world. Every kind of snow brings its own magic. It invites snow angels, skating, fort-building, and snowballs. Even blizzard days are exciting, when routines are overturned and everyone bands together to clear the snow away. For the youngest among us, winter is magical.

When Molly Drew Dogs

"Kerbel deftly crafts a gentle argument for more empathy for others and yourself.
An artful plea for emotional acceptance."
-Kirkus Reviews

Before You Were Born

“A gorgeous, captivating, and moving story, this book will touch the hearts and mesmerize the eyes of readers both young and old. New parents will love reading this book as they prepare for and welcome new additions to their home.”
-School Library Journal

My Deal With the Universe

All twelve year-old Daisy Fisher wants is to be normal — or at least to not stick out like a sore thumb. But growing up in the “Jungle” makes that pretty much impossible. When your parents are hippies and your house is overrun with vines and critters, it’s not so easy to fit in. And it definitely doesn’t help when the neighbours declare your family public enemy number one.

Sun Dog

Juno and her boy live at the top of the world. One day Juno will be big and strong enough to help pull a sled across the tundra, but for now she is just a small puppy with a big-dog heart. Puppies have to go to bed when their boys do, but Juno can’t sleep with the midnight sun shining out across the town. She slips outside to play. Returning to see a hungry polar bear sniffing around the open door, Juno has no time to be afraid. It’s time to find her voice and save her beloved boy.

"Set in 1980 during Terry Fox’s marathon, Finch’s story still rings true today."

- Kirkus Reviews

"'Gone Girl' for tweens."

-Manitoba Young Reader's Choice Award

“Excellent…charming…authentic. Lily is a wonderful achievement.”

-Resource Links Library Journal

"Exciting to the very end. Highly recommended."

-CM Magazine

“Kerbel’s depictions of each girl’s very different brands of personal pain are stirring.”

-Publishers Weekly

“Deftly portrayed...this solid coming-of-age story offers a unique setting and a likeable young heroine.”

-VOYA Library Magazine

My Deal With the Universe

All twelve year-old Daisy Fisher wants is to be normal — or at least to not stick out like a sore thumb. But growing up in the “Jungle” makes that pretty much impossible. When your parents are hippies and your house is overrun with vines and critters, it’s not so easy to fit in. And it definitely doesn’t help when the neighbours declare your family public enemy number one.