Since we're a big group of book lovers here at Cityline, we're inviting our viewers to read along with us! For our last book club pick, we read Andrew Kaufman's Born Weird (Random House of Canada) - did you read it, too? Be sure to watch the video of our book club meeting to see what we thought of the book, and to enter for your chance to win a book prize pack courtesy of Random House of Canada! For our latest book pick, we're heading into thrilling territory with the character-driven Caught by Lisa Moore (House of Anansi Press). Once again, we hope you'll read along with us! Here's a little about the book:

"In the creation of David Slaney, Lisa Moore brings us an unforgettable character, embodying the exuberance and energy of misspent youth. Caught is a propulsive and harrowing read." - Patrick deWitt, author of The Sisters Brothers Internationally acclaimed author Lisa Moore offers us a remarkable new novel about a man who escapes from prison to embark upon one of the most ambitious pot-smuggling adventures ever attempted. Here are bravado and betrayal, bad weather and seas, love, undercover agents, the collusion of governments, unbridled ambition, innocence and the loss thereof, and many, many bales of marijuana. Here, too, is the seeming invincibility of youth and all the folly that it allows. Caught is an exuberant, relentlessly suspenseful, and utterly unique novel, and promises to be the astonishing Lisa Moore’s most accomplished work to date.

We're so excited to start reading this intriguing novel, and we hope you'll read along with us! Want a copy? We have 5 copies to give away to some lucky readers, courtesy House of Anansi Press! To enter for your chance to win, tell us about your last great read in the comments below! Over the next six weeks, we'll be sharing tons of great features about the novel and the author, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at our office discussion of the book! So go out and grab your copy, and get reading! We can't wait to discuss with you!

Have you been reading along with the Cityline Book Club? Our latest book pick, Born Weird by Andrew Kaufman, was largely enjoyed by our staffers and praised for its highly original storytelling. Watch our book club meeting below: [embed]bcid:2619144140001[/embed] If you read Born Weird along with us, we want to know what you thought of the novel! Post a comment below with your thoughts on the book, and you’ll be entered to win a book prize pack courtesy of Random House of Canada! For our next book club pick, we'll be reading Caught by Lisa Moore (House of Anansi Press), and once again, we want you to read along with us! For more information on our latest pick, and for your chance to win a copy, click here.

Heading back to school can be a nerve-wracking time for both parents and kids. Why not ease some of the worries and get back into your bedtime-routine by reading a few favourite back-to-school books with your children? These stories are packed with beautiful drawings and lessons, and they're a wonderful way to start the back-to-school conversation with your family. 1. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn A popular favourite amongst parents and teachers, The Kissing Hand tells the story of Chester Raccoon who is starting school for the first time but does not want to go. His mother eases his fears by sharing a family secret to help him on his first day. This is a great read for little ones who need reassurance and love on their first day of school. 2. How Do Dinosaurs Go To School? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague Perfect for any kid who is crazy about dinosaurs! Head to school for some laughs and lessons with your favourite dinosaurs as they have a fun-filled day in the classroom! How Do Dinosaurs Go To School? will quickly become a bedtime favourite. 3. The Berenstain Bears Go To School by Stan and Jan Berenstain with Mike Berenstain Follow Brother and Sister Bear as they head to school for the first time. Your little ones will relate to Sister who is nervous about her first day. Filled with beautiful illustrations and familiar characters, The Berenstain Bears Go To School is a must-read for September! 4. The Night Before First Grade by Natasha Wing Following the familiar rhythm of Clement C. Moore’s classic Christmas story, The Night Before First Grade tells the story of Penny as she goes through her first-day-of-school jitters and starts first grade with her best friend. Be sure to also check out Wing's The Night Before Kindergarten if you have a little one heading off to kindergarten this fall. 5. A Smart Girl’s Guide to Starting Middle School by Julie Williams Montalbano The transition from elementary school to middle school can be a scary time for your daughter; A Smart Girl’s Guide to Starting Middle School by Julie Wililams Montalbano is filled with advice to ease the adjustment. This makes a great back-to-school gift! 6. I Am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child Be immersed in the familiar world of Charlie and Lola as Lola gets ready to start school. In I Am Too Absolutely Small for School, Lola has decided that she is too small to start school and her brother Charlie tries to tell her otherwise. How does Charlie fare in convincing Lola? Read this book with your little ones to find out! 7. First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg First Day Jitters is a back-to-school read with a twist! Perfect for school-aged children to learn that they aren't the only ones nervous when it comes to the first day — everyone will be surprised by the big reveal at the end! 8. Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes A quintessential childhood favourite, Chrysanthemum deals with the idea of bullying and teasing in a school setting. The book teaches compassion and love with a few laughs along the way. 9. Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School by Herman Parish  Laugh along with Amelia Bedelia as she embarks on her first day of school in Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School. As usual, Amelia is taking all instructions completely literally which means there will be a lot of giggles from your little ones! 10. Zip, Zip...Homework by Nancy Poydar Filled with teachable moments and lessons, Zip, Zip...Homework tells the story of Violet who is so excited when she gets her first homework assignment! When she gets home, she can't find the assignment and lies about having completing it. With important lessons in honesty, this is a great story to get the conversation started with your family. Did we forget your favourite back-to-school read? Let us know in the comments!

Whether loving or dysfunctional, we here at the Cityline Book Club love stories that feature interesting families -- just like the Weird family in our current pick, Andrew Kaufman's Born Weird! The Weird family is definitely one of the strangest families we've encountered in a book recently, and we know that they'll stay in our minds long after we finish the book! If reading Born Weird has inspired you to check out more books about interesting families, dive into these 5 fantastic family-centric reads: Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes: In this memoir, Irish-American author Frank McCourt shares a variety of anecdotes from his childhood and early adulthood in both New York City and Ireland. He also details his family's struggle with poverty, his father's drinking problem, and his mother's determination to keep the family strong through it all. McCourt lays bare his family's issues and tragedies and his writing weaves a story as rich as fiction. Katrina Onstad, Everybody Has Everything: Can everyone be a parent? Ana and James' family suddenly grows from 2 to 3 when they become legal guardians of a 2 1/2-year-old boy after a car crash leaves their friend dead and his wife in a coma. This novel explores what it's like to be thrust into parenthood, and it's fascinating to see this unusual family develop and grow together. Jessica Grant, Come Thou Tortoise: Essentially a story about finding your sense of belonging and the importance of family, this novel also features an eccentric protagonist, an uncle who holds untold family secrets (and has one strangely long arm), and...a talking tortoise. It's as endearing as it is strange. Alison Bechdel, Fun Home: This memoir, told through a deftly drawn graphic novel, tells the story of young Bechdel and her complex relationship with her father: a funeral home director, English teacher, distant parent, and closeted homosexual. Through both her words and her drawings, Bechdel gives the reader great insight into her complicated family relationships, including how she ultimately connects with her father over a shared love of books. Louisa May Alcott, Little Women: This classic coming-of-age tale about the four March sisters is a beloved story about family, domesticity, and love. If you haven't read this story since you were a little woman or man yourself, it's well worth a re-read as an adult. Do you have a favourite book that focuses on an interesting family? Tell us about it in the comments below!    

Are you reading Andrew Kaufman's Born Weird along with the Cityline Book Club? Always the speedy reader, Tracy finished the novel a couple of weeks ago and tweeted her thoughts on her Twitter account: https://twitter.com/tracycityline/status/354917706903977984 Recently, we chatted with Kaufman at our studio and he graciously answered all of our questions about his engaging novel. Watch the video below and find out all about how Kaufman created the Weird family, who his favourite Weird family member is, and what his own "blursing" is. [embed]bcid:2577388410001[/embed]