Hooked on Books: Celebrating More Than Words and the Power of Expression

Roz Maclean’s More than Words: So Many Ways to Say What We Mean takes young readers on a journey through the many ways we express ourselves—beyond just words. With vibrant illustrations and thoughtful storytelling, Maclean shows that communication comes in many forms: through actions, feelings, and even art. Nominated for the 2025 Blue Spruce Award in the Forest of Reading program, this book celebrates the beauty of diverse expressions and helps kids understand the different ways we connect with each other. Keep reading for an exclusive interview with Roz Maclean, where she talks about the inspiration behind the book and her creative process.

Forest of Reading Blue Spruce nominees are powerful Canadian picture books for young readers from Junior Kindergarten to Grade Two. The in-person and online tutoring team at Teachers on Call encourage exploring Forest of Reading picks. This story, published by RAI Henry Holt & Company, encourages empathy, understanding, and the value of looking beyond words to connect with others. It’s a wonderful tool for teaching children about diversity in communication, fostering inclusivity, and helping them build stronger relationships. More Than Words is a resource for parents, educators, and teachers who want to inspire meaningful conversations about belonging, friendship, and emotional expression. Whether the young reader in your life has a passion for math, science, or art - this book is sure to inspire.

Cultivate a Year-Round Love of Reading with the Forest of Reading Program

Looking to inspire your child’s passion for books this year? Teachers on Call’s English tutors feel that the Forest of Reading program is the perfect place to start! As Canada’s largest and most engaging reading initiative, it’s a favourite among parents who want to keep their kids excited about reading all year long. Organized by the Ontario Library Association, this dynamic program showcases the best works by Canadian authors, illustrators, and publishers. The excitement peaks annually with the Forest of Reading Festival held mid-May annually in downtown Toronto at Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8), a thrilling two-day event where the winners are announced. In our ongoing Hooked on Books series, the Teachers on Call tutoring service is excited to introduce you to some of the standout nominees for 2025. Stay tuned for all the exciting details!

Meet the Author: Roz Maclean

Roz Maclean is a visual artist, children’s book author and illustrator, and educator based in Comox Valley located on the east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, on the traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation. Her work explores themes of human nature, diversity, community, mental health, and the interconnectedness of the natural world, all through an anti-oppressive, LGBTQI+ inclusive feminist lens. Roz believes that art-making should be accessible to all, regardless of background or ability, and she dedicates much of her time to leading workshops for children, youth, and community members focused on inclusion, emotional well-being, and creative exploration. Through her books and artistic practice, Roz encourages deep reflection and connection with the world around us.

To learn more about Roz and her work, visit her website.

Check Out Our Exclusive Interview With Author and Illustrator, Roz Maclean

How can teachers use More than Words: So Many Ways To Say What We Mean in the classroom to help children better understand how we communicate with each other?

Well, I think reading the book is a great start! I also hope that after reading there can be room for some discussion. Students can brainstorm other ways they communicate that aren’t in the book, and even reflect on what it might be like if they weren’t able to communicate, or if they couldn’t communicate in one way, like talking, how might they try to use other methods? There are also end notes at the back that teachers and education assistants can read over, that I hope will support understanding and provide a strong foundation to lead a discussion. 

Also, teachers might want to check out the free activity kit with more discussion questions and crafts provided by the publisher.

Do you think More than Words can be used to support social-emotional learning in schools? If so, how?

I do! Kids seem to have one or more pages from the book that are their favourite because they can see themselves in that character and form of expression. I think seeing that mirror can be validating and help readers develop self understanding. That self knowledge can grow if the book is used as a starting point, and readers continue to think of other ways they express themselves. It’s also interesting to think about how we express ourselves differently when we are feeling different emotions.

The varied cast of characters and modes of communication can also help readers to understand that their peers have the same need to communicate, but that it will show up in many diverse ways. I think considering the need to communicate and self-express, for the reader and those around them, can be a big area of social emotional growth.

Your book seems to be about more than just communication—it’s also about empathy and understanding others. How do you think it can help children develop empathy?

By representing different kinds of kids with different communication styles and needs, I hope that More Than Words can help validate that everyone has an internal world that they want to share with others. Everyone has a common need to be known and understood, even if someone is different in disposition, cultural background, the way their mind works and dis/ability and can’t express themselves through talking. With this as a starting point, I think a natural next step for kids will be developing and practicing curiosity about others and their internal worlds, as well as a tolerance for interactions and ways of expressing that are unfamiliar at first. Especially for readers who don’t have peers in their immediate circle with communication disabilities, I hope that More Than Words can help them to imagine and relate to those individuals in the broader community.

Your illustrations in More than Words are such a key part of the storytelling. What role do you see visuals playing in helping children understand the idea of communication beyond words?

I love that artwork can represent and amplify the energetic quality of storytelling elements, like lending an extra bit of magic. I can show how special and beautiful I feel something is when I can do it through illustration. 

Also, communication as an idea and the ways we communicate are fleeting and intangible a lot of the time, something most kids probably don’t think of as a distinct thing. So I think visuals are helpful in giving the concepts shape and helping to recognize and organize them. It’s extra wonderful if kids are inspired by the artwork in the book to draw and paint their own ways of communicating. This is one of the reasons I like to show drawing and painting marks in my work, so kids might have the idea that they want to make art too. 

Visuals are also really common in alternative forms of communication, like picture symbols, so thinking in pictures has a great connection to relating to alternative and augmentative communication.

If you could encourage young readers to do one thing after reading the book, what would it be?

Think about what kind of self expression feels the best for them.

Are there any special local spots in BC you go to for inspiration?

Yes! There’s a river near me called Puntledge River in Comox Valley, BC V9N 2G8 ( located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, nine kilometres southwest of Courtenay and six kilometres north of Cumberland), and every time I go somewhere along the river I take away something new. The reflections, the flow of the water, sometimes there are salmon. It’s never the same but it’s always beautiful, which I find very inspiring.

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For parents, educators, and caregivers, More Than Words is a valuable resource for fostering important conversations about emotional well-being, self-expression, and the power of empathy. As we continue to spotlight Forest of Reading books that nurture kindness, understanding, and creativity, we encourage you to explore this heartwarming story with the young readers in your life.

Be sure to visit Roz Maclean’s website and check out the free activity kit provided by the publisher for even more ways to integrate the themes of the book into your classroom or home discussions. Thank you for joining us as we celebrate the nominees for the 2025 Blue Spruce Award™—and stay tuned for more exciting updates in the Hooked on Books series! Missed our last Hooked on Books interview? Check out Hooked on Books: Call Me Al – A Red Maple Nominee You Won't Want to Miss!