Get ready to grab your flashlight and settle in—because we’re diving into a world of eerie tales that are as educational as they are spine-tingling! Haunted Canada: Four Terrifying Tales is a thrilling graphic novel that breathes new life into some of the most spine-chilling stories from Joel A. Sutherland’s bestselling series. Nominated for the 2025 Forest of Reading Yellow Cedar Award, this collection is designed for readers in Grades 4–8 and offers a captivating mix of history, mystery, and the supernatural. With haunting illustrations by four talented Canadian artists, David Bishop, Hannah Barrett, Jenn Woodall and Matt Salisbury, each story transports readers into a different corner of Canada’s ghostly past — from haunted dolls to cursed pirates — all while encouraging a deeper connection to our country’s folklore and diverse regions.
At Teachers on Call, our in-person and online tutoring team recognizes the educational value of stories that spark imagination and curiosity. Haunted Canada: Four Terrifying Tales is more than just a spooky read — it’s a gateway to developing literacy skills, critical thinking, and creative exploration. Whether used in the classroom, in tutoring sessions, or curled up with at home, this graphic novel is a compelling tool for engaging readers and inspiring a love of Canadian storytelling. Read on for our exclusive Hooked on Books interview with award-winning author Joel A. Sutherland, where he shares the creative process behind the book, the power of a good scare, and why spooky stories can teach us more than we think.
Forest of Reading: Where Readers Branch Out and Celebrate Canadian Stories
The Forest of Reading, run by the Ontario Library Association, is Canada's largest recreational reading program, offering young readers the opportunity to celebrate and discover Canadian authors and illustrators. With ten award categories tailored for various age groups—from the Blue Spruce Award for young children to the White Pine Award for high school students—the program includes both English and French titles, ensuring accessibility for a diverse audience. Each year, the Forest of Reading culminates in a vibrant ceremony held in May at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West), where young readers gather to honour their favourite books and authors, fostering a deep appreciation for Canadian literature.
About the Author: Joel A. Sutherland
Joel A. Sutherland is a Forest of Reading Silver Birch Award–winning author best known for his bestselling Haunted Canada series, which has captivated young readers with its spine-tingling tales of the paranormal. He has also written several acclaimed middle-grade horror novels that CBC calls books to watch for, including Summer’s End and the Haunted series, and his short fiction has appeared in anthologies alongside authors like Stephen King and Neil Gaiman. A librarian by profession, Joel holds a Master of Library and Information Science from Aberystwyth University in Wales. He was born in Oakville and now lives in Clarington, Ontario (located on the shores of Lake Ontario, within the Durham Region) with his family, where he continues to craft chilling stories that inspire a love of reading in kids across the country.
About the Illustrators:
This graphic novel features four talented Canadian illustrators: Hannah Barrett, from Kitchener; David Bishop, who lives in Pickering; Matt Salisbury, an illustrator from Mississauga who now lives in Toronto; and Jenn Woodall, who also lives in Toronto.
Dive into our exclusive interview with Joel A. Sutherland, the mind behind Haunted Canada: Four Terrifying Tales
Haunted Canada Graphic Novel, Volume 1: Four Terrifying Tales is the first time stories from the bestselling Haunted Canada series have been adapted into graphic novel format. What inspired you to revisit these tales in this visual storytelling style?
I grew up infatuated with comic books. Batman and Archie were my BFFs, and it's a friendship that exists to this day. I can't overstate enough that if it weren't for comics, I might not be where I am today, an author and a librarian, surrounded by books all day both at work and at home. So I've long wanted to write my own graphic novel, and adapting some of my favourite stories from the Haunted Canada series struck me as the perfect fit. Ghost stories rely so heavily on visual storytelling -- creaky floorboards, a whiff of perfume or cigar smoke lingering in the air, a sudden chill, the hair standing up on the back of your neck as you suddenly feel like you're no longer alone -- so it was a perfect fit. I'm so proud of how this book turned out and am thrilled readers have embraced it so enthusiastically.
For over 20 years, Haunted Canada has been a favourite series among young readers. How did you select the four stories to adapt into graphic novel form, and what made them the right fit for this volume?
With twenty years and twelve volumes of Haunted Canada, there were certainly no shortage of stories to select! I wanted to pick four tales that were very different from one another, so I looked for stories set in the distant past and stories set more recently, stories from different parts of the country, and stories featuring different types of ghosts -- a corpse rotting in a cage, a haunted doll, a ragtag group of murderous sailors and pirates, and a creepy neighbour all the kids avoid like the plague. But most importantly, I wanted to pick some of the creepiest and fun ghost stories I've ever written.
This graphic novel features four talented Canadian illustrators — Hannah Barrett, David Bishop, Matt Salisbury, and Jenn Woodall — each bringing their own flair to a different story. What was it like to collaborate with this team and see your spooky tales come to life visually?
They're the best! So talented and a dream to work with. And you hit the nail on the head: they each brought their own unique style to the stories they illustrated. I also loved seeing how they interpreted my stories, the elements they chose to emphasize or even add entirely. No word of a lie, seeing the art for the first time was one of the highlights of my career.
Each illustrator brings a distinct tone and aesthetic, which adds to the overall reading experience. How did you approach working with artists to match the mood and pacing of each ghost story in graphic format?
No two Haunted Canada stories are exactly the same, so it lines up that no two art styles for the tales in the graphic novel are exactly the same. As for the visual mood and pacing of each tale, that was largely left up to each artist with a little guidance from Scholastic Canada's art team, but from what I've heard the artists nailed it right out of the gate. It's like I often say, the secret to being successful at work is to hire the best and get out of their way. This experience was no different.
For fans who grew up reading the Haunted Canada books, this graphic novel offers a new way to revisit the stories. What do you hope both new and returning readers will take away from this edition?
One of the unexpected joys I've had since this book came out has been reading reviews and hearing from readers in their teens or adult years sharing that they read the graphic novel for nostalgia. How cool is that? My hope for both new and returning readers is the same for this book as everything I write: that they're entertained, learn something new, look at the world a little differently, and, above all else, they're inspired to read another book.
Graphic novels continue to be incredibly popular with young readers. What advice would you give to students who are interested in writing or illustrating their own graphic stories?
Read, read, read, and not just genres or formats you love, but all genres and formats. Then, get to work! Start a story and remain committed to finishing it. Then, find someone you trust will give you an honest critique -- not just your parent or your bestie who'll gush and exclaim it's the greatest thing they've ever read. That's lovely to hear, sure, but it's not going to help you grow as a writer or illustrator. And that's the whole point, isn't it? To never stop striving to be better at what you love to do.
You live in Clarington — a community full of rich history and natural beauty. Do you have a favourite local spot where you go to think, write, or find creative inspiration?
Since I work full time and have three young kids plus a dog who likes to be walked and, you know, fed from time to time, my writing time is fairly limited and very precious. I write everywhere and anywhere. Whenever I have fifteen minutes and my laptop or a notepad, you'll likely find me writing. Case in point, I'm answering these questions in between my son's races at a swim meet. But my favourite place in the world to write is Coffin Creek Cafe (1413 Durham Highway 2 Unit #6, Courtice, ON L1E2J6) a horror-themed cafe in Courtice. They make the world's best coffee and every square inch of the cafe is decked out with horror paraphernalia -- it's like it was made for me! They hosted the book launch for Haunted Canada: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1, and we're planning a second event soon.
You’ve spent years exploring spooky legends and paranormal tales across Canada. What keeps drawing you to this genre, especially for young readers?
I've been obsessed with spooky stories ever since I was three years old and saw Ghostbusters for the first time. I never found ghosts to be scary; on the contrary, I always found them to be fun and exciting. This love was further cemented when my parents took me to Disney World and I rode The Haunted Mansion attraction. My 19th and 20th books are being published later this year, and all but one (a creative writing guide called Be a Writing Superstar) are ghost stories. What can I say? I guess they haunt me.
What’s next for you — and can readers look forward to more Haunted Canada stories in graphic novel format?
In addition to the paperback release of my debut young adult novel, House of Ash and Bone, and Haunted Canada: The Fourth Terrifying Collection, my second young adult novel, The Whisperings (Tundra Books), and the second Haunted Canada graphic novel will be released in 2025. And yes, readers can prepare themselves for more Haunted Canada graphic novels to come. You've been warned...
Haunted Canada Graphic Novel, Volume 1 is part of this year’s Forest of Reading program, and you've previously been both a nominee and a winner. What does it mean to you personally to have your work recognized through this beloved Canadian reading program?
It's always such an honour. As an author and a librarian, I have seen time and again the impact this reading program has on kids across the country -- there's quite honestly nothing like it. I'll never take being nominated for granted, and there's no better feeling for an author than knowing how many more kids will read your book thanks to the Forest of Reading and other similar programs across the country. My sincere thanks to the teachers and librarians who make it all possible.
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As we've learned from Joel A. Sutherland, the stories we find thrilling or chilling can also ignite our curiosity, spark creativity, and strengthen literacy skills. Haunted Canada: Four Terrifying Tales is more than just a spooky adventure — it’s an opportunity for young readers to engage with Canadian folklore, develop critical thinking, and embrace the world of graphic novels. We hope this interview has inspired you to dive deeper into the ghostly tales Sutherland has to offer. For more exclusive insights, check out additional interviews with Forest of Reading nominated authors and illustrators in our Hooked on Books series, including chats with Waterloo-based Heather Smith for her novel, Tig, and Toronto-local Bahram Rahman for his book, If You See a Bluebird. Visit our Hooked on Books collection at Teachers on Call to discover more fantastic stories and engaging interviews with the authors behind them.
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