Fitch, S. (2001) No two snowflakes. Victoria, BC: Orca Book Publishers.
Author:
Sheree Fitch
Illustrator:
Janet Wilson
Summary:
The narrator of the poetic story is explaining to his pen pal in Africa what snow is. Now there is not just one type of snow. In great detail, different types of snow and the feelings and activities that he associates with them. The beautiful pastel images are compliment by the child like drawing next to the words helps to tie the poems to the child.
Response and Reaction:
I felt slightly mislead by this book. The picture on the cover depicted a Caucasian boy and an African girl, I thought that this was going to be a book about embracing differences. Instead it was a book about snow. It was a beautifully written book that made me want to go out and find some snow, but I was a little disappoint that it did not have a deeper message.
Format:
Juvenile Poetry
Age Range:
4-8 years old
Themes:
Poetry, weather, individuality, snow
Awards:
Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award (NOMINATED) 2002
Friday
The Klondike Cat
Lawson, J. (2002) The Klondike cat. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press.
Author:
Julie Lawson
Illustrator:
Paul Mombourquette
Summary:
Noah’s father has gold fever and they are off to make their fortune. Noah’s father says that they can’t take Noah’s cat, Shadow, with them, but Noah can’t imagine being without Shadow. So Noah takes his sweater out of his pack and packs Shadow instead. Now they are off on the adventure of a lifetime. Noah just hopes that his dad isn’t too mad when he finds out.
Response and Reaction:
This is a sweet tale about a boy and his pet cat. Though I do not think any of the cats I have ever had or encountered would have been as well behaved as Shadow, it still was a fun story. The historical notes in the back help to put the story into historical context.
Format:
Picture Book
Age Range:
4-8 years old
Themes:
Historical Fiction, gold rush, pets, family, cats, kittens, travel
Awards:
CLA Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award (NOMINATED) 2003
Author:
Julie Lawson
Illustrator:
Paul Mombourquette
Summary:
Noah’s father has gold fever and they are off to make their fortune. Noah’s father says that they can’t take Noah’s cat, Shadow, with them, but Noah can’t imagine being without Shadow. So Noah takes his sweater out of his pack and packs Shadow instead. Now they are off on the adventure of a lifetime. Noah just hopes that his dad isn’t too mad when he finds out.
Response and Reaction:
This is a sweet tale about a boy and his pet cat. Though I do not think any of the cats I have ever had or encountered would have been as well behaved as Shadow, it still was a fun story. The historical notes in the back help to put the story into historical context.
Format:
Picture Book
Age Range:
4-8 years old
Themes:
Historical Fiction, gold rush, pets, family, cats, kittens, travel
Awards:
CLA Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award (NOMINATED) 2003
Pure Spring
Brian, D. (2007) Pure spring. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.
Author:
Brian Doyle
Summary:
15 year old Martin O’Boy has lied about his age to get his job at Pure Springs, an Ottowan soda company. But his partner Randy knows this and his now blackmailing him to help him steal from customers. Martin must come up with a plan to stop Randy’s thieving so that he can get the girl of his dreams, Gerty McDowell, the granddaughter of one of the customers Randy has ripped off.
Response and Reaction:
Martin is cost in the moral dilemma of protecting himself or protecting strangers and his own morality. He handles these situations in a way that teenagers can relate to and does not make the decision to do the right thing right away. It is interesting to see the setting of Korean War and Cold War Canada and see the reaction to the “Red Scare.”
Format:
Young Adult Novel
Age Range:
15-18 years old
Themes:
Age, working, young love, grandparent, family, stealing, morals, racism
Author:
Brian Doyle
Summary:
15 year old Martin O’Boy has lied about his age to get his job at Pure Springs, an Ottowan soda company. But his partner Randy knows this and his now blackmailing him to help him steal from customers. Martin must come up with a plan to stop Randy’s thieving so that he can get the girl of his dreams, Gerty McDowell, the granddaughter of one of the customers Randy has ripped off.
Response and Reaction:
Martin is cost in the moral dilemma of protecting himself or protecting strangers and his own morality. He handles these situations in a way that teenagers can relate to and does not make the decision to do the right thing right away. It is interesting to see the setting of Korean War and Cold War Canada and see the reaction to the “Red Scare.”
Format:
Young Adult Novel
Age Range:
15-18 years old
Themes:
Age, working, young love, grandparent, family, stealing, morals, racism
Tuesday
My One Hundred Adventures
Horvath, P. (1997). My one hundred adventures. New York, NY: Schwartz & Wade Books.
Author:
Polly Horvath
Summary:
Jane Fielding, who is 12, is tired of every summer with her family being exactly the same. She wants adventure. In fact she wants 100 of them. Soon she finds herself on a balloon ride, babysitting and meeting men that may or may not be her father. And that is just a few of her adventures!
Response and Reaction:
Beautifully and poetically written, this book is filled with fun and whimsy. Though it only covers 14 of the one hundred adventures, it is more than enough to fill this novel. This book is an excellent read for both the target age group and an older audience who may truly appreciate Horvath’s writing skill. I loved the line “Bibles, you’re going to CANADA. You’re going to have nothing BUT adventures.”
Format:
Juvenile Novel
Age Range:
10-14 years old
Themes:
Adventures, family, paternity, religion, babysitting
Awards:
Sheila A. Egoff Children's Prize(WON AWARD) 2009
West Virginia Children's Book Award(NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2009
Author:
Polly Horvath
Summary:
Jane Fielding, who is 12, is tired of every summer with her family being exactly the same. She wants adventure. In fact she wants 100 of them. Soon she finds herself on a balloon ride, babysitting and meeting men that may or may not be her father. And that is just a few of her adventures!
Response and Reaction:
Beautifully and poetically written, this book is filled with fun and whimsy. Though it only covers 14 of the one hundred adventures, it is more than enough to fill this novel. This book is an excellent read for both the target age group and an older audience who may truly appreciate Horvath’s writing skill. I loved the line “Bibles, you’re going to CANADA. You’re going to have nothing BUT adventures.”
Format:
Juvenile Novel
Age Range:
10-14 years old
Themes:
Adventures, family, paternity, religion, babysitting
Awards:
Sheila A. Egoff Children's Prize(WON AWARD) 2009
West Virginia Children's Book Award(NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD) 2009
O Canada
Harrison, T. (1993). O Canada. New York, NY: Ticknor & Fields.
Author:
Ted Harrison
Illustrator:
Ted Harrison
Summary:
Each of the Canadian territories are introduced with a personal reflection, some facts and a full color painting. Rather than just presenting cold and sterile information, readers will be able to see why Ted Harrison loves his adopted country. This is a great book to use to introduce children the geography of Canada. The National Anthem, O Canada, with music and lyrics is printed in the back in both English and French.
Response and Reaction:
This story is a beautiful way to learn about Canada. It is very clear the Ted Harrison loves Canada and its beauty. It is wonderful to hear about the areas through an artist’s eye and voice. The information given is easy to follow, but without any citations probably should not be used on a school report.
Format:
Juvenile Non Fiction
Age Range:
4-8 years old
Subjects:
History, geography, songs and music, personal experience
Author:
Ted Harrison
Illustrator:
Ted Harrison
Summary:
Each of the Canadian territories are introduced with a personal reflection, some facts and a full color painting. Rather than just presenting cold and sterile information, readers will be able to see why Ted Harrison loves his adopted country. This is a great book to use to introduce children the geography of Canada. The National Anthem, O Canada, with music and lyrics is printed in the back in both English and French.
Response and Reaction:
This story is a beautiful way to learn about Canada. It is very clear the Ted Harrison loves Canada and its beauty. It is wonderful to hear about the areas through an artist’s eye and voice. The information given is easy to follow, but without any citations probably should not be used on a school report.
Format:
Juvenile Non Fiction
Age Range:
4-8 years old
Subjects:
History, geography, songs and music, personal experience
A Man Called Raven
Van Camp, R. (1997). A man called raven. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press.
Author:
Richard Van Champ
Illustrator:
George Littlechild
Summary:
Toby and Chris were caught beating a raven with their hockey sticks by a mysterious old man. When he tells their parents what they make the boys listen to what the man has to say. He tells them the story of a man who was violent and mean to a raven who turned into a raven. The boy are enthralled as the story progresses and learn a valuable lesson about respect.
Response and Reaction:
Intermingling traditional storytelling with a modern tale, this cautionary story warns the reader to respect all life. Littlechild’s illustrations are colorful, vibrant and a little abstract. The cautionary story is a bit heavy handed at times and the boys learning the error of their ways seems awkward and forced.
Format:
Picture Book
Age Range:
4-8 years old
Themes:
Respect, animals, violence, First Nation People, folklore
Author:
Richard Van Champ
Illustrator:
George Littlechild
Summary:
Toby and Chris were caught beating a raven with their hockey sticks by a mysterious old man. When he tells their parents what they make the boys listen to what the man has to say. He tells them the story of a man who was violent and mean to a raven who turned into a raven. The boy are enthralled as the story progresses and learn a valuable lesson about respect.
Response and Reaction:
Intermingling traditional storytelling with a modern tale, this cautionary story warns the reader to respect all life. Littlechild’s illustrations are colorful, vibrant and a little abstract. The cautionary story is a bit heavy handed at times and the boys learning the error of their ways seems awkward and forced.
Format:
Picture Book
Age Range:
4-8 years old
Themes:
Respect, animals, violence, First Nation People, folklore
Monday
Build It!: Structures, Systems and You
Mason, A. (2006). Build it!: Structures, systems and you. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press.
Author:
Adrienne Mason
Illustrator:
Claudia Dávila
Summary:
There are structures everywhere, not just in the obvious places. From beehives to glasses, everything is a form of a structure. This book introduces children to simple structures and teaches them how a few simple modification can increase the strength and effectiveness.
Response and Reaction:
Full colored illustrations and easy to replicate experiments make this a fun and easy to follow book for kids. The teachers guide in the back is handy to expand the lessons. Children will be encouraged to experiment with different ways of building items.
Format:
Juvenile Non Fiction
Age Range:
4-8 years old
Subjects:
Building, experiments, structures
Author:
Adrienne Mason
Illustrator:
Claudia Dávila
Summary:
There are structures everywhere, not just in the obvious places. From beehives to glasses, everything is a form of a structure. This book introduces children to simple structures and teaches them how a few simple modification can increase the strength and effectiveness.
Response and Reaction:
Full colored illustrations and easy to replicate experiments make this a fun and easy to follow book for kids. The teachers guide in the back is handy to expand the lessons. Children will be encouraged to experiment with different ways of building items.
Format:
Juvenile Non Fiction
Age Range:
4-8 years old
Subjects:
Building, experiments, structures
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