tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31705431529746440842024-03-19T00:46:18.116-04:00CanLit for LittleCanadians✽ Promoting children's and YA books by Canadian authors and illustrators ✽Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-59895109603236881552024-03-18T10:00:00.001-04:002024-03-18T10:00:00.139-04:00Spider in the Well<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6KTvMOQ_Dv0oAibhyphenhyphenZ6ahGhc_xtiuVpFFiLFcXjC42th-tsHePEC30sBsB4xFdkvVkU8tkfMt3PiEz-dWC-v6RtpHtAUfIgPva7f9EySvTwCkbBEZS5bAEgD_QkkRucw03SWS6ns_Tkqo3PTIuBcvZBpG8YaTHiF_uU2tL1qC5xyGiNaj19UZUGjaUky/s844/spiderinthewell%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="584" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6KTvMOQ_Dv0oAibhyphenhyphenZ6ahGhc_xtiuVpFFiLFcXjC42th-tsHePEC30sBsB4xFdkvVkU8tkfMt3PiEz-dWC-v6RtpHtAUfIgPva7f9EySvTwCkbBEZS5bAEgD_QkkRucw03SWS6ns_Tkqo3PTIuBcvZBpG8YaTHiF_uU2tL1qC5xyGiNaj19UZUGjaUky/w276-h400/spiderinthewell%20framed.png" width="276" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written and illustrated by <b>Jess Hannigan</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Katherine Tegen Books (An Imprint of HarperCollins)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-0-063289475</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">48 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 4-8 <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">March 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The people of Bad Göodsburg have a problem: their wishing well is broken. The newsboy who delivers the papers–and sweeps the chimneys, delivers the milk, and shines the shoes–is tasked with one more job: find out what is wrong with the well. And when he hears about the charitable wishes of the baker, the doctor, and the shopkeeper, he is determined to ensure those wishes are granted.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxb0QaZNj0kjLO-fpW9yOyML-CMuLjXssNGpNNs1YUP9eW4htlUA1kVfZTlGfGFAEM12YpIDX7iiB637Sau4RkZY_wE5L9JdLgKh4fET4I68hPr-Sp8efW2Fpa6ccG-h4D1335svWYMhEGWDpygYUU86RqBp7v7Rk9JvDZkPWRdnRB01bp-JnQlQ-G4LyN/s1744/inside%20spiderinthewell%201.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1744" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxb0QaZNj0kjLO-fpW9yOyML-CMuLjXssNGpNNs1YUP9eW4htlUA1kVfZTlGfGFAEM12YpIDX7iiB637Sau4RkZY_wE5L9JdLgKh4fET4I68hPr-Sp8efW2Fpa6ccG-h4D1335svWYMhEGWDpygYUU86RqBp7v7Rk9JvDZkPWRdnRB01bp-JnQlQ-G4LyN/w400-h275/inside%20spiderinthewell%201.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>Spider in the Well</i>, written and illustrated by Jess Hannigan<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">Making his way to the well, the boy learns that a spider in the well has been responsible for the well not working. But, though the spider was just being a spider, building a web that happens to catch the coins, it's what he reveals to the newsboy that truly gets the boy irate and screaming, "Unbelievable!" and demanding justice.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYy2_JZ631mfyCv2235D-iwr581ZVLwz3lqG5NMIp99UOtXboctxRfSQp6FqILid5ntdfM732F1zuqbM8PiKunfbOjATABwGTq3czS3n5r40OsOgxfEa_W3lW6N2QhbFqAhsTj_mavp5khWSm2TzVSN2rtkf9-b1039bn6fOvkjHzZf64f956gfHSlEwl/s1744/inside%20spiderinthewell%202.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1744" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYy2_JZ631mfyCv2235D-iwr581ZVLwz3lqG5NMIp99UOtXboctxRfSQp6FqILid5ntdfM732F1zuqbM8PiKunfbOjATABwGTq3czS3n5r40OsOgxfEa_W3lW6N2QhbFqAhsTj_mavp5khWSm2TzVSN2rtkf9-b1039bn6fOvkjHzZf64f956gfHSlEwl/w400-h275/inside%20spiderinthewell%202.png" width="400" /><br /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>Spider in the Well</i>, written and illustrated by Jess Hannigan<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But what justice needs to be achieved? And how will the town's newsboy and lackey ensure that righteousness prevails? <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Without giving away the story of <b><i>Spider in the Well</i></b>, let me assure readers that this is more than a cautionary tale about being careful what you wish for. And it's not because wishes might be ill-advised. It's because people and their wishes are not always benevolent. Sometimes wishes are selfish and rooted in vanity, greed, and worse, and no one wants to be seen as less than virtuous. The fine citizens of Bad </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Göodsburg hide behind false virtues and are taken down by a spider and a boy who may be or may not be similarly ethically challenged.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C7X9PvaUgXHNGpNFa5omG7x_CN_AuVEpXbnV5MWxfbuv7pq58NCKpqe7LJASXESv4KIcG19W7VsTngP0K8skjkpT1HlLNjXSP4oWjyB-8yJqFjdyuc2n9GLrxA8YzKBnRDR13Iz-mKPXZyBDq2H5ahXsZVvCb9bpPGmy2RKQKHhvEmch__Uho_WdI2bV/s1198/inside%20spiderinthewell%203.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="828" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8C7X9PvaUgXHNGpNFa5omG7x_CN_AuVEpXbnV5MWxfbuv7pq58NCKpqe7LJASXESv4KIcG19W7VsTngP0K8skjkpT1HlLNjXSP4oWjyB-8yJqFjdyuc2n9GLrxA8YzKBnRDR13Iz-mKPXZyBDq2H5ahXsZVvCb9bpPGmy2RKQKHhvEmch__Uho_WdI2bV/w276-h400/inside%20spiderinthewell%203.png" width="276" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>Spider in the Well</i>, written and illustrated by Jess Hannigan<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Jess Hannigan</b>'s tale of wishes gone wrong has the tone of a fable or even a fairy tale. It's told with a host of archetypes, from the self-righteous townspeople to the put-upon boy who overcomes unjust treatment to be rewarded in the end. There's even the anthropomorphic spider who helps the boy triumph. And for each one of these characters, <b>Jess Hannigan</b> gets the voices right, and gives the story a tone of reparation rather than of grifting. (You'll see what I mean when you read the ending.)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTu0kaUxop2LLYgvb53mpkpWBUE3FnIIzIDz2-QmoY-x7k021BdoiVq6gSPRgRbZmfA9nJGbhjAv26jeZ2zyzEYEXKzym8CO-nbt0aU856KKMYL_PNg1p3NUP548RzlKSFIcQqw29__OH2lJQsjF-DLHG2h79DANZhxF6Eqdz6wgDwApnemtqAURzvnQrt/s1198/inside%20spiderinthewell%204.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="828" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTu0kaUxop2LLYgvb53mpkpWBUE3FnIIzIDz2-QmoY-x7k021BdoiVq6gSPRgRbZmfA9nJGbhjAv26jeZ2zyzEYEXKzym8CO-nbt0aU856KKMYL_PNg1p3NUP548RzlKSFIcQqw29__OH2lJQsjF-DLHG2h79DANZhxF6Eqdz6wgDwApnemtqAURzvnQrt/w276-h400/inside%20spiderinthewell%204.png" width="276" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>Spider in the Well</i>, written and illustrated by Jess Hannigan</td></tr></tbody></table>Hamilton's <b>Jess Hannigan</b> is an illustrator–this is her first picture book as author-illustrator–and her digital artwork, strong in shape and colour, makes the story even more powerful. By creating characters and scenes that are both simplified and complex in content and perspective, <b>Jess Hannigan</b> draws us into the story and helps us to see the circumstances as the boy does. She has a striking style of soft but bold lines that create tension while keeping the reader sympathetic to the boy, something that is more easily achieved by drawing the townspeople as oddly shaped and weirdly coloured.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">So, if there's a moral to the story of <b>Jess Hannigan</b>'s <i><b>Spider in the Well</b></i>, it's to be careful what you wish for because you never know who may be listening. On the plus side, sometimes one person's wishes result in just rewards for another. Just ask the newsboy of Bad </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Göodsburg, now happily retired.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-83818245641321146252024-03-15T10:00:00.001-04:002024-03-15T10:00:00.248-04:00One Giant Leap<p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6YzBGzMXjqFiV66AbxerQger35MxaHE0QVSh4uPN6-D8bBSyfXhZlSkLn5J3NgXWmWoE7wwNNIxR6UE7wY-DWMqD0SOa6an4OJIE7nsB3Adwz2aq9E-uAu7b2UIYVhRKwoxHkRVscG6giCulQOi68OhgRcUjf988oYaU4P-IMNT7aZDTnlyMaxHCHErh/s1262/onegiantleap%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1262" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6YzBGzMXjqFiV66AbxerQger35MxaHE0QVSh4uPN6-D8bBSyfXhZlSkLn5J3NgXWmWoE7wwNNIxR6UE7wY-DWMqD0SOa6an4OJIE7nsB3Adwz2aq9E-uAu7b2UIYVhRKwoxHkRVscG6giCulQOi68OhgRcUjf988oYaU4P-IMNT7aZDTnlyMaxHCHErh/w400-h343/onegiantleap%20framed.png" width="400" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written and illustrated by <b>Thao Lam</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Owlkids Books</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-77147-599-0</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">48 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 3-7<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">March 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Getting a child dressed, especially in winter, is akin to the prep required to outfit an astronaut. Each step must follow another to ensure coverage, safety, and fit. But when you're venturing out into that wide world of possibilities, it's best to be prepared.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzSR19viKTVaVIUN8YDanBOJ9gJD4raqkNIfdmy_ZE-Xnu5mCUBZvHhZpp5tF3uC_LNrLm7yvulslPA3g3QrPJp1Pl8vzhjNlusCKvPrTybxCbYkKRhON6MqkUled-DhdmMPeALh4qr-A_zMmk4XE_2JXgH8rpyVzug0BuJslyqlPtUGxGuOVn0A4gPBy/s1200/inside%20onegiantleap%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="1200" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzSR19viKTVaVIUN8YDanBOJ9gJD4raqkNIfdmy_ZE-Xnu5mCUBZvHhZpp5tF3uC_LNrLm7yvulslPA3g3QrPJp1Pl8vzhjNlusCKvPrTybxCbYkKRhON6MqkUled-DhdmMPeALh4qr-A_zMmk4XE_2JXgH8rpyVzug0BuJslyqlPtUGxGuOVn0A4gPBy/w400-h170/inside%20onegiantleap%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>One Giant Leap</i>, written and illustrated by Thao Lam<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Zippers pulled up on a suit, boots tugged onto feet, gloves wrenched on, and a hat stretched down low on a forehead are just the first steps of venturing outside. But as the child is transported in an elevator to the 1st floor, an imaginative transformation occurs. What was a child in a snowsuit is now an astronaut in a spacesuit. So, when they finally venture outside, it isn't into the snow, it's onto the moon.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWAkeHI5vi8wjAz9hcttZTfLhcpEE4cSKpjLc2CWK5UEzYfeM6gC_94HwNn8DejdTQ1ACXR7ZyISHGL6BeIK6-W1fCR71c-MV9zU_tlcS03yeOun8CKvrydiqbYIMNnX49VLAO_qsZQT8gXBiAHFfUgQ1C89PggDWy19-55pWx9WAQXfZ3FbJWxEPRliy/s1200/inside%20onegiantleap%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="1200" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisWAkeHI5vi8wjAz9hcttZTfLhcpEE4cSKpjLc2CWK5UEzYfeM6gC_94HwNn8DejdTQ1ACXR7ZyISHGL6BeIK6-W1fCR71c-MV9zU_tlcS03yeOun8CKvrydiqbYIMNnX49VLAO_qsZQT8gXBiAHFfUgQ1C89PggDWy19-55pWx9WAQXfZ3FbJWxEPRliy/w400-h170/inside%20onegiantleap%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>One Giant Leap</i>, written and illustrated by Thao Lam</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">Everything now is an exploration of a new land of shapes and structures. There's climbing and falling, searching and anticipating, and following footsteps. Are those aliens or something else? Is there peril? Can they communicate? Should they? What should they say? </span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OqOiEOuay2psdlRDfsY5Vuife25ADL3NsC_HFn0QjLADyggcW_97iIYV7oO5jZfao547871tWOVTAaLba1L94SP9tJl29ggxG2AacD1wLGQ6JRPspmxPPKZEggcVRL5h2DzXS_U0FV_iZBCZvJARjm_uiz5BCsvv19mQsECi4Mqzy7paUvzv-dMNO84K/s600/inside%20onegiantleap%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="600" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OqOiEOuay2psdlRDfsY5Vuife25ADL3NsC_HFn0QjLADyggcW_97iIYV7oO5jZfao547871tWOVTAaLba1L94SP9tJl29ggxG2AacD1wLGQ6JRPspmxPPKZEggcVRL5h2DzXS_U0FV_iZBCZvJARjm_uiz5BCsvv19mQsECi4Mqzy7paUvzv-dMNO84K/w400-h170/inside%20onegiantleap%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>One Giant Leap</i>, written and illustrated by Thao Lam</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">Can the astronaut reach their destination and fulfill their mission? Only by following their trek across barren landscapes of inhospitable structures and unusually-garbed creatures can readers even know whether they make it to...the coatroom at school.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">As a wordless picture book, <b><i>One Giant Leap</i></b> has a story that is driven by the cut-paper collage of <b>Thao Lam</b>'s artwork. The story which is immense comes from the reader seeing and interpreting the visuals. Is that a rocket launch pad or an apartment elevator? Are those aliens or children in colourful snowsuits? Are those buildings or mountains, man-made structures or lunar landforms? Vietnamese-Canadian author-illustrator <b>Thao Lam</b>, known for her complex and meaningful books including <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-paper-boat-refugee-story.html" target="_blank">The Paper Boat: A Refugee Story</a></i> and <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2022/09/the-line-in-sand.html" target="_blank">The Line in the Sand</a></i>, still knows how to do playful. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Dressing in a snowsuit and venturing out into the greater universe,</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> this child embarks on an other-worldly adventure, fueled only by imagination. What they experience is all up to them, and <b>Thao Lam</b> lets us see what they see. It's a textured landscape of dull grays and blacks, with only a dash of colour from an orange spacesuit or when other bizarre creatures appear. But in that lunar landscape, it is all about starkness, with the energy provided only through the child's imagination.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMnGYA-C4xQc2jSMMnBGx0BmzIYEcXnOhGRZjolEAfuDPldiEe5Q_bv2KNm_RG4qGWgnCLXs-s_qMhAgHvf_3JxIxy4IM3Sk-qRPt_uk8NV-goTDBnvh2mmcFC-mURLCIiSU6Qqst4j5xV2qIyidE__IG5uml48x5pFH-22nflPWqJlZuhVZkOvTXPmxi/s3744/inside%20onegiantleap%204.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3277" data-original-width="3744" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMnGYA-C4xQc2jSMMnBGx0BmzIYEcXnOhGRZjolEAfuDPldiEe5Q_bv2KNm_RG4qGWgnCLXs-s_qMhAgHvf_3JxIxy4IM3Sk-qRPt_uk8NV-goTDBnvh2mmcFC-mURLCIiSU6Qqst4j5xV2qIyidE__IG5uml48x5pFH-22nflPWqJlZuhVZkOvTXPmxi/w400-h350/inside%20onegiantleap%204.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>One Giant Leap</i>, written and illustrated by Thao Lam</td></tr></tbody></table>Whether stepping onto an unknown space body or onto a frozen city street, it's a giant leap of daring that must come from within. It's knowing what to expect and never knowing what could be found. For this little one, it's <i><b>One Giant Leap</b></i> into inventiveness and creative thought, and it looks like they had a great flight.</span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-17999987379366799162024-03-13T10:00:00.001-04:002024-03-13T10:00:00.140-04:00West Coast Wild Rainforest<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6hUQifBnRYALmU6Zfvc_JHsb5Okm6onGOd9pNKi4MMejwhwNGofB2U0mFXQjmDdNFKuxkYU4rnul7-I28HQ0An2YDuCaDZq_g6QMiVX8Pcuh8VZPnuBm1VpaUZI6LOHkAYp7rEToIKlXuJ8ZJzwY4HZ-58QuyyHS34pfYcw7eo5HGjFO0ybsIQC7E1UC/s988/westcoastwildrainforest%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="798" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6hUQifBnRYALmU6Zfvc_JHsb5Okm6onGOd9pNKi4MMejwhwNGofB2U0mFXQjmDdNFKuxkYU4rnul7-I28HQ0An2YDuCaDZq_g6QMiVX8Pcuh8VZPnuBm1VpaUZI6LOHkAYp7rEToIKlXuJ8ZJzwY4HZ-58QuyyHS34pfYcw7eo5HGjFO0ybsIQC7E1UC/w323-h400/westcoastwildrainforest%20framed.png" width="323" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Deborah Hodge</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustrated by <b>Karen Reczuch</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Groundwood Books</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-77306-839-8</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">44 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 3+<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">March 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Each time I read a book in <b>Deborah Hodge</b> and <b>Karen Reczuch</b>'s <i>West Coast Wild </i>series (see the list below), I am transported to the Pacific Northwest to visit the forests, coasts, waters, and mountains. I get to stand under majestic conifers and watch animals play. With <b><i>West Coast Wild Rainforest</i></b>, <b>Deborah Hodge</b> and <b>Karen Reczuch</b> lead us into the temperate rainforest and show us the wonders within. <br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiin0iLlX_8iQoRPdeLIyxoIVXc0ZeaBdiAxYCmLzw3VwrxkHe01Y2YBL4VvYiaA7L99gBbxSzJFNXQMSxgSnzzEZwvDgABEV6VXR0hPYLzsH8xjP_6HXvws9Tkq2cFH0vP7qy8HINdD5oyD7SkmPflu_HOm5h_X0X6jSYvxKGF49z1b8UODGY_iFRenr5/s1594/inside%20westcoastwildrainforest%201.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1594" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiin0iLlX_8iQoRPdeLIyxoIVXc0ZeaBdiAxYCmLzw3VwrxkHe01Y2YBL4VvYiaA7L99gBbxSzJFNXQMSxgSnzzEZwvDgABEV6VXR0hPYLzsH8xjP_6HXvws9Tkq2cFH0vP7qy8HINdD5oyD7SkmPflu_HOm5h_X0X6jSYvxKGF49z1b8UODGY_iFRenr5/w400-h250/inside%20westcoastwildrainforest%201.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>West Coast Wild Rainforest</i>, text by Deborah Hodge, illus. by Karen Reczuch<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our walk through the rainforest begins with the rain and its role in keeping the forest growing and the fires away. In addition to those multi-storeyed trees, <b>Deborah Hodge</b> introduces readers to mosses, lichens, and other vegetation of the undergrowth. That lush forest is perfect for making a home, and there is much discussion about the relationship between Douglas squirrels and the trees which provide them with shelter and food, and which the squirrels inadvertently replant.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiJalN-EWRCGXJGRSGzac7iQ9MA8_RD5NzydfzCBWa6Ydv79wj1K2DWFc4c24ZdLg74foWtORJqtHUE6UMd4m_kz8_WR5ectBOIdNiYjQrEokWNOuHjSg6M08HGI362Fv8v2rhWQsDyMV6a8b0vpll1QCVzx-R1MMBrIdH3AeIXORAYQAWP1k1kkctEg9/s1594/inside%20westcoastwildrainforest%202.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1594" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiJalN-EWRCGXJGRSGzac7iQ9MA8_RD5NzydfzCBWa6Ydv79wj1K2DWFc4c24ZdLg74foWtORJqtHUE6UMd4m_kz8_WR5ectBOIdNiYjQrEokWNOuHjSg6M08HGI362Fv8v2rhWQsDyMV6a8b0vpll1QCVzx-R1MMBrIdH3AeIXORAYQAWP1k1kkctEg9/w400-h250/inside%20westcoastwildrainforest%202.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>West Coast Wild Rainforest</i>, text by Deborah Hodge, illus. by Karen Reczuch</td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> In each part of the rainforest, there is life, and the cycles that happen with that life. There are the streams where young salmon hatch. Later they will return to spawn in these same streams, and then become food for the bears, wolves, and eagles, with leftovers fertilizing the forest.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><blockquote>In this wonderful cycle of nature, the trees protect the salmon and the salmon feed the trees. </blockquote></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4VaEv0sEIDZLz5ezQWGW6pZ5rlPs2SqAcXL8lL7NMqFMZrLS6hkYVc0emQgdloqAtvmoCZpyHTDoTYoy6hJxeI7rjPfGa1tkMCFbrNJ5g0iTn6noUvBc97u7SoXu1PVGPss8oAekqpOpjSBSy0BKRz-Vwwia3z2LuCkCFc1lT7h6p0SB-muRDn6L1Y23/s1594/inside%20westcoastwildrainforest%203.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1594" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4VaEv0sEIDZLz5ezQWGW6pZ5rlPs2SqAcXL8lL7NMqFMZrLS6hkYVc0emQgdloqAtvmoCZpyHTDoTYoy6hJxeI7rjPfGa1tkMCFbrNJ5g0iTn6noUvBc97u7SoXu1PVGPss8oAekqpOpjSBSy0BKRz-Vwwia3z2LuCkCFc1lT7h6p0SB-muRDn6L1Y23/w400-h250/inside%20westcoastwildrainforest%203.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>West Coast Wild Rainforest</i>, text by Deborah Hodge, illus. by Karen Reczuch</td></tr></tbody></table></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As the natural cycles of the forest are revealed, more animals are introduced, from black bears and bald eagles, to gray wolves, black-tailed deer, western screech-owls, chest-backed chickadees, and banana slugs. Everything has a place and a purpose, and together they help the forest to grow and thrive and nurture others.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>West Coast Wild Rainforest</i></b> is a lovely walk through a unique biome that defines one part of Canada. For those on the West Coast, this book will be a literary hike to see and smell and feel a complex of ecosystems that encompass vegetation, water, land, and animals. For the many readers who may never have the opportunity to visit British Columbia and its coastal areas, <b><i>West Coast Wild Rainforest</i></b> entreats us to do the same but teaches with <b>Deborah Hodge</b>'s text and beguiles with <b>Karen</b> <b>Reczuch</b>'s watercolour and pencil artwork. This is an opportunity to learn and to be present in a luxuriant biome unique to our Pacific coast. By </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> telling a story with a scientific basis, </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Deborah Hodge</b>'s words show a reverence to the Pacific rainforest without dulling the learning with endless details. And with <b>Karen Reczuch</b>'s illustrations, depicted with realism and profound awe for the landscape and biota of this area, <b><i>West Coast Wild Rainforest </i></b>will reach many young, and older, readers and entrap them in the beauty of the Pacific coastal rainforest and fascinate them with its teeming life.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />🌲•🌲• 🌲•🌲•🌲</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>West Coast Wild</i> series<br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uSp_LETrq7RlpvXv0AbbAAJtRRPrZRoFAyXy-cbQ3JzDPLm6SBPKhK3IjmOC0SteW7jd2duFKmuLuOXjKFOcgDYsKN1z_eBvJN0SfXrlA31s2b8q3whxQJ36bDZSj0HVdDs6Ad7mB70lM8FRR-_x_qF4bCoQasGnXv-SCdPcbo0587wbyWaRxj5zJ1EE/s1276/westcoastwild%201-6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1276" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uSp_LETrq7RlpvXv0AbbAAJtRRPrZRoFAyXy-cbQ3JzDPLm6SBPKhK3IjmOC0SteW7jd2duFKmuLuOXjKFOcgDYsKN1z_eBvJN0SfXrlA31s2b8q3whxQJ36bDZSj0HVdDs6Ad7mB70lM8FRR-_x_qF4bCoQasGnXv-SCdPcbo0587wbyWaRxj5zJ1EE/w400-h336/westcoastwild%201-6.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> West Coast Wild</i> (2015)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2020/04/west-coast-wild-babies.html" target="_blank">West Coast Wild Babies</a></i> (2020)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2022/04/west-coast-wild-abc.html" target="_blank">West Coast Wild ABC</a></i> (2022)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>West Coast Wild At Low Tide</i> (2022)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>West Coast Wild Rainforest</i> </b>(2024)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>West Coast Wild Baby Animals</i> (coming May 2024)</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-83591983920493341742024-03-11T10:00:00.002-04:002024-03-11T10:00:00.146-04:00The Club<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4VSdyQJDQ1tzPogxRUfCxHIXkQd06u3Bh7U9Y_wNl7b0BzdyAUW_uDtowD7SnZkPMoJPF60quNPtTdAEDPzsScXsunnmBx7vTHoy7QRj72u43tuF1r5Dgdd_TkH4aOHs4eqwKbWk2mKnn0pz58p9n-RD3cQZsWSXPY4wi9Vb-GTnAHk7lep82B_ipWSt/s866/club%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="594" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4VSdyQJDQ1tzPogxRUfCxHIXkQd06u3Bh7U9Y_wNl7b0BzdyAUW_uDtowD7SnZkPMoJPF60quNPtTdAEDPzsScXsunnmBx7vTHoy7QRj72u43tuF1r5Dgdd_TkH4aOHs4eqwKbWk2mKnn0pz58p9n-RD3cQZsWSXPY4wi9Vb-GTnAHk7lep82B_ipWSt/w274-h400/club%20framed.png" width="274" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Eric Walters</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">DCB</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-77086-734-5</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">264 pp</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 9-12</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">March 2, 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's the start of their Grade 8 year, and Jaxson and best friend Logan are looking forward to making their final year in middle school an epic one. While Logan is all about basketball, Jaxson is driven by playing his trumpet. But then a new girl, Liv Parker, joins their school. Though Jaxson sort of kind of has a girlfriend, Samantha, Liv is an extraordinary trumpet player, and she and Jax are thrown together, in a good way.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When the music teacher, Ms. Hooper, auditions the students for the senior band, she knows that Liv and Jax are going to be the stars of the band and hopefully take them to the city championship, finally. In fact, she wants them to play a duet for the first school assembly just days away. To prepare, the two have to meet after hours at each other's homes. Though their households are very different, with Liv and her mom Jenn, a cybersecurity expert, living in an immaculate big house with a grand piano, Jax and his mom Ali, an artist and art history prof, live in a cluttered house filled with colour and stuff. Still, the two teens find they have a lot in common, including their music, love of sushi, and ways of thinking. Moreover, when asked about their dads, they both acknowledge that subject as "complicated." </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But soon things get even more complicated for both of them. When Samantha learns how much time Jax is spending with the new girl, she feels threatened and he can't convince her that they're only friends. Still, with all their rehearsing for assemblies and solos, Jax and Liv are spending more time at each other's houses, and by chance, their moms are becoming friends. But with that friendship, personal details are shared, and Jenn and Ali begin to wonder whether the kids share more than just a virtuosity with the trumpet.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The theme of family is a common one in contemporary stories, with families that were once deemed traditional now being seen as just one of a myriad of forms that families can take. Whether a family has a mom and dad like Logan's, or is a single-parent household like Jax's or Liv's, or like those reconfigured through divorce or loss, a family is a family is a family, and <b>Eric Walters </b>recognizes that families come in all shapes and sizes and are all natural. What makes them families is the love and respect that is given and received within that construct. And regardless of how that family was created, whether through sperm donation, a heterosexual marriage, adoption, or one of countless other ways people enter others' lives, it is valid and valuable if family members choose for it to be so. (Thankfully the kids' moms give them some choice about whether to explore their paternal heritage and never compel them to embrace DNA as the ultimate basis for family.) <br /></span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i></i></span><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Blood makes you related but it doesn't make you family. </i>(pg. 176)</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fortunately for Jax and Liv they would probably always have become family, regardless of their DNA. Just as Logan and Jax always considered themselves brothers, Liv and Jax were already simpatico because of their love of the trumpet and music. The DNA just made their relationship official and genetically solid. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Eric Walters</b>'s <i>Afterword</i> tells the reader that the story of <i><b>The Club </b></i>was inspired by a true story of half-siblings discovering each other through their DNA. Their story, like that of Jax and Liv, was one of positive connection. For the kids in <i><b>The Club</b></i>, there is no conflict or expectation that they must embrace strangers as family. For those two kids, it happens organically. But without the support of their core family, related or not, neither teen would've been secure enough to welcome others in and put themselves out as they become part of a larger club.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The story of <b><i>The Club</i></b> could be happening anywhere in the world. The circumstances are not uncommon, and with access to DNA and ancestral records, it's becoming more frequent that genetic relatives are being linked. But <b>Eric Walters</b> makes this less about the process and more about the outcomes and what they mean for these kids. Their worlds have changed and in a good way. I do wonder about those circumstances for which "new" family connections may not be positive or welcome but that would be another story. In <i><b>The Club</b></i>, <b>Eric Walters</b> gives us a story of being a family, discovering family, and making family. For Jax and Liv, they are able to strengthen what is already there with those who were previously unrecognized and make for a new type of familial association.<br /></span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-44654475036475599492024-03-08T11:18:00.000-05:002024-03-08T11:18:15.856-05:00Kids Write 4 Kids Creative Writing Contest: Deadline March 31, 2024<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjNpB8tRO4mM9e3VLQlVMYFRx0HeYU1DvUztMTDDpcqWldeTPqtERREMCd8OvVtz1zcaiMs0ISR7aF7GmFtZLqMa6phcH7565IBw2Jzwx319xBKmzkrSh16MLW4_xXyCRa3axTiS0oU5EYZNjkyJiz2t6TfOeBRnDChvUle_O6kqx6cZwxcAEG-WQ5Zut/s792/kw4k-poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="612" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjNpB8tRO4mM9e3VLQlVMYFRx0HeYU1DvUztMTDDpcqWldeTPqtERREMCd8OvVtz1zcaiMs0ISR7aF7GmFtZLqMa6phcH7565IBw2Jzwx319xBKmzkrSh16MLW4_xXyCRa3axTiS0oU5EYZNjkyJiz2t6TfOeBRnDChvUle_O6kqx6cZwxcAEG-WQ5Zut/w309-h400/kw4k-poster.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.ripplefoundation.ca/" target="_blank">Ripple Foundation</a></b>, a Canadian educational charity run solely by volunteers, works diligently to support creative literacy for young people. To that end, they have established an annual writing contest called <b><a href="https://kidswrite4kids.ripplefoundation.ca/" target="_blank">Kids Write 4 Kids</a></b>, and that contest is on now. If you're a Canadian young person in Grades 4 through 8, then you have until March 31, 2024 to submit your story, whether fact or fiction, or poetry. Details are listed below. <br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Why You Should Enter?</u></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"> Winners get published (see <b><a href="https://kidswrite4kids.ripplefoundation.ca/books/" target="_blank">previous winners here</a></b>).</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"> Proceeds from book sales are donated to the winner’s charity of choice.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"> Winners become judges for next year’s contest.</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Entry Details</u></b></span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Open to Canadian residents only.</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Students must be in Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Stories must be original and written entirely by the author.</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Only one entry per author will be accepted. (Subsequent entries will be disqualified.)</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Only single author stories qualify. (No co-authored stories.)</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Stories are accepted in English only.</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Stories can be fact or fiction, prose or poetry.</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> There is no entry fee and no purchase is necessary.</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> All entries must review the <a href="https://kidswrite4kids.ripplefoundation.ca/wp-content/uploads/kw4k/story-checklist.pdf" target="_blank">story checklist</a>.</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Entries must be submitted by the author’s teacher, parent, or guardian at this <b><a href="https://kidswrite4kids.ripplefoundation.ca/submission-form/" target="_blank">online form. </a></b></span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Contest rules and regulations are posted here<br /></b></span><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Submissions</b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></u></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Maximum word count: 5,000 words</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> (includes “a,” “an,” and “the,” but not the words on non-story pages such as the title page). </span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Invented spelling is accepted.</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The text must be typed and submitted as DOC file format.</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do not submit any images. (If your story does have images and your story
is selected, Ripple Foundation will contact you
to obtain original images.)</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u> Deadline for submissions</u></b></span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">March 31, 2024 <br /></span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> </i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Although the contest was announced last fall, I was slow to get this posted. But, young writers still have weeks to get a submission in. So, time to get writing!</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> </i></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #073763; font-size: x-large;">Good luck!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span>💻✐💻</span></b><b><span>✎</span></b><b><span>💻</span></b><b><span>✐</span></b><b><span>💻 </span></b></span><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: left;"></p></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-50939919828592186542024-03-06T13:00:00.000-05:002024-03-06T13:00:34.713-05:00Circle of Love<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPI2L_J2DTO6KWA14DjrnOpShwXmLxQtvWty17HuM4_IUgHMlIDcMDU7su3dDnY-7MFz0b9euBy33hg5gKOBMSxDezhaZkClvQZA3h4zo87ODtAZrih9mroO379Oxs-cOgLUheERzZEifBA9X27wjAbEryu46i3ZgL5TjMC38rw9Qs48hf55Oa4luqUJC/s996/circleoflove%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="854" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPI2L_J2DTO6KWA14DjrnOpShwXmLxQtvWty17HuM4_IUgHMlIDcMDU7su3dDnY-7MFz0b9euBy33hg5gKOBMSxDezhaZkClvQZA3h4zo87ODtAZrih9mroO379Oxs-cOgLUheERzZEifBA9X27wjAbEryu46i3ZgL5TjMC38rw9Qs48hf55Oa4luqUJC/w343-h400/circleoflove%20framed.png" width="343" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Monique Gray Smith</b></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustrated by <b>Nicole Neidhardt</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Heartdrum (HarperCollins)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-0-06-307870-3</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">32 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 4-8<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Releases March 12, 2024 </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Indigenous writer <b>Monique Gray Smith</b> and artist <b>Nicole Neidhardt</b> take us into the heart of an intertribal community center where all are welcome, making for a richer kinship with diverse persons and where family extends beyond blood.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>tawâw </i></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">(nêhiyawêwin: "<i>there is always room</i>")</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Molly, her sibling, and her parents are joining their family and community for a feast at their local center. As they partake in the various activities, whether dancing, singing, reading, eating, or storytelling, Molly is bursting with feeling. She frames her experiences with her emotions, and by doing so Molly is mindful of the moment and what she is feeling. When Molly's Kôhkom and her wife, Kôhkom Raven, sing a welcome song, Molly feels connected. When she reads books to the little ones, she feels kind. When her sibling plays their fiddle, she is energized. Everything makes Molly feel something, and she always sees the positives, whether nourished, honoured or awed. And always there is love. And love is love, regardless of its form, of those who feel it, of those who give it, and of those who need it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6QosPCjEtC0le6e1D95MfBeP03isiRAWe-XHeLZ0OAhbxck_GRKzSPwjuNyhUOTDeBaPjVfSnd2nTAZ4ry9VWuhgyVrF_MsgNrYx3bTpb7Lq8gldkRo_io1NuLHE1FNrxISuVNYB1OUZVYlsX6rLKYGkiII9KUtdPaa8Rs8i9LVrS1Q8StYwHLKzgMBi/s932/inside%20circleoflove%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="932" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6QosPCjEtC0le6e1D95MfBeP03isiRAWe-XHeLZ0OAhbxck_GRKzSPwjuNyhUOTDeBaPjVfSnd2nTAZ4ry9VWuhgyVrF_MsgNrYx3bTpb7Lq8gldkRo_io1NuLHE1FNrxISuVNYB1OUZVYlsX6rLKYGkiII9KUtdPaa8Rs8i9LVrS1Q8StYwHLKzgMBi/w400-h249/inside%20circleoflove%202.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Circle of Love</i>, text by Monique Gray Smith, art by Nicole Neidhardt</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">Moreover, everywhere there are reminders that this is a
center based in Indigenous culture, whether it be the beading the
children do, the sweetgrass burning, an elder smudging, traditional
jingle dance, the beating of a drum, or a Métis sash. Everyone is welcome and
there is room for all. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE0oHm_2rYOiYNhJV-bQbK1OOUCad2fD11b7O3Ry_uqM6up0RPoFfQ2tcujNNYeC8Me7TpEc8mOSwa77nq4Eo0OGWxA7U19FtLwwSR1sQYKJup8ykAxhfun0nyeO5M-a8fCSaiCftsgdUeaxwUOqo1jErgkiRQukvYC-oNHRtbZk89K0xe6mfyPjdQ3Re/s1112/inside%20circleoflove%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="798" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE0oHm_2rYOiYNhJV-bQbK1OOUCad2fD11b7O3Ry_uqM6up0RPoFfQ2tcujNNYeC8Me7TpEc8mOSwa77nq4Eo0OGWxA7U19FtLwwSR1sQYKJup8ykAxhfun0nyeO5M-a8fCSaiCftsgdUeaxwUOqo1jErgkiRQukvYC-oNHRtbZk89K0xe6mfyPjdQ3Re/w288-h400/inside%20circleoflove%201.png" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Circle of Love</i>, text by Monique Gray Smith, art by Nicole Neidhardt</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The lovely sense of community is unmistakable in <i><b>Circle of Love</b></i>. Diné (Navajo) illustrator <b>Nicole Neidhardt</b>, who came to Victoria BC from Arizona and New Mexico, ensures that her digital images depict everyone, showing different expressions of gender, family, ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Like the food at their table, there's a bit of everything and everyone, making their community vibrant and strong and satisfying. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJit3Ba51rW-V33ff55JzzOVqpLVWozcoxPEo7Hov7oWsfPxbsxiKC-C207W9ee6CTou4EEVxqIdqeayb-96EjGvCF6tl9cMu2PMw03YW_eKrn6iJkZJE3oatNEIj2kmaNllJ8qmFsYvjVg6yQhufkpy-CG0CkfR2T7HEvIPhK9_7cRn5git57ZoUzBY7r/s1280/inside%20circleoflove%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJit3Ba51rW-V33ff55JzzOVqpLVWozcoxPEo7Hov7oWsfPxbsxiKC-C207W9ee6CTou4EEVxqIdqeayb-96EjGvCF6tl9cMu2PMw03YW_eKrn6iJkZJE3oatNEIj2kmaNllJ8qmFsYvjVg6yQhufkpy-CG0CkfR2T7HEvIPhK9_7cRn5git57ZoUzBY7r/w400-h240/inside%20circleoflove%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>Circle of Love</i>, text by Monique Gray Smith, art by Nicole Neidhardt</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Monique Gray Smith</b> is a two-spirit writer of Cree, Lakota, and Scottish heritage whose picture books, novels, and non-fiction have been fueled by her ancestry. She writes for the very young and young adults, about traditions, residential schools, and reconciliation, and she writes of empathy and love. <b><i>Circle of Love</i></b>, like <i>My Heart Fills with Happiness</i> and <i>You Hold Me Up</i>, reminds us of the good that comes with building relationships, of being mindful of the moments that give our lives meaning, and of remaining grounded in our belonging to family and community. <b>Monique Gray Smith</b> honours those who are like her and not like her. She celebrates everyone by including them and recognizing their contributions to the community. With comprehensive notes appending her story, <b>Monique Gray Smith</b> ensures that, in this circle of love, everyone is welcome.<br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJScfy4ircZxSiCiLa3vViKXUvr_5yc4Ml2ncsUuSBavg-pelBmKnU7bJCO3PX5EbBdN3-B4_BelimRRrGx7ci2f1NoWifCpPYJfNr2hyphenhyphenbyEXennAW0xm0khNYL-BZES2myHQLJ3JoMah9djmhIuQ73OZq294yJVB9mH56XSMGHy1KEZ20w8vWOdFIzT2e/s1106/inside%20circleoflove%204.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="821" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJScfy4ircZxSiCiLa3vViKXUvr_5yc4Ml2ncsUuSBavg-pelBmKnU7bJCO3PX5EbBdN3-B4_BelimRRrGx7ci2f1NoWifCpPYJfNr2hyphenhyphenbyEXennAW0xm0khNYL-BZES2myHQLJ3JoMah9djmhIuQ73OZq294yJVB9mH56XSMGHy1KEZ20w8vWOdFIzT2e/w298-h400/inside%20circleoflove%204.png" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Circle of Love</i>, text by Monique Gray Smith, art by Nicole Neidhardt</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-62254738784880020642024-03-04T10:21:00.000-05:002024-03-04T10:21:49.961-05:00Hugo's Haunted Handbook<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE0EP90M8SZh9OqJUex7tVxq0BArsUGefEgw2hhD5UdlepO439SChgLlYAUZxwK1E4M4ga_1P9LuCLtjyx64ovGTw_40M-7AwGmLX9rRgpUBdwDewp4RpzhdaZ10r3p1whr_P27LAfrZxGKuUqgz9ClnZQKMaLwYxlD96LV269linKDrS_DUF9aIGQfOX/s1054/hugoshauntedhandbook%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE0EP90M8SZh9OqJUex7tVxq0BArsUGefEgw2hhD5UdlepO439SChgLlYAUZxwK1E4M4ga_1P9LuCLtjyx64ovGTw_40M-7AwGmLX9rRgpUBdwDewp4RpzhdaZ10r3p1whr_P27LAfrZxGKuUqgz9ClnZQKMaLwYxlD96LV269linKDrS_DUF9aIGQfOX/w321-h400/hugoshauntedhandbook%20framed.png" width="321" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written and illustrated by <b>Dave Whamond</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Owlkids Books</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-77147-587-7</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">32 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 5-8</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Releases March 15 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Who better to help others get rid of their unwanted ghosts than Hugo? After all, he got rid of his ghost. Or did he? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllR__RWaBE3A0ijh1V5h3TJMwmnBqgFbrqgaDYPv-FcGrysm-demzhr_PG2wfVTqcKDNuDv_VaHUvLS5QVbXDRJqH33za1qRPbvFiP_h7PE12PzBOfnu5gHZh0eHuC_J7NdjqZXbvM7Xd3B-XbHP3ZZUGuMMTEtxChfkB8waHhkPTnJurv03fVkJeCi60/s1196/inside%20hugoshauntedhandbook%201.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="944" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllR__RWaBE3A0ijh1V5h3TJMwmnBqgFbrqgaDYPv-FcGrysm-demzhr_PG2wfVTqcKDNuDv_VaHUvLS5QVbXDRJqH33za1qRPbvFiP_h7PE12PzBOfnu5gHZh0eHuC_J7NdjqZXbvM7Xd3B-XbHP3ZZUGuMMTEtxChfkB8waHhkPTnJurv03fVkJeCi60/w316-h400/inside%20hugoshauntedhandbook%201.png" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Hugo's Haunted Handbook</i>, written and illustrated by Dave Whamond</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hugo's first instruction is to ensure that you really have a ghost, so he has devised three simple experiments. The first involves cookie crumbs, the next uses a camera, and finally there's locating any ectoplasm. (He also notes that the pros use EMF Readers.)<br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tCl5Td0wbvkHCu7RzFauJcES1WdqnHtHS5e1CLuIxoYau7EpspiqXWT6lUvQILV6d8lso9b07A34wQJByjQ6PsL9n4TeihzOSqSseUUjuJjPh4bTd1MTk6rGe7JE3HOF9f7Plap3AA604Lx_xDD96vzGEEGYTWYdNsK37PSYyB2xw9R2i2z0Oxrv84Ld/s1062/inside%20hugoshauntedhandbook%203.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="842" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tCl5Td0wbvkHCu7RzFauJcES1WdqnHtHS5e1CLuIxoYau7EpspiqXWT6lUvQILV6d8lso9b07A34wQJByjQ6PsL9n4TeihzOSqSseUUjuJjPh4bTd1MTk6rGe7JE3HOF9f7Plap3AA604Lx_xDD96vzGEEGYTWYdNsK37PSYyB2xw9R2i2z0Oxrv84Ld/w318-h400/inside%20hugoshauntedhandbook%203.png" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Hugo's Haunted Handbook</i>, written and illustrated by Dave Whamond</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, if you have a ghost, the next step is to learn about them. Did you know that they watch us, have bad days, get static cling, and love practical jokes? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><blockquote>Darn! They short-sheeted me again! You guys...</blockquote></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The problem for Hugo isn't that ghosts are necessarily scary; they are just annoying. (No one wants to be interrupted in the bathroom!) So, Hugo has 5 useful tips that the reader can use to get rid of their ghost forever.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">With Tip #1, to yell "<i>Bam shicka lam shicka boom boom bam</i>" three times, Hugo gets to work. Trouble is that the ghost doesn't seem to respond as Hugo wishes.</span></div></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Yep, still here.</span></i></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now what? Hugo tries several other fixes, all things that kids can do. (Okay, cooking up the Ghoul Begone potion might be tricky if you can't get your hands on maggot snot or aardvark poop, though raisins always seem to be plentiful when you're a kid.)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9a8o1ka7mjACHnNaxaE2kYRcTY76cKm2tN0Uk9s_NAOUzx_Qqvn_FnXBeQmPaZFuGpn7MjagHxvYRxkT_O05mkvInN9ryhtvtxCEe3svD_WhdwU6jOJbTM68aRrLeFRCXHctMueBZQ_bOwwFoljYnEdwNYPAfCcoxH4NBVxDGSH93c0enUgGm-qRpIyn/s784/inside%20hugoshauntedhandbook%204.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="606" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9a8o1ka7mjACHnNaxaE2kYRcTY76cKm2tN0Uk9s_NAOUzx_Qqvn_FnXBeQmPaZFuGpn7MjagHxvYRxkT_O05mkvInN9ryhtvtxCEe3svD_WhdwU6jOJbTM68aRrLeFRCXHctMueBZQ_bOwwFoljYnEdwNYPAfCcoxH4NBVxDGSH93c0enUgGm-qRpIyn/w309-h400/inside%20hugoshauntedhandbook%204.png" width="309" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Hugo's Haunted Handbook</i>, written and illustrated by Dave Whamond</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">Sadly, Hugo's ghost gets his feelings hurt with Hugo's claims about the supernatural being. Will their relationship ever be the same? Or should it?<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hugo is so earnest in his endeavours that it's hard not to take him seriously. But, with his quirky suggestions, coupled with an uncooperative ghost who is always peeking out, listening, commenting, and just being present, Hugo doesn't quite cut it as an aficionado at ghost elimination. What's worse is that instead of getting rid of his ghost, Hugo has offended the little guy who thought they were friends. By turning the tables on Hugo and his ghost, author-illustrator <b>Dave Whamond</b> just adds another dimension to an already amusing interaction, taking <b><i>Hugo's Haunted Handbook</i></b> from funny to side-splitting. <b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8_OpnUj801hwRKBM1Lb09SYhx3JpP2_5rWVzprUUv8xJdx8xglYIlktIc87AyZ8kD52zqWHFrtK2k1MG0SxIWWGzL40oflQKU1nRXKujGgkSxXX39hclXN6AhMNJvnQPRpN9df6KJrdwd2eqgZAlTWEE3ciHSS6SpAqtoy6u_oxYsnDnvc4TyqHcUTbt/s1180/inside%20hugoshauntedhandbook%202.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="954" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8_OpnUj801hwRKBM1Lb09SYhx3JpP2_5rWVzprUUv8xJdx8xglYIlktIc87AyZ8kD52zqWHFrtK2k1MG0SxIWWGzL40oflQKU1nRXKujGgkSxXX39hclXN6AhMNJvnQPRpN9df6KJrdwd2eqgZAlTWEE3ciHSS6SpAqtoy6u_oxYsnDnvc4TyqHcUTbt/w324-h400/inside%20hugoshauntedhandbook%202.png" width="324" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Hugo's Haunted Handbook</i>, written and illustrated by Dave Whamond</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Dave Whamond </b>can always get his readers laughing, both through his text filled with word play, and his cartoon illustrations. (Check out <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2021/09/muddle-school.html" target="_blank">Muddle School</a></i>, <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2020/04/alien-nate.html" target="_blank">Alien Nate</a></i>, and <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2018/05/nick-sidekick.html" target="_blank">Nick the Sidekick</a></i> for three previous examples.) With a ghost who feels down–"<i>You haven't said BOO all day!</i>"– or who complains about getting Cheeze Doodles' orange dust all over his white outfit, or with Hugo remembering their game of Hide-and Ghost Seek, <b>Dave Whamond</b> plays with his words and makes us laugh. But then the words are accompanied with <b>Dave Whamond</b>'s comic artwork and all the scenes become wilder and yet still familiar. Kids, and their parents, will laugh at the scary recorder practice, the "ghost slime" at the bottom of Hugo's backpack, and Hugo lamenting the ghost ruining his sales pitch. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you have a ghost, reading <b><i>Hugo's Haunted Handbook</i></b> might be helpful but it might just offer suggestions to being a good friend, still an admirable endeavour. Now, about those monsters. <br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-2888118114591774282024-03-01T10:00:00.007-05:002024-03-01T13:50:38.673-05:002024 Forest of Reading® Kid and Teen Committees: Applications now being accepted<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G01ruGzrdhEwQpCP-AleJY-5ECKY5OkGok9pdCxJlYi2Kp4HOeMOnLD_v9tnykqCCDL3Ad44AW516VyudqmEs5-XBZwjjVrqAWZnawt5QFYVlwgEmF7V3WlnJ5t4NkxT-irWPq4z0XdrWG0oS6RShEb1FtRrk3hXkspGLV0ZbXWXxWPXMO0OkBfTQtqJ/s1776/Forest%20Kid%20Teen%20Committees%20banner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1776" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G01ruGzrdhEwQpCP-AleJY-5ECKY5OkGok9pdCxJlYi2Kp4HOeMOnLD_v9tnykqCCDL3Ad44AW516VyudqmEs5-XBZwjjVrqAWZnawt5QFYVlwgEmF7V3WlnJ5t4NkxT-irWPq4z0XdrWG0oS6RShEb1FtRrk3hXkspGLV0ZbXWXxWPXMO0OkBfTQtqJ/w400-h170/Forest%20Kid%20Teen%20Committees%20banner.png" width="400" /></a></div> <p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you love books?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>🍁 <br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you know Canadian books and authors?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>🍁</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Are you in Grade 3-12? <br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>🍁</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Would you like to talk about books with your peers?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>🍁</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Would you like to contribute recommendations to a summer reading list?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>🍁</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>If you answered "Yes" to these questions, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>then have I got an activity for you!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Applications are now being accepted for the <b>Forest of Reading®</b>'s <b>Forest Kid and Teen Committees</b>. These committees bring young readers together for one morning to talk Canadian books and prepare summer reading lists for their peers. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><i>Who can apply?</i></u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There are three committees, based on grade level, who will meet on Zoom on different days in May. They are:</span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><b>Silver Birch Kid Committee</b> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">(for Grades 3-6) </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Red Maple Kid Committee</span></b> (for Grades 7-8) </span></li><li><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;"><b>White Pine Teen Committee</b> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">(for Grades 9-12) </span></li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span><u><i>When will they meet?</i></u></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><b>Silver Birch Kid Committee</b>: </span><span style="font-size: medium;">May 7, 2024 (9 AM- 12:30 PM EST)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Red Maple Kid Committee:</span></b> May 8, 2024 (9 AM- 12:30 PM EST)</span></li><li><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;"><b>White Pine Teen Committee</b>: </span><span style="font-size: medium;">May 4, 2024 (9 AM- 12:30 PM EST)</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;">(n.b. times may be amended if there are members who do not reside in the Eastern Time Zone) <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span><u><i>What happens during these meetings?</i></u></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Young
readers will meet on Zoom and share their opinions about Canadian books which they have read and enjoyed. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These books must be:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">written by Canadian authors (Canadian by birth or residency)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">published in the last two years </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">appropriate for their age groups </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">not already included on Forest of Reading nominated lists of
titles</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">not already on previously published Forest Kid or Teen Committee Summer Reading Lists</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;">Under the guidance of Meredith Tutching, Director of the Forest
of Reading®, and a facilitator, readers will recommend titles, discuss
the stories and the writing, and then vote on which titles, usually
between 10 and 20 books, to include on the 2024 summer reading list.
(Here's a pdf of a <a href="https://forestofreading.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/01-Kid-Committee-List-Silver-Birch-2023-1.pdf" target="_blank">sample, the Silver Birch reading list from 202</a>3.)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In addition to talking books, there
are always special guests that drop in to speak to the committee and
share their own recommendations. Past guests have included Angela Ahn,<br />S. K. Ali, Kelley Armstrong, Paul Coccia, Zetta Elliott, Melanie Florence, Natasha Deen, Kathy Kacer, Gordon Korman, Colleen Nelson, Kenneth Oppel, David A. Robertson, Kevin Sylvester, Vikki VanSickle and Eric Walters.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span><u><i>How to apply?</i></u></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Submit your application via Google form <b><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexaxwyhRbPcmnF45XD4wUTMxUAhh87EzHKXy2i91nDFyA6hw/viewform" target="_blank">here</a></b>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Deadline for applying is <b>April 1, 2024</b>.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Readers
will be asked to provide contact information, and information about
favourite Canadian books and recently read Canadian books. (The key here
is that the books must be Canadian, written by Canadian citizens or
residents.)</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Full details are available at the Forest of Reading® website <b><a href="https://forestofreading.com/kid-teen-committees/" target="_blank">here</a></b>.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq65OBJfLIut-f49T2M-exfQvqbExHiPOTwXgHG8uSEPfkTahxjhUdPE0TcYX1YfQCuIvqhVVvz1mYczw74m9na_1qflSBK5dSR3N3G72CRW-eqhk8y-KtzpSa_665QgSkGbk3pITeMj7gJgEvUllkDaqi4i7T_QLt_UBrwg8oB98A_x4ZJJdR6q9E-g/s238/love%20cdn%20books.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="122" data-original-width="238" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq65OBJfLIut-f49T2M-exfQvqbExHiPOTwXgHG8uSEPfkTahxjhUdPE0TcYX1YfQCuIvqhVVvz1mYczw74m9na_1qflSBK5dSR3N3G72CRW-eqhk8y-KtzpSa_665QgSkGbk3pITeMj7gJgEvUllkDaqi4i7T_QLt_UBrwg8oB98A_x4ZJJdR6q9E-g/s1600/love%20cdn%20books.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-6883407785968841562024-02-28T12:18:00.000-05:002024-02-28T12:18:37.225-05:00Everyone Gets a Turn<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BZ48ILW-qHRYJcjbSlxKUk1Tk6SJnZGHXoipzl-huIu2sjr3OC47xjQEpOEblE-lM4OEj24JcC-p0fnUlnj-MU6NjipsmJEpmbBOO_LZAa0Gq_YUKMEWd3M7-uqAs1SNFhmI8gxMgkWDIQq_MkKat0heuSYfcwPAZtgzPYmmqsWoeQ_PjVrzPNm3qncg/s976/everyonegetsaturn%20framed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="792" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BZ48ILW-qHRYJcjbSlxKUk1Tk6SJnZGHXoipzl-huIu2sjr3OC47xjQEpOEblE-lM4OEj24JcC-p0fnUlnj-MU6NjipsmJEpmbBOO_LZAa0Gq_YUKMEWd3M7-uqAs1SNFhmI8gxMgkWDIQq_MkKat0heuSYfcwPAZtgzPYmmqsWoeQ_PjVrzPNm3qncg/w325-h400/everyonegetsaturn%20framed.png" width="325" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written and illustrated by <b>Marianne Dubuc</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Princeton Architectural Press</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-7972-2729-0</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">60 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 3-6<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">March 2024 </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Turtle, Hare, Bear and Mouse are spending a beautiful day in the forest, when they discover an egg. They decide they will each take turns caring for it. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYKbVtI2BspRZ0miDnqntDVgmKekw42zcGGCyxa4t_gfZ1j-XJFKSRS6MWYxTBySY_u3SyiEXHT2JcAK1e8ssvB3G0gCt3bX29ZGEr_-aKu_AuIWDw3hJsYS2KIQ0cu4uB78Dnldt2LUznC5peY8HiMB2ReEhRthlubA5nHFLjKTZESb-eq_1GgoMakcD/s1000/inside%20everyonegetsaturn%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1000" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYKbVtI2BspRZ0miDnqntDVgmKekw42zcGGCyxa4t_gfZ1j-XJFKSRS6MWYxTBySY_u3SyiEXHT2JcAK1e8ssvB3G0gCt3bX29ZGEr_-aKu_AuIWDw3hJsYS2KIQ0cu4uB78Dnldt2LUznC5peY8HiMB2ReEhRthlubA5nHFLjKTZESb-eq_1GgoMakcD/w400-h248/inside%20everyonegetsaturn%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>Everyone Gets a Turn</i>, written and illustrated by Marianne Dubuc<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-size: medium;">At Mouse's house, a voice from within the egg declares
that it is cold so Mouse hurries to remedy that. First, Mouse lays a fire
and then he wraps the egg in a scarf and a hat. Mouse is very kind and accommodating,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The next day Mouse takes Little Egg to Bear's house. But Bear's lifestyle is a little more active, and while he exercises Little Egg cracks. Though it's apparently too tight inside the shell for Little Egg now, it needs a little help to get out. When Little Bird finally emerges, exhausted for her efforts, Bear offers comfort.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOf5X1Y4lK5O7h8drkIANDffW9cvzkDEEI1spI4JYjQh4_C7W_1xvGehsAqun520AmjafHUwdAa-pc_yNNSyTmVfpFw8Afob6hCxEkbvYDLd5DvdbpmiBHjpmFnFHfBXqhiJnnqczPURSob7xCWU4kyySLoH-mjnZfmyYjN1_nYeDo7BgND9xCoRcgoLu/s629/inside%20everyonegetsaturn%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="438" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOf5X1Y4lK5O7h8drkIANDffW9cvzkDEEI1spI4JYjQh4_C7W_1xvGehsAqun520AmjafHUwdAa-pc_yNNSyTmVfpFw8Afob6hCxEkbvYDLd5DvdbpmiBHjpmFnFHfBXqhiJnnqczPURSob7xCWU4kyySLoH-mjnZfmyYjN1_nYeDo7BgND9xCoRcgoLu/w279-h400/inside%20everyonegetsaturn%203.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Everyone Gets a Turn</i>, written and illustrated by Marianne Dubuc</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Then, it's on to Hare's house where the rabbit is surprised to see a bird, not an egg. But now Hare has to meet another need for their new ward: food. And though Hare has a stacked pantry, it's a bit of a mystery what Little Bird will eat. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally Little Bird is taken to Turtle's place, a house of wonders. It’s filled with trinkets that have stories and that sparkle and that amaze Little Bird and make her dream. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgug7Z9P7A2rQBgTBhPAMQX0JtJRWsZo1_CQBPzpugBHVQqnGgBm27kD4lT3dhBdxfWxYicWH_cGY31Xwd6jWqnhvXXUJgLB59Lnc2rO8xkIKLRvj7l2vzKURWbol8VM-ctbCIGNXwSzF5UrrS-YOtJQZWNCCuAaMVzVqjfAhdVWPNnlbOPWOuZDDl0nQEz/s1058/inside%20everyonegetsaturn%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="782" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgug7Z9P7A2rQBgTBhPAMQX0JtJRWsZo1_CQBPzpugBHVQqnGgBm27kD4lT3dhBdxfWxYicWH_cGY31Xwd6jWqnhvXXUJgLB59Lnc2rO8xkIKLRvj7l2vzKURWbol8VM-ctbCIGNXwSzF5UrrS-YOtJQZWNCCuAaMVzVqjfAhdVWPNnlbOPWOuZDDl0nQEz/w296-h400/inside%20everyonegetsaturn%203.png" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Everyone Gets a Turn</i>, written and illustrated by Marianne Dubuc</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>But when Turtle wakes up the next day, he is bereft that she is missing. All the friends are in tears, until they realize that Little Bird’s absence is just the next step in the bird’s development. Gone from one place, or four places, does not mean gone forever. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Each of the friends gets a turn with Little Egg/Little Bird and each excels at giving their ward exactly what she needs, whether it’s a little warmth, a little assistance in cracking the shell, sustenance, or the inspiration to dream. Like parents who must support and encourage their children until they are ready to become independent, the four friends learn to work together to be everything Little Egg/Little Bird needs until she can do for herself. And just because she has become independent, it doesn’t mean that she longer wants them in her life. <b>Marianne Dubuc</b> gives us a story that all parents will need to learn sometime in their children’s journey to adulthood. Her message is one of love and support but also the courage to let them fly and be their own selves. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Marianne Dubuc</b> has always created soft worlds, just as she did in <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2022/01/on-babas-back.html" target="_blank">On Baba's Back</a></i>, <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2022/03/bear-and-whisper-of-wind.html" target="_blank">Bear and the Whisper of the Wind</a></i>, and <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2020/03/little-cheetahs-shadow.html" target="_blank">Little Cheetah's Shadow</a></i>. Like Beatrix Potter, who could see worlds and relationships within the animals of the natural world, <b>Marianne Dubuc</b> takes us into their homes, the forests, and the meadows with her subtle use of ink, watercolour, and coloured pencil. She shows us ourselves as we are or could be: friends, parents, children, good people. And she teaches sophisticated lessons of sharing and caring delivered by sweet creatures who are uniquely themselves, while being supportive and cooperative. And though a message about sharing and taking turns may seem paramount according to the title, <b><i>Everyone Gets a Turn</i></b> also speaks to the steps we all take in our development, going from needing to be nurtured to shifting to self-actualization. <br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-60807299692204419262024-02-26T14:55:00.001-05:002024-02-26T14:57:23.957-05:00Ary's Trees<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTW7ArwkwPDwlgSGCfhF5Vzk3V6Cli_5Q3xEl5qlZ6oU2g-NQoTIqKAw2n-hJYm9ZCFRqRW9VaEsbMqiaV4YRSAR9WAQnuff3MLwO5H-1c2RQzqxL3R59HRh6OeT2LjeWGfFfNdvt4u9TgZCxPsJu-KcGrZIcgZyOzD9P3q360iDWPJVNYUC7Ymwuf_4U6/s842/arystrees%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="690" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTW7ArwkwPDwlgSGCfhF5Vzk3V6Cli_5Q3xEl5qlZ6oU2g-NQoTIqKAw2n-hJYm9ZCFRqRW9VaEsbMqiaV4YRSAR9WAQnuff3MLwO5H-1c2RQzqxL3R59HRh6OeT2LjeWGfFfNdvt4u9TgZCxPsJu-KcGrZIcgZyOzD9P3q360iDWPJVNYUC7Ymwuf_4U6/w328-h400/arystrees%20framed.png" width="328" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Deborah Kerbel</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustrated by <b>Sophia Choi</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fitzhenry & Whiteside</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-55455-509-6</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">32 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 5-8</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">October 2023</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On March 21, the world will recognize the United Nations-designated International Day of Forests. Sadly, no matter how long forests have been around, in their different forms around the world, there are still those who might take a lesson from Ary and her friends about the importance of forests and see beyond what they can do for us and what we should do to ensure their constancy.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzOhfxrPJUol3GvW5kTDOq1nrRmmF9L-F5_H0KDID00tQ-4NwUii5EnvEsuVhfM6BXFeDHXGWTsh7R4iP2KkKvV4rX5nzBEGF6EvkpMfWGvHO9FK4LSAHC-14m3BX9lAwDRo6j4728UVzsF2PwkTyIqlAa8Cdt8YYM8JrrwHA2m2frYrPOE57hlCtvXGu/s2064/inside%20arystrees%201.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="2064" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzOhfxrPJUol3GvW5kTDOq1nrRmmF9L-F5_H0KDID00tQ-4NwUii5EnvEsuVhfM6BXFeDHXGWTsh7R4iP2KkKvV4rX5nzBEGF6EvkpMfWGvHO9FK4LSAHC-14m3BX9lAwDRo6j4728UVzsF2PwkTyIqlAa8Cdt8YYM8JrrwHA2m2frYrPOE57hlCtvXGu/w400-h243/inside%20arystrees%201.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>Ary's Trees</i>, written by Deborah Kerbel, illustrate by Sophia Choi<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>When their island home is longer viable, Ary's father goes searching for a new home, and finds it in a flourishing island. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">As they begin to prepare the island for their new community, Ary, who delights in the trees, begs him, "<i>Please don't cut too many this time</i>." <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><blockquote>She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The air smelled green. Leaves swished overhead as the tree covered her with a blanket of cool shade. How she'd missed that sound!<br /></blockquote></i>Not surprising, with every "<i>chop-chop of busy axes</i>," Ary's heart aches. And though she is assured by her father that, "<i>There are lots to spare</i>," she sees that more and more are being cut, for building, and then for crops, and to construct boats, and then because everyone wants more, more, more. <i><br /></i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiXC1kyNwIpALHa26taS_K6D3XyC6KEVot80hvDnGn7tSGY17hS9vVUgsbplj6h2b4PrvCVF2LM_ro2YWdisfBpdLePvW0NslNokohYAedsXOEE9B51XFyC1W6Hm21d6da8I0Jn5YxBKp5pZCXnrVZDThwQOB0iFJQ6dzu1wmVgMYizGoYS3-_QUmV0yK/s970/inside%20arystrees%202.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="970" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiXC1kyNwIpALHa26taS_K6D3XyC6KEVot80hvDnGn7tSGY17hS9vVUgsbplj6h2b4PrvCVF2LM_ro2YWdisfBpdLePvW0NslNokohYAedsXOEE9B51XFyC1W6Hm21d6da8I0Jn5YxBKp5pZCXnrVZDThwQOB0iFJQ6dzu1wmVgMYizGoYS3-_QUmV0yK/w400-h248/inside%20arystrees%202.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Ary's Trees</i>, written by Deborah Kerbel, illustrated by Sophia Choi</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Ary is bereft for and with the trees. As the palm trees are cut, brown tears rain down. And when the people can't be bothered cutting, they burn down the trees.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Ary is furious, and some of her friends join her in protest. Still, no one listens. They are but children and know not of what they speak, apparently. Ah, but an island without trees suffers. The land crumbles, the structures crack and splinter, and there is no relief from the sun. Ary's father and the other adults choose to find a new island. Ary and a handful of friends find a different solution, one borne of loyalty and regeneration.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Deborah Kerbel</b>'s story of environmental responsibility is still one that needs to be heard and empowered in all. <b><i>Ary's Trees </i></b>reminds us that it may be the children who will be the ones to change the attitude of their own generation and the subsequent ones, especially when their elders are not getting it. Ary sees the truth, that thinking that "<i>a little bit more</i> (cutting) <i>won't make a difference</i>" is flawed, that "<i>The trees are here for our use</i>" is selfish and short-sighted, and that the trees are their friends and worthy of consideration and charity.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Though I've reviewed many of <b>Deborah Kerbel</b>'s books, from picture books like <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2020/12/snow-days.html" target="_blank">Snow Days</a></i> and <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2019/04/before-you-were-born.html" target="_blank">Before You Were Born </a></i>(still my go-to book for expectant parents) to middle-grade novels like <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2018/07/my-deal-with-universe.html" target="_blank">My Deal with the Universe</a></i> to her YA (e.g., <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2012/04/under-moon.html" target="_blank">Under the Moon</a></i>), this is my first opportunity to review a book illustrated by Toronto's <b>Sophia Choi</b>. Also a surface pattern designer, <b>Sophia Choi</b> creates art that speaks of bold colours and shapes, whether it be palm trees or flowers in the understories, or tree stumps and birds. There's a folk-art vibe to her art that speaks of a natural world that will mesmerize and delight, but that also will be missed when gone.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjar1FZuyPbSx7_zRTO5wZBdnAW-6DhenQ96QrSgggNz3qlKPC79ni_QY20pNrI_2C7RvoYroyOxfNKSGpqldTf06AFHfj97NmbCO7EKpHY7ai0uZEyA1r6BmVWCpuTkNxe4S2v6Iv_29Ke_CI2WSkpW1Ak6iz4JrLWjOQP-LhXxDiu0V90Ui4HeiVwPa9c/s565/inside%20arystrees%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="565" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjar1FZuyPbSx7_zRTO5wZBdnAW-6DhenQ96QrSgggNz3qlKPC79ni_QY20pNrI_2C7RvoYroyOxfNKSGpqldTf06AFHfj97NmbCO7EKpHY7ai0uZEyA1r6BmVWCpuTkNxe4S2v6Iv_29Ke_CI2WSkpW1Ak6iz4JrLWjOQP-LhXxDiu0V90Ui4HeiVwPa9c/w400-h236/inside%20arystrees%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Ary's Trees</i>, written by Deborah Kerbel, illustrated by Sophia Choi</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Whether you read <i><b>Ary's Trees</b></i> with your children or students for International Day of Forests, or save it for World Tree Day on June 28th, or for Earth Day on April 22, or to teach a science curriculum, <b>Deborah Kerbel</b> and <b>Sophia Choi</b>'s picture book will demonstrate that trees are more than just a producer of materials for human consumption. Trees are living entities that can provide shade and soil stability, habitat, and food, and provide oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide. As they live, so do we. Fortunately, the youngest inhabitants of the island, Ary and her friends, were able to realize that we humans have an interrelationship with trees, and all living things, and if we sustain them, then they will help sustain us. (Still a lesson too many developers and even politicians haven't learned.)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-26080768795139489012024-02-23T14:47:00.000-05:002024-02-23T14:47:00.328-05:00Dropped! (Orca Anchor)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTA7skOaXQq_XtYzCdFpYJkc8F_I-HayCzTITvSIQUHl8i0qcYkjOY0ef-wBPPSraO7P9jTg6LNlXK4ewBmIAPZo6z4lRMoI0jqCfAJxmaGPrewFhhlLHMvWc8lmnSVR7K1XtyKvQmFUKVbOuBzv3z7RaV0WIc_lPMFBKXqyj_Lxk6fGMS6TAprz0PpOy/s984/dropped%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="670" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTA7skOaXQq_XtYzCdFpYJkc8F_I-HayCzTITvSIQUHl8i0qcYkjOY0ef-wBPPSraO7P9jTg6LNlXK4ewBmIAPZo6z4lRMoI0jqCfAJxmaGPrewFhhlLHMvWc8lmnSVR7K1XtyKvQmFUKVbOuBzv3z7RaV0WIc_lPMFBKXqyj_Lxk6fGMS6TAprz0PpOy/w273-h400/dropped%20framed.png" width="273" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Alice Kuipers</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Orca Book Publishers</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-4598-3774-4</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">96 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 12+<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">RL 1.9 <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">February 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When Dex is dumped by his girlfriend Lola and then deserted by his friends and his social media after an embarrassingly pathetic display to get her back, he is desperate to regain his popularity. So, he signs up for a reality show called <i>Dropped!</i> on which he and other contestants are dropped on Adventure Island and have five days to attract the greatest number of followers through their feeds if they are to win $250,000 and a trip to Dubai. As he says goodbye to his mother and boards a chopper, he becomes Determined Dex.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After being dropped on the island and being told "<i>Don't risk too much</i>," Dex checks the game's feed to meet the other contestants and view photos and live streams of their progress. There's gorgeous Amina whose efforts and story are racking up more followers than anyone else. There's buff identical twins Salvo and Kai, geeky Deepak, and timid Em. Through an app, they are given tasks to complete, like finding a treasure chest of supplies or sharing their personal stories with their audience. Soon Dex realizes that by associating himself with Amina or engaging in risky or wild activities, he can pull in those much-needed followers. But will he go too far?<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Told in chapters according to the date and time, Dex narrates what he does, what he sees, and what he thinks, sometimes in his head and sometimes live in his feed. With each new endeavour or challenge he wonders how he will be seen. Will it be Dangerous Dex or Daring Dex, or will it be Desperate Dex? At one point, he hopes they see him as Decent Dex. But, when he worries that the audience may see him as Deadly Dex, he has a revelation that takes his game from competition to cooperation. Dex may or may not win <i>Dropped! </i>but he still will get more than what he came for.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Orca Anchor</i> is just one of the many series from Orca Book Publisher, with this one aimed at young adults reading below Grade 2.0 level. But don't let that detract you from the great story that <b>Alice Kuipers</b> tells. <b><i>Dropped!</i></b> may be a fast read but it's a great read for teens and adults, filled with action and social commentary, and embedded in contemporary situations with which many young people will be familiar. Saskatchewan's <b>Alice Kuipers</b> is an accomplished storyteller of YA (e.g., <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2012/02/40-things-i-want-to-tell-you.html" target="_blank">40 Things I Want to Tell You</a></i> and <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-death-of-us.html" target="_blank">The Death of Us</a></i>), early chapter books (e.g., <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2018/05/polly-diamond-and-magic-book.html" target="_blank">Polly Diamond and the Magic Book</a></i>) and even non-fiction (e.g., <i>Always Smile: Carley Allison's Secrets for Laughing, Loving and Living</i>) so it's not surprising that she can write an extraordinary hi-lo story for teens. By merging social media, how many young people derive validation, support, and identity, with reality shows that put teens in unfamiliar circumstances in which their true selves are exposed, <b>Alice Kuipers</b> has let Dex find himself. He struggles with his identity and what he wants to do or who he wants to be, labelling himself constantly and temporarily, as he reflects on his actions and thoughts. But <b>Alice Kuipers</b> has always been very good at seeing teens from their own perspectives, recognizing their challenges and confusion without judging them. Some might see Dex's obsession with his cell phone and with social media as ill-advised, but <b>Alice Kuipers</b> lets us see Dex as flawed by nature of his being human, looking for approval and solidarity as we all do but from virtual communities until he finds it within a real one. He may have been dropped from one community, but he builds a new one or two, both real and virtual, and by recognizing the value of those worlds, and by letting his good sense and self-awareness finally guide him</span><span style="font-size: medium;">, he'll find himself dropped into much finer ones</span>.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-44643996861113607342024-02-21T13:00:00.001-05:002024-02-21T13:00:20.215-05:00We Need Everyone<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbc9XWBQvP9bsNopsuWJp-lNTtyF3bramZXTSQpNwX5TYZI9dtKQthvpwfZYjOIH3ux6qzuxltSBPCZnf9Ln_0pc4BNiegsq9ZD2kfFqzFLosyVrubG_-OWV8YnJ8AzYozlyN7T6c9nU4Q-_ghrcKMAottxp0CyeKPZuNMbUh8NnSAPoLbt6g-02Z0B508/s1074/weneedeveryone%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1074" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbc9XWBQvP9bsNopsuWJp-lNTtyF3bramZXTSQpNwX5TYZI9dtKQthvpwfZYjOIH3ux6qzuxltSBPCZnf9Ln_0pc4BNiegsq9ZD2kfFqzFLosyVrubG_-OWV8YnJ8AzYozlyN7T6c9nU4Q-_ghrcKMAottxp0CyeKPZuNMbUh8NnSAPoLbt6g-02Z0B508/w400-h400/weneedeveryone%20framed.png" width="400" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Michael Redhead Champagne</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustrated by <b>Tiff Bartel</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">HighWater Press</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-77492-011-4</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">40 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 6-8<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">January 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Belonging is such an important emotional need for children and for all. But too often we compare ourselves with others and see their gifts and accomplishments as greater than our own, worrying that we don't belong or aren't good enough. Community advocate <b>Michael Redhead Champagne</b> will help children see that they all belong because we need everyone.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwdMDXpO__dLLnlomF4GTw4QOQ7wQLAjFmOnEKM94SAYAN-ySRlxwf1yjVZobfM9iotx2V6K4PsnFg13Me9wnsv5fAdKUhorSWGkGyxt5-hk5T0T5Z_webS81ChyphenhyphenT3TOpcBHv9FFVucQhfsSg-LT813xYQS7XX1RpWSVy_1ck5y7MR4EZb5sFqnO7toLW/s3200/We%20Need%20Everyone-Spread1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="3200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwdMDXpO__dLLnlomF4GTw4QOQ7wQLAjFmOnEKM94SAYAN-ySRlxwf1yjVZobfM9iotx2V6K4PsnFg13Me9wnsv5fAdKUhorSWGkGyxt5-hk5T0T5Z_webS81ChyphenhyphenT3TOpcBHv9FFVucQhfsSg-LT813xYQS7XX1RpWSVy_1ck5y7MR4EZb5sFqnO7toLW/w400-h200/We%20Need%20Everyone-Spread1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>We Need Everyone</i>, written by Michael Redhead Champagne, illustrated by Tiff Bartel<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><b><i>We Need Everyone</i></b>'s book character Michael, easily recognizable by his bouncy asymmetrical hair, speaks to everyone about gifts. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><blockquote>Gifts are skills and talents we share with others. Every gift is different, and every gift is special.</blockquote></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For many children, recognizing their own gifts may be a challenge, so Michael takes them through a series of steps to finding their gifts. These include making lists of what they like to do as well as what they are good at doing. If they have difficulties identifying those, they can always ask for help. Then it comes down to practising those gifts.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcgrgg_3cR3yitMN7i8QhEJtnYvViahpb5eOl7fl6MdFti6X4UAw53iI1owfQto0KLh41oBuLbGuuPMLK4AfUvju2jQEhhbFyW8luYvNwRfrTlZd4y3LiAgIesLMl2xVqIROMsEml2EqMKTuuMrJTlgcC1CjZClr7-1blcamn1B93cGfmj8y_1NxifHGa/s3200/We%20Need%20Everyone-Spread3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="3200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcgrgg_3cR3yitMN7i8QhEJtnYvViahpb5eOl7fl6MdFti6X4UAw53iI1owfQto0KLh41oBuLbGuuPMLK4AfUvju2jQEhhbFyW8luYvNwRfrTlZd4y3LiAgIesLMl2xVqIROMsEml2EqMKTuuMrJTlgcC1CjZClr7-1blcamn1B93cGfmj8y_1NxifHGa/w400-h200/We%20Need%20Everyone-Spread3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From <i>We Need Everyone</i>, written by Michael Redhead Champagne, illustrated by Tiff Bartel</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But there is more to having a gift if we are to share them and build strong communities. <b>Michael Redhead Champagne </b>equates building community with activism and speaks of all those who help make our communities richer: artists, athletes, chefs, gamers, storytellers, and friends. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><blockquote>When you share your gift, you give strength to others. Even if you feel too small, too young, or too quiet, your gift is too special to keep to yourself.</blockquote></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.michaelredheadchampagne.com/" target="_blank"><b>Michael Redhill Champagne</b> </a>speaks from a place of knowing. He is Ininew (Cree), having been raised in Winnipeg's North End with his family from Shamattawa First Nation in northern Manitoba. He knows what it means to belong to a community and to make a community. He shares his inspiration through public speaking and writing, hosting media events and telling of stories. <i><b>We Need Everyone</b></i>, his debut picture book, continues his message of empowerment and influence by helping kids see that they all have superpowers that are their gifts, and that these gifts, though not always easily identifiable, are what will help make our communities stronger. </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYQxq8BVoSPKnDyb6AWhql12TnxYLIZdQgt88BIDN8Up7IN-fHpQA-UWJ5bntJMaYm0cSdfArkzB2N0xDApqPqPwTsmAN1036wL4Y_FS9w9SfpXLruHwH6FikIb_ZfPmh0UeZBtRvkJ8vPsA9dyFPNqXwNf3I598S8Nnh-Eh4zsm9Mb4YxlVMyfQRtKwn/s3200/We%20Need%20Everyone-Spread6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="3200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYQxq8BVoSPKnDyb6AWhql12TnxYLIZdQgt88BIDN8Up7IN-fHpQA-UWJ5bntJMaYm0cSdfArkzB2N0xDApqPqPwTsmAN1036wL4Y_FS9w9SfpXLruHwH6FikIb_ZfPmh0UeZBtRvkJ8vPsA9dyFPNqXwNf3I598S8Nnh-Eh4zsm9Mb4YxlVMyfQRtKwn/w400-h200/We%20Need%20Everyone-Spread6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From <i>We Need Everyone</i>, written by Michael Redhead Champagne, illustrated by Tiff Bartel</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Winnipeg artist <b><a href="https://tiffbartel.com/" target="_blank">Tiff Bartel</a></b> ensures that the illustrations in <b><i>We Need Everyone</i></b> reflect <b>Michael Redhill Champagne</b>'s message that everyone is needed. She includes children of all skin colours, sizes, and abilities. She shows a girl in a hijab cooking, children gardening, a child playing sledge hockey, another signing "I love you" and others painting. Some are active, some are quiet, some are sharing their cultures, and many are learning. And they are engaged joyously and vibrantly in ways to enrich their communities and acknowledge their own gifts.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We need everyone, and by sharing their gifts of storytelling and art, <b>Michael Redhead Champagne</b> and <b>Tiff Bartel</b> will give children strength and inspiration to see themselves as needed and belonging too.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> • • • • • • •<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A free teacher's guide, titled <i>Teacher Guide for We Need Everyone:<br />Empowering Students to be Active Community Members Through Indigenous Perspectives in Primary Classrooms and Beyond</i> is available from HighWater Press (Portage & Main Press) <a href="https://www.portageandmainpress.com/Books/T/Teacher-Guide-for-We-Need-Everyone"><b>here</b>.</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-28490142091451891052024-02-16T09:30:00.000-05:002024-02-16T09:30:33.390-05:00Leon Levels Up (Orca Currents)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYJF3HDb8zFRBGRsDVEzlJhik8zYuJ_13Nx8DLsIFQKXGxjHn5MkmKHR0rOIM-0G7lkdczYs6i7MSlRXnNumlH3-aBH6b8zxbJ0pe5P54qiu33u_Jx-UM6px_uxQdVkQuMH19Tr3JLTuXNSO1MRAImK-C8IViF31syzW937C6Ay3-VBdfFhr1f_COxtrO/s884/leonlevelsup%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="602" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYJF3HDb8zFRBGRsDVEzlJhik8zYuJ_13Nx8DLsIFQKXGxjHn5MkmKHR0rOIM-0G7lkdczYs6i7MSlRXnNumlH3-aBH6b8zxbJ0pe5P54qiu33u_Jx-UM6px_uxQdVkQuMH19Tr3JLTuXNSO1MRAImK-C8IViF31syzW937C6Ay3-VBdfFhr1f_COxtrO/w273-h400/leonlevelsup%20framed.png" width="273" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Paul Coccia</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Orca Book Publishers</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-459837355</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">112 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 9-12</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">RL 2.3 <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">February 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Twelve-year-old Leon Garcia considers himself a low-level kid gamer. He's not low-level because of his game playing but because of who he is. All he sees is that he's chubby, his mom cuts his hair, he wears his cousin's hand-me-downs, and he uses outdated tech. So, when his classmate Nico Saito, son of the founder of video-game developer Pix Grid, approaches him and invites him to game together on the weekend, Leon is surprised, pleased, and nervous. Leon figures this could be his chance to level up his life, or at least his coolness.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But a day of gaming is not just hanging out at Nico's house. Instead, Nico takes Leon to Pix Grid where they meet up with Gabs Lucas in the lab to play a next-level virtual-reality game which is so immersive the two boys suit up in full-body tracking outfits before being dropped into tanks filled with nanobots. Though Leon's thrilled with how strong and tall and skilled he is as an elf archer, Gabs tells him she's lost the connection with Nico who may have damaged his helmet when he plunged headfirst into the tank. And with the nanobots programmed to fill every available space, there's the danger of hurting Nico. The only way to get them out safely is for Leon to complete the mission of saving the kidnapped Prince SpearMint from the dragon Lord Tachi. Oh, and before the timer runs out.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Leon Levels Up </i></b>has all the excitement of a video game adventure in which Leon evades and fights a dragon, an old hag, and some ogres, while figuring out clues and strategy to rescue Prince SpearMint. As with many quests, the learning is in the doing, and Leon is plunged into this VR game with its life-or-death outcome with only his wits and character. He might have hoped that gaming with Nico would level up his game, but his cleverness and perseverance demonstrate he's already top drawer. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Author <b>Paul Coccia</b><i>, </i>whose other books include <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2023/01/i-got-you-babe-orca-currents.html" target="_blank">I Got You Babe</a></i>, <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-player.html" target="_blank">The Player</a></i>, and <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2021/12/on-line.html" target="_blank">On the Line</a></i> with Eric Walters, often gives voice to young people who question who they are and whether they are good enough, and that's many tweens and teens. (It's also most adults.) Except for the narcissistic and the very confident, we compare ourselves to others and whether we pass muster. When faced with the good-looking and rich Nico Saito, Leon turns to look within and take stock. He ruminates about how he will be seen and judged, while judging himself. Only when he's in the "Dragon Hunt" game does he eventually set that aside, first appreciating his new persona and skills but ultimately recognizing that it was him, low-level Leon, who won the game. <b>Paul Coccia</b> takes us for a wild ride in <b><i>Leon Levels Up</i></b>, all at a lower reading level than typical for the middle grade reader, but never forgets to remind us that Leon never needed to advance to a higher level of self. For a twelve-year-old, he was already there.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-6284486748134913332024-02-13T14:31:00.001-05:002024-02-13T14:34:16.439-05:00Hair Oil Magic<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP1azx_Ngz29lJZXqVn74DgfJNqbbEeFz8wY20u6m-Uf8hWck5N0i0VyzzWujq-zS1KcdswYxgC-tMFbJ53X4F6OoAMv0e3Sms7qt-7BB2DTY4juRkABe4vdeADFBZC7k5_Q3pD4KKpCDDVA5mMZQOYZAC7rcVtXJJs4zBe3JY0KdWMt_ijQO_9i3zUe4/s942/hairoilmagic%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="782" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP1azx_Ngz29lJZXqVn74DgfJNqbbEeFz8wY20u6m-Uf8hWck5N0i0VyzzWujq-zS1KcdswYxgC-tMFbJ53X4F6OoAMv0e3Sms7qt-7BB2DTY4juRkABe4vdeADFBZC7k5_Q3pD4KKpCDDVA5mMZQOYZAC7rcVtXJJs4zBe3JY0KdWMt_ijQO_9i3zUe4/w333-h400/hairoilmagic%20framed.png" width="333" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written and illustrated by <b>Anu Chouhan</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bloomsbury Children's Books<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-5476-1104-1</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">40 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 3-6<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">February 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most of us love learning about cultural practices and traditions that may be familiar and commonplace to others. The ancient and routine practice of hair oiling, while customary in some places in the world and more popular in some societies, is becoming more of a thing elsewhere. Still, a story like <b><i>Hair Oil Magic</i></b> doesn't just educate readers about these traditional rites. It also reminds us of the connections that are the basis for them. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uP4JpBgT3EhMVPOPETAGtFiiKumsIGm4umDKOu7ewK0YzLPIFY6-6SC5exbtR107nlfs65Fw2SQKvrodUBJZQCS2gYZ1kyY6VRZ4-PWmSZ92vICo3GTODFVEhWgDVQzh7gQqrEtk5JmPmoQssHV_7nwHpWg_G5QjXKnh2oVKIOE8KGDkDY7sCQKvliAa/s1884/inside%20hairoilmagic%201.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1884" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uP4JpBgT3EhMVPOPETAGtFiiKumsIGm4umDKOu7ewK0YzLPIFY6-6SC5exbtR107nlfs65Fw2SQKvrodUBJZQCS2gYZ1kyY6VRZ4-PWmSZ92vICo3GTODFVEhWgDVQzh7gQqrEtk5JmPmoQssHV_7nwHpWg_G5QjXKnh2oVKIOE8KGDkDY7sCQKvliAa/w400-h236/inside%20hairoilmagic%201.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>Hair Oil Magic</i>, written and illustrated by Anu Chouhan<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For Meenu, Sunday is "Magic Hair Day." It is the day that her mother, like her grandmother once did, would mix a wonderfully-scented concoction and massage it into Meenu's scalp. Then Meenu would go on with her day, playing and helping her Biji (Punjabi for grandmother), until bath time when Mommy washed her hair with a special shampoo. </span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsB-woVAlHWwaZ8AXvmjcSQ49ekWxKHHTOrZVgSZnxOtQJX2OR5DjhHTb9ZJlDzrQGrWF_2GyeBgzLJi2eNZfsWDzLlCpD5Vy4ncfjHsbdvXXh56rZ0uLuxIwIceXKvrDhUkB_h_Py7JoHYGsn-nqLt_DzHyQPgW6C_8Oxeam64Ay_Zx8QPmBmphJfD8V/s1884/inside%20hairoilmagic%202.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1884" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsB-woVAlHWwaZ8AXvmjcSQ49ekWxKHHTOrZVgSZnxOtQJX2OR5DjhHTb9ZJlDzrQGrWF_2GyeBgzLJi2eNZfsWDzLlCpD5Vy4ncfjHsbdvXXh56rZ0uLuxIwIceXKvrDhUkB_h_Py7JoHYGsn-nqLt_DzHyQPgW6C_8Oxeam64Ay_Zx8QPmBmphJfD8V/w400-h236/inside%20hairoilmagic%202.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From <i>Hair Oil Magic</i>, written and illustrated by Anu Chouhan</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She loved the way her hair felt and bounced at the end of the day but most of all she loved how she felt as she sat in Mommy's lap and had her scalp massaged.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></i></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">It was like little floating stars</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">twinkling around her heart!</span></i></div></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not surprising that little Meenu wants to recreate that feeling and impress Mommy and Biji by making her own magic oil, recalling what her mother telling her about fenugreek oil and rosemary and castor oil and more. And so, in bathroom, accompanied by her dog, Meenu begins to pour and mix but she can't quite get the formulation right. After a few mishaps, resulting in a broken bottle, tears, and a fresh bath, Meenu learns the true secret ingredient of their Magic Hair Days.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVP2bzGqS0zNfhicUxjDVHBftofQSIaotKJhzXLTwQs1HUgR509AgEQ76spVm3AQ3dZ0x9xXWJo0MmJsFfKMUND9-BAXCdwzS2qIFZ_SHy8_V-7lh43nz_UVzo2I7_BCBVXoh5-9Lhyphenhyphen7bq8IehXUBuIKpADa5BMu_X4Gq9u1WuxIyIM2ooiAU6yJmGFg4/s1884/inside%20hairoilmagic%203.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1884" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVP2bzGqS0zNfhicUxjDVHBftofQSIaotKJhzXLTwQs1HUgR509AgEQ76spVm3AQ3dZ0x9xXWJo0MmJsFfKMUND9-BAXCdwzS2qIFZ_SHy8_V-7lh43nz_UVzo2I7_BCBVXoh5-9Lhyphenhyphen7bq8IehXUBuIKpADa5BMu_X4Gq9u1WuxIyIM2ooiAU6yJmGFg4/w400-h236/inside%20hairoilmagic%203.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From <i>Hair Oil Magic</i>, written and illustrated by Anu Chouhan</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Anu Chouhan</b> has illustrated several picture books, including <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2022/05/bharatanatyam-in-ballet-shoes.html" target="_blank">Bharatanatyam in Ballet Shoes</a></i> and <i>A Dupatta Is...,</i> and created art for video games, but this is her debut picture book as the author-illustrator. This Punjabi-Canadian creator knows this story from her heart and speaks to the connection in her "Author's Note." (She also includes "Meenu's Magic Hair Day Tips" as she learned as a child.) The physical benefits of hair oiling are tangible but the emotional bonding that happens between family members as the hair is oiled is even deeper. <b>Anu Chouhan</b> expresses the kinship that comes with this tradition as magic, and her digital illustrations certainly give readers that enchanted vibe. With sparkles and smiles, and tender embraces and swirls of charming alchemy, <b>Anu Chouhan</b> lets us see the magic that surrounds the family as they maintain their traditions and connect with each other through sweet-scented oils, touch, and affection.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Drawing on her Punjabi ancestry, I suspect<b> Anu Chouhan</b> has more stories to tell. Fortunately, as an accomplished artist, she is perfectly placed to give colour and heart to those stories and enlighten some young readers and connect with others who already have found the magic in hair oiling.<br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-34826803449029120832024-02-11T16:50:00.001-05:002024-02-11T16:50:52.234-05:00Khadija and the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZtE9Z3S_VVPohmpheIZxYw7EVi8kzBEp7PePJ0S2HIc5LID2lSO-sLYd0rcF6rTmC6T70bin6CsKZvR9I7KBAgK9GWf_rT2D5HRL30f46mXm9PZAYyrK-ixLl0mV9tswXJ2ikFRbdwEyCLXy1qIkz4SmLVoY6IUuHp3dZqmTp0_yX4cKFx7507I2MAT6/s908/khadijaandtheelephanttoothpasteexperiment%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="908" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZtE9Z3S_VVPohmpheIZxYw7EVi8kzBEp7PePJ0S2HIc5LID2lSO-sLYd0rcF6rTmC6T70bin6CsKZvR9I7KBAgK9GWf_rT2D5HRL30f46mXm9PZAYyrK-ixLl0mV9tswXJ2ikFRbdwEyCLXy1qIkz4SmLVoY6IUuHp3dZqmTp0_yX4cKFx7507I2MAT6/w400-h399/khadijaandtheelephanttoothpasteexperiment%20framed.png" width="400" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Farah Qaiser and Hajer Nakua<br /></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustrated by <b>Natalya Tariq<br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Second Story Press</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-772603651 <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">24 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 4-9</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">February 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, February 11th, is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and <b><i>Khadija and the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment</i></b>, a book about a little Muslim girl who takes on a big experiment, seems like the perfect picture book to review today. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfO0x3w8ubHSftOaXNI0pquZshgrcYgH9FB-2G3yecv5aZejWUnWhyPu1OZqMoVBmcguurnCSQE8eFPPljOW5AhjB7GXMGIIkpUl0zBSIKyAowgNM_hcMW-qhOhvQXZ39mHcMnhLS5mVI_ioxMF88U08Gyn5l2DSy9xOQ-BV7lVkckKIt1tJAt9c3dvB4/s2826/inside%20khadija%201.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="2826" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfO0x3w8ubHSftOaXNI0pquZshgrcYgH9FB-2G3yecv5aZejWUnWhyPu1OZqMoVBmcguurnCSQE8eFPPljOW5AhjB7GXMGIIkpUl0zBSIKyAowgNM_hcMW-qhOhvQXZ39mHcMnhLS5mVI_ioxMF88U08Gyn5l2DSy9xOQ-BV7lVkckKIt1tJAt9c3dvB4/w400-h186/inside%20khadija%201.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>Khadija and the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment</i>, written by Farah Qaiser and Hajer Nakua, illustrated by Natalya Tariq<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">Khadija is excited to take her parents and little brother Omar to her school to see the science fair. But this isn't a science fair where children display their projects. This i</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: medium;">s
one in which professional scientists discuss their research and
demonstrate experiments and do cool things. Khadija is impressed with
all the scientists in their lab coats and safety goggles but wonders why
not one is wearing a hijab.</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAt-PWI1y-ihrU1-kvD2dnZh2HwtVVBWzUjjyAYCQx-MCFInU0i6BlkFlawxqeXmeXsU3xFUPvT_MCr10aijxHhql7v15SvfCUzwbLpjK3T98b1FIDZahTPMTPuTZCPnv_6Le_N4LxSog6s93GcERrGYcgOoyVkYfCO63c4LwOBKM312Oz2G4vMpzScUtq/s2826/inside%20khadija%202.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="2826" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAt-PWI1y-ihrU1-kvD2dnZh2HwtVVBWzUjjyAYCQx-MCFInU0i6BlkFlawxqeXmeXsU3xFUPvT_MCr10aijxHhql7v15SvfCUzwbLpjK3T98b1FIDZahTPMTPuTZCPnv_6Le_N4LxSog6s93GcERrGYcgOoyVkYfCO63c4LwOBKM312Oz2G4vMpzScUtq/w400-h186/inside%20khadija%202.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>Khadija and the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment</i>, written by Farah Qaiser and Hajer Nakua, illustrated by Natalya Tariq</td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-size: medium;">At the fair, Khadija is given a boxed experiment which she is excited to try, mostly to prove that she could be a true scientist. But the family is expecting many guests for Eid, and she is told to wait. But wait she cannot. So as Amma cooks up delicious foods, Khadija heads into the bathroom armed with some ingredients, including food dye, and her Abba's favourite mug.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUbx8CAtcMi08xt1q_9iZWWuwK-Pv5PFc3Q9Jn6A5AOJKNFw2FTwpw_glXeDVHnHBEE0pVu8ItspVk5zRrNtw1YSd7ue8z3N0CY2U_zJWRPfKBgP4cxhzE7vm4GyhcxPaM1FJErLM21R1ZXwlLn_TAZzMVeteE2RqbMITUoHVMhea42tp2mpXqL1lOnoo/s2826/inside%20khadija%204.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="2826" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUbx8CAtcMi08xt1q_9iZWWuwK-Pv5PFc3Q9Jn6A5AOJKNFw2FTwpw_glXeDVHnHBEE0pVu8ItspVk5zRrNtw1YSd7ue8z3N0CY2U_zJWRPfKBgP4cxhzE7vm4GyhcxPaM1FJErLM21R1ZXwlLn_TAZzMVeteE2RqbMITUoHVMhea42tp2mpXqL1lOnoo/w400-h186/inside%20khadija%204.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>Khadija and the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment</i>, written by Farah Qaiser and Hajer Nakua, illustrated by Natalya Tariq</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">She follows the directions and is, at first, delighted with the foamy mixture, until it expands beyond the mug and onto the counter and onto the floor. This gaffe gives Khadija's parents an opportunity to talk to her about what it means to be a scientist, including the need for curiosity and patience, and that there is not just one way to be a scientist. In fact, they get her a little something for Eid that gets her started on her own journey to becoming one.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6U-IJZLshNmHab8SDV9zVTBaIqsQHX8AJnvylMVOdHdGmkvNHcvIVV6HWrKYggL6ym4bfDLpf9cR6LQ102KzDEDokXAHLnlClVSLvhIWuy9BzTjPR9PS5yeCqsMAlqLn-UD1M2ljm6ZCt-hvu4F4AC1PWCm6VHr1nvTfZn_0a_3GTxXtxAv2hajSorBb/s2535/inside%20khadija%205.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2535" data-original-width="2531" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6U-IJZLshNmHab8SDV9zVTBaIqsQHX8AJnvylMVOdHdGmkvNHcvIVV6HWrKYggL6ym4bfDLpf9cR6LQ102KzDEDokXAHLnlClVSLvhIWuy9BzTjPR9PS5yeCqsMAlqLn-UD1M2ljm6ZCt-hvu4F4AC1PWCm6VHr1nvTfZn_0a_3GTxXtxAv2hajSorBb/w399-h400/inside%20khadija%205.jpeg" width="399" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>Khadija and the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment</i>, written by Farah Qaiser and Hajer Nakua, illustrated by Natalya Tariq</td></tr></tbody></table></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Authors <b>Farah Qaiser</b> and <b>Hajer Nakua</b> know about the curiosity that compels a child to become a scientist as this is something which they both achieved. That inquisitiveness is natural to young children. They want to learn and know and try things. I recall my own young niece and nephews who wanted to do "sparimenting" and even arranging a science-based birthday party for one. For some, that curiosity is sadly extinguished when they are led to believe that they cannot "do science" whether because of their gender, their experiences, or something else. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Farah Qaiser</b> and <b>Hajer Nakua</b> shows young readers that a little Muslim girl who wants to be a scientist can achieve that dream, because their </span><span style="font-size: medium;">message in <b><i>Khadija and the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment</i></b> is all about opportunity and inclusion. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Ottawa illustrator <b>Natalya Tariq</b> uses cartoon art to give brightness and innocence to Khadija's story. There's a wide-eyed wonder to the child that is infused in every illustration. From her eager acceptance of the boxed experiment to observing all the different scientists at the fair and to her delight at a very special gift for a budding scientist. <b>Natalya Tariq </b>makes us see Khadija's wonder and interest in science, but also her heritage and her family, and, like the text, reminds us that the two are wholly compatible.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On this </span><span style="font-size: medium;">International Day of Women and Girls in Science, <b><i>Khadija and the Elephant Toothpaste Experiment</i></b> supports Khadija in her ambition to become a scientist, starting with an experiment that any child can undertake (check online for instructions). This can only inspire all children to follow their dreams, whether into science or into the arts.</span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-79583039292441217692024-02-09T12:40:00.000-05:002024-02-09T12:40:52.768-05:00The First Page Student Writing Challenge for 2024<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUzMV9w3dSWI0yrKRZVq1ja5PA0sqpjPzTlTodP_ZtuF1kENTUvQ-QtpoCBr1t1CSl5foaKr2ElmFoEghWtVWcv13aXwForO_Q2nMD11m9mtIW1nOcK65y2vNOgztNiHoNWQQLl7gKGN4lmuXBoL7zZdrANpQxQWbk2FNCxMeptFsHXezX-TjPve1myQ2/s1402/firstpagecontest%202024.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="1100" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUzMV9w3dSWI0yrKRZVq1ja5PA0sqpjPzTlTodP_ZtuF1kENTUvQ-QtpoCBr1t1CSl5foaKr2ElmFoEghWtVWcv13aXwForO_Q2nMD11m9mtIW1nOcK65y2vNOgztNiHoNWQQLl7gKGN4lmuXBoL7zZdrANpQxQWbk2FNCxMeptFsHXezX-TjPve1myQ2/w314-h400/firstpagecontest%202024.png" width="314" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's back! <b>CBC Books</b>'s wonderful student writing contest is back and with a new author to judge your entires. For teachers and parents, it's a fabulous opportunity to get Canadian students in Grades 7 through 12 writing. For young adults, it's a compelling way to get your writing out there and to win a prize of monthly boxes of books (for a year)! Details can be found at CBC Books website at <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/books/the-first-page-student-writing-challenge-is-open-for-submissions-1.4269274">https://www.cbc.ca/books/the-first-page-student-writing-challenge-is-open-for-submissions-1.4269274</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>What is the Challenge?</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Write the first page of a novel set in 2174 in which the main character is facing an issue that is important today but set in the future so that we can see how it's played out 150 years from now.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Your entry, in any genre, should be between 300 and 400 words, and include a title (though it is not included in your word count).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Who can enter?</u></b> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The contest is open to all Canadian residents who are full-time students in Gr.ades 7 to 12. Enter through the submission link at CBC Books<b>'s Literary Prizes website </b>at <a href="https://cbcliteraryprizes.submittable.com/submit"><b>https://cbcliteraryprizes.submittable.com/submit</b></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Before submitting, check out the <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/books/the-first-page-student-writing-challenge-rules-regulations-1.6730804" target="_blank"><b>full rules and regulations</b></a> at CBC Books to ensure your submission meets all requirements.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>What is the deadline for entering?</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The contest runs from February 1-29, 2024, closing at 11:59 p.m. ET on Feb. 29, 2024.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>How will entries be judged?</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Entries will be judged in two categories:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span>Grades 7-9</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Grades 10-12 </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LAl9_FyGr3kbd7oc17cyIcNS9feupma1_4LC-OxiaiJ_JrYqAA9-B5EYYSGJfWTItFXj3f3rh5r_7vRYMc_7cZUIDCxAkXVy8LeS5G76zCwabGBpXLezXdYeM8Efty8bPnPqJjUEFBo7T70WNxzn10RGdt4u5xNLAH23-OqEjrtAT0NFfrghHqcrb34w/s592/basil%20sylvester.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="592" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LAl9_FyGr3kbd7oc17cyIcNS9feupma1_4LC-OxiaiJ_JrYqAA9-B5EYYSGJfWTItFXj3f3rh5r_7vRYMc_7cZUIDCxAkXVy8LeS5G76zCwabGBpXLezXdYeM8Efty8bPnPqJjUEFBo7T70WNxzn10RGdt4u5xNLAH23-OqEjrtAT0NFfrghHqcrb34w/w200-h199/basil%20sylvester.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /> </span>Judging will be by author <b>Basil Sylvester</b> who co-authored <i>The Fabulous Zed Watson! </i>and <a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2024/01/night-of-living-zed.html" target="_blank"><i>Night of the Living Zed</i></a> with their father Kevin Sylvester.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What are the prizes? <br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The winner of each category will receive a one-year subscription to OwlCrate, which delivers monthly boxes of books and literary-related goodies. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The school library of each winner will also receive a donation of 50 books.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Want a little help?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Head to <a href="http://Curio.ca"><b>Curio.ca</b></a> (most schools have access) for helpful writing videos from authors like Erin Bow, Cory Doctorow, and Cherie Dimaline.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">Good luck </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">to all teen readers and now writers!</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">🖊🖊🖊🖊🖊 </span></b><span style="color: #45818e;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-62064729738466972242024-02-08T10:00:00.001-05:002024-02-08T10:00:00.151-05:00All Our Love<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylpaL7AxHqmdgkE6SyLSI-NtGq4CRD1Y0Vy3uSiJyBQA7aWepciGCb_V7Tnw_gQFoIy6KNehfiiCnFjGj3Tfbt_NBKPrQx9tgYadEznF4uqng2Q-HYPhePZjDQ0H-ul6ajwr0gsjzLmjRWLBD1re91Cckx2tyeex84CIzuRPRJR4mB7I-fQwxJgjOo1Aa/s882/allourlove%20framed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="882" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylpaL7AxHqmdgkE6SyLSI-NtGq4CRD1Y0Vy3uSiJyBQA7aWepciGCb_V7Tnw_gQFoIy6KNehfiiCnFjGj3Tfbt_NBKPrQx9tgYadEznF4uqng2Q-HYPhePZjDQ0H-ul6ajwr0gsjzLmjRWLBD1re91Cckx2tyeex84CIzuRPRJR4mB7I-fQwxJgjOo1Aa/w400-h395/allourlove%20framed.png" width="400" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Kari-Lynn Winters</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustrated by <b>Scot Ritchie</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">North Winds Press (Scholastic Canada) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-4431-9880-6 </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">32 pp. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 3-8<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">January 2024 </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We know that families come in so many configurations but do all children know that? <b><i>All Our Love</i></b> shows one wonderful family that may be just right as it is but will become even more right with a new baby.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4bCqIM8NMGLyqZGwfHgdnmKOcEcHyJiXK6FPVskafLiIQ790At3Ms3puCznK0OiZXZJQ3OkTcEK87Wz8JG_XVsFrI_k2mzCmz-KSL03YRVvZ1Z69MgIZkjmO-h-cYu4Ee0Wrr-ZKpS7p1ssdasoYdSxF3lwDmt9uQBWuax7fFWfZNEI4l8xFYN4S569e/s1738/inside%20allourlove%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1738" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4bCqIM8NMGLyqZGwfHgdnmKOcEcHyJiXK6FPVskafLiIQ790At3Ms3puCznK0OiZXZJQ3OkTcEK87Wz8JG_XVsFrI_k2mzCmz-KSL03YRVvZ1Z69MgIZkjmO-h-cYu4Ee0Wrr-ZKpS7p1ssdasoYdSxF3lwDmt9uQBWuax7fFWfZNEI4l8xFYN4S569e/w400-h190/inside%20allourlove%201.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>All Our Love</i>, written by Kari-Lynn Winters, illustrated by Scot Ritchie</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Sofia and her two dads are anticipating the arrival of a new baby. As Dad builds a crib, Sofia works on a welcome letter for the baby. But she has so many questions! When will the baby arrive? Will it want her as a big sister? Will it change their family from being "just right" which her dads said their family became when Sofia came along.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />But Sofia is also incredibly excited. When her dad finally arrives at school to tell her that it was time to go to the hospital, she thinks about all she's written "<i>To the new baby</i>." She mentions what Dad likes and does, while Daddy does other stuff. And she speaks about having a Dad and a Daddy because "<i>We're just lucky, I guess!</i>" Finally, after masking up and joining Daddy at the hospital, the family of four heads home, with the letter, now addressed to Oliver, being read, and signed off with "<i>All our love</i>."<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46MYhxbsI_BM6i3bkE9zk1Sje4M2mHdyiInUV-GwAeNTw40pgxF8E8LD3Q_699erCqSgj2P2xx9JjB8591YAp9GOGom6nIE8D3p_TL3GLLCbfPcNAlKBrvwqg3Pld11m7OdOKrJeQezyEBnR4nyWNCI8rJ-1oJhHU3X2Csbve_87iUPLgj7TlyL2XQ7ch/s2704/inside%20allourlove%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1348" data-original-width="2704" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46MYhxbsI_BM6i3bkE9zk1Sje4M2mHdyiInUV-GwAeNTw40pgxF8E8LD3Q_699erCqSgj2P2xx9JjB8591YAp9GOGom6nIE8D3p_TL3GLLCbfPcNAlKBrvwqg3Pld11m7OdOKrJeQezyEBnR4nyWNCI8rJ-1oJhHU3X2Csbve_87iUPLgj7TlyL2XQ7ch/w400-h200/inside%20allourlove%202.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>All Our Love</i>, written by Kari-Lynn Winters, illustrated by Scot Ritchie</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There is so much love in this household. Sofia knows she is loved, and she wants the baby to know they are loved too. So, all the things that her dads show her that prove their love for her, Sofia shares with the baby. She talks of Dad picking her up from school, and making pancakes for dinner on Tuesdays, and Daddy telling jokes and kissing boo-boos from falls. This child knows love. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Kari-Lynn Winters </b>can give us funny (e.g., <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2023/06/what-if-im-not-cat.html" target="_blank">What If I'm Not a Cat?</a> </i>and <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2015/06/bad-pirate.html" target="_blank">Bad Pirate</a></i>) but there is always a degree of tenderness in her stories. Her books like <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2016/12/french-toast.html" target="_blank">French Toast</a></i> and <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2012/12/gift-days.html" target="_blank">Gift Days</a></i> remind us that there are things which children may think about that may be surprising or different but they are legitimate questions and challenges that children may be experiencing. In <i><b>All Our Love</b></i>, while Sofia wonders what the new baby will mean to their family, her welcome letter suggests that she knows that they might wonder about a family with two daddies. This question may have been posed to Sofia herself and her answer acknowledges that she and the baby may have a different family than others but that's what makes it more special. Though <b>Kari-Lynn Winters</b>'s dedication suggests that the story is inspired by one particular family or two, <i><b>All Our Love</b></i> really speaks to every family, whether with two dads, two moms, only a mom or a dad, or both a mom and a dad, or no moms and dads. If there is love, it is a family.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXHhDw7QxE41mxuuoAfcGFKjo2HEnJAV7T67hmd5QaoRQmQfT1BSPQ_-7vcrM8JJwRoboYjF-6sLUGQZQM-1LKik-vGMn6-IWv-j6zLqsaSA166YxWbK4JpQ22LlCUhwTHfJgadu60OPkYOCtZJcbCMvlyiaPYSiYlhTDJUCBXMQy0yIg91WbO78sIbuj/s896/inside%20allourlove%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXHhDw7QxE41mxuuoAfcGFKjo2HEnJAV7T67hmd5QaoRQmQfT1BSPQ_-7vcrM8JJwRoboYjF-6sLUGQZQM-1LKik-vGMn6-IWv-j6zLqsaSA166YxWbK4JpQ22LlCUhwTHfJgadu60OPkYOCtZJcbCMvlyiaPYSiYlhTDJUCBXMQy0yIg91WbO78sIbuj/w329-h400/inside%20allourlove%203.png" width="329" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>From <i>All Our Love</i>, written by Kari-Lynn Winters, illustrated by Scot Ritchie</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Scot Ritchie</b>, illustrator of countless books of his own (e.g., <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2017/08/federica.html" target="_blank">Federica</a></i>) as well as those of others (e.g., <a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2024/01/zander-stays.html" target="_blank"><i>Zander Stays</i></a>), has an art style that is soft in line and colour and tender in its spirit. As <b><i>All Our Love</i></b> comes from the perspective of Sofia writing a letter to her new sibling, <b>Scot Ritchie</b> has given the illustrations a sweet, anticipatory feel. From Sofia thinking and writing about what this new change will mean, to the family that feels the stars of a birth's magnificence, <b>Scot Ritchie</b>'s art takes us on their journey from waiting and hoping to welcoming and celebrating.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope that young readers will see this as a story of two dads and their children but will also recognize that it goes beyond that because of the love that comes with family. With all that love, this family will be just right, no matter its composition.<br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-35346304034523874042024-02-06T10:00:00.001-05:002024-02-06T10:00:00.133-05:00This is a Tiny Fragile Snake<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8CCz0zNWatyDk5Xt85_l8rECAkME3InmjQxlVYN1kOiT8m9IAIvO2ai3nlD85iMqqjcyCc5bqdnNn9XP58GB98RwukvuXI5yebCT5L8GEBN3uzWdD8CU2ONxORkboPN5HLyKCMehnxZiSj9hfN_lwGHTMA3hlNBUIwDy_13n3zQpPCxr7OciK0RgIrA0/s1112/thisisatinyfragilesnake%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1112" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8CCz0zNWatyDk5Xt85_l8rECAkME3InmjQxlVYN1kOiT8m9IAIvO2ai3nlD85iMqqjcyCc5bqdnNn9XP58GB98RwukvuXI5yebCT5L8GEBN3uzWdD8CU2ONxORkboPN5HLyKCMehnxZiSj9hfN_lwGHTMA3hlNBUIwDy_13n3zQpPCxr7OciK0RgIrA0/w400-h359/thisisatinyfragilesnake%20framed.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Nicholas Ruddock</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustrated by <b>Ashley Barron</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Groundwood Books</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-77306-784-1 <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">36 pp. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 3+ <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">February 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>This is a Tiny Fragile Snake</i></b> is a nature walk, a stroll through different habitats to see a variety of animals but observed through human eyes and through our interactions with them. <b>Nicholas Ruddock</b>, Guelph writer and physician, gives us the perspective of children as they take in a snake, a bear, a hummingbird, a caterpillar, and more as their worlds intersect with ours. In rhyming verse, <b>Nicholas Ruddock</b> lets us see something different along with these children. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXjPQvjSEM4dQNF5g-nLxelaD9XNuq1d9RpabrwH2fl7qVJ6A36evmdyuuDH2cBPY69NfrjJHvj7WDrX3GcAOQ5fYPC7WhwBdp7Ortg7S-F4OBeoXshayHBEA3LGGQg76ez4XO1i5AaSAL0UJ-7jScJAbMgZOii-gz0Kz0i1tSrets1hiJhdhClqLd0j5/s800/inside%20thisisatinyfragilesnake%201%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="800" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXjPQvjSEM4dQNF5g-nLxelaD9XNuq1d9RpabrwH2fl7qVJ6A36evmdyuuDH2cBPY69NfrjJHvj7WDrX3GcAOQ5fYPC7WhwBdp7Ortg7S-F4OBeoXshayHBEA3LGGQg76ez4XO1i5AaSAL0UJ-7jScJAbMgZOii-gz0Kz0i1tSrets1hiJhdhClqLd0j5/w400-h178/inside%20thisisatinyfragilesnake%201%20.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>This is a Tiny Fragile Snake</i>, written by Nicholas Ruddock, illustrated by Ashley Barron</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first poem is "Snake" which, while it mentions what the snake eats, is more about the children protecting the snake from being trampled by moving it to a safer place via a coffee cup. Children being benevolent is a theme that also shows up in the poem about the hummingbird that has its beak stuck in a window screen, and a caterpillar saved from a lawnmower, as well as a chipmunk being stalked by a tuxedo cat.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I plucked it from its blade of grass</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">and placed it on a tree,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">and a week ago a butterfly</span></i></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>came by and danced for me.</i> ("Caterpillar")</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1m0fA1k2rqdhdTcCzvZwGBnyKGqTXKmdpJTB5JbjyGxxa-_FPhRzFLiD343WfaPWqxgoJ2Wk1Lr39bZSa3DSHWrjptXCCLOA_NCawUQGayZ1K8r_xIDRW8dwZfx6hQJ-8eQdbqMXerCdecatUYj__Q05nLB6uxyikEJPHGaagxnrw5F3xXDGAFkRBh_X/s800/inside%20thisisatinyfragilesnake%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="800" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1m0fA1k2rqdhdTcCzvZwGBnyKGqTXKmdpJTB5JbjyGxxa-_FPhRzFLiD343WfaPWqxgoJ2Wk1Lr39bZSa3DSHWrjptXCCLOA_NCawUQGayZ1K8r_xIDRW8dwZfx6hQJ-8eQdbqMXerCdecatUYj__Q05nLB6uxyikEJPHGaagxnrw5F3xXDGAFkRBh_X/w400-h178/inside%20thisisatinyfragilesnake%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>This is a Tiny Fragile Snake</i>, written by Nicholas Ruddock, illustrated by Ashley Barron</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some poems reflect how we feel about the animals highlighted, whether disgusted, scared, impressed or something completely different. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> "Ants" speaks to dissuading ants from ruining a picnic by offering some sugary treats some distance away. "Skunk" suggests to children that, while we might see a skunk as a stinky animal, perhaps the skunk sees us with disdain too. Whether it be hornets, a moose, herons, a red squirrel, or a finch, wasp, worms, or loon, <b>Nicholas Ruddock</b> reminds us that people have a relationship with other animals. This might be because we have imposed ourselves on their habitats, or because they have encroached on ours, but there is an interrelationship as our dynamic worlds merge and separate.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzNJfj9rAAJovuVLEhdoKeqEH_P8ATNaYbxodTtlP93d5Fcr1urnwzUS3xOEVD2nvZNMtMnx4uFh4v5mcgPl2yjywXcPmbqbckE6Ql37rTCNQFk2U42_tJEUpUg-DQq87G9XWmtNuq58RsL4exTlejRPzRBQO62doCBYGk8FlsT4vF34p61L3TWDG-nXs/s800/inside%20thisisatinyfragilesnake%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="800" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzNJfj9rAAJovuVLEhdoKeqEH_P8ATNaYbxodTtlP93d5Fcr1urnwzUS3xOEVD2nvZNMtMnx4uFh4v5mcgPl2yjywXcPmbqbckE6Ql37rTCNQFk2U42_tJEUpUg-DQq87G9XWmtNuq58RsL4exTlejRPzRBQO62doCBYGk8FlsT4vF34p61L3TWDG-nXs/w400-h178/inside%20thisisatinyfragilesnake%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>This is a Tiny Fragile Snake</i>, written by Nicholas Ruddock, illustrated by Ashley Barron</td></tr></tbody></table>By showing young readers how our actions can impact other species, <b>Nicholas Ruddock</b> demonstrates how we can ensure that those actions are always positive or at least harmless. There is wisdom in getting a raccoon out of house or how to free a loon trapped in ice which is delivered with a gentle awe of these animals and how they behave. There is a respect for them that is both explicit and implicit.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">It turned out we were helpless,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">there was nothing we could do,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">for there seemed a steady stream of them,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>and we were only two.</i> ("Hornets")</span></div></blockquote></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've admired <b>Ashley Barron</b>'s cut-paper collage illustrations in earlier books that she's illustrated for others (e.g., <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2017/06/up-how-families-around-world-carry.html" target="_blank">Up! How Families Around the World Carry Their Little Ones</a></i>, <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2021/11/chaiwala.html" target="_blank">Chaiwala!</a></i>, and <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2023/06/granny-left-me-rocket-ship.html" target="_blank">Granny Left Me a Rocket Ship</a></i>) and I believe that the texturing that comes with her technique lends itself well to outdoor settings. Like leaves that layer and feathers and fur, scales and petals<b> </b>of texture,<b> Ashley Barron</b>'s art is rich in depth and colour, giving a three-dimensionality to the landscapes and their animals.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While <b><i>This is a Tiny Fragile Snake</i></b> will entice readers, young and old, to find the poetry in nature and how we interact with it, the poems within also remind us how, when our worlds merge, we can ensure those interactions remain copacetic. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">So we gave up, threw up our hands,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">defeated by a pest,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">and for the rest of summer</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>she was treated as a guest.</i> ("Squirrel")</span></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-82046963925901670022024-02-05T10:00:00.001-05:002024-02-05T10:00:00.229-05:002023 Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award: Finalists announced<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzTiruom-YGcm8hiDrQ5od3rTG2YMz_NYi04bkX2NIwyvPInkb2l8xasTr4H5zgB_ncThO8snIwi1ukFkiQdUgJNZDd3MfSWHQ2svRjS-5eQT7EB4JwFa7eiYWV0MQ5oBCAstSKnttub74detgwvPLmTT7XNRdDA6H4L7DBD45usiljUQYgiKclfXqUEv/s625/IBBY%20canada%20framed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="625" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzTiruom-YGcm8hiDrQ5od3rTG2YMz_NYi04bkX2NIwyvPInkb2l8xasTr4H5zgB_ncThO8snIwi1ukFkiQdUgJNZDd3MfSWHQ2svRjS-5eQT7EB4JwFa7eiYWV0MQ5oBCAstSKnttub74detgwvPLmTT7XNRdDA6H4L7DBD45usiljUQYgiKclfXqUEv/w400-h110/IBBY%20canada%20framed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On January 31, 2024, IBBY Canada (the Canadian section of IBBY, International Board on Books for Young People) <a href="https://www.ibby-canada.org/news/" target="_blank">announced the finalists</a> for the 2023 <b><a href="https://www.ibby-canada.org/awards/elizabeth-mrazik-cleaver-award/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award</a></b>. The award, established in a bequest from illustrator Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver in 1985, honours a Canadian illustrator of a picture book published in Canada in English or French during the previous calendar year.<br /></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Congratulations to the finalists for the 2023 Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZE4vV-NdvVNGvEZ1-bcrLvjwBgara4ZNDCli8mOdrNWcpASTsPYr1cCZw3zSCER9SjfZWYD7JLPtSWhuPkLmotgjvYOZ8PxXqu3lvZrWWJFESvTipx41JBE4VmlyeLZQsm88B8hyIMnzP3XuJeNyIGmZy8AxEwrfxIhAaG08m9UuLe0EAvaAFErqJzWO1/s1606/doyouremember.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1606" data-original-width="1480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZE4vV-NdvVNGvEZ1-bcrLvjwBgara4ZNDCli8mOdrNWcpASTsPYr1cCZw3zSCER9SjfZWYD7JLPtSWhuPkLmotgjvYOZ8PxXqu3lvZrWWJFESvTipx41JBE4VmlyeLZQsm88B8hyIMnzP3XuJeNyIGmZy8AxEwrfxIhAaG08m9UuLe0EAvaAFErqJzWO1/w184-h200/doyouremember.png" width="184" /></a></div><br />Do You Remember? </i></b><br />Illustrations and text by <b>Sydney Smith </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Groundwood Books</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2023/10/do-you-remember.html" target="_blank"><i>Reviewed here </i></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJcFhGitT7Su_H3bAild3pqmG356JY4aTI5kCmpqDnzjKS98-D4xgtPRC0Lhj5s8imCSO8b8R2jgr8OrosalTf8oJlPXOR8WgVrFOO2RLi3w14Y5JL5LsXgRSpENkn-KBCsWDY4EjoEQn_F6dfxENuDx9r0J6T1FN_Ry5TutPUrUfs1AJhTY-3s1CqwI-/s1024/mnoominmaangowing%20giftofmnoomin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="985" data-original-width="1024" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJcFhGitT7Su_H3bAild3pqmG356JY4aTI5kCmpqDnzjKS98-D4xgtPRC0Lhj5s8imCSO8b8R2jgr8OrosalTf8oJlPXOR8WgVrFOO2RLi3w14Y5JL5LsXgRSpENkn-KBCsWDY4EjoEQn_F6dfxENuDx9r0J6T1FN_Ry5TutPUrUfs1AJhTY-3s1CqwI-/w200-h193/mnoominmaangowing%20giftofmnoomin.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Mnoomin maan’gowing / The Gift of Mnoomin </b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustrations by <b>Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Text by Brittany Luby</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anishinaabemowin translation by Mary Ann Corbiere </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Groundwood Books<br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5Jszgv5eOBKYfvqhKiHG0AJlhM27bOQ0X6yV4qSApGyp_rrk3tQLJbTP6LBbXrhxqyYt5Ir2JjyYeRe3IOiNkGyH-15P8_zdXRbdbps_cLnm2W-f2aqLCPpWutHrrUl4D5ylUxtgbeGkbnNDuS9qFjvsmAjGgLQaCdTgwkibRYmzSBxMeigPmTyG3gf0/s980/onceabird.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="794" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5Jszgv5eOBKYfvqhKiHG0AJlhM27bOQ0X6yV4qSApGyp_rrk3tQLJbTP6LBbXrhxqyYt5Ir2JjyYeRe3IOiNkGyH-15P8_zdXRbdbps_cLnm2W-f2aqLCPpWutHrrUl4D5ylUxtgbeGkbnNDuS9qFjvsmAjGgLQaCdTgwkibRYmzSBxMeigPmTyG3gf0/w162-h200/onceabird.png" width="162" /></a></div><br />Once, a Bird </i></b><br />Illustrations by <b>Nathalie Dion</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Storyline by Rina Singh </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Orca Book Publishers</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2023/12/once-bird.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a></i><br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXKUMvUhz-SgMBba6R-bt5Jen55XG2hhq4cfBMkZ6w2iPKISLK0Lrw1LaSsgU02cSoPOY5Xvi-F8vbaCNwMi_5reGuPUtSmBDDeEFZP5MRY5-23pPDgejhbE3UZpjG9BBFKw3OKqrb01GCtuHEEEHfo4KGTuHTJc35wPNucJpLKWUKSFO-pTC_-U8hGwf/s399/onlywaytomakebread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="399" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXKUMvUhz-SgMBba6R-bt5Jen55XG2hhq4cfBMkZ6w2iPKISLK0Lrw1LaSsgU02cSoPOY5Xvi-F8vbaCNwMi_5reGuPUtSmBDDeEFZP5MRY5-23pPDgejhbE3UZpjG9BBFKw3OKqrb01GCtuHEEEHfo4KGTuHTJc35wPNucJpLKWUKSFO-pTC_-U8hGwf/w200-h200/onlywaytomakebread.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />The Only Way to Make Bread </i></b><br />Illustrations by <b>Sarah Gonzales</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Text by Cristina Quintero </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tundra<br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmmaUcpC_7RSY8e8eFWDUHcGdywfoeeNthbnbM0ulTwC6qkOtIZpRY9Z9gGHCrKSjS5Bzf5MkQMqg5ed4DjDRajg5qivSUTfEoT148trGA7h7vFfXPJsvzCyn4aTTayRepA7-bLQbMziSWrdPDS1NULcaIy7MYdEA-JqVc42U4P-Dg7n8nmP2WfukKKEO/s500/skatingwildonaninlandsea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="415" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmmaUcpC_7RSY8e8eFWDUHcGdywfoeeNthbnbM0ulTwC6qkOtIZpRY9Z9gGHCrKSjS5Bzf5MkQMqg5ed4DjDRajg5qivSUTfEoT148trGA7h7vFfXPJsvzCyn4aTTayRepA7-bLQbMziSWrdPDS1NULcaIy7MYdEA-JqVc42U4P-Dg7n8nmP2WfukKKEO/w166-h200/skatingwildonaninlandsea.jpg" width="166" /></a></div><br />Skating Wild on an Inland Sea </i></b><br />Illustrations by <b>Todd Stewart</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Text by Jean E. Pendziwol </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Groundwood Books<br /><b><br /><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92GWbLpBOYxJ5_zs1i1kWz_p8JvjGooKMlZBdswBd0UNM6jJr3jSepQe1bG63d_eV3Qnit0xVodDTRmjQvQ68hPBriuaiNf0XO5IBVc1Xl0qhkbuPvcpZFPzGo6bA7IGQqmHpsY1IbauxUI2Mce8rqFz-EbktKjpK3oUNr8d4a1Jvpp8SCq7iW6HG1iJc/s1258/songthatcalledthemhome.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="1106" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92GWbLpBOYxJ5_zs1i1kWz_p8JvjGooKMlZBdswBd0UNM6jJr3jSepQe1bG63d_eV3Qnit0xVodDTRmjQvQ68hPBriuaiNf0XO5IBVc1Xl0qhkbuPvcpZFPzGo6bA7IGQqmHpsY1IbauxUI2Mce8rqFz-EbktKjpK3oUNr8d4a1Jvpp8SCq7iW6HG1iJc/w176-h200/songthatcalledthemhome.png" width="176" /></a></div><br />The Song That Called Them Home </i></b><br />Illustrated by <b>Maya McKibbin</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Text by David A. Robertson </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tundra</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-song-that-called-them-home.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here</a></i><br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6_xg9GNj67emH1TFnP9fJKSfENCIZ2PKd8D7ZczPrI89_7tIIjO3jtR_eU5DlnZYURr0D4nUT14H0zIFgOaxfvMwAb0FbPwhSbFNZgyk_nK6odoF_6lyT5drrgrZtLBLmKGtcdQ9l_lvIxKcZzuROb2ISOi9B3c-5hRiUuJ-hQOm4H7q4Igu76TuFi9D/s1200/tulipinwinter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6_xg9GNj67emH1TFnP9fJKSfENCIZ2PKd8D7ZczPrI89_7tIIjO3jtR_eU5DlnZYURr0D4nUT14H0zIFgOaxfvMwAb0FbPwhSbFNZgyk_nK6odoF_6lyT5drrgrZtLBLmKGtcdQ9l_lvIxKcZzuROb2ISOi9B3c-5hRiUuJ-hQOm4H7q4Igu76TuFi9D/w200-h200/tulipinwinter.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />A Tulip in Winter: A Story About Folk Artist Maud Lewis </i></b><br />Illustrations by <b>Lauren Soloy</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Text by Kathy Stinson </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Greystone Kids<br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yL_PInsRvHNTBiGkRf1Twhv8KPvIMK4ORWvx79RwxbvZzfnzpPw_zXk5aoHWDvUXRPVCUuP4NvVcutMZoI86F7VaCcBMDRMD2XIUFy3cTOY6vjYh6mNwnj5B47T_4NMmrt1kfSnJv16cjg09QwU2cnpFXGvAHd8Na0HGXRvZB4W84lOIyNUHVOSN9mt6/s730/levillagedanslamer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="675" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yL_PInsRvHNTBiGkRf1Twhv8KPvIMK4ORWvx79RwxbvZzfnzpPw_zXk5aoHWDvUXRPVCUuP4NvVcutMZoI86F7VaCcBMDRMD2XIUFy3cTOY6vjYh6mNwnj5B47T_4NMmrt1kfSnJv16cjg09QwU2cnpFXGvAHd8Na0HGXRvZB4W84lOIyNUHVOSN9mt6/w185-h200/levillagedanslamer.jpg" width="185" /></a></div><br />Le village dans la mer </i></b><br />Illustrations and text by <b>Félix Girard </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Éditions de l’Isatis<br /><br /><i><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5oIgLIjYQTaQJdEHYIETdp7NwsjQJjH1Gc1KUE6glC_U3t2xT0Lj-aSRP5bfxDsS_yQ1jpMTbxgQ_JZucU6TXCUc2MinT_JCAfjH2dp_QsGIWYuXOvdLYjI582w4UM-tZFmmDOWj4NJxtoaKWZi-8OkKpBtYsnAN19ggAwVCKNuaF2nYfRCows2MJZyO/s1479/wakingbendoldrums.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5oIgLIjYQTaQJdEHYIETdp7NwsjQJjH1Gc1KUE6glC_U3t2xT0Lj-aSRP5bfxDsS_yQ1jpMTbxgQ_JZucU6TXCUc2MinT_JCAfjH2dp_QsGIWYuXOvdLYjI582w4UM-tZFmmDOWj4NJxtoaKWZi-8OkKpBtYsnAN19ggAwVCKNuaF2nYfRCows2MJZyO/w163-h200/wakingbendoldrums.jpg" width="163" /></a></div><br />Waking Ben Doldrums </b></i><br />Illustrations by <b>Byron Eggenschwiler</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Text by Heather Smith </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Orca Book Publishers<br /><br /><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGVYFiJfvuRCPFezKPyp8Md1mO9W8xt1FXbP1krTCsgaXmUBd6ppJPbFJnnS1PkWCqojbOg3vf1i92SptjMmNqJ1rXYwwLfWivplDD0tJ6312Wj5MHCoeDUHCCxpOiGrwf6_aFdSHifGRp4uBOPI53kb9mp9TS8SRYerlbm8XAIsvQBy6ytmrNJORRtqH/s1384/weloveyouasmuchasthefoxlovesitstail.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1384" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGVYFiJfvuRCPFezKPyp8Md1mO9W8xt1FXbP1krTCsgaXmUBd6ppJPbFJnnS1PkWCqojbOg3vf1i92SptjMmNqJ1rXYwwLfWivplDD0tJ6312Wj5MHCoeDUHCCxpOiGrwf6_aFdSHifGRp4uBOPI53kb9mp9TS8SRYerlbm8XAIsvQBy6ytmrNJORRtqH/w200-h181/weloveyouasmuchasthefoxlovesitstail.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />We Love You as Much as the Fox Loves Its Tail </i></b><br />Illustrations by <b>Tamara Campeau</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Text by Masiana Kelly </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Inhabit Media</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2023/08/we-love-you-as-much-as-fox-loves-its.html" target="_blank">Reviewed here </a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The winner will be announced at the IBBY Canada annual meeting on March 30, 2024.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-67412007007360207562024-02-03T10:00:00.001-05:002024-02-03T10:00:00.247-05:00Still My Tessa<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgyilAb1izF697UUNenDge_s-tNjyMsemnUSrcqAvSLUHoXrBbFMKjghL4S2tAhNr4tJC3wjN5x75zgcfYJn1FospwiYtntkO-7km0t_yzopdBb64H7WMOOXHQ_xxFrAxChOllgl9vEzqCcpXMuYbjuk5izrEN_KnVvF1I6ffzXezkub1G0NctGLPNqBF/s1058/stillmytessa%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="1058" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgyilAb1izF697UUNenDge_s-tNjyMsemnUSrcqAvSLUHoXrBbFMKjghL4S2tAhNr4tJC3wjN5x75zgcfYJn1FospwiYtntkO-7km0t_yzopdBb64H7WMOOXHQ_xxFrAxChOllgl9vEzqCcpXMuYbjuk5izrEN_KnVvF1I6ffzXezkub1G0NctGLPNqBF/w400-h395/stillmytessa%20framed.png" width="400" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Sylv Chiang</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustrated by <b>Mathias Ball</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">North Winds Press (Scholastic Canada)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-4431-9623-9</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">32 pp,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 4-8<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">January 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Evelyn is both perplexed and worried. The older child she has always known as her sister is now telling her that they aren't her sister, or her brother. Tessa is her sibling. What does that mean? Is Evelyn even Tessa's sister?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyTJnKkOBy8XlUD9e52kCu61kaBre0ZhMacUFTRZtpeMa_NAnCLQoq-4nGdYhM6BXc7zONvee6s_GclrN0x9rv-QlmiQw0bsusTIPG16q0o-efz_OQSjxBt9qDoQCtb0KpNp8RdZdSaXQrBU3DS_16Xsblljxf-CiBmPH6RQmMdn5boOfBZsclswppR6q/s960/inside%20stillmytessa%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyTJnKkOBy8XlUD9e52kCu61kaBre0ZhMacUFTRZtpeMa_NAnCLQoq-4nGdYhM6BXc7zONvee6s_GclrN0x9rv-QlmiQw0bsusTIPG16q0o-efz_OQSjxBt9qDoQCtb0KpNp8RdZdSaXQrBU3DS_16Xsblljxf-CiBmPH6RQmMdn5boOfBZsclswppR6q/w400-h200/inside%20stillmytessa%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From<i> Still My Tessa</i>, written by Sylv Chiang, illustrated by Mathias Ball<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">Evelyn sees that Tessa is not herself. Evelyn wants to play with Tessa and take them out of their dark room and make them smile again but she doesn't know how. When she writes a note to the "Best Sister Ever!" Tessa explains to Evelyn that they are not her sister, or her brother, but prefers to be called Evelyn's sibling. They do some stuff together but it's obvious that Tessa is growing up and their interests have changed. They are also burdened with educating Evelyn about their pronouns (they/them/their) and dealing with those who assume they know what Tessa's pronouns must be.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMSJpLmisw050ACSg7YcsA0jhktA7yt4Lif-d3atp3WAiD-4_qdIYHvhV3QvLESe-Of8HQ7B93JtverSLmqPbmXBdQM8DmtzFdOG9IqxEVidG8W2qS-z8vmKAI820THXnKys9V7TCPnjxeDqBHwOkjIwo8n3ek6aP4TGYEPqeetdR_tKSGq_uGLeIKRtL/s960/inside%20stillmytessa%203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMSJpLmisw050ACSg7YcsA0jhktA7yt4Lif-d3atp3WAiD-4_qdIYHvhV3QvLESe-Of8HQ7B93JtverSLmqPbmXBdQM8DmtzFdOG9IqxEVidG8W2qS-z8vmKAI820THXnKys9V7TCPnjxeDqBHwOkjIwo8n3ek6aP4TGYEPqeetdR_tKSGq_uGLeIKRtL/w400-h200/inside%20stillmytessa%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From<i> Still My Tessa</i>, written by Sylv Chiang, illustrated by Mathias Ball</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">Evelyn wants to learn and she does. After a week, she's using Tessa's preferred pronouns and almost gets a smile from her sibling. But when the family goes for a bike ride, Tessa is again challenged by those who assume their gender is female. Evelyn has no problem informing people they meet that Tessa is her sibling, recognizing that if she can adapt to Tessa's pronouns in a week, others can learn as well. And when their parents introduce Evelyn as a girl and Tessa as non-binary, Tessa's smile finally returns.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJDxAv7f4JOqpTchq1D-L2Ay-zlWIslD5W5NYHz3SGZbTIo412lii2qDZhBWGu9aUQUakZzNX5-ELXdGK7D7pU7jhwd3jtNelMJgC1qFRdTPyxSCxvc05QW5Es7BJKnFnndthP7uQxe6PbwD4NyqHo2G3LRixAmRV43d60Q-kIiVQhOh8RpI1IHFwGajz/s3776/inside%20stillmytessa%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3776" data-original-width="3208" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJDxAv7f4JOqpTchq1D-L2Ay-zlWIslD5W5NYHz3SGZbTIo412lii2qDZhBWGu9aUQUakZzNX5-ELXdGK7D7pU7jhwd3jtNelMJgC1qFRdTPyxSCxvc05QW5Es7BJKnFnndthP7uQxe6PbwD4NyqHo2G3LRixAmRV43d60Q-kIiVQhOh8RpI1IHFwGajz/w340-h400/inside%20stillmytessa%203.png" width="340" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From<i> Still My Tessa</i>, written by Sylv Chiang, illustrated by Mathias Ball</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">The premise behind <b><i>Still My Tessa</i></b> goes beyond just recognizing that we should all feel comfortable with the pronouns by which we are addressed. It also recognizes that young children might have to learn about pronouns and being non-binary but that this can be learned with the right teaching. Teacher <b>Sylv Chiang</b> (she/her) finds a sibling relationship the perfect vehicle for addressing the use of pronouns. As a little sister who obviously adores Tessa, Evelyn just wants them to be the sibling with whom she can play and make happy. And by modelling what's she's learned, Evelyn can help teach others what is appropriate for Tessa and all of them. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustrator<b> Mathias Ball</b> (he/they) may have had to struggle with enlightening others about their preferred pronouns, and, as such, their depictions of Tessa are truly authentic, reflecting what a child struggling to understand and accept and advocate for themselves with their non-binary status and pronoun preferences would feel. Evelyn is a happy child whose biggest worry is who will play with her, while Tessa is filled with angst. Whether it is becoming a teenager, already a struggle for many, or understanding their non-binary nature, Tessa projects that burden, rarely cracking a smile or venturing from their room and from beneath their headphones. Still, <b>Mathias Ball</b> doesn't make them sullen or angry, but they do make them introspective and solemn. That doesn't mean the illustrations are anything but bright and cheerful and inclusive, ensuring that Tessa and Evelyn both see the joys of their world.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Accepting how we would like to be addressed is an important part of our identities. But it isn't always easy for others to accept the appropriate pronouns or gender designations (even nonconforming ones). Still Evelyn demonstrated that learning can happen and doesn't have to change her relationship with Tessa, except by also becoming their ally now. With a little instruction–<b>Sylv Chiang</b> offers some help understanding of what it means to be non-binary, how to use pronouns, and how to become an ally. With compassion and clarification, every young child can learn to use the correct pronouns as Evelyn did for her sibling and help others to do the same. (And <b><i>Still My Tessa</i></b> may even help a few parents learn how to becomes allies for their children.)<br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-1819877526588910622024-02-01T10:00:00.026-05:002024-02-01T10:00:00.127-05:00The Inside Scouts Help the Kind Lion (The Inside Scouts #1)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXCqpI4rRucCq8yJlEhZm2fTmmDUDKuDa8I2Z9B9bjD8EEnP-GC4ZPkfVQVWq46ebSrPCzSKDl_VYSLpViSkgj8nCFU322OXOwjhLRHcTx3k7UUPt0aW77iVXQCOM9gEuZUFmg83uqcGF_kysIXclCV_DH6bafPsLh2D-EiYpQunlX5YQkfiEtw8-us_I/s1010/insidescoutshelpthekindlion%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="806" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXCqpI4rRucCq8yJlEhZm2fTmmDUDKuDa8I2Z9B9bjD8EEnP-GC4ZPkfVQVWq46ebSrPCzSKDl_VYSLpViSkgj8nCFU322OXOwjhLRHcTx3k7UUPt0aW77iVXQCOM9gEuZUFmg83uqcGF_kysIXclCV_DH6bafPsLh2D-EiYpQunlX5YQkfiEtw8-us_I/w319-h400/insidescoutshelpthekindlion%20framed.png" width="319" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Mitali Banerjee Ruths</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustrated by <b>Francesca Mahaney<br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Acorn (Scholastic)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-338-89498-1</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">64 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 4-7</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">RL 1.0</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">February 2024 </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sanjay and Viv are the Inside Scouts, and they have the superpower to shrink super small and go inside animals to make them feel better. In this first book in this illustrated early reader (RL 1.0) series, the kids must help a lion who is not feeling his best.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Inside Scouts!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Always on call!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">To fix big things,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>we get super small! </i>(pg. 20)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjzJDI1OBUmQzWOZgCFEgEEDkwKrdDlK0LPNMsI40TlX6xKshAtfIUpQ_2itEqa3O75i8kFF8eNdwlTXxyVcRzRc-Ktsgvvutz8mdj2ook2_LSRzjqb9BysDbQRYw39bpsz7oV1kc1Qe1SF6kH4HNd97NVLeLPBiiSIIi4CPWGoL9yWGnIEwpX8AiY0Ux/s1740/inside%20insidescourtshelpthekindlion%201.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1740" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjzJDI1OBUmQzWOZgCFEgEEDkwKrdDlK0LPNMsI40TlX6xKshAtfIUpQ_2itEqa3O75i8kFF8eNdwlTXxyVcRzRc-Ktsgvvutz8mdj2ook2_LSRzjqb9BysDbQRYw39bpsz7oV1kc1Qe1SF6kH4HNd97NVLeLPBiiSIIi4CPWGoL9yWGnIEwpX8AiY0Ux/w400-h270/inside%20insidescourtshelpthekindlion%201.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>The Inside Scouts Help the Kind Lion</i>, written by Mitali Banerjee Ruths, illustrated by Francesca Mahaney </span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ruslan is a lion who wants to run and play with his cubs, but he is feeling far too tired to do so. Using some very cool tech, the kids show Ruslan a leak in his heart. Gearing up, the two go in through his nose–though they must be careful not to tickle the sensitive lion–and follow a vein to the heart.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CSj6qmgA1gJSaI3XnaSjTD6xNaGW3EVIm1g4efuHC0Dd7zJ1mqU6_nv6UiDII0IeVBkxI0WVG9-1ECf-Zq30vgHNDWMhKYrEJRSMWfyTjzj7gLh-0DcJiSFdwQ6tk2cQaE0H8gaMv5OOiX7kXU84Pj7og6GnejUrjTRJEwdoiW8zfsPBi-HxVP0XRhuK/s2542/inside%20insidescoutshelpakindlion%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2542" data-original-width="1951" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CSj6qmgA1gJSaI3XnaSjTD6xNaGW3EVIm1g4efuHC0Dd7zJ1mqU6_nv6UiDII0IeVBkxI0WVG9-1ECf-Zq30vgHNDWMhKYrEJRSMWfyTjzj7gLh-0DcJiSFdwQ6tk2cQaE0H8gaMv5OOiX7kXU84Pj7og6GnejUrjTRJEwdoiW8zfsPBi-HxVP0XRhuK/w308-h400/inside%20insidescoutshelpakindlion%202.png" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>The Inside Scouts Help the Kind Lion</i>, written by Mitali Banerjee Ruths, illustrated by Francesca Mahaney</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The Inside Scouts show young readers how the heart is made up of four rooms, with doors called valves that allow movement of the blood. Though the story is appended with "Fun Facts about the Heart" that describes the pumping of the heart and uses terms like circulates, arteries, veins and chambers, the illustrations are done at such large scale that the anatomical features of the heart are not readily discernible so even the squeamishest of children will have no problems with the artwork. But they will have a sweet introduction to how our hearts work and how those with poorly-functioning ones might feel.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBtpujkON1JznFV2IGrfdED8ayc5czJShyphenhyphenyR43Mohpk8nE8YGTxDiQUn2i_o_dnY3MXPs8gVcWwh_mrPFnA8VaNIwKwnKKBi3MkpCpAzXJeDDlr_pyJeNDsLKU09YrkawJq9L8wEUbaIHiFOHJOM9D2yVKsmSxcHU8qOAAxemFGZUyWaKh2tFCr5dAQOk/s850/inside%20insidescoutshelpakindlion%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="646" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBtpujkON1JznFV2IGrfdED8ayc5czJShyphenhyphenyR43Mohpk8nE8YGTxDiQUn2i_o_dnY3MXPs8gVcWwh_mrPFnA8VaNIwKwnKKBi3MkpCpAzXJeDDlr_pyJeNDsLKU09YrkawJq9L8wEUbaIHiFOHJOM9D2yVKsmSxcHU8qOAAxemFGZUyWaKh2tFCr5dAQOk/w304-h400/inside%20insidescoutshelpakindlion%203.png" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>The Inside Scouts Help the Kind Lion</i>, written by Mitali Banerjee Ruths, illustrated by Francesca Mahaney</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not only will the Inside Scouts help young children understand their bodies, but the series will also make them think about illness and how our behaviours may be impacted by health issues. Whether it's a lion that cannot play with his cubs because of a leaky heart, or a giraffe with an upset tummy or a cheetah with a leg cramp (Books 2 and 3 are out later this year), the Inside Scouts teach and encourage empathy for those who may be suffering.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiCXJAlJvAnXl5R6IwH3TuvTHISqjxceaBrSoOe8jOTUuIBOp_TV9DLtQZLd_hwMLrfNykEvvekZWtq2rwsntATRgIBNLM8XNqh0Zb9Z8_GG_CAcNz8HPzOXVljo_maxk7ELWgphuaoLUYN3uuyjlP3lnLbB0imR-wsiSOc0etvfwKLqnHn8dHAqVa45e/s898/inside%20insidescoutshelpakindlion%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="656" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiCXJAlJvAnXl5R6IwH3TuvTHISqjxceaBrSoOe8jOTUuIBOp_TV9DLtQZLd_hwMLrfNykEvvekZWtq2rwsntATRgIBNLM8XNqh0Zb9Z8_GG_CAcNz8HPzOXVljo_maxk7ELWgphuaoLUYN3uuyjlP3lnLbB0imR-wsiSOc0etvfwKLqnHn8dHAqVa45e/w293-h400/inside%20insidescoutshelpakindlion%201.png" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>The Inside Scouts Help the Kind Lion</i>, written by Mitali Banerjee Ruths, illustrated by Francesca Mahaney</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The tale of the kindly lion with a big heart, albeit a leaky one, will delight young readers with its mixture of humour–such as the kids getting sneezed out of the lion's nose with slime–learning and story. <b>Mitali Banerjee Ruths</b>, who also writes <i>The Party Diaries</i> series for the Branches early chapter book imprint of Scholastic, has written a text that is perfect for the earliest readers but challenges them with more sophisticated words in the "</span><span style="font-size: medium;">Fun Facts about the Heart" section. There is also an activity (Draw Your Own "I Am Kind" Badge) and encouragement to write a story about being kind. With artwork by Filipino-American <b>Francesca Mahaney</b>, who has done a fabulous job of illustrating what could have been a perplexing topic for young children, <b><i>The Inside Scouts Help the Kind Lion</i></b> becomes an accessible but bold adventure of colour, shape, and story, and one that will be a hit with readers, teachers and parents.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">• • • • • • •</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphensnwApNaL2g8ngGJdzNsuBn91Gem7jjPujUMfdRm3-NQEnZkrBU-uWufR2s3VQ0SMYQA4XUsEXUC65c6FS4CXoU6Nsu8jwV1CO4CrK4I9pQlkDN8ITGvvDsXRvZ1qgO9s5ZT6jFIFyZAYT9zU6pe6GIBd0zgYCKl3_VnaYXd0UfmmEETd9WmNJkKXh-L/s1032/insidescouts%20123.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="1032" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphensnwApNaL2g8ngGJdzNsuBn91Gem7jjPujUMfdRm3-NQEnZkrBU-uWufR2s3VQ0SMYQA4XUsEXUC65c6FS4CXoU6Nsu8jwV1CO4CrK4I9pQlkDN8ITGvvDsXRvZ1qgO9s5ZT6jFIFyZAYT9zU6pe6GIBd0zgYCKl3_VnaYXd0UfmmEETd9WmNJkKXh-L/w400-h174/insidescouts%20123.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Inside Scouts Help the Kind Lion</i> (February 2024)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Inside Scouts Help the Brave Giraffe</i> (June 2024)<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Inside Scouts Help the Strong Cheetah</i> (October 2024)<br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-37789912405721596612024-01-29T15:55:00.004-05:002024-01-29T15:55:30.961-05:00Kaiah's Garden<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q0ZX-i3g2bqj9X36BPn0Rv1Lhx3ptRwNCQs7p1SDHXkm1vwywBNb4xPUOsKivcrIAi6iSknxz0KrJ_ePKVcBmkjzGiL2QVk0-lBCg8tT6xoeTwY_Obr6T4Z8WajNcmDefB-pcGv8sb4kaSw0oXUCxiK0F_Xeb0PLx9P8ioClMUQYxXlJrv4u4cO38IvT/s890/kaiahsgraden%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="726" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q0ZX-i3g2bqj9X36BPn0Rv1Lhx3ptRwNCQs7p1SDHXkm1vwywBNb4xPUOsKivcrIAi6iSknxz0KrJ_ePKVcBmkjzGiL2QVk0-lBCg8tT6xoeTwY_Obr6T4Z8WajNcmDefB-pcGv8sb4kaSw0oXUCxiK0F_Xeb0PLx9P8ioClMUQYxXlJrv4u4cO38IvT/w326-h400/kaiahsgraden%20framed.png" width="326" /></a></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Melanie Florence</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Illustrated by <b>Karlene Harvey</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">North Winds Press (Scholastic Canada)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-4431-9025-1</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">32 pp</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 5-8<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">January 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When a child moves with her family to a new home, she misses her old home at her Grandma's. The house isn't just far away in a new town, it lacks the colour that was part of her grandmother's home. That life came from many things, inside and outside, and, compared to that home, everything feels gray here.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOYWEACVQZFF8uxiB76jzFNVEAvfcaxBx1Jc85dk9W40fV0MzROUV6OqcmW6k2KdL7ylP3DVZ6PD9WvHHaG1ptm1n8rfrb3e7tIZAs_EOlXDsiJFYMtoVTZsDIbQmXIB5UIGP7SDJc56_OW34bX7PMothQU78YCIkAb64ATezMCeDKQEUXcr_5PvxPWOS/s1907/inside%20kaiahsgarden%201.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="1907" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOYWEACVQZFF8uxiB76jzFNVEAvfcaxBx1Jc85dk9W40fV0MzROUV6OqcmW6k2KdL7ylP3DVZ6PD9WvHHaG1ptm1n8rfrb3e7tIZAs_EOlXDsiJFYMtoVTZsDIbQmXIB5UIGP7SDJc56_OW34bX7PMothQU78YCIkAb64ATezMCeDKQEUXcr_5PvxPWOS/w400-h250/inside%20kaiahsgarden%201.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Kaiah's Garden</i>, written by Melanie Florence, illus. by Karlene Harvey</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">From the quiet stairs to the backyard of dried-up weeds and flowers, Kaiah can't see anything beyond her feelings of missing her grandmother and her home. But when she hears a voice she senses as her grandmother saying,<i> "Did you forget what's in your treasure box?</i>" Kaiah is reminded of all she'd once enjoyed. In a special box worn smooth by generations of her people, she recalls the beading projects she'd completed with her Grandma. There's her very first, an apple, which brings back memories of an apple tree in the yard and of Grandma's warm hands touching hers to teach her how to bead. There's the sunshine yellow sun she'd beaded, as well as a flower, turtle, butterfly, and more. Her grandmother and her garden may not be there at their new house but Kaiah, with a little help from her mother and brother, knows how to bring her grandmother and more to this new home.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbl5y1PbjULdzFD00rmcuuN7qPTU0B6M-i80V5eiEtAhYnRIKbr57pjzNoAoEw2rmUwAhTDsu8DTj92IK5HOja2Z4GACM8VC2n_1QEwO92IRg_PVZtXbCKHbHMSBbRoPb7U9qh4nwoi_YOtt9zNfoeI6A50_qwPY1XTKwW3OIfeAAjLExSjhQWgkJCiT4S/s1112/inside%20kaiahsgarden%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbl5y1PbjULdzFD00rmcuuN7qPTU0B6M-i80V5eiEtAhYnRIKbr57pjzNoAoEw2rmUwAhTDsu8DTj92IK5HOja2Z4GACM8VC2n_1QEwO92IRg_PVZtXbCKHbHMSBbRoPb7U9qh4nwoi_YOtt9zNfoeI6A50_qwPY1XTKwW3OIfeAAjLExSjhQWgkJCiT4S/w320-h400/inside%20kaiahsgarden%202.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Kaiah's Garden</i>, written by Melanie Florence, illus. by Karlene Harvey</span></td></tr></tbody></table></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.melanieflorence.com/" target="_blank"><b>Melanie Florence</b></a>, author of the award-winning <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2015/11/missing-nimama.html" target="_blank">Missing Nimâmâ</a></i> and <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2017/09/stolen-words.html" target="_blank">Stolen Words</a></i>, again shares her heritage with us, teaching us about the importance of beadwork to Indigenous Peoples. (There is "A Note on Beadwork" at the conclusion of the book.) For Kaiah, the beadwork takes her back to her earlier life with her grandmother, learning the skill and embedding memories to help her reconnect with those who came before her. Now, she will use the beadwork for healing her spirit as well as for connecting her with her new home. Those tiny little beads can do so much when used to create and honour.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mQ_db1uIbyhh2_II9MhCaqKxGVEhOQrY85W1AK7qA10A8safMiG1FK2KAH0wj47fHGapFCvsyz29xkXLeSgmV1UaGcK8b3ntyoFemBB_iBY3V3lbhN1luVZs9uFC3gz2Dnn3r6dFwAf7n_DCc4RR1tRXqqWJZ7SYiMyAFLALiZ93nlbGlZ0brUHpiLVc/s952/inside%20kaiahsgarden%204.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="734" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mQ_db1uIbyhh2_II9MhCaqKxGVEhOQrY85W1AK7qA10A8safMiG1FK2KAH0wj47fHGapFCvsyz29xkXLeSgmV1UaGcK8b3ntyoFemBB_iBY3V3lbhN1luVZs9uFC3gz2Dnn3r6dFwAf7n_DCc4RR1tRXqqWJZ7SYiMyAFLALiZ93nlbGlZ0brUHpiLVc/w309-h400/inside%20kaiahsgarden%204.png" width="309" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From <i>Kaiah's Garden</i>, written by Melanie Florence, illus. by Karlene Harvey</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.karleneharvey.com/" target="_blank">Karlene Harvey</a></b>, a Tsilhqot-in and Syilx illustrator from BC, reminds us that the beadwork of <b>Melanie Florence</b>'s story is what is most important. From the colourful and meaningful beadwork that adorns the endpapers of <b><i>Kaiah's Garden</i></b> to each of the pieces Kaiah draws from her treasure box, there is life and luminosity that is derived as much from the beads as from the association they endow. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kaiah may believe that all there is a grayness at her new home–well, until she remembers her treasured beadwork–but <b><i>Kaiah's Garden</i></b> is nothing but colour. It's bold and beautiful and memorable, just like the treasures Kaiah pulls from her box.<br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-94783088198836522024-01-26T10:00:00.003-05:002024-01-26T10:00:00.143-05:00Night of the Living Zed: Q & A with authors Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Recently, I reviewed <b>Basil Sylvester</b> and <b>Kevin Sylvester</b>'s newest middle grade novel, <b><i>Night of the Living Zed</i></b>, a sequel to their wildly successful <i>The Fabulous Zed Watson!</i></span><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLd_gktpgXM4_92m6QAEwMrh2pUItDHqrZd433DfiA-pUSOet8PHLAqbBrS3LQPpGZ9dEpWW4w9qMCXYeU6tdgwCntXVchOGt9ycqx9unQ0nBASW9hZ_3LupGzIk_IOIbFkMQriY-_tYtYcoz-eRB-6vzTUHCzC71OUukBkENVDwdrxayfbcW7miGPePO/s982/nightofthelivingzed%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="658" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLd_gktpgXM4_92m6QAEwMrh2pUItDHqrZd433DfiA-pUSOet8PHLAqbBrS3LQPpGZ9dEpWW4w9qMCXYeU6tdgwCntXVchOGt9ycqx9unQ0nBASW9hZ_3LupGzIk_IOIbFkMQriY-_tYtYcoz-eRB-6vzTUHCzC71OUukBkENVDwdrxayfbcW7miGPePO/w268-h400/nightofthelivingzed%20framed.png" width="268" /></a></div></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Night of the Living Dead</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Basil Sylvester</b> and <b>Kevin Sylvester</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">HarperCollins Canada</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-4434-6920-3 </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">256 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 8-12<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Released January 16, 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2024/01/night-of-living-zed.html" target="_blank">Review here</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, it gives me great pleasure to post a Q & A I did with authors <b>Basil Sylvester</b> and <b>Kevin Sylvester</b> about their new book. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsz0IBbJMXJq92rUxfbNDCgQ3Mh5BWxw7UcyibW24cxC4yDY4VDePKrEOmogj3TDgKu_KR5Er_cqKnMpb0vywTwr3cJRTxdRo4K2GtZbOh-_0fC8Nm4S256mhb8T7Cx-CaIYLMoLpZOrefBo5x_9wkt7GGppj9R5HpNj7HeQfoh3WyMUj03W3xEYQbQoF/s1008/basil%20and%20kevin%20sylvester.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="1008" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsz0IBbJMXJq92rUxfbNDCgQ3Mh5BWxw7UcyibW24cxC4yDY4VDePKrEOmogj3TDgKu_KR5Er_cqKnMpb0vywTwr3cJRTxdRo4K2GtZbOh-_0fC8Nm4S256mhb8T7Cx-CaIYLMoLpZOrefBo5x_9wkt7GGppj9R5HpNj7HeQfoh3WyMUj03W3xEYQbQoF/w400-h260/basil%20and%20kevin%20sylvester.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Authors <b>Basil Sylvester</b> and <b>Kevin Sylvester<br /></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;">• • • • • • • <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>HK: Congratulations on <b>Night of the Living Zed</b>. It’s another great mystery embedded with the supernatural and notable characters. Did you experience any challenges in writing a sequel to <b>The Fabulous Zed Watson!</b>?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Kevin Sylvester</span></b>: We knew the characters well, so writing scenes with Zed and Gabe and the crew was fun. The toughest part, I think, was making it a different mystery with a different feel. I love escape rooms, so used those as inspiration for the types of codes our intrepid duo would have to crack. Then when Basil started writing the letters that lie at the (literal) heart of the story, the emotional side of the mystery began to just fall in place. After that, it felt like the challenge was paying due respect to the type of hidden relationship many people had to have (and still do) to be accepted.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Basil Sylvester</span></b>: Echoing what my co-author said. We wanted to have a story that doesn’t feel like we wrote it just to bring back characters we liked. There had to be something new. I really like the way the two books compliment (complement? Oh dear) each other. Fabulous Zed Watson had a lot of travel, so it was fun to write a sequel where they are mostly in one place. We also worked hard to make sure you could read it without having read the first one, sort of like a classic mystery series like Sherlock Holmes stories or similar. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>HK: How does your collaboration work? Do you each write one chapter or section of the story, or do you write together?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Kevin Sylvester</span></b>: In the first book we split up a lot of the work by theme – so related chapters on a specific part of the mystery, or location for that clue, might fall to me. Basil would write the scenes, such as the border scene, where Zed has to face some real fear and discomfort. But we’d always read the whole thing out loud to make sure there was a consistency of tone and voice. So by the end the whole book was truly a co-written work. We even collaborate on the illustrations.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> This time, I think, was more “both of us at the same time” writing with essentially the same result. But Basil wrote and researched the letters the kids discover… and those are beautiful.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Basil Sylvester</span></b>: the first book was much more methodical—we made the best outline I’ve ever made in my life, by far, haha. Then we split up and came back together to write everything out. <b><i>Night of the Living Zed</i></b> was a stranger creature. We did a lot more writing side by side but also writing alone—I wrote the letters completely without input, for instance, but as Kevin said, the best part is reading out loud. You instantly get a sense of what works and what doesn’t, especially in the jokes and banter.<br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>HK: Plotting any story can be challenging but I wonder if plotting a mystery is especially so. Did you plot out the whole mystery from the outset or did you develop it one step at a time, perhaps with each new room that Zed and Gabe encounter in Glyndebourne Manor?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Kevin Sylvester</span></b>: We had a general idea a good year before we started writing… so the idea was always cooking in our heads. Then we tried to decide how the reveal would happen from the presumed mystery (spending three days in a spooky house) to the true mystery (who was Charlotte and why did she build this bizarre house?). So there are two layers happening all the time. I would say that was more fun than tough to figure out. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The frustrating part is always when you think you have a good bit and then look at it later, or have someone else look at it, and say the code didn’t make sense, or wasn’t revealed to the reader in a way that they could also solve the mystery. So we tried to make sure that all the clues are there, so that the reader can either go “I saw that coming” or “oh! Now I see what the code was!”. Both offer a fun payoff.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Basil Sylvester</span></b>: Oh my gosh I found this really hard to do! I’m not a big mystery reader—I love middle grade mysteries, but I don’t read like Janet Evanovich kind of things—so I really struggled with making stuff plausible and consistent. Kevin is old hat at mysteries so he really helped but making escape room puzzles that made sense and that I hoped the readers would be able to pick up clues on was the hardest part of this book. Also plotting with a co-writer can be hard, especially getting on the same page about the hard and fast rules of the contest. We were working in Scrivener, which allows for research and planning docs, so we made sure to write out the rules early on and referred to them often!<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i><br />HK: Though many might not see it, <b>Night of the Living Zed</b></i> is a celebration of romantic love. Although the two romances had very different outcomes being from different times, they were both triumphant in their own ways. Why did you choose to include these romances in the story?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Kevin Sylvester</span></b>: Basil is the best one to answer this, but I will say that I am always intrigued by stories where someone builds something as a living memory of someone, or to honour them. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Think Citizen Kane, the Taj Mahal… my <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2022/09/apartment-713.html" target="_blank">Apartment 713</a></i>.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Basil Sylvester</span></b>: Honestly, Sam and Jo were some of my favourite characters in the first book, so I wanted to bring them back. And their wedding sort of works as a plot device for Zed and Gabe to specifically need money, encouraging them to go for the Gylndebourne contest. In terms of the other romance, I loved the idea of a multi-layered mystery. We sort of have that with the first book, where Zed is looking for the manuscript, and along the way they discover a whole supportive community in some unexpected places, showing us that the world is ready emotionally for Taylor’s book. <br /> In <i><b>Night of the Living Zed</b></i>, I wanted to pay homage to historical romantic relationships that weren’t read as such for a long time. I also love the idea that a spooky scary haunted house is actually not scary at all, but beautiful. That it’s just misunderstood, like the romance itself. So I wanted to have layers of meaning, as any good ghost story should.<br /><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>HK: Music, particularly opera, is a significant element of the story, directing Zed and Gabe’s solving of the mystery of Glyndebourne Manor, but the broad knowledge of opera needed is certainly not derived from Wikipedia. Moreover, your acknowledgements suggest that you both have some appreciation for opera. Are you both opera buffs or did one inspire the other or did someone else boost your awareness of this theatre form?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Kevin Sylvester</span></b>: We both love opera, but don’t expect us on the Saturday Afternoon at the Opera quiz anytime soon. I’m partial to Italian operas. Rigoletto and the Barber of Seville get a lot of play in my house. But I also love the Magic Flute… and one of my fave experiences was seeing Maurice Sendak’s sets for the Hansel and Gretel a few years back. <br /><br /><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Basil Sylvester</span></b>: I mean, growing up with the parents I had, it was inevitable. My dad loved opera and played it ever since I was a kid. So that made me … tolerate it. Then I went to university and took a class on Russian opera and fell in love with Eugene Onegin, Boris Godunov, The Nose…I even let Kevin put some Wagner in this one. <br /><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>HK: I’m a big fan of humour and <b>Night of the Living Zed</b> is filled with it, from puns and wordplay to silliness and blunders. Do you each have your own specialty when it comes to embedding humour in the story, whether through voice or actions?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Kevin Sylvester</span></b>: We are a family of joke-tellers and punsters. This includes our immediate family and friends. So the scenes with back-and-forth dialogue and jokes is a glimpse into the dining room of our houses on any gathering. Noisy. Boisterous. Snarky. Then Basil and I test-drive the jokes on eachother to make sure they work.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Basil Sylvester</span></b>: I’m not as good at jokes, but growing up, especially at my grandparents’ houses, it was jokes zinging across the dinner table at breakneck speed, so I was always trying to keep up. I’m better at comebacks, so Kevin will often start riffing and then I join in. We are also tough critics, so we would cut jokes if only one of us was laughing. I would say I lean more towards silly gestures, and Zed is fun to write because they are very boisterous and always moving. <br /><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>HK: I know the book was released in January but it’s going to be a popular story come October with its Halloween theme. Zed obviously goes big for Halloween, ensuring the best neighbourhood Halloween with a pre-Halloween inspection at all homes. Is Halloween as big a deal in the Sylvester house as it is for Zed?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Kevin Sylvester</span></b>: All I can say is that you can go back and look on my Facebook page where we do a themed Halloween porch each year. This year was a haunted construction site. Last year was Scar-bucks coffee shop. The year before that was a haunted greenhouse… you get the idea. Christmas is great, and man do I need bright lights by late December, but dressing up and playing make-believe? Halloween can’t be beat.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Basil Sylvester</b></span>: We never did Halloween-O-Ween, but it is 100% inspired by our love of Halloween and our dedication to creative and fun porch displays every year. It’s also a holiday that really resonates with me, since you can dress up and be someone else and get creative, which was a great outlet for me figuring out my identity in a low-stakes and fun way.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>HK: The illustrations add much to the story, just as they did in Kevin’s <a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2012/12/neil-flambe-and-tokyo-treasure.html" target="_blank">Neil Flambé</a> series. I recognize Kevin’s style but wonder if Basil is also an artist and contributed to the art in <b>Night of the Living Zed</b></i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Kevin Sylvester</span></b>: Yes. Certainly in the sense that we work on the illustrations together. I’m often drawing as we write and read passages out loud. Basil is my immediate art director and continuity officer (need to make sure Zed is wearing the same sweater in connected timelines). Also, Basil is in charge of the lettering on the spine and covers.<br /> <br /><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Basil Sylvester</span></b>: I’m not an illustrator but I do consider myself a creative person. I like crafts and DIY. As Kevin says, I’m the first art editor and can be pretty critical. He shows me all his illustrations before submitting them and I often have notes. I also came up with the ideas for both covers, and did the silly hand lettering on the covers and spine.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1O8Bo4StpqFtgsoSIcgnYIkGN0bXfh932bpYydiyU75_WMYWCrmrhGFW8AJ0mfFMQ6UcF8BhZW6MA2KW5JvENzyG7lFoLBa8PhrJYJo8tV82pIvkdj9s1WaWtCJHkFZt1nipHidshTZcKZMVs4wKxSbE64DYw2IxUieIqKjHxMji2kg1tZCKOe3WYleYZ/s920/zed%20in%20onesie.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="488" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1O8Bo4StpqFtgsoSIcgnYIkGN0bXfh932bpYydiyU75_WMYWCrmrhGFW8AJ0mfFMQ6UcF8BhZW6MA2KW5JvENzyG7lFoLBa8PhrJYJo8tV82pIvkdj9s1WaWtCJHkFZt1nipHidshTZcKZMVs4wKxSbE64DYw2IxUieIqKjHxMji2kg1tZCKOe3WYleYZ/s320/zed%20in%20onesie.png" width="170" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>Night of the Living Zed</i>, written by Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester, illustrated by Kevin Sylvester<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><i>HK: My favourite illustration of Zed is the one on page 68 when they are in their pumpkin onesie. Do you each have a favourite illustration of Zed from <b>Night of the Living Zed</b>?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Kevin Sylvester</span></b>: SPOILERS…. My fave is the one of Hyacinth as she’s about to turn the faucet on the final challenge. She looks both anticipatory and a little fearful. After all they’ve been through, and learned, will this prove to be the right decision? Or will everything come crashing down?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> It’s quiet and active at the same time.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Basil Sylvester</span></b>: I love this question! I really like the one where they’re excited to say hi to the ghost. But the pumpkin onesie is great too. Also any illustration where they have their coffin backpack. I have a friend who has one and I messaged them the second they posted a picture of it, asking if I could include it for Zed in the book because it was just so perfect!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">HK: Now that we know that <b>The Fabulous Zed Watson!</b> will not be a stand-alone and that Zed and Gabe are becoming known for solving mysteries, are there plans for additional books beyond <b>Night of the Living Zed</b>?</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Kevin Sylvester</span></b>: Hmmmmm. We are always ready to cook up new missions for Zed and the gang. But that is, of course, a team decision involving a lot of people. If enough kids read the books and want more… I’m willing and able!<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Basil Sylvester</span></b>: Who can say? It’s not off the table. We have a lot of fun writing these, so I hope you have as much fun reading as we do writing! <br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61NhHmib_su6o0mxQiwF9YVXX53IBKW-dzRy-mETk6AzDDPrZjujR4OMyMxC9F0224PVegGQNwG9TGnoNAY2Mi-7RC45Y9jMkXVGP0vdSGJHhCwj_GpXVdPH7V-YI9bzOGBu9pKQNkBMQ5pY5duzahXRpATdZ2Xxz-6nZAf8e6OMC5Lqwn7gQa-wvEMWn/s938/zedwatson%201and2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="938" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61NhHmib_su6o0mxQiwF9YVXX53IBKW-dzRy-mETk6AzDDPrZjujR4OMyMxC9F0224PVegGQNwG9TGnoNAY2Mi-7RC45Y9jMkXVGP0vdSGJHhCwj_GpXVdPH7V-YI9bzOGBu9pKQNkBMQ5pY5duzahXRpATdZ2Xxz-6nZAf8e6OMC5Lqwn7gQa-wvEMWn/w200-h148/zedwatson%201and2.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #351c75;">•</span> <span style="color: #2b00fe;">•</span> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">•</span> <span style="color: #04ff00;">• </span><span style="color: #fcff01;">•</span> <span style="color: #ffa400;">•</span> <span style="color: red;">•</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've so enjoyed reviewing <b><i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2024/01/night-of-living-zed.html" target="_blank">Night of the Living Zed</a></i></b> and learning more of <b>Basil Sylvester</b> and <b>Kevin Sylvester</b>'s experiences with writing this sequel to <i>The Fabulous Zed Watson!<br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Many thanks to <b>Basil Sylvester</b> and <b>Kevin Sylvester</b> for answering my questions about <b><i>Night of the Living Zed</i></b>. And thanks also to Rebecca Silver, Senior Publicist at HarperCollins Canada, for facilitating this interview and sharing a review copy of <b><i>Night of the Living Zed</i></b>.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-26508263569140826132024-01-25T13:25:00.001-05:002024-01-25T13:25:09.727-05:0040 Days in Hicksville<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8RVl0EHmldpWBW9kwh4F_Ituxf4XPZu8-E6PQdf_nErB1vuPp8RRv4kNCcVc2W_OBhpX2j9HAxAgbgzw08UNCTHXRhuxPaFbttRW6CFT0pJIhNEZObHaluEIRz_6wClCAEwjdSiTvbYq8dhw0gUknOdLH3dodJUI-5_MYjJVMy-zCQYF5Lx_4ON5smcg/s984/40daysinhicksville%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="670" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8RVl0EHmldpWBW9kwh4F_Ituxf4XPZu8-E6PQdf_nErB1vuPp8RRv4kNCcVc2W_OBhpX2j9HAxAgbgzw08UNCTHXRhuxPaFbttRW6CFT0pJIhNEZObHaluEIRz_6wClCAEwjdSiTvbYq8dhw0gUknOdLH3dodJUI-5_MYjJVMy-zCQYF5Lx_4ON5smcg/w273-h400/40daysinhicksville%20framed.png" width="273" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written by <b>Christina Kilbourne</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">DCB</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-1-77086-715-4</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">264 pp.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 12+<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">October 2023</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Moving to Clarendon with her mother to live in her grandparents' old home was supposed to give Kate Cooper a clean break from living in the city. Little did they know that she'd just find a new trouble with classmate Zach Whitchurch. Yeah, she's definitely safer in Clarendon a.k.a. Hicksville. Not. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When Kate and her mom Sally move into the Cooper place next door, Zach is smitten. And Kate, determined to convince her mom Sally that she's making an effort, let's Zach show her around. When he points out Peter Goheen's property, warning her that he is known to be cruel and maybe even dangerous, Kate reveals that he is her grandfather, though she's never met him. When they venture onto his property to introduce Kate, Pater Goheen is less than welcoming and warns them against trespassing again. That doesn't deter Kate who, with Zach, discovers a cave-like crevasse which they investigate after midnight so that she can make a video. What they discover deep inside are the remains of two bodies. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Zach's dad, a detective in Clarendon, reveals that a</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> wallet in the jeans of one is that of Sally's fifteen-year-old brother James who disappeared in 1982 along with his friend Luke McLeod. For the first time, Kate learns about her uncle and his disappearance and about Sally's troubled family life because of her mean drunk of a father. Though Peter Goheen was questioned, Kate's dad Mitch provided an alibi for his father. And without bodies, it was impossible to know the truth. But that was then.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Are these the bodies of James and Luke? What happened to them? Who did it and why? <b><i>40 Days in Hicksville</i></b> could be a true crime podcast, unravelling the story through Kate and Zach's eyes–chapters are alternating perspectives of the two teens–and with the twists and turns that often come with a thriller. <b>Christina Kilbourne</b>, author of <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-limitless-sky.html" target="_blank">The Limitless Sky</a>, Safe Harbour </i>and <i>Dear Jo</i>, takes us to a small Ontario town as if the setting for an episode of Dateline or 20/20, unravelling the mystery with each interview and piece of evidence and investigative step of the police. And, as in those in-depth investigations of the newsmagazine shows, the trajectory from missing person to justice is not a straight line. There are those who keep secrets, those who hide truths, those who lie, and those who grieve. There are those who are determined to make things right and find justice. There is danger and revelations, standstills, and action. With a variety of characters, some who are aggravating, others naive, some scared, others aggressive, <b><i>40 Days in Hicksville</i></b> remind us that small towns are not always boring communities in which nothing happens. Sometimes they are seething with secrets and dangers and history that are only revealed when someone from outside arrives. Kate may not have wanted to be in Clarendon but her first forty days in the town her father called Hicksville are as thrilling as the urbex videos that got her in trouble in the city. Fortunately,<b> Christina Kilbourne</b>'s "Epilogue" reveals that this adventure has a far more constructive outcome for both Kate and her community.</span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3170543152974644084.post-17298179198965467142024-01-22T11:24:00.002-05:002024-01-22T11:24:51.664-05:00People Are My Favorite Places<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0CMKV21uXHgdKInlTml8S3oIf6G2JPh5eW8QOXx9VepjZMxAyaWx1iE93wPhnmPdVT9OHxYiomZoIJlHjyQyL476gJwubEWZH3dOx1MTqCIrEbBzEBUpsoQ4q1044pJhCtrmtD8nfvmcs04QN_5wgsG8OcJqlEKRH2qnJKsJguryh-c5yf13KQ_Rh227/s1092/peoplearemyfavoriteplaces%20framed.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="1092" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0CMKV21uXHgdKInlTml8S3oIf6G2JPh5eW8QOXx9VepjZMxAyaWx1iE93wPhnmPdVT9OHxYiomZoIJlHjyQyL476gJwubEWZH3dOx1MTqCIrEbBzEBUpsoQ4q1044pJhCtrmtD8nfvmcs04QN_5wgsG8OcJqlEKRH2qnJKsJguryh-c5yf13KQ_Rh227/w400-h400/peoplearemyfavoriteplaces%20framed.png" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Written and illustrated by <b>Ani Castillo</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Little, Brown Books for Young Readers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">978-0-316424660</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">40 pp.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ages 4-9</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">January 2024 </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">While we are still living with a pandemic, we are no longer subjected to lockdowns and the isolation that came with them. For many, the inability to go places had more to do with not seeing people: family, friends, and newly-met acquaintances. As she did in her earlier picture books <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2019/08/ping.html" target="_blank">Ping</a></i> and <i><a href="https://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2021/04/spark.html" target="_blank">Spark</a></i>, <b>Ani Castillo</b> shares an important message about appreciating those who are part of our lives, whether we know them or not. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwHRT6otkO0POlRIKeIP9_hBObbpsCJh5Zi_C5ivAQKSbXlxSTKPx6wvT4bXdaRe5RShZzMOXo9OX6izyFclh_CW924ybEAaE10hRT2ITkYjP7MZp6J3CoauHHYlMwK8faUry2ykm-5IAa76RGVBxeNnrPP3Qzj2syZWmrxSDKKgLk1TC7tIjKsz_S_U4/s1164/inside%20peoplearemyfavoriteplaces%201.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="1156" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwHRT6otkO0POlRIKeIP9_hBObbpsCJh5Zi_C5ivAQKSbXlxSTKPx6wvT4bXdaRe5RShZzMOXo9OX6izyFclh_CW924ybEAaE10hRT2ITkYjP7MZp6J3CoauHHYlMwK8faUry2ykm-5IAa76RGVBxeNnrPP3Qzj2syZWmrxSDKKgLk1TC7tIjKsz_S_U4/w398-h400/inside%20peoplearemyfavoriteplaces%201.png" width="398" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>People Are My Favorite Places</i>, written and illustrated by Ani Castillo<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Although a young girl recognizes all the things which she can no longer do or see when "<i>I was stuck in my room, all alone, forever and ever,</i>" she realizes that it's the people involved in those activities that she really misses. Visiting places like her grandparents' house or the movie theatre or travelling is not about the place but the people with whom she spends time. <br /></span></div></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="1156" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcPdProbklvW-yGtjCF75EyQWUfb8hhe_vWOftsQveXny3lu-7HSQZ49WxAqRB7dyFeqEr8xxEgorJojmJzhePOVb9AI-zi5LkaTzRiZlJLvMp5TmFKL8bK_9uiCJVliWKi3W6Fm577Q5kyyYZpZq6dNJgfl3_CAG1lE5maFtCGnvePD0Q8wcUXY3cujZ/w398-h400/inside%20peoplearemyfavoriteplaces%202.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="398" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>People Are My Favorite Places</i>, written and illustrated by Ani Castillo</td></tr></tbody></table></span><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">She recognizes that there are a lot of people she knows and missed, from her piano teacher to her friends and the locals she meets when travelling. It's all the "<i>sweet, lovely people who were once there with me</i>" with whom she laughed, ate noodles, chatted, held hands, and more. And she recognizes the people she missed came in all shapes, colours, ages, and textures, but she missed them all for their touch, their smell, their warmth and so much more.</span></div></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHk7BpXVlSljW9ylWoNyZSQLR486jN5Xh1PjNmsOsN7eVhNZ9hLpbF-IG2JqKGsgjOnQdzXLdsSTPNvYJLouIek7NSsJUEm85wLSSpP-fFK4X0yMGAHFrJ0nVPKprBWsVjiMU2ZuPUxmCDu0_cBayB4ICNGerXUQ2eKiDMToD4mUeVwzHqNaOJzfPJlW2/s1164/inside%20peoplearemyfavoriteplaces%203.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="1156" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHk7BpXVlSljW9ylWoNyZSQLR486jN5Xh1PjNmsOsN7eVhNZ9hLpbF-IG2JqKGsgjOnQdzXLdsSTPNvYJLouIek7NSsJUEm85wLSSpP-fFK4X0yMGAHFrJ0nVPKprBWsVjiMU2ZuPUxmCDu0_cBayB4ICNGerXUQ2eKiDMToD4mUeVwzHqNaOJzfPJlW2/w398-h400/inside%20peoplearemyfavoriteplaces%203.png" width="398" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>People Are My Favorite Places</i>, written and illustrated by Ani Castillo</td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But most of all, she realizes that she had learned an important lesson during that time:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></i></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Because now</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I see clearly</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">that the landscape, the place</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">most precious to me</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">is the world inside someone</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I love</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">very dearly. </span></i></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLgwnejWw6njhWs6VA3kn2khgjsYoInKT93h-yJTwV__7EI6cWuITG-uCkIMr4LMzbmSuLKfvDj4ZycQjWYndhxj7myAiSWIoekLqcByxEj-bLq5EHGIRkIovJ1d6_SClZ8OakVDKdPEVSWi_iTsED5ZDnCnjkyOrnblrD8W-qpdgetz37OV_3jYMnSa3/s1156/inside%20peoplearemyfavoriteplaces%204.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1156" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLgwnejWw6njhWs6VA3kn2khgjsYoInKT93h-yJTwV__7EI6cWuITG-uCkIMr4LMzbmSuLKfvDj4ZycQjWYndhxj7myAiSWIoekLqcByxEj-bLq5EHGIRkIovJ1d6_SClZ8OakVDKdPEVSWi_iTsED5ZDnCnjkyOrnblrD8W-qpdgetz37OV_3jYMnSa3/w400-h399/inside%20peoplearemyfavoriteplaces%204.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <i>People Are My Favorite Places</i>, written and illustrated by Ani Castillo</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;">The innocence of the child in expressing how she feels will be very familiar to children who missed out on a lot of things during lockdowns, from schooling, and family visits, to travel and socializing. They will all remember how isolated they felt and how much they craved being somewhere other than their rooms or their homes. But this child has the insight to realize it wasn't just being someplace, it was being with someone that made it all that it was: rich in experience, embracing in affection, uniting in companionship. That insightful innocence comes through in <b>Ani Castillo</b></span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">'</span></i><span style="font-size: medium;">s artwork. Using black coloured pencil, watercolour, and gouache, <b>Ani Castillo</b> makes us see every one of those people who are the landscape of this child's life. There are her peers, her teachers, her family, and those people that she might meet when travelling. Known or unknown, these people are what make those places vibrant and significant.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Though I worry that too many people have forgotten what it was like to be without the people in their lives, I hope that <b><i>People Are My Favorite Places</i></b> will remind them so that we don't have to go through further isolation such as lockdowns to appreciate the magnitude of their contributions to the fabric of our lives. They take our landscapes from barren to lush and vibrant, and even if we don't want to partake in that vibrancy every moment, knowing that we can reach out to it any time is important.</span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0