Whales to the Rescue: How Whales Help Engineer the Planet: Guest review

This review was written by student Hasini K. 

 

Written by Adrienne Mason

Illustrated by Kim Smith

Kids Can Press

978-1-525305375

40 pp.

Ages 8-12

2022 

Many beings other than humans help to keep our beautiful blue planet safe and functioning. Whales are one of them.

From Whales to the Rescue: How Whales Help Engineer the Planet by Adrienne Mason, illus. by Kim Smith

I present to you…Whales to the Rescue: How Whales Help Engineer The Planet, written by Adrienne Mason and beautifully illustrated by Kim Smith. In a visually-appealing format, this book provides an abundance of information about whales and emphasizes their benefit to the ecosystem by exploring a variety of topics including climate change, threats, food webs, migration and more. (There is a glossary at the end of the book to help with any vocabulary. )

From Whales to the Rescue: How Whales Help Engineer the Planet by Adrienne Mason, illus. by Kim Smith

There are over 50 unique species of whales, and the book goes through the information about how we can identify them. In addition to detailed information about each species, there are bonus facts on different types of animals, some related to whales, and some about other animals, and details about topics like migration and climate change.

From Whales to the Rescue: How Whales Help Engineer the Planet by Adrienne Mason, illus. by Kim Smith

The extremely important topic of global warming is explained, including how it affects both humans and animals and how it relates to whales specifically. Adrienne Mason also explains about carbon emissions and processes like storing carbon thoroughly while using kid-friendly words, making it easier for younger ages to understand. By making the vocabulary not too challenging, the book will entice young readers as well as older ones.

If I was given an assignment to do on whales and only had this book as a reference, I think I'd get a great mark. Whales to the Rescue has lots of information and intriguing facts (some that may shock you) and it is organized in an appealing way, with mini-paragraphs, unique design, and easy-to-understand diagrams. The cover drew me in immediately, but I was expecting the book to be showcasing a decent amount of information; however, I was blown away by how well it balanced the elegant designs in the background with excellent information.

I would recommend this book to curious and avid readers who are looking for information about whales (with extremely gorgeous visuals by Kim Smith) but also to teachers who are searching for content for their classes regarding whales and their importance to the planet. You should definitely read this book if you want to learn about the value of whales and be blessed with incredible artwork.

 

~ Written by Hasini K., Grade 8

 

🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋 🐋

Poopy Science: Getting to the Bottom of What Comes Out Your Bottom (A Gross Science Book): Guest review

The review was written by Grade 4 student Bradon M.

 

Written by Edward Kay

Illustrated by Mike Shiell

Kids Can Press

978-1-525304132

48 pp.

Ages 8-12

2022

 

The name of this book is what made me want to pick it up!  I have never really learned about poop and am always told we can’t do “toilet talk” since it isn’t polite. This book was finally my chance to learn all about poop. This non-fiction book will cover everything you want to know about poop…and maybe some things you don’t!  Each page has a couple of headings that are hilarious. For example, I really like “Funky Frass” and “Super-Duper Poopers and Tiny Turd Makers”. These headings made me want to read each section. Edward Kay's writing reeks of funny facts that now I can never unlearn, and I definitely learned a lot about poop!

From Poopy Science: Getting to the Bottom of What Comes Out of Your Bottom by Edward Kay, illus. by Mike Shiell

The disgustingly weird and funny cover page for this book made me want to read it right away. The pictures inside the book are just as entertaining because each one will make you explode with laughter. I couldn’t help but stare at some of the pictures. They were so outrageous. For example, there is a cartoon of a man picking his butt, another with a man riding on a flying toilet over the city who looked like he just had explosive diarrhea, and then one of a bear with a cork in his bum. The cartoons are really hysterical, but they are also really well done. You can tell that the illustrator, Mike Shiell, took their time. Each one is unique and eye-catching. This book definitely won’t be a waste of your time! 

From Poopy Science: Getting to the Bottom of What Comes Out of Your Bottom by Edward Kay, illus. by Mike Shiell

This book would be great for anyone over the age of seven. They will laugh at all of the pictures like I did and love the information they will learn. As I was reading the book, I felt I had to share every fact with my family…especially the gross ones! This would often cause a lot of laughter and some facts were shocking to them. When my family wasn’t around me reading Poopy Science, they could hear me laughing as I read each page. I loved this book so much that I think it should be in all classrooms, libraries, and bathrooms. My rating for this book is 5 poop emojis out of 5 💩💩💩💩💩!  A must read for everyone.  Pull up a stool and get a whiff of this book! 

~ Written by Bradon M., Age 9

 

• • • • • • •

Poopy Science is the latest book in the Gross Science Book series.

Stinky Science: Why the Smelliest Smells Smell So Smelly (2019)

Germy Science: The Sick Truth about Getting Sick (and Staying Healthy) (2021)

Poopy Science: Getting to the Bottom of What Comes Out Your Bottom (2022)

Oculum Echo: Guest review

This review was written by student Bronte L.

 

Written by Philippa Dowding

DCB

978-1-770866652

231 pp.

Ages 9-12

2022 

The robot Echo1 awakes from slumber and, with the help of Guide, a voice in its ear, and the robot bird Peregrine1, travels the continents’ four Oculum domes and the barren deserts. Echo1's task is to search for life and monitor the starting of a civilization of humans to make sure they don’t make the mistakes of the past. 

 

Outside of Oculum, Grannie’s farm is bombed, and Miranda1, Mannfred, and Grannie must lead the children originally from Oculum to safety. But their attackers, the UnRuly, are hunting them down, and they’ve got a new secret weapon. So, Grannie sends Mannfred and his friends to spy on the UnRuly, maybe even to try and stop them, but things soon go wrong. 

 

Meanwhile, after many weeks of travelling, Echo1 is starting to lose hope in finding life. Along the way, he learns much from his guide about Earth, humans, and his many special capabilities. But lots of questions remain unanswered, including what is life, what his name means, and what happened to the world of the Olden Begones? 

Oculum Echo by Philippa Dowding is the sequel to Oculum, the Silver Birch-nominated first book in The Children of Oculum series. It’s a middle school level dystopian, sci-fi novel, told from multiple points of view.  There's Miranda1, the oldest girl from Oculum, who now must help Grannie lead the rest of the children; Echo1, who is led by the voice in his ear and a robot bird that sends him videos of his surroundings; and Mannfred, who lived outside Oculum on the farm with Grannie before the UnRuly destroyed it. The book has important themes of leadership, curiosity, perseverance, collaboration, and showing the importance of taking care of our world and each other.

Although I haven’t read Oculum, the book before this one, it didn’t take long for me to become invested in the storyline. Each character’s experiences are so wildly different and inspirational in their own ways that it makes for quite a fun read! My favourite part of the book was definitely getting to see the world through Echo1’s and Miranda’s eyes. The lives they are accustomed to are so different from our current world, and, even though their Earth was mostly destroyed, there are hints at what it was like before the disaster, with playgrounds, paper, drum kits, pigs, fish, and all kinds of other things we take for granted. I would recommend Oculum Echo to any sci-fi loving kid that enjoys adventures. 

~ Written by Bronte L., Gr. 9

The Children of Oculum, Books 1 and 2

A Place for Pauline: Guest review

This review was written by student Bronte L.

 

Written by Anouk Mahiout

Illustrated by Marjolaine Perreten

Groundwood Books

978-1-77306-609-7

48 pp.

Ages 3-6

2022 

 

Pauline lives in a busy household. Her rambunctious younger brother is always running around; her baby sister cries and whines; and her mother is busy with another daughter on the way. Being the eldest isn’t as easy as it seems. But Pauline has a secret hiding place where she can daydream in peace. There she flies around the world, rules her very own kingdom, and escapes to France where her grandmother lives. One day, she decides to take action, pack her bags, and make her daydreams reality. 

From A Place for Pauline by Anouk Mahiout, illus. by Marjolaine Perreten

On her way to the ship that will take her to France, she is reminded of all the fun she has had with her family: playing ball hockey, enjoying Dad’s baking, and taking care of her cherished flower bed of the tricolour of impatiens, columbines, and forget-me-nots. But will those memories be enough to keep her and her imagination from escaping off to France?

My house is so full of people, it isn’t easy to find my place - even though I got here first! (pg. 4)

From A Place for Pauline by Anouk Mahiout, illus. by Marjolaine Perreten

A Place for Pauline is written by Montreal's Anouk Mahiout and illustrated by Swiss artist Marjolaine Perreten. It's an ever-so charming story with delightful watercolour illustrations in a comic style. The book does a terrific job of illustrating children’s wild imaginations, how special secret dens and hide outs can be as well as a home filled with comfort and bustle. I’d suggest this book to kids ages 4 to 7; however, finding a place to belong is something most people must go through at some point in their lives and, although Pauline is determined that her place is in France, I also think it’s a relatable book for anyone and everyone.

From A Place for Pauline by Anouk Mahiout, illus. by Marjolaine Perreten

~ Review written by Bronte L., a Gr. 9 student

Boney: Guest review

This review was written by Grade 8 student Hasini K.

Written by Cary Fagan

Illustrated by Dasha Tolstikova

Groundwood Books

978-1-77306-548-9

32 pp.

Ages 3-6

October 2022

 

While Annabelle and her dad are taking a walk in the woods with their dog, Scoot, Annabelle discovers an animal bone. Annabelle asks her dad if they can take the bone home, and her dad agrees. 

 

Annabelle decides to make the bone her new playmate, and names him Boney. Annabelle feels that Boney is a great playmate – and she is completely in love with her new friend! They hang out at the park and Annabelle even makes Boney a bed complete with a blanket and pillow in his own room. 

From Boney by Cary Fagan, illus. by Dasha Tolstikova

However, when creatures run wild in Annabelle's dreams, she wonders for the first time where Boney truly belongs. What becomes of Annabelle’s and Boney’s friendship? You'll need to read the book to find out.

Boney is written by Cary Fagan and illustrated by Dasha Tolstikova. It is a short but sweet story with very vivid and beautiful illustrations which are very thought-provoking. Kids may wonder where Boney, the bone, was actually from. The story does mention how the bone could've been any animal, but we can't help but wonder. I would recommend this book to readers from Grade 1-4 since it is pretty relatable in many ways. At some point in our lives, we all have to deal with the fact that something we might be doing is not right, even if we want to do it. Making tough choices is also very hard to do, no matter your age. Personally, I liked how the story had a really meaningful message. It teaches us that, sometimes, we have to do things that aren't easy to make the situation right. It captures the innocence and uncertainty of kids when they’re dealing with conflict within themselves. Little kids would especially take losing a friend or a toy or item they have gotten attached to, as Annabelle must do with Boney, very hard. I would certainly grab a copy of this creatively written book to enjoy!

~ Written by Hasini K., Age 13

Berani: Guest review

 This book was reviewed by Grade 9 student Bronte.

Written by Michelle Kadarusman

Pajama Press

978-1-77278-260-8

224 pp.

Ages 8-13

August 2022

Malia is a courageous girl who stands up for what she believes in, but activism can be a risky business. When she gets into some trouble with her school for circulating a petition against palm-oil, a product that many families in her town rely on for their income, she has to make a difficult decision that could result in lots of trouble for many people. Meanwhile she is trying to convince her Canadian-born mother not to move the family from Indonesia where Malia has lived all her life, and where her late father is buried.

Ari spends his days attending school, playing chess, and doing chores around his uncle’s restaurant in exchange for a chance to live with him, and get an education at the local public school. But the guilt of leaving behind his dear cousin, Suni, and the rest of his family has been gnawing on him. Furthermore, Ginger Juice, his uncle’s pet orangutan, has been suffering from her poor living conditions, and he’s worried her days are numbered. 

 

Berani alternates between the points of view of Ari and Malia as they help others and try to solve problems around their communities, as well as that of Ginger Juice, who longs for home. It is an inspiring story ideal for grades 4-6, written by Michelle Kadarusman, award-winning author of books such as Music for Tigers and The Theory of Hummingbirds. As someone who cares for the environment, I think Berani is a fantastic way to introduce some of our world’s problems to kids. This book touches on so many important issues: animal rights, climate change, preserving the environment, the loss of family members, and the struggles of moving. The main characters Ari, Malia, and of course Ginger Juice are brave, kind, and thoughtful. The book’s colourful descriptions and Indonesian words sprinkled throughout (a glossary is provided) really set the scene, and the way the chapters flip between the kids' and orangutan's perspectives is a nice touch as well. It’s a great way to start conversations about our world, and our responsibilities as inhabitants of it. (Michelle Kadarusman includes a section with information on orangutans and how we can help them.) Berani, which I would rate 9 out of 10 stars, is definitely worth a read!

~ Written by Bronte, Gr. 9

The Fort: Guest Review

 This review was written by Grade 8 student Hasini K.

Written by Gordon Korman

Scholastic Press
978-1-338-62914-9
256 pp.
Ages 8-12
June 2022

In The Fort, written by best-selling author of Restart, Gordon Korman, a group of middle-school kids discover an abandoned bomb shelter and decide to turn it into their secret hideout. Keeping a secret isn’t easy; however, sharing your secrets isn't always easy either. But what if that’s the only choice you have? As the fort walls close in, the friends are forced to share crucial secrets with each other to keep the fort safe. What begins as a fun place to escape to quickly becomes a serious refuge for one of the kids attempting to flee a dangerous situation from home.

The story begins with the residents of Canaan waking up to alarming and widespread destruction after Hurricane Leo rips through their town. There are power outages, broken windows, damaged roofs and fallen trees. Evan, Jason, Mitchell, and CJ, four eighth-grade friends, gather to investigate the devastation. However, Evan is forced to bring along Ricky, who has just moved into town and has therefore not made any friends. The rest of the group of friends are less than thrilled about this new addition to their gang. But, can they put aside their differences to do what’s right?

Gordon Korman comes back with another absolutely heart-touching and compassionate story about friendship, family, and especially being there for someone through hard times. I would recommend this book to readers in Grade 4-8; however, it can be enjoyed by any kids from Grade 4 on. Each chapter switches between characters, giving us different perspectives of the unique characters who differ in their personalities and backgrounds making it very interesting to read!

I would rate this book a 9 out of 10, because it really is worth a read! I guarantee that you’ll be able to sympathize with many of the characters. I enjoyed reading this book, especially because although there were lots of different things happening and it was all tied together in the end, and very well at that! I’ve always loved Gordon Korman books, from Restart to Ungifted, and find it easy to relate to the characters and their problems. After reading this book, if you think that small towns have nothing interesting going on, you might have to reconsider! 

~ Written by Hasini K., Age 13

Red River Stallion: Guest Review 1

by Troon Harrison

Bloomsbury

978-1599908458

304 pp.

Ages 10-14

2013

Red River Stallion is a moving, deep story that perfectly portrays the struggle to find one's identity and destiny.  The author was able to capture how difficult it is to find one's purpose and future in the world, using the life of Amelia Otterchild, and kept me engaged throughout the entire read.

Red River Stallion is centered around a young Cree girl named Amelia, who is alone to look after her younger sister since the death of her mother and the disappearance of her father.  She is able to get a glimpse of happiness when she befriends a beautiful stallion the she presumes to be her soul guardian, but the only way for Amelia to remain with him is to travel with her sister to the Red River Valley, the last known location of her father.  As she journeys, frightened and hopeful, Amelia is faced with challenges of all kinds, from raging storms to sickening grief.  But by making new friends and accepting truths of the past, Amelia perseveres to continue her search for her father, comforted by the love of her family and close companions.

What was most enjoyable about Red River Stallion was the character depth.  Amelia's outside appearance showed courage, curiosity and a deep passion for horses.  But the inner conflict she felt was also very powerful, a battle between grief from the past and hope for the future.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all of these feelings inside of her, and seeing the way she changed as the good began to overpower the bad.

I also enjoyed the culture that was woven into the Red River Stallion story.  Through reading about Amelia and her adventures, I discovered many interesting truths of First Nations history that I had not been aware of before reading.  Their beliefs, their habits, and their very lives were expertly scattered throughout the story, and kept me fascinated cover to cover.

All in all, Red River Stallion was an expertly written, wonderfully detailed story that kept my interest through every chapter.  It was bursting with culture, inner conflict and themes of hope, renewal and friendship.  I can confidently rate it with nine stars out of ten, and would certainly recommend it to any reader.

Niki, Age 12