Thursday, May 31, 2007

The Popcorn Book by Tomie de Paola

The Popcorn Book tells some of the history and science behind popcorn while the two kids in the book make popcorn for a snack. There are also two methods for making popcorn in the back of the book.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Mama's Going to Buy You a Mockingbird by Jean Little

From chapters.ca:
Jeremy is not having a good summer. His best friends have moved away, and he has to stay at the cottage with only his little sister and Aunt Margery. His parents have remained in the city so his father can have an operation.
When Jeremy finally sees him again, he finds out that his father has cancer and isn't going to get better. Suddenly, everything is different. Then Jeremy finds an unlikely friend in Tess, who knows what it's like to lose someone. As his friendship with her grows, through good times and bad, Jeremy discovers that his father has left him something that will live forever ...

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate D. Wiggin

From chapters.ca:
Eleven-year-old Rebecca Randall is quite a handful—and now she’s leaving her beloved Sunnybrook Farm to live with her well-to-do elderly aunts and get an education. But they were expecting Rebecca’s quiet, hard-working older sister instead. Can the bright-eyed and talkative girl win them over?

The Sign of the Seahorse by Graeme Base

From chapters.ca:
A fable about undersea life that brings a lesson about the dangers of pollution

Probuditi! by Chris Van Allsburg

From chapters.ca:
For his birthday, Calvin''s mother gives him two tickets to see Lomax the Magnificent (magician and hypnotist extraordinaire!). Even though Mama hints that his little sister, Trudy, would love to go, Calvin doesn't hesitate to invite his friend Rodney instead. The boys return home greatly impressed by the magician's performance. When Calvin's mother goes out, she leaves him in charge of Trudy. It's a job Calvin dislikes because his sister does not want to be left out of anything. So Calvin and Rodney include her-by making her the first subject for their own hypnotizing machine. Much to the boys' surprise, the machine works. But unfortunately they cannot undo what they have done. Trudy is stuck in her trance, convinced she is a dog-panting, drooling, and barking at squirrels. The only problem is, Calvin can''t remember Lomax's magic word-Probuditi!-so Trudy won't snap out of it! The boys are worried and decide to take Trudy to the one man they know can solve their problem-but will Lomax help them?

How the Kangaroos Got Their Tails by George Mung Mung

The aboriginal myth about how the kangaroos got their tails.

Zoom at Sea by Tim Wynne-Jones


From chapters.ca:
Zoom at Sea is about a cat called Zoom who loves water – not to drink, but to play with. He ties wooden spoons to his paws to paddle in the kitchen sink and even floats in the bathtub in a wicker-basket boat. But he has never been to Sea.

The Peanuts by Charles M. Schultz

Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and all their friends are the subject of a huge number of comics available in various formats.

A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton - Porter

From chapters.ca:
Harassed by her mother and scorned by her peers, Elnora Comstock finds solace in natural beauty — along with friendship, independence, and romance.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

From the back of the book:
One cruel night, Meggie''s father reads aloud from a book called Inkheart -- and an evil ruler escapes the boundaries of fiction and lands in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie is smack in the middle of the kind of adventure she has only read about in books. Meggie must learn to harness the magic that has conjured this nightmare. For only she can change the course of the story that has changed her life forever.

Cornelia Funke is a German author who seems to have recently exploded into the English speaking world. Her fiction is highly imaginative and rather addictive. I am reading as much of it as I can, as fast as I can.

Inkheart has a sequel.

Originally in German.

Blackburry Farm by Jane Pilgrim

The Blackburry Farm books are a series of stories about farm animals and the adventures they have. In some ways they are similar to Beatrix Potter, but simpler to read.

Earthways Earthwise selected by Judith Nicholls

A selected collection of poems about the environment.

Aliens for Breakfast by Stephanie Spinner

From chapters.ca:
Richard knows he's not in for an ordinary day when a tiny, wisecracking alien freedom fighter climbs out of his cereal bowl. In this fast and funny sci-fi adventure the alien enlists Richard's help to foil a deadly enemy who is cleverly disguised as the new kid in homeroom

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Magical Kingdom for Sale - Sold by Terry Brooks

From the back of the book:
After Ben Holiday purchased Landover, he discovered the magic kingdom had some problems. The Barons refused to recognize a king and the peasants were without hope. To make matters worse, Ben learned that he had to duel to the death with the Iron Mask, the terrible lord of the demons--a duel which no human could hope to win....

Bearing and Hourglass by Piers Anthony

From the back of the book:
When life seemed pointless to Norton, he accepted the position as the Incarnation of Time, even though it meant living backward from present to past. The other seemingly all-powerful incantations of Immortality--Death, Fate, War, and Nature--made him welcome. Even Satan greeted him with gifts. But he soon discovered that the gifts were cunning traps and he had become enmeshed in a complex scheme of the Evil One to destroy all that was good....

This is a book later in a series, but it stands well on its own and I haven't read the rest of the series.

Frederick by Leo Lionni

From the publisher:
While other mice are gathering food for the winter, Frederick seems to daydream the summer away. When dreary winter comes, it is Frederick the poet-mouse who warms his friends and cheers them with his words.

The Red Balloon by A. Lamorisse

From the publisher:
A magical book that has become an enduring children's classic, The Red Balloon is the story of a young boy and his best friend--a bright red balloon. Chock-full of photographs of the boy, the balloon and the captivating city of Paris.

Count Karlstein by Philip Pullman, illustrated by Diana Bryan

From the publisher:
"Using multiple narrators and expertly concocted cliffhangers, Pullman crafts a thrilling page-turner. This gothic farce features young orphans, evil schemers, a gloomy Swiss castle, a long-lost heir, stalwart lads, capable women, a con man on the lam, hilariously bumbling police officers, and Zamiel: the Prince of the Mountains, the Demon Huntsman. . . . It's whirlwind plotting, manipulated into a pulsing tale of darkened hearts, treachery, and at long last, redemption."--Kirkus Reviews

Freckle Juice by Judy Blume

From the publisher:
Nicky has freckles -- they cover his face, his ears, and the whole back of his neck. Sitting behind him in class, Andrew once counted eighty-six of them, and that was just a start! If Andrew had freckles like Nicky, his mother would never know if his neck was dirty.
One day after school, Andrew works up enough courage to ask Nicky where he got his freckles. When know-it-all Sharon overhears, she offers Andrew her secret freckle juice recipe -- for fifty cents. It's a lot of money, but Andrew is desperate. At home he carefully mixes the strange combination of ingredients. Then the unexpected happens...

Down by the Bay by Raffi


Down by the Bay was my favourite Raffi song when I was a kid. A number of Raffi's songs have picture books that go with them.

I Was There by Hans Peter Richter


This book is narrated by a young boy who joins the Hitler Youth and is turned from an innocent youngster into one of Hitler's soldiers.

This is another book that is hard to find (though this could largely be due to the fact that the title is largely unsearchable). Sorry I couldn't find a larger image of the cover. If I can get my hands on a copy I'll get a bigger picture on the post.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Tin Tin


Tin Tin is one of the most successful comic book characters of all time. Like Asterix, it originates from Belgium.

Teddybears and the Cold Cure by Susanna Gretz and Alison Sage


The Teddybears are another set of characters with their own series of books.

The Chronicles Of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

From Wikipedia:
The stories detail the adventures of a young man named Taran, who is awarded the honor of Assistant Pig-Keeper but dreams of being a grand hero, and his companions Princess Eilonwy, Fflewddur Fflam the wandering bard and king, a feral yet gentle creature called Gurgi, and a dwarf named Doli.

The Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain (prequel), The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, and The High King.

Cave Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins


Firetop and Firefly live in the time of cave men. When they overhear their parents planning to leave them while they go exploring, the twins decide to follow them.

Morality Play by Barry Unsworth

From the publisher:
In the late fourteenth century, the country stricken with plague, famine and the consequences of war with France, a priest joins a group of impoverished travelling players as they take the body of their dear friend to the nearest town for burial. To pay the burial fees they decide to put on a play. On hearing that a young woman is to be hanged for the murder of a twelve-year-old boy, the company leader, Martin, desperate to augment their depleted funds, persuades the players to re-enact the murder. But as the players investigate the circumstances of the boy's death, doubt is thrown on the young woman's guilt. Over the two days that they perform their play, digging deeper into the murky circumstances that surround the murder, they come close to revealing a shocking truth that puts them all in mortal danger.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

From chapters.ca:
Moose Flannagan moves with his family to Alcatraz so his dad can work as a prison guard and his sister, Natalie, can attend a special school. But Natalie has autism, and when she's denied admittance to the school, the stark setting of Alcatraz begins to unravel the tenuous coping mechanisms Moose's family has used for dealing with her disorder. When Moose meets Piper, the cute daughter of the Warden, he knows right off she's trouble. But she's also strangely irresistible. All Moose wants to do is protect Natalie, live up to his parents' expectations, and stay out of trouble. But on Alcatraz, trouble is never very far away. Set in 1935, when guards actually lived on Alcatraz Island with their families, Choldenko's second novel brings humour to the complexities of family dynamics and illuminates the real struggle of a kid trying to free himself from the "good boy" stance he's taken his whole life.

Small Pig by Arnold Lobel

From the publisher:
After the farmer's wife cleans up all of his good, soft mud, Small Pig decides to run away. He's sure to find a better pigpen in the city. But, once there, the puddle he thought was mud is not mud at all! And now this small pig has one BIG problem.

The Mitten by Alvin Tresselt, illustrated by Yaroslova

From the publisher:
Deep in the woods on the coldest day of winter a little boy drops his mitten. And that lost mitten stretches and stretches -- and stretches -- to provide shelter for many woodland creatures. A Ukrainian folk tale.

Friday, May 25, 2007

The Lady with a Ship on Her Head

Lady Pompenstance wants to win the award for best hairstyle at the ball, but she cannot think of anything. While she is walking along the shore, a very small sailing ship sails into her hair, but she does not notice.

Medieval Feast by Aliki

A wonderfully illustrated and informative picture book about what happened when a king went ate at the house of one of his subjects.

Fables by Arnold Lobel

A collection of short, original fables.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

From chapters.ca:
Few novels ever swept the world with such overpowering impact as "Les Miserables". Sensational, dramatic, packed with rich excitement and filled with the sweep and violence of human passions, "Les Miserables" is not only a superb adventure but a powerful social document. The story of how the convict Jean Valjean struggles to escape his past and reaffirm his humanity in a world brutalized by poverty and ignorance became the gospel of the poor and oppressed.

Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue by Maurice Sendak

Pierre always says, "I don't care!". He learns to, however, with a little help.

Alligators All Around by Maurice Sendak

A ABC book with alligators written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

From chapters.ca:
The Power of One follows a boy named Peekay as he copes with the harsh realities of racism, war and lies in South Africa. Born to an Englishwoman, nurtured by a black woman and tormented persistently throughout his youth, he vows to survive and become the welterweight champion of the world. However, his journey is filled with modern prejudice and tribal superstitions. He learns of the power of words and communication and its ability to transform lives and communities. As he learns to sustain himself through the mystical and spiritual world he appreciates, he manages to see through the cruelty of the world.

Tandia is a sequel, but I never managed to get through it.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Bed-Knob and Broomstick by Mary Norton

From chapters.ca:
With the powers they acquire from a spinster who is studying to be a witch, three children go on a number of exciting and gruesome trips.

Once on a Time by A. A. Milne

As the author of Winnie the Pooh, A. A. Milne's other works are often overlooked. Once on a Time is about how easy it is to start a war regardless of whether or not you actually want one.

This is another book that tends to be difficult to find but is well worth the look. It is another of my childhood favourites.

Puck of Pook's Hill by Rudyard Kipling

From chapters.ca:
In the perfect bedtime reading, a mischievous imp called Puck delights two precocious youngsters with ten magical fables about the hidden histories of Old England. Written especially for Kipling's own children, each enchanting myth is followed by a selection of the master storyteller's spirited poetry.

Highwayman by Alfred Noyes

From chapters.ca:
The Highwayman is a haunting ballad of doomed love. Seldom have mood and character been so memorably evoked in such a short poem. The pounding rhythm of the rhyme, the dramatic pacing and the power of the images have made it one of the favourite read-alouds of all time.

Matthew and the Midnight Tow Truck by Allen Morgan

Matthew has a number of crazy midnight adventures, including this one with a tow truck.

How Come the Best Clues are Always in the Garbage? by Linda Bailey

From chapters.ca:
When $1,000 disappears off the kitchen table in the Diamonds' apartment, the Garbage Busters are in the hole for a lot of money. And worse still, although there are oodles of suspects, there are no clues - that is, until 11-year-old detective Stevie Diamond takes up the case!

Flying Canoe by Roch Carrier

From chapters.ca:
On New Year’s eve, 1847, eleven-year-old Baptiste finds himself far from his friends and family and his home in La Beauce. He has come to the woods of the Ottawa Valley to live and work among “the finest lumberjacks in Canada.” As the New Year approaches, Baptiste and the lumberjacks grow more and more homesick. Resolved to see their families again before the stroke of midnight, the crew board a magical canoe that lifts them into the air, across villages, and closer to home.

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe


I'm pushing the Visions in Poetry series along with the poems themselves. This is a wonderful and creepy poem with a rhythm that cannot be ignored.

One was Johnny by Maurice Sendak

One was Johnny, but there are also a lot of unwelcome visitors. Johnny counts up as they arrive, and down as he gets rid of them.

Blood and Guts by Linda Allison


Most children are curious about their bodies and how they work. This book provides clear illustrations and some experiments for young children to learn how their bodies are made and how they function.

Stranger at Green Knowe by L. M. Boston

From chapters.ca:
A strange friendship develops between an orphaned Chinese refugee who is spending the summer at Green Knowe and a gorilla who has escaped from the London Zoo

Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce

From chapters.ca:
Tom is furious. His brother, Peter, has measles, so now Tom is being shipped off to stay with Aunt Gwen and Uncle Alan in their boring old apartment. There'll be nothing to do there and no one to play with. Tom just counts the days till he can return home to Peter.Then one night the landlady's antique grandfather clock strikes thirteen times leading Tom to a wonderful, magical discovery and marking the beginning of a secret that''s almost too amazing to be true. But it is true, and in the new world that Tom discovers is a special friend named Hatty and more than a summer's worth of adventure for both of them. Now Tom wishes he could stay with his relatives and Hatty -- forever...

Monday, May 21, 2007

Animal Farm by George Orwell

From chapters.ca:
A farm is taken over by its overworked, mistreated animals. With flaming idealism and stirring slogans, they set out to create a paradise of progress, justice, and equality. Thus the stage is set for one of the most telling satiric fables ever penned--a razor-edged fairy tale for grown-ups that records the evolution from revolution against tyranny to a totalitarianism just as terrible.

Master Harold and the Boys by Athol Fugard

This play about the race situation in South Africa tells of a young man who, though he was raised by two loving black servants, cannot avoid the prejudice that his country is seeped in.
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