Tuesday, April 29, 2008

It's Your Room: A Decorating Guide for Real Kids by Jaice Weaver and Frieda Wishinsky, illustrated by Claudia Davila

From chapters.ca:
Enough cute little bunnies dancing across your walls or toy trains and nursery rhymes plastered above your bed. That was the old you. It's time now to transform your space, to learn how to make it sparkle using more imagination than money. This exciting new book by Janice Weaver and Frieda Wishinsky offers creative solutions to all your design dilemmas — and does it without breaking the bank.

Galaxies, Galaxies! by Gail Gibbons

From the back of the book:
Planet Earth is in the Milky Way Galaxy, the cloudy band of light that stretches across the night sky. For years astronomers thought that the Milky Way Galaxy was the whole universe. Now we know that there are billions of galaxies, and we are starting to learn about their shapes and sizes, and what they consist of.

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

From the back of the book:
When Billie Jo is just fourteen she must endure heart-wrenching ordeals that no child should have to face. The quiet strength she displays while dealing with unspeakable loss is as surprising as it is inspiring. Written in free verse, this award-winning story is set in the heart of the Great Depression. It chronicles Oklahoma's staggering dust storms, and the environmental--and emotional--turmoil they leave in their path. An unforgettable tribute to hope and inner strength.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Akimbo and the Elephants by Alexander McCall Smith

From the back of the book:
Akimbo can't bear what's happening to the elephants. there's only one way to stop the poachers, and that's to become an elephant hunter himself!

From the author of the well loved Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency

Universaurus by Professor Potts

From the back of the book:
No human has ever seen a dinosaur...and no human has ever seen a dinosaur book like this one! Join Professor Potts on his exciting first investigation. An see how scientists really get their knowledge. Each page is a fresh discovery and an amazing picture. But remember this...You never saw us! So how do you know?

But Excuse Me That is My Book by Lauren Child

From the back of the book:
Charlie has this little sister, Lola. She is small and very funny. Lola loves reading. At the moment there is one book that is extra specially special..

The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr

From the back of the book:
The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be What they certainly don't expect to see at the door is a big, furry, stripy tiger!

Do You Want to be my Friend? by Eric Carle

From the back of the book:
Do you want to be my friend? asks the little mouse, and hopefully follows a tail, finding at the end of it a rather unfriendly horse. But there's another tail, and another, and a strange, long, green one, too, that follows the mouse on his quest for a friend.

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott

From chapters.ca:
He holds the secret that can end the world. The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show that he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty. The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it. Sometimes legends are true. And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli

From chapters.ca:
What is stargazer, skateboarder, chess champ, pepperoni pizza eater, older brother, sister hater, best friend, first kisser, science geek, control freak Will Tuppence so afraid of in this great big universe? Jerry Spinelli knows.

True to form, Spinelli's characters are fascinating, lovable and quirky. I loved the book, but some of his others (Loser, Maniac Magee, and Stargirl) were better.

The Little Red Fish by Taeeun Yoo

From the back of the book:
Can a fish disappear into a book? Can a boy jump into a book to save a fish? The answer? When a boy and a fish enter a magical library in the middle of a forest, anything can happen. Join JeJe and his friend in this striking and dreamlike picture book by talented new author-illustrator Taeeun Yoo.

Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka

From chapters.ca:
Two strangers on a street meet. One boy starts with Yo!

Gator by Randy Cecil

From the back of the book:
Gator loves everything about being a carousel animal, and most of all, he loves the laughter. But day by day, fewer and fewer people come to the amusement park until one day, no one comes. Thus begins a most touching odyssey, as Gator leaves behind the only life he's ever known and sets off through a dark forest, to a place with real alligators - and a wonderful, familiar sound.

Leaves by David Ezra Stein

From the back of the book:
The young bear has never seen leaves fall off a tree before. Should he try to put them back? Or take a nap in them? He is getting sleepy...This bear's-eye look at the changing seasons will charm readers with its whimsical illustrations and delightful portrayal of the wonders of nature.

Rise of the Golden Cobra by Henry T. Aubin

From chapters.ca:
A young scribe with revenge on his mind. A pharaoh's war for the honour of Egypt. An action-packed tale from ancient history. During a picnic overlooking the Nile, 14-year-old scribe Nebi spots the riders first. Led by the treacherous Count Nimlot, the raiding party slaughters Nebi's master and the region's head of police. Although wounded, Nebi -- knowing that the pharaoh's northern territory is no longer secure -- escapes as the only living witness.

The Aunts Come Marching by Bill Richardson, illustrated by Cynthia Nugent

A new version of childhood favourite, The Ants Marching. The Aunts descend on a relative's house playing their instruments and making quite a racket.

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

From the back of the book:
"Bark, George," says George's mother, and George goes: "Meow," which definitely isn't right, because George is a dog. And so is his mother, who repeats, "Bark, George." And George goes: "Quack-quack." What's going on with George?

Pull the Other One! StringGames and Stories by Michael Taylor

A book of string games from the classic cat's cradle to ones you may not know.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Looking for Alaksa by John Green

From chapters.ca:
Before: Miles "Pudge" Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the 'Great Perhaps' even more (Franois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then....After: Nothing is ever the same.

Mud by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Lauren Stringer

From chapters.ca:
An ode to muddy hands and feet, brown earth, and new grass. Simple text and exuberant illustrations will make children and their grown-up friends want to sink their feet into gooey, gloppy, mucky, magnificent mud.

Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh

From chapters.ca:
What can you make with one oval, two circles, and eight triangles? Just ask three clever mice who even find a funny way to trick a sneaky cat.

The Chocolate Cat by Sue Stainton, illustrated by Anne Mortimer

From chapters.ca:
In a drab village nestled between the mountains and the sea, an old chocolate maker lives alone with his cat, making uninspired chocolates to display in his dusty shop.
One day he does something different and makes chocolate mice with crunchy pink-sugar tails—but he won’t eat them. Cat soon discovers there’s something truly special about these little mice, and everyone who tastes them is inspired to create something new and different, something the little village has never seen.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

The Little Black Book for Girlz: A Book on Healthy Sexuality by the St. Stephen's Community House

Preface:
No matter what age we are, many of us prefer to speak to our peers about experiences we are going through, especially around issues of sex and sexuality. Many young women have expressed to us that there is a lack of material they can relate to on sexuality and relationships. They want something no only aimed at them, but also created by them. Out of this frustration came The Little Black Book for Girlz. The book was created by young women who hung out at the St. Stephen's Community House Youth Arcade Drop-In, in downtown Toronto. As a group we had many discussions about all kinds of different issues. These discussions were very honest and non-judgemental, and the girls wanted sex ed. material that was equally positive and empowering to them. As a group we decided to write our own book that would encourage other young women to learn more about their bodies, their relationship, and their lives.

Arctic Adventures: Tales from the Lives of Inuit Artists by Raquel Rivera, illustrated by Jirina Marton

From the back of the book:
In this unique, multifaceted book author Raquel Rivera combines story and biography to illuminate the lives of four Inuit artists - Pudlo Pudlat, Jessie Oonark, Kenojuak Ashevak and Lazzarusie Ishulutak - providing young readers with an introduction to Inuit culture past and present. Based on stories told by the artists, Rivera has shaped these tales so that children can learn about these exceptional individuals. Extreme weather, hunger, magic, hunting and the land are themes that resonate for Inuit who live in the far north.

Stories for Young People: Leo Tolstoy edited by Donna Tussing Orwin, illustrated by Herve Blondon

A collection of translated short stories by Tolstoy re-written for children.

Grandpa's Teeth by Rod Clement

From chapters.ca:
It was a crime that the townspeople had never witnessed. Shocking in its daring and involving a feat of stealth, it was also pretty darn weird. You see, the town had gone to bed one night, secure in the knowledge that everything was fine and they could snuggle into their warm beds for a good night’s sleep. But come morning, something was terribly wrong in Grandad’s house - the glass that sat next to his bed was smashed, and his teeth were gone! Who could have taken Grandad’s teeth?

Aram's Choice by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, illustrated by Muriel Wood

From the back of the book:
Aram is like all the boys exiled in Greece. Survivors of the Armenian genocide in Turkey, they can never return home. Aram learns that he is one of a group of boys who will start a new life in a country called Canada, where there is no war, plenty to eat, and trees covered in gold. But first he must get there. Aram is about to embark on a long journey. Based on the story of Kevork Kevorkian, one of the original Georgetown Boys - a group of Armenian orphans brought to Georgetown, Ontario, in 1923.

New Beginning is a series of historical chapter books for newly independent readers. Every title is well researched, illustrated in full colour throughout, and accompanied by a bibliography, index, and glossary.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo

From chapters.ca:
On Gwyn's 9th birthday, his grandmother tells him he may be a magician, like his Welsh ancestors. She gives him five gifts to help him - a brooch, a piece of dried seaweed, a tin whistle, a scarf, and a broken toy horse. One blustery day, unsure what to do with his newfound magic, Gwyn throws the brooch to the wind and receives a silvery snow spider in return. Will he be able to use this special spider to bring his missing sister, Bethan, home? The Snow Spider spins an icy, sparely web of mystical intrigue that sets the stage for the next two books in this outstanding trilogy!

Slow Loris by Alexis Deacon

Slow Loris is veeeeeeeery sloooooooooow. He's so slow the people who visit the zoo find him boring. The other animals think he's boring too...until they discover his secret.

The Legend of Hong Kil Dong: The Robin Hood of Korea by Anne Sibley O'Brien

From the back of the book:
In this classic tale from early seventeenth- century Korea, Hong Kil Dong, the son of a powerful minister, is not entitled to a birthright because his mother is a commoner. After studying the martial arts, divination, swordplay, the uses of magic, and the wisdom of the I Ching, the Book of Changes, Hong Kil Dong sets off on a quest for his destiny. He leads a band of men to right the injustices shown to the peasant by some powerful and corrupt merchants, ministers, and monks. Hong Kil Dong an then claim his rightful role and become a wise and just leader.

Head, Body, Legs: A Story from Liberia

From the back of the book:
Head is all alone. Body bounces along. Arms swing about, and Legs stand around. They can't do much by themselves, so they try to join together. But how? Should Head attach to the belly button? Should Legs stand on Arms? If only they can work together, everything will be perfect. Straight from the oral tradition comes this magical retelling of a creation story from Liberia.

Carnal Knowledge: A Navel Gazer's Dictionar of Anatomy, Etymology, and Trivia by Charles Hodgson

A dictionary like book of tons of words that have to do with the body. Words you know and words for body parts you didn't even know you had!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

From the publisher:
It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery....Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meagre existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbours during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

Silly Billy by Anthony Browne

From the back of the book:
Billy worries about everything, especially when he spends the night away from home. On a visit to Grandma's, Billy is so worried that he can't sleep. But Grandma has just the thing for a boy like Billy - tiny, colourful worry dolls. He puts the dolls under his pillow and lets them do the worrying for him.

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian

From the back of the book:
Snow in Vermont is as common as dirt. Why would anyone want to photograph it? But from the time he was a small boy, Wilson Bentley thinks of the icy crystals as small miracles, and he determines that one day his camera will capture for others their extraordinary beauty. Often misunderstood in his time, Wilson Bentley took pictures that even today reveal two important truths about snowflakes: first, that no two are alike, and second, that each one is startlingly beautiful.

The Wreck of the Zephyr by Chris Van Allsburg

From chapters.ca:
At the edge of a cliff lies the wreck of a small sailboat. How did it get there? "Waves carried it up in a storm," says an old sailor. But is it possible that waves could ever get that high? There is another story -- the story of a boy and his obsessive desire to be the greatest sailor, the story of a storm that carried the boy and his boat to a place where boats glide like gulls high above the water and not upon it. Chris Van Allsburg tells that story of the boy and his boat, the Zephyr, in words and haunting, full-colour pastel paintings. His sailboats sail the night sky with the stars in pictures so vivid that the reader can almost hear the wind in the sails.

One Scary Night by Antonie Guilloppe

From the back of the book:
One scary night a young boy finds himself alone in a cold, dark forest. As he walks deeper into the woods, it starts to snow. The boy presses on. But he is not alone. Something is watching him. Is it friend or foe?
Black and white illustrations illustrate this spooky story.

World Behind the Door: An Encounter with Salvador Dali by Mike Resnick

From the back of the book:
Salvador Dali's The Persistence of Memory is one of the most memorable images in the world. Now this surrealist masterpiece is at the centre of a tale about the connection between Dali's celebrated painting and quantum physics, through the story of a young girl named Jinx and her effect on Dali when he was seeking a new direction for his art. In the 1920s, Dali, deeply troubled that his art had become uninspired, comes across a door in the back of his closet, through which he finds a fantastical parallel universe. And it is in this world that Dali meets Jinx, who serves as his muse for much of the rest of his life. For it is through their conversations as well ass his visits to her world that Dali begins to "see" and paint the surreal images that can only be described as Daliesque.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Who's Hiding? by Satoru Onishi

An excellent book to spend time looking at the pictures and discussing what you see. Who has horns? Who's backwards? Who's hiding?

Friday, April 18, 2008

Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School by Mark Teague

From chapters.ca:
When Ike LaRue is "imprisoned" at the Igor Brotweiler Canine Academy, he tries everything to get sent home -- weepy letters to his owner, even illness. In reality, Brotweiler is more like camp than prison, but still, Ike's not cut out for life without Mrs. LaRue and his creature comforts. Finally, he runs away only to find himself back in Snort City -- just in time to save Mrs. LaRue's life.

The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas

From chapters.ca:
In a city that runs on a dwindling supply of magic, a young boy is drawn into a life of wizardry and adventure. Conn should have dropped dead the day he picked Nevery’s pocket and touched the wizard’s locus magicalicus, a stone used to focus magic and work spells. But for some reason he did not. Nevery finds that interesting, and he takes Conn as his apprentice on the provision that the boy find a locus stone of his own. But Conn has little time to search for his stone between wizard lessons and helping Nevery discover who—or what—is stealing the city of Wellmet’s magic.

Surprising Sharks by Nicola Davies, illustrated by James Croft

From the back of the book:
What's the last word you want to hear when you're swimming in the warm blue sea? "SHAAAAAAAARK!" But most sharks aren't at all what you would expect. In fact, if you thought all sharks were giant, man-eating killers, you're in for a big surprise. Sharks come in all shapes and sizes-and probably should be more afraid of humans than we are of them.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon by Mini Grey

From the back of the book:
When the cow jumped over the moon, the dish ran away with the spoon to seek fame and fortune in twentieth-century America. This is the never-before-told true story of their exciting adventures out in the big world.

Armadillo Tattletale by Helen Ketteman, illustrated by Keith Graves

From the back of the book:
In the bare bones beginning, Armadillo'w ears were as tall as a jackrabbit's and as wide as a steer's horns. With such wonderful ears, Armadillo loved nothing better than spying on other animals and telling tales about what he heard. Then Armadillo gets an earful all his very own.
This humorous tale is a lyrical lesson in just how fast stretching the truth is likely to cause one humongous armadillo ruckus. As Armadillo peeps and creeps, children will giggle, and also learn a basic lesson in thoughtfulness and respect.

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

From the back of the book:
Twelve-year-old Claudia Kincaid is restless. She wants to do something different, leaving her comfortable suburban life in Connecticut behind for awhile. And she wants to be gone just long enough o teach her parents to appreciate her. But as Claudia plans to run away, not just any place ill do. She wants to live in style - in a place with a bit of luxury and some good company. Claudia settles on New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art. She invites her younger brother Jamie to come along too, not for companionship, but mostly because he is a miser and has saved up some money. Unfortunately, the live-in at the museum isn't all Claudia had hoped. She doesn't feel any different than before. And soon she finds herself in the middle of an interesting museum mystery. Claudia sees a statue so beautiful that she cannot head back to Connecticut until she discovers its maker. the first clue is the statue's former owner, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, an unusual old woman who helps Claudia finally find her way home.

Me Hungry by Jeremy Tankard

From chapters.ca:
"Me hungry!" the boy pleads. "Me busy," say his preoccupied mom and dad. So the boy decides to go hunting, setting his sights on an elusive rabbit, a prickly porcupine, a too-mean tiger, and finally, a like-minded mammoth who’s more than happy to help. With comical, energetic illustrations and a simple, repetitive text, this child-friendly tale will have little listeners fully engaged right up to the funny final twist.

The Summer of the Marco Polo by Lynn Manuel, illustrated by Kasia Charko

From the back of the book:
In the summer in 1883 a famous clipper ship ran aground off the coast of Prince Edward Island near the home of a young girl named Lucy Maud Montgomery. Lucy Maud, who became one of Canada's most beloved writers, wrote about the grand adventure in her journals and reflected on it years later in her notebooks. The town of Cavendish and Lucy Maud herself were transformed by the event and the exciting summer that followed.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Stop that Ball! by Mike McClintock, illustrted by Fritz Siebel

It's unbelievable the chaos that can be caused by a small, red, runaway ball!

Town Mouse and Country Mouse by Jan Brett

From the back of the book:
The classic tale of a town mouse and a country mouse takes on a new dimension in the imaginative and talented hands of Jan Brett. She introduces two engaging mice couples eager to get away from their everyday lives. But when they agree to swap homes, they are plunged into unexpected adventures around every corner.

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Michael Emberley

From chapters.ca:
Designed with budding readers in mind, each of stories is set in three columns and three colours as a script for two voices to read separately or together.
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