| CONTENTS:
A series list is included at the end of each of the content subjects, if applicable.
PICTURE BOOKS
Bailey, Linda. Stanley’s Beauty Contest.
Illustrated by Bill Slavin. Kids Can Press
The loveable mutt is back. Bathed and primped, but in the confusion unfed, Stanley is off to the dog show. Discovering the prizes are delicious bones our hungry hero tries his heart out but fails to secure a single taste. But fear not, a romp ensues as the exuberant Stanley shows everyone that fun is more important than prizes.
Barclay, Jane. Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion.
Illustrated by Renné Benoit. Tundra Books.
As they get ready for Remembrance Day ceremonies, Poppa shows his grandson a picture of himself in uniform and remembers feeling "proud as a peacock". The boy gets glimpses of his grandfather as a young man, going off to war, feeling proud and scared and brave. The illustrations in this touching book are lovely, muted and aptly depict the close relationship between grandfather and grandson. .
Côté, Geneviève Me and You.
Kids Can Press.
Rabbit and Pig are such close friends that each would like to be more like the other. Pig puts socks on his ears and Rabbit adds a curly tail. They both try to change their noses, their toes, and their colour. But when they are through, they realize they like each other as they truly are. This is a well told tale of friendship and differences.
Forler, Nan. Bird Child.
Illustrated by François Thisdale, Tundra Books.
Drawing, painting and photographs blend to beautifully enhance the tender tale of a little girl, who has been raised to believe in herself and her ability to “fly”. When a new girl at school is bullied, Eliza at first just watches. But as she sees Lainey’s spirit being crushed, Eliza’s shame pushes her to stand up to the bullies.
Gay, Marie-Louise. When Stella Was Very, Very Small.
Groundwood Books.
Peek into the past when Stella was, “very, very small”, and discover a big world full of fun and adventure! Through the eyes of tiny Stella, we see that tree branches can tickle clouds and drinking cups have a habit of jumping off tables. But as Stella gets a little older, we see how she takes on a new and “bigger” role... one where she can read books, feed her goldfish, and be a loving “big” sister.
Jocelyn, Marthe Same Same.
Illustrated by Tom Slaughter. Tundra Books.
Birds and zebras and snakes are the same. Snakes and fences and trains are the same. Bright bold graphics illustrate how a snake (for instance) can be both striped and long at the same time. This is a simple book with a more complex idea than first meets the eye.
Johnston, Lynn & Beth Cruikshank. Farley Follows His Nose. Harper Collins.
Farley has had enough! After another loathsome bath, he decides to run away from home. At first he has fun sniffing the wonderful odours of the neighbourhood, eating some treats, and even rescuing a lost boy, but then he begins to miss his family. Feeling lonely, Farley wonders if he’ll ever find his home again. Rescue comes from an unexpected source when Farley follows his nose.
Silsbe, Brenda. The Bears We Know.
Illustrated by Vlasta van Kampen. Annick Press.
Just down the street there is a household of bears who live life exactly as any child would love to. They stay up late, they eat what they like, they never go to school. Van Kampen’s funny, engaging pictures invite us into the bears’ world of perfect bliss. A vicarious treat for reluctantly well-behaved children everywhere.
Sydor, Colleen. Timmerman Was Here.
Illustrated by Nicolas Debon. Tundra Books.
Timmerman is a new boarder who eventually wins over the little girl in this story with his quiet ways, and by including her in his odd jobs around their house. When the neighbours begin to gossip, the little girl defends her friend - even when she herself begins to have doubts. A well-told tale about the bonds and surprises of friendship.
Tankard, Jeremy. Boo Hoo Bird.
Scholastic Press.
He’s back! Grumpy Bird has entered the world of scrapes and bruises. While every one of his friends is having fun playing ball, bird is the only one having accidents. He is not a happy bird! As usual his friends come to his rescue and turn his “boohoos” into chuckles and smiles. Another home run for Jeremy Tankard.
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FICTION
Adderson, Caroline. Bruno for Real.
Orca Book Publishers.
Bruno is a busy 7 year old boy who can’t stop his hiccups, enjoys being “bad” for a day and swaps his Mom for a funny hat. Great for young readers who enjoy short funny chapters with lots of humorous illustrations.
Anderson, R.J. Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter.
HarperCollins.
Faeries and humans? Impossible – but not to ‘Knife’, hunter fairy. Spunky and rebellious, Knife defies convention to fly beyond an aging faery world to the ‘human’ House. She and crippled 16 year-old Paul become friends – and more. Issues of loyalty and fading magic add depth to this compelling read.
Austen, Catherine. Walking Backward.
Orca Book Publishers.
After a tragic and somewhat mysterious accident, 12 year old Josh writes in his journal about how different life is without his mom, and chronicles how each of his family members deal with their own grief. For example, his little brother, Sammy, insists on walking backwards so that he can remember the faces of people as he leaves, in case they die. Josh’s journal touches the heart of the reader with its humour, pain, and “what ifs”. Will life ever feel normal again?
Hartry, Nancy. Watching Jimmy. Tundra Books.
11 year-old Carolyn cares for her brain-injured friend Jimmy with courage, loyalty and strength beyond her years. Set in Canada in the 1950’s, a dark secret, a bullying adult and mounting health-care bills create almost insurmountable problems. Her feisty determination, dry sense of humour and golden voice bring this moving novel to a satisfying conclusion. Not to be missed.
Kerz, Anna. The Mealworm Diaries.
Orca Book Publishers.
Jeremy feels his life is a disaster when he moves to a new school. Not only does he have no friends, he is also keeping a secret about his father’s death. When Jeremy is partnered to do a mealworm project with Aaron, who has behavioural problems, Jeremy feels he will never fit in at school. Told with humour and insight, readers will be cheering for Jeremy who finds friendship when he least expects it.
Kress, Adrienne. Timothy and the Dragon's Gate.
Scholastic Canada.
In this action-packed adventure, Timothy is stuck with an impossible mission. As the accidental keeper of a thousand-year-old dragon (trapped in an old Chinese man's body) he must escort Mr. Shen (the dragon) to China, find the dragon's gate, and release the dragon's true power. Timothy and Mr. Shen face many dangers along the way including ninjas and pirate battles on the high seas
Lawrence, Iain. The Giant-Slayer. Delacorte Press
This book is an imagination adventure! Laurie and her friend Dickie have a great time playing together, inventing stories and exploring their neighbourhood. But when Dickie contracts polio and is confined to an iron lung in hospital, Laurie finally faces her fears and finds several kids in hospital who need her particular brand of storytelling escape. Together, the kids create the story of the giant-slayer, who, against all odds, defeats the biggest challenge of his life.
Mordecai, Martin. Blue Mountain Trouble. Scholastic
Two 11 year olds twins, Jackson and Pollyread, live in rural Jamaica. They are taking an exam which will determine what their next step in education will be, their mother is mysteriously ill and the local bad boy has returned to the village after a stint in jail. And then there is a magical goat that appears and disappears. The realities of life such as illegitimate children, ganja and getting water are presented in a matter of fact way. This is such a beautifully written book that the Jamaican dialect used throughout presents little trouble to the reader.
Peacock, Shane. The Vanishing Girl. Tundra Books.
In the third instalment of Peacock’s brilliant The Boy Sherlock Holmes series the detective faces his most complex case yet. A kidnapped girl is returned to her wealthy family but promptly disappears again. Following a clue deep into the countryside Holmes discovers a second girl is missing, and all signs are pointing him to the creepy house on the hill.
Vanderwal, Andrew H. Battle for Duncragglin. Tundra Books.
Alex Macpherson dreads the visit to his Aunt Fiona’s home in far off Scotland, until he learns about the secret caves rumoured to exist under the ruins of Duncragglin Castle. Determined to find the caves, Alex and his new friends embark on a magical journey back in time to the era of knights, castles, and William Wallace. This first novel by Vanderwal is an exciting romp through Scottish history.
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NON-FICTION
Becker, Helaine. What’s the Big Idea?: Inventions That Changed Life on Earth Forever.
Owlkids Books (Maple Tree)
The author begins by introducing the basic needs of human existence, such as food and security, showing how each led to inventions that satisfied these needs. She then illustrates how these early discoveries were developed over time into more sophisticated applications. A typically attractive, informative and highly readable new title from this popular author.
Butcher, Kristin. Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers: One Hundred Ancient Egyptian Jobs You Might Have Desired or Dreaded.
Illustrated by Martha Newbigging. Annick Press
This book has obvious appeal for the Grade 4 Ancient Civilizations curriculum. The table of contents is extensive as is the index at the back. But the combination of subject, writing and illustrations makes this more than just a book for school projects. The facts are presented in such a lively, even humorous fashion that it makes for great leisure reading as well.
Crossingham, John. Learn to Speak Music: A Guide to Creating, Performing and Promoting Your Songs.
Design and Illustrations by Jeff Kulak. Owl Kids Books Inc.
This is the coolest book ever! Crossingham shares his love of music with readers - from choosing an instrument, starting a band, to songwriting and recording. As an extra, the "playlist" feature provides song suggestions to illustrate important points in the text! Packed with information, the book remains accessible and engaging!
Kulling, Monika. It’s a Snap! George Eastman’s First Photograph.
Illustrated by Bill Slavin. Tundra Books.
Part of the Great Ideas series, Kulling’s picture book biography of George Eastman will appeal to a younger audience who will be fascinated with how he developed the brownie camera and invented dry plates and film. The charming and detailed illustrations by Bill Slavin bring the life and times of George Eastman to life.
Luxbacher, Irene. 1 2 3 I Can Build!
Kids Can Press.
This eye-catching book in a series by Luxbacher will inspire kids to build the architectural showpieces that are presented. The striking yet simple illustrations complement the instructions and are even featured in the index. From birdhouses to castles, budding architects will be able to actually build each structure and have a lot of fun doing it.
Ruurs, Margriet. My School in the Rain Forest: How Children Attend School Around the World. Boyd Mills Press
School in a jungle, school on a ship and school by radio are just a few of the fascinating ways children go to school around the world. Lots of photos and personalized stories add interest and make this a book that will help foster an understanding of other cultures.
Swanson, Diane. You are Weird: Your Body’s Peculiar Parts and Funny Functions.
Illustrated by Kathy Boake. Annick Press
A science book well disguised as fun! There are numerous astounding facts and figures and useful comparisons to similar animal parts. Wacky information encourages the reader to explore further.
Swanson, Diane. Animal Aha!: Thrilling Discoveries in Wildlife Science.
Annick Press.
There are lots of colour photos and lists of fun facts in this fascinating look at what recent research has shown us about how animals adapt and learn. Meet dolphins who count and elephants who recognize themselves in a mirror. Large print and short chapters make this book ideal for younger readers.
Thomas, Lyn. 100% Pure Fake: Gross Out Your Friends and Family With 25 Great Special Effects!
Photographs by Cheryl Powers and Illustrations by Boris Zaytsev. Kids Can Press
Just as the title indicates, this book will help kids reach maximum gross out potential! Fun and simple recipes, with easy-to-follow instructions (including symbols for when to ask for adult help), are on offer for cool stuff like fake blood, blisters and scars, "S'not snot", veggie vomit and even "doo-doos"! (The author includes her apology, as households will no longer be the same!)
Ye, Ting- xing. The Chinese Thought of It: Amazine Inventions and Innovations.
Annick Press
Who invented the folding umbrella? The fishing reel, playing cards, the compass and paddleboat? Packed with interesting information, this informative book discusses ancient as well as modern Chinese inventions. Chapters on transport, weapons, paper, food, health, games and more are well-illustrated with clear explanations. Index and bibliography.
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READING FOR YOUNG ADULTS
FICTION
Armstrong, Kelley. The Awakening.
Doubleday Canada.
Book two in the Darkest Powers trilogy, The Awakening picks up where The Summoning left off. Chloe Saunders, formerly a relatively normal high school student and film director in training, now finds herself seeing ghosts, raising the dead, and on the run from the scientists who are trying to experiment on her and three equally supernatural friends. Who can they trust? Will they find help before the Edison Group finds them?
Butcher, Kristen. Return to Bone Tree Hill.
Thistledown Press. A bizarre and recurrent nightmare haunts Jessica Lawler on the boundaries of dream and memory. The day before her family left Vancouver Island and moved to Australia, she seems to recall herself and another girl spying on an older boy. It's the moments after he discovers them, that she can no longer recall properly. Six years later, she has returned for a visit only to discover the boy in her nightmare has been missing since that day. Clark, Joan. Road to Bliss.
Doubleday Canada. Exasperated with city life, Jim Hobbs suffers a mild concussion and decides then and there to drop school, leave home and hitchhike out west to start a new life. He winds up on the prairies where he gets steady employment from members of an aloof and austere religious community. As he learns more about them and takes a surreptitious interest in a young woman from that community he is given a chance to join. A fast paced realistic climax with credible driven characters should appeal to a wide range of reader expectations.
Crane, Dede. Poster Boy.
Groundwood Books.
Gray’s world is shattered when his younger sister Maggie is diagnosed with a rare and inoperable form of cancer. Suddenly instead of girls and Friday night parties, he’s thinking obsessively about what might have caused Maggie’s cancer. Gray’s research leads him to a belief that almost everything in his modern life is to blame, and he begins to cut it all out, finally becoming a poster boy for the environmental movement. As it turns out, this may not be the solution either, and Gray must find his own way to live and to grieve.
Grant, Vicki. Not Suitable for Family Viewing.
Harper Trophy.
Robin is the privileged daughter of world renowned celebrity hostess Mimi Schwartz and lives a life of ease in New York City. It's perfectly normal to see her mother on TV, or staring from the covers of books and magazines, so normal it's also slowly driving her mad. She used to be on the show with her, but has been kept away from the camera for years. One day a chance discovery leads her to cancel a routine custody swap with her father and slip north across the Canadian Border to investigate a few inconsistencies in her mother’s authorized biography.
Haworth-Attard, Barbara. Haunted.
Harper Trophy Canada.
Dee (short for defiance) Vale has "the Sight', or the ability to communicate with the dead. Her friend Mary-Ann disappeared a few years back, but there's been no trace of her, living nor dead. Dee's mother is also mysteriously absent. Dee never met her, but occasionally she writes. She lives with her grandmother, the local midwife, who also has the Sight. Set along a rural stretch of the Niagara escarpment just after the Great War, this novel, part mystery, part paranormal thriller also captures the rivalry and mistrust between traditional living and the modern.
Johansen, K.V. Warden of Greyrock.
Orca Book Publishers.
Book three in the Warlocks of Talverdin series, Warden of Greyrock begins with Maury installed as the warden of Greyrock, the fortress at the pass between the lands occupied by the humans and those occupied by the nightwalkers. Reconciliation between the two kingdoms seems imminent, yet the Yehillon, a shadowy group opposed to the nightwalkers, continue to cause problems. When Annot is kidnapped, Maury must decide whether to attempt a rescue of the love of his life, or stay to protect the pass, and potentially the safety of his people.
MacDonald, Anne Louise. Seeing Red.
Kids Can Press.
Frankie is average. He has no special talents, he excels at nothing in particular. There is absolutely nothing outstanding about him, except perhaps his dreams. He has vivid dreams that have had a habit of coming true. One night he dreams of a black horse with a rider dressed in red. The rider falls. Can it be his best friend Tim? Can Frankie save him? What does weird mind reading Maura-Lee have to do with it?
McClintock, Norah. Back.
Orca Soundings.
Jojo is back. He’s out of jail and back in the neighbourhood. People are scared. They wish he would go away and never come back. They are afraid that his friends will come back and it will be like before. There are also those people who have hate in their hearts for what Jojo did. Ardell is one of those. It was his older brother that Jojo killed. Now, the neighbourhood watches Ardell, and Ardell watches Jojo.
Wynne-Jones, Tim. The Uninvited.
Candlewick Press. A lonely old house, inaccessible by road holds separate fascinations for three young strangers. Well to do New York student Mimi comes with the owner's blessing to work on a novel and elude a wealthy stalker. Jay, a guitarist needs a quiet place to draw inspiration, experiment and come up with something that will get him into a university music program. Cramer, an intense loner comes because he is compelled here by an incomplete and secret knowledge. A tightly woven, fast paced, tense and disturbing thriller.
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