bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global English online – a case study of a distance learning course in a business context
Authors: Peters Helen
Published: April 2016

The Open University in the UK, which has been providing distance education across the UK and continental Europe for the last 40 years, has recently started to develop an international strategy. New media allow for the creation of virtual learning spaces where students can learn from each other via the stimulus of materials from which they can draw according to their own perception of their needs. The challenge is to create materials appropriate for the range of possible contexts. This paper seeks to explore the reaction of students to one such course in relation to the concept of lingua franca English (LFE), which is  essentially pragmatic, developing within a particular context, for a particular purpose and negotiated by those using it in that context.
Four Second Graders’ Descriptions of How They Spell
Authors: Langford Suzanne , Neal Mary
Published: April 2016

This study describes and categorizes the ways in which four children (two above-average and two below-average spellers) from one second grade classroom, use and talk about their spelling knowledge during a qualitative spelling inventory and an informal writing activity. Qualitative data include audiotapes of “talk-alouds” and interviews with the students, written spellings that students produced, field notes documenting informal conversations with the students’ first grade teachers, and classroom observations. The data revealed two categories of spelling knowledge: (1) developmental stage spelling knowledge and (2) verbalized spelling knowledge. The data defined ten subcategories of spelling knowledge. Patterns that emerged from the data suggest that students’ spelling knowledge in a specific subcategory relates to spelling ability and spelling task. Data also suggest participants’ instruction and application of invented spelling in first grade may influence certain features of spelling knowledge.
What is lost and what remains: an exploration of the pedagogical challenges of online discussions in two online teacher education learning communities
Authors: Armstrong Karen , Manson Margaret
Published: April 2016

Online discussion has emerged as an increasingly common forum for conversation and professional reflection in teacher education. Across Canada, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, numerous universities have experimented with various forms of online discussion in teacher education programs. However, few scholars have explored the particular pedagogical challenges of creating meaningful discussions in online teacher education environments. In this paper, we examine some of these challenges and discuss how they might be met in the design of online courses in teacher education. Our intention is to provoke critical reflection on online teaching and contribute to the development of more robust online discussions in teacher education.
Dialogic Encounters with Early Readers through Mediated Think-Alouds: Constructing the Transactional Zone
Authors: Chun Christian W. , Jang Eunice E.
Published: April 2016

In this article, we explore the processes in which four young readers make meanings through dialogic encounters with an interviewer utilizing the think-aloud as a mediator. We believe that these mediated think-alouds act as both a mediating tool to help effect change in cognition through what Swain (2006b) and others have called “languaging” (the process of verbalizing one’s thoughts aloud either by oneself or with others), and a research elicitation tool which in its nominal function analyzing how students talk about texts serves to implicate the interviewer/researcher in the process of co-constructing new texts with the reader as the source of meaning in the reading passages. In soliciting information about these four readers’ problem-solving strategies on reading comprehension questions, the interviewer employed a dialogical and sociocultural model (Bakhtin, 1981; Vygotsky, 1978, 1986) that framed the interactions as a co-constructed reading event (Maybin & Moss, 1993). Using a Vygotskian sociocultural perspective, we analyze selected extracts of verbal accounts of these elementary school students who were assigned a reading task in the attempt to answer the question: What particular meanings emerged and how were they constructed by the students and the interviewer in their generating of next texts in the process of reading?
The Effect of Negotiating Pedagogies in Saudi College EFL Writing Classrooms
Authors: Barnawi Osman Z
Published: April 2016

Studies on the application of centre applied linguistics circles’ writing pedagogies in EFL settings have placed great emphasis on the agency and innovativeness of local teachers. Local teachers often exercise absolute power over students’ learning processes by transplanting Western approaches to writing into their local contexts. However, the active roles of student-writers in negotiating, constructing and transforming these pedagogical imports to suit their needs have been overlooked in the literature. This study examined how my students’ negotiations with writing pedagogies that I imported from the USA helped them to move from writing to display knowledge to writing in order to construct and transform knowledge, at levels such as self, content and form. It was found that these pedagogies helped me critically reflect upon my position as an EFL writing tutor as well as scaffold my students’ learning accordingly. They also helped my students to assume active roles in writing classes.
Situated Globalization and Racism: An Analysis of Korean High School EFL Textbooks
Authors: Lee Incho
Published: April 2016

This study examines the content of South Korean high school English as a Foreign Language (EFL) textbooks to investigate the ways in which globalization is reflected in the textbooks. A content analysis reveals that the textbooks promote Westerners and their cultures in positive terms while non-Westerners and their cultures are consistently marginalized. The complex interpretations of the division of the West and non-West are suggested, particularly with respect to power, privilege, and unique manifestations of situated globalization in South Korea. The author calls for critical awareness to promote English as a tool for intercultural understandings.
Responding to Diversity: Differentiating in the Language Arts Classroom
Authors: Tobin Ruthanne
Published: April 2016

Based on an analysis of the research literature, I identify five broad approaches teachers use to differentiate language arts instruction in the middle-school years. These include: (a) choices in reading materials and creative work products; (b) a discussion-based framework focused on big ideas; (c) dynamic grouping; (d) universal design in whole class literacy instruction; and (e) access to multimedia. The use of these five approaches serves the academic interests of students who are different such as those with learning disabilities, ESL students, struggling readers and writers, and students who are gifted.
The Content and Purposes of Talk that Accompanies Oral Reading Events:Insights from a Mother-Daughter Case Study
Authors: Kabuto Bobbie
Published: April 2016

This article investigates the substance and possible purposes of talk that accompanies oral reading events within a mother-daughter case study. The findings presented in this paper are from a case study that was part of a larger Family Retrospective Miscue Analysis study that assisted parents in becoming strategic partners who build on the strengths of their children when reading with them. This article presents the functions of talk that accompany oral readings, the insights gained about reading as a meaning-construction process, and how parents can benefit from listening to their children’s talk during oral reading sessions.
Just Doing Our Jobs: A Case Study of Literacy-in-Action in a Fifth Grade Literature Circle
Authors: Lenters Kimberly
Published: April 2016

This case study examines the use of literature circles in a fifth grade classroom. Using the concept of literacy-in-action, it examines the question of why, in spite of critique, the use of defined student roles continues to dominate literature circle pedagogy. The study’s examination of the interaction of people, objects, practices and meanings associated with this particular classroom’s literature circles, demonstrates the way in which reliance on one particular literacy object, the role sheet, worked to radically alter the intended pedagogical purpose and meanings set out by those who first popularized literature circles. Through its travels to and from the fifth grade classroom, the role sheet accumulated an increasing status or power, along with a peculiar resistance to critique. The examination sheds light on the tensions and contradictions that arise when an instructional routine is transplanted from one context to another, a phenomenon occurring daily in classrooms worldwide. The findings illustrate the unintended consequences that arise when a literacy object is used as a proxy for the human mediation traditionally, and necessarily, associated with meaningful literacy pedagogies.
Songs from taboo tongues: Experiencing first language loss
Authors: Kouritzin Sandra
Published: April 2016

This article illustrates the issues surrounding and consequences of losing a minority first language in the process of acquiring the politically dominant language of the cultural milieu (English). There are no "conclusions" in this article; however, references are made to the literature on language loss and maintenance, and to practices in teacher education programs which discourage additive bilingualism, asking teachers and teacher educators alike to reflect on some of their own pedagogical practices.
Challenges and Responsibilities Facing Canadian Literacy Researchers Working in Global Communities
Authors: Asselin Marlene , Doiron Ray , Shapiro Jon
Published: April 2016

This article addresses issues facing Canadian literacy researchers who are working in global contexts and particularly the potential complications that arise when research conducted in developing countries is funded by sources such as international aid institutions, foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, and donor-based organizations. We focus especially on the issue of development of local research capacity and expansion of the knowledge economy. We first create a framework by describing the types of literacy projects funded by alternatives to the standard research grants of government agencies. We next review tensions that can arise between researchers and these types of funding organizations. We then turn to examples of current Canadian literacy research carried out in developing countries that provide guidance in designing, conducting, and publishing locally-empowering and globally-connected research.
The Poetry Garden: Ecoliteracy in an Urban School
Authors: Gaylie Veronica
Published: April 2016

What is the role of poetry in developing ecoliteracy in urban schooling? While current educational and political discourse calls for ‘sustainable’ management of the earth’s resources, leading environmentalist educators state that a shift in practice must bepreceded by a shift in perspective that includes first-hand awareness of local environments. This interdisciplinary, narrative inquiry took place over a two year period to examine how students at a low ranked, inner city elementary school write poetry abouttheir environment as a form of ecoliterate knowledge.
Watercolors Awash in Crayoned Responses: Teaching Narrative in Arts-based Praxis
Authors: Morawski Cynthia M.
Published: April 2016

I work in literacy education, encouraging teacher candidates to experiment with the arts to make a novel come alive for adolescent readers. Part of my research agenda, which is intertwined with my teaching, seeks to make sense of the question: What are the effects of arts-based learning on the teacher candidates’ theoretical and classroom practices? To firstconsider the above research question from my own pedagogical perspective, I draw on my earlier recollections (Adler, 1958) of arts and classroom living using the methodology of narrative inquiry—the study of the ways humans experience the world via the construction and reconstruction of their own stories (Connelly & Clandinin, 1990). Informed by my teaching narrative, crafted in the backdrop of remembered times, I venture forth to address the effects of arts-based learning on the teacher candidates’ theoretical and classroom practices. A more informed construction of our recurring narratives, rekindled by the illumination of early recollections, will play an integral role.
Who will save my planet? by M. C. Urrutia
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Urrutia, Maria. Who will save my planet? Toronto: Tundra Books, 2012.  Print.This volume appears to be a republication of a 2007 imprint from the author’s own publishing house, Tecolate Books, in Mexico.  Although Tundra recognizes support from the Canada Council for the Arts, there appears to be no specific Canadian content in this book.  There is no text and the images are the work of several different photographers.  Urrutia’s contribution to the work appears to be the title and the selection and pairing of the images. The book is designed for children ages 7+ and consists of 14 pairs of unadorned, borderless photographs. Each spread of two images shows something environmentally negative on the left and a corresponding positive image on the right.  However, without text, the viewer is left to draw their own conclusions about what message is intended. Many of the images have several potential interpretations, particularly for viewers coming from a different environment. For example, the opening pair of images shows fire in the canopy of a tropical forest, presumably implying that people are burning the forest. However in Canada, lightning is naturally one of the primary causes of forest fires which is a natural part of the forest’s life cycle.   In the second set of images, someone is cutting down a tree, but it is the only one being felled.  The rest of the forest appears to be undisturbed.  An image of a clear-cut would have conveyed a much more obvious message.  The second last pair show garbage strewn along a path and the images are a garbage can overflowing with garbage, with a plastic water bottle prominently placed on top.  Bottled water is one of the least environmentally friendly things on the planet.  Is the message that producing huge volumes of unnecessary garbage is fine as long as you put it in the garbage can? Many of the images are high quality.  An image of a seal with the rope embedded in the flesh around its shoulders is particularly effective.  However, the selection and combination of images, as a whole, reminds me of posters at a fourth grade science fair.  The difference is that the fourth graders usually add captions and introductory paragraphs so that their messages are clear. While environmental damage anywhere is important, this book would have been more effective for the Canadian market had it incorporated images of environmental problems found in the Canadian environment. Recommended with reservation:  2 stars out of 4 Reviewer:  Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines.  Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.
That One Spooky Night by D. Bar-el
Authors: Pendry Annabelle
Published: April 2016

Bar-el, Dan. That One Spooky Night. Toronto: Kids Can Press. 2012.  Print. Especially appealing during the Halloween season or for those students who appreciate a good semi-scary story any time of the year, That One Spooky Night delivers three off-the-wall short and spooky tales.  Child protagonists who are all far from pillars of good behaviour set the stage for a more comedic and less truly scary approach to the zany horrors that happen to them.  In Broom With A View, a young girl chooses a witch costume for Halloween but accidentally switches brooms with a real witch.  On Halloween night, the broom whisks her away to its real owner, a cheeky but good-hearted witch who shows her younger counterpart how to really have fun on Halloween night without being a brat.  In 10,000 Tentacles Under the Tub, two mischievous brothers, who, after a night of getting into trouble and almost overwhelming their father with their misbehaviour, find themselves locked in an epic battle in the underwater world they discover at the bottom of their bathtub.  In The Fang Gang, four girls terrorize local children until they find themselves facing a foursome of real vampires in disguise who give them a dose of their own medicine. Illustrator David Huyck’s use of muted colours and soft edges throughout the book serve to both unify the stories and transmit an ethereal quality to the images.  The different colour schemes used in each story are particularly effective for transporting the reader into foreign, underwater worlds and sinister vampire lairs.  Wordless panels are interspersed throughout, further drawing the reader into sullen moods which effectively contrast the zany storyline making That One Spooky Night an entertaining read for upper primary and intermediate readers. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Annabelle Pendry Annabelle Pendry loves her job as Teacher Librarian at Mount Pleasant Elementary in Vancouver, BC.
Selecting Fiction Books for a Children's Health Collection by M. Tan & S. Campbell
Authors: Tan Maria , Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Books have long been recognized  resources for health literacy and healing (Fosson & Husband, 1984). Individuals with health conditions or disabilities or who are dealing with illness, disability or death among friends or loved ones, can find solace and affirmation in fictional works that depict characters coping with similar health conditions. This study asked the question “If we were to select a new collection of children’s health-related fiction in mid-2014, which books would we select and what selection criteria would we apply?”  The results of this study are a set of criteria for the selection of  current English language literary works with health-related content for the pre-kindergarten to Grade 6 (age 12) audience http://hdl.handle.net/10402/era.38842, a collection of books that are readily available to Canadian libraries - selected against these criteria http://hdl.handle.net/10402/era.38843, a special issue of the Deakin Review of Children’s Literature -  dedicated to juvenile health fiction, and book exhibits in two libraries to accompany the Deakin Review issue.
La magie de Sami par J. Couëlle
Authors: Gomez Leticia
Published: April 2016

Couëlle, Jennifer. La magie de Sami. Canada : Éditions Planète Rebelle, 2014. Imprimé.Jennifer Couëlle est une auteure d’albums pour enfants qui écrit également de la poésie. Dans son dernier livre intitulé La magie de Sami, des rimes se mêlent au discours prosaïque et rythme ainsi le récit à la manière d’un poème. Dans ce livre d’une trentaine de pages, il n’y a ni chapitre, ni numéro de pages, juste des mots et des images qui s’entremêlent. Pour cet album, l’auteure a fait appel à Julie Grugeaux, artiste peintre ayant déjà illustré cinq romans jeunesses. Les dessins sont épurées, précis, plutôt colorées et se marient à merveille avec le texte.Quant au récit lui-même, il raconte l’histoire de Sami, un petit garçon tout à fait comme les autres sauf qu’il cache un secret. Il ressent ce qui ne va pas chez ceux qui l’entoure. Grâce à ce don, le petit frère de son ami a pu retrouver le sommeil. Sami, par ses paroles, a fait sourire la dame triste et son intuition lui a permis de redonner vie au jardin de son voisin. Mais quand il tente d’aider Hervé, c’est plutôt raté et ce dernier finit par avoir un accident. Après cette triste nouvelle, Sami décide de rentrer chez lui et d’expliquer à ses parents sa capacité à « sentir des choses qu’[il] ne devrai[t] pas ». C’est alors que ses parents lui avouent qu’il est sorcier et que ce don étrange s’appelle l’empathie. Cette nouvelle est un véritable choc et il en fait même des cauchemars. Sami voudrait avouer son incroyable don à ses amis mais ces derniers risqueraient de le rejeter à cause de sa différence.Voilà une histoire de sorcier originale qui va faire découvrir aux jeunes lecteurs un sentiment nouveau, l’empathie. Entre les lignes, se cachent aussi l’angoisse d’exclusion d’un enfant un peu particulier. Sami, le personnage principal fait cependant preuve de lucidité face à sa différence. Bien qu’il accepte son côté sorcier, trait identitaire qui lui vient de ses parents, il reste quelque peu tourmenté par les conséquences que cela pourrait avoir dans sa relation à l’autre.Cet album est idéal pour les parents francophones ou francophiles qui aiment raconter à leurs enfants des histoires simples et bien illustrées abordant des thèmes quotidiens tels que la différence, la peur de l’exclusion et l’amitié.Recommandé : 3 étoilesAuteur de la critique : Leticia GomezLeticia étudie au Campus Saint-Jean depuis deux ans où elle effectue un baccalauréat en éducation secondaire avec une majeure en littérature. Elle écrit également des critiques littéraires pour le Franco, un journal francophone local.
Little Blue and Little Yellow by L. Lionni
Authors: Feisst Debbie
Published: April 2016

Lionni, Leo. Little Blue and Little Yellow. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. Print. Award-winning author, artist, and graphic illustrator, Leo Lionni, had a distinguished, decades-spanning career and wrote over 40 children’s books in an easily recognizable style. Little Blue and Little Yellow was his first children’s book, and it won the New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year award in 1959. Lionni was also a four-time Caldecott Honor Book winner, an award that celebrates excellence in children’s picture books. This review pertains to the 2011 board book edition, just right for the littlest hands. The story is simple perfection. Little Blue and Little Yellow, are best friends who live across the street from one another. They enjoy all sorts of games both together and with their other equally-colourful friends. One day, Little Blue wants to play with Little Yellow but cannot find him. Overjoyed as they finally meet up, they hug until they become green! However, when they go home, their parents do not recognize them, and they are very sad. Where did Little Blue and Little Yellow go? Are they lost? This delightful story has many layers. It can simply be read as a way to introduce the concept of colour to young children, but it has deeper, yet understated, themes of friendship and diversity. It is a delight to read and look at, and while this sturdy edition is certainly aimed at the preschool crowd, older children will enjoy it too. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Debbie FeisstDebbie is a Public Services Librarian at the H.T. Coutts Education Library at the University of Alberta.  When not renovating, she enjoys travel, fitness and young adult fiction.
Winter Moon Song by M. Brooks
Authors: McKenna Angie
Published: April 2016

Brooks, Martha. Winter Moon Song. Illus. Leticia Ruifernández. Toronto: Groundwood Books-House of Anansi press, 2014, Print.In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a young rabbit uses his magical singing and the bright night sky to not only light “a magical path lighting the darkest month” but also to unite a community of rabbits.The young rabbit sings in a choir. His choir has been rehearsing the song “Winter Moon Song” which will be performed in grand tradition in front of rabbits from near and far. One evening after rehearsal as the young rabbit walks toward home, he notices the outline of a rabbit in the moon. The curious rabbit asks his mom to explain it. The mother rabbit calls it a trickery story. She explains that a long time ago Great Mother Creator Rabbit had come to earth to feel what it was like to be one of her own creations. She did not like it and became very scared. A small bunny came along to help. He offered himself up by jumping into her stew pot. However, the Great Rabbit did not want to see her creation die. She pulled him out of the pot by his ears and threw him into the sky where he landed on the moon.This Canadian author uses a host of descriptive words that help the reader imagine the passion the young rabbit expresses when singing his song on this cool winter eve.The illustrations in this book are uncluttered and enhance the story. One such illustration is of the mother rabbit sharing the story of the Great Mother Rabbit. The young rabbit is sitting in front of his mother listening intently to her as she tells the story. It is so simple yet it portrays the beauty between the mother and young rabbit.This Canadian book should be well accepted by all students and it could be used in conjunction with the Social Studies and Language Arts curriculum.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Angie McKennaMcKenna is a Grade 5 teacher with Edmonton Catholic Schools. She is currently completing her masters’ degree in Elementary Education at the University of Alberta. Angie enjoys literature and feels blessed that she can share her love of reading with her students.
Granta 113: The Best of Young Spanish-Language Novelists
Authors: Sivak Allison
Published: April 2016

The Best of Young Spanish-Language Novelists. Thematic issue of Granta: The Magazine of New Writing. 113 (Winter 2010)   Granta is a quarterly magazine of new writing from both established and emerging writers; although aimed primarily at adult audiences, it could easily be considered as a journal with appeal to young adults particularly due to its diverse content and style, offering readers a greater scope of choice. Granta could often, I suspect, serve to pique the interest of older adolescents  due in part to the periodical's contemporary approach to cover design, and its integration of visual art and poetry with prose, along with the obvious diversity and strength of the writing in general. However, the challenge with such a magazine in the context of a school library or classroom is that Granta is published for an adult audience, meaning that individual issues may not always serve younger readers. I had assumed that The Best of Young Spanish-Language Novelists would have resulted in stories that addressed experiences particularly relevant to adolescent readers, including childhood, early experiences of sexuality, and the like. Certainly, to some extent, the work included does; for example, the story by Peru's Santiago Roncagliolo, which explores the narrator's adult encounter of a strange childhood friend, which calls to memory his first love. Another is Federico Falco's “In Utah There are Mountains Too,” telling the story of a young atheist's crush on a visiting Mormon missionary. It's an excellent collection; overall, however, I don't believe this particular issue will appeal to adolescents. This is due primarily to the fact that most of the pieces included are excerpts from longer novels, which do not feel immersive, or commanding of enough attention. It's unfortunate, because the chance to offer readers access to work from cultures outside North America is exciting. This issue of Granta may not be the one to best serve this goal. Recommended: 2 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Allison Sivak
Fifteen Dollars and Thirty-Five Cents: A Story About Choices by K. Cole
Authors: Sherbaniuk Patti
Published: April 2016

Cole, Kathryn.  Fifteen Dollars and Thirty-Five Cents: A Story About Choices. Illus. Qin Leng. Second Story Press: Toronto, 2015. Print.Fifteen Dollars and Thirty-Five Cents. A Story About Choices is part of the I am a Great Little Kid Series by Second Story Press, published in conjunction with Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre.Fifteen Dollars and Thirty-Five Cents tells a simple story, yet successfully brings across some bigger themes. It takes place at an elementary school. Joseph, who is with his friend Devon, finds some money in the school yard- fifteen dollars and thirty-five cents. He is very excited and wants to keep it, but Devon has second thoughts and thinks that someone they know might have lost it and that they should turn it in. Joseph says “finders’ keepers” and offers Devon five of the dollars not to tell. Devon is very tempted but then sees his classmate Lin crying and has the feeling that it is her money they have found. His suspicion is confirmed when they are back in the classroom and the teacher, Ms. Crosby, asks sad Lin what is wrong. Lin’s friend Claire says it was money for her mother’s birthday present that she has been saving for weeks. Devon is increasingly uncomfortable but Joseph pressures him to stay quiet because they are friends and because he is also worried that people will think he stole it. The teacher suspects something and gives Devon a chance to explain what has happened. He doesn’t tell on his friend but lets his teacher know her suspicions are correct. Ms. Claire comes up with a way for Devon and Joseph to give the money back without them getting in trouble and everyone is happy with the outcome.The story is simple but gets the point across about making the right choices, about friendship, honesty, and “doing the right thing”, without being too preachy. The cast of characters are diverse and the issues dealt with in the story are ones that kids can relate to.The illustrations by Qin Leng are vibrant and colourful and enhance the telling of the story. I would recommend this book for young children from ages 5-8 years of age.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Patti SherbaniukPatti is a Liaison Librarian at the Winspear School of Business at the University of Alberta. She holds a BA in English and an MLIS, both from the University of Alberta. She is passionate about food, travel, the arts and reading books of all shapes and sizes.
Green by L. V. Seeger
Authors: Norton Ortensia
Published: April 2016

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. Green. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2012. Print. The book, Green reminds us that green is a pervasive colour in the world. Like her book, Black, White, Day, Night: A Book of Opposites, the die cuts will astonish you as two leaves turn into fish on the next page, making you anxious to flip the pages quickly to view the next image. But refrain from flipping too quickly or you will miss the beauty of the acrylic paintings on each page. Only gather a couple children around you as you read, or they will fight over who gets to have it in their arms. With only 38 words, the illustrations need to be looked at carefully. Allow time for their eyes to take in all the details. Be prepared to stop and go back to the previous page because they will realize that somehow they missed something important. Don’t be surprised if the children grab for the lime, reach down to smell the flower, or are scared by the tiger. They will rub the pages; they will feel the texture and might be disappointed that the page is smooth. Younger students will enjoy the predictability of the word ‘green’ on each page. It won’t take them long to recite the book with you, with only two or three syllables per page. Older students will be inspired by the art work and could use the book as an exemplar for an art project. Other students could pick a different colour and find words and pictures to describe the different hues of their chosen colour. Green could be used in science class, to discuss how each hue is created. I would love to see Ms. Seeger create a whole series of colour books!! Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 Stars Reviewer: Ortensia Norton Ortensia Norton is a Teacher Librarian with Edmonton Public Schools. She is currently enrolled in the TL-DL program through the University of Alberta. She thinks that her jobs as mom and librarian are the best jobs in the world because you get to see the delight on children's faces when they fall in love with a book.
The Silence of Our Friends by M. Long & J. Demonakos
Authors: Wenger Pamela
Published: April 2016

Long, Mark & Jim Demonakos. The Silence of Our Friends. New York: First Second, 2012.  Print. This story is told from the perspective of a boy whose father was a reporter in the city of Houston, Texas. In the year 1967, in the midst of the Civil Rights movement many families struggled to find freedom in their racist communities.  During a police riot that had been started after banning an organizational committee from Texas Southern University, an undercover officer was shot.  Out of the 489 students that were attested, all but 5 students were released the next day.  Those five black college students were accused of killing a policeman. Set in a time of racism and segregation, two families struggle with the events of the riot. With the support of these understanding neighbours, a white family took a risk in trying to win back the freedom of the accused students. The artwork by Nate Powell has created powerful imagery that allows readers to place themselves within the setting and events of that period in history. The combination of historical story elements and graphic images may hook reluctant readers.  The graphic nature of the story is engaging and will educate students of a period in history often presented in more traditional formats. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Pamela Wenger Pamela Wenger is a 4th year teacher-librarian working between two schools in Regina.  She is planning to complete a Masters of Education in Teacher-Librarianship in April 2013.
Bear's Loose Tooth by K. Wilson and J. Chapman
Authors: Storie Dale
Published: April 2016

Wilson, Karma, and Jane Chapman. Bear's Loose Tooth. New York: Little Simon, 2014. Print.This title is the latest in a series of books featuring Bear and his friends. Those familiar with the series will know what to expect: the title describes the main plot point of the book (e.g. Bear Feels Sick or Bear’s New Friend), the language is lyrical and rhythmic with plenty of repetition, and the painted illustrations are a mixture of cartoony realism.  His friends are a rather random group of forest animals that one would not typically expect to see together, such as a wren, a mouse, an owl, a hare and a badger.       This particular title is a great introduction to the experience of losing a tooth.  Bear is initially worried when he discovers his loose tooth while eating lunch: “But how will I eat if my tooth says good-bye?” After his friends reassure him that another tooth will grow in, they take turns trying to pull out his tooth. Finally, Bear wiggles his tooth until it falls out.  He leaves his tooth for the tooth fairy, who exchanges it for something a bear would like better than money (read the book to find out what that is).The size difference between the animals is presented realistically, which is part of the charm of the book; for example, the image of a tiny wren trying to pull a tooth out of the mouth of a big bear is quite comical.  The illustrations also play a large role in defining Bear as a character, who comes across as an adorable and timid creature, without any trace of the guile or ferocity one might expect from a bear.  Younger readers will probably accept the book at face value, but older readers may question why Bear and his friends have not tried to eat each other yet (e.g. Owl and Mouse).  Either way, the book is still a fun read that helps prepare children for what to expect with a loose tooth. Recommended: 3 of out 4 starsReviewer: Dale StorieDale is a systems librarian at the Saskatchewan Information and Library Services Consortium.  He has also worked in an academic health sciences library as a public services librarian and in a public library as a children's programming coordinator.  He can often be found at the park with his kids
Tecumseh by J. Laxer
Authors: Rogers Anne
Published: April 2016

Laxer, James. (2012). Tecumseh. Toronto, Ontario: Groundwood Books. Print. A university political science professor may seem an unlikely author of a children’s book on the legendary native leader Tecumseh but York University’s James Laxer’s keen interest in the War of 1812 and the relationship between the Shawnee leader, Tecumseh and British Major General Isaac Brock, make him ideally suited to the task. In 2012, the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 was marked by the release of two books by Laxer, Tecumseh and Brock: the War of 1812, for adults and Tecumseh by Laxer and illustrated by Richard Rudnicki, for children. In this second book, the reader is presented with richly coloured and detailed illustrations and accessible text depicting the journey of Tecumseh from infancy to his death in 1813. The reader learns about the way of life of his family, the challenges faced when settlers moved into the area, and of course, the major battles in which he played a key role. The text is organized into chronological segments with headings referring to events or significant people in Tecumseh’s life. While there is not a table of contents to guide the reader, the language is appropriate for young readers, as well as a timeline, glossary and clearly labeled maps at both the front and back of the book. Tecumseh was motivated to take action after his father was killed in 1774 by American militiamen advancing on Shawnee land. This constant fear of expropriation led Tecumseh to consider the best options for defending native territory. His military and leadership skills made him a natural choice to head a native confederacy against the determined American colonists. By 1812, when the Americans had declared war on Great Britain, Tecumseh was ready to go into battle to fight for Native lands previously taken by force. He decided that the best choice to do this was to ally with the British under Major General Isaac Brock. Together they strategized and fought at Detroit, Queenston, and Moraviantown. During the short span between August and October, both leaders lost their lives. Their deaths would negatively impact the effort to ensure that there would be Native lands when borders were later drawn between Canada and the United States.   Laxer concludes with these words: “In the end, the confederacy did not win. But Tecumseh’s courage, eloquence and steadiness of purpose continue to fascinate people in many parts of the world two centuries after his death. He remains a symbol of justice for the native tribes of North America” (p. 52). Ideal for children aged 8-12, grades 3-7. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Anne Rogers Anne Rogers is a teacher-librarian in a K-6 school in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  She loves reading, running and cheering on her family in their pursuits.
Homer The Library Cat by R. Lindbergh
Authors: Paterson Amy
Published: April 2016

Lindbergh, Reeve. Homer The Library Cat. Illus. Anne Wilsdorf. Somerville, MA: CandlewickPress, 2011. Print. Reeve Lindbergh’s tale of a cat who only wants some peace and quiet is a pleasant, though unremarkable, romp through some very noisy places, ending up in the quiet sanctuary of the library. The rhyme scheme is incredibly simple, making it easy for children to memorize and read along; however, the rhythm of the lines is not ideal, and aside from a general linguistic playfulness that serves him well, it cannot be said that Lindbergh has a particularly good ear for poetry. Likewise, Wilsdorf’s watercolours are vibrant and cheerful enough, but there is nothing notable in her style to attract or draw readers in. Most of the illustrations are very busy, giving children plenty to see and do; however, at times, Homer himself fades into the background. He is never drawn with enough definition to truly distinguish him or imbue him with any life beyond the pages of the story. Homer’s ubiquitous and varied use of onomatopoeia is sure to delight children, as well as giving parents small opportunities to perform in their reading. However, despite the faint pleasures of bright colours and noise-words, it is hard to imagine this book becoming any kind of favourite, unless perhaps of a child inordinately fond of both cats and libraries. Just as Homer eventually proves to be a library cat, Homer The Library Cat would probably be best suited as a library book. It is a book that many would enjoy reading a few times over, though it will never be a nursery staple. Homer is not so prettily drawn nor so well-defined a character as to particularly endear himself to children, though he may prove an amusing, short-term distraction with whom no reader could find serious fault. Recommended: 2 starsReviewer: Amy PatersonAmy Paterson is a Public Services Librarian at the University of Alberta’s H. T. Coutts Education Library. She was previously the Editor of the Dalhousie Journal of Interdisciplinary Management and is very happy to be involved in the Deakin Review and the delightful world of children’s literature.
50 Below Zero by R. Munsch
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Munsch, Robert.  50 Below Zero.  Illus. Michael Martchenko.  Richmond Hill, ON:  Annick Press, 2013. Print.Originally published in a larger format in 1986, 50 Below Zero has been republished as a board book.  The story is a northern and cold climate one, created while Munsch was making a book tour stop in Watson Lake in the Yukon Territory.  However, while the setting is cold, the story is really about sleepwalking.The text of the board book is much abbreviated from the original.  Much of the repetition, for example Jason’s “What’s that? What’s that? What’s that?” and the father’s running three times around something whenever he is wakened have been removed, as well as a segment where Jason finds his father in the bathtub.    However, the story still contains enough repetition to amuse the intended audience of 2 to 5 year-olds. Like many of Munsch’s books, the story presents a child who takes control of a problem and solves it.  Jason repeatedly gets up to find his father in a new location to which he has sleep walked.  Most importantly, he locates him out in the forest when it is “50 Below Zero”, asleep against a tree.  Had Jason not found him and brought him back to warm up in the bathtub, he surely would have died.   So Jason saves the day and even figures out how to keep his father out of danger while sleepwalking.Most of Michael Martchenko’s illustrations are in an icy blue, reflecting the cold winter landscape.  All of the images are fun and will elicit a smile from both child and adult readers.This book has stood the test of time and does well in the board book format.  It would be a good addition to school libraries, public libraries and libraries with polar children’s collections.Highly Recommended:  4 stars out of 4Reviewer:  Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines.  Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.
The Highest Number in the World by R. MacGregor
Authors: Sulz David
Published: April 2016

MacGregor, Roy. The Highest Number in the World. Illus. G. Despres. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2014. Print.It shouldn’t surprise you that Roy MacGregor writes a good children’s book about hockey especially if you read the Globe and Mail where he is a sports writer. Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of professional sport with little interest in stats, trades, and game results. However, Roy MacGregor always finds an interesting twist to set his stories apart.So it is with this book. On first glance, it seems to be about a hockey-prodigy; a 9-year-old girl idolizing a famous Canadian female hockey player so much she would give up playing because she has to wear #9 on her new team (not the #22 of her idol). How predictable and boring is that? BUT… her grandma sets her straight on why #9 is actually a better number to live “up” to (incidentally, “highest” in the title refers to height).The illustrations are fantastic - filled with witty references to the life of a Canadian, 9-year-old, hockey-loving girl such as drawings hung with hockey tape, embarrassing Velcro skates with toe-picks, sock-monkeys, and many more.A small quibble is the passive voice used in the first few pages; while chronologically correct, it detracts from the opening action just a little. Then again, hockey games themselves usually build up in intensity and excitement. The main reason for loving this book is the use of history to change perceptions. In a world so concerned with the desires of now, this book reminds us that the present is intimately shaped by the past (even if we don’t quite yet know how).    Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: David SulzDavid is a Public Services Librarian at University of Alberta and liaison librarian to Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. He has university studies in Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics;  he formerly taught in schools and museums. His interests include physical activity, music, home improvements, and above all, things Japanese.
Stay Where You Are and Then Leave by J. Boyne
Authors: Feisst Debbie
Published: April 2016

Boyne, John. Stay Where You Are and Then Leave. Toronto: Random House Canada, 2014.   Print.John Boyce, multiple award winning author of children’s and adult books including The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas delivers another emotional yet tender tale for younger readers set during wartime.Alfie Summerfield had always remembered the day the fighting started. It was July 28, 1914, and it was his 5th birthday. It was also around the time he learned that his father would be headed to fight, having volunteered in hopes of making it easier on the family.  More than four years had passed since that day, and nine-year-old Alfie thought about it and his dad Georgie all the time. The letters that his father regularly sent stopped arriving, and Alfie fears he is dead although his mother insists he is still alive. Not much is said about Georgie, though Alfie is led to believe he is on a long and secret war mission and his mom Margie cries a lot when she thinks he cannot hear her.Alfie’s life revolves around his hard-working mother Margie, skipping school, his Granny and the friends he had made in the row houses along Damley Road including Kalena and her father Mr. Janáček. After the army relocated Kalena and her father to the Isle of Man as ‘persons of special interest’ Alfie discovers that they left behind a shoe shine box. Insistent on helping his worn out mother and not keen on attending school, Alfie secretly takes a job as a shoe shine boy where one day he makes a startling discovery: his father’s name on a stack of his customer’s hospital papers, relating to a military hospital just a train ride away.What follows is Alfie’s journey to learn the truth about his father’s whereabouts. His steadfast determination to keep his family together is touching and heartfelt. This would be an excellent book to use in a classroom in relation to World War One or to be read together at bedtime so that young readers have a chance to ask questions.Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Debbie FeisstDebbie is a Public Services Librarian at the H.T. Coutts Education Library at the University of Alberta.  When not renovating, she enjoys travel, fitness and young adult fiction.