bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
how to by J. Morstad
Authors: Sulz David
Published: April 2016

Morstad, Julie. how to. Simply Read books, 2013. Print. Anyone who is a fan of creative and lateral thinking will love this book. The simple text and illustrations evoke complex connections and imagination. The title gives away that it is a “how to…” book but the things to do and learn are not your usual “… make cookies” or “… build a birdhouse.” I love that the text problems are answered by text-less illustrations. For example, “how to make new friends” is answered by an image of a child making sidewalk chalk drawings of various creatures (including people) and “how to wash your socks” is accompanied by a group of children stomping in a puddle of clean-looking water. While a few “how to’s” are answered with several possibilities, most have only one. This might be considered a weakness or, on further reflection, the multiple-answer examples suggest a pattern so the reader will search for their own variations.I’ll admit to some discomfort with the choice to make all the “how to” phrases unpunctuated and in lower case letters because I believe proper writing is learned through example. However, it is a tiny quibble about an inspirational book. I will be sure to feel the breeze and appreciate the face wash on my bike ride home in the rain.Recommended:  4 out of 4 starsReviewer: 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.
The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore by W. Joyce
Authors: Storie Dale
Published: April 2016

Joyce, William. The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore.  Shreveport, LA: Moonbot Books, 2011.  iPad app. It seems strange that a story that expresses such love towards books as physical objects was first produced as an award-winning animated short film, and then adapted into an “interactive narrative experience” for the iPad.  The protagonist, Morris Lessmore, is transported via hurricane to another land where he encounters a young woman held aloft by a flock of anthropomorphized flying books.  One book leads him to a house full of more books, where he ends up living.  He takes care of the books, and lends them to drab, black-and-white people who bloom into full colour (à la Wizard of Oz) as soon as they receive their reading material.  Finally, as an old man, he is whisked away by the books, and the book that he wrote is used to draw a young girl into the house to take over his role as caretaker.It is usually the fate of new media to be unfavourably compared to more established media forms, but in this case, Morris Lessmore also suffers from being an adaptation rather than an original work.  This iPad version seems uncomfortably caught between the fluidity and liveliness of the original animated film and the sequential narrative of a traditional picture book. Like a video game adaptation of a major motion picture in which the player re-enacts a simple replay of the movie plot, many of the interactive features of this book app seem contrived, acting as tacked-on gimmicks rather than being truly integrated with the story as a unique experience. However, that does not mean that the narrative experience is entirely without merit.  The animation (taken directly from the film) looks amazing on the iPad’s vibrant screen, and finding the hidden “Easter eggs” on each page is quite entertaining for all ages.  Moonbot Studios also gets extra credit for its inventive use of the iPad’s touch interface - readers will enjoy swiping, coloring, dragging, and even playing the piano on the screen, even if these activities are sometimes tangential to the narrative itself.  Despite its shortcomings, Morris Lessmore stands out as exceptional in comparison to other picture book apps currently available for the iPad.  As a final incentive, it is very reasonably priced; for only $4.99 at the iTunes Store, the app is much less than your average print picture book (although there’s not much chance of finding it at your local library).Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Dale StorieDale Storie is Public Services Librarian at the John W. Scott Health Sciences Library at the University of Alberta. He has a BA in English, and has also worked in a public library as a children's programming coordinator, where he was involved with story times, puppet shows, and book talks.
Happy Birthday, Deakin Review!
Authors: Desmarais Robert
Published: April 2016

Dear Readers, This issue marks the one-year anniversary of The Deakin Review of Children’s Literature, and our reviewers and editors are delighted to report that well over 100 English language books have been reviewed. We’re thrilled that so many reviews have been shared with our readers and although we’ve only been around for a year, we’re optimistic that our publication will be around for years and decades to come. Indeed, our user statistics continue to grow each month and it is fascinating to see that our publication has a growing international readership. As I look ahead to the next year I know we’ll continue to publish thoughtful reviews of new titles from picture books to teen fiction, and we’ll expand our offerings to include an occasional interview with an author or illustrator. We’re considering other changes like themed issues, guest editorials, and articles, but our raison d’être will always be to publish high quality book reviews. Our publication is distinctive in that our reviewers are all librarians, library staff, and educators from the University of Alberta, and thanks to this fine team we are able to serve our readers with so much thought-provoking content about the world of children’s book publishing. I wish you all a restful break now that summer is upon us and children are out of school, and I hope you share our excitement for the abundance of charming books in this issue. Happy reading! Robert DesmaraisManaging Editor
Colors versus Shapes by M. Boldt
Authors: Maxwell Kelly
Published: April 2016

Boldt, Mike. Colors versus Shapes. New York: Harper Collins, 2014. Print.Mike Boldt, a local Alberta author/illustrator, creates a carefully scripted theatrical scene in which colours and shapes vie to be the main character or star in a new book hosted by the characters from his first book, 123 versus ABC.  The interplay between the colours and shapes is witty, entertaining and educational.  Mike Boldt presents the dialogue in colored speech balloons, which allows for a great read aloud experience for the young audience which it is intended. A further benefit of this fun picture book is the introduction and explanation of the mixing of colours and the difference of shapes.  This feature makes this book an excellent tool for young students to learn how primary colors combine to make secondary and tertiary colors.  Additionally, it enables students to discover the names of different 2D shapes as the shapes morph through the addition of sides. Bantering and competition heat things up until both groups learn that working together is much more productive than working apart.  Children will enjoy exploring the final product of such creative collaboration.In all, Colors versus Shapes is a fun educational picture book, full of colourfully illustrated pages with the theme of friendship as a the final lesson to be learned. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars.Reviewer: Kelly Maxwell
I Must Have Bobo! by E. Rosenthal
Authors: Roche Matilda
Published: April 2016

Rosenthal, Eileen. I Must Have Bobo! Illus. Marc Rosenthal. New York: Atheneum Books, 2010. Print. Perhaps I was expecting something more giddily nostalgia-smitten because I initially found the page layouts of I Must Have Bobo! too sparse. I came to realize the effectiveness of I Must Have Bobo! lies in its light aesthetic touch and refusal to indulge in hectic retro-pastiche. The page design could occasionally benefit from more balance between the negative space of the page and the illustrations’ carefully considered spatial dynamics and measured use of colour but it’s hard to begrudge more attention being drawn to the lovely, warm ivory paper on which the book is printed.While an adult reader may be tempted, as I was, to lazily conflate complexity with quality, a clean minimalist visual text can assist younger children in accessing a narrative more autonomously. As my children (two and four years of age) quickly familiarized themselves with I Must Have Bobo! the book’s charm and immediacy became apparent.I Must Have Bobo! restricts its text to dialogue and as children learn the text they can indulge in the gleeful pleasure of repeating the protagonist Willy’s simple but emphatic words. Even a very young child can become engaged in Willy’s endless efforts to keep his beloved stuffed monkey Bobo away from Earl, the family cat who is equally attached to Bobo for his own mysterious reasons. Earl appropriates Bobo at every opportunity and the book centres on Willy’s efforts to retain and relocate Bobo as he migrates around the house with Earl.An astute and playful book that maintains a respectful adherence to children’s sensibilities and narrative interests, “I Must Have Bobo!” is understatedly, intuitively appropriate for very early to late pre-school readers.Highly recommended:  4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Matilda RocheMatilda spends her days lavishing attention on the University of Alberta’s metadata but children’s illustrated books, literature for young adults and graphic novels also make her heart sing. Her reviews benefit from the critical influence of a four year old daughter and a one year old son – both geniuses. Matilda’s super power is the ability to read comic books aloud.
Wild Eggs: a tale of Arctic Egg Collecting by S. Napayok – Short
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Napayok – Short, Suzie.  Wild Eggs:  A Tale of Arctic Egg Collecting. Illus. Jonathan Wright. Iqaluit:  Inhabit Media, Inc., 2015.  Print.Wild duck eggs are a traditional food for Inuit people.  This book is about a little girl, Akuluk, from Yellowknife who visits her grandparent in Nunavut and goes with them to gather duck eggs.  This is a modern story that is told factually.  Akuluk arrives in an aircraft, is picked up in a taxi van and her grandfather uses an all-terrain vehicle to go out onto the land.  It is also a story that teaches traditional ways.  Inuit words, such as munniit (eggs) and palaugaaq (bannock) are explained and appear in a pronunciation guide at the end of the book.  The traditional ways, such as never taking nests that have more than four eggs in them, are explained as Akuluk’s grandfather teaches her.The text is overprinted on Jonathan Wright’s artwork.  Parts of his pictures are quite clear and detailed, while others are suggestive and indistinct. This style works particularly well for the “almost invisible” caribou, “his brown and white fur match[ing] the rocks around him”.Wild Eggs is a clearly-written work that incorporates Inuit traditional knowledge with ease.  The book is also available in Inuktitut and is recommended for school and public libraries and particularly for libraries that collect polar children’s literatureHighly 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.
Sea Change by D. Tullson
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Tullson, Diane.  Sea Change. Victoria: Orca Book Publishers, 2010.  Print. Sea Change is an exciting story about Lucas, a 17 year-old who flies to an isolated fishing lodge in the Pacific Northwest, where his emotionally-distant father works. Lucas is left alone at the closed lodge with a young Aboriginal girl, Sumi, who is the caretaker. When Sumi is injured, Lucas, who has little experience in the wilderness or on water, must pilot the boat several hours down the foggy coast to take Sumi to a logging camp where she can get help. This is a typical “coming-of-age” plot, in which a youth sets out on an adventure, endures several tests or trials and returns a changed person. A sea change is either a “marked” or “radical” change or a “change brought about by the sea.” In this novel, Lucas undergoes both forms of sea change.  First, he proves himself on the water by successfully navigating an unfamiliar coastline under dangerous conditions. Second, he wins the respect of other men through his handling of the crisis and matures in his understanding of his father. The Orca Soundings series is designed for reluctant teen readers. The books are short, high-interest novels with reading levels from Grade 2 to Grade 4.5. In Sea Change, Diane Tullson accomplishes this combination masterfully. While the author writes at a low reading level, she also keeps the dialogue believable for a 17-year old. [Sumi] says, “What he was pissed about was me shooting so close to the helicopter.” I sit up.  “You mean you might have hit the helicopter?”  I imagine the fiery carnage.  “You could have killed us!” She takes the bottle back from me.  “And ruined a perfectly good helicopter.” “Jeez, Sumi, you have no idea how happy I am that you killed that deer.” (p.64) The first person narration draws the reader into the story and creates the sense of “being there” that will keep teen readers engaged.   For example: I fix my stare on Sumi and watch where she points. Sometimes I hear her cursing, and I know I haven’t exactly interpreted her bearing. We’re bouncing off the waves, and spray nails us in the face. I squeeze my eyes almost closed. Driving fast, the air is so much colder and my fingers are frozen on the steering tiller. She motions wildly to steer left and I cut sharply, barely scraping past a log. How she saw it, I do not know. (p. 100) Overall this is a well-written and entertaining story which will hold the attention of the reluctant teenage male reader. Sea Change would be a good addition both public and junior high and high school libraries. Recommendation:  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.
Wall by T. M. Cole
Authors: Chavda Krishna
Published: April 2016

Cole, Tom Clohosy. Wall. London: Templar Books, 2014. Print.Author and illustrator Tom Clohosy Cole tells a poignant story about a little boy separated from his father by the Berlin Wall. The boy worries about his father on the other side of the great divide and dreams of the day when they will find each other again, all with the looming presence of the barb-wired Wall in the background of every page. Inspired by true stories of people being reunited with their loved ones, Cole writes from a little boy’s perspective about hope and his courageous journey with his family to find his father.Although there are very few words in this picture book, the mood is captured with Cole’s use of simple and dark illustrations that evoke a sense of sadness then eloquently juxtaposes these images with brighter pictures of the opposite side of the Wall representing the possibility of hope. You will need time to read these images as they truly capture the treacherous passage that many people risked their lives to take to find peace for themselves. Cole focalizes his illustrations from the perspective of the boy looking out into his world and suddenly manages to shift this perspective as if the reader is the boy looking out during one of the most dramatic scenes in the story. Will this family be unified at last? Find out when you read this story of enduring hope in a seemingly impossible situation.I strongly recommend this story for upper elementary students as they may relate to the idea of separation from family, but they may struggle with understanding the political themes within this story.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Krishna ChavdaKrishna Chavda is an elementary school teacher for the Elk Island Public School District. She is currently pursuing graduate studies in the area of Language and Literacy at the University of Alberta. She is passionate about the area of literacy at the primary school level.
Poo in the Zoo by S. Smallman
Authors: Frail Kim
Published: April 2016

Smallman, Steve. Poo in the Zoo. Illus. Ada Grey. Wilton, CT : Tiger Tales, 2015. Print.This story is a fun way to introduce kids to the fact that there all sorts of messy but very necessary jobs in the world. “There’s too much poo in the zoo!” for zookeeper Bob McGrew. Children who are at the age when all things scatological are both fascinating and hilarious will revel in watching Bob clean up after all of the animals in the zoo. The creative wordplay, rhyme scheme, as well as the fact that the word “poo” shows up an average of 2 or 3 times a page is sure to delight and amuse young listeners:“There was tiger poo, lion poo, prickly porcupine poo, Plummeting giraffe poo that landed with a splat.Gobs of gnu poo, bouncy kangaroo poo,A dotted line of droppings from a fat wombat!”After consuming some fireflies, an escaped iguana produces a green, glowing, alien-like pile of poop which draws crowds to the zoo. Hector Glue, who owns a travelling side-show of exotic poo, arrives on the scene to acquire it for his collection. With the money from the sale, the zookeeper is able to buy a robot “pooper scooper”. Ada Grey’s illustrations are rendered in a bright colour palette punctuated by lots of interesting textures. For example, in the scene where we meet Hector Glue, there is a myriad of patterns used in the depiction of the animal coats and skin as well as in the clothing of the zoo patrons, particularly in Hector’s Victorian-era showman outfit. Children will enjoy perusing the bottles of exotic poo from Hector’s collection which are also reproduced in the endpapers. There are clever gems such as:  “Squirrel Poo: Warning May Contain Nuts”.  Among the fictional creatures mentioned on the bottles, there are also many lesser-known animals such as an ocelot and a blob fish. This provides an opportunity for teachers or parents to encourage young readers to learn more about these animals. “Poo in the Zoo” could also work as a complement to a lesson or non-fiction book on animals or on caring for pets, provided that the teacher or parent points out the differences between fact and fiction. Recommended for ages 3-7.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Kim FrailKim is a Public Services Librarian at the H.T. Coutts Education Library at the University of Alberta. Children’s literature is a big part of her world at work and at home. She also enjoys gardening, renovating and keeping up with her kids.
Becoming Holmes by Sh. Peacock
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Peacock, Shane.  Becoming Holmes.  Toronto, ON:  Tundra Books, 2012.  Print. This is the final book in The Boy Sherlock Holmes series.  In the first five books, Shane Peacock developed the landscape of Holmes’ early life, preparing the reader for his transition into the adult genius-detective that we all know and love.  Holmes’ creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did not supply much information about Holmes’ childhood, so authors have great scope to imagine how such an extraordinary person as Sherlock Holmes grew up to become what he is.  Shane Peacock is not the first to create a prequel series, nor is he likely to be the last. Prequels to much-loved stories are always a risk.  However, Peacock has done a remarkably good job of imagining Holmes’ early years while staying true enough to Conan Doyle’s character that readers will not be jarred when they progress from this series to the original series.  In this rendition of Holmes’ childhood, much is explained by the fact that he is a half-Jew and that his parents have died leaving the boy in the care of the apothecary, Sigerson Bell.  Bell has taught Holmes much of his vast knowledge base as well as some disguise and martial arts techniques. In this series we also meet Holmes’ brother, Mycroft, already ensconced in government, as well as youthful versions of Inspector Lestrade and the arch-enemy, here called Malefactor.   By the end of this book, Holmes has matured and thinks, “I am a man… It is just the beginning”, giving readers a segué into the original series. While other series about Holmes’ youth, for example Andrew Lane’s  Sherlock Holmes, the Legend Begins Series address older teen readers,  Peacock has written these volumes for 10 to 14 year olds.   His use of language is age-appropriate and the final volume, like the earlier ones, is action-packed with lots of intrigue and just enough of the macabre to keep pre-teens and early teens engaged.   Becoming Holmes is a good read that is highly recommended for public libraries and both elementary and junior-high school libraries everywhere. Highly Recommended:  4 stars out of 4 Reviewer:  Sandy Campbell Sandy 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.
Darkest Light by H. Goto
Authors: Sivak Allison
Published: April 2016

Goto, Hiromi. Darkest Light. Toronto: Razorbill Canada, 2011. Print. Darkest Light is a sequel, of sorts, to Goto’s 2009 fantastic allegorical work Half World. However, Darkest Light takes on a more nuanced approach to its characters’ struggles, asking the question, ‘Can a person who has done wrong rehabilitate himself?’ Half World drew its lines of good and evil in a more traditional way, with an outcast heroine battling an evil force living in the world between the dead and the living. In contrast, Darkest Light slowly unravels the mystery of the life of its protagonist, Gee. We see the recurrence of some of the same characters from Goto’s first book in the series, including the knowledgeable wise-woman, Ms. Wei, and the outcast heroine, Melanie Tamaki. But Darkest Light turns its focus on Gee, the baby brought out from Half World by Melanie, and who is now sixteen, having lived with Ms. Wei since. Illustrator Jillian Tamaki has collaborated on this book as with the Half World, and the style of her shadowy sketches captures Goto’s descriptions of Gee. Gee has grown up lonely, his Popo (Ms. Wei) his only friend; there is something about his ghostly physical presence and his deep-black eyes that put off almost all others, humans and animals alike. After a confrontation with two classmate bullies, he meets neo-Goth, Cracker, a young lesbian who feels some kinship with Gee’s physical and emotional difference. When Ms. Wei’s life is endangered by some of the demons of Half World, Gee and Cracker enter the world to save her. Goto has taken an interesting path to investigate the question of how to atone for one’s wrong actions by going into the world of fantasy, where the most evil of all the Half World demons tries to change, tempted by his old lovers and friends, as well as by the power he used to wield. Goto’s writing can, at times, read as flat, and the demons in Half World are exaggerated enough to be more cartoonish than frightening. But the emotion she evokes between Gee and his grandmother and Cracker is quite moving, and her book is likely to appeal to young readers who recognize the struggle to find their own paths in the world that doesn’t welcome difference. Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Allison SivakAllison Sivak is the Assessment Librarian at the University of Alberta Libraries. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Library and Information Studies and Elementary Education, focusing on how the aesthetics of information design influence young people’s trust in the credibility of information content.
Bug in a Vacuum by M. Watt
Authors: Pearce Hanne
Published: April 2016

Watt, Mélanie. Bug in a Vacuum. Toronto, Ontario: Tundra Books, 2015. Print.“It was on top of the world when it happened. Its entire life changed with the switch of a button.” – So begins Bug in a Vacuum, a fun yet serious exploration of the range of emotions one can feel when coping with an unexpected event. A bug’s life is suddenly interrupted when it is sucked up into a vacuum while flying about a house. Tossed and turned, it awakes inside the vacuum and becomes aware of its confinement.  As the bug comes to terms with his predicament, it undergoes an emotional journey of denial, bargaining, anger, despair and acceptance. Interlaced between the bug’s journey, a small dog undergoes the same emotions as it copes with the loss of a toy that was also sucked up by the vacuum.Watt, who is well known for her work on the Scaredy Squirrel series, has truly achieved a golden mean with Bug in a Vacuum. The story is simple and yet deals with very complex emotions. It would be an excellent way to broach the subject of coping and emotions with children, especially those confronting a loss or change. Children can laugh at the bug’s struggles but then also relate to them. The text flows at a good pace, while the illustrations draw you in to explore extra details.The artwork of Bug in Vacuum is particularly unique in that it uses mixed media. The colors are muted and earthy in quality. The textures of furniture, carpets and the interior of the vacuum contrast against the glossy super-large eyes of both the bug and his canine companion. The mixture of artistic and digital textures creates a visually stimulating story of its own, that the reader will want to revisit.With such an excellent narrative and engaging illustrations Bug in Vacuum is bound to become a favorite of children and adults alike.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Hanne PearceHanne Pearce has worked at the University of Alberta Libraries in various support staff positions since 2004 and is currently a Public Service Librarian at the HT Coutts Education and Physical Education Library. Aside from being an avid reader she has continuing interests in writing, photography, graphic design and knitting.
The Magnificent Tree by N. Bland
Authors: Deakin Andrea
Published: April 2016

Bland, Nick. The Magnificent Tree. Illus. Stephen Michael King. Toronto: Scholastic Canada, 2013. Print.“Bonny and Pop were always bursting with ideas. Bonny’s ideas are clever yet simple, Pop’s are “big, brave and brilliant.” Nick Bland’s direct, down-to-earth text is constantly “set up” by Stephen King’s wildly inventive illustrations. Thus, when Bonny and Pop decide they wish to encourage the birds to stay nearby, they set about making a tree, each in their own way. Pop’s method is, as you may guess, big and brave, indeed his idea is so complex “it could not fit in his head all at once”. Bonny’s is simple- it basically fits into the palm of her hand. The results are fantastic, and simple, and “Just perfect.”This seems a simple story, but it has so much wit, gentleness and creativity in it, and so much to discover- both obvious and implied, that there are hours of pleasure in it.Each way of looking at life, Bonny’s or Pop’s, and each unique creation gives a text that is simple and clever and illustrations that are both bold and brave.This is the first time that the Australian author and illustrator have worked together.  May the partnership continue.Highly Recommended: 4 out of  4 starsReviewer: Andrea DeakinAndrea has been involved with books since she was class librarian in Primary School, Student Librarian in Grammar School, student librarian for the Education Faculty when she was a student, and school librarian in schools both in England and in Canada, except for the first two years in Canada where she arrived in 1959. When she retired from teaching ( English and History) she was invited to review in February 1971, and continued to review for press, radio, and finally on the Internet (Deakin Newsletter from Okanagan College) until she retired in 2011. Forty years seemed sufficient- although she still cannot keep her nose out of good children's and YA fare.
Hey Canada! by V. Bowers
Authors: Tan Maria
Published: April 2016

Bowers, Vivien. Hey Canada!. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2012. Print. Born in Vancouver, Canada, Vivien Bowers received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia (BC). She has taught at the elementary school level and currently works as a freelance writer in BC and has written for children and adult audiences alike. She has authored elementary and secondary school materials, non-fiction books and magazine articles. Hey Canada! follows Alice, her grandmother, her cousin Cal, and his hamster, simply named ‘Hampster’, on a car trip across Canada. As the family travels through each province and territory, the reader is introduced to geographic, historical, and culturally significant locations, activities, and foods. As a nod to current technology, the content is narrated from the perspective of seven-year-old Alice, in the form of blog posts with highlight boxes featuring her cousin’s tweets sprinkled throughout the book. A map of Canada shows readers the path travelled by Alice, Cal, Grandma and Hampster as they journey from east to west. Hey Canada! presents colourful, cartoon-style illustrations interspersed with photos. The addition of comic strip styled interludes depicting historical events and fun facts make the content engaging and fun to read. Each province and territory is introduced with an illustration of the provincial flower, bird, and an outline of the province with the capital city highlighted. Unfortunately, the provincial flower for Alberta is incorrectly listed as White Trillium instead of Wild Rose, and the Museum of Civilization is described as being located in Ottawa instead of in Hull, Quebec. Hopefully, these errors will be corrected in the next edition. Readers who enjoy Hey Canada! and who are not familiar with the author’s earlier books may want to check out Wow Canada! and That’s Very Canadian for equally entertaining and informative reading about this country. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Maria TanMaria is a Public Services Librarian at the University of Alberta’s H. T. Coutts Education Library. She enjoys travelling and visiting unique and far-flung libraries. An avid foodie, Maria’s motto is, “There’s really no good reason to stop the flow of snacks”.
Games of Survival: Traditional Inuit Games for Elementary Students by J. Issaluk
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Issaluk, Johnny.  Games of Survival:  Traditional Inuit Games for Elementary Students.  Iqaluit, NV: Inhabit Media, 2012. Print.Johnny Issaluk is an Inuit athlete who has competed in traditional Inuit games since age 16 and has won at national competitions.  He grew up in Igluligaarjuk on the coast of Hudson’s Bay and now coaches younger athletes in Iqaluit.  In this book he provides a visual guide to how the games should be played.  The book is also designed to help preserve the traditions of the games for future generations. Issaluk tells us that being part of the book is one of the “biggest accomplishments” of his life.The Inuit games “were used not only for fun, not only for celebration, but for survival”.  Each game is designed to improve a hunter’s agility, strength or endurance.  The book is made up of photographs of people performing the movements for each game, accompanied by text that explains both how to play the game and why it was played.  For example, the Alaskan High Kick, an agility game, is first described in a paragraph followed two pages show two different people performing the kick and step-by-step instructions.  In describing the Hand Pull, a strength game, Issaluk explains how to perform it, but also tells us that “the hand pull was traditionally used to strengthen the wrists and the grip, so that a hunter could hold a walrus in one place until the animal got tired.”While the instructions are clear, the images will be most helpful to anyone trying to understand the games or teach them to elementary school children.  The children in the photographs are dressed in bright colours and presented against a stark white background, so that there is nothing to distract or confuse the viewer.  Sometimes sequences of movements are illustrated. In other cases, the same movement or position is shown with several different participants or from different angles, so that it will be easy for readers to replicate it.There are few books that teach how to play Inuit Games.  This one is high quality and authentic.  It would be an excellent tool for use in an elementary level physical education program.  Highly recommended for public and school libraries.Recommendation:  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 Rithmatist by B. Sanderson
Authors: McGillivray Kelsi
Published: April 2016

Sanderson, Brandon. The Rithmatist. Illus. Ben Sweeney. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 2013. Print.What if the survival of humanity depended on the geometry skills of a few elite youths? But it does.Winner of the YALSA 2014 Teen’s Top Ten Award, this book asks readers to envisage an alternate history for Earth. The Asian nation of JunSeo has overtaken much of the globe, and technology relies on elaborate systems of springs and gears. Society relies on the skills of Rithmatists, who use geometric shapes and angles to wage war against a rogue force of chalklings – two-dimensional chalk drawings with a penchant for blood.All Joel has ever wanted to be is a Rithmatist, but he has not been chosen by the Master. In spite of this, he spends all his time exploring Rithmatic principles. Joel’s dreams are realized when the disgraced Professor Fitch begins to tutor him along with remedial Rithmatics student Molly. When the far-off war against chalklings in Nebrask becomes more real and Rithmatic students begin to be targeted close at home, Joel’s suspicions are fixated on the new Rithmatics professor, Nalizar.In the misdt of this fantasy novel, American author Brandon Sanderson has embedded a number of intriguing questions. What would the world be like if a power other than Great Britain had achieved world dominance? What does the idea of predestination mean for those who are not chosen? What if different technologies had taken hold?Although there are literary and symbolic elements that posit this story as a thriller, the author has included enough humor that it still maintains a playful and adventurous tone. A sense of anticipation is maintained throughout, as the principles of Rithmatics and the plot are gradually revealed. Though Sanderson’s writing style at times impedes the immersive quality of the story, the reader is kept deliciously in suspense until the end. Ben Sweeney’s illustrations at the end of every chapter masterfully enhance the reader’s understanding of Rithmatic principles.The first in a series, this book would appeal to readers who enjoy fantasy, such as the Harry Potter series or The Golden Compass.  It is recommended for children in grades 7-12 and is a good example of “hi-lo” fiction. The accessible language will engage reluctant readers. A reading and activity guide is included at the end of the book, suitable for discussion and exploration in a classroom setting.Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Kelsi McGillivrayKelsi McGillivray teaches grade 3 at an international school in Kathmandu, Nepal. She is currently working on her Masters of Education in teacher-librarianship and aspires to become the school librarian in the future. She enjoys reading, hiking, and adventures.
Noni is Nervous by H. Hartt-Sussman (1st review)
Authors: Gregson Brittany
Published: April 2016

Hartt-Sussman, Heather.  Noni is Nervous.  Illus. Geneviève Côté. Toronto: Tundra Books-Random House of Canada, 2013. Print.Noni is anxious about many things but most of all she is nervous about her first day of school. Among her school jitters are: what to wear, whether or not her teacher will be nice, and where to sit.  To calm her nerves, Noni is constantly talking, biting her nails, and twirling her hair.  After her first day her mother advises her to make a friend. Despite her nervousness, Noni introduces herself to an outgoing girl named Briar on the bus who then introduces Noni to many other children. Noni comes home feeling more confident and calm.Noni is Nervous is a cute book about adapting despite being nervous. Between Hartt-Sussman’s repetitive prose and Côté’s fitting illustrations the reader is always clear on how the characters are feeling.  The story transitions well from depicting Noni’s nervousness to her confidence. I particularly liked how though Noni had befriended Briar she was still nervous about a few things en route to school as opposed to friendship being an instant cure. She does develop some confidence and is able to spunkily tell her family that there is nothing to be nervous about.  Children will be able to see that though they may be nervous there isn’t always a need and things will be okay.I would have liked to see more of the story devoted to Noni overcoming her anxiety than is shown in the book. There was also a spelling mistake in the book, though I doubt children will catch it.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Brittany GregsonBrittany Gregson is a graduate of MacEwan University’s Library and Information Technology program.She works at the Family and Community Resource Centre, Alberta Children’s Hospital as the Child Health Information Specialist. Other than reading she enjoys both baking and crafting.
Mingan: my village
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Mingan:  my village. Illus. Rogé. Trans. Solange Messier.  Markham, ON:  Fifth House Publishers, 2014.  Print.This is one of the most unusual Canadian Indigenous children’s books to have been published recently.  It is an art book composed of fifteen of illustrator Rogé's portraits of Innu children from the village of Mingan (“Ekuantshit” in the Innu-aimun language) on the North Shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.  The images are accompanied by fifteen poems written by the children.  Each of the portraits covers an 8.5 X 14’ page and is an almost life-sized likeness painted from a photograph.  The images are mainly sepia tones with some orange, blue and red highlights.  These portraits will allow children elsewhere in the world to see what an Innu child looks like. The poems are the result of a poetry writing workshop led by Laurel Morali and Rita Mestokosho at Mingan.  They are also published in the back of the book in Innu-aimun.  The works are simple, unsophisticated and present a child’s view of the world.  Nature and grandparents figure prominently in the works.   For example:                        In the wind's light, the pain of the heart                        The blue river                        When I listen                        I have a memory of my grandfather                        He tells me he is well                        This comforts me                        I know he protects me                        That he watches me                        I cry when he is not beside me                                                                       Sabrina                       Overall this is a striking work that could fit both in to art collections and children’s libraries as well as those collecting Canadian Indigenous materials. 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.
Pussycat, Pussycat, Where Have You Been? by D. Bar-el & R. Maté
Authors: Frail Kim
Published: April 2016

Bar-el, Dan, and Rae Maté. Pussycat, Pussycat, Where Have You Been? Vancouver: Simply Read Books, 2011. Print. In this superbly illustrated book, the pussycat of the classic nursery rhyme continues from his royal visit in London on to more distant and exotic adventures. He sails down the Seine in France, visits with “one of a kind” animals in Australia, kayaks with a pod of whales in the North, and discovers the mysteries of the Egyptian pyramids.  North American geography is subtly evoked as he meets a fisherman in a coastal community and takes shelter from a Prairie thunderstorm in a “soft golden” wheat field. Many elements of the book convey nostalgia and the simple joys of childhood. It features a storybook-like font and extra-large capital letters at the beginning of each stanza. The hand-painted illustrations are magnificent and have a vintage fairy-tale like appeal. However, the complexity of the ideas conveyed in the simple rhyme scheme hints at more mature life lessons and ideas. For example, when the Pussycat encounters a parade of pageant performers, his owner asks, “Did you join in?” he responds with: “If life is a circus/ Why wait to begin?”  The sense of adventure is tempered with reality; he is, on occasion, fearful, sad, or in need of assistance in his travels. He always reveals to the reader what helped him through those times: “What stopped your sorrow?” “I sang to the stars as I rode to tomorrow”. He also explains that he was able to take the “road less travelled” due to the generosity of fellow travelers: ‘…Did you get lost?’‘I strayed from the pathAt whatever the cost.’‘Pussycat, PussycatBut were you alright?’‘The kindness of strangersGave warmth to my night.’ Pussycat also talks about missing loved ones back home, in this case his owner. The adventure concludes with him inviting her to join him on his next series of imaginary adventures: “Come travel with me/ My partner, my friend.” According to the publisher’s website, this book is recommended for ages to 4-8.  It would be an excellent addition to any home, library, or school book collection. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Kim Frail Kim is a Public Services Librarian at the H.T. Coutts Education Library at the University of Alberta. Children’s literature is a big part of her world at work and at home. She also enjoys gardening, renovating and keeping up with her two-year old.
Where Wild Horses Run by G. Graham
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Graham, Georgia.  Where Wild Horses Run.  Markham, ON., Red Deer Press,  2011. Print. Georgia Graham has written four books and illustrated fourteen.  In this picture book she captures the beauty of the wild horses of the Nemaiah Valley in British Columbia through the story of a new foal.  While she both wrote and illustrated this work, her strength is clearly in illustration.  Using chalk pastels and chalk pencils on sanded pastel paper, Graham creates realistic images of both the horses and the landscapes.  Her crouched cougar image is very well executed. The unusual layout of the images is eye-catching and allows Graham to vary the emphasis between the text and images. The book is in landscape format, allowing images to flow over two pages.  Sometimes one image will fill two pages, with text bars at the top.  Sometimes, an image will take up the top of a two page spread, with another image below and a third integrated into the text on the remaining white space. While the book is attractive and enjoyable, there are some shortcomings.  The drawings of the horses are inconsistent in their detail and sometimes in their proportions.  In two images of the foal, its legs seem disproportionately large.  Some of the horses’ manes seem to be permanently flying in the wind.  In an image of two stallions fighting, parts of their manes seem to move independently, like Medusa’s snakes.  While the artist is probably attempting to show agitation in the horses, the manes are quite unnatural. The Golden Stallion is also depicted with his ribs showing prominently, which would normally indicate that the animal is underfed, however, the rest of his body and those of the other horses appear to be in good condition. The text is quite simple, generally well-written and is appropriate for the intended upper elementary audience.  However, the story line takes an unnatural twist at the end.  The new foal has played with a grey colt, whom the Golden Stallion drives out of the band.  This is normal behavior.  When a cougar threatens the foal, the grey colt appears from nowhere, in an implied act of friendship, to protect the foal.  It is not realistic that a colt that has been banished from a band would interfere with a foal while the stallion is nearby.  It is much more likely that a mare, and particularly the lead mare, would chase away a cougar.  This unnecessary bit of anthropomorphizing detracts from the otherwise realistic portrayal of the animals in the text and images. In spite of the flaws, this is still a good book from a rising Alberta author and illustrator, which should be included in library collections. Recommended:  3 stars out of 4 Reviewer:  Sandy Campbell Sandy 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.
My Dad is the Best Playground by L. Navarro-Powell
Authors: Pow Virginia
Published: April 2016

Navarro-Powell, Luciana.  My Dad is the Best Playground. Mississauga: Random House of Canada Limited, 2011. Print. Originially from Brazil, Luciana Navarro Powell moved to the U.S. in 2002. Navarro-Powell has worked as a professional illustrator for approximately 14 years. Her current media of choice is the digital brush, which she used to illustrate My Dad is the Best Playground. My Dad is the Best Playground is a board book that is delightful and easy to read to toddlers. From the moment Dad arrives home, the story describes all of the ways in which he can be used like a playground and how the children in the story interact with their father, from climbing on him to being twirled about by him.  Each of the actions cleverly relates to actions that the children would also be able to do at a real playground.  The truly wonderful part of the story is the illustrations.  For pictures that are simple, they convey so much motion and interaction.  The colour palette used is pleasing to the eye. The true test of any book is the reaction of the target audience.  The toddlers daycare class to whom I read the story could easily identify the boy and girl and other household items in the pictures. They also thought it was funny to see the children interact with their father in different ways.  This was a lovely story to read to toddlers and illustrated the positive interactions Dads have with their children. Recommended: 3 out of 4 Reviewer: Virginia PowVirginia is the Maps Librarian for the William Wonders Map Library and a Public Services Librarian for the Cameron Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta. In her free time she enjoys hiking, camping, running, cross country skiing or anything in the outdoors with her favorite partners in crime; daughter, husband and very large mutt.