bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discourse «Decommunisation» in a Public Plane of Contemporary Ukrainian Information Space
Authors: Hitrova Tetyana , Tsvetayeva Olena
Published: April 2016

The article examines the discourse of «decommunisation» in a public plane of the modern Ukrainian information space. Its rhetorical dominant is represented by the communication strategies of the supporters and opponents of the package of «historical» laws adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on April 9, 2015.The author of the article has reproduced the chronical development of discourse «decommunisation» within the national concept of «historical memory».European practice of condemnation of communist crimes was analyzed; factual material representing the international dialogue discussion Ukrainian decommunisation process was involved. Special attention is given to the issue of decommunisation of the media sector, it was emphasised on the controversial aspects of interpretation of legislation «purification» from the Soviet Communist symbols. Functional explications of discourse «decommunisation» in the media were studied, in particular within the event content, social content of the problem, subject-content argumentation and contextualization in international, legal, moral and ethical plane, mythologizing the narrative. On the basis of factual material the basic meaning of the public topics of the analyzed discourse flow was revealed, it was indicated on its dependence of the communication purpose of the speeches. Infographic representation of the component «decommunisation» in the media has been analyzed, including the frequency of use of official symbols and their substantive relevance. It was revealed that the information occasion and the intensity of publications within the discourse is caused not only by the event content, but also by the methodological source (Calendar of decommunisation), developed by the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory. The reasoning patterns of the texts were analyzed and it was found that the strategy of «responsible contextualization» contributes to the formation of the constructive dialogue. It was indicated on the necessity of attraction of qualitative component of communicative media strategies, including the use of critical narratives. The author has focused on the ambivalent influence of the discourse on the design of public opinion, the set of public representations which, depending on the purpose of communication, contributes to the formation conventional meanings, the effect of «normalization» and manipulation.
Pedagogical Conditions of Development of Social Worker Communication Culture in Post-Qualifying Training
Authors: Miasoid Galyna
Published: April 2016

The paper addresses the problem of underdeveloped communication culture of social workers in Ukraine. The term of ‘social worker communication culture’ has been defined and its components have been listed. The criteria, parameters and development levels of social worker communication culture have been examined. Summative assessment has shown through the combination of quantitative and qualitative data analyses that communication culture of social workers in Ukraine should be improved urgently. The pedagogical conditions of social worker communication culture development and the suggested methodology have been substantiated and verified in a post-qualifying training. The obtained results can be of help when designing the training programmes for social workers in the Social Welfare System in Ukraine and other developing countries undergoing social and economic reforms.
Impacts of Geographical Diversity of Ethnic Groups on Order and Security Case Study: Islamic Republic of Iran
Authors: Mahmodpanahi Seid Mohamad Reza , Elahimanesh Mohamad Hasan , Namdar Ali
Published: April 2016

Today, radicalism ethnocentrism has become a primary source of violent armed conflicts inside the country and in some parts of the world and has entailed an attrition of nation-state's power. On the other hand, ethnic nationalism in some countries has targeted national integrity and the very foundation of the society. This paper seeks to respond to the question: What impacts does this ethnic scatteredness and diversity have on the order and security of the Islamic Republic of Iran? What solutions are there for the national integrity? That which is certain is the existence of various ethnic groups in Iran which have rarely caused conflicts and engagements; from the issue of Turkmen Sahra and Azarbayjan in the early Revolution to the strikes by Kurdish people in May 2010 which are all issues that have been effective on the public order and security of Iran. Therefore, it is necessary for Iran to adopt effective steps in the direction of national integrity while relying on converging components of the Iranian ethnic groups including shared religion, shared land, and also the issue of shared security. Of course, looking upon the 37 year old history of Iran, this demonstrates that the country has made huge progress in this regard. The methodology is descriptive-analytical and by using data and information, some solutions have been offered.
Screening of pigeonpea genotypes against wilt and sterility mosaic disease in Telangana state, India
Authors: Bhaskar* A.Vijaya
Published: April 2016

The pigeonpea germplasms/genotypes were evaluated to identify the sources of resistance to Fusarium wilt and sterility mosaic disease. Screening of 55 AICRP Pigeonpea entries with a check and six Warangal (AVT and PVT) pigeonpea entries was done under wilt sick plot and SMD sick plot during Kharif-2013 at RARS, Warangal, Telangana state, India. A total of 52 AICRP pigeonpea entries along with check were also screened against sterility mosaic disease. Out of 60 entries, only two entries (ICPL-87119 and IPAC-68) were resistant to wilt disease and eight entries viz. ICPL-87119, ICPL-2376, BDN-2, PT-4-307, CORG-9701, BSMR-736, GRG-811 and BSMR-853 found to be resistant to sterility mosaic disease.
Temperature induction response reveals intrinsic thermotolerant genotypes in soybean
Authors: Ange Uwimana Marie , Srividhya S. , Vijayalakshmi C. , Boominathan* P.
Published: April 2016

The responses of soybean genotypes to high temperature for intrinsic tolerance was studied using Temperature Induction Response (TIR) technique in order identify the genotypes tolerant to high temperature stress. Seven soybean genotypes subjected to lethal and sub lethal temperatures showed significant variation for acquired thermotolerance. Thermotolerant genotypes ADT 1 and CoSoy1 identified by the TIR technique, demonstrated higher survival percentage, and lower growth reduction. Further the tolerant genotypes identified based on TIR also showed higher antioxidant enzymes activity implying the critical role of antioxidant in cellular thermotolerance. This clearly demonstrated that TIR can be effectively used for screening high temperature tolerance genotypes in soybean. This study also established the fact that the alternations in antioxidants during induction are vital for imparting tolerance to high temperature stress.
The Psychometric Evaluation of the Revised Clinical Skills Self-Efficacy Scale
Authors: Oetker-Black Sharon L. , Kreye Judy , Davis Tammie , Underwood Sherrie , Naug Samantha
Published: April 2016

Background and Purpose: This study’s purpose was to psychometrically evaluate the revised Clinical Skills Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES). Self-efficacy is a predictor of an individual’s behavior in situations such as learning to implement a new clinical nursing skill. Methods: Subjects were nursing students (N = 214). The CSES, an investigator-developed instrument designed to measure nursing students’ perceptions of their self-efficacy as it relates to selected clinical skills, was used to measure clinical skills self-efficacy. The instrument consisted of 9 clinical skills. Results: There was evidence from 2 prior pilot studies both supporting the CSES’s reliability and validity. Conclusions: Self-efficacy may be one way to explain the relationship between clinical skills instruction and the successful enactment of these clinical skills.
Psychometric Analysis of the Work/Life Balance Self-Assessment Scale
Authors: Smeltzer Suzanne C. , Cantrell Mary Ann , Sharts-Hopko Nancy C. , Heverly Mary Ann , Jenkinson Amanda , Nthenge Serah
Published: April 2016

Background and Purpose: This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Work/Life Balance Self-Assessment scale among nurse faculty involved in doctoral education. Methods: A national random sample of 554 respondents completed the Work/Life Balance Self-Assessment scale, which addresses 3 factors: work interference with personal life (WIPL), personal life interference with work (PLIW), and work/personal life enhancement (WPLE). Results: A principal components analysis with varimax rotation revealed 3 internally consistent aspects of work–life balance, explaining 40.5% of the variance. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for reliability of the scale were .88 for the total scale and for the subscales, .93 (WIPL), .85 (PLIW), and .69 (WPLE). Conclusion: The Work/Life Balance Self-Assessment scale appears to be a reliable and valid instrument to examine work–life balance among nurse faculty.
Test–Retest Reliability of the Genetics and Genomics in Nursing Practice Survey Instrument
Authors: Calzone Kathleen A. , Culp Stacey , Jenkins Jean , Caskey Sarah , Edwards Pamela B. , Fuchs Mary Ann , Reints Amber , Stange Brita , Questad Janice , Badzek Laurie
Published: April 2016

Background and Purpose: Assessment of nursing genomic competency is critical given increasing genomic applications to health care. The study aims were to determine the test–retest reliability of the Genetics and Genomics in Nursing Practice Survey (GGNPS), which measures this competency, and to revise the survey accordingly. Methods: Registered nurses (n= 232) working at 2 Magnet-designated hospitals participating in a multiinstitutional genomic competency study completed the GGNPS. Cohen’s kappa and weighted kappa were used to measure the agreement of item responses between Time 1 and Time 2. Survey items were revised based on the results. Results: Mean agreement for the instrument was 0.407 (range = 0.150–1.000). Moderate agreement or higher was achieved in 39% of the items. Conclusions: GGNPS test–retest reliability was not optimal, and the instrument was refined based on the study findings. Further testing of the revised instrument is planned to assess the instrument performance.
Públicos de cinemas em foco: interações, sociabilidades e os significados do estar lá, vendo e sendo visto
Authors: Pires Bianca Salles
Published: April 2016

No presente artigo analiso as interações e sociabilidades que ocorrem entre os frequentadores de cinemas nos dias atuais. A partir da perspectiva de que a ida ao cinema abrange mais do que o ir assistir ao filme, incluindo: encontros “ao acaso”, flertes, conversas, avaliação dos objetos artístico, redes de conhecidos que se estabelecem nos ambientes das salas, registros fotográficos, partilhamento das experiências na internet, entre outros. Para tanto, me atenho aos dados das pesquisas etnográficas realizadas junto aos públicos de três cinemas no bairro de Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro. Ao dar foco as sociabilidades presentes nos cinemas, percebemos a existência de “novas” diferenciações e distinções, que se tornam perceptíveis a partir da observação dos significados que o “estar lá, vendo e sendo visto” adquirem para os públicos e como atualmente se estendem às redes virtuais.
Bipolaridade rural no governo colombiano: Kaustky, Lenin e Chayanov, duas heranças, duas visões, dois campos
Authors: Azuero Juan Francisco
Published: April 2016

Ainda  e grande a influencia que têm Kautsky, Lenin e Chayanov nas visões e políticas de desenvolvimento rural na Colômbia. O governo colombiano tem optado por impulsionar dois tipos de politicas que se contradizem, o que podemos definir como “bipolaridade rural”. Por um lado, impulsa políticas próximas às ideias de Chayanov centradas no Desenvolvimento Rural com Enfoque Territorial onde a pequena unidade camponesa tem um papel central, como por exemplo a “Reforma Rural Integral” concordada nas conversações de paz na Havana. Por outro, políticas próximas aos pressupostos de Lenin e Kautsky, de impulso à grande agroindústria e que sentencia a pequena unidade camponesa ao desaparecimento, como por exemplo as “Zonas de Interés de Desarrollo Rural, Económico y Social” (ZIDRES).
Early Implementation of School Reform: How Observation of Literacy Practices Reveals the Impact of Accountability Systems on the Reform Process
Authors: Brenner Devon , Brocato D.   Kay , Kurz Terri
Published: April 2016

This article examines a rural elementary school’s first year of implementation of a comprehensive school reform model, Accelerated Schools Plus. Teachers at this school were found to engage in literacy teaching practices consistent with moderately (but not high) performing schools, with strengths such as high levels of student engagement and relatively frequent coaching of students, and weaknesses such as infrequent teaching of comprehension and an almost exclusive use of passive instruction such as recitation. The reform model purports to help teachers to recognize such strengths and weaknesses, however, a focus on standardized test scores and accountability hampered teachers’ implementation of the reform model.
The Factors Contributing to Teacher Predictions of Spelling Ability, and the Accuracy of Their Assessments
Authors: Kolne Kendall , Gonnerman Laura , Marquis Alexandra , Royle Phaedra , Rvachew Susan
Published: April 2016

In this study, teachers of kindergarten and Grade 1 French-speaking students indicated the likelihood their students would develop later writing difficulties. Results showed that language measures, language background, the education levels of parents, and home literacy practices predicted whether children would be identified as at-risk. Moreover children’s oral language skills accounted for even more of the variance in teacher ratings than other variables. Spelling performance assessed 1-year later from a subset of children indicated that the teacher predictions were accurate. Thus, teachers appear to be an effective source for predicting children’s future literacy performance.
Together in Song: Building Literacy Relationships with Song-based Picture Books
Authors: Montgomery Amanda , Smith Kathryn M
Published: April 2016

This action research study provided a collaborative social space in which to examine the intersection of shared singing/reading, emergent literacy, and family literacy. In particular, the significance of home literacy engagement with song-based picture books was investigated through the core action of a non-deficit, school-based family literacy program. Data were collected via parent/guardian journals that documented intergenerational home literacy engagement over a two-month period. Findings revealed that shared singing/reading with song-based picture books provided rich opportunities for families to build joyful, literacy relationships while providing kindergarten-aged children with meaningful experiences with text.
Freedoms In the Classroom: Cultivating a Successful Third Space for Literacy Growth
Authors: Nash-Ditzel Sue , Brown Tammy
Published: April 2016

This phenomenologically-based, action research study looked at themes across the interviews of college students after they participated in the Digital Reading Log (DRL); a literacy-based activity utilizing the Internet, word processing software and email. The purpose of this study was to investigate students’ experiences in the basic skills reading classroom while engaged with the DRL.  Findings indicate that the DRL afforded the students various freedoms, such as freedom of language and choice.  The data suggested that the instructor was able to draw upon these freedoms to effectively create a Third Space that improved struggling young adult readers’ understanding of text while increasing their motivation to read.
The Value of Writing for Senior-Citizen Writers
Authors: Park Jeff , Brenna Beverley A.
Published: April 2016

This qualitative case study explores writing and writing motivations of senior citizens age 65-93 who had entered a public library Writing Challenge. The research questions focused on how and why writing was important to this group as well as what patterns and themes emerged in their work. Data from questionnaires offered that the social aspect of writing appeared to be the strongest motivating factor for participation. Numerous individual reasons for writing were listed, and these, as well as the unique ideas presented in excerpts from the work itself, created a resonant picture of writing in participants’ lives. The resulting anthology contained a predominance of non-fiction, including life writing components within fictive pieces, utilizing the expressive function. Key themes included identity, olden days, progress, humour, nature, religion, and the love of family. Implications involve the importance of community writing events for writers who may not have other means of developing individual writing networks. Further research is recommended related to seniors and literacy to add to what is currently a limited academic viewpoint regarding this population.
Everyday Enchantments: Literacy and the Politics of Representation.
Authors: Hamilton Mary
Published: April 2016

This short paper refers back to the pre-conference presentation I gave at last year’s CSSE meeting in Montreal. It uses a contemporary example from everyday social practice to discuss the powers of literacy in social ordering.
Narratives of “Dynamic Movement” in Disciplinary Literacy
Authors: Moffat Paula
Published: April 2016

Through a narrative inquiry involving a semi-structured interview and autobiographical reflection, the author explores the similarities and differences in literacy pedagogy between a literacy leader and a science teacher. Disciplinary literacy provides an opportunity for both teachers to better understand scientific literacy, and their different perspectives contribute to a rich conversation. Themes of similarities which emerge include embracing multiliteracies, investigation, a critical stance, and wonder Themes of differences include separating writing skills from form and confidence with numeracy and statistics. A collaborative approach to the implementation of disciplinary literacy and to further research is recommended.
From Poetry to Politics: The Gifts and Talents of Michael Rosen
Authors: Steigel Leslie , Bainbridge Joyce
Published: April 2016

Michael Rosen is a well-known poet, author, radio broadcaster, playwright and speaker in the UK, with over a hundred books to his credit. In his writing and in the many workshops he gives, Rosen focuses on the spoken word and the “voice” of the child. He believes oral language forms the basis for children’s writing. To that end, he encourages teachers to capitalize on the child’s voice and experiences as they introduce children to the art of writing and motivate them to write for pleasure.
Digital Literacy in a Grade 8 Classroom: An E-zine WebQuest
Authors: Courtland Mary Clare , Paddington Dave
Published: April 2016

The WebQuest (www.webquest.org) was the context for a study which explored the ways in which digital literacy mediated young adolescents’ literacy learning. Data were collected through participant and nonparticipant observations, informal interviews and analysis of documents such as a blog, journal entries and Canteen, the teen e-zine created by the grade 8 students. The findings in this study contribute to literacy researchers’ understanding of theimplementation of multiliteracies pedagogy in classrooms and research into young adolescents’ engagement with and response to digital texts.
Literacy in an Extended Family Household in Kabul: A Case Study
Authors: Oates Lauryn
Published: April 2016

The following case study is drawn from a Pashtun family of 31 people living together in a house in Kabul, the capital city of Afghanistan, and was collaboratively researched with a member of the household. Afghanistan has one of the world’s lowest literacy rates, at 28.1 % literacy (UNICEF, 2004). Finding a way to take into consideration “the symbolic and material transactions of the everyday provide the basis for rethinking how people give meaning and ethical substance to their experiences and voices” (Giroux and Simon, 1989), rings true in the context of Afghanistan, where an ambitious agenda for raising access toeducation and literacy must find roots in the existing culture, coping mechanisms used by families, and the limited literacy and learning resources to which they have access. The issues brought to light in this case study suggest that validating Afghanistan’s literary traditions holds potential for empowering new learners, tapping into literacy practices supported by family networks.
Constructing MasculinityHow Three Grade Eight Boys Explore the Boundaries of MasculinityThrough Writing Toward a Bio-Cultural Theory of Reading and Learning
Authors: Stalwick Amanda
Published: April 2016

Over the last ten years, there has been much concern over the differential gender achievement patterns in English language arts on a local, national and international level. Boys under-achievement has captured the attention of the media, government, and policy personnel and though this phenomenon was identified a decade ago, differential achievement patterns persist today. At the root of this debate is the interplay between nature and nurture and we require a further socio-cultural understanding of this piece of the under-achievement puzzle. Based on three rural grade eight boys writing samples, the following examines how boys explore and define the boundaries of masculinity through their writing. I explain how the boys in this study explore masculinity through warrior discourse, character construction, intertextuality, and voice.
Getting Out of the Way: Books, Children and Controversy
Authors: Van de Kleut Geraldine
Published: April 2016

This paper recounts a controversial incident in a classroom that ultimately involved the student, her teacher, her parents, the school’s administrators, government curriculum, and a university professor. Using discourse theory, the author traces the beliefs that underlie the positions taken by the stakeholders, and discusses the vulnerable spaces that teachers inhabit when they practice critical literacy in elementary classrooms using difficult texts and subjects.
Visual Literacies: An Ecology Arts-based Pedagogical Model
Authors: Holloway Susan Marie
Published: April 2016

The study explores visual literacies and critical literacies students may experience utilizing photography aimed at engaging youth in thinking more deeply about their relationships to the environment and the communities they live in. This is a case study based on interviews with a total of 5 participants. I argue that visual literacy expands students’ opportunities to build productively upon print-based literacy practices, evens the playing field to some extent for English Language Learners, and connects youth in creative ways to think about being citizens in their communities and the world.
“Such Tweet Sorrow”: The Explosive Impact of New Literacies on Adolescent Responses to Live Theatre
Authors: Richardson John M.
Published: April 2016

Trips to the theatre are a regular feature of many high school language arts programs, and yet the experience of watching a play is often significantly different for a teacher than it is for a student. Placing “theatre literacy” within the context of the New London Group’s definition of multiliteracies, and drawing on the work of Lankshear and Knobel as well as audience studies theorists, this article compares how a 17 year-old girl and a 43 year-old English teacher respond to a series of plays, and considers how growing up in a wireless world shapes adolescents’ understanding of live theatre.
Cub’s Journey Home by G. Graham
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Graham, Georgia.  Cub’s Journey Home. Markham, ON:  Red Deer Press, 2015.  Print.Georgia Graham is a fine artist, but as a writer, needs a good editor.  Like her earlier work Where Wild Horses Run, this is a beautifully illustrated book.  Graham’s landscapes, trees, rivers, rocks, bears and flowers are all highly realistic. She tackles a variety of environments including snow, running water, forest fire, a burnt landscape and a garbage dump. Many of the images are frame-worthy.  There are flaws in the flames of her forest fire, some of which look like they belong on racing cars; however, in the next image, she absolutely captures the complexity of the fire reflected on swamp water.  Unfortunately, the text is an amalgamation of strange images and unusual or extravagant word choices. Why, for example, is a baby bear growing inside the mother called a “speck”?  There is so much purple prose that the reader is constantly distracted.  There are “long needles of sunlight” that “stab”.  The snow covering the den is “a curtain of lacy ice”. “A breeze runs its icy fingers through his fur.”  The cub “skedaddles”.  “A dark blanket [of smoke] rises up and steals the stars from the sky.” The whole text would have been much better if Graham had just written in her natural voice, as she occasionally does, to good effect.While the unusual word choices make the reading level of the text much too advanced for a picture book, the images, with their excellent rendering of Alberta landscapes, make it valuable.  This book is recommended with reservations for elementary school libraries and public libraries. Recommended with reservations: 2 out of 4 starsReviewer:  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 Gathering by K. Armstrong
Authors: Feisst Debbie
Published: April 2016

Armstrong, Kelley. The Gathering. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 2011. Print. Rural Ontario-based writer Kelley Armstrong is the author of over 15 novels, mostly fantasy, including the #1 New York Times and Globe and Mail bestselling Darkest Powers young adult urban fantasy trilogy.  The Gathering is the first in her new Darkness Rising trilogy, a sequel series to Darkest Powers, and is interrelated but with a new set of characters. Sixteen-year-old Maya Delaney lives in Salmon Creek, a small Vancouver Island town of less than two-hundred people which exists solely to serve the needs of a medical research facility owned by the St. Cloud Corporation.  In fact, the St. Cloud Corporation owns the entire town including homes, the school and other world-class facilities that have been built for its resident employees and their families.  Maya has an affinity for animals and healing and enjoys spending time in the wildlife rehabilitation centre her father runs as the town’s park ranger.  Adopted from birth from parents of an unknown First Nations background, Maya has a generally happy life and loving and responsible parents but is haunted by the bizarre drowning death of her best friend Serena, the captain of the swim team, a year previous. Maya’s life and those of the town’s close-knit residents, changes drastically after a reporter arrives and begins to ask questions about the St. Cloud Corporation and life in Salmon Creek.  Maya is led to believe that this reporter may have information on Serena’s mysterious death.  Other strange occurrences such as: mountain lions gathering around her home, the appearance of the town’s new ‘bad boy’ Rafe Martinez, and being called a ‘witch’ during a visit to a Nanaimo tattoo shop, cause Maya to question who she is and where she comes from. The Gathering is a quick, easy read and a good start to what looks like will be another intriguing trilogy.  The characters are believable and of note is the involvement of Maya’s likeable parents in her life which is so often missing from other books in this genre.  A Native Canadian protagonist and a unique Canadian setting also make for interesting reading as does the move beyond vampires and werewolves.  Do not expect a neat and tidy ending; this trilogy is structured as one story rather than three separate stand-alone volumes and leaves you wanting more.  Readers will have to wait, however, until April 2012 when the second book in the series, currently titled The Calling, is set to release. Recommended: 3 stars out of 4 Reviewer: Debbie Feisst Debbie 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.
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by D. Hopkinson
Authors: Lunny Jennifer
Published: April 2016

Hopkinson, Deborah. Titanic: Voices from the Disaster. New York: Scholastic Inc., 2012. Print. Almost 100 years after the disastrous sinking of the Titanic, the story of the ship's demise continues to create a fresh sense of horror. In this riveting exploration of the tragedy, acclaimed historical non-fiction author, Deborah Hopkinson, brings history alive by following the stories of several of the Titanic's passengers from setting sail to shipwreck. I quickly discovered that an impressive amount of research went into this book, as revealed by the comprehensive appendices. If it wasn't for this extensive documentation, it would have been easy to forget that I was reading non-fiction because of the way Hopkinson weaves several spell-binding narratives of select passengers. Chapter One begins by introducing an amateur photographer, Frank Browne, who is thrilled to find himself aboard the Titanic for a two day cruise at the outset of the doomed ship's passage. This initial chapter also introduces famed figures such as J. Bruce Ismay, the managing director of the ship's company, as well as Captain Edward Smith, and stewardess Violet Jessop. Frank Browne fortuitously disembarked in Cork, Ireland. The others were not so lucky. What stands out about this book is how Hopkinson puts a human face to the tragedy that claimed the lives of 1,496 people so long ago. In place of the 1997 blockbuster film with Leonardo Di Caprio, I now have a more chilling understanding of the human arrogance that caused the disaster, as well as the dreams and families that were lost on that cold, calm, starry night. Rather than imagining fictitious characters, I now imagine the real heroism of Second Officer Charles Lightoller who loaded lifeboats until he literally sank into the Atlantic (and miraculously survived), and the shocking decision of J. Bruce Ismay who chose to save himself while his passengers drowned. This book is a history of loss and survival, as well as courage and cowardice. Both intermediate and senior students will be hooked, especially reluctant readers who will likely already know something about the sinking of the Titanic and who often find more meaning in real life contexts. This book undoubtedly deserves a place on your library's bookshelves. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Jennifer Lunny Jennifer Lunny is a new teacher-librarian at Ballenas Secondary School on Vancouver Island.  A former English and social studies teacher, she is excited to promote literacy in her new position.  Finding that special book to connect with a student is one of the highlights of her job.  She has spent the fall semester building the collection at her school with many of the titles that were proposed in this project
Found by S. Yoon
Authors: Kammerer Tara
Published: April 2016

Yoon, Salina. Found. New York, NY: Walker Books for Young Readers, 2015. Print.The fictional picture book Found, written and illustrated by Salina Yoon, takes place in the forest and follows Bear, who found a stuffed bunny and tries to find its rightful owner by putting up FOUND flyers and searching for them.This book has a strong visual quality with fun illustrations in bold colours. The limited text on each page is appealing for younger and beginning readers and work collaboratively with the illustrations in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The story could be understood without looking at the text as the illustrations clearly dictate what is happening in the plot. Yoon includes a variety of ‘Lost’ posters throughout the book that are engaging to read, beyond the book’s text.Children can easily make connections to this picture book because of the idea of ‘lost’ and ‘found’ are familiar to them. Some readers may find the book’s ending unrealistic as the bunny’s rightful owner allows Bear to keep it. Young readers may recognize that in real life, this is often not the case, or they may have a false hope in the future when they find something they would like to keep that is not theirs.Recommended: 2 out of 4 StarsReviewer: Tara KammererTara Kammerer is a grade 2 teacher with Elk Island Public Schools and is currently completing her Masters Degree in Elementary Education at the University of Alberta. Tara loves how excited her grade 2 students get every time she brings a new book into the classroom to read aloud to them!
Ten Birds by C. Young
Authors: Mead-Willis Sarah
Published: April 2016

Young, Cybèle. Ten Birds. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2011. Print.Faced with the prospect of fording a river, ten chubby, adorable birds use found objects to devise vehicles that will convey them, one by one, to the other side. Sound simple? Perhaps not. When Ten Birds won the 2011 Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Illustration, the jury praised it as a “visual riddle.” And indeed, there does seem to be more to this enigmatic counting book than mere plot summary can provide. For starters, the birds’ predicament is innately absurd: why don’t they just fly across the river? Or make use of the bridge that looms in the background of every illustration? And what are we to make of the birds’ report-card epithets (Outstanding, Quite Advanced, Needs Improvement), which may or may not correspond to their river-crossing ingenuity? Perhaps Ten Birds is less about birds and rivers than our tendency to overcomplicate the simplest problems, confusing complexity with elegance. Young’s exquisite pen-and-ink illustrations certainly suggest a tension between the two: dense, furious skeins of crosshatching resolve into minimalistic set pieces, in which vast swaths of negative space dwarf the objects depicted. Come to think of it, perhaps the book is simply an extension of Young’s prevailing sensibilities as a visual artist. Known for her miniature sculptures in Japanese paper, Young has a gift for amplifying the strangeness of everyday objects by reproducing them, out of context and much reduced, in a vacuum of blank space. Likewise, her ten flightless birds and their bizarre contraptions, intricately rendered yet utterly inexplicable, riddle the reader with their presence. (And, like the paper sculptures, they are darn cute.) The fact that Ten Birds refuses to explain itself is one of its principal charms, and its mystery will beguile readers young and old.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars.Reviewer: Sarah Mead-WillisSarah is the Rare Book Cataloguer at the University of Alberta's Bruce Peel Special Collections Library. She holds a BA and an MLIS from the University of Alberta and an MA in English Literature from the University of Victoria.
When I Feel Worried by C. Spelman
Authors: Tan Maria
Published: April 2016

Spelman, Cornelia, When I Feel Worried. Illus. Kathy Parkinson. Chicago : Albert Whitman & Company, 2013. Print.In When I Feel Worried, readers follow a young guinea pig’s transformation from being full of worry and uncertainty, to being happy, engaged, and confident. Through the main character, the book’s creators, Cornelia Maude Spelman and Kathy Parkinson, identify situations that can induce worry, explore the physical and cognitive dimensions of the emotion, normalize these feelings, and introduce common practical strategies to reduce worry and anxiety.Author, Cornelia Spelman, uses simple, descriptive vocabulary suited to young children’s comprehension level, and presents examples to which they can relate. Children’s book illustrator, Kathy Parkinson, combines pale backgrounds with water colour illustrations outlined in black crayon. Her playful use of colour, pattern, and texture create a vibrant tableau. Although animals act as surrogates for humans in this book, Ms. Parkinson manages to portray very human expressions in the story’s animal characters. The colourful illustrations, positive messages, and relevant examples will appeal to young children. Prior to becoming a full-time children’s author and artist, Ms. Spelman was a clinical social worker. Her background as a therapist with children and families comes through in her work on When I Feel Worried. Ms. Spelman includes an introductory note to parents and teachers, framing anxiety as something that affects everyone, including children, and provides practical strategies for supporting young children as they manage their anxiety.Ms. Spelman and Ms. Parkinson have collaborated on numerous children’s works, including eight books that comprise the How I Feel Series; When I Feel Worried is the most current of these. Their literary works for young people have been translated into multiple languages.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Maria TanMaria C. Tan is a medical librarian at the Abdul Khaliq Library in Alberta Health Services’ Cross Cancer Institute and a former editorial team member of the Deakin Review. She firmly believes that children's literature is an essential component in the fountain of youth.
Eh? to Zed by K. Major
Authors: Paterson Amy
Published: April 2016

Major, Kevin. Eh? to Zed. Illus. Alan Daniel. Toronto: Red Deer Press.  2000. Print. Alphabetically-themed children’s books are far from a novel concept; however, when aided by inventive illustrations and a cleverly-chosen word selection, these books can be a welcome addition to any child’s library. Unfortunately, this is not the case for Kevin Major and Alan Daniel’s Eh? to Zed. Major attempts to distinguish his book from other Canada-themed alphabets by choosing a selection of obscure or little-known words. However, while words such as Rockies, poutine, and Gretzky should be of little trouble, Ogopogo, potlatch, Tuktoyaktuk, and kittiwake may be baffling to parents of all education levels, let alone their children for whom the book is ostensibly written. Major does provide brief explanations for his word choice at the end of the book, but given some of his selections, a pronunciation guide would also have been very helpful. Alan Daniel’s illustrations are unoriginal at best, but more often serve to obfuscate the already frustrating text. Each page highlights four words at the top with the illustrations jumbled together below. Considering the relative obscurity of many of Major’s word choices, Daniel’s overlapping illustrations make it even more difficult for the reader to match the word with its corresponding picture. The one proper use I can think of for this book would be for Canadian immigrants who are interested both in learning to read English and researching different facets of Canadian history. While matching words to pictures would still be a mind-numbing task, the words themselves and Major’s explanations might serve as a portal to learning more about Canadian culture. Additionally, Eh? to Zed makes a noticeable effort to highlight Canada’s multicultural nature, incorporating many aspects of French and Native culture. However, at times the book’s efforts at political correctness verge on the ridiculous, such as when the illustrated Mountie is depicted wearing a turban rather than traditional Stetson. While I may hesitantly recommend this book to adult immigrants, I would keep it far away from children. Not Recommended: 1 out of 4 stars Reviewer: 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.
Noodle & Lou by L. G. Scanlon
Authors: Oliphant Tami
Published: April 2016

Scanlon, Liz G. Noodle & Lou. Illus. Arthur Howard. New York: Beach Lane Books, 2011. Print. In an unlikely animal pairing, Noodle, an earthworm who is having a bad day, turns to his buddy Lou, a perky blue jay, to cheer him up. While Noodle confides his feelings of envy about other worms living it up at Wiggly Field and catalogues all of his reasons for self-loathing, Lou counters with loyal support until finally Noodle cheers up. Lou’s patient, nurturing, and kind-hearted reassurance highlights the importance of friendship and self-acceptance. There are moments of entertaining weirdness in the book like when Noodle reasonably complains “My head has no eyes” but at times the text is clichéd and seems forced to fit into the rhyming scheme. The book does not stray from the author’s purposive, straightforward storyline and lessons—developing self-esteem, supporting friends, and appreciating who you are. Kids will pay attention to the thick-lined, colourful drawings and try to spot other bugs and birds found in the illustrations. The illustrations get progressively brighter and more detailed as Noodle’s mood brightens.  Noodle is drawn as a ball-cap wearing, charming worm who expresses a surprising range of emotions through body language and his mouth. Noodle & Lou is an old-fashioned story about the importance of friendship. It is aimed at children ages 4-6.   Recommended with reservations: 2 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Tami Oliphant
How to Babysit a Grandpa by J. Reagan
Authors: Feisst Debbi
Published: April 2016

Reagan, Jean. How to Babysit a Grandpa. Illus. Lee Wildish. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. Print. Salt Lake City, Utah children’s author Jean Reagan offers a delightful and humorous read-aloud about a boy and his special relationship with his grandpa.  But just who is babysitting who? In this fun switcheroo, a little boy’s parents go out and he is given the very serious task of babysitting his grandpa. The little boy as narrator gives plenty of tips including the types of snacks that grandpas like – anything dipped in ketchup – as well as things that grandpas like to do such as putting on a scary play or showing off your muscles. Turns out the hardest part of babysitting a grandpa is goodbye time, but as any good babysitter knows, a hug, a kiss and the promise of a future visit solves this dilemma. Especially sweet are the reassuring remarks the boy makes to his grandpa when the parents are leaving, “Don’t worry. They always come back…” as well as the advice he provides the reader: ‘When your grandpa says “Naptime,” it’s time for his nap.’ It was interesting to watch the reactions of my own children, aged 6 and 3, as we read the story together.  My 3-year-old did not quite grasp the nuance and was therefore fairly impressed that the little boy was indeed babysitting the grandpa, while my 6-year-old ‘got it’ straightaway and relished this knowledge that she had over her little brother.  Both ages, however, enjoyed the book immensely and have requested it several times over. Wildish’s digitally-created illustrations are fun and colourful and genuinely add to the enjoyment of the story with their tongue-in-cheek humour. Perfect for preschoolers aged 3 and up, this book would also be a fabulous Grandpa gift for birthdays or Father’s Day. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Debbie Feisst Debbie 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.
Snap! by H. Hutchins
Authors: Tan Maria
Published: April 2016

Hutchins, Hazel. Snap! Illus. Dušan Petričić. Toronto, ON: Annick Press, 2015. Print.Evan is the proud owner of a brand new pack of crayons. When a crayon breaks, Evan is introduced to a world of creative possibilities as he uses the broken crayon pieces in different ways an Evan discovers how to combine his remaining crayons to create new colours as other crayons get lost or used up.  Hailing from Southern Alberta, Canmore-based author, Hazel Hutchins, has written several books for children and young adults. Serbia-based children’s book illustrator, Dušan Petričić, is known for his artwork on In the Tree House and The Man with the Violin. Hutchins and Petričić teamed up previously, to create 2009 Alberta Literary Award-winning Mattland.In Snap!, Hutchins uses repetition, onomatopoeia to great effect, creating a sense of rhythm and momentum as Evan experiences repeated challenges and successes during his colouring activities. Petričić employs a riot of colour and a messy, scribbled style that capture the main character’s expressions, personality and passion as Evan draws with wild abandon.Snap! is a great story for a child who has received their first set of crayons. Young readers will relate to Evan’s feelings of frustration and desperation as his crayon collection is depleted, and they will be surprised and inspired by his discoveries. Children will delight in the playful illustrations and won’t be able to resist experimenting with their own crayons after reading about Evan’s adventures.One piece of the story may concern parents of young children – when Evan rubs the crayons on paper and reveals the shapes of various objects underneath the page, one of the items is an open safety pin.The story’s ending is really a beginning of another adventure – a nice addition would have been some instructions on how to make the paper-folded models illustrated at the end of the book.While the publisher recommends this book for children 4-7 years of age, it may be more appropriate for those on the younger end of that range.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Maria TanMaria C. Tan is a Medical Librarian at the Abdul Khaliq Library in Alberta Health Services’ Cross Cancer Institute and a former editorial team member of the Deakin Review. She firmly believes that children's literature is an essential component in the fountain of youth.
The King Who Wouldn’t Sleep by D. Singleton
Authors: Desmarais Robert
Published: April 2016

Singleton, Debbie. The King Who Wouldn’t Sleep. Illus. Holly Swain. London: Anderson Press, 2012. Print. The King featured in this fairytale picture book is a man on a mission. He refuses to nod off until he finds the perfect mate for his lovely daughter, so he interviews a long line of princes, but of course “not one of them was quite perfect”. The illustrations of princes in all shapes and sizes are highly amusing, and the prince with the “extraordinary mustache” is especially charming. Despite the King’s indifference to this motley crew, the princes refuse to give up, so they decide that the only way to talk to the princess is to make the King fall asleep. They present him with sleeping potions, stuffed animals, blankets, bedtime stories, and every imaginable soporific gift, but the King will not be deceived; indeed, he gives everything to his servants, who immediately fall asleep, leaving no one in the palace to cook his dinner.  Princes continue to come and go but no one makes the cut. A young farmer witnesses all the comings and goings and decides to approach the King with successive gifts of farm animals, but the King shoos him away at every turn. That is, until the farmer returns with an entire flock of sheep and encourages the King to count them to ensure that all one hundred are present and accounted for. Presto! The King finally falls asleep. Everyone is impressed with the clever farmer, especially the princess, and so they get married, have a magnificent wedding, and live happily ever after. The comical story, complemented by cheerful illustrations, provides plenty of entertainment for young readers. Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Robert DesmaraisRobert Desmarais is Head of Special Collections at the University of Alberta and Managing Editor of The Deakin Review of Children’s Literature. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information Studies, with a Book History and Print Culture designation, he also has university degrees in English literature and publishing. He has been collecting and enjoying children’s books for as long as he can remember.