bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
One Year in Coal Harbour by P. Horvath
Authors: Inglis Kathy
Published: April 2016

Horvath, Polly. One Year in Coal Harbour. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2012. Print. In this sequel to the multiple award winning, Everything on a Waffle, Horvath’s signature quirky humour and insights into human nature emerge once more as we follow 12-year-old Primrose Squarp’s attempts at matchmaking, at finding a best friend, and at generally trying to make life turn out right. The lovable Evie and Bert, who took Primrose in when her parents were lost at sea, sensible Uncle Jack, the entrepreneur who returned to Coal Harbour to look after Primrose, and fiercely independent Miss Bowzer, Primrose’s confidant and owner of The Girl on the Red Swing where everything is served on a waffle, return from the first book to help Primrose navigate life as a ‘tween’ in Coal Harbour.  In one year, Primrose learns about defending what she cares about, letting people make their own choices, and accepting the flaws in herself as well as others.  Primrose faces some hard lessons but readers will be glad to know that everything turns out, if not perfectly, then as it should, in the end. Horvath broaches issues related to foster children, unfit parents, environmental protests, relationships, and grieving, with honesty and empathy, showing real respect for her young readers’ ability to understand the nuances of these situations. Her characters embody the quirkiness and wisdom of small town life, making them even more believable. Each chapter begins with “What Happened...” or “What Didn’t Happen...” leading the reader along through the traumatic events of Primrose’s year in Coal Harbour, and ends with a recipe Primrose collects for the local cookbook she is writing bringing the tale back to the comfort zone of mundane details.  With this marvelous glimpse of the world from the eyes of a 12-year-old girl, peppered with high hopes, frustration, insight and humour, Horvath has done it again. She has left me wanting more. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Kathy Inglis Kathy Inglis is a teacher-librarian and kindergarten teacher at South Park Family School in Victoria, BC and a Masters student in the Teacher-Librarianship through Distance Learning Program at the University of Alberta. Her favourite part of the job is seeing the excited look on the faces of students who have found that perfect book.
Emily Carr, an Introduction to Her Life and Art by A. Newlands
Authors: Roche Matilda
Published: April 2016

Newlands, Anne. Emily Carr, an Introduction to Her Life and Art. Toronto: Firefly Books, 1996. Print. Engaging, attractively formatted and printed with an eye for good reproduction quality, Emily Carr, an Introduction to Her Life and Art places the images of Carr’s paintings within pages with a satisfying field of white space in equilibrium with a judicious amount of text. A well chosen selection of Carr’s most accessible and emblematic works adeptly capture both the variation of the expression, different periods and subjects of focus during Carr’s career as an artist. Newlands commits much of the text to an insightful level of historical and personal context for Carr’s life and experiences, enhancing the accessibility of the images and providing the reader with a robust understanding of the changing focus and techniques in Carr’s work and its significance to Canadian culture. Photographic images of Carr at her most iconic and living in her assortment of strange shacks in the forest (best secret hideouts ever) are sure to capture the imagination of younger readers. A very astute editorial choice was made to enhance the young reader’s understanding of Carr’s work and her commitment to learning and practice by including the more casual sketches and illustrative journal entries that Carr made throughout her life. The inclusion of these more unstructured and personal images contribute to a strong sense of the consistency of the creative impulses that motivated Carr and of her personal perspectives and level of commitment to her work. It is also a constructive way to introduce younger readers and artists to less formalized and accessible modes of expression and a deeper understanding of the effort and diverse mediums and approaches inherent in the individual creative process. Newlands, a skilled and dedicated art educator who has devoted her talent to promoting Canadian art and artists, doesn’t hesitate to use awestruck, personalized and poetic language in discussing Carr’s life and work. Her enthusiasm for her subject is evident, clearly communicated and compelling.   Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Matilda Roche
Ride the Big Machines Across Canada by C. Mok
Authors: Dennett Liz
Published: April 2016

Mok, Carmen. Ride the Big Machines Across Canada. Toronto: Harper Collins, 2014.“I’m going on a trip from sea to sea. How will I do it? Come ride with me”So begins Ride the Big Machines Across Canada by Carmen Mok, the story of a young boy’s trip across Canada where he imagines driving all of the heavy equipment that he sees along the way. Each double page features the boy in a different province or territory riding a geographically appropriate “big machine” such as a giant dumptruck in Alberta’s oil sands, a streetcar in Toronto, or the ferry to Newfoundland. There are also distinctive provincial/territorial landscapes or cityscapes in the background and Ms Mok has incorporated the provincial flag into each picture as well.  The illustrations are colourful and very attractive and the text (just one short sentence on most pages) is rhyming and fun to read out loud.Although the recommended ages for the book are 3-7, the sturdy board book format means that even younger children are also likely to enjoy it. Indeed, my heavy equipment obsessed eighteen month old wanted to view this book over and over again.  Young children will enjoy the illustrations and searching for the family motor home in each picture.  Parents will enjoy teaching their children about Canada as they read the book together.Recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Liz DennettLiz Dennett is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, with a lifelong passion for great books and early childhood literacy.
Dream Boats by D. Bar-el
Authors: Quirk Linda
Published: April 2016

Bar-el, Dan.  Dream Boats.  Illust. Kirsti Anne Wakelin.  Vancouver: Simply Read Books, 2013.  Print.This is a gorgeously illustrated book which offers readers the opportunity to “float” in a dream boat, travelling deep into the richly-embroidered dreams of children from different lands and varying traditions.  The words and images transport us high into the Andes and deep into the rainforests of Haida Gwaii; they take us to the beach in Mumbai and into the city of St. Petersburg; they float on the Niger and sail on the Yangtze. The dream metaphor works well for what is frequently a confusing journey through time and space, through personal narrative and shared folklore, and through the walls that divide us.  The central dream of the book is a deeply multicultural dream.  One can applaud the author’s intent more than his accomplishment, for it is just a little bit too easy to become quite lost in this dream world in which so many myths and folktales are represented as amalgams or approximations.  The saving grace is that the author has inspired the illustrator to visualize an exquisite dream world in which it is a genuine pleasure to be lost.The publisher recommends this book for readers from 4-8 years of age, and this makes sense except that it is difficult to imagine that most children of this age will have enough geographical knowledge or multilayered cultural contexts to grasp the overriding point in even a superficial way.Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Linda QuirkLinda is Assistant Special Collections Librarian at the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library at the University of Alberta.
Deakin Announcements
Authors: Desmarais Robert
Published: April 2016

Dear Deakin Readers,I hope you enjoyed a restful and happy holiday! Our editorial team met recently to develop a publishing plan for the coming year and we would like to communicate some important news. To keep everyone in the loop about our editorial plans and related activities, we will update our readers with an annual report, which we intend to publish at the end of each volume year. Thus, our first report will be published later this summer. On the matter of peer-reviewed issues, the editorial team will continue to solicit articles for review, so please consider contacting us if you are interested in writing a practitioner-themed scholarly article about children’s books (e.g., building a children’s science library; developing a young adult publishing program; writing picture books about children with disabilities; etc.). We intend to publish our second peer-reviewed article later this year, following on the success of our first peer-reviewed article in last year’s health issue (Vol. 4, No. 2).Finally, the April publication (Vol. 4, No. 4) will be a special double issue reserved for University of Alberta graduate students who are studying children’s literature, resource selection, and evaluation of children’s books in the Faculty of Education. We look forward to reading their thoughtful opinions and recommendations! In the meantime, we have recommended many good books to help you ward off the winter doldrums. Enjoy!Best wishes,Robert Desmarais, Managing Editor
The Way to School by R. McCarney
Authors: Gathoni Nasra
Published: April 2016

McCarney, Rosemary. The Way to School. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2015. PrintThe book is able to show that different communities have very distinct experiences when going to school and a number of them not too pleasant. For example, children are shown wading through a river, climbing ladders up a river bank, riding a zip-line and crossing a single-wire bridge.  Despite all these differences the book shows how much children love being in school.With clear and high quality photos, the book is able to demonstrate the different experiences. The photos have captured different sceneries and landscapes that ably demonstrate the different worlds the children come from. The photos add a lot of wonderful content to the story. As the photos demonstrate different communities it is therefore easy for children from various communities to relate with the story as well as appreciate the differences.This book shows both boys and girls going to school.  Education of girls is one of author Rosemary McCarney’s goals.  McCarney leads Plan International Canada and helped found the “Because I am a Girl” initiative. This is book is recommended for public libraries and children’s rooms everywhere.Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Nasra GathoniNasra is a Health Sciences Librarian at the Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya. Nasra is an avid book reader, a passion she nurtured from her childhood and believes in the necessity of children reading from a tender age.
Memories of a Beluga Whale Hunt from I, Nuligak by Nuligak
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Nuligak. Memories of a Beluga Whale Hunt from I, Nuligak.  Inuvik, NT:  Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre, 2015.  Print.Itqaginaqtuat Qilalugarniarnikkun Uvanga, Nuligak. Inuvik, NT:  Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre, 2015.  Print. (Uummarmiutun edition)Puigulaitatka Qilalugaqhiurnik Umanga Uvanga, Nuligak. Inuvik, NT:  Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre, 2015.  Print. (Kangiryuarmiutun edition)Puigulaitkiga Qilalukkiqiniq Uvanga, Nuligak. Inuvik, NT:  Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre, 2015.  Print.  (Siglitun edition)I, Nuligak is a classic Northern Canadian work and was the first Inuvialuit book to be published.  Nuligak was an orphaned Inuvialuit who documented his life and the lives of his people.  The work was published in 1966 and printed in paperback in 1971.  The Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre, the primary keeper of the documentary record of cultural and historical knowledge of the Inuvialuit people also has a mandate to help preserve and promote all three of the Inuvialuktun dialects:  Uummarmiutun, Kangiryuarmiutun and Siglitun.  This is one example of their work, taking a short passage from the beginning of I, Nuligak, in which Nuligak describes a Beluga whale hunt and turning it into an illustrated children’s book, published in all three dialects, as well as English. The text is simple and closely follows the original English language publication.  Nuligak describes what the scenes of the hunt were like, how the kayaks were built, how the hunt was structured, both practically and socially and how the catch was managed.  The text for the story in each dialect was created by local native speakers from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. The illustrations are the same in all four books.  Each pair of pages is a beautiful illustration by Toronto artist, John Mantha.  Mantha has done an excellent job of capturing the Inuvialuit people, their clothing, kayaks, tools and their environment. All four volumes should be added to library collections that collect Northern Canadian Children’s literature.  The English language volume should be added to all Canadian public and school libraries.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.
I Am Canada: Graves of Ice: The Lost Franklin Expedition by J. Wilson
Authors: Feisst Debbie
Published: April 2016

Wilson, John. I Am Canada: Graves of Ice: The Lost Franklin Expedition. Toronto, ON: Scholastic Canada, 2014. Print.Graves of Ice is the most recent title of I Am Canada, a series of historical fiction aimed at 9-12 year old boys and a companion to the very popular and award winning Dear Canada series for girls of the same age. The series, which sets a fictional child or youth within a significant Canadian historical event or period, is designed to inspire “adventure, duty, danger, fear” and it certainly succeeds with its exciting, first person vantage and journalistic style.In Graves of Ice, young George Chambers, approximately 14-years-old, leads a simple but comfortable life with his brothers and sisters in Woolwich, England.  His father, a former Royal Navy seaman, enthralls the Chambers boys with tales of high seas battles while in service which in turn plants a seed of adventure in the impressionable George. Succeeding in having his father call in a favour earned while in the service of Sir John Franklin, George sets off as a cabin boy on a voyage of Arctic exploration led by Franklin that departed England in 1845.This volume starts with George recounting the story of how things came to be with only two remaining survivors: George and Commander James Fitzjames. As George becomes weaker, his past and present merging, he recalls the events and moments that led to this– including a run in with a polar bear, possible mutiny, loneliness, frostbite, sickness and his own uncertain fate on what we now know was a doomed expedition.Author John Wilson, author of other titles in the I Am Canada series, has 40+ titles to his name for kids and adults alike and has produced an exciting and well-researched tale with just the right amount of drama that will hold the reader’s attention. Adults will find themselves reading it in one sitting while younger readers will want just one more chapter. The only quibble I had is with the choice of some of the language of the younger characters, which was perhaps historically accurate but seemed too formal for an adolescent and which may seem unrealistic for today’s reader. Younger readers may also need a bit of help with some of the vocabulary, but the high action and excellent writing makes up for these small details. The companion web site includes a discussion guide as well as activities suitable for classroom use.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Debbie FeisstDebbie is a Public Services Librarian at the H.T. Coutts Education Library at the University of Alberta.  When not renovating, she enjoys travel, fitness and young adult fiction.
It’s Our Nature by R. Orozoco
Authors: Smith Jorden
Published: April 2016

Orozoco, Rebeca. It’s Our Nature. Illus. Menena Cottin. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2012. Print.Informative and educational, with beautiful minimalist illustrations, this book is an excellent resource for character education. The author correlates animal behaviours with values and behaviours children are learning: altruism, community, communication, generosity, responsibility, trust, commitment, solidarity, brotherhood, and tolerance.The connection implicit in the text, that animals and humans bear many similar valued traits, beautifully underlies this book. At first glance, it seems perfect for a budding biologist, but upon further exploration, it would be a wonderful book for any child. Reading the preface is a necessity to really understand the purpose of the book and the underlying message.  Due to its location directly opposite the publication information, I mistook it for a dedication and skipped in on my first read.The deceivingly simple artwork is fantastic and is a perfect partner for the abundant text. The inside cover is a vibrant orange but the artist uses muted tones in the illustrations. The font and text is a little dense. While I appreciate whitespace created by grouping the text together, it does not really increase the readability in this case.  Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Jorden SmithJorden is a Public Services Librarian in Rutherford Humanities and Social Sciences Library at the University of Alberta.  She is an avid fiction reader and subscribes to Hemingway’s belief that “there is no friend as loyal as a book.”
Dead Run by S. Rodman
Authors: Hayes Terri
Published: April 2016

Rodman, Sean. Dead Run. Victoria, BC: Orca Book Publishers, 2012. Print.I have no fear. I’m tensed and ready, like a coiled spring. I know that the stakes in this race are high. But I am not afraid. I’m totally focused. Nothing exists except the starting signal. And the bike beneath me. This is how Sean Rodman introduces us to his seventeen-year old protagonist, Sam. The first-person, present-tense narration locates the reader right there, right now, sharing Sam's excitement, his tension, his hopes and dreams. The trip through this fast and furious 120-page book keeps you on the edge of your seat, always wondering what's around the next corner. Sam hasn’t had a lot of breaks. His Mom took off a few years ago, and his dad works the night shift at a warehouse. He knows his only ride out of a dead-end life will be on the back of his racing bike. So when he lands a job as a bicycle courier, and his boss Viktor just happens to be a former gold-medal-winning Olympic cyclist, Sam thinks he’s hit pay dirt. Viktor agrees to coach him, but in exchange, Sam has to deliver strange packages to empty warehouses, after hours. He suspects he’s involved in something illegal, but his drive to cross the finish line first blinds him to other choices. Even when his girlfriend Robin assures him that he always has a choice, he just can’t seem to navigate a clear path through the obstacles.  Will the choices he makes lead him to the finish line? Or will he just be finished? Dead Run, one of the Orca Soundings series for reluctant teen readers, was written specifically for struggling, reluctant teen readers. But you’d never know it! Sean Rodman has worked in schools around the world and his understanding of teen readers is evident. Rodman’s succinct sentences and short, snappy paragraphs perfectly capture the fast-paced action and sense of urgency that drive the plot forward. Although flawed, Sam’s character is both convincing and likable. I found myself cheering for him right to the bitter end. Sam's plight is one most teen readers can relate to, and the book's resolution is both fair and fitting. This book has definite appeal for male readers, especially if they are into cycling.  An excellent selection for a public or school library collection. Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Terri Hayes Terri Hayes is a teacher and student, currently completing a Master of Education in Teacher-Librarianship at the University of Alberta. Terri has been a voracious reader ever since her introduction to Dick & Jane at the age of six. Luckily, the quality of books for children has improved tremendously since those days, and now, one of her primary goals is to instill that same love of reading in her students. When she’s not scouring the local library for her next great read, Terri can usually be found reading to her grandchildren or hopping a plane to some destination she’s read about in a book.
Little Humans by B. Stanton
Authors: Trombley Kerri
Published: April 2016

Stanton, Brandon. Little humans. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2014. PrintFrom the creator of Humans of New York, comes the most dynamic, colourful and diverse group of little people of New York City. Brandon Stanton’s ability to capture the unique personalities of his subjects and “tell” a story through pictures is both captivating and brilliantly vivid. The ‘Little Humans’ are shown throughout the book in bright close-ups and even brighter clothing. Each page is filled in entirely with a close-up photograph of a child in different situations. Cultural diversity and differences are prominent in the photographs, but the text tackles the sameness we all share.“Little humans can be tough…but not too tough to need a hug.”Set against New York City streets, Little Humans embodies the ethnic diversity of the people of NYC. The text is limited, but has themes of resiliency, strength, identity and character woven throughout. Stanton writes of how little people are strong, talented and helpful.The story itself could have been written with more depth; however, the lack of narrative allows the reader to engage with the photographs and imagine the story of each unique person that is highlighted.Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Kerri TrombleyKerri Trombley is a Vice Principal with Sturgeon School Division and is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at the University of Alberta. She shares her love of literature with all of her students.
Voices from the Wild: An Animal Sensagoria by D. Bouchard
Authors: Quirk Linda
Published: April 2016

Bouchard, David. Voices from the Wild: An Animal Sensagoria. Paintings by Ron Parker. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2013. Print.This gorgeous book brings together two extraordinarily-talented individuals. David Bouchard is a former teacher, a former president of the Metis Nation of Greater Victoria, a recipient of the Order of Canada, and the author of many books. His popular books use poetry, prose, and visual elements to explore Aboriginal and Métis culture and traditions in both French and English. Ron Parker is one of Canada’s best wildlife artists. His career took off in the 1990s when his realistic portraits of animals in their natural habitats stood alongside those of Robert Bateman and helped to create a very hot market for signed limited edition prints. The publisher is to be applauded for thinking of bringing together Parker’s glorious paintings and Bouchard’s inspiring poetry. It was a wonderful idea, but, unfortunately, it was not well executed. It is most unfortunate that Parker’s beautiful images were not packaged in a fresher and more contemporary book design, one that would appeal to today’s young people. The author says that he “wrote this book with young people in mind” and certainly he has organized his poetry into a familiar scheme for a children’s book—sections which explore the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste)—but unfortunately, the scheme is too childish for young adults while the poetry is too sophisticated for small children. There is great value and power in this poetry, in which the reader is asked to see the world through the senses and perspectives of numerous animals, but, just who is the intended audience?As it is, this volume does a disservice to both the author and the artist. The design may be appealing to parents or teachers of a certain age—who may feel a nostalgic affection for its familiar, if outdated, style, and who will be undaunted by the poetry—but the publisher has made a mistake in marketing this title as a children’s book. As it is, this book stands outside of normal publishing categories. Although too small to be classified as a coffee table book, both the design and the content seem more aligned with that category than any other. Although there is a great deal to applaud here, I cannot recommend this as a children’s book.Not recommended: one star out of fourReviewer: Linda QuirkLinda taught courses in Multicultural Canadian Literature, Women's Writing, and Children's Literature at Queen's University (Kingston) and at Seneca College (Toronto) before moving to Edmonton to become the Assistant Special Collections Librarian at the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library at the University of Alberta.  Her favourite children's book to teach is Hana's Suitcase, not only because Hana's story is so compelling, but because the format of this non-fiction book teaches students of all ages about historical investigation and reveals that it is possible to recover the stories of those who have been forgotten by history.
Spy, Spy Again by T. Holdcroft
Authors: Roche Matilda
Published: April 2016

Holdcroft, Tina. Spy, Spy Again. Toronto: Annick Press, 2011. Print. Picking up this book, I was struck by the familiarity of the exuberant illustration style. A modest amount of research revealed that illustrator Tina Holdcroft has been an institution in Canadian publishing for decades. Her work on children’s publications like Owl and Chickadee, not to mention numerous non-fiction books for children, has made her a part of the visual language of Canadian children’s literature since the 1980s. Holdcroft clearly derives inspiration from bringing complex non-fiction and historical information to vivid, dynamic life. Her expertise with visual narrative allows her to communicate historical events within the span of a couple of pithily worded pages. With impressive economy, Holdcroft conveys the intricacies of ancient and modern global political machinations in memorable and hilariously wry vignettes. Holdcroft’s very personable and funny narrative tone allows the reader to take in a tremendous amount of detailed information while enjoying her adeptly designed interplay of text and illustration. It is almost too easy to overlook the rigorous research and incisive cleverness amidst all the colourful goofiness.  The joviality might read as a bit flippant given the dire nature of the subject matter - bumbled attempts at spying seldom end happily - but it seems to be part of Holdcroft’s intent to emphasize the folly of human conflict and ambition.  A happy confluence of talent, expertise and personal enthusiasm Spy, Spy Again is an engaging and rewarding experience for any reader and should definitely be considered for addition to any non-fiction library for young adults.Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Matilda Roche Matilda 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.
I, Galileo by B. Christensen
Authors: Chatterley Trish
Published: April 2016

Christensen, Bonnie. I, Galileo. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. Print.I, Galileo is a factual biography presented in narrative style. Told from the first person perspective of Galileo Galilei as an old man, the story briefly recounts the significant moments in his life from education, to scientific discoveries and inventions, and to his accusation of heresy by the Catholic Church in Rome for being a proponent of the heliocentric model of the solar system. Told in a simple straightforward style, it is remarkable how much information about Galileo’s life is so eloquently packed into such a short work without seeming merely like an account of facts. This makes the content accessible to children without making it seem too much like a history lesson. At the end, the text is accompanied by a chronology of historical moments, listings of Galileo’s most famous experiments, inventions, and discoveries, as well as a short glossary. For those interested in learning more about Galileo there is a brief bibliography and a list of recommended websites, though the documentary and sites for which links are provided are not aimed at the same age level as the book.Author Bonnie Christensen is also the illustrator. The artistic oil paintings have an historic feel that complement the text nicely and aid in its comprehension. For instance, reference to Galileo’s compass could have been misinterpreted as a different type of tool were it not for its depiction on the opposing page. Colour was used very effectively, particularly with the symbolic darkening of the background on the page where Galileo was sentenced to life imprisonment. Young readers will learn a lot from this book, and hopefully will be as inspired Galileo was to explore, discover, and challenge existing ideas along the way.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Trish ChatterleyTrish is a Public Services Librarian for the John W. Scott Health Sciences Library at the University of Alberta. In her free time she enjoys dancing, gardening, and reading books of all types.
"For Girls" and "For Boys"
Authors: Desmarais Robert
Published: April 2016

Dear Readers,Occasionally, I receive books from Canadian publishers that are marketed and labeled as “for girls” and “for boys." Not surprisingly, this practice is considered offensive by many people because it so obviously aims to exclude readers. So how exactly do I handle these gender-specific books when they arrive in my mailbox? Good question! I put them on the reviewer shelves outside my office, making them available to our dedicated team of Deakin reviewers to decide for themselves whether they wish to read and review books that are so obviously gender segregated. In other words, we don’t censor books.You can imagine my surprise when I read a pledge on March 16th by literary editor Katy Guest that the Independent on Sunday will no longer review any book which is aimed exclusively at boys or girls. Guest explained, “What we are doing by pigeon-holing children is badly letting them down. And books, above all things, should be available to any child who is interested in them” (http://www.independent.co.uk). I wholeheartedly agree that children’s books should be available to all children, but the irony here is that Guest has made a firm commitment to not review gender-specific books, making them unavailable to Independent readers. She warns publishers not to send books in “glittery pink covers” because they will “go straight into the recycling pile along with every Great Big Book of Snot for Boys.” Naturally, many journalists and readers were appalled and swiftly denounced Guest’s decision to ignore an entire category of children’s books.Publishers have their reasons for marketing books the way they do, and while we may not agree with their strategies, they have every right to market their books to a target audience with pink covers, sparkles, co-packaged toys, multimedia, etc. They are doing what they believe is necessary to help readers figure out what to buy, just like we reserve the right to review all genres of children’s books to help our readers decide what to read. Rest assured, if we review children’s books that are too narrowly marketed to one gender, we’ll say so and we’ll also be frank with our readers about why it is or is not a good book. So, dear publishers, please continue to send us your gender-labeled books, but be advised that we’ll want to understand and assess why your book does not appeal to all children. Happy reading (to readers of all genders)!Robert DesmaraisManaging Editor
Black Cat Bone: the Life of Blues Legend Robert Johnson by J. P. Lewis
Authors: Sivak Allison
Published: April 2016

Lewis, J. P. Black Cat Bone: the Life of Blues Legend Robert Johnson. Illus. Gary Kelley. Mankato: Creative Editions, 2006. Print.Although this book is designed as a large-format picture book, Black Cat Bone is more likely to appeal to older children (middle school and adolescents) as a poetic text, with its rich illustrations and unusual narrative flow. The foreword of the book addresses a reader who knows some about blues musicians, as well as has some hint of the history of blues music in the United States. The language of the text is not trying to tell a linear story, but to be more evocative of a time, and of some of the historical context. The book actually has several texts: the address of the historical context that bookends the work, the bluesy poems which make up the majority of the text, excerpts from Johnson's own lyrics, and a footer running throughout the book, which provides aphoristic summaries of Johnson's story: “He was destined for legend not a field hand's work.” Each text tells a part of the interpretation of Johnson's story. With the images, it adds up to a faceted narrative of the man and his musical legacy. The illustrations alternate between impressionistic pastels in deep dark colours, reinforcing the air of mystery around Johnson's life as understood by popular culture. Kelley's other illustrative style is reminiscent of Indonesian shadow-puppets, dramatic and exaggerated in their execution. A particularly lovely example is show in full on the cover, a depiction of Johnson and the devil facing each other, each with a hand on the guitar. This image is reproduced in the text, split by the page turn in a clever design turn. Recommended: 3 stars out of 4Reviewer: 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.
Teardrop by L. Kate
Authors: Kung Janice
Published: April 2016

Kate, Lauren. Teardrop. New York: Delacorte Press, 2013. Print.This Young Adult fantasy novel explores the compelling story of Eureka Boudreaux who was taught at a young age to never, ever cry. Ever since her mother drowned in an accident by the force of a rogue wave, Eureka no longer has the desire to live.Not long after the terrifying incident, a mysterious boy, Ander, enters her life. Although she has never seen Ander before, he feels strangely familiar and has an unusual talent for appearing in front of Eureka when she least expects him. He appears to know everything about her and warns her that she is in grave danger. Not long after their first encounter, Eureka discovers that Ander is the only person who has come close to making her cry.As she learns to cope with her new reality, Eureka finds solace in Brooks, her oldest friend with whom she can share anything. Together they try to solve the mystery of the strange inheritance from her mother – a locket, a letter, a stone, and an ancient book that no one understands. Eureka recruits a fortune teller who is able to translate the text and finds that the book is a story about a girl who had her heart broken and cried the ancient world of Atlantis into the sea. Characters from the book have an uncanny similarity to the people whom she shares a deep connection in her own life. The more of the book that she uncovers, the stranger her life becomes. Soon Eureka discovers that the story is more than an ancient tale and Ander may be telling the truth about her safety.                 This book is the first in a trilogy, which leaves readers waiting in anticipation for the next installment. It explores themes of depression from the loss of a parent and the author weaves an intricate plot that helps the heroine overcome her grief. Overall, it is a fast-paced story that is well suited to young adult audiences, featuring complex characters, love, and dark magic.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Janice KungJanice Kung is an Academic Library Intern at the University of Alberta’s John W. Scott Health Sciences Library. She obtained her undergraduate degree in commerce and completed her MLIS in 2013. She believes that the best thing to beat the winter blues is to cuddle up on a couch and lose oneself in a good book.
You Just Can’t Help It by J. Szpirglas
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Szpirglas, Jeff.  You Just Can’t Help It:  Your Guide to the Wild and Wacky World of Human Behavior, Toronto:  Owlkids Books, 2010.  Print. The publisher describes this brightly coloured and heavily-illustrated book as “The Naked Ape meets MAD Magazine”.  It is a fun and irreverent look at what makes people behave the way they do.  The four chapters cover senses, emotions, communication and interactions with other people and the world around us. The presentation of the material is excellent for the upper elementary (ages 9-12) audience.  Throughout there are different fonts, shapes, styles, colours and media.  One page contains many elements including sidebars, boxes, cartoons, drawings, photographs. On each page there is something fun.  For example on page 19, which covers the subject of kissing, facts about kissing are listed as “The Good”, “The Gross” and “The Unusual”.  There is also a photograph of a cat with oversized red whiskers drawn in.  The most amusing, though, is the composite picture of a robin with worms in its beak, looking like it is about to drop them into the open mouth of a human baby. The text includes many subjects that will interest pre-teens such as hand-gestures, personal space, slang, lying and fear. The language is age appropriate and there are occasional activities for readers to try. Szpirglas uses attention-grabbing headings to present facts.  For example, “Stinky Snarl” introduces a paragraph on facial responses to bad smells.  An experiment on reflex and emotional tears is titled “a real tearjerker”. This book is a nice blend of fun, fact and learning.  Highly recommended for school and public libraries. 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.
I Spy with My Little Eye by E. Gibbs
Authors: Frail Kim
Published: April 2016

Gibbs, Edward. I Spy with My Little Eye. Somerville, Mass: Templar Books/Candlewick Press, 2011. Print. I Spy is a superbly illustrated book that helps young readers learn about animals and colours using the popular game. Each animal is introduced through a cutout that reveals a small section of the creature, along with a clue. For example:  “I spy with my little eye…something that is blue…I am the biggest animal in the whole world,” to which the answer is a whale.  Turning the page reveals a striking two-page image of the animal. Each animal is drawn from a monochromatic colour palette: the polar bear is mostly white with some grey and cool blue tones while the fox is fiery red and orange. Each of these watercolour images is accentuated with wild black slashes and curlicues to define the animal’s features. The last page features the silhouettes of the seven featured animals and a cutout right through the back of the book with the caption: “What can you spy with your little eye?” The large font and images coupled with the “I spy” formula is sure to entice children. Additionally, clever design elements and the overall aesthetic value of the book will encourage parents and teachers to add it to their collections. For example, the back and front cover open to form the face of a frog. When the book is closed, the cutout through the back rests against the page featuring the seven animal silhouettes. The black silhouette of the whale’s tale in front of a yellow moon is framed within the circular cutout thus creating the frog’s eye on the back cover. According to the Candlewick Press website, Edward Gibb has worked in the creative design business for over 25 years, and this is his first effort as a children’s author/illustrator. This book is recommended for children aged 2-5yrs, and I am eagerly awaiting Gibbs’ next publication. Highly recommended: 4 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 two-year old.
Cardboard by D. TenNapel
Authors: Maddern Metthea
Published: April 2016

TenNapel, Doug. Cardboard. New York: Scholastic Graphix, 2012. Print. Following award winning Ghostopolis and Bad Island, acclaimed author and illustrator Doug TenNapel delivers another highly enjoyable graphic novel with Cardboard. The story begins with down-and-out dad, Mike, desperately needing a birthday present for his son Cam. With less than a dollar in his pocket, Mike happens upon a strange man who is selling cheap toys. Old Man Gideon is peculiar, but offers Mike a very special present for his son: a cardboard box. Not only does Mr. Gideon rave about what a stupendous present the box is, he explains that there are two rules that come with ownership of the box. Mike agrees to the conditions without paying much attention to them, and takes the box. At home, Cam tries to hide his disappointment with his birthday present, and agrees to work with his dad to turn the box into something better - a boxer. Later that night, Cam is awoken by his cardboard creation, a boxing champion named Bill, who has magically come to life! Rich kid and neighborhood bully, Marcus, can’t believe his eyes when he sees Bill mowing Cam’s lawn the next day, and wants Bill for himself. When Cam refuses to trade Bill for any of the expensive toys that Marcus offers, Marcus steals the remaining scraps of magic cardboard from Cam’s room and begins making cardboard creations of his own – evil ones. Soon Marcus has created so many monsters that he loses control of them, and in desperation turns to Cam for help. What follows is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure through the world of Marcus’ imagination. The boys form a bond as they struggle to escape and save each other from a variety of vicious monsters. Both Marcus and Mike are transformed by these experiences, resulting in an uplifting ending that offers readers hope. TenNapel deftly weaves together themes of friendship, poverty, bullying, and loss in this engaging and beautifully illustrated graphic novel. The cover itself is difficult to pass up, as the intense yellow eyes on the cover can’t help but elicit curiosity. The illustrations are well-suited to the story; they are highly animated and expressive, and the cardboard characters are delightfully cartoonish. The colors used throughout are an effective backdrop for the story and contribute to the overall setting and mood. I would recommend this book for upper elementary and middle school students and reluctant readers in particular. It is sure to capture the imaginations of all readers: What would you make if you had a box made of magic cardboard? ​ Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Metthea Maddern​ Matthea is a Masters student in the Teacher-Librarianship through Distance Learning Program at the University of Alberta.
Word after Word after Word by P. MacLachlan
Authors: Sulz David
Published: April 2016

MacLachlan, Patricia. Word after Word after Word. New York: Katherine Tegan Books, 2010. Print. Ms. Mirabel, a famous writer, starts visiting a grade four class regularly and has a profound impact on a group of five friends by encouraging them to write, even if it means breaking the rules that their teacher believes are essential (such as creating an outline).  Ms. Mirabel’s core message that writing “word after word after word” can change your life strikes a chord with the five friends and, as their daily discussions under a lilac tree suggest, there is a lot they would like to change.  Lucy’s mom has cancer, Evie wants desperately to find a new woman for her recently-separated dad, a new baby is entering May’s family, and Russell not only has to babysit his younger brother every day but also deal with the recent death of his dog.  In contrast, Henry discovers writing helps him not to change anything but to “save everything I have.” The last scene, an open-house highlighting the children’s writing brought a lump to my throat as the parents read their child’s inner-most feelings and realize how their actions as adults and parents have unexpected and powerful effects on their children. I have to admit, Ms. Mirabel annoyed me. She dresses flamboyantly to grab attention; she is sensitive, creative, and wise in a way no ordinary teacher could ever be; and she even encourages Russell’s annoying questions that make the real teacher sigh. Perhaps I am little sensitive about the stereotype of real teachers as boring, rule-bound, and uncreative. On another note, there is something about the kids that does not ring quite true; they come across more like how an adult might romanticize that time of life rather than what real grade four kids are like. To be fair, the real author (Patricia MacLachlan) notes she visits many classrooms and receives letters from young readers of her other books, so perhaps she has a different insight into the thoughts and emotions of that age group. In fact, as she tells us in the author’s notes at the end, this book was written to address the many questions she gets about the hows and whys of being a writer in a more entertaining way. Overall, this is an inspiring book about the joys and power of writing. Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: David SulzDavid is a librarian at the University of Alberta working mostly with scholars in Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. His university studies included: Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics. On the education front, he taught various grades and subjects for several years in schools as well as museums. His interest in Japan and things Japanese stands above his other diverse interests.
An Armadillo in Paris by J. Kraulis
Authors: Kung Janice
Published: April 2016

Kraulis, Julie. An Armadillo in Paris. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2014. Print.This picture book explores the beautiful city of Paris through the eyes of Arlo, the armadillo. Arlo’s grandfather wrote travel journals for him to use once he was old enough to travel and he goes on an adventure to Paris in search of the Iron Lady. The story intricately weaves passages from the journal and Arlo’s personal experiences as he explores the city. Each stop brings him closer to his final destination and provides clues on what is the Iron Lady. Some of Arlo’s experiences include buying macaroons from a French bakery, observing the pyramid in the courtyard of the Louvre, and visiting the Jardin du Luxembourg or Luxembourg Gardens. At the end of his journey, Arlo discovers that the Iron Lady is the iconic Eiffel Tower. Beautiful artwork accompanies the narrative. Overall, this book takes readers on an adventure through Paris that is suitable for children from Kindergarten to Grade 2. The book concludes with a page “All about the Iron Lady,” which includes interesting facts about the Eiffel Tower that will delight children and adults.    Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Janice KungJanice Kung is an Academic Library Intern at the University of Alberta’s John W. Scott Health Sciences Library. She obtained her undergraduate degree in commerce and completed her MLIS in 2013. She believes that the best thing to beat the winter blues is to cuddle up on a couch and lose oneself in a good book.