bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Without You by G. Côté
Authors: Roche Matilda
Published: April 2016

Côté, Geneviève. Without You. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2011. Print. Written and illustrated by Geneviève Côté, Without You revisits the friendship between the lop-eared Bunny and rosy Pig first encountered in Côté's Me and You (2009). As a counterpoint to the first book’s ode to friendship, Without You gently explores the point where the intensity of childhood bonhomie devolves into stubborn hostility. Côté's watercolour illustrations and sense of aesthetic equilibrium are consistently lovely. Light, vivid, effortlessly bright, and expressive, the illustrations alone recommend the book. The text has a pleasing cadence and is appropriate for preschoolers and early readers. If anything, Without You seems perhaps too effervescent given the subject matter. Côté had successfully captured very complex and nuanced perspectives on friendship in her other work—the excellent What Elephant? springs immediately to mind. Any intensity generated by Bunny and Pig’s antipathy seems undermined by the buoyancy of the illustrations and the protagonists’ unfailing adorableness. Even in the grip of irritation, Bunny and Pig are obviously sweeter than sweet, clearly made for each other, and even the youngest of readers would never doubt that they are destined to resolve their conflict. There is certainly an important place for this sort of reassuring, friendship narrative in children’s literature, but Without You fails to mirror back to children the heavy, cloudy, and confusing intensity of conflict between childhood friends. This slight reservation aside, Without You is a very lovely, warm, and well-executed book by an exceedingly talented writer and illustrator; it makes a happy complement to the sunny Me and You. Better still, Côté writes all her books in both French and English, so French editions of her books are always readily available. (This review is based on the English edition.) Recommended:  3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Matilda RocheMatilda spends her days lavishing attention on the University of Alberta’s metadata but children’s illustrated books, literature for young adults and graphic novels also make her heart sing. Her reviews benefit from the critical influence of a four year old daughter and a one year old son – both geniuses. Matilda’s super power is the ability to read comic books aloud.
Better Together by Sh. & S. Shapiro
Authors: Oliphant Tami
Published: April 2016

Shapiro, Sheryl, and Simon Shapiro. Better Together. Illus. Dušan Petričić. Toronto: Annick Press, 2011. Print. This concept book is infused with a cheerful, slightly mischievous spirit as the authors and illustrator explore a wide variety of, and a broad notion of, mixes. Kids might be familiar with many of the mixes—mixing cinnamon and sugar to spread on toast, mixing water and dirt to create mud, mixing blue and yellow to make green or mixing water and flour to create glue. Other mixes are more abstract—mixing up each team member’s different skills to make a great soccer team or mixing up musical instruments to make raucous music. Each mix is explained by a playful, rhyming poem that is easy-to-read and delightful to read aloud. The writers themselves decided to mix things up—the book is this husband-and-wife’s first collaborative effort and their obvious pleasure in wordplay is apparent. For example, the first poem, which explains what mixes are, contains the line “You stir and squoosh them, squish and moosh them” to create a brand new thing. The lively text is supported by the equally zippy illustrations. The first illustration is a highlight as Petričić shows how mixing the separate ingredients of ideas, paper, and drawings can produce a wonderful new thing: a picture book. The mix of vivid illustrations and energetic text has created a fun book that both kids and parents will enjoy. The book is recommended for children ages 4-7. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Tami Oliphant Tami works as a research librarian at the University of Alberta Libraries and for the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta. She earned her Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alberta and her doctorate from the University of Western Ontario. She has worked in academic libraries, public libraries, communications and planning, and as a sessional lecturer and researcher at the University of Alberta and the University of Western Ontario.
Good Little Wolf by N. Shireen
Authors: Feisst Debbie
Published: April 2016

Shireen, Nadia. Good Little Wolf. New York: Alfred A Knopf. 2011. Print. Good Little Wolf is British illustrator Nadia Shireen’s picture book debut, and a successful one at that. Shireen, who earned an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from Angela Ruskin University in Cambridge, originally planned a career in law but thankfully pursued her passion for illustration and now, authorship. The story begins with the narrator ensuring a group of youngsters, including a red-hooded girl and a (soother) suckling pig are all comfortable. Rolf is a good little wolf. He is helpful to his friends, the elderly Mrs. Boggins and Little Pig, eats his vegetables and enjoys baking.  One day Rolf meets a Big Bad Wolf, who is clearly surprised by Rolf’s goodness; young children will delight at the Big Bad Wolf sniffing Rolf’s butt to confirm that he is, indeed, a wolf. A few tests are in order to determine his wolf-ness and Rolf fails miserably – until the Big Bad Wolf shows up with Mrs. Boggins and a fork. Suddenly Rolf shows his fierce side and the Big Bad Wolf is going to reform – or so it seems. The quirky illustrations and fresh take on a traditional tale will delight the 4-8 crowd, though parents may need to do some explaining after the final twist when we learn the identity of the narrator . I look forward to Shireen’s next book and won’t have to wait long – “Hey, Presto!” is due out this summer. Recommended: 3 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.
Treasure by M. K. Doman
Authors: Hammond Anita
Published: April 2016

Doman, Mary Kate. Treasure. Costa Mesa: Saddleback, 2013. Print.Treasure, one installment from The Heights series, is the story of Todd Bardo Jr., a junior at Penn State and his adventure diving for treasure off the shore of Ecuador.  As a thank you for his work with the poor in that country, Todd’s father, a prominent and respected doctor, was awarded salvage rights to five miles of the reef by the Ecuadorian government. Todd inherits the salvage rights at his father’s death, and needs to complete the dive before his rights expire.  With the help of a diving team headed by his best friend’s father, he and his team attempt the impossible – to find and claim treasure from a sunken ship.  With her audience in mind, Doman has woven an adventure story driven by plot, dialogue, and simple language.  This high-interest low-vocabulary book introduces readers to the country of Ecuador and its colourful history. Through Todd’s eyes we experience the excitement of organizing a treasure dive and some of its challenges.  Will Todd find enough money to fund the expedition?  Will his ship be targeted by thieves?  Will his team be attacked by sharks?  Ultimately, will he succeed and find a treasure?Students who appreciate simpler text and an exciting plot will enjoy this read.  The resolution of some conflicts seems a bit convenient, but certainly keeps the story moving.  The interest level is grade 5 to 8; the reading level is grade 1 to 2.  This book is available at Saddleback Educational Publishing.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Anita HammondAnita Hammond taught English Language Arts and music with Regina Catholic Schools for eleven years.  Currently, as a full-time mother, she has returned to Education studies at the University of Alberta in the Masters of Education program specializing in teacher-librarian studies.  She has enjoyed the opportunity to read numerous high-interest low-vocabulary titles, and hopes to share these titles and others with colleagues and students to support literacy goals.
Beneath Raven Moon by D. Bouchard
Authors: Oxley Kristie
Published: April 2016

Bouchard, David. (2012). Beneath Raven Moon. North Vancouver, BC: More Than Words Publishers. Print and CD. Trickster Raven is at it again in Beneath Raven Moon, a creation myth taken from the tradition of the Kwakwaka’wakw people of British Columbia. Metis author David Bouchard weaves together the enchanting tale of how keen-eyed Eagle and whimsical Raven conspire to create a love match between two young people with the story of how the Earth was given Grandmother Moon. Each page is beautifully illustrated with West Coast First Nation’s designs in the dark golds, silvers, blues and oranges of nighttime. Bouchard sets a quiet, ethereal tone for the text through carefully-paced repetition and descriptions of night time scenes. The use of playful dialogue, traditional terms such as Grandmother Moon or Grandfather Cedar and Bouchard’s placement of Trickster as a force in many aboriginal cultures enhances the timeless feeling of the text. Beneath Raven Moon derives its authenticity from its Metis author and K’omoks First Nations illustrator. Source notes are background information that places this myth in the tradition of the Kwakwaka’wakw people from BC’s Inside Passage. Each page contains both English and Kwakwala text, with the Kwakwala translation attributed to Pauline and Pewi Alfred. In keeping with First Nations' oral traditions, a CD of the story read aloud in English, Kwakwala and French is included with the book. The CD also features the haunting First Nations flute music of Mary Youngblood. Students aged eight to twelve will enjoy the visual and auditory experience of Beneath Raven Moon. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Kristie Oxley Kristie Oxley is an elementary Montessori teacher at Richard McBride Elementary School in New Westminster, BC.
Peanut by A. Halliday
Authors: Tan Maria
Published: April 2016

Halliday, Ayun. Peanut. Illus. Paul Hoppe. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2012. Print.In the graphic novel Peanut, Ayun Halliday, a graduate of Northwestern University, and author and illustrator of the parenting zine East Village Inky, brings attention to the fact that some people live with life-threatening allergies to a common food item as she tells the story of a teenage girl trying to make her mark at school.When Sadie asks a girl about her “wicked cool” ID bracelet, she is introduced to the concept of severe food allergies. Sadie learns that the girl has a lethal allergy to peanuts and has to wear a medical bracelet. After moving to a new neighbourhood, Sadie is desperate to find a way to fit in at her new high school. She orders a medical bracelet and pretends to have a peanut allergy. This has the desired effect of gaining the attention of kids at school. Sadie builds friendships around the lie and finds it increasingly difficult and stressful to maintain the charade with her friends and with school staff, but cannot bring herself to tell the truth.Over the course of events, Sadie and other characters in the novel increase their awareness, to a limited degree only, about a severe peanut allergy and its potential consequences.  It was a bit disappointing that Sadie’s character matured very little over the course of the story, both in her interactions with others as well as in her health knowledge. The story ends a little abruptly so the reader does not find out the longer term consequences of pretending to have a medical condition, co-opting the challenges of living with a severe allergy to gain popularity and eventually being found out, or whether or not these experiences change Sadie’s outlook.New York based illustrator and Visual Arts instructor Paul Hoppe uses colour sparingly in Peanut. Readers will be drawn to the book cover, with its rich blue monochromatic background featuring a lone peanut shell. Illustrations within the graphic novel are all in blue-black, white, and grey; the only exception is Sadie who stands out in her salmon-coloured top. Aerial views lend an interesting perspective to the scenes.Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Maria TanMaria is a library intern at the University of Alberta’s John W. Scott Health Sciences Library. She enjoys travelling and visiting unique and far-flung libraries. Maria firmly believes that children's literature is an essential component in the fountain of youth.
Awards, Announcements, and News
Authors: Sulz David
Published: April 2016

Here’s hoping your summer has started off marvelously and you have plenty of stimulating reads already gathered. If there is still room for a few more, here are some ideas. As noted in the previous Deakin Review, the Rocky Mountain Book Award winners were announced in April with The Case of the Missing Deed by Ellen Schwartz getting the most votes from readers in grades 4-7. Mark your calendars now for late August 2013 to register a reading group to participate in the next round. The 2014 short list is available at http://rmba.lethsd.ab.ca (see the United Library Services or Univ. of Lethbridge Book Store links). In late June, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, announced new appointments to the Order of Canada with at least two appointees having a children’s literature connection. Barbara Reid was appointed as a Member (C.M.) and specifically cited for “for her contributions as a children’s book illustrator and author, widely known for her creative use of the medium of Plasticine.” Fred Wah was appointed as an Officer (O.C.) and cited for groundbreaking work as a poet. Although not specifically known as a children’s writer, his writing shows up in high school classrooms and, when interviewed by UBC’s Ubysseyy newspaper in January 2012 on being appointed Canada’s new Parliamentary Poet Laureate, he said, “I’d like to see more Canadian literature -particularly poetry - in our classrooms, in primary and secondary schools. I’m going to try to create, I hope, energy in that area.” I’m sure any book from either author would be worth a look. In June, the UK’s Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (aka CILIP) announced its 2013 award winners. Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner won the Carnegie Medal for an outstanding book for children while Black Dog illustrated by Levi Pinfold took the Kate Greenaway Medal for distinguished illustration in a children’s book. http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/2013awards/ Another book award to keep an eye might be the IODE Violet Downey award that was established in 1985. It is an annual award for books aimed at the under-13 set that was written and published in Canada. This year’s winner was The Green Man by Michael Bedard (Tundra) about a teenage girl spending a mysterious summer with her antiquarian book owning aunt. http://www.iode.ca/iode-violet-downey-book-award.html Happy summer reading. David Sulz, Communications Editor
The Last Dragonslayer by J. Fforde
Authors: Paterson Amy
Published: April 2016

Fforde, Jasper. The Last Dragonslayer. Toronto: HarperCollins, 2011. Print. Almost-16-year-old Jennifer Strange is caught in a unique situation. As an orphan and an indentured servant of Kazam Mystical Arts, an employment agency for the magically gifted, Jennifer suddenly finds herself running the agency due to the mysterious disappearance of her boss, Mr. Zambini. Even worse, magical power has been dwindling everywhere and rumors are swirling about the forthcoming death of the last dragon. Accompanied by her faithful Quarkbeast, Jennifer sets out to investigate these strange events, find Mr. Zambini, and stop the disappearance of magic from her world. Along the way, she becomes the central figure in a firestorm of media intrigue and faces the combined threats of fame, prophecies, jail, assassination attempts, and 16 marriage proposals. Known primarily for his adult novels, The Last Dragonslayer is Jasper Fforde’s first foray into fiction for teens; however, his trademark quirky humour, original thinking, and dry wit are present in abundance. Furthermore, Fforde’s characters are complex, well-drawn, and extremely relatable; in particular, Jennifer’s cool-headed intelligence and wry observations will appeal to teen girls and boys alike. Parents who (rightfully) lament the dearth of teen girl role models in YA fiction will enjoy handing this book to their daughters. There is no denying that Dragonslayer is complicated; Fforde never condescends to his young audience, and he pulls no punches when introducing and playing with complex ideas. However, Jennifer’s first-person narration ably guides readers through the wackiness of her world, making a convoluted, diverse, suspenseful plot ultimately, and satisfyingly, character-driven. This could be the best book your teen reads all year. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Amy PatersonAmy Paterson is a Public Services Librarian at the University of Alberta’s H. T. Coutts Education Library. She was previously the Editor of the Dalhousie Journal of Interdisciplinary Management and is very happy to be involved in the Deakin Review and the delightful world of children’s literature.
Trip to the Moon by V. Evic
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Evic, Vera.  Trip to the Moon.  Iqaluit, NV:  Inhabit Media, 2013. Print.This simple story manages to be simultaneously local and universal.  Most children can relate to dreaming about flying to the moon, having the sensation of falling while they are dreaming and actually  falling out of bed during a dream.  That’s what happens in this story.  However, the characters in this story live in Pangnirtung on Baffin Island in Nunavut, and the story reflects things local to that place.  In many “flying to the moon” stories, children fly on a magic carpet, boat or a rocket, but these children find a dented and dirty oil drum rusting on the beach and that becomes their enchanted conveyance. This book is the result of a contest, designed to encourage literacy in the community.  Vera Evic’s story was selected from those submitted.  The illustrations are done by five youths who are members of the Pangnirtung-Uqqurmiut Inuit Artist Organization.  Every other page is a full-page brightly-coloured illustration, each showing the individual illustrator’s style.  All of the illustrations depict local things – kids on bikes, houses on stilts, tundra landscape.  Even the little people they meet on the moon are dressed in Inuit style clothing.  While the level of skill varies among the illustrators the differences are charming rather than jarring.The text is printed in English and Inuktitut syllabics. The story is easy to read and appropriate for the intended pre-school and early elementary school audience.   This book deserves stars for the creative involvement of community, the support of literacy and Indigenous language retention in young children and also for the quality of the end product.  Highly recommended for public and elementary school libraries.Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4 Reviewer:  Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines.  Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.
News, Awards, and Announcements
Authors: Mead-Willis Sarah
Published: April 2016

With the 2012 spring reading season approaching full bloom, the first major cycle of children’s literature awards is upon us. Topping the news is the conferral of the prestigious ALSC Book and Media Awards. Among the winners were Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos, which received the John Newbery Medal for best new work of children’s literature, and A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka, which took home the Randolph Caldecott Medal for best illustrated children’s book. Overseas, the UK’s CILIP has announced its shortlists for the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway medals, two major awards recognizing the finest in children’s literature and illustration. The winners will be announced on June 14th. Speaking of shortlists, the Canadian Library Association disclosed the contenders for its three childrens’ literature awards, which will be conferred at the CLA Conference on May 31st. Among the nominees are several Deakin-reviewed titles, including Joy Ang’s The Qalupalik for best illustrated children’s book, Kelly Armstrong’s The Gathering and Kenneth Oppel’s This Dark Endeavour (reviewed by T. Chatterley in this issue) for best young adult book, and Rachna Gilmore’s That Boy Red for book of the year. Finally, the International Board on Books for Youth (IBBY) has been busy preparing its 2012 lists of the best children’s and young adult books. IBBY Canada announced its Honours List of five titles at the end of 2011, and USBBY (the U.S. national section of IBBY) announced its list of 36 Outstanding International Books early this year. Among the latter list are several Canadian titles, including the Deakin-reviewed Ten Birds by Cybèle Young.
Mudkin by S. Gammell
Authors: Mead-Willis Sarah
Published: April 2016

Gammell, Stephen. Mudkin. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, 2011. Print.Kids love mud. Of this there is no doubt. There is nothing like an afternoon spent knee-deep in ooze to undo the adult tyranny of cleanliness and crown a child king— or queen, as in the case of Mudkin. In this latest offering by Caldecott-winning illustrator Stephen Gammell, an imaginative young girl teams up with a playful sprite whose onion-shaped head and squat, gnomelike body are comprised, it would seem, entirely of mud. Mud-made too are the robe and crown he offers the girl, who gladly accepts her newfound role as monarch of muck. Together, the two of them caper and romp through a backyard mud-kingdom, until the rainclouds gather and wash Mudkin and his mud-realm away. The story’s premise – a child conjuring a magical playmate out of the elements – seems familiar, echoing as it does an illustrated masterwork of an earlier generation: Raymond Briggs’s wordless classic, The Snowman. Yet while Briggs’s story ends in a minor key (the snowman, wondrously alive for a single night, melts away in the morning sun), Mudkin’s watery fate carries no sadness; nor does it offer, as The Snowman does, a tacit elegy on the transience of childhood. Gammell’s riotous watercolours (so ecstatically fluid they erupt like geysers on the page) affirm this distinction: mud, unlike snow, is chaotic and unsentimental. Not a medium for reflection, it is the stuff of pure play. As a result, Mudkin is nothing more and nothing less than a bit of good – if not entirely clean – fun. Recommended: 3 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.
The Human Body: Lift the Flap and Learn by P. Hédelin
Authors: Chatterley Trish
Published: April 2016

Hédelin, Pascale, Robert Barborini, and Katherine Dearlove. The Human Body: Lift the Flap and Learn. Toronto: Owlkids, 2010. Print. This book provides an introduction to the human body and its functions. It is one book in the (so far) three part “Lift the Flap and Learn” series published by Owl Kids. Intended for children aged four and up, the flaps, pull tabs, rotating wheels, and sliding pieces make for an interactive reading experience. Beginning readers will definitely need help with some of the terminology. Some of the tabs were a bit sticky at first, especially the ones manipulating multiple slats, but overall the tabs seem fairly sturdy. The book begins with a simple explanation of how babies are created and born. It then progresses through descriptions and visuals of the muscular, skeletal, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems. The two-page section about the nervous system provides an overview of the brain, but provides limited reference to nerves in the rest of the body. The book also covers the five senses, dental health and sickness. There are messages scattered throughout about how to stay healthy; these messages encourage brushing your teeth, eating well, and getting a good night’s sleep. The cartoon-like illustrations would appeal to children, as the simplified images will not overwhelm them with anatomical detail. There is a good text to image ratio. The text is in a sufficiently large font size, and most images are quite colourful. Some true anatomical names are used.  Several have pronunciations indicated in parentheses but others (such as the term bronchial) do not. These terms may pose problems for early readers. In general, this book provides a simple and accurate introduction to the human body. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: 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.
This One Summer by J. & M. Tamaki
Authors: Doiron Corine
Published: April 2016

Tamaki, Jillian and Mariko Tamaki. This One Summer. Second Publishing, 2014. Print.Summers at the cabin are somehow outside of regular time in our collective memories; they inhabit a special sphere, hazy and nostalgic. Yet these summers are often the time of great growth and learning. For Rose and her young friend Windy, This One Summer by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki, is an account of just such a time; it is time to grow up and start to understand the world while still in the somewhat protective environment of Awago Lake.Rose and Windy are smart and precocious preteens that are no longer interested in ‘Kid’s stuff” but are not yet fully ready to join the adults. They exist in a fairly unsupervised free space within the town this particular summer. As a result, Rose and Windy sneak horror movies and flirt with older boys, but find they are unable to really comprehend the adult situations surrounding them. The most pressing problem is Rose’s parents’ estrangement and her mother’s depression. As the summer goes on Rose slowly starts to understand her parents, her mother’s depression and the secret loss that preceded it. Rose and her mother grow closer as the secret is revealed, helping to bring Rose into adulthood. Meanwhile, Windy is just a few years younger and not yet ready to leave childhood. The inevitable distance that grows between Windy and Rose feels realistic and wistful.The beautiful blue illustrations will attract students of all ages and remind them of the rich beauty of summer holidays, but This One Summer is probably best suited to high school students because of the main theme of entering adulthood and the adult nature of some of Rose' discoveries. Students near the end of high school will recognize themselves in Rose and Windy and feel nostalgia over this time of transition. It is a beautiful book that wonderfully captures the in-between-ness of adolescence.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Corine DoironCorine Doiron is an English teacher at St. Joseph High School in Edmonton, Alberta. She is currently completing her Masters degree in Teacher Librarianship and enjoyed reading a variety of graphic novels for a school project. The graphic novels she reviewed are ones she would love to introduce in the classroom.
Unspeakable by C. Pignat
Authors: Kung Janice
Published: April 2016

Pignat, Caroline. Unspeakable. Toronto: Razorbill, 2014. Print. Ellie Ryan is an eighteen-year-old girl who has suffered an insurmountable number of personal tragedies that have taught her the importance of perseverance. After her mother’s death, she finds herself unwanted by her father and is forced to move in with her aunt Geraldine. Due to Ellie’s inability to cope with her circumstances, her aunt sends her aboard the Empress of Ireland where she learns to embrace her new position as a stewardess with the help of her most trusted friend, Meg.On the second crossing of the Empress, Ellie meets Jim, a lonely fire stoker who has experienced his share of grief and tragedy, something Ellie is all too familiar with. After many chance encounters late at night along the ship's rail, she finds Jim writing in a journal. He is a quiet and secretive young man who doesn’t share much of his life, which intrigues and compels her to discover more about him. When the ship docks at Quebec City, they explore the city together, a memorable experience for her. However, tragedy strikes on their next voyage when the ship collides into another ship. Ellie appears to be the one of the few remaining crew members to survive the disaster and has no word of Jim’s whereabouts; it seems unlikely that Jim would have survived the frigid ocean. Wyatt Steele, a journalist with The New York Times, later asks Ellie for her story. She refuses at first, but unwittingly gives into him when he appears one day with Jim’s journal. Wyatt represents the last remaining hope she has to learn more about the man she had fallen in love with and to possibly discover what happened to him. In exchange for her story, he agrees to provide Jim’s journal as payment, one page at a time.               This young adult novel follows Ellie’s journey aboard the Empress of Ireland in 1914 and offers a realistic context for Canada’s worst maritime disaster. It explores themes of depression from the loss of family and friends, survivor’s guilt, and redemption. The story weaves an intricate plot that alternates the timeline before and after the ship’s sinking, in order for the reader to actively live through Ellie’s recollections in the present. Overall, the author intricately writes a romantic story in the backdrop of a historical Canadian event that is well suited to young adult audiences.Recommended: 4 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.
Whatever After: Fairest of All by S. Mlynowski
Authors: Chatterley Trish
Published: April 2016

Mlynowski, Sarah. Whatever After: Fairest of All. New York: Scholastic Press, 2012. Print Ten-year-old Abby has just moved to Smithville with her parents and younger brother Jonah, and life just isn’t the same. One night, the two siblings knock on the creepy mirror in the basement and are instantly sucked into a fairytale land. They need to get home, but don’t know how to get there. They find themselves at the cottage where Snow White is living with the Seven Dwarfs, just as the evil stepmother in disguise is offering up a red apple to eat. They intervene and save Snow White from being poisoned! Initially they are pleased about this, but soon realize that they have interfered with Snow’s future and she won’t meet her Prince Charming. They decide to stay with Snow until they can set things right and ensure she lives happily ever after, enjoying many adventures along the way. This is the first story in a new series of modern fairy tale retellings (the second book will recount what happens to Cinderella when Abby shows up!). It’s an amusing and easy read with lots of action. Abby and Jonah have a pretty typical relationship, with a bossy older sister ordering around her rambunctious younger brother, and so they behave as you would expect. Abby is practical, but funny, and will always accomplish what she sets out to do. She therefore presents a strong female character with whom young girls can connect. The tale ends in such a way that the reader can be sure of more humorous exploits to come.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.
Nala's Magical Mitsiaq by J. Noah
Authors: Campbell Sandy
Published: April 2016

Noah, Jennifer. Nala's Magical Mitsiaq.  Iqualuit, NV:  Inhabit Media, 2013. Print.Adoption of children is common among Inuit families and "custom adoption" is a legal term for this age-old tradition which was a part of Inuit survival.  Jennifer Noah wrote this children's book so that she could read a story to which her daughter could relate.The mitsiaq is the umbilical cord.  In Nala's story, her adoptive mother dreams of Nala before she is born and dreams of "a magical mitsiaq connecting [their] hearts".  In the rest of the story, Nala's mother explains how one of her daughters grew in her belly, while the other grew in her heart and both are equally loved. The text is above the reading level of the age 5 to 8 target audience, but there is an assumption that an adult will be reading with the child.  Inuktitut words are used often in the text and appear in the glossary at the back of the book. This book presents adoption as a positive, loving traditional practice.  For a non-Inuit child trying to understand adoption, this book shows adoption as a normal part of community and family life, at least in Inuit culture.In the back of the book there are six quotations from Inuit women who have experienced custom adoption.  Some have adopted, some were adopted and some have siblings who were adopted in or adopted out.  All of their stories speak of the adoption process as an act of love both by the birth parents and the adoptive parents.The illustrations by Toronto artist, Qin Leng are comic-book like, with all objects and features outlined in black and filled with colour.  The illustrations are bright and attractive.  The people in the book appear more Asian than they do Inuit, but because of the informality of the drawings, this does not detract from the story.             This is another excellent book from Inhabit Media and should be included in public and elementary school library collectionsHighly recommended: 4 stars out of 4 Reviewer:  Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines.  Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.
Son by L. Lowry
Authors: Noakes Joanna
Published: April 2016

Lowry, L. Son. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2012. Print. Fourteen year-old Claire is a Birthmother. It is her role in the Community to grow and deliver a child, never having the opportunity to know anything about her baby. But when something goes wrong at her first delivery, Claire is released from Birthmother duty and is given a new life path. But in all the confusion, she is mistakenly given information that she is not supposed to have: her “product” is a baby boy. She has a son. Claire tries to settle into her new life, but something inside her has changed. She feels different. She feels. She longs for the baby she was not allowed to know.  And when she discovers that her child is no longer living in the Community, she sacrifices everything to find him, to be with him, and to love him. Son is the concluding novel in The Giver quartet. It starts off in the same Community in which The Giver is set, and follows Claire in her journey to find her son. Along the way, she encounters different communities from her own, full of good and caring people, people who feel, who help her on her journey. But just as she gets close to her final destination, she has to make a choice that will alter her course, and may cause her to lose what she wants most. With Son, Lowry answers what fans of The Giver have been asking for years - what happened to Jonas and the baby? Son brings in characters, settings and themes from the second and third sequels (Gathering Blue and Messenger), but this is the only other novel to revolve around characters from Jonas’ community. The character and plot development in Son is strong enough to have it be a standalone novel; however, the best reading experience will come from having read the previous novels, or at minimum, The Giver. However, Son touches on themes brought in from Messenger and Gathering Blue that are more abstract and symbolic than those found in the Giver, so the reader must be prepared for some differences. This novel is a must-read for fans of The Giver and its sequels. Lowry draws you into the characters and their story and has the reader rooting for the best possible outcome. The various themes in Son: love, grief, and good versus evil intertwine to create a riveting novel that is difficult to put down. Son is rich in literary devices and descriptive language; because of this, it would be a good contender as both a read-aloud and as a novel study.  In addition to this, its popular dystopian theme would be attractive to reluctant readers. Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Joanna Noakes Joanna Noakes is a grade 4/5 French Immersion teacher in Surrey, B.C. She has always had an interest in reading and books, and hopes to move into a library position in the near future. She is enthused by the prospect of enticing a reluctant reader with a new book, and plans to continue expanding her own reading repertoire to assist her with that task.
Oscar Peterson: The Man and His Jazz by J. Batten
Authors: Luyk Sean
Published: April 2016

Batten, Jack. Oscar Peterson: The Man and His Jazz. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2012. Print. This young adult non-fiction novel explores the life of the legendary Canadian jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson. Beginning with an account of Peterson’s 1949 breakthrough performance at Carnegie Hall as part of the influential Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP) concert series, Batten traces the seventy year musical career of Oscar Peterson in an engaging and insightful style. This book seamlessly combines a personal and musical biography of Peterson with a history of the development of jazz from the 1920s to the time of Peterson’s death in 2007. True to the title of the book, Batten’s is indeed one about both the man and his music. From Peterson’s humble upbringing as the son of immigrants from the West Indies living in poverty in Montréal, the influence of his family on his personal and musical development is a consistent theme throughout the book. Batten does not hold back when describing the social conditions Peterson was operating under throughout his career. The racism Peterson encountered both at home and abroad, as well as the drug use prominent among jazz musicians is honestly explored, as are the personal tragedies Peterson faced, including his failed marriages and consistently poor health. Peterson’s many longtime musical collaborations are explored in great detail, with Batten highlighting the influential performing and recording achievements of his career. From his longtime relationship with the jazz promoter Norman Granz, through the many iterations of Peterson’s famous trio, Batten doesn’t leave out the details at any point. The addition of multiple photographs, quotes from Peterson’s teachers and collaborators, and a selected bibliography and discography add to the historical richness of this title. This book is recommended to the young adult reader with an interest in jazz history, and the life and accomplishments of one of Canada’s most cherished musicians.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Sean LuykSean is the Music Librarian for the Rutherford Humanities and Social Sciences Library at the University of Alberta. Sean holds an MA in Music Criticism and B.Mus from McMaster University, as well as an MLIS from the University of Western Ontario.
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by E. Litwin
Authors: Frail Kim
Published: April 2016

Litwin, Eric. Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons.  Illus. James Dean. New York: Harper, 2012. Print. Pete, the laid back, imperturbable puss is back and this time author and children’s performer Eric Litwin incorporates math into the story. Pete puts on his favourite shirt and begins to sing about his buttons. There is lots of repetition to help kids learn about numbers and subtraction. First Pete thinks about the total number of buttons and the numeral is displayed. Then the word “four” appears twice in the refrain: “My buttons my buttons, my four groovy buttons”. One by one the buttons pop-off and each time the resulting equation is displayed: “How many buttons are left? 4-1=3”.  This sequence repeats until he is down to his belly button! As with the other Pete books, there is also a very important underlying message: don’t sweat the small stuff.  Each time he loses another button, the author asks: “Did Pete cry? Goodness, no! Buttons come and buttons go”. This is reinforced in the conclusion: “I guess it simply goes to show that stuff will come and stuff will go.  But do we cry? Goodness, No! We keep on singing”. Artist James Dean first painted an image of Pete in 1999 and the little bluish-black cat with the big yellow eyes is still going strong.  His images are composed of bright, high-contrast colours. The visible brush strokes and thick black outlines create lots of interesting textures and highlights.  Of particular note are the buttons that leave long spirals of black trailing behind them and look as if they are popping right off the page. Again, as with previous Pete books, ( I Love my White Shoes and Rockin’ My School Shoes),  there is a free downloadable song available from the Harper Collins Web site (http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/feature/petethecat/). The book is certainly engaging enough to be enjoyed on its own. However, there is also a substantial amount of bonus material on the web site that can be incorporated into school lessons or enjoyed at home: the song, links to a YouTube video that pairs animated images from the book with the song, printable activities and a link to a “School Jam” ipad/iphone app featuring Pete. A clever fusion of music and math sprinkled with a life lesson in resilience, this book would make a groovy addition to school and home libraries for preschool to early elementary school-aged children. Highly Recommended: 4 out 4 starsReviewer: Kim Frail Kim is a Public Services Librarian at the H.T. Coutts Education Library at the University of Alberta. Children’s literature is a big part of her world at work and at home. She also enjoys gardening, renovating and keeping up with her two-year old.
The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by M. Chabon
Authors: Distad Merrill
Published: April 2016

Chabon, Michael. The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man. Illus. Jake Parker. New York: Balzer & Bray, 2011. Print. Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon recounts an archetypal small boy’s fantasy life as superhero Awesome Man. Equipped with all the requisite SuperPowers, including positronic-ray-blasting vision and a “thermovulcanized protein-delivery orb,” young Awesome Man, accompanied by Moskowitz, the Awesome Dog, does battle against the forces of darkness, including talking mutant Jell-O from beyond the stars.  After vanquishing Professor Von Evil and his antimatter Slimebot, the young hero battles his arch-nemesis, the Flaming Eyeball, and henchmen Red Shark and Sister Sinister. Returning to his “Fortress of Awesome, deep at the bottom of the deepest, darkest trench under the Arctic Ocean,” he finds his mother, the only one aware of his secret identity, awaits his return in the kitchen to offer him a restorative serving of cheese, crackers, and chocolate milk. Chabon’s thoroughly derivative story line, familiar at least since Super Man’s 1939 debut in Action Comics No. 1, is only redeemed by Jake Parker’s imaginative and charming illustrations. Adults reading this slight effort to children will at least be afforded a chuckle over Moskovitz, the Awesome Dog, named in honour of one of Sci-Fi’s most prominent students and proponents. Recommended with reservations: 2 out of 4 starsReviewer: Merrill DistadMerrill Distad is Associate University Librarian (Research and Special Collections Services) and University Archivist, University of Alberta, and is the co-editor of Peel’s Bibliography of the Canadian Prairies to 1953 (Toronto, 2003).  He is the author, most recently, of The University of Alberta Library: The First Hundred Years, 1908–2008 (Edmonton, 2009).
Flip by M. Bedford
Authors: Feisst Debbie
Published: April 2016

Bedford, Martyn. Flip. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 2011. Print. Martyn Bedford is a lecturer in creative writing at Leeds Trinity University College in the UK and is the award-winning author of five adult novels, including The Houdini Girl. Flip is his first foray into the genre of young adult fiction. Fourteen-year-old Alex Gray rushes home one December Friday night in an attempt to beat his curfew. Feeling a bit foggy upon waking the next morning, he realizes that not only is he in a strange bedroom but he does not recognize the clothes he is wearing. An unfamiliar voice calls for “Philip” to get ready for school, and when he descends the stairs to the breakfast table, he does not recognize the people seated, though they seem to recognize him. It’s now the middle of June. Upon looking into the mirror to wash his face, another boy stares back. Alex does not know if he has gone mad, or worse—if it is all real. Alex has no choice but to go through the day while trapped in another’s body, that of Philip Garamond. Nicknamed Flip, Philip is an athletic, sociable girl-magnet who goes to a posh school, and though he is Alex’s age, seems the complete opposite in every other way. For a while Alex even enjoys his new, fit body and the attention that comes with it. But where is Philip, and where is Alex’s body? Alex needs to figure out why his psyche has become trapped in Philip’s body and how he can get back into his own before it is too late. This is an excellent psychological thriller and not your average teen fare. The characters are realistic and the plot is action-packed, yet believable. Bedford dips into heavy topics like existentialism and concepts such as the soul and memory with adeptness. Body-swapping stories have no doubt been done before in teen fiction, but Bedford has given this tale a contemporary flair with a satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars 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.