bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Furrows in the field, or down in the jungle: re-membering domestic literacy in the early years
Authors: Travers simon Joan Barbara
Published: April 2016

Embracing qualitative methods in an approach situated at the interface between education, social science and philosophy, the author offers a phenomenologically-oriented account of early family literacy, as experienced by a five year-old girl in Alsace, France. The paper seeks to enliven a fresh look at what we believe we see/understand and how we choose to disseminate this, thus it interrogates orthodoxies with regard to academic discourses and research methodology. The author proposes that to learn is to be in media res in the interminable flux of possibility. It is a never-ending story, which can only be told at a particular cross-section of time and place. Much follows from this insight, foremost among which is to accept that to attempt to understand and learn from learning, and to write academic ‘readings’ of learning, entails abandoning measurables and product-driven orientations in favour of processual ones.
One good book away from becoming a reader: First Nations literature in a northern classroom
Authors: Catlin Susan
Published: April 2016

I arrived in the isolated, northern community of Big River, Northwest Territories on August 17, 1987. I wanted my students to discover the rich world that waited for them in books. It is a curious paradox that one loses oneself in a text, only to find oneself. I wanted my students to find ideas and images for themselves, to extend and challenge their thinking and feeling, and I also hoped that books might provide some comfort on the journey that was negotiating their identities in school.
Barriers to Youth Literacy: Sociological and Canadian Insights
Authors: Tilleczek Kate , Campbell Valerie
Published: April 2016

This paper explores the barriers in youth literacy with qualitative interviews with 22 young people and 22 youth service providers from Prince Edward Island, Canada. It then compares these perspectives with a review of literatures on youth literacy. The paper outlines a sociological framework for the study of youth literacy that makes visible the complex cultural nests of youth within which becoming literate is negotiated.  Rather than relying solely on individual literacy scores as the only measure of if and to what level young people are literate in contemporary society, the study addressed how barriers  are encountered and negotiated. The findings show that barriers exist in multiple contexts in school, community and family and that they are not easily interpreted or predictable. Even high school completion does not guarantee literacy for some youth and both service providers and young people provide similar and disparate perspectives on barriers and possibilities for better support.
Ethical Readings of Student Texts: Attending to Process and the Production of Identity in Classroom-Based Literacy Research
Authors: Stille Saskia
Published: April 2016

This paper highlights multimodal literacy activities that invited the social re/positioning of learners as creators of meaning and experience rather than passive readers of text.  Elaborating two cases, the paper describes the ways in which newcomer students’ identities were negotiated and enacted during the project, and how their identities were read and constructed by teachers in the classroom.  The paper recommends an analytic approach to literacy studies research that accounts for the ways in which literate identities are materialized in classrooms, and the value in documenting both the product and process of students’ literacy work.
Sister to Sister: Becoming Literate in Relation
Authors: Barnhill Amy , Halquist Don
Published: April 2016

The interactions between siblings holds potential for creating and sustaining literacy learning (Goldfarb, 2000; Gregory, 2001; Volk, 1999). In this paper, we examine three literacy events that take place between a school-aged child and her younger sibling to reveal how the sisters’ interactions and relational practices support and extend the literacy abilities of both children. The findings reveal how the older sister, through her use of questions, her modeling of literacy strategies, and her support of her sibling’s growing literacy abilities, serves as a teacher to her sibling through her implicit and explicit modeling. The younger sister, through her use of questions and her engagement in the three events serves as a trigger to further her older sister’s understanding and use of authentic and emerging literacy skills and strategies. The findings also highlight how play provides a context that is mutually beneficial to and supportive of the sisters’ literacy development.
Mirrors and Windows: Teaching and Research Reflections on Canadian Aboriginal Children’s Literature
Authors: Wiltse Lynne
Published: April 2016

In this reflective paper, an expanded version of my LLRC pre-conference paper, I draw on thirty or so years of teaching and research experience, augmented by the occasional foray into my childhood, to consider issues of resonance and representation in children’s literature. In doing so, I draw on Patsy Aldana’s speech, Books that are Windows. Books that are Mirrors. How Can we Make Sure that Children see Themselves in Their Books? Aldana, then President of the Canadian Coalition for School Libraries, delivered her speech to the IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) Congress in Malaysia, 2008.[i]As a teacher and now as a teacher educator, I am reminded by Aldana’s speech to pay close attention to the children and youth who cannot take for granted, as I was able to, “hear(ing) one’s own words, see(ing) one’s own face…in a book” (Aldana, 2008).[i] In her speech, Aldana uses this metaphor as presented by Elisa Bonilla, former director of educational materials at the Mexican Ministry of Education (SEP) of Mexico, in her address to the IBBY congress in Macau, 2006.
“Thanks for the Assignment!”: Digital Stories as a Form of Reflective Practice
Authors: Robertson Lorayne , Hughes Janette , Smith Shirley
Published: April 2016

In this article we examine pre-service teachers’ digital literacy stories and post-assignment reflections for evidence of transformative pedagogy. The language arts course design employs both a new literacies approach (Lankshear & Knobel, 2006) and a multiliteracies pedagogical framework (New London Group, 1996). These frameworks are also applied to help us examine the pre-service teachers’ digital stories and reflections. The data consist of approximately 150 digital stories and written student reflections collected over three years. We are encouraged by the finding that the multimedia nature of the assignment appears to help pre-service teachers construct new understandings of literacies, particularly when the digital stories are shared as part of the adult classroom experience. We conclude that digital stories hold potential to encourage pre-service teachers to think critically about how they were taught relative to the teachers they wish to become.
Reading the World in the Word: The Possibilities for Literacy Instruction Framed Within Human Rights Education
Authors: Dunkerly Judith Marie
Published: April 2016

The purpose of this critical ethnography (Madison, 2005; Noblit, Flores & Murrillo, 2004) was to investigate the experiences of teachers and students when literacy instruction was framed within human rights education. Informed by theories of cosmopolitan education (Beck, 2002; Beck & Szneider, 2010; Goldstein, 2007; Harper & Bean, 2009; Hull, 2010), critical socio-cultural theory (Moje & Lewis, 2007) and incorporating Freirean concepts of critical literacy and praxis, this study details the experiences of two servant leader interns (teachers) and sixteen scholars (students) participating in human rights education within the context of a Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School.
Children’s Construction of Identity in Virtual Play Worlds – A Classroom Perspective
Authors: Burke Anne
Published: April 2016

The formation of identity is inextricably linked to powerful meaning-makers in a child’s young life.  In the 21st century, this typically involves engagement in virtual play worlds.  This case study reports on the identity construction of young gamers in a classroom as perceived through an I/identity framework (Rowsell & Abrams, 2011), associative I/identity framework (Abrams, 2011) and informed by New Literacies through a socio-cultural lens.  Children engage in Discourses (Gee, 2007; 2008; 2009) to experiment with early rehearsals and re-enactments, navigating fluidly among different roles and virtual world experiences.  This study shows how children form affinity groups and social connections with other players in their real world play spaces and online, thus creating a meaningful interplay of their real world and virtual I/identities in a variety of ways.
'Doing Right' By Melissa: An Inquiry Into School Spaces
Authors: Vander Zanden Sarah
Published: April 2016

This educational ethnographic case study explores Melissa’s literacy experiences in an urban elementary school. Using a modified domain analysis (LeCompte & Schensul, 1999), this paper focuses specifically on what it meant for Melissa to ‘Do the Right Thing’ in various school spaces. Her application of doing the right thing in different spaces complicates what it means to take ‘right action’. Therefore, ‘taking right action’ was divided into three domains: 1) Institutional Domain: Code of Compliance 2) Dominant Literacy Domain: School Code and 3) Personal Domain: Melissa’s Self- Reliance. While Melissa was considered a model fifth grader in her urban elementary school setting by her teachers and peers, her personal code of literacy often subsumed the dominant school discourse of ‘do the right thing’.   Analysis generated prospective inroads for understanding how literacy learning is inextricably intertwined with relationships of space and discourse. Insights from this close analysis point to the need for nuanced recognition of students’ intellectual lives and underscore the plague of low expectations that narrowing curriculum imposes upon students.
Intersections between and understandings of literacy and disability in a B.Ed program: Discourses, tensions and curriculum
Authors: Iannacci Luigi , Graham Bente
Published: April 2016

This study contributes to the growing body of research that seeks to destabilize dominant notions of literacy and disability. In particular, we explore teacher candidates’ understandings and constructions of literacy and children with “special needs”, or children identified as having a “learning disability”, before and after they complete their kindergarten-grade six teacher certification (B.Ed). We examine how dominant discourses of dis/ability present themselves in these teacher candidates’ initial and subsequent understandings, and how courses and a tutoring practicum can and cannot work to open up new ideas about literacy and dis/ability. Our intention is to add to the discussions of literacy education and curriculum informed by sociocultural and critical disability theory. This study highlights the connections between literacy and dis/ability as they intersect and are inextricably intertwined throughout the discourses and tensions seen in the data.
Singing is a Celebration of Language: Using Music to Enhance Young Children’s Vocabularies
Authors: Winters Kari-Lynn , Griffin Shelley
Published: April 2016

Music engages children in language learning, offering them opportunities to understand and express their ideas and communicate with others in ways that go beyond words. This article, based on two ethnographically-framed studies and the use of two real-life vignettes, demonstrates how singing and musical experiences (e.g., composition, soundscapes, musical improvisation) have the power to enhance children’s lexical acquisition and semantic knowledge at various levels of development. Results demonstrate that singing and musical experiences, whether biologically or socially shaped, provide opportunities to celebrate language and enhance young children’s vocabulary building.
Three by the Sea by M. Grey
Authors: Feisst Debbie
Published: April 2016

Grey, Mini. Three by the Sea. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. Print. Mini Grey (yes, that’s her real name; she was born in a Mini in a Wales car park) is an award-winning author of children’s picture books including Egg Drop and Traction Man is Here! In Three by the Sea, a black cat, a white dog, and a gray mouse share a hut on a pebbly beach.  They lived together happily on the seemingly otherwise-uninhabited island.  The dog did the gardening, which amounted to burying and digging up bones; the cat did the housework by simply throwing garbage out the window; and the mouse did the cooking – a cheese fondue.  Every day. However, one stormy night, everything changes for the three unlikely roommates, as a traveling salesman blows to shore on an inflatable raft and finds his way to the trio’s beach hut.  This Stranger, a fox in a double-breasted striped suit, announces that they are the lucky winners of a free visit from the Winds of Change Trading Company and proceeds to bestow gifts upon them.  For Mouse, cookbooks and herb seed packets; for Dog, a shiny new collar; and for Cat, some tins of sardines.  The gifts, however, are not truly free, as the Stranger also pointed out the inadequacies and faults of the friends’ personalities and behaviour. At dinner—a cheese fondue—the fighting begins, and insults are hurled.  After deciding to pack up and go where his culinary talents would be appreciated, Mouse finds himself in a spot of trouble as he attempts to leave the island. Of course, in the end, friendship reigns, and all three agree it is time for the Stranger to go; however, the short visit has everlasting effects on their relationship and way of life. This is a lovely story that will provoke discussion about the fox’s motivations, though children younger than 5 years may find the concept a challenge.  The illustrations are charming and are vintage and modern at the same time. 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.
The One by K. Cass
Authors: Manchakowsky Shawna
Published: April 2016

Cass, Kiera. The One. New York: Harper Teen/Harper Collins Publisher, 2014. Print.Book Three in The Selection seriesThe One is the third instalment of Kiera Cass’ Selection series.  The first book, The Selection, begins with thirty-five girls who are chosen across the country to vie for the prince’s heart to become the next queen of Illéa.  For most girls, this would be a dream come true.  For America Singer, one of the selected, she could not care less.  She does not want to leave her family or her childhood sweetheart behind.  Soon swept into a world so different from her own, she begins to see not everything is perfect at the castle or as simple as it seems.The Elite, book two, picks up right after one of the eliminations and begins with the final six girls (the elite).  There is more turmoil as America battles with her feelings for her childhood sweetheart, Aspen, who is a guard at the palace, and Maxon, the prince, who has more aspects to him than she originally thought.  Tension rises when the rebels attack the castle and the girls are under siege.  While America struggles with her feelings, she decides that she does, in fact, want to be there and will now try for Maxon’s heart, if she still has a chance.The One, book three, begins with the castle under attack.  We have learned secrets about the king at the end of book two and are beginning to understand the rebels’ motives. Competition is also fierce as it is now down to the top four girls and each girl is desperately trying to win Maxon’s heart.  America feels strongly for the prince, but how can she know if she loves him when he still has three other girls that he is dating?  Does he love her or one of the other girls more?  Can she really turn away from Aspen, her first true love? Full of action, suspense and heartache, you will want to know how this book ends. The story is a mix between The Hunger Games, The Bachelor and Cinderella. This series is sure to thrill teenage audiences looking for adventure and romance.Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewed by: Shawna ManchakowskyShawna Manchakowsky recently completed her MLIS at the University of Alberta.  When she is not working at Rutherford Library as a Public Service Assistant, she can be found with her husband parenting her two young girls; avoiding any kind of cooking; and reading for her two book clubs. In between book club titles, she tries to read as much teen fiction as she can get away with.
Steampunk! ed. by K. Link and G. J. Grant
Authors: Roche Matilda
Published: April 2016

Link, Kelly, and Gavin J. Grant, eds. Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories. Somerville: Candlewick Press, 2011. Print. It's interesting to consider the steampunk trend in contrast with the steampunk genre. If one defines steampunk strictly as a trend then it would be easy to assume that it has reached and surpassed its pinnacle as a popular trend (and certainly a hipster one) after having reached a plateau of modest public awareness. All the gears, brass and buckles associated with its afficionados have been lightly mocked and the world has moved on. It might be easy to forget that, as a literary genre, steampunk has a genuine durability. Steampunk been around sparking writers’ and artists’ creative imaginations for some time and it seems probable that it will continue to do so as the more clichéd charms of the trend’s most recent manifestations fade. The diversity and quality of the stories included in Steampunk! are an indication of the rich and entertaining possibilities inherent in the genre. The stories range in subject from post-feminist-western-train-heist-with-time-travel (Last Ride of the Glory Girls, by Libba Bray) to Edwardian-romance-with-robots (Everything Amiable and Obliging, by Holly Black) and mechanical-Dickensian-doppelgangers (Clockwork Fagin, by Cory Doctorow). All these stories are mischievous and riveting action-packed fun. Co-editor, Kelly Link (The Summer People) and M.T. Anderson's (The Oracle Engine) contributions - utterly different from the previously mentioned stories and from each other - adeptly employ calculated pacing and succeed in being subtly sinister and thought-provoking. There are even two compelling, and again, completely different, graphic novels thrown into the mix (Seven Days Beset by Demons, by Shawn Cheng and Finishing School, by Kathleen Jennings). Steampunk is a genre infatuated with the novelty of conflating ideas and aesthetics from different periods of history, curiosity about technology and a precocious desire to upend conventional narrative and characterization. Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories benefits from the astute and mindful curation by its editors, avoids seeming over-thought and stilted, and succeeds in illustrating how steampunk as a genre is very amendable to imaginative and (mildly) transgressive literature for young adults. I'm at great pains to avoid the word "mash-up" but that is a bit of what steampunk is; a unconstrained, tart and pulpy mash of genres. Steampunk! is an exuberant and convincing sampling and a reminder not to dismiss the genre along with the fashion aviator’s goggles. Highly Recommended:  4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Matilda RocheMatilda spends her days lavishing attention on the University of Alberta’s metadata but children’s illustrated books, literature for young adults and graphic novels also make her heart sing. Her reviews benefit from the critical influence of a four year old daughter and a one year old son – both geniuses. Matilda’s super power is the ability to read comic books aloud.
Six Months Later by N. Richards
Authors: McGillivray Kelsi
Published: April 2016

Richards, Natalie D. Six Months Later. Naperville, Ill: Sourcebooks Fire, 2013. Print.Sixteen-year-old Chloe goes to sleep in study group one May and wakes up six months later with everything she could have wanted: unbelievable SAT scores, popularity, and the boyfriend of her dreams. What she doesn't have is any memory about how she got there. As her memories return, the answers only become more clouded and more chilling. Set in current day southern USA, this story explores the ethics of consent and foreshadows the outcomes of living in a medicated society.Chloe has big dreams but only a small chance of reaching them. Her circle of friends is equally minuscule, but when that circle includes Maggie, it’s all she needs. Waking up to find that she has achieved everything she could have dreamed of rings hollow when she realizes it’s also been at the expense of their friendship. And why is she strangely repulsed by her godlike boyfriend, Blake, while just a glance from bad boy Adam Reed is enough to send her spinny? Chloe struggles to determine what has happened to her while the only person she feels she can trust isn't talking to her anymore. The battle becomes more desperate when Chloe begins to believe that her fate is inextricably linked with a former classmate who has disappeared.The story is written with an authentic voice, and realistically depicts the complicated relationships between Chloe, her parents, and her friends. Although the plot is somewhat predictable and at times leaves the reader questioning the characters’ motivations, it engages the reader through the anticipation of Chloe’s gradually-revealed memories. This psychological thriller is the debut work of author Natalie Richards and was a winner of the 2013 YALSA Teen’s Top Ten Award.This book would likely appeal most to young adults who enjoy contemporary realistic fiction, have an interest in psychology or enjoy suspenseful novels.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Kelsi McGillivrayKelsi McGillivray teaches grade 3 at an international school in Kathmandu, Nepal. She is currently working on her Masters of Education in teacher-librarianship and aspires to become the school librarian in the future. She enjoys reading, hiking, and adventures.
The Summer I Learned to Fly by D. Reinhardt
Authors: Oliphant Tami
Published: April 2016

Reinhardt, Dana. The Summer I Learned to Fly. New York: Ember, 2012. Print. The enthusiastic endorsement from Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief, on the cover of The Summer I Learned to Fly was persuasive. I picked up this coming-of-age novel with high expectations and it did not disappoint. Reinhardt’s heroine, Drew Robin Solo, aka Birdie, doesn’t have many friends and spends most of her time hanging around her mother’s cheese shop. It is 1986, the summer before Birdie begins grade eight. One night after closing the cheese shop, Drew meets a mysterious young man named Emmett Crane who eats the day-old bread and leftover cheese that Drew puts in the garbage. Drew learns the true meaning of friendship as she finds out who Emmett is, why he is there, and the sacrifices she is willing to make on his behalf. Over the course of the summer, Drew’s friendship with Emmett and his eclectic group of friends develops and when tragedy strikes, Drew must also cope with changing relationships with her Mom and her co-worker and surfer dude, Nick. Reinhardt’s characters, both teen and adult, are flawed, fully drawn, and gloriously human. Drew’s emotional progression throughout the novel is encapsulated in a quiet and profound way: “I didn’t want to be the sort of friend who dashes dreams. Friends, I was pretty sure, lift their friends up; they don’t weigh them down like a sack full of stones.” The Summer I Learned to Fly is a heart-warming and worthy reminder of the choice we all have: to weigh each other down, or to lift each other up. It is highly recommended for a broad audience, but for young girls this book will particularly resonate. Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Tami Oliphant Tami Oliphant is an assistant professor at the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta.
Branded by the Pink Triangle by K. Setterington
Authors: Anderson Sandra
Published: April 2016

Setterington, Ken. Branded by the Pink Triangle. Toronto, ON: Second Story Press, 2013. Print. One of the problems that gay youth face is that they do not grow up connected to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community history as there are no elders in their families that can tell them what it was like to be gay in days past.  This well written and engaging book tells the story of an important time in LGBT history as it documents the Nazi persecution of gay men in WWII and documents the first use of the pink triangle (today reclaimed as a symbol of gay pride) as a Nazi symbol of gay persecution.  Branded by the Pink Triangle seamlessly blends factual history with compelling narrative to engage teen readers. The book begins with a description of Berlin in the 1920s that was quite tolerant of lesbians and gay men and had many businesses that catered to the gay community.    The rise of the Nazi Party to political power brought a radical shift to German attitudes toward lesbians and gay men.  Tolerance ended and a law that had been rarely enforced before was suddenly used to round up and imprison gay men.  As the Nazis gained more power, they changed the law to send gay men to concentration camps where they were literally worked to death.  Setterington tells of the actual experiences of gay survivors of the concentration camps with compassion and includes many personal pictures that add depth to the stories.  He also provides a follow up chapter that shares what happened after the war to those gay men who survived the camps. One minor criticism of this text is that the treatment of these men by the Allies at the end of the war in handled a bit too briefly.  When the Allies liberated the concentration camps, they did not release gay prisoners.  These men were transferred to prisons and made to complete their sentences for just being homosexual. Branded by the Pink Triangle is highly recommended for school and public libraries as well as for junior and senior high social studies classrooms.Highly Recommended:  4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Sandra Anderson Sandra Anderson is the Librarian at the Alberta Teachers’ Association Library. Sandra loves connecting people to the information they need – whether it is in books or online.  She is an expert web searcher who has taught wb searching skills to a range of audiences.  She cares deeply about social justice, technology, and the environment.
Belle & Boo and the Yummy Scrummy Day by M. Sutcliffe
Authors: Jaca Joycelyn
Published: April 2016

Sutcliffe, Mandy. Belle & Boo and the Yummy Scrummy Day. Sydney: Orchard Books. 2013. Print.This beautifully illustrated book by Mandy Sutcliffe is about a little girl named Belle and her fussy-eater but funny friend bunny, Boo. Belle and Boo have many other fun-filled days of adventure and discovery, but in this one, the duo explores the orchard and the kitchen.Boo loves cakes and has all the excuses in the world to not eat nutritious food. Belle, on the other hand is a calm but “sneaky” cook who never forces her friend to eat healthy. Instead, she finds a way to lead Boo into trying yummy scrummy fruity things that are not cake!The story is simple, interesting and funny. It attempts to encourage kids to eat healthier but it does not lecture or preach so it is not at all boring.  ``Trying things first before saying you don`t like it`` could be the take-away message that young readers will get from this book.The language is age-appropriate and the length of the story is just right. The illustration is vintage-inspired and the colors used made each page attractive and pleasing to the eyes.Belle and Boo and the Yummy Scrummy Day is a book that elementary school libraries and public libraries should have. Parents with young children could definitely add this title to their bedtime stories booklist.Highly recommended:   4 stars out of 4 Reviewer:  Joycelyn JacaJoycelyn Jaca is a medical librarian with Alberta Health Services. She is a mother of three girls and is a frequent visitor of public libraries and bookstores to find children’s books.
Bon Appétit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child by J. Hartland
Authors: Desmarais Robert
Published: April 2016

Hartland, Jessie. Bon Appétit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2012. Print.Master chef and author Julia Child (1912–2004) was adored by audiences from the moment she first starred in her own television cooking show in 1963. It was an immediate success because people were captivated by Child’s warm, high-spirited personality and her enthusiasm for good food and wine. Indeed, she regularly toasted viewers with a glass of wine and her trademark “Bon appétit!” in her distinctive voice. Young readers are introduced to Child in this delightful picture book biography that is a feast for the eyes. It offers a surprisingly thorough account of her life, and includes scenes from her early childhood in Pasadena, California, her brief career with an American spy agency, and her struggle to publish the now famous “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”, to name but a few of the highlights. In one especially amusing spread, readers are shown how to make chicken galantine in 32 numbered panels, which make clear that Child encouraged her fans to try new foods and cooking techniques. Author-illustrator Jessie Hartland uses simple cartoons and a handwritten typeface to tell the story, and it is immediately apparent from the opening pages that the book is jam-packed with artwork and text, but the overall effect is one of considerable charm and animation. The endpapers are crammed with line drawings of kitchen tools, ingredients, and objects from Child’s life, which have English and French labels for readers who want to learn some essential vocabulary in both languages. For readers who want to learn more about Child, the book includes a useful bibliography, brief epilogue, and web links that show Child’s actual kitchen from her house in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the restaurant where she had her first meal in France. This adorable publication will appeal to foodies of all ages. Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 stars    Reviewer: Robert DesmaraisRobert Desmarais is Head of Special Collections at the University of Alberta and Managing Editor of The Deakin Review of Children’s Literature. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information Studies, with a Book History and Print Culture designation, he also has university degrees in English literature and publishing. He has been collecting and enjoying children’s books for as long as he can remember.
Every Day is Malala Day by R.A. McCarney & Plan International Canada
Authors: Aitken Leslie
Published: April 2016

McCarney, Rosemary A. and Plan International Canada.  Every Day is Malala Day.  Toronto: Second Story Press, 2014. Print.In 2013, Malala Yousafzai became the youngest person ever to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize: in 2014 she became the youngest person ever to win one.  This book is a simple and eloquent tribute to her achievement. Malala’s name and story have much contemporary resonance.  The Taliban’s attempted assassination of her in October of 2012 was instantly conveyed around the globe by the international media.  This Pakistani school girl, who was outspoken on the issue of female education, had been shot while riding innocently home on a school bus.  Flown to England, she was hospitalized, underwent surgery, fought for life and survived.  With recovery came renewed defiance of her would be assassins.  Malala continued to speak out in her cause — most notably at the United Nations Youth Assembly on July 12, 2013 where she riveted the attention not only of the 1000 delegates present, but also of the entire listening world. The Secretary General of the United Nations proclaimed that day to be “Malala Day.”The premise of McCarney’s book is that every day is “Malala Day” for some little girl, somewhere.  Plan International has contributed sensitive photographs from around the world attesting to McCarney’s theme: Malala’s courage and determination are a beacon of hope, a source of inspiration.This book details a piece of history not to be forgotten.  Buy it.  Buy it for your libraries and classrooms.  Buy it for the children you love — and their children.  Buy it for that bright and future day when all children, regardless of gender, have the opportunity to be educated, and a complacent world asks, “Was it not always thus?”Reviewer:  Leslie AitkenHighly recommended:  4 out of 4 starsLeslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special, and university collections.  She is a former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.
The Carnival at Bray by J. A. Foley
Authors: Marshall Kyle
Published: April 2016

Foley, Jessie Ann. The Carnival at Bray. Ashford, CT: Elephant Rock Books, 2014. Print.Amidst the grunge scene of 1993 Chicago, 16 year-old Maggie Lynch moves with her family to Ireland to live with her mother’s newest romantic partner. This transition from the relative anonymity of big-city life to a small town on the Irish Sea presents some adjustment issues for Maggie. The weather, scenery and accents all differ from back home, but most of all she misses her beloved Uncle Kevin, with his rock star ambitions and habit of quoting famous literature. Eventually, Maggie finds a small circle of friends in Bray - bookish and disciplined classmate Aíne, sweetly charming Eoin and pious nonagenarian Dan Sean - who help her to weather the storms of drama circling her volatile family life.When she stumbles upon a message from the past, Maggie is jolted from her everyday teenage anxieties to a more pressing adventure, taking her on a whirlwind trip to the continent. Along the way, she finds the love and happiness that have eluded her since her move to Ireland. Maggie’s experiences culminate in a newfound confidence that permits her to live with the intention and purpose she has sought.Jessie Ann Foley received a 2015 Printz Honor for this classic coming-of-age story, with intensely evocative storytelling that brings to life both the time - early 90s grunge music culture - and place - small town Ireland. The Carnival at Bray sets itself apart from other Irish settings in that the reader experiences the countryside from the fresh perspective of a young, untraveled American teen who is enamoured with the light, sea and bucolic landscapes that surround her. Foley tackles popular YA themes - teenage sex, parent-child relationships and drug addiction - with a candid yet tactful style that respects her audience’s maturity. If anything, the strength of her writing might leave the reader craving a more thorough exploration of Maggie’s relationships, which at points are incompletely examined. Foley’s story will appeal to grunge music enthusiasts and fans of coming-of-age novels, especially those who have enjoyed works by Jandy Nelson or Rainbow Rowell.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Kyle MarshallKyle Marshall is the School-Aged Services Intern Librarian for Edmonton Public Library. He graduated with his MLIS from the University of Alberta in June 2015, and is passionate about diversity in children's and youth literature.
All Fall Down: The Landslide Diary of Abby Roberts by J. Little
Authors: Deakin Andrea
Published: April 2016

Little, Jean. All Fall Down: The Landslide Diary of Abby Roberts. Toronto: Scholastic Canada, 2014. Print.The Dear Canada Series is a strong, well-written series of novels bringing different periods of Canadian history to life through the voices of girls living at the time. There is a constant high quality of writing throughout the series and the books cover both moments of high drama, like the Halifax explosion, and also descriptions of the continuing stress of displacement and immigration.Jean Little is a fine writer whose descriptions vividly bring a scene to life and whose compassion exposes character and allows the reader to become one with her heroine.All Fall Down is the story of the Frank Slide in Alberta in 1902, but it does not begin there. We meet Abby and her family in Montreal and are thrown headlong into her story with the first sentence: “This morning my father was killed.” There has been an industrial accident and the family is left in turmoil. Here we begin to see the stresses Abby’s mother faces- no money, a child with Down Syndrome, and three other children to care for. Help comes from her mother’s brother who has opened a hotel in Frank, Alberta. He offers to take them all in. A three day train journey from Montreal takes them to Frank where their uncle and aunt greet them with kindness and concern. Little builds the situation in Frank; the prejudice against the Down Syndrome little brother, the prejudice, also against a friend Abby makes - Bird, a First Nations girl, and the changes in Abby’s older brother and sister as they, too, have to find a new place in the tiny community.The plot lines are skilfully woven- Abby’s growing skills and abilities, the family finding a place in the community, disease ,and strained relations with the First Nations people to the extent of ignoring a continual warning from Bird’s grandfather that the mountain would walk.Then the mountain walks.The first part of the book enables the reader to become so familiar with the family and the Frank community that the tragedy is all the more telling.All Fall Down is a strong engaging story, all the more effective because of the compassion with which a skilful writer, like Jean Little, has brought her people to life.Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Andrea DeakinAndrea has been involved with books since she was class librarian in Primary School, Student Librarian in Grammar School, student librarian for the Education Faculty when she was a student, and school librarian in schools both in England and in Canada, except for the first two years in Canada where she arrived in 1959. When she retired from teaching ( English and History) she was invited to review in February 1971, and continued to review for press, radio, and finally on the Internet (Deakin Newsletter from Okanagan College) until she retired in 2011. Forty years seemed sufficient- although she still cannot keep her nose out of good children's and YA fare.
Red Queen by V. Aveyard
Authors: Manchakowsky Shawna
Published: April 2016

Aveyard, Victoria. Red Queen. New York: Harper Teen, 2015. Print.In a world where having red blood means you are nothing but the lowest kind of human and where having silver blood means you are a part of the God-like humans who have unique, individual powers, life is grueling when you are born with red blood.  Mare Barrow has chosen a life of crime to survive and knows she will soon be conscripted to fight in the war that no red returns from, just like her older brothers.  Her life changes when she gets a job at the palace and accidentally discovers she has a power too.  In order to hide this impossibility, the king betroths her to one of his sons.  What happens next is a story of rebellion, lies, love, loyalty, friendship and deceit.  In a place where it is red against silver and where loyalties can change, the side you choose will seal your fate.This teen book touched on many themes: friendship, class, siblings, unrequited love, family and war.  With this broad diversity of themes, Red Queen should appeal to many readers.  For me, however, it was not a book I would highly recommend.  For example, I found Mare to be one-dimensional in her character development.  She did not grow or change as much as I expected her to, especially when she came from such humble beginnings and travels to the grand palace.  There was a lot more violence than I thought was necessary as well, and the graphic descriptions made Red Queen less enjoyable.  It read more like an adult book than a teen book.  I would recommend this book with reservations to high school students in grades ten to twelve.Recommended with reservations: 2 out of 4 starsReviewer: Shawna ManchakowskyShawna Manchakowsky recently completed her MLIS at the University of Alberta.  When she is not working at Rutherford Library as a Public Service Assistant, she can be found with her husband parenting their two young girls; avoiding any kind of cooking; and reading for her two book clubs. In between book club titles, she tries to read as much teen fiction as she can get away with.
Max Finder Mystery Collected Casebook by C. Battle and R. Pérez
Authors: Huck John
Published: April 2016

Battle, Craig and Ramón Pérez. Max Finder Mystery Collected Casebook, Vol. 6, 2012. Toronto: Owlkids Books. Series created by Liam O’Donnell. Print. Max Finder comics will be familiar to readers of OWL magazine, where the comic strip has been a regular feature. The strip, originally created by Liam O’Donnell, is anthologized in the series Max Finder Mystery: Collected Casebook. The sixth volume in this series features the work of writer, Craig Battle and illustrator, Rámon Pérez, and includes ten illustrated stories, two textual stories, tips for holding a Max Finder mystery party and advice for teachers. Each strip sets up a perplexing mystery that youngster Max Finder and his friends unravel with keen observations and intricate deductions. Readers must study the details in the story and illustrations in order to match wits with the sleuths. It’s a bit like Encyclopedia Brown meets Where’s Waldo. The puzzles are not easy to figure out, and it takes discipline not to flip ahead to the answer. The dedicated reader, though, learns to exercise powers of careful reading (and seeing) not normally required for tweets and texts. The stories feature: a diverse cast of heroes and villains that seems designed to appeal to girls and boys; memorable situations (e.g., two competing house parties on the same night); and elements of contemporary culture (e.g., gaming tournaments). Readers are led to consider motive and opportunity, and look for logical inconsistencies. The collection is a convenient format for Max Finder fans who really want to dig in and flex their brains. It could also be an introduction to OWL magazine for some. Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: John HuckJohn Huck is a Metadata and Cataloguing Librarian at the University of Alberta. He holds an undergraduate degree in English literature and maintains a special interest in the spoken word. He is also a classical musician and has sung semi-professionally for many years.
The Phantom Tollbooth by N. Juster
Authors: Paterson Amy
Published: April 2016

Juster, Norton. The Phantom Tollbooth. 50th Anniversary Edition. Illus. Jules Feiffer.  New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. Print. The 50th Anniversary Edition of The Phantom Tollbooth is geared as much toward nostalgic adults as it is to a new generation of children. New introductions by the author himself, as well as fellow children’s author Maurice Sendak, accompany a slew of admiring essays by authors ranging from Suzanne Collins to Michael Chabon. The new hardcover edition retains all of the original maps and illustrations, as well as new and old photos of both Juster and Feiffer. As a child, I missed out on Norton Juster’s wonderful tale of Milo’s journey through the Kingdom of Wisdom; excited as I was to finally delve into a much-hyped classic, I was slightly nervous that my adult gaze would render its charms less pointed. Of course, I needn’t have worried. Juster’s prose highlights a keen ear for dialogue, and his rollicking imagination manifests itself in a mastery of wordplay. While children will delight in the many nonsensical games afoot, adults will marvel at the higher levels of logic that string the plot together. Of course, The Phantom Tollbooth’s madcap adventures may not have made such a lasting impact were it not grounded in the touching story of Milo’s growth from a bored, unsatisfied child to one who revels in the magic and mystery of the world around him. Juster’s story mimics the general experience of reading—where brief forays into magical kingdoms only serve to make our own world brighter and more marvelous. It would be difficult to leave this book without being somehow improved by it. While The Phantom Tollbooth will certainly appeal to young teens and pre-teens, younger children (ages 8-10) with high reading levels would perhaps appreciate a book that appeals to their complicated imaginations. However, if there were ever a book that was meant to be experienced by parents and children together, this is the one. The 50th Anniversary Edition is perfect for adults looking to share a childhood treasure with their own children and grandchildren. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Amy PatersonAmy Paterson is a Public Services Librarian at the University of Alberta’s H. T. Coutts Education Library. She was previously the Editor of the Dalhousie Journal of Interdisciplinary Management and is very happy to be involved in the Deakin Review and the delightful world of children’s literature.
Phenomenal Female Entrepreneurs by J. Bryant
Authors: Sherbaniuk Patti
Published: April 2016

Bryant, Jill. Phenomenal Female Entrepreneurs.  Second Story Press, Toronto, 2013. Print.Phenomenal Female Entrepreneurs is part of the Women’s Hall of Fame Series by Second Story Press and focuses (as the name implies) on women entrepreneurs in the business world.The book begins with an introduction that explains the meaning of “entrepreneur” and emphasizes the importance of women entrepreneurs in a traditionally male-dominated business world. The author presents some disturbing statistics and points out that although the numbers of women in business are improving, there is still a gap that needs to be addressed.The book goes on to examine 10 successful female entrepreneurs through the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries; each woman has her own chapter devoted to her life history, education, influences, and business philosophy.  These entrepreneurs are from a variety of countries (with a good representation of Canadian women) and ethnic backgrounds, and from a mixture of business fields: beauty products, retail, finance, technology, aviation, media, construction, and environmental causes.  The first two chapters are about “historical” figures who were particularly remarkable in that their businesses flourished despite being women during times when it was virtually unheard of that women could be successful in business.  What all the women in this book have in common is a drive and desire to make a difference, and to build thriving businesses based on trust and fairness. There are some good, solid “how-to” tips and suggestions of some helpful traits for success in the business world.There is a good comprehensive glossary of basic business terms at the end of the book.Phenomenal Female Entrepreneurs is a very interesting look at the lives of female entrepreneurs, their motivations for pursuing their business passions, and the obstacles they encountered and ultimately overcame.  The women examined in this book are groundbreaking, inspirational and have paved the way for other women in business.The language used is fairly advanced and for this reason I would recommend this book for older teens.Editor’s Note: Hear Jill Bryant talk about this book in an interview with the Deakin!Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Patti SherbaniukPatti is a Liaison Librarian at the Winspear School of Business at the University of Alberta. She holds a BA in English and an MLIS, both from the University of Alberta. She is passionate about food, travel, the arts and reading books of all shapes and sizes.