bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Obstacles and opportunities for literacy teaching: A case study of primary core French classrooms in Ontario.
Authors: Arnott Stephanie , Mady Callie 
Published: April 2016

More and more, Canadian educators are being told that literacy development can occur across subject areas of the curriculum. Few studies have focused on whether this applies to core French as a second language (CF). This article reports on a study investigating the literacy teaching practices of Ontario primary core French teachers (n = 3), focusing mainly on the practices of Christine, whose activities, strategies and perspectives highlight the potential for CF instruction to echo literacy principles taught in homeroom English (L1) classrooms, and for both languages to benefit. Context-specific constraints identified by all participating teachers will also be discussed.
Exploring Young Children’s Use of Illustrations in a Picturebook
Authors: Feathers Karen M. , Arya Poonam 
Published: April 2016

Using analysis of oral reading and eye movements, this study examined how third grade children used visual information as they orally read either the original or the adapted version of a picturebook. Eye tracking was examined to identify when and why students focused on images as well as what they looked at in the images. Results document children’s deliberate use of images and point to the important role of images in text processing. The content of images, availability and placement of text and images on a page, and children’s personal strategies affected the use of images.
Les deux amoureux par G. Tibo
Authors: Gomez Leticia 
Published: April 2016

Tibo, Gilles. Les deux amoureux. Soulières Éditeur. Collection : ma petite vache à mal aux pattes. Saint-Lambert (Québec), 2014. Imprimé.Les deux amoureux est le dernier roman jeunesse de Gilles Tibo qui s’est inspiré de sa propre enfance pour écrire ce petit ouvrage de quarante-six pages aux illustrations très réalistes. Gilles Tibo est un auteur productif qui a déjà quatorze romans à son actif. C’est un écrivain à succès dont sept de ses livres ont été traduits en coréen et dont trois sont maintenant épuisés, signe incontesté de son talent.Claire et Gilou sont deux jeunes écoliers qui tombent amoureux l’un de l’autre à la récréation. L’amour va les rendre plus fort, notamment envers les adultes qui ne semblent pas comprendre l’intensité des sentiments partagés par ces deux élèves. Peu importe ce que les grandes personnes en pensent, Claire et Gilou ont décidé de ne pas se lâcher la main et de tout faire ensemble; ce qui ne va pas être sans conséquence.Leur histoire d’amour commence dans la cours de récréation alors que tout le monde jouait. Soudain, comme par miracle, les yeux de Claire rencontrèrent ceux de Gilou et le coup de foudre fût instantané. L’amour les tétanise et les empêche même de retourner en classe lorsque la cloche sonne. Ils sont donc envoyés chez monsieur le directeur qui tente de leur faire entendre raison. Mais c’est peine perdu, les deux amoureux n’ont que faire du discours des adultes. À bout de patience, le directeur fait appel à l’orthopédagogue qui à son tour fait appel au professeur de gym. Mais aucun d’eux n’arrivent à convaincre les tourtereaux de se lâcher la main, ni même leurs parents qui finissent par perdre patience.L’histoire d’amour entre ces deux jeunes enfants parait peu réaliste du fait de l’intensité du coup de foudre. Il semblerait que la romance du Claire et Gilou soit plutôt de l’ordre du symbolique mais elle n’en demeure pas moins poignante. En effet, Claire et Gilou peuvent se comprendre sans même se parler, indice d’une maturité émotionnelle hors du commun voire même surnaturelle. L’histoire d’amour racontée dans ce roman jeunesse, fait sans aucun doute réfléchir sur la force et le pouvoir du sentiment amoureux chez les enfants. Il nous montre que l’amour est un sentiment universel qui n’est pas uniquement réservé aux adultes, bien au contraire. L’histoire est racontée pour la plus part par un narrateur externe, dans un français standard, facilement compréhensible pour les enfants âgés d’au moins six ans. La présence de courts dialogues vient animer ce petit livre que je recommande à tous les parents dont les enfants, garçons et filles, seront un jour ou l’autre amoureux.Note : 3 étoilesAuteur de la critique : Leticia GomezLeticia étudie au Campus Saint-Jean depuis deux ans où elle effectue un baccalauréat en éducation secondaire avec une majeure en littérature. Elle écrit également des critiques littéraires pour le Franco, un journal francophone local.
Bird & Squirrel On The Run! by J. Burks
Authors: Pendry Annabelle 
Published: April 2016

Burks, James. Bird & Squirrel On The Run! New York: Scholastic Graphix, 2012. Print. After years as an artist in the hallways of the animation industry, author/illustrator James Burks takes an unlikely duo on an adventure of discovered friendship. Timid Squirrel, complete with winter food preparations and a fear of almost everything (“Don’t you know that cats are responsible for 47 percent of all squirrel deaths each year?”), suddenly loses his winter safety net in dramatic fashion, catching the hungry eye of a determined and ferocious cat. Squirrel has no choice but to grudgingly pair himself with the animal responsible for his loss, an adventurous Bird who brazenly lives in the moment (“The world is our oyster!”) but who attracts trouble with every swoop of his wing. Together they venture south to find warmth and food, dodging their persistently predatory cat and other natural hazards but find help along the way from a kind family of moles. A few shared life and death adventures later, Bird and Squirrel begin to appreciate and learn from each other’s ways, discovering new aspects of their own personalities while becoming true friends in the process. ​ Burks uses clean lines and brightly coloured characters against more neutral backgrounds to frame clear and simple facial expressions that will appeal to younger readers. The fast paced story is presented with minimal change in perspective and timeline which makes this an ideal introduction to graphic novels for younger readers. ​​ Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Annabelle Pendry Annabelle Pendry loves her job as Teacher Librarian at Mount Pleasant Elementary in Vancouver, BC.
Picture a Tree by B. Reid
Authors: Campbell Sandy 
Published: April 2016

Reid, Barbara. Picture a Tree. Toronto: North Winds Press, 2011. Print. The cover notes for this picture book tell us to “Picture a tree – now look again!” Award winning Toronto author and illustrator, Barbara Reid, encourages readers to see not just the trees, but how people use them, what they mean and what we can see in them. However it is not just the trees that demand a second look. The book itself is the most amazing collection of artwork – all made of plasticine, a modeling clay! On each page showing a tree in leaf, there are hundreds of tiny plasticine leaves. When Reid shows us a street scene where the trees make a leafy tunnel, the street, the cars, the house fronts and the people walking their dog are all fine plasticine work. When she shows us shade trees as umbrellas, not only is the woman with the baby and the man on a scooter made of the plasticine, the shadow cast by the tree is, too. As the book moves through the seasons from spring to winter, Reid really does find many different ways to look at trees. She sees the leafless branches as a drawing against the sky, falling leaves as a good-bye party and snow-covered trees as trees in snowsuits. The text is brief and easy to read; no more than a single sentence on each page. The concepts and words are simple enough for children ages three and up to enjoy. Most children reading this book will not see the artwork as different from any other illustration. It is only in the expanses of sky or snow that it is easy to see the plasticine. Because of this, parents will enjoy Picture a Tree on a different level from the children with whom they share it. Highly recommended for public and elementary school libraries. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Sandy Campbell Sandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines. Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.
The Fire Horse Girl by K. Honeyman
Authors: Graas Erin 
Published: April 2016

Honeyman, Kay. The Fire Horse Girl. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books - Scholastic Inc, 2013. Ebook.What would you do if you had a chance to be free? In the novel, The Fire Horse Girl, the protagonist Jade Moon dreams of escaping her traditional Chinese household where it seems she can do nothing right. Born in the Year of the Fire Horse, a particularly bad year for girls to be born, Jade Moon is destined to bring tragedy to her family, or so she has been raised to believe. When a visitor comes to the small village of Jinjiu on the last day of the Year of the Water Dog, February 15, 1923, Jade Moon’s life changes forever.Sterling Moon has come with a proposal for Jade Moon’s father: come to America, and save your family from poverty and subsistence. As with all decisions in the household, Jade Moon is never consulted, but finds herself traveling first to Hong Kong, and then America. The promises of a new land and the supposed freedoms it offer are intoxicating, and author Kay Honeyman does an excellent job of helping the reader feel the anticipation and excitement that Jade Moon experiences. When not everything goes as planned, the reader is completely enthralled in Jade Moon’s attempts to get out of trouble alive. This is a story of immigration, racism, culture shock, traditions held onto and traditions torn away; a story of China and America in the past, with so much to teach the reader about the ramifications for the present and future. The author has created a world that is easy to fall into, and hard to forget.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Erin Graas
Gift Days by K.-L. Winters
Authors: Law Margaret 
Published: April 2016

Winters, Kari-Lynn. Gift Days. Illus. Stephen Taylor. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2012. Print.A young Ugandan girl, Nassali, watches her brother go to school every day, and wishes she could go too. She wants to learn to read but her time is filled with taking care of her family, her responsibility since the death of her mother. How her life changes, and how she learns to read is told through this picture book. The author, Kari-Lynn Winters, is a Canadian author and literacy researcher and a faculty member in Teacher Education at Brock University. She is a well-known author of numerous picture books.The book is illustrated by Stephen Taylor, a graduate of the Ontario College of Art, and frequent Illustrator of children’s books. The illustrations are charming and add a great deal of depth to the story. They do an excellent job of conveying how alone and left out Nassali feels as her brother goes to school every day, and her joy and sense of pride when she learns to read.The story unfortunately, is not as engaging as the illustrations. The language is quite dry and somewhat didactic, seemingly at odds with the picture book format. There are some disconnections in the story. It is unclear, for example, why the brother decides to teach Nassali to read. For this reason it is difficult to determine the intended audience. The format suggests primary school students, but the content suggests an older audience.This book would be useful as an instructional resource in an elementary school setting for a unit on gender issues or development. It is not, however, likely to engage a self-directed reader of any age.Reviewer: Margaret Law Recommended with reservations: 2 out of 4 starsMargaret Law is the Associate University Librarian (International Relations) at the University of Alberta, responsible for developing international library partnerships. Previously, she was a public librarian, primarily involved with the development of rural libraries in Alberta.
Oddrey by D. Whamond
Authors: Deakin Andrea 
Published: April 2016

Whamond, Dave. Oddrey. Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2012. Print Oddrey is different. "Her father said she danced to the beat of her own drum" - and a creative and colourful dance it is. Even her dog says, "Meow". When the children build snowmen Oddrey creates a colourful igloo. When the children have light bulbs of understanding, Oddrey has an elaborate chandelier. With Oddrey, all things are colourful, different and new. It is difficult, but inspiring, to sing in the rain when everyone else is miserably wet. It is hard to be cheery when others do not understand or appreciate you. "Sometimes Oddrey felt lonely." Everything changes when the good-natured Oddrey, cast against type as a very plain tree in "The Wizard of Oz", realizes that all is not going well and sets about helping the other students to remember their lines and dealing with a damaged stage set. Not only are her classmates grateful and accepting, they take a creative leaf from Oddrey's book and shine in their own way. This is a book to share, for there is so much to find in pictures that express, comment on, and enlarge the story. Lonely Oddrey works a complicated cat's cradle while lines of children strictly follow each other through the play station. After Oddrey's rescue, the same area is surrounded by children, hanging from the station, skidding down the slides in all kinds of inventive dress, walking on their hands, riding unicycles, all freed to be creative and adventurous, by a happy Oddrey. Dave Whamond's book is an engaging and witty celebration of creativity and an endorsement of being truly, and without fear, yourself. Oddrey's positive and sunny attitude enriches those around her and allows them to reach out and experiment too. Recommendation: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Andrea DeakinAndrea has been involved with books since she was class librarian in Primary School; she later served as 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.
Gabby, Drama Queen by J. Grant
Authors: Aitken Leslie 
Published: April 2016

Grant, Joyce. Gabby, Drama Queen. Illus. Jan Dolby. Markham, Ontario: Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 2013. Print.This book is best described as “busy.” The plot is both imaginative and complex, busying itself with a subplot—a play within a story, and incorporating spelling and phonics as integral elements of the text. The book features appended activity pages.Briefly, the protagonists, Gabby and Roy, become actors, bringing their stage and props into existence through the magic of letters spilled from a picture book Conveniently, they create a stage, a crown, and a stream. Children will probably not notice (but reading teachers will) that the story is a good introduction to lessons on consonant blends.The illustrations are cheerful, whimsical, and, once again, busy; they should engage a child’s attention. Still, regarding the beginning reader, the book is inherently problematic. The child who is only just beginning to sound out and spell the words “crown” and “stream” will not be able to read independently such sentences as “Queen Gabriella swanned dramatically onto the stage.”If the book is to fulfill its dual purposes of instructing and entertaining the child reader, its first reading, at least, will require adult assistance. This reviewer would suggest de-emphasizing the didactic elements, and letting the playfulness of the storyline carry the day. Reviewer: Leslie AitkenRecommended: 3 stars out of 4Leslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special, and university collections. She is the former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.
The Phar Lap Mystery by S. Masson
Authors: Campbell Sandy 
Published: April 2016

Masson, Sophie. The Phar Lap Mystery. Sydney, Aust.: Scholastic, 2010. Print The end notes of this historical novel describe the details of the remarkable Australian racehorse, Phar Lap, who, in the difficult times of the Great Depression, gave Australians something positive to think about. The cover image, from the collection of the State Library of Victoria, shows the big red horse in full stride, tail flying, jockey crouched behind his neck, reigns pulled tight. While the novel tracks alongside the historical story, it is a delightfully written account presented as a two-year diary of an eleven year-old girl. Diarist, Sally Fielding, is very conscious of the fact that she is writing for posterity. She begins her September 19, 1931 entry with “Hill Stakes Day, and the best day ever! I want to write down absolutely everything, to remember it all.” Author, Sophie Masson, who has written more than fifty juvenile novels, gives the reader a good snapshot of life in the 1930’s in urban Eastern Australia. From the “chooks” in the back yard, to the fancy hats of the well-to-do ladies at the Rosehill racecourse, to the seedy characters from the underbelly of the racing industry, Masson’s detailed descriptions help to draw us into Sally’s world. Aussie slang is sprinkled throughout the book to add to the “down-under” flavour. “Strewth”, which is a mild oath like “crikey” appears often. Sally refers to a young man with whom she is not impressed, as a “real mick”, denies that she’s a “stickybeak” when she really has been snooping and has a “slap up” lunch, which is a very good one. The story stretches over two years beginning with Sally’s private detective father first being engaged to try to find out who took a shot at Phar Lap and ends with Sally and her father going to America when Phar Lap is taken there to race. Sally’s diary chronicles her reactions to the various dangerous twists and turns of the case, her father’s on-again, off-again romance, and Sally’s general chatter about friends and events around her. The family’s economic struggles are ever-present. Occasionally readers are treated to a facsimile of a real newspaper article or a letter, which is “glued” into the volume, reinforcing the illusion that you really are reading someone’s diary. Overall this is a thoroughly enjoyable read that captures your attention and holds it through to the surprising ending. The Phar Lap Mystery will appeal to readers from pre-teens through adults and especially to readers who love horses. Highly recommended for junior high and high school libraries, as well as public libraries everywhere.Reviewer: Sandy CampbellHighly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsSandy 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.
A Stranger at Home: A True Story by C. Jordan-Fenton & M. Pokiak-Fenton
Authors: De Vos Gail 
Published: April 2016

Jordan-Fenton, Christy and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton. Illus. Liz Amini-Holmes. A Stranger at Home: A True Story. Toronto: Annick Press, 2011. Print. This straightforward and powerful sequel to Fatty Legs begins with Margaret’s return after her two year travail in residential school. Her eager anticipation quickly turns to bewilderment when she no longer feels part of her family or culture due to the changes she has been forced to undergo: English is now her first language of communication, her stomach cannot accept the once familiar foods, she is anxious about the possible damnation of her family members because of the lack of prayers in the family home. Margaret’s memories, thoughts and experiences, captured by her daughter-in-law, are presented in an accessible and believable manner. Margaret’s father is the one stable anchor on her return to a home that has become almost as foreign to her as was the school she just left. Besides the changes in family dynamics, Margaret is also presented with concrete examples of fears of the unknown and unfamiliar in the wider community with the presence of the trapper the people call the Du-bil-ak (the devil). Margaret points out that his skin colour is similar to that of Lena Horne, her father’s favourite singer, but this does not lessen her fear of the man either. Margaret’s major solace during this difficult year of transformation and searching for her identity is reading and rereading. As she regains her sense of herself through her reading concrete experiences with the dog team and her family, she develops the strength she needs to fulfil her father’s wishes to return to the detested school with her younger sisters. Accompanied by colourful and expressive illustrations as well as relevant photographs, the setting and people of home are vivid and present for the reader. The footnotes supply readers with explanations of Inuit terms and cultural practices. A brief account of the practice of residential schools follows the narrative. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Gail de Vos Gail de Vos, an adjunct instructor, teaches courses on Canadian children's literature, Young Adult Literature and Comic Books and Graphic Novels at the School of Library and Information Studies for the University of Alberta and is the author of nine books on storytelling and folklore. She is a professional storyteller and has taught the storytelling course at SLIS for over two decades.
Night Sky Wheel Ride by S. Fitch
Authors: Frail Kim 
Published: April 2016

Fitch, Sheree. Night Sky Wheel Ride. Illus. Yayo. Vancouver : Tradewind Books, 2012. Print.Fans of Sheree Fitch will not be disappointed by the magical dream world circus presented in "Night Sky Wheel Ride". Young readers are drawn into the ethereal journey by the main characters as they wonder if they are up to the challenge of riding the big wheel: "Are we big enough this year, Mama? Are we brave enough, Brother? Sister are you ready to fly?" This book will work well as a bedtime or naptime story as Fitch's rhymes and scenarios are a little softer and less gregarious than some of her other books. For example, the siblings contemplate the night sky as they enjoy the ride: "Swinging, swaying, staying / up top the stopped ferris wheel / Dizzy-dazed we gaze upfeel the moon's breath on our faces/soft as dandelion's fuzz". However, there are certainly bursts of action and energy often accented by onomatopoeic words, such as when the children first take flight: “Hop up to knee knock rockety rock swiggle sway creak squeak rickety ratcheting up! up! up!”Illustrator Yayo's images are bright, whimsical and echo a child's imagination and point of view where everyday objects morph into magic: a roller coaster glides along the curved edges of a laundry basket while the big wheel can be seen inside the spinning drum of a washing machine. There are forests of cotton candy, and the colourful dots of people “waayyy down on the ground” are drawn as "dancing jellybeans". The back and front covers and inside pages are particularly attractive as they feature phosphorescent images on a dark background.Throughout the story the text is woven in and out of the illustrations to reflect the movements of the main characters and other objects. This helps to engage readers without hindering the storyteller as the text is large and legible. According the publisher's web site it is recommended for ages 3-4. It would make an excellent addition to a home, school or public library picture book collection.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Kim FrailKim is a Public Services Librarian at the H.T. Coutts Education Library at the University of Alberta. Children’s literature is a big part of her world at work and at home. She also enjoys gardening, renovating and keeping up with her kids.