bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
It’s Our Nature by R. Orozoco
Authors: Smith Jorden 
Published: April 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Szpirglas, Jeff. You Just Can’t Help It: Your Guide to the Wild and Wacky World of Human Behavior, Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2010. Print. The publisher describes this brightly coloured and heavily-illustrated book as “The Naked Ape meets MAD Magazine”. It is a fun and irreverent look at what makes people behave the way they do. The four chapters cover senses, emotions, communication and interactions with other people and the world around us. The presentation of the material is excellent for the upper elementary (ages 9-12) audience. Throughout there are different fonts, shapes, styles, colours and media. One page contains many elements including sidebars, boxes, cartoons, drawings, photographs. On each page there is something fun. For example on page 19, which covers the subject of kissing, facts about kissing are listed as “The Good”, “The Gross” and “The Unusual”. There is also a photograph of a cat with oversized red whiskers drawn in. The most amusing, though, is the composite picture of a robin with worms in its beak, looking like it is about to drop them into the open mouth of a human baby. The text includes many subjects that will interest pre-teens such as hand-gestures, personal space, slang, lying and fear. The language is age appropriate and there are occasional activities for readers to try. Szpirglas uses attention-grabbing headings to present facts. For example, “Stinky Snarl” introduces a paragraph on facial responses to bad smells. An experiment on reflex and emotional tears is titled “a real tearjerker”. This book is a nice blend of fun, fact and learning. Highly recommended for school and public libraries. Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines. Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.
I Spy with My Little Eye by E. Gibbs
Authors: Frail Kim 
Published: April 2016

Gibbs, Edward. I Spy with My Little Eye. Somerville, Mass: Templar Books/Candlewick Press, 2011. Print. I Spy is a superbly illustrated book that helps young readers learn about animals and colours using the popular game. Each animal is introduced through a cutout that reveals a small section of the creature, along with a clue. For example: “I spy with my little eye…something that is blue…I am the biggest animal in the whole world,” to which the answer is a whale. Turning the page reveals a striking two-page image of the animal. Each animal is drawn from a monochromatic colour palette: the polar bear is mostly white with some grey and cool blue tones while the fox is fiery red and orange. Each of these watercolour images is accentuated with wild black slashes and curlicues to define the animal’s features. The last page features the silhouettes of the seven featured animals and a cutout right through the back of the book with the caption: “What can you spy with your little eye?” The large font and images coupled with the “I spy” formula is sure to entice children. Additionally, clever design elements and the overall aesthetic value of the book will encourage parents and teachers to add it to their collections. For example, the back and front cover open to form the face of a frog. When the book is closed, the cutout through the back rests against the page featuring the seven animal silhouettes. The black silhouette of the whale’s tale in front of a yellow moon is framed within the circular cutout thus creating the frog’s eye on the back cover. According to the Candlewick Press website, Edward Gibb has worked in the creative design business for over 25 years, and this is his first effort as a children’s author/illustrator. This book is recommended for children aged 2-5yrs, and I am eagerly awaiting Gibbs’ next publication. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Kim FrailKim is a Public Services Librarian at the H.T. Coutts Education Library at the University of Alberta. Children’s literature is a big part of her world at work and at home. She also enjoys gardening, renovating and keeping up with her two-year old.