bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Long, Long Line by T. Ohmura
Authors: Feisst Debbie 
Published: April 2016

Ohmura, Tomoko. The Long, Long Line. Toronto, ON: OwlKids Books, 2013. Print."Thank you for waiting, and welcome aboard! One at a time, please!" mentions the bird, who is the ride guide on this mysterious ride for which 50 different animals have patiently lined up. As they wait, the bird flies amongst them, offering reassuring words as they guess as to what they may be in line for and play word games to pass the time. The anticipation builds, and finally they start boarding the ride, which turns out to be a very large whale on which the animals ride while the whale performs somersaults, dives and sprays. Children will be delighted by all 50 animals represented on the large gatefold spread in the center of the book, from the smallest frog to the largest elephant.Children will love the small details such as the tail of the next animal in line ‘peeking’ around the corner of the page and the size of the animals increasing as they get closer to the ride giving perspective of size. A list of all 50 animals is included at the back for easy reference when young readers get stumped by a species. While this is indeed a picture book aimed at young children it is no quick read – children will want to hear every word of the animals’ conversations as they wait and will want to count as they go, and likely once all the animals are aboard the whale they will want to confirm there are indeed 50 animals present, perhaps multiple times.The colourful illustrations by the author are cute and engaging and show a wide range of expressions and interplay between the animals. The language felt slightly unnatural but this may be a result of this edition being a translation of the original Japanese work Nanno Gyoretsu? A fun book for public and elementary schools as well as a nice addition to science or math based storytime in lower elementary grades.The Long, Long Line was selected as one of the best children’s books of 2013 by Kirkus Reviews.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.
Really and Truly by E. Rivard
Authors: Roberts Brenda 
Published: April 2016

Rivard, Émilie. Really and Truly. Illus. Anne-Claire Delisle. Trans. Sarah Quinn. Toronto: Owlkids Books Inc., 2011. Print. Prolific Quebec author Émilie Rivard departs from her usual novel format in the picture book, Really and Truly. Really and Truly describes the loving relationship between Charlie and his grandfather, a master storyteller. Grandpa’s stories are fabulous and Charlie becomes immersed in the tales of pirates, gnomes and witches. Grandpa has an imaginative explanation for everything and Charlie is mesmerized. Every story ends with the line, “Really and truly, Charlie.” Time passes, Charlie gets older and Grandpa changes as a disease “eats up his memory and his words”. Visit after visit Grandpa becomes less responsive, leaving Charlie and his family heartbroken. During one visit, Charlie remembers a story his Grandpa used to tell and decides to tell it back to Grandpa. For the first time in a long time, he catches his Grandpa’s attention. At each visit, Charlie tells another story eventually eliciting a small smile from Grandpa. This is an endearing story about family relationships and the difficulties of dealing with dementia. Clever illustrations complement the straightforward text. Grandpa’s and Charlie’s stories are illustrated in black and white on top of the coloured illustrations of reality. This would be a good read aloud for primary-junior students, providing a vehicle for discussions about family stories, grandparents, and Alzheimer’s disease. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Brenda Roberts Brenda Roberts is the teacher-librarian at Edenbrook Hill Public School in Brampton, Ontario and is working on her M.Ed. in teacher-librarianship from the University of Alberta. When not devouring books, she enjoys travel, quilting, music and gardening.
Get Well Soon, Grandpa! by A. Swerts & J. Bakker
Authors: Chan Liza 
Published: April 2016

Swerts, An, and Jenny Bakker. Get Well Soon, Grandpa! New York: Clavis, 2013. Print. Get Well Soon, Grandpa! is written by An Swerts and beautifully illustrated by Jenny Bakker. This 2013 English edition is translated from the original Dutch title, Lieve opa, ik help je wel (2012). It tells the heart-warming story of a caring strawberry-haired girl, Faye, her doting Grandpa Bert, and their experiences of dealing with Grandpa Bert’s unexpected health issue, a stroke.The story starts with Faye’s exciting sleepover with Grandpa Bert. Their close relationship and fun together are evident in their messy pancake-cooking, habitual bedtime stories, and Faye’s special role in Grandpa Bert’s morning shaving rituals. The story is well paced and satisfyingly realistic and whimsical. Young readers would gain insight that a stroke can happen suddenly, and a child, like Faye, can react calmly and appropriately. The medical aspect of stroke is skillfully and aptly explained through colourful lovely images and Faye’s simple questions and dialogue with a gentle physician. The story shows that when an aging relative sustains a stroke, it can be a confusing, stressful, and worrisome time for both young children and adults, as experienced by Faye and Faye’s mother. For passionate and eager Faye, being unfamiliar with the hospital environment and rules, she devises a special and bold plan to make sure Grandpa Bert’s hospital stay is not lonely over the summer, and that he gets to see his dog, Toby.Another noteworthy element of the story is that it superbly highlights the multidisciplinary and rehabilitative nature of stroke therapy with visits from Tom, the physical therapist, and Lena, the speech therapist. Their interactions with Grandpa Bert and Faye are friendly and beneficial. Finally, the move-in of Grandpa Bert to Faye’s home and her ability to help with Grandpa Bert’s exercises and activities of daily living indicate the importance of family’s love, adjustment and involvement in the healing process.With an age-appropriate portrayal of stroke and its manifestation, and the admirable bond between a grandparent and grandchild, this is an excellent book for public libraries and elementary school libraries.Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Liza ChanLiza Chan is a Research Librarian, cross-appointed at Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions and University of Alberta John W. Scott Health Sciences Libraries. She is also a proud auntie to 2 nephews, with whom she often enjoys visiting local libraries.
Nokum is My Teacher by D. Bouchard
Authors: Cardinal Trudy , Swanson Cindy 
Published: April 2016

Bouchard, David. Nokum is My Teacher. Markham: Red Deer Press, 2006. Print.Through the creation of conversational inquiry, David Bouchard’s award-winning picture book Nokum is My Teacher carries the reader on a beautiful journey between a young Cree boy and his Nokum, his grandmother. The journey honours both the Cree and English languages by including the dual text in columns throughout the book. This format invites us to imagine the dialogue occurring in either language as the boy questions his place on the school landscape. He asks his grandmother for guidance and wonders how relevant his school learning is in his life when held in contrast to his experiences and knowing alongside his Cree family. Interwoven throughout the conversation, his grandmother responds to his wonders with questions as she gently guides him to seek answers from within his heart. Recognizing the importance of his traditional knowledge and ways of living alongside his Nokum, he begins to also see the value of the knowledge he will gain from his experiences in school. The young boy, steeped in his Nokum’s wisdom comes to see how new ways of knowing are essential in his life so he may continue to share his stories and experiences in multiple ways. Allen Sapp’s picturesque illustrations exquisitely show both contemporary and traditional Cree lives and invites readers to reflect on their own stories around the importance of place, family and community. A compact disc is included containing a reading of the story in English and Cree with the Cree reading accompanied by the award-winning Aboriginal drumming group, Northern Cree. The images in the book, the dual text, and the CD offer multiple ways for readers to experience this story with the rhythmic heartbeat of the drum bringing it to life.While this is a children's picture book it will appeal to all ages. We would recommend it be used in every classroom from elementary through to post-secondary as a way to invite conversation about the tensions children and families negotiate as they travel between home and school and as a way to honour multiple ways of knowing.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewers: Cindy Swanson & Trudy CardinalDoctoral candidate Cindy Swanson and Dr. Trudy Cardinal are Cree/Métis scholars from the University of Alberta whose research interests center on the experiences of Indigenous children and families on and off school landscapes. Both share a passion for children’s literature, especially literature written by and portraying the multiplicities in the lives of Indigenous youth and families.
Living Rough by C. Watson
Authors: Blackwood Melissa 
Published: April 2016

Watson, Cristy. Living Rough. Victoria: Orca Book Publishers, 2011. Print. Another thought-provoking and poignant topic delivered by the Orca Current Series of books for reluctant middle-school readers. Edgar is a smart teen, living a rough life in an urban modern society. He has a well-kept secret he hasn’t shared with anyone, not even his best friend Ben. Edgar and his father are homeless. After his mother died of cancer, his father became depressed, lost his job and house. They had no choice but to move into a tent close to town. A turn in the story twists Edgar’s life around. A storm strikes that destroys their tent and injures his father. Edgar must decide what to do with his secret, as sustaining this lifestyle is not an option. He must decide if it's time to share with the world the issues related to homelessness. This contemporary realistic fiction discusses the controversial issue of homelessness through a child’s eyes. Edgar encounters familiar teen issues of bullying, intimidation, cliques, inner conflict, and first love. Canadian author and teacher Cristy Watson writes a realistic dialogue in life-like school settings in this, her second addition to the Orca Current series. A progressive chronological plot strongly develops Edgar’s character and his secret adds suspense throughout the novel that will maintain the reader’s interest. This hi-lo novel, set in British Columbia, with short chapters and large font, will appeal to reluctant readers ages ten to fifteen. Expressing the important themes of friendship, compassion, responsibility, and the complexity of homelessness, this novel can be integrated into a social studies or health curriculum. Living Rough is a fast-paced novel with an audience-pleasing resolution. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Melissa Blackwood Melissa Blackwood is a Primary/Elementary teacher, presently completing a Master of Education in Teacher-Librarianship with the University of Alberta.
The Dreaded Ogress of the Tundra by N. Christopher
Authors: Campbell Sandy 
Published: April 2016

Christopher, Neil. The Dreaded Ogress of the Tundra. Iqaluit: Inhabit Media, 2015. PrintAmautaliit are giant ogresses who eat small children. They roam the Arctic tundra looking for unsupervised children such as orphans or those who have wandered away from camp. They sneak up on the children, capture and carry them away in their disgusting baskets containing rotting seaweed and giant bugs. These stories have two themes. First, they are cautionary tales designed to keep children from wandering away from camps and villages. Second, they usually show the children using their ingenuity or ancient magic to escape the not-too-smart amautaliit.This is an updated and revised version of Christopher’s 2009 volume, Stories of the Amautalik, which contains versions of the two stories presented in this work. However, this edition of the book is more like a junior handbook to amautaliit (plural of amautalik). While this book has many illustrations which are appropriately dark, scary and creepy, there is much more text than one usually finds in an Inhabit Media book. At least half of the pages are full text and like Stories of the Amautalik, the reading level is high for young children. The book includes a seven-page introduction to amautaliit, which describes who these creatures are, their clothing, their baskets, their caves and how they hunt small children. At the end of the book there is an “Other Ogres and Ogresses” section, which gives single page, illustrated descriptions of similar creatures, including a giant spider that assumes a human-like form. Even though this is a revision of an earlier work that many libraries will have, the expanded content would make it a useful addition to libraries with children’s collections, and particularly to academic libraries that collect works on Arctic myths and legends.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.
Home in Time for Dinner by K. Ellis
Authors: Campbell Sandy 
Published: April 2016

Ellis, Kathryn. Home in Time for Dinner. Markham, ON: Red Deer Press, 2012. Print.From the author of the book Degrassi Junior High and scripts for the original Degrassi Junior High television show, comes a story about a thirteen-year-old boy who has grown up in Texas, not knowing that is father had abducted him from his Canadian mother in a nasty divorce and custody battle. Ellis is definitely in tune with teenage boys. She flawlessly takes the reader through Chris Ramsey’s discovery that he is one of the “missing children” profiled on television, his plan to escape and his flight to Canada. By presenting the story through Chris’s eyes, Ellis draws the reader into the world of a confused and distressed, but determined teenager.Ellis masterfully responds to all of the obvious objections to the events in the story. Why doesn’t Chris just go to the police? His father has taught him to fear and avoid the police. Chris makes terrible errors in judgement on his journey, but we know that his father has always controlled him, and not allowed him to make decisions, so he has little experience with it. Remarkably, his mother still lives in the same apartment in Kingston, but Ellis tells us that she’s been waiting for him to return. So while, objectively, the plot is too tidy, it doesn’t seem that way when you are reading the story. The one point that really stretches the suspension of disbelief is Chris’ being easily smuggled across the border. While the plot line is simple, Ellis has a knack for getting at the essence of a situation in just a few words. Whether the alcoholic former preacher who gives Chris a ride, the manipulative Moth who gives a him a place to sleep and then robs him or the moment when Chris’s mother recognizes her child who has been missing for years, Ellis creates unforgettable characters and scenes. This is one of the best young adult novels that I have read recently. It is not a high literary work, but it is a good read and would be a great addition to public and junior high school libraries. Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4 Reviewer: Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines. Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.
Brave Music of a Distant Drum by M. Herbstein
Authors: Quirk Linda 
Published: April 2016

Herbstein, Manu. Brave Music of a Distant Drum. Markham, ON: Red Deer Press, 2011. Print. This is a powerful and thought-provoking novel, which offers remarkable insights into one of the darkest chapters in human history. South African author Manu Herbstein was awarded the 2002 Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for Ama: A Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade, and in Brave Music of a Distant Drum, Herbstein re-imagines Ama’s story for a younger, North American audience. The novel chronicles the meeting between an elderly woman at the end of her life and the son who does not remember or understand her. It soon becomes clear that the divide which separates mother and son cannot be overcome until he listens to her story. Kidnapped as a teenager by Bedagbam slave raiders, young Ama was traded several times by powerful slave owners in Africa before she found herself on a slave ship bound for South America. Now elderly and blind, Ama needs her son to write her history down so that it will not be drowned “in the swamp of lost memories.” It is a heart-breaking story, but one that is filled with courageous acts of resistance and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of hope. Following in the tradition of Alex Haley’s Roots (1976) and Lawrence Hill’s The Book of Negros (2007), it is apparent that Ama’s son needs to understand his parents’ history before he can make sense of his own life in the present. This novel is recommended for young adults (16+), and this is an important guideline for two reasons. First, readers who lack sufficient literary and historical knowledge will have trouble interpreting the clues that reveal that the novel is set in eighteenth-century Brazil. More importantly, although the novel’s realistic depictions of horrific violence serve an important purpose, this violence is challenging for even a mature reader. Recommended: Four stars out of fourReviewer: Linda QuirkLinda is Assistant Special Collections Librarian at the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library at the University of Alberta.
The Legend of Lightning and Thunder P. I. Rumbolt
Authors: Campbell Sandy 
Published: April 2016

Rumbolt, Paula Ikuutaq. The Legend of Lightning and Thunder. Iqualuit, NV: Inhabit Media, 2013. Print.There are many Inuit stories that tell of the origins of things. There are also many stories about orphans. This book is a simple retelling of a legend that involves both and carries a gentle lesson. It concludes that the presence of thunder and lightning in our world is the result of people neglecting and not caring for orphan children. Paula Ikuutaq Rumbolt is an Inuit writer from Baker Lake, Nunavut. She learned traditional Inuit stories and beliefs from her grandmother. The story is from “a time before stealing existed. No one knew what it was, as it had never happened to anyone.” When the orphan children are turned away from the camp, they must steal food to stay alive, which makes them permanent outcasts. They steal caribou meat, a small caribou skin and a flint. They discover that the skin will make noise and the flint will make sparks and have fun playing with them. They soon realize, though, that they will be hunted by the people in the camp so they hide in the sky, where you can hear them today, playing with the skin and the flint, making thunder and lightning. While the text is fairly easy to read, the presence of more difficult words such as “exhilarating” indicates that it is really intended to be shared by an adult and child.While the story is simple, it is brought to life by Jo Rioux’s artwork. For each pair of pages, one is a full page comic-book style image showing Inuit people in village settings and doing traditional activities. The facing page has a smaller image, with text usually printed over a light coloured sky. The images are in a palette of soft browns and oranges, which shade to reds, particularly where magical things are being depicted. Young children will enjoy this book, as will anyone who appreciates Inuit legends. This volume extends Inhabit Media's track record of consistently high quality publications and authentic voices and sources. Highly recommended for elementary school and public libraries.Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4 Reviewer: Sandy CampbellSandy is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, who has written hundreds of book reviews across many disciplines. Sandy thinks that sharing books with children is one of the greatest gifts anyone can give.
Max and Milo Go to Sleep by H. & E. Long
Authors: Gregson Brittany 
Published: April 2016

Long, Heather and Ethan. Max and Milo Go to Sleep. New York: S&S/Aladdin, 2013. Print.In Max and Milo Go to Sleep, we read about two brothers who share a room. Max, the elder and very sleepy brother, is kept up by his younger brother Milo’s antics. Milo has tried counting sheep and still can’t sleep. Like any younger brother would, Milo calls to Max for help. Max suggests that Milo read a book but of course he doesn’t do that quietly, nor is that the last problem Milo has that night. After a series of problems, Max snaps. He can’t take Milo and his nightly sleep aversion routine. Mid lecture, Max realizes that Milo has finally gone to sleep. But will Max be able to catch his Zzzzs that night?This book is one of those children’s books that the parent may enjoy more than the child. It is written like a comic book so the cartoonish illustrations are crucial to the story. Max and Milo both have huge expressive faces which make it quite easy to pick up how each brother is feeling. Parents will surely sympathize and laugh out loud at Max’s exasperation with Milo who “never really [tries] to go to sleep.” A lot of detail was put into the pictures, for example Max had The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on his bedside table. My five-year old nephew thought that this book was ‘awesome and so funny’. Max and Milo is likely to become a bedtime favourite.Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4 Reviewer: Brittany GregsonBrittany Gregson is a graduate of MacEwan University’s Library and Information Technology program.She works at the Family and Community Resource Centre, Alberta Children’s Hospital as the Child Health Information Specialist. Other than reading she enjoys both baking and crafting.