bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gem by H. Hobbie
Authors: Hamel Hali 
Published: April 2016

Hobbie, Holly. Gem. New York: Little, Brown, 2012. Print. When we are stuck in a long, cold winter, the beauty of spring seems almost like another world. The story of Gem is told wordlessly, although it is set between two letters shared between Hobbie and her granddaughter Hope. The pictures convey the beauty and possibilities of spring, as well as the curiosity and compassion of a young girl, but the letters are key to understanding the heart behind the story. We are introduced to Gem in a letter from Hobbie to her granddaughter Hope, explaining that the long winter had inspired her to think about spring and the toad that Hope had discovered the previous year. Hobby has spent the winter painting the journey that Gem, the toad, may have experienced on his way to Hobbie’s garden. We then meet Gem, as he emerges in the spring and experiences a world full of danger, beauty, mating, and humans. Hobbie’s expressive toad hops through the pages, at times surrounded by the radiance of spring and at times highlighted on a clean, white background. Her use of watercolour, pen, and ink allows for lively paintings with detailed images of main characters. We cheer as Gem escapes run-ins with a vehicle and a hawk, and smile as he finds himself surrounded by his lively offspring. We eventually witness as Hope finds Gem in the garden, releasing him after an inquisitive encounter. The closing images show us the toad enjoying his freedom in the evening light, reaffirming that Hope has made a kind decision. The book closes with a letter from Hope to her grandmother, thanking her for the book and thoughtfully concluding that “Toads are not pets. They want to be free, like everything does”. Hobbie, author of the popular Toot & Puddle series, showcases her ability to tell a moving story through her vivid artwork. Although Gem is targeted at the two-to-five age range, it could also be used with older children when discussing topics such as spring, nature, and the environment. Gem transports readers to a world of beauty and compassion, perhaps a place in which we all need to spend a little more time. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Hali Hamel Hali Hamel is a teacher-librarian at Perdue School in Prairie Spirit School Division and is also a graduate student in the University of Alberta’s TLDL program. She lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where she is enjoying the thrill of rediscovering the world with her young daughter.
Baby’s Got the Blues by C. Diggory Shields
Authors: Newbury Sheena 
Published: April 2016

Diggory Shields, Carol. Baby’s Got the Blues. Illus. Lauren Tobia. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2014. Print.With the word Baby in the title, one might believe that this book is suitable only for pre-school children. The author, Carol Shields, erases this assumption with the first sentence: “You think babies have it easy?” The book, Baby’s Got the Blues, is told from the perspective of the youngest in the family, and pays tribute to all the trials and tribulations that Baby encounters- full diapers, the inability to talk, eat pizza, walk, and having to sleep in a crib. In the end, all of Baby’s blues are wiped away when the best part of being a baby is revealed- cuddles.Written in the Blues musical style, with rhythm and beat, those who are inclined could easily find themselves singing this story out loud, even improvising their own lines. The repeated refrain, “Cause I’m a baby, And I’ve got those baby blues. B-A-B-Y, baby, Got the poor little baby blues,” changes slightly after each verse to reflect Baby’s blues. For example, the word “blues” in the first line of the refrain is substituted for “stinkeroos” after Baby deals with a stinky diaper.The illustrations of this picture book highlight Baby’s world and help to tell Baby’s story in a fun way that includes Baby’s rabbit stuffy, which seems to experience the same trials and tribulations that Baby does. I highly recommend this book for babies, siblings, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and budding Blues musicians alike. Shield’s tells of Baby’s blues in a way that is enjoyable and will get even the most non-musical tapping their foot.Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Sheena NewburySheena is an elementary music teacher with Edmonton Catholic School and is currently working on completing her Master’s degree in Elementary Education. She loves reading and sharing literature with her music classes.
La mystérieuse boutique de Monsieur Bottom par C. Hurtut & M. Ben
Authors: Gomez Leticia 
Published: April 2016

Hurtut, Caroline & Magali Ben. La mystérieuse boutique de Monsieur Bottom. Moncton : Bouton d’or Acadie, 2015. ImpriméCette année Caroline Hurtut a écrit son deuxième album jeunesse intitulé La mystérieuse boutique de Monsieur Bottom. Même si l’auteur vit présentement à Paris, son livre parait aux éditions Bouton d’or d’Acadie dans la collection Étagère trottinette.La mystérieuse boutique de Monsieur Bottom c’est l’histoire d’un petit garçon, un peu timide, nommé Benoît et dont le voisin d’en face vend des chaises… Cependant, Benoît a remarqué que les clients ressortent toujours les mains vides mais le sourire aux lèvres. Malgré sa timidité, Benoît est bien décidé à « percer le mystère ». En effet, M. Bottom, ce n’est pas vraiment des chaises qu’il vend… Il offre plutôt à ses clients la chance de se retrouver, l’espace d’un instant, « à la place de quelqu’un d’autre ».L’histoire cache une morale qui laissera petits et grands réfléchir aux choses dont ils ont vraiment envie. Et parce que M. Bottom est plus psychologue que vendeur, il amène aussi Benoît à comprendre l’importance de l’amour de soi. Quant aux aquarelles, elles sont à l’image du récit, bien travaillées et font preuves d’une certaine fantaisie.Bref, La mystérieuse boutique de Monsieur Bottom est une jolie petite histoire d’une quinzaine de pages qui alterne récit et dialogue pour mieux capter l’attention du lecteur.Note : 4 étoilesAuteur de la critique : Leticia GomezLeticia étudie au Campus Saint-Jean depuis trois 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.
The Worm by E. Gravel
Authors: Thorlakson Jessica 
Published: April 2016

Gravel, Elise. The Worm. Ed. S. Swenson. Toronto, ON: Tundra Books, 2014. Print.Elise Gravel is a Quebec based author and illustrator known for producing original, quirky picture books. In 2012 she won the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Illustration in French for her book "La clé à molette". Her background in graphic design easily lends itself to illustration and is exemplified in her latest work, The Worm.First in Gravel’s Disgusting Critters series, The Worm humorously introduces its readers to the history and lifestyle of the worm. The narrative is both informative and playful, balancing each worm-fact with a pithy commentary from the worms themselves, saying things like “Hey…I’m not disgusting!” and “Feel these [muscles].” Different types of worms are given a quick spotlight, such as the tapeworm, flatworm, and white worm, and extra attention is paid to the earthworm because, as an image of the worm exclaims, “[its] the most popular!” Gravel’s text is highly stylized, using different yet consistent typeface throughout to emphasize key words and concepts; the worms themselves are depicted in pink and can be seen looking into a little blue purse, flexing its (metaphorical) biceps, and dining inside the belly of animal (parasites!).The Worm seamlessly introduces interesting and important worm-facts (like the fact that earthworms are “basically a long digestive tract” and that they sense light via their photoreceptors because they have no eyes), and it does so in a medium that is delightful and downright charming. What’s even better is that it is available in both English and French, making it a perfect candidate for any bilingual classroom or home. This picture book is appropriate for early readers, ages 6-8, or anyone wanting to learn about worms. Other books in the Disgusting Critters series like The Fly, are also worth exploring.Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Jessica ThorlaksonJessica Thorlakson is a Public Services Librarian at the University of Alberta’s H. T. Coutts Education and Physical Education Library. She has a background in English Literature and enjoys little more than reading a good book and drinking some tea.
One Year in Coal Harbour by P. Horvath
Authors: Inglis Kathy 
Published: April 2016

Horvath, Polly. One Year in Coal Harbour. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2012. Print. In this sequel to the multiple award winning, Everything on a Waffle, Horvath’s signature quirky humour and insights into human nature emerge once more as we follow 12-year-old Primrose Squarp’s attempts at matchmaking, at finding a best friend, and at generally trying to make life turn out right. The lovable Evie and Bert, who took Primrose in when her parents were lost at sea, sensible Uncle Jack, the entrepreneur who returned to Coal Harbour to look after Primrose, and fiercely independent Miss Bowzer, Primrose’s confidant and owner of The Girl on the Red Swing where everything is served on a waffle, return from the first book to help Primrose navigate life as a ‘tween’ in Coal Harbour. In one year, Primrose learns about defending what she cares about, letting people make their own choices, and accepting the flaws in herself as well as others. Primrose faces some hard lessons but readers will be glad to know that everything turns out, if not perfectly, then as it should, in the end. Horvath broaches issues related to foster children, unfit parents, environmental protests, relationships, and grieving, with honesty and empathy, showing real respect for her young readers’ ability to understand the nuances of these situations. Her characters embody the quirkiness and wisdom of small town life, making them even more believable. Each chapter begins with “What Happened...” or “What Didn’t Happen...” leading the reader along through the traumatic events of Primrose’s year in Coal Harbour, and ends with a recipe Primrose collects for the local cookbook she is writing bringing the tale back to the comfort zone of mundane details. With this marvelous glimpse of the world from the eyes of a 12-year-old girl, peppered with high hopes, frustration, insight and humour, Horvath has done it again. She has left me wanting more. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Kathy Inglis Kathy Inglis is a teacher-librarian and kindergarten teacher at South Park Family School in Victoria, BC and a Masters student in the Teacher-Librarianship through Distance Learning Program at the University of Alberta. Her favourite part of the job is seeing the excited look on the faces of students who have found that perfect book.
Emily Carr, an Introduction to Her Life and Art by A. Newlands
Authors: Roche Matilda 
Published: April 2016

Newlands, Anne. Emily Carr, an Introduction to Her Life and Art. Toronto: Firefly Books, 1996. Print. Engaging, attractively formatted and printed with an eye for good reproduction quality, Emily Carr, an Introduction to Her Life and Art places the images of Carr’s paintings within pages with a satisfying field of white space in equilibrium with a judicious amount of text. A well chosen selection of Carr’s most accessible and emblematic works adeptly capture both the variation of the expression, different periods and subjects of focus during Carr’s career as an artist. Newlands commits much of the text to an insightful level of historical and personal context for Carr’s life and experiences, enhancing the accessibility of the images and providing the reader with a robust understanding of the changing focus and techniques in Carr’s work and its significance to Canadian culture. Photographic images of Carr at her most iconic and living in her assortment of strange shacks in the forest (best secret hideouts ever) are sure to capture the imagination of younger readers. A very astute editorial choice was made to enhance the young reader’s understanding of Carr’s work and her commitment to learning and practice by including the more casual sketches and illustrative journal entries that Carr made throughout her life. The inclusion of these more unstructured and personal images contribute to a strong sense of the consistency of the creative impulses that motivated Carr and of her personal perspectives and level of commitment to her work. It is also a constructive way to introduce younger readers and artists to less formalized and accessible modes of expression and a deeper understanding of the effort and diverse mediums and approaches inherent in the individual creative process. Newlands, a skilled and dedicated art educator who has devoted her talent to promoting Canadian art and artists, doesn’t hesitate to use awestruck, personalized and poetic language in discussing Carr’s life and work. Her enthusiasm for her subject is evident, clearly communicated and compelling. Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Matilda Roche
Ride the Big Machines Across Canada by C. Mok
Authors: Dennett Liz 
Published: April 2016

Mok, Carmen. Ride the Big Machines Across Canada. Toronto: Harper Collins, 2014.“I’m going on a trip from sea to sea. How will I do it? Come ride with me”So begins Ride the Big Machines Across Canada by Carmen Mok, the story of a young boy’s trip across Canada where he imagines driving all of the heavy equipment that he sees along the way. Each double page features the boy in a different province or territory riding a geographically appropriate “big machine” such as a giant dumptruck in Alberta’s oil sands, a streetcar in Toronto, or the ferry to Newfoundland. There are also distinctive provincial/territorial landscapes or cityscapes in the background and Ms Mok has incorporated the provincial flag into each picture as well. The illustrations are colourful and very attractive and the text (just one short sentence on most pages) is rhyming and fun to read out loud.Although the recommended ages for the book are 3-7, the sturdy board book format means that even younger children are also likely to enjoy it. Indeed, my heavy equipment obsessed eighteen month old wanted to view this book over and over again. Young children will enjoy the illustrations and searching for the family motor home in each picture. Parents will enjoy teaching their children about Canada as they read the book together.Recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Liz DennettLiz Dennett is a Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Alberta, with a lifelong passion for great books and early childhood literacy.
Dream Boats by D. Bar-el
Authors: Quirk Linda 
Published: April 2016

Bar-el, Dan. Dream Boats. Illust. Kirsti Anne Wakelin. Vancouver: Simply Read Books, 2013. Print.This is a gorgeously illustrated book which offers readers the opportunity to “float” in a dream boat, travelling deep into the richly-embroidered dreams of children from different lands and varying traditions. The words and images transport us high into the Andes and deep into the rainforests of Haida Gwaii; they take us to the beach in Mumbai and into the city of St. Petersburg; they float on the Niger and sail on the Yangtze. The dream metaphor works well for what is frequently a confusing journey through time and space, through personal narrative and shared folklore, and through the walls that divide us. The central dream of the book is a deeply multicultural dream. One can applaud the author’s intent more than his accomplishment, for it is just a little bit too easy to become quite lost in this dream world in which so many myths and folktales are represented as amalgams or approximations. The saving grace is that the author has inspired the illustrator to visualize an exquisite dream world in which it is a genuine pleasure to be lost.The publisher recommends this book for readers from 4-8 years of age, and this makes sense except that it is difficult to imagine that most children of this age will have enough geographical knowledge or multilayered cultural contexts to grasp the overriding point in even a superficial way.Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Linda QuirkLinda is Assistant Special Collections Librarian at the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library at the University of Alberta.
The Way to School by R. McCarney
Authors: Gathoni Nasra 
Published: April 2016

McCarney, Rosemary. The Way to School. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2015. PrintThe book is able to show that different communities have very distinct experiences when going to school and a number of them not too pleasant. For example, children are shown wading through a river, climbing ladders up a river bank, riding a zip-line and crossing a single-wire bridge. Despite all these differences the book shows how much children love being in school.With clear and high quality photos, the book is able to demonstrate the different experiences. The photos have captured different sceneries and landscapes that ably demonstrate the different worlds the children come from. The photos add a lot of wonderful content to the story. As the photos demonstrate different communities it is therefore easy for children from various communities to relate with the story as well as appreciate the differences.This book shows both boys and girls going to school. Education of girls is one of author Rosemary McCarney’s goals. McCarney leads Plan International Canada and helped found the “Because I am a Girl” initiative. This is book is recommended for public libraries and children’s rooms everywhere.Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Nasra GathoniNasra is a Health Sciences Librarian at the Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya. Nasra is an avid book reader, a passion she nurtured from her childhood and believes in the necessity of children reading from a tender age.
Memories of a Beluga Whale Hunt from I, Nuligak by Nuligak
Authors: Campbell Sandy 
Published: April 2016

Nuligak. Memories of a Beluga Whale Hunt from I, Nuligak. Inuvik, NT: Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre, 2015. Print.Itqaginaqtuat Qilalugarniarnikkun Uvanga, Nuligak. Inuvik, NT: Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre, 2015. Print. (Uummarmiutun edition)Puigulaitatka Qilalugaqhiurnik Umanga Uvanga, Nuligak. Inuvik, NT: Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre, 2015. Print. (Kangiryuarmiutun edition)Puigulaitkiga Qilalukkiqiniq Uvanga, Nuligak. Inuvik, NT: Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre, 2015. Print. (Siglitun edition)I, Nuligak is a classic Northern Canadian work and was the first Inuvialuit book to be published. Nuligak was an orphaned Inuvialuit who documented his life and the lives of his people. The work was published in 1966 and printed in paperback in 1971. The Inuvialuit Cultural Resource Centre, the primary keeper of the documentary record of cultural and historical knowledge of the Inuvialuit people also has a mandate to help preserve and promote all three of the Inuvialuktun dialects: Uummarmiutun, Kangiryuarmiutun and Siglitun. This is one example of their work, taking a short passage from the beginning of I, Nuligak, in which Nuligak describes a Beluga whale hunt and turning it into an illustrated children’s book, published in all three dialects, as well as English. The text is simple and closely follows the original English language publication. Nuligak describes what the scenes of the hunt were like, how the kayaks were built, how the hunt was structured, both practically and socially and how the catch was managed. The text for the story in each dialect was created by local native speakers from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. The illustrations are the same in all four books. Each pair of pages is a beautiful illustration by Toronto artist, John Mantha. Mantha has done an excellent job of capturing the Inuvialuit people, their clothing, kayaks, tools and their environment. All four volumes should be added to library collections that collect Northern Canadian Children’s literature. The English language volume should be added to all Canadian public and school 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 Am Canada: Graves of Ice: The Lost Franklin Expedition by J. Wilson
Authors: Feisst Debbie 
Published: April 2016

Wilson, John. I Am Canada: Graves of Ice: The Lost Franklin Expedition. Toronto, ON: Scholastic Canada, 2014. Print.Graves of Ice is the most recent title of I Am Canada, a series of historical fiction aimed at 9-12 year old boys and a companion to the very popular and award winning Dear Canada series for girls of the same age. The series, which sets a fictional child or youth within a significant Canadian historical event or period, is designed to inspire “adventure, duty, danger, fear” and it certainly succeeds with its exciting, first person vantage and journalistic style.In Graves of Ice, young George Chambers, approximately 14-years-old, leads a simple but comfortable life with his brothers and sisters in Woolwich, England. His father, a former Royal Navy seaman, enthralls the Chambers boys with tales of high seas battles while in service which in turn plants a seed of adventure in the impressionable George. Succeeding in having his father call in a favour earned while in the service of Sir John Franklin, George sets off as a cabin boy on a voyage of Arctic exploration led by Franklin that departed England in 1845.This volume starts with George recounting the story of how things came to be with only two remaining survivors: George and Commander James Fitzjames. As George becomes weaker, his past and present merging, he recalls the events and moments that led to this– including a run in with a polar bear, possible mutiny, loneliness, frostbite, sickness and his own uncertain fate on what we now know was a doomed expedition.Author John Wilson, author of other titles in the I Am Canada series, has 40+ titles to his name for kids and adults alike and has produced an exciting and well-researched tale with just the right amount of drama that will hold the reader’s attention. Adults will find themselves reading it in one sitting while younger readers will want just one more chapter. The only quibble I had is with the choice of some of the language of the younger characters, which was perhaps historically accurate but seemed too formal for an adolescent and which may seem unrealistic for today’s reader. Younger readers may also need a bit of help with some of the vocabulary, but the high action and excellent writing makes up for these small details. The companion web site includes a discussion guide as well as activities suitable for classroom use.Highly recommended: 4 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.