bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Infidel in Paradise by S.J. Laidlaw
Authors: Smith Jorden 
Published: April 2016

Laidlaw, S.J. An Infidel in Paradise. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2013. Print.In S.J. (Susan) Laidlaw’s first novel, she takes us to a contemporary Canadian diplomatic compound in Pakistan. Emma, the sixteen-year-old protagonist, has been suddenly uprooted from a comfortable life in the Philippines. Her father has left her family and her mother has moved Emma and her two siblings to Islamabad. Suffering from culture shock, adjusting to a new school, and playing parent to her younger sister, Emma is frustrated and takes her anger out on her family. Emma offends a dreamy young man, Mustapha, whom she meets on her first day at her new school and she is subsequently labeled as rude and racist. However, we know from listening to Emma’s inner dialogue that she is neither, and her interactions reinforce this. In the time-honored literary romance tradition, Emma’s clash with Mustapha does not prevent them from developing feelings for each other. Mustapha, however, is promised in an arranged marriage. Their drama comes to a head when threats against the American embassies shake the international community in Islamabad, leaving Emma in a life threatening situation.This novel is well-written and wonderfully real. Emma’s anger with a sub-text of guilt, her raw frustration with her new situation, and her inability to deal with her feelings all rang true. The little touches, like Emma’s interaction with a slobbery dog, hit home: “He licks my hand, which is gross but also comforting. I wipe it on my jeans when he’s not looking”. Emma cares about the people and creatures around her, although she is terrified of being hurt. She is angry at her parents, but she also understands why they separated. Her feelings of being alone are exasperated by the extreme culture shock and she is having trouble coping. Emma’s flouting of local tradition caught me by surprise; for one so well-traveled with a diplomat parent, she did not give much credence to local customs. Perhaps it is her form of rebellion.Laidlaw addresses socio-cultural issues with honesty and frankness. She does not separate the ‘us’ from the ‘them,’ identifying cultural boundaries but noting the permeability of those boundaries. Laidlaw broaches intercultural conflict openly, acknowledging that her protagonists’ countrymen are not necessarily welcome, but few people mean to cause harm.I would recommend this book for anyone 12 and up. A somewhat graphic scene near the end of the book may be too much for younger readers. I hope Laidlaw continues with additional novels as these themes are critical to explore and she does it so well. Note: my favorite part of the novel is the Urdu glossary at the back; it’s a very nice touch.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Jorden SmithJorden Smith joins the team as a book reviewer. Jorden 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.”
Checkers and Dot at the Beach by J. Torres
Authors: Feisst Debbie 
Published: April 2016

Torres, J. Checkers and Dot at the Beach. Illus. J. Lum. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2013. Print.The team of Ontario-based author and illustrator (and comics veterans) J. Torres and J. Lum brings young babies the duo of Checkers and Dot. Torres is best known for his Alison Dare graphic novels and other comics while this is graphic designer Lum’s first opportunity at illustrating for a children’s audience.Checkers, a young boy in a checkered shirt and his friend Dot, a little girl in a polka-dotted jumper are introduced as part of a larger series of Checkers and Dot titles, all with a high-contrasted and heavily-designed black and white motif. This high contrast design is said to appeal to young babies and toddlers as well as provide visual stimulation that may lead to increased brain development. The small size and sturdy binding is a plus.In Checkers and Dot on the Farm, the youngest of children are introduced to animal sounds in rhyming prose that will be fun for any parent or caregiver to read aloud. The images are highly stylized and will be mesmerizing to young children and the characters, a little reminiscent of anime, are quite cute. In Checkers and Dot at the Beach the concept of basic counting to 5 is introduced via ocean animals. Both volumes have a slight plot which makes it more palatable to adults.Though toddlers will enjoy re-reading these books to practice their farm animal sounds and basic counting, they may bore of the black and white in favour of more colourful & engaging board books aimed at preschoolers. The series is aimed at ages 0-4, however I feel it better suits the 0-2 age range. Suitable for public and home libraries.Recommended: 3 stars out of 4Reviewer: 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.
My First NHL® Book Series (Hockey Shapes, Hockey Colours, Hockey 123, Hockey Opposites, Hockey Animals, Hockey ABC) by Ch. Jordan
Authors: Campbell Sandy 
Published: April 2016

Jordan, Christopher. My First NHL® Book Series (Hockey Shapes, Hockey Colours, Hockey 123, Hockey Opposites, Hockey Animals, Hockey ABC). Toronto: Tundra Books, 2011. Print [Board Books]. These six volumes are board books, with thick pages that would be difficult to tear and wipe-able surfaces that will withstand sticky baby fingers. They cover the standard content of first books for pre-readers, but using NHL® examples. In some of the books, the NHL® examples work well. For example in Hockey 123, there are 2 hockey nets, 5 pairs of skates, and 11 whistles. In other books the examples seem forced and awkward. For example, in Hockey Opposites, “fast” and “slow” are illustrated by a forward and a goalie, respectively. It would be very difficult for a child at the board-book reading stage to understand what a forward and a goalie are, much less who moves at what speed. Moreover, I think most people would recognize that while goalies do not usually move quickly around the rink, their movements are lightning-fast and a “slow” goalie wouldn’t have a job in the NHL®. With the exception of Hockey 123, these books are too complex for pre-readers. Most of the six books contain text which is at a Grade 6 reading level or higher. For example, in Hockey Shapes, the description which accompanies the “leaf” shape begins, “[t]here are many different species of leaves, ranging in colour, shape, and size…”. This is one of several clues that these books are meant as much for adults who will be reading them aloud, as for children. In Hockey ABC many of the images chosen to illustrate the alphabet will appeal more to parents than to children. In this book, “G” is not for the obvious “goalie”, but for Gretzky, whom children today will never see play. Too often Jordan relies on photographs of players, which are complex images, for his illustrations. In Hockey Animals, for example, instead of using just the team symbol containing the animal shape, Jordan uses full-length player shots, where the logo on the jersey is a tiny part of the image. There is a reason that board books usually contain simple shapes, bold colours and single syllable words. It is hard to imagine sitting with a 1-year-old child on your lap reading Hockey ABC and saying, ‘Now you try saying this, sweetie… “O is for Ovechkin”’. However, if you assume that these books are really for hockey-crazed parents, then they will probably find readers. Recommended with reservations: 2 out of 4 stars Reviewer: 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.
Zebra Stripes Go Head to Toe by. S. & S. Shapiro
Authors: Aitken Leslie 
Published: April 2016

Shapiro, Sheryl and Simon Shapiro. Zebra Stripes Go Head to Toe. Toronto: Annick Press, 2013. Print.The truth must be stated: the cover of this title aroused false hope in one particular five-year-old. Selecting it from a proffered array of picture books, he cried, “I want a story about a zebra!” It wasn’t. Still, it was a beautifully illustrated introduction to geometric shapes and terms: squares, cubes, and (mostly parallel) lines. The Shapiros build concepts with colorful and distinct examples that are quite within the experience, real or vicarious, of children. We see building blocks, crosswalks, and, yes, the striped patterning of the zebra on the front cover. The text, a series of rhyming couplets, is both playful and informative. The font is very suitable for kindergarten or primary grades. Undoubtedly, the book can be used to develop a child’s spatial understanding and linguistic precision.What then to do about that not so small problem: the dashed hopes that arise when a book that promises to be about a zebra turns out to be a math text? Next time, this reviewer will preface its offering with a statement of fact: “This book can make arithmetic fun.”Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Leslie AitkenLeslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special, and university collections. She is a former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.
Developing a Child’s Library
Authors: Desmarais Robert 
Published: April 2016

Dear Readers,As an avid book collector, I derive great pleasure from deciding what kinds of books should be acquired for my personal library. I collect books that I love in a few subject areas, and over the years my library has grown into a carefully curated collection.My collecting habit began early in life when I hoarded picture books in my dresser drawers. Regrettably, I did not have a proper bookshelf or even a set of bookends to stand my books upright on a flat surface, but I had plenty of drawers for storage. Assembling my little library of picture books was great fun and the experience taught me that a personal book collection can provide a lifetime of enjoyment. Indeed, I still enjoy buying picture books from time to time for my library.I am always delighted when I see children who are keen to build their own book collections. In fact, developing a home library for your child is a great way to demonstrate that books are extensions of our interests and passions, and they can enrich our lives in manifold ways. Now of course I am not advocating that parents should rush out, spend a small fortune on children’s books, and immediately install a room full of bookcases. Building a library for young readers can be easy and inexpensive, and you can have fun helping young readers gain a deep appreciation for print books in their homes.If you want to encourage your child to have a compelling selection of books at home, you can stretch your book budget by taking your child to garage sales, thrift stores, flea markets, book fairs, and library sales. All of these venues are great places to pick up piles of books at a significant discount. As your child’s library begins to grow, you could suggest that s/he add a bookplate to each book to indicate its rightful owner. Bookplates are the decorative labels that are pasted down inside the cover of a book to give us some information about the owner, and they usually have the title Ex Libris, meaning “from the library of.” There are many websites that offer bookplate designs for children that are free to download and use, and they are a great way to customize a growing library.Of course, one of the best ways to build a child’s library is to begin by checking them out at the local library, and if your children find a personal favourite, a book that they enjoy reading over and over, then go ahead and buy a copy for their library. Supporting their library will show your commitment to investing in knowledge, and children who grow up with books are well positioned to make tremendous gains in educational attainment.Our new issue has many excellent books that would be well suited to a personal library, so I hope you’ll consider adding one or two to your child’s bookshelf.Happy reading!Robert DesmaraisManaging Editor
Disconnect by L. Peterson
Authors: Hayes Terri 
Published: April 2016

Peterson, Lois. Disconnect. Victoria, BC: Orca Book Publishers, 2012. Print. Fourteen-year-old Daria has just relocated from Calgary, Alberta to Delta, British Columbia and she’s not happy about the move! Determined to stay connected with her old friends, Daria’s cellphone becomes an almost permanent extension of her arm, frustrating her parents, teachers and classmates. Quirky Cleo, another new kid in town, tries to connect with Daria, but to no avail. Cleo suggests that Daria may be addicted to technology, but who's listening? Desperate to earn some extra cash so that she can return to Calgary for March Break, Daria reluctantly takes an after-school job as a babysitter. Although she’s supposed to be watching out for Emmy and Caden, her two young charges, Daria has other things on her mind, with fateful consequences. This is a timely and engaging story, simply told. Disconnect is one of the Orca Currents series of books for reluctant middle-school readers. Its short chapters, controlled vocabulary, limited number of characters and contemporary themes will have broad appeal, especially for those reluctant readers who seldom choose a novel. Although the story is somewhat didactic, middle-school students will easily recognize at least one of their friends in the self-absorbed, technology-obsessed character of Daria. The situation she finds herself in is entirely plausible, and Peterson's first-person narration, texting shorthand and true-to-teenagers dialogue create a sense of “being there.” Although initially a writer of adult fiction, Lois Peterson now writes for children and teens. She has written 7 books for Orca Book Publishers, including one other designed specifically for struggling readers. Disconnect would be an excellent addition to any public or middle school library collection. In our increasingly “connected” world, this novel raises some disquieting questions about technology’s impact on the quality of our connection to ourselves and others. A great discussion starter with strong curriculum ties to digital citizenship. Recommended: 3 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.
One Hungry Heron by C. Beck
Authors: Borle Neil 
Published: April 2016

Beck, Carolyn. One Hungry Heron. Illus. Karen Patkau. Toronto, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2014, Print.Carolyn Beck’s One Hungry Heron is a simple counting book. Karen Patkau has provided colourful and vivid illustrations. Each text and illustration pair cover two pages. The illustration dominates the majority of the pages, and the text appears on the left side of the first page. In the upper left corner, there is a number that is colour-themed and a small animal image. Targeted towards pre-readers and early readers, this book provides an enjoyable read where motion filled imagery, onomatopoeia and rhyme help children to master basic counting skills. For example, the number 5 is accompanied by the rhyme, “Five bustling beavers -/a building crew - /lug and tug/and chew, chew, chew!”.The Canadian environmental theme of the book also provides children with images of animals that they might encounter. For each number in the count of 1 to 10, a vibrant wetland scene is painted with that number of a specific kind of animal. The visual aid helps to reinforce the meaning of that number to a child who is reading the book or listening to a reading. Beck’s storytelling also contributes to the children's learning. Using the numbers, the children are taken through all the animals that live on this pond and then watch as a storm comes, causing the animals to flee and take shelter. Once the storm passes the animals are free to return, culminating in a final page with all the animals present, along with a review of the numbers 1 through 10 to help children remember what was learned through the cover-to-cover reading. Overall, this is an excellent book with wonderful illustrations that allow children to learn basic counting skills. It would be a good acquisition for school and public libraries.Recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Neil C. BorleNeil C. Borle is a University of Alberta graduate student, studying Computing Science and is interested in how people learn.
I'll Give You the Sun by J. Nelson
Authors: Wild Rachel 
Published: April 2016

Nelson, Jandy. I'll Give You the Sun. New York: Dial Books, 2014. Print.At thirteen, twins Noah and Jude seem to share an unbreakable bond that goes beyond a typical sibling relationship. Three years later, at sixteen, they are barely speaking to each other; each holding on to secrets that could completely destroy or heal their fractured relationship.A winner of the 2015 Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature and a 2015 YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults pick, I’ll Give You the Sun, is an absorbing, coming-of-age tale told from the alternating perspectives of Jude and her brother Noah. Nelson skillfully pieces together a picture of the lives of the two protagonists as they struggle to come to terms with love, loss and alienation.Nelson blends poetic phrases and description with believable dialogue creating two distinct characters that readers will quickly identify with. The voices of Noah and Jude are so finely crafted that readers will find themselves drawn to the struggles and triumphs of these two characters. The use of non-linear plot progression will keep readers absorbed until the last page.I’ll Give You the Sun is an excellent choice for the high school reader, particularly those ready to transition to adult contemporary fiction. Nelson sensitively and frankly deals with issues such as sexual abuse, sexual orientation, bullying and infidelity. Due to the themes and topics of the book, it should be considered a mature read.Readers who enjoy authors such as John Green or A.S. King will be drawn to the writing of Jandy Nelson and I’ll Follow The Sun.Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Rachel WildRachel Wild is an English teacher at Parkland Composite High School in Edson, Alberta. She is currently enrolled the Teacher Librarianship Masters degree program through distance education. Reading and reviewing a plethora of young adult novels has renewed her interest in and passion for this genre.
Caribou Song by T. Highway
Authors: De Vos Gail 
Published: April 2016

Highway, Tomson. Illus. John Rombough. Caribou Song. Markham, ON.: Fifth House, 2013. Print.While Tomson Highway’s English text remains consistent with the 2001 publication of this title illustrated by Brian Deines, this new version has been translated into a colloquial dialect of Cree rather than the original high Cree. It has been revitalized by John Rombough, a Chipewyan Dene artist from the Northwest Territories. His stylistic and intensely coloured illustrations make this a very different viewing experience from that of the softer and more realistic illustrations by Deines. Rombough’s illustrations are infused with great energy, which is especially intriguing since the broad black lines contain only static shapes of colour layered on the variously tinted pages. There is magic here that is highly reminiscent of stain glass artistry and, like the stained glass pieces, engage the viewer into active participation in the storytelling experience.The story, too, contains magic. Set in Northern Manitoba, the tale follows the adventures of two young brothers, Joe and Cody, who call the caribou with their accordion (kitoochigan) and singing. The caribou respond with great vigor, enabling the boys’ parents’ traditional hunt. There is much laughter between the boys but danger as well as the migrating animals enthusiastically stream between them. Thankfully the spirit voice of the caribou leads the boys to safety, much to the relief of their parents and the boys themselves.Many years ago, when speaking with Tomson about the translation of the first edition he expressed sorrow that it was in the more formal Cree language; he felt that it was not the dialect that was easily accessible by the very people he wished to reach with this book. I hope this translation satisfies and ratifies this aspiration for those who read Cree. It certainly satisfies the artistic appreciation of this reviewer. The 2001 version was the first book in a trilogy about Joe, Cody, their family and the traditional culture and life of the Cree in Northern Manitoba. Is this edition also the first in a trilogy? One can always hope.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Gail de VosGail 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.