Ballerina Rosie by S. Ferguson

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trish Chatterley
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Hard Work ◽  
Free Time ◽  
Dance Teacher ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Young Girls ◽  
The University ◽  
Age Range

Ferguson, Sarah. Ballerina Rosie. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2012. Print. The Duchess of York recounts the tale of Rosie Red Curls, a little girl who loves to dance and dreams of becoming a prima ballerina. When her mother takes her to her first ballet lesson, Rosie struggles with the steps and is the least graceful girl in class. Rosie becomes discouraged until one Saturday, she wakes to find a gift of red ballet slippers by her bed. She’s now able to dance beautifully. She thinks it is because of her shoes until her dance teacher tells her that she was always talented, she just needed to practice and build confidence. At some point, most little girls dream of becoming a famous ballerina and will be drawn to the book. Unfortunately, the story is uninspiring and a bit corny. The stated intended age range is 4 through 8 but the book is much too short and simplistic for most 7 and 8 year olds, though it may still appeal to younger girls. The moral about hard work paying off would likely not come through clearly for young girls. While the illustrations by Diane Goode are colourful and fun, they depict young girls en pointe performing steps that are much too advanced for their age. They are, however, typical ballet poses which is perhaps why they were used. Aspiring ballerinas would be better off reading tales of actual ballets, as Rosie does before bed, and viewing more realistic photographs of dancers. Not recommended: 1 out of 4 stars Reviewer: 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.

Whatever After: Fairest of All by S. Mlynowski

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trish Chatterley
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Fairy Tale ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
Free Time ◽  
Female Character ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Know How ◽  
Snow White ◽  
The University

Mlynowski, Sarah. Whatever After: Fairest of All. New York: Scholastic Press, 2012. Print Ten-year-old Abby has just moved to Smithville with her parents and younger brother Jonah, and life just isn’t the same. One night, the two siblings knock on the creepy mirror in the basement and are instantly sucked into a fairytale land. They need to get home, but don’t know how to get there. They find themselves at the cottage where Snow White is living with the Seven Dwarfs, just as the evil stepmother in disguise is offering up a red apple to eat. They intervene and save Snow White from being poisoned! Initially they are pleased about this, but soon realize that they have interfered with Snow’s future and she won’t meet her Prince Charming. They decide to stay with Snow until they can set things right and ensure she lives happily ever after, enjoying many adventures along the way. This is the first story in a new series of modern fairy tale retellings (the second book will recount what happens to Cinderella when Abby shows up!). It’s an amusing and easy read with lots of action. Abby and Jonah have a pretty typical relationship, with a bossy older sister ordering around her rambunctious younger brother, and so they behave as you would expect. Abby is practical, but funny, and will always accomplish what she sets out to do. She therefore presents a strong female character with whom young girls can connect. The tale ends in such a way that the reader can be sure of more humorous exploits to come.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.

scholarly journals Learn to Speak Dance: A Guide to Creating, Performing & Promoting Your Moves by A.-M. Williams

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trish Chatterley
Keyword(s):  
Health Sciences ◽  
After School ◽  
Belly Dance ◽  
Dance Teacher ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Many ◽  
The University ◽  
Age Range

Williams, Ann-Marie. Learn to Speak Dance: A Guide to Creating, Performing & Promoting Your Moves. Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2011. Print. Following on the success of Learn to Speak Music by John Crossingham, dancer and dance teacher Ann-Marie Williams has compiled a second volume in the Learn to Speak series that explores the many and varied aspects of dance. The book begins with an explanation of what dance is and why we do it, then takes the reader through the stages of starting out in dance, setting up your own dance group, developing choreography, performing, and promoting your work. It ends with a brief description of a small sampling of dance styles including belly dance, Bollywood, and Broadway. Scattered throughout are quotes from current professional dancers and dance judges (mainly Canadians!) representing a wide range of styles, as well as recommendations for movies and dance videos to watch that each provide excellent examples of different elements of the dance world. The book is packed full with fun illustrations with simple, rotating colour schemes. Jeff Kulak’s drawings are sometimes abstract, sometimes cartoonlike, but unfortunately sometimes display very awkward-looking body positions and odd-looking faces. If readers are expecting a how-to guide about how to dance, they will be disappointed. Books are not the best format for learning how to move anyway. Instead, they will find more of a focus on the business side of things such as how to work well in a group, what happens backstage with lighting and sound, tips on developing a website and putting together a press release. The target age range of 9 to 13 might therefore be a bit young for this type of information. The content might be better suited for those in their upper teens who are setting up dance crews after school and are more likely to want to start organizing their own dance programs. The book aims to make dance accessible, and encourages kids with or without any experience to explore the various facets of dance. It takes a very supportive tone, and includes good suggestions for building confidence and finding your personal style. The author is definitely knowledgeable about dance and has a lot of excellent and informative advice to share. Young readers will likely require adult help, though, if trying to follow many of the recommendations. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: 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.

Rrralph by L. Ehlert

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Frail
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Tree Bark ◽  
Large Format ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Word Play ◽  
Story Time ◽  
The University ◽  
At Home

Ehlert, Lois. Rrralph. New York: Beach Lane Books, 2011. Print. “Would you like to meet a talking dog?” According to the author’s note, this book was based on jokes that her brother told his grandchildren. The humour translates well into the story as the narrator uses a series of onomatopoeic word-play to explain how Ralph the dog “talks”.  For example, when asked where he is, Ralph answers that he is on the “Roof” of the dog house. When asked what is on a tree, he replies “Bark, Bark, Bark”. The story even includes a somewhat scary encounter between Ralph and a “Wolf! Wolf!” This book will definitely be a story-time favourite for younger children. The large format and brightly coloured pages make it ideal for displaying to groups. The super-size font alternates on each page between black and white, creating high contrasts. The illustrations were created from: “zippers, wood, buttons, twine, metal, tree bark, screws, hand-painted and home-made papers, and textile fragments”. This creates layers of interesting textures and gives the book a “home-spun” appeal. It would also provide an interesting opportunity for educators or parents to talk about making art from found or recycled objects, or the benefits of recycling in general.  The highlight of the illustrations is Ralph’s multi-coloured textile collar and metal-heart shaped dog tag, which will remind readers of real beloved family pets. His zipper smile is pretty endearing as well. Other books by Lois Ehlert include: “Lots of Spots”, “Boo to You!” and “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”. According to the publisher Rrralph is recommended for ages 2-6. Highly recommended: four out of four 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.

scholarly journals The Great Katie Kate Explains Epilepsy by M. M. DeLand

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Desmeules
Keyword(s):  
Health Sciences ◽  
The Other ◽  
Radiation Oncologist ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Academic Librarian ◽  
The University ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Fourth Book ◽  
Clear Information ◽  
Child Learning

DeLand, M. Maitland. The Great Katie Kate Explains Epilepsy. Austin, TX: Greenleaf Books, 2014. Print.The Great Katie Kate Explains Epilepsy marks the fourth book in this educational series written by M. Maitland DeLand. As a radiation oncologist who specializes in the treatment of children, Dr. DeLand began this series as a way of helping children and their caregivers learn about the child’s particular condition. Each book in the series recounts a story of a child learning about their illness from the Great Katie Kate, a young, readheaded superhero who swoops in to answer their questions and help them combat the “Worry Wombat,” a furry manifestation of the child’s anxieties that only goes away once their questions are answered.Based on the premise that kids are sharp and that information can help them, this book provides concise and clear information about epilepsy. It documents the experiences of Jimmy, a young boy who has seizures and is taken to hospital. There, he encounters the Great Katie Kate, who takes Jimmy and several other young people on a journey where she and the other children explain epilepsy, its diagnosis, and its treatment.Overall, the book provides clear explanations of the types, diagnosis, treatment, and management of epilepsy. Any complex terms in the book are the actual medical names bound to be used by their treatment teams. Although the text may be too long or complicated for a very young child to read on their own it is of an acceptable level for 8-12 age range. The illustrations are colourful and generally informative.Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Robin DesmeulesRobin is an Academic Librarian Intern at the J.W. Scott Health Sciences Library at the University of Alberta.  Robin is an avid devourer of fiction of all kinds.

scholarly journals Sex is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU by C. Silverberg & F. Smyth

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Marshall
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Hard Work ◽  
High Contrast ◽  
Adult Readers ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Age Appropriate ◽  
The University

Silverberg, Cory and Fiona Smyth. Sex is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU. New York: Seven Stories Press, 2015. Print.“Having a penis isn’t what makes you a boy. Having a vulva isn’t what makes you a girl. The truth is much more interesting than that!”In a watershed year for transgender activism, Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth have broken ground with their trans-inclusive sex education book Sex is a Funny Word. This new release follows a cast of four 8-10 year old kids, including gender queer Zai, as they learn about and explore that strange and funny word - sex. Throughout the book, Smyth’s illustrations employ bright, opaque and high-contrast colours to great effect, and readers are exposed to characters of wonderfully diverse abilities, races, shapes and sexualities.It is however reductive to merely draw attention to the diversity in Sex is a Funny Word, as a wide gamut of topics are discussed with age-appropriate aplomb, including anatomy, “touch” and relationships. Silverberg’s opening notes to adult readers provide tips for co-reading the book with children, explaining that the text is meant to be read over many sittings to aid comprehension and reflection. By bookending each chapter with interactive questions, readers identify and reflect on personal morals anchored in four concepts - trust, respect, joy and justice. These questions do the hard work for parents, who can defer to one of the lively and inquisitive characters for discussion points. Moreover, the only sexual activity mentioned in this book is masturbation, so even the most squeamish adult readers should feel comfortable co-reading Sex is a Funny Word.Sex is a Funny Word is the second of a three-part, age-specific sex education series written by Silverberg and illustrated by Smyth. Those with younger children can find reproduction discussed in What Makes a Baby, while intercourse will specifically be covered in the series’ next title. For a positive, fun and healthy introduction to these concepts, parents and librarians will be well-served by seeking out Sex is a Funny Word for their collection.Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Kyle MarshallKyle Marshall is the School-Aged Services Intern Librarian for Edmonton Public Library. He graduated with his MLIS from the University of Alberta in June 2015, and is passionate about diversity in children's and youth literature.

scholarly journals A Bedtime Yarn by N. Winstanley

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice Kung
Keyword(s):  
Public Services ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
The Other ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Good Book ◽  
Falling Asleep ◽  
Unique Experience ◽  
The University

Winstanley, Nicola. A Bedtime Yarn, illustrated by Olivia Chin Mueller, Tundra Books, 2017.This picture book explores the dreams of Frankie, a little bear who has trouble falling asleep at night. To help him sleep, his mother provides a ball of yarn for him to hold while she works on the other end, knitting a special surprise for Frankie. Each ball of yarn is a different colour with its own story that takes the young bear on incredible adventures. For instance, a sea-green yarn invokes a dream that takes him deep into underwater caverns and a brown yarn reminds him of cake as a result of his upcoming birthday celebrations. Every colour depicts a new dream and unique experience. The story concludes with Frankie’s mother surprising him with a multi-coloured blanket that was made from all the different colours of yarn that he held.   Beautiful artwork illustrated by Olivia Chin Mueller accompanies the story, including strands of coloured yarn that surround the images. The author creatively used colour as the starting off point for representing the wide variety of dreams that the little bear encounters. This children’s book teaches readers about different colours and the imaginative element of dreams. This book is suitable for children from Kindergarten to Grade 2.     Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Janice KungJanice Kung is a Public Services Librarian at the University of Alberta, John W. Scott Health Sciences Library. She obtained her undergraduate degree in commerce and completed her MLIS degree 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.

scholarly journals Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester! And Other Poems More or Less About Manners by R. Kinerk

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Polkinghorne
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Public Services ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Entry Level ◽  
The University

Kinerk, Robert. Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester! And Other Poems More or Less About Manners. Illus. Drazen Kozjan. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011. Print. “You be nice to me; I’ll be nice to you. / That agreement might work. It may get us quite far. / (And it could be what manners, in truth, really are.)” (1). Books filled with poems about manners must be relatively rare. If so, then a book filled with twenty rollicking, frank, vivaciously-illustrated poems about manners must be nearly unheard of. However, this is what Robert Kinerk and Drazen Kozjan have given us in Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester! Readers of all ages will enjoy Kinerk’s direct, extravagant rhymes. His approach is comprehensive: he provides poems on entry-level etiquette such as cleaning one’s room, saying “please” and “thank you,” and keeping one’s clothes on in public, while also exploring more complex courtesies, such as shaking hands with adults, being on time, and keeping quiet at the movies. Kozjan’s illustrations are rich in both colour and detail. His style has been widely described as “retro,” likely because his work shares a particular rosy-cheeked exuberance with the work of iconic predecessors such as Mary Blair. Kozjan’s is a style in which an entire story is contained within a few strands of hair or a precisely-arched eyebrow. Despite its rolling rhythms and cheeky illustrations, what is most winning about Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester! is its sophisticated approach to its topic. It even contains a poem about the fact that it’s bad manners to lecture others about their manners. “Manners aren’t lists of things you should do. / Manners help folks become easy with you,” Kinerk writes (12). It’s this deft touch that makes this book memorable and admirable. Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester! will be appreciated by primary-school readers (and their adults). The poems are best read out loud, but the illustrations should not be neglected. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Sarah Polkinghorne Sarah is a Public Services Librarian at the University of Alberta. She enjoys all sorts of books.

scholarly journals How Do You Care for a Very Sick Bear? by V. Bayer

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenn Laskosky
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
Library And Information Studies ◽  
Information Studies ◽  
Realistic View ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Bayer, Vanessa. How Do You Care for a Very Sick Bear? Illustrated by Rosie Butcher. New York: Macmillan Publishing, 2019. Vanessa Bayer’s How Do You Care for a Very Sick Bear? provides young readers with advice on how to deal with and help their friends who are facing a difficult illness. The book offers suggestions and advice for young children, but also reminds them that even though their friend is sick, they are still their friend. Bayer’s story provides examples of the simple gestures that friends can make when helping each other. The illustrations by Rosie Butcher are bright, colourful, and simple. Butcher illustrates common activities that friends would do together, which makes them relatable to children even though the characters are bears. The illustrations take up most of the page and provide young readers with a lot to explore. The text throughout the book is simple and easy to read. Bayer’s story tackles a difficult topic, but she presents it in a way that is easy for children to understand. Her use of bears as her main characters helps to soften the impact of a difficult topic to approach with children. However, Bayer is also honest with her portrayal of illness, which offers children a realistic view of what to expect. This book can be very useful for children who have a friend facing a difficult illness. Additionally, it can be useful to parents when explaining illnesses to their children. With that in mind, I would recommend it for elementary school and public libraries. Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Jenn Laskosky Jenn Laskosky is a masters student at the University of Alberta in the Library and Information Studies program. She has an interest in health sciences librarianship and international librarianship. Her passion for reading has continued to grow throughout her education.  

scholarly journals Mine! by S. Crum

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandy Campbell
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Very Young Children ◽  
Children And Parents ◽  
Dust Jacket ◽  
Picture Story ◽  
The University

Crum, Shutta. Mine! Illus. Patrice Barton. New York:  Alfred A. Knopf, 2011.  Print. The dust jacket notes for Mine! tells us that it is about “two very young children and an adorable dog navigating the trials and triumphs of sharing.” In keeping with this theme, apart from a single “Woof?” barked by the dog, the only text is the word “mine” repeated ten times. However, when the pictures are left to tell the story, the text is really superfluous. Artist Patrice Barton has captured the chaos that happens when you put a baby, a toddler, a pile of toys, a dog, and a dog dish full of water all together in the same space without parental interference. The result is soaked children, water and wet toys thrown everywhere, and of course, a dripping dog. Children will love trying to find where all the different toys have gone from picture to picture. While the images are done in soft pastels, rather than the bright and bold colours we might expect to find in books for very young children, they are nonetheless engaging. Throughout, Barton manages to communicate movement in the images. Swoosh lines follow flying feet, jiggle lines show us the baby’s unsteady movement, and dashed lines show us where the balls or toys have flown or bounced. Over the course of the chaos, there is a delightful four page sequence where the baby stands up, totters across two pages and, overleaf, takes a flying leap, flattening the toddler, and sending the wet toys flying everywhere. That, of course, is the point where the adults reappear and begin picking up wet children and clothing. Because of all the wet and wild action in the book, the theme of sharing, or rather, not sharing, gets lost. So as a book with a message, Mine! does not work particularly well.  However, both children and parents will enjoy the entertaining picture story. Recommendation:  3 stars out of 4 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.  

scholarly journals Monkey & Elephant’s Worst Fight Ever by M. Townsend

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Feisst
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Graphic Novels ◽  
Comic Book ◽  
Young Adult Fiction ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Best Friends ◽  
Visual Artist ◽  
The University ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Over The Top

Townsend, Michael. Monkey & Elephant’s Worst Fight Ever. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. Print. Best friends Monkey and Elephant live on a tiny island with many other animal inhabitants.  One night, Monkey decides to bring Elephant a surprise gift–a tray of delicious cupcakes.  Much to his dismay, Monkey spies what he believes to be a costume party going on at Elephant’s house – to which he was not invited!   Feeling very sad, Monkey runs away, all the while reminiscing about the good times he and Elephant have had, which leaves him feeling confused about why Elephant would leave him out of the party plans.  Sad, however, quickly turns to mad and the desire to get even, and Monkey freezes Elephant’s toys into blocks of ice.  Elephant is shocked by his best friend’s actions.  Why, they collected pet rocks and watched pro wrestling together!   In turn, he too gets mad and retaliates. The back-and-forth havoc escalates until the islanders decide that enough is enough and plan an intervention for the former best friends. While Monkey and Elephant are sleeping, they are set adrift in a small boat and are ordered not to return to the island until they have hugged and made up.  The two friends bicker, but eventually the truth comes out– Elephant’s party was actually going to be a surprise wrestling match for Monkey.  An embarrassed Monkey admits he should have asked about the party, and both friends apologize for their rude behaviour. Upon their return, the islanders rejoice, and everyone enjoys the wrestling match. Michael Townsend is a gifted illustrator, visual artist, comic book enthusiast, and author of the Kit Feeny series of graphic novels for young children.  Fans of graphic novels will enjoy the comic book feel to this book, though children younger than the publisher-recommended age range of 5-8 may find the storyline distracting.  Somewhat questionable, however, are the friends’ over-the-top antics, which lead to violence, including the breaking of windows.  However, the “don’t jump to conclusions” plotline will inspire bedtime conversations, and the contemporary and colourful drawings are funny and engaging. Recommended with reservations: 2 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Debbie Feisst Debbie 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.

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