scholarly journals Voices from the Wild: An Animal Sensagoria by D. Bouchard

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Quirk
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Book Design ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Special Collections ◽  
French And English ◽  
Limited Edition ◽  
Coffee Table ◽  
Robert Bateman

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design may be appealing to parents or teachers of a certain age—who may feel a nostalgic affection for its familiar, if outdated, style, and who will be undaunted by the poetry—but the publisher has made a mistake in marketing this title as a children’s book.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

scholarly journals The Fathomless Fire by T. Wharton

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Quirk
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Children's Literature ◽  
Children’S Literature ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Special Collections ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Real Risk ◽  
Historical Investigation ◽  
The University

Wharton, Thomas. The Fathomless Fire. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 2012. Print. In the first book of The Perilous Realm fantasy trilogy for young adults, The Shadow of Malabron (2010), Will Lightfoot travels to the city of Fable in the land of Story and he is told that it “is not just a world with stories in it,… this world is story” (60).  In this place, Will learns about his own special talents and discovers that he must play his part in the story that is unfolding around him if there is to be any chance of averting catastrophe.  Together with his friend Rowen, her loremaster grandfather, Nicholas Pendrake, and a wolf named Shade, Will undertakes a perilous journey in the hopes that he can help his new friends and find his own way home. The second book of the trilogy, The Fathomless Fire (2012), picks up the adventures of Will, Rowen, and Shade where The Shadow of Malabron left off.  Will returns to the land of Story only to discover that his past exploits have become the stuff of legend, but that the land of Story is imperilled because one story is growing so powerful that it is changing and warping everything, even the past, and there is now a very real risk that this dark story will become the only story “everywhere and for ever.  No one will remember that there was ever anything else before, or imagine that things might be different” (325). This novel is recommended for young adults (16+).  This is an intriguing book for those who are interested in the idea that we are each, as individuals, the product of the stories (or histories) that we tell ourselves and others, and that we have the power to change the narrative.  Thomas Wharton has imagined a complex world of adventure, but one in which meanings can be both unfathomable and unstable.  Like many of the books in this category, “The Perilous Realm” series can be understood by young adult readers but will offer greater depth to moremature and knowledgeable readers.Follow the links below to view my interview with Thomas Wharton videotaped for The Deakin Review of Children’s Literature in December 2012. In this interview, the author discusses two of his earlier novels – Icefields (1995) and The Logogryph (2004) – before turning to the first two books in his The Perilous Realm trilogy: The Shadow of Malabron (2010) and The Fathomless Fire (2012). ¤ Access the interview here: http://youtu.be/aRUVHma7ZS4 Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Linda Quirk Linda taught courses in Multicultural Canadian Literature, Women's Writing, and Children's Literature at Queen's University (Kingston) and at Seneca College (Toronto) before moving to Edmonton to become the Assistant Special Collections Librarian at the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library at the University of Alberta.  Her favourite children's book to teach is Hana's Suitcase, not only because Hana's story is so compelling, but because the format of this non-fiction book teaches students of all ages about historical investigation and reveals that it is possible to recover the stories of those who have been forgotten by history. For another perspective on this novel, please see the review by Lissa Davies in The Deakin Review of Children’s Literature, Vol. 2, No. 3 (2012).

scholarly journals Underground to Canada by B. Smucker

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Quirk
Keyword(s):  
Martin Luther ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Fugitive Slaves ◽  
Special Collections ◽  
The North ◽  
The American South ◽  
Teachers And Parents ◽  
Martin Luther King

Smucker, Barbara. Underground to Canada. Toronto: Penguin, 2013. Print.A reprint of a historical novel first published in 1977, Underground to Canada is the gripping story of two young girls who rely on the secret network of courageous and sympathetic people which helped thousands of fugitive slaves on their dangerous journey from the American south to Canada and freedom. This covert network came to be known as the “Underground Railroad.” In his introduction, award-winning author Lawrence Hill notes that after being in print for decades, “Underground to Canada still serves as a wonderful introduction to a vital and fascinating element of Canadian history.” In an excerpt from his 1967 Massey Lectures reprinted here, Martin Luther King Jr. says, “Deep in our history of struggle for freedom Canada was the North Star. The Negro slave, denied education, de-humanized, imprisoned on cruel plantations, knew that far to the north a land existed where a fugitive slave, if he survived the horrors of the journey, could find freedom.”The subject matter of this novel is challenging, but, in a world which has yet to put an end to childhood slavery, its message is an important one. As Lawrence Hill notes, referring to the institution of slavery and the horrors of the Holocaust, “writers, teachers and parents do no one a favour by pretending that such things didn’t exist.” Written with young readers in mind, this novel avoids delving into the worst elements of the institution of slavery. It is, however, subtle enough to acknowledge the many difficulties faced by former slaves as they began new lives in Canada. In addition to the words of Martin Luther King Jr. and the introduction by Lawrence Hill, this edition includes thought-provoking questions and activities in the back of the book which may help children to think about the novel’s difficult topics, either individually or with classmates. This is a powerful, essential, novel for the education of young readers—it is recommended for readers over nine years of age—but this particular edition is shoddily produced. I could not help but notice obvious significant errors on pages 27, 84, 133, and 151, and I suspect that I could find many more if I tried. While I cannot give such a substandard edition four stars, I whole-heartedly recommend this title and urge readers to choose a different edition.Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Linda QuirkLinda taught courses in Multicultural Canadian Literature, Women's Writing, and Children's Literature at Queen's University (Kingston) and at Seneca College (Toronto) before moving to Edmonton to become the Assistant Special Collections Librarian at the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library at the University of Alberta.  Her favourite children's book to teach is Hana's Suitcase, not only because Hana's story is so compelling, but because the format of this non-fiction book teaches students of all ages about historical investigation and reveals that it is possible to recover the stories of those who have been forgotten by history.

scholarly journals Hana’s Suitcase Anniversary Album by K. Levine

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Quirk
Keyword(s):  
Original Form ◽  
Holocaust Education ◽  
Additional Material ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
True Story ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Special Collections ◽  
Historical Investigation ◽  
The One

Levine, Karen. Hana’s Suitcase Anniversary Album. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2012. Print. The true story of Hana’s Suitcase began when a teacher named Fumiko Ishioka was inspired to try to answer some of the questions asked by visiting Japanese school children about a suitcase on display in the Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center. The suitcase had come from the Auschwitz death camp. Marked with a girl’s name, her date of birth (May 16, 1931), and the German word for orphan (“Waisenkind”), the empty suitcase offered few clues, but Fumiko was determined to learn what she could about the owner of the suitcase Hana Brady. First published in 2002, Hana’s Suitcase told the interrelated stories of a group of curious Japanese children, the remarkable journey of discovery undertaken by their very determined teacher, and the story of an inquisitive and energetic young Czech girl who was among “the one-and-a-half million children who died in the Holocaust”. Author Karen Levine accomplished a great deal with this book.  Not only did she teach readers about how history is discovered, she showed us that those who have been forgotten by history can, in fact, be found again.  Furthermore, she found a way to talk about one of the darkest chapters in human history in a way that is suitable for young readers, producing a remarkable book which is, at the same time, both terribly heartbreaking and profoundly hopeful. We are told that in its first ten years the book was “published in forty-five countries and has been the catalyst for stage and film dramatizations, prose, poetry, and every kind of exploration of the worst and best humanity has to offer.  It has won national and international recognition, and holds the most awards of any Canadian children’s book ever”.  This new edition, Hana’s Suitcase Anniversary Album, includes all of the original content – including the forward by Desmond Tutu – but it offers 64 pages of additional material, including memories from one-time neighbours of the Brady family, and responses to Hana’s story from children, parents, and teachers.  The new material, while very interesting, need not inspire anyone to purchase a second copy of the book.  Nevertheless, the new edition may help to bring this extraordinary book to a new generation of young readers.  This book, in its new or original form, is strongly recommended for readers who are at least 10 years of age. Highly Recommended: 4 stars out of 4 Reviewer: Linda QuirkLinda taught courses in Multicultural Canadian Literature, Women's Writing, and Children's Literature at Queen's University (Kingston) and at Seneca College (Toronto) before moving to Edmonton to become the Assistant Special Collections Librarian at the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library at the University of Alberta.  Her favourite children's book to teach is Hana's Suitcase, not only because Hana's story is so compelling, but because the format of this non-fiction book teaches students of all ages about historical investigation and reveals that it is possible to recover the stories of those who have been forgotten by history.

scholarly journals What Can You Do with Only One Shoe: Reuse, Recycle, Reinvent by S. & S. Shapiro

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Quirk
Keyword(s):  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Everyday Objects ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Special Collections ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Historical Investigation ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Do It Yourself ◽  
The University

Shapiro, Simon and Sheryl Shapiro. What Can You Do with Only One Shoe: Reuse, Recycle, Reinvent. Illus. Francis Black. Toronto: Annick Press, 2014. Print.The publisher is promoting this charmingly-illustrated book as one intended to inspire a practical and constructive response to the environmental concerns with which we all must grapple. It is a theme which is oddly underrepresented in children’s books, perhaps because it is difficult to craft an approach which is empowering.This book considers popular contemporary ideas about recycling/repurposing everyday objects which have outlived their initial purpose, but it is not the do-it-yourself handbook that it appears to be. Instead, it is a collection of juvenile short poems with a humorously entertaining tone, but no clear message. Clearly, we should not judge this book by its title or by its covers. One poem makes fun of a toilet-turned-into-a-planter and offered as a gift, while another offers a range of silly suggested uses for a single shoe, including flattening pancakes. There is a poem which describes a tractor pulling a “broom propeller” for street sweeping which doesn’t work very well (“pebbles flying left and right”) and another in which a dog made of bicycle parts is less than satisfying (“he can’t lick my nose”). There are some poems with a less mocking tone, but which offer suggestions that are even more absurd, such as children making musical instruments from rusty cans retrieved from a landfill site or children building their own playground, complete with a swing and a slide, from an old ambulance. Intended for children aged 5-8 years old, I wonder what young readers would make of these poems.The illustrations by Francis Blake are by far the best feature of this book. Going well beyond what is found in the poems, the illustrator has created a marvelous cast of characters that are expressive in a way that is both quirky and charming. While the illustrations deserve four stars out of four, the text certainly does not.Not recommended: 1 star out of 4 Reviewer: Linda QuirkLinda taught courses in Multicultural Canadian Literature, Women's Writing, and Children's Literature at Queen's University (Kingston) and at Seneca College (Toronto) before moving to Edmonton to become the Assistant Special Collections Librarian at the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library at the University of Alberta.  Her favourite children's book to teach is Hana's Suitcase, not only because Hana's story is so compelling, but because the format of this non-fiction book teaches students of all ages about historical investigation and reveals that it is possible to recover the stories of those who have been forgotten by history.

scholarly journals Miss Moon, Wise Words from a Dog Governess by J. Hill

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Quirk
Keyword(s):  
Private Household ◽  
Canadian Literature ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Special Collections ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Original Idea ◽  
Historical Investigation ◽  
The University ◽  
Children's Activities

Hill, Janet. Miss Moon, Wise Words from a Dog Governess. Illus. Janet Hill. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2016. Print.This book is disappointing because it lacks the wise (or whimsical) words that it promises and offers only well-worn clichés, like “practice makes perfect” and “remember your manners.” These trite teachings are not offered as part of a story, but simply as a series of lessons. We are told in the introduction that Miss Wilhelmina Moon learned these lessons when she worked for a time as the “governess to sixty-seven dogs on an island off the coast of France,” but we never learn what led her to these insights. The introduction teases us by suggesting that we are about to read about the adventures of a dog governess with an absurdly large number of charges.  Unfortunately, there is no story here so the introduction’s implausible premise just seems odd and the text is nothing more than a list of hackneyed expressions. At the back of the book is a “class photo” of the sixty-seven dogs which is confusing because it seems to suggest that Miss Moon is not a governess in a private household, but a teacher at a school for dogs.Since no story grows out of the clever and original idea of an overburdened dog governess, we are left to focus on the illustrations. Dogs are cute. Children are cute. Illustrations of dogs in various guises—wearing glasses, hats, scarves, capes, or bow ties–and involved in various children’s activities—riding a bicycle, listening to a bedtime story, practicing archery, or taking a bath—can hardly fail to be appealing. Janet Hill’s sometimes adorable illustrations manage to capture something of the character of a range of dog breeds and they are sometimes very cleverly conceived, but they vary significantly in quality and sometimes seem unfocused or unfinished. Even so, the only reason to reach for this book is for the charming illustrations.Recommended with reservations: two stars out of fourReviewer: Linda QuirkLinda taught courses in Multicultural Canadian Literature, Women's Writing, and Children's Literature at Queen's University (Kingston) and at Seneca College (Toronto) before moving to Edmonton to become a librarian at Bruce Peel Special Collections & Archives at the University of Alberta.  Her favourite children's book to teach is Hana's Suitcase, not only because Hana's story is so compelling, but because the format of this non-fiction book teaches students of all ages about historical investigation and reveals that it is possible to recover the stories of those who have long been forgotten by history.

From the History of the Tatar Soviet Children’s Book Art

2010 ◽  
pp. 56-60
Author(s):  
Aislu R. Abdulkhakova
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Period ◽  
Book Art ◽  
Book Design ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
History Of ◽  
Printed Sources

In this article the national origins of Tatar children’s book art formation and the influence of Russian traditions of book design are considered. The history of Tatar children’s book design art development in the Soviet period covers the field briefly. The author succeeded in eliciting some facts in the field of children’s book design in the local archival and printed sources, and these facts are produced in the article. The names of some graphic artists are mentioned.

scholarly journals Work: An Occupational ABC by K. Hatanaka

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Feisst
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Short Description ◽  
Young Adult Fiction ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Full Page ◽  
Coffee Table ◽  
The Many ◽  
The University ◽  
First Time

Hatanaka, Kellen. Work: An Occupational ABC. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2014. Print.At first glance, you may look at this book and think it just like the myriad of other ABC books for young children and preschoolers, but you would be delightfully wrong!  Yes, of course, each letter from A to Z is represented and indeed each letter is accompanied by an image that characterizes the letter.  But that is where the similarities end. Toronto-based designer, illustrator and artist Kellen Hatanaka, who can now also call himself a first time author, has created a beautiful and unexpected piece of art for the youngest readers and it is as much a delight to read as it is to behold.  With creamy paper and softly-coloured images, created digitally after first creating ‘hand-drawn patterns and images’, it is reminiscent of a small person’s version of a coffee table book, if said coffee table were in a nursery.It starts out simple enough, with A for Aviator and a full page spread with a boldly-coloured A as well as mountain tops that echo the A’s shape.  The next page, however, alerts the reader to the fun in store – B is for Butcher, shown chasing after a group of raccoons who have absconded with a string of sausages. Yes, there are occupations like Grocer and Tailor but there are also the Ice Cream Vendor, K-9 Officer and the Wedding Singer! What’s wonderful to note are the many alternative occupations, some that you may have not have heard of, and that there is a nice mix of women, men, and cultures taking part. For the curious reader, there is a section of funny ‘Want Ads’ which provides a short description of the occupation.This would make a wonderful new baby gift and is an excellent addition to a home or public library.Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4 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.

Polar Bear Morning by L. Thompson

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Desmarais
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Polar Bear ◽  
Book History ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
English Literature ◽  
New York Times ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Special Collections ◽  
The University

Thompson, Lauren. Polar Bear Morning. Illus. Stephen Savage. New York: Scholastic Press, 2013. Print.Ten years ago, Lauren Thompson and Stephen Savage collaborated on “Polar Bear Night”, which was a splendid picture book that swiftly became a New York Times best seller. “Polar Bear Morning” follows up on the simple story of a polar bear cub that ventures out onto the arctic tundra for an adventure, but this time our favourite cub meets a new friend. The story begins when the cub emerges from her dark den, peeks out at the clear blue sky, and follows the sound of seagulls. Soon after heading out into the snow and ice, she notices something tumbling down a snow hill. It’s a snow cub! The moment when the cubs first meet is beautifully portrayed in a two-page spread that shows two furry faces in profile looking at each other without words on the pages, which perfectly captures a child’s speechless, wide-eyed bliss upon meeting a new friend.The story continues with several charming scenes that show how the friendship develops: they climb the snow hill and tumble down together; they sprint beside the sea; they race past seals, walruses and whales; they pause at the ice’s edge; and finally, they jump into the sea together. It’s a delightful portrayal of a budding friendship, with simple, yet charming illustrations rendered in a gentle palette of soft blues, greys, pinks, and browns. This picture book is a joy to read and has all the makings of a beloved classic, including frolicsome illustrations, thoughtful design, and a captivating story. It’s a wholly satisfying picture book that will be a pleasure to read again and again.Recommendation: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: Robert DesmaraisRobert Desmarais is Head of Special Collections at the University of Alberta and Managing Editor of The Deakin Review of Children’s Literature. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information Studies, with a Book History and Print Culture designation, he also has university degrees in English literature and publishing. He has been collecting and enjoying children’s books for as long as he can remember.

Long live the picture book!

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Desmarais
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Picture Books ◽  
Keyword Search ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
New York Times ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Special Collections

Ever since The New York Times published an article in October 2010 about the impending demise of the picture book, I have wanted to publish a short screed in its defense. I thought this was an opportune time because so many splendid picture books are featured in our spring issue. Let it be known that I am a devoted fan of children’s picture books. I read them voraciously as an adult, and have done so for as long as I can remember. I collect them. I purchase them in stores and from online booksellers. I present them to friends and little ones as gifts. As a special collections librarian, I also purchase them to complement and strengthen our antiquarian collections. To my immense satisfaction, I am literally surrounded by them. I understand that my passion for picture books is intense, but picture books are essential to feeding the child’s imagination and developing his or her critical thinking skills. A simple keyword search on the University of Alberta Libraries’ online catalogue revealed numerous peer-reviewed articles about the ways that picture books open up imaginative worlds to children; with this richer understanding of stories, children gain a greater understanding of themselves and the world they live in. If we acknowledge that picture books encourage children to construct meaning about characters, events, settings, and so on, then it seems only natural to conclude that picture books are essential to preparing beginning readers for pictureless chapter books. The author of the Times article reported that many parents are saying “My kid doesn’t need books with pictures anymore”, which is utterly shocking especially when we know the important role that pictures play in communication. When we introduce picture books to young readers, we allow them to make connections between their own life experiences and the illustrator’s use of colour, imagery, perspective, characterization, and dramatization. Picture books can provide powerful learning opportunities for children. I am always astonished at how much there is to learn about reading pictures. Whenever I open a picture book, I take great delight in the interpretive process. Indeed, interpretation is the essence of picture books, which is why sharing picture books with children is one of the best ways to develop their critical thinking skills. Are picture books dying “a sad little death”? The answer is obvious. I think not. I hope you enjoy this issue and please do get in touch if you have comments or questions. Robert Desmarais, Managing Editor

scholarly journals E is for Environment: Stories to Help Children Care for Their World by I. J. Corlett

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trish Chatterley
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Safety Concern ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
School Lunches ◽  
Everyday Activity ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Reduce Carbon Dioxide ◽  
The University

Corlett, Ian James. E is for Environment: Stories to Help Children Care for Their World- At Home, At School, and At Play. New York: Atria Books, 2011. Print. This collection of 26 short stories was inspired by the author’s friends Matt and Stephanie, who ran around the perimeter of North America bringing environmental messages to schools. Their adventure sets the stage for the book when main characters Elliot and Lucy attend one of their sessions. Corlett brings their message of environmental awareness and conservation to elementary school-aged children in an accessible way. Each chapter is preceded by a full-page image by Canadian illustrator R.A. Holt. Each two-page story focuses on an everyday activity such as playtime or preparing school lunches. A question is posed to get kids thinking about changes Elliott and Lucy can make to help keep the planet a little healthier. Unfortunately, many of the explanations of why change is necessary are either lacking or non-existent. For instance, why is it important to reduce carbon dioxide emissions? This concept might be a difficult one for young children to comprehend without an explanation. Once the answer is given, other questions are presented for discussion and to encourage action. Each chapter ends with a couple of factual statements and a quotation. Families are meant to read the book together and then discuss. A child reading alone would not benefit as much from the prompting questions, as there would be no opportunity for discussion. The messages are short and simple and the language used is generally natural and informal. Though many of the environment-specific words are defined, others like ‘global warming’ would benefit from explanation. There are a few witty word choices with chapter titles that parents will appreciate (one is a reference to a Joni Mitchell song!) The quotations are eclectic from a variety of individuals, but some seem too mature for inclusion in a children’s book. Many are also unrelated to the environment. Though both the author and the illustrator are Canadian, all measurements referred to are American (miles, gallons, degrees Fahrenheit). Conversions should have been included in brackets. In the story about doggy dirt, the author recommends composting dog waste to put in the garden. Another story encourages vegetable gardening. It was not made clear that pet wastes should not be used on plants intended for human consumption because of the risk of spreading disease. Despite this safety concern, the book presents a wide variety of small changes that all families can make to reduce, reuse, recycle, and help keep the planet green. Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReview: 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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document