SPL_Kids's Completed Shelf
A Small History of A DisagreementA Small History of A Disagreement, Book
by Fuentes, ClaudioBook - 2020Book, 2020
Added Jan 14, 2021
Summary:
Close to the school stood a majestic monkey puzzle tree. It had been there for many years, and the students loved it.
When plans were made to cut the tree down so that an addition to the school could be constructed (with exciting science labs and more classrooms), some students were in favour, but others wanted the tree saved and protected instead. Students discussed the issue over and over, and finally a debate, followed by a vote, was held to end the disagreement.
However, the vote ended in a tie.
What should they do then?
This story of how students learned to compromise and problem solve is an inspirational and valuable life lesson in democracy for children of ages 5 to 10 years.Close to the school stood a majestic monkey puzzle tree. It had been there for many years, and the students loved it.
When plans were made to cut the tree down so that an addition to the school could be constructed (with exciting science…
Added Dec 04, 2020
Comment:
Please see a review of this children's picture book under "Summary".
Summary:
Like many young boys, little Evan Leverage of St. George, Ontario, loved animals, trucks, emergency vehicles and the people who drove them. But at two years of age, Evan was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.
Life changed abruptly for Evan and his family as he began the first of many rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Throughout the long hospital stays, his bravery, cheerfulness and infectious smile endeared him to those around him.
In the fall of 2015, the grade two student’s condition worsened and his mother was told that Evan had very little time left. If Christmas was important to Evan – and it was – then the family should plan to celebrate it well before December 25.
The people of St. George quickly sprang into action to move Christmas forward to October 24 for Evan and his family. They decorated their houses and planned a huge festive parade that would pass by Evan’s home. As word spread, requests to enter floats arrived from all over Canada and the United States. After 250 entries were received, others had to be turned away.
To his delight Evan was made an honorary firefighter, an honorary paramedic and an honorary police officer.
On the day of the parade, Evan and his brothers watched in awe as float after float filed past their house. Lights flashed; horns honked and sirens blared. Thousands of people lined the parade route. Near the end, Evan was invited to join Santa Claus in his sleigh.
At the end of the day, a tired but very happy boy told his mother that it had been the “best” Christmas!
Six weeks later Evan died in his mother’s arms at the Steadman Hospice in Brantford. Later, “Evan’s Legacy” was established to help other children facing cancer.
This touching story, with its message of hope and generosity, has a local connection. Evan was born in Stratford.
In addition to this picture book, author Eric Walters and illustrator Carloe Liu have collaborated to create “Always with You”, the story of a young girl who loses her beloved grandfather.
** Submitted by Sally Hengeveld, Stratford Public Library.Like many young boys, little Evan Leverage of St. George, Ontario, loved animals, trucks, emergency vehicles and the people who drove them. But at two years of age, Evan was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.
Life changed abruptly…
MuseMuse, Electronic Resource
Electronic Resource - 1996-Electronic Resource, 1996-
Added Mar 26, 2020
Comment:
This science magazine is intended for children ages 9 to 14 years.
** Please see "Summary" for a review of "Muse" magazine.
Summary:
"Muse" magazine, issued 9 times per year, is intended for ages 9 to 14 years of age.
Its focus in on science of interest to this age group, offering the latest in space exploration and research, the most unusual and inventive robots, the rarest and most bizarre creatures of our earth, life in far-flung places such as Antarctica and the Mariana Trench, our planet's hidden worlds (inside volcanoes and caves, for example) and much more.
Activities, comics and a contest are also provided in each issue.
"Muse" will appeal widely to those interested in the world around them and beyond. Winner of a 2020 Parent's Choice Gold Aware, each issue includes plenty of colour photos and illustrations."Muse" magazine, issued 9 times per year, is intended for ages 9 to 14 years of age.
Its focus in on science of interest to this age group, offering the latest in space exploration and research, the most unusual and inventive robots, the…
Suitability
Ages 6
Added Dec 10, 2019
Comment:
An interesting note: Thirty or forty years ago, "Chicken Girl" might well have been banned in some school and public libraries because the book addresses issues such as sexual assault, queer identity and coming out.
Killer StyleKiller Style, BookHow Fashion Has Injured, Maimed, and Murdered Through History
by McMahon, Serah-MarieBook - 2019Book, 2019
Added Dec 03, 2019
Comment:
You can find a review of this book in the Summary section.
Summary:
Fashion and the fashion industry have harmed, injured and killed people at various times throughout history. This may be surprising, but there are plenty of examples.
After Marie Curie discovered radium, it began to be added to various brands of lipsticks, soaps, watches and other products. Soon, many factory workers who helped to produce these goods began to fall very sick with radium poisoning. Many of them died in only a few years, their corpses sometimes remaining radioactive for many years.
Lead, which was sometimes used in the manufacture of face powder and Kohl because it adheres so well to skin, can accumulate in human bones and eventually harm almost every organ system in the body.
Everyone knows now that mercury is very toxic but in the 18th century, its danger unknown, the substance was often added to the fur used in making men’s top hats. The mercury was most dangerous to the hatmakers, who often suffered from paranoia, convulsions and other resulting conditions.
In the late Victorian era, an inexpensive type of warm cotton flannelette was used widely in the manufacture of children’s sleepwear. However, this material proved to be especially flammable. Many homes used open flames for cooking and heating at that time and in one five-year period in England, 1,816 children burned to death while wearing flannelette clothing.
The list of dangerous fashion products also includes long scarves, very high heels, tight skirts and others.
Killer Style is a fascinating, illustrated summary of ways in which fashion has harmed and killed. The book is a worthy nominee for the new 2020 Yellow Cedar Award, to be given annually by the Ontario Library Association. It, and other nominated titles, can be found at the Stratford Public Library.
** Recommended for ages 9 years and up.
- Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library, Dec. 2019Fashion and the fashion industry have harmed, injured and killed people at various times throughout history. This may be surprising, but there are plenty of examples.
After Marie Curie discovered radium, it began to be added to various brands…
The Princess and the Pit StopThe Princess and the Pit Stop, Book
by Angleberger, TomBook - 2018Book, 2018
Added Sep 09, 2019
Comment:
Find a full review of this book under "Summary"
Summary:
The princess in this un-fairy-tale-like story is not content with staying in a castle and doing princess-like things.
Instead, she has entered a huge car race with over five hundred contestants.
The competition is fierce, and with only a few laps left to go in the race, the princess must make a pit stop. Alas, as the Seven Dwarfs and Three Little Pigs attend to her racecar, the Fairy Godmother informs the princess that Humpty Dumpty, the Three Bears, the Gingerbread Man, Little Bo Peep (along with all of her sheep) and many fairy tale characters are ahead of her. In fact, the princess is in last place!
The situation looks hopeless. Should she just give up and concede defeat? But no - this princess is having none of that!
Instead, she stomps on the gas and roars off. Driving at top speed, she soon passes Sleeping Beauty and Rumpelstiltskin. She ruthlessly cuts off the Three Billy Goats Gruff. Tom Thumb and the Giant are pushed to the side as she edges past the Big Bad Wolf. After charging past the Knight and the Dragon, she outraces first the Tortoise, then the Hare, then Snow White, then the Wizard of Oz and the Wicked Witches from Hansel and Gretel, and then a whole lineup of other racers.
In almost no time at all, the princess has pulled out in front of everyone except Cinderella’s two stepsisters. On no! The princess knows that this will definitely be a “race to the bitter end”.
Sure enough, Cinderella’s stepsisters swerve, curve, bump, block and use every dirty tactic in the book … but our tenacious, determined princess finally outmaneuvers them to win the race.
Tom Angleberger’s hilarious, refreshing “take” on the traditional fairy tale, complete with eye-catching illustrations, will definitely leave young readers cheering – for the princess, of course!
You can find this book and many other new children’s picture books on the lower floor of the Stratford Public Library.
** Recommended for ages 4 to 7 years of age.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public LibraryThe princess in this un-fairy-tale-like story is not content with staying in a castle and doing princess-like things.
Instead, she has entered a huge car race with over five hundred contestants.
The competition is fierce, and with only…
Added Jul 30, 2019
Comment:
You can find a full review of this book (as published in the Stratford Beacon Herald on August 2, 2019) in the "Summary" section.
Summary:
No WiFi or electricity? No playgrounds, sidewalks, city lights or even buildings? No friends to play with? As a young girl and her parents pack their car for a camping vacation in the wilderness, she wonders what could be so “great” about the outdoors. What’s actually there? What on earth will she find to do? Feeling grumpier by the minute, the girl is quite sure that she’ll be bored silly on this trip.
Leaving the city, all she can think about is how much fun she will miss back at home.
But as the family vehicle travels into the wilderness, mountain goats, deer and a variety of other creatures appear on the foothills in the distance. And a few minutes later, a small group of black bears close to the side of the road suddenly claims her attention. Wow!
It isn’t long before the girl begins to notice and be thrilled by what she and her family observe in the wilderness around their campsite and on their hikes. She sees deer, caribou, beavers, beaver dams, waterfalls and hidden lakes. In the distance, she can see lofty mountain peaks. At night, instead of a city skyline, she can see a dramatically-coloured sunset and instead of city lights, she can watch the stunning aurora borealis above her. She has fun kayaking and fishing with her family, discovers the delicious taste of food cooked on a campfire, and realizes that the music of songbirds is much more soothing than the sounds of city traffic.
The story ends on a very positive note as the young girl embraces the enchantment and the treasures that can be found only in nature.
Madeline Kloepper is both the author and artist of this beautifully-illustrated, entertaining picture book, which is set in British Columbia. Readers will be intrigued by the many details in the artwork.
From Jean Pendziwol’s “Me and You and The Red Canoe” and Melanie Watt’s “Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping”, the Stratford Public Library has a number of appealing stories which can be enjoyed and used to begin a conversation with children about the wonders and the importance of nature.
** Recommended for ages 4 to 8 years of age.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library.No WiFi or electricity? No playgrounds, sidewalks, city lights or even buildings? No friends to play with? As a young girl and her parents pack their car for a camping vacation in the wilderness, she wonders what could be so “great” about the…
STEM VillageSTEM Village, Electronic Resource
Electronic ResourceElectronic Resource
Added May 23, 2019
Comment:
Many jobs increasingly depend on people having a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering and math. This is why Stratford Public Library is excited to provide online access to STEM Village - a learning community where people can develop the STEM skills required to be successful today and tomorrow.
STEM Village is an online resource developed by parents and educators in consultation with leaders in business, finance, technology and government to help learners improve their STEM learning and skills. Using career or learning pathways STEM Village offers guidance and education solutions which address the STEM skills required for students to be successful as they enter into the work market. Learning paths help learners delve into key science, technology, engineering and math skills that will prepare them for the careers they are interested in. Learners can also have fun poking around topics that catch their interest like robotics or the human body. This curated collection of online resources and assessments can be accessed anywhere, anytime providing access to videos, websites, and quizzes that give learners fun and interactive learning experiences.
STEM Village can be used for homework help, to track progress in STEM learning and is curriculum based. Presently, the learning resources correspond to Ontario grades 5-8 curriculum but Stem Village continues to expand. STEM Village also allows parents and educators to make learning more fun by making it easy to provide incentives and rewards for the completion of learning activities.
To get started with STEM Village visit the library website at www.splibrary.ca. Once on the STEM Village landing page teachers and/or parents must create an admin account before adding student accounts and creating rewards. You will need a library card to get started and then you can unlock fun learning experiences that will help prepare children and anyone interested in learning for tomorrow.Many jobs increasingly depend on people having a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering and math. This is why Stratford Public Library is excited to provide online access to STEM Village - a learning community where people can…
Make This!Make This!, BookBuilding, Thinking, and Tinkering Projects for the Amazing Maker in You
by Schwartz, EllaBook - 2019Book, 2019
Added Mar 25, 2019
Comment:
You can find a full review of this book in the "Summary" section.
Summary:
What does this appealing, colorfully-illustrated National Geographic book offer kids? In a nutshell, plenty.
Packed with fun and instructive science-related experiments, challenges and projects, this 160-page book will encourage children from 7 to 12 years of age to create, design, explore, tinker, try (and try again) and even solve problems that are found in real life. At the same time, kids will discover the basic scientific principles of simple machines, energy, motion, forces, optics, acoustics and more. They will be inspired and challenged to think outside the box. “Every invention starts as an idea in someone’s head, becomes an experiment, and then gets made real in the hands of a maker.”
Kids will learn that anyone can be creative and be a “maker”. They don’t need a lot of expensive gear, equipment or electronics; instead, they can often use or recycle what’s already around them in their own home. Such materials as craft sticks, paper towel tubes, cardboard, elastics and string can go a long way – as this book demonstrates so well.
What are some of the creations that readers can make? A ball launcher, catapult, rocket, basic telescope, sound wave stethoscope, string phone, fidget spinner and a xylophone are just a few.
With clear, uncomplicated instructions, little if any parental help will likely be needed to do the hands-on activities in this book, which range in age difficulty.
Who knew that science could be so much fun?
** Recommended for ages 7 to 12 years.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public LibraryWhat does this appealing, colorfully-illustrated National Geographic book offer kids? In a nutshell, plenty.
Packed with fun and instructive science-related experiments, challenges and projects, this 160-page book will encourage children from…
Added Jan 08, 2019
Comment:
Please see a full review in "Summary" (published in the Stratford Beacon Herald on January 11, 2019).
Summary:
“There is someone new in my class.”
“It’s someone who doesn’t speak English.”
The story of three elementary school students who are asked by their teacher to welcome three new young immigrants to their classrooms is the focus of Anne Sibley O’Brien’s new picture book.
Maria has come from Guatemala, Jin from South Korea and Fatimah from Somalia. None speak English, so Jesse, Jason and Emma – although willing, don’t know how to connect with them.
At first, all six children feel uncomfortable, but gradually, Jesse, Jason and Emma find ways to connect with Maria, Jin and Fatimah as they discover common interests which help to overcome the language barriers. Through soccer, drawing and writing they come to know each other. Then they become friends.
The stories are gently and simply told but they carry powerful messages which tug at the heart.
Anne Sibley O’Brien’s new picture book portrays what it might be like to come from another country to a strange land, climate, school and language, so often accompanied by painful memories of past traumatic experiences. However, children (and people) around the world have many things in common – and a love of fun, soccer and art are only a few examples.
The author, Anne Sibley O’Brien, was raised bilingually and biculturally in South Korea.
** Recommended for ages 3 to 8 years of age.
Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library“There is someone new in my class.”
“It’s someone who doesn’t speak English.”
The story of three elementary school students who are asked by their teacher to welcome three new young immigrants to their classrooms is the focus of…
Added Oct 24, 2018
Comment:
Check out the "Summary" section for a full book review.
I Walk With VanessaI Walk With Vanessa, BookA Story About A Simple Act of Kindness
by KerascoëtBook - 2018Book, 2018
Added Oct 05, 2018
Comment:
Please see the Summary section for a full review.
Summary:
This simple picture book, which is told entirely without words, provides the reader with the inspiring, powerful message that a small act of kindness and caring can grow into much more.
The book is also about bullying – an issue which, unfortunately, is all too familiar to many children.
When Vanessa, a new student at the local elementary school, has trouble making friends and becomes the helpless target of the school bully, a classmate notices and feels badly about it. She wonders how she can help.
The next morning, the classmate invites Vanessa to walk to school with her. Soon they are joined by more and more students, who also stay to play with Vanessa on the playground and sit with her in school. The bullying quickly stops.
The classmate’s simple act of being kind, empathetic, and standing up for what is fair - instead of being a mere bystander - changes the entire school for the better.
It’s interesting to note that Vanessa is one of the few children of colour in the school … and it’s also interesting to discover that this story is based on a true incident.
Because this story is told without words, but is beautifully illustrated with lots of detail, young readers can work out for themselves what is happening and why.
The author’s name, “Kerascoet”, refers to a French husband and wife team.
** Recommended for ages 4 to 8 years.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, Stratford Public Library.This simple picture book, which is told entirely without words, provides the reader with the inspiring, powerful message that a small act of kindness and caring can grow into much more.
The book is also about bullying – an issue which,…
Speaking Our TruthSpeaking Our Truth, BookA Journey of Reconciliation
by Gray Smith, MoniqueBook - 2017Book, 2017
Added Sep 14, 2018
Comment:
Please see "Summary" for a review of this book.
Summary:
“Clarity”, “compassion”, “kindness” and “respect” are four words that apply to Monique Gray Smith’s impactful resource about Canada’s relationship with its indigenous peoples – a relationship that is as complex as it is difficult and painful.
One of the key reasons that reconciliation is so necessary is the long-lasting harm resulting from Canada’s residential school system.
For approximately 130 years (the last residential school didn’t close until 1996), this educational system was forced upon indigenous children across Canada. Taken from their unwilling parents and moved hundreds of miles away to the nearest residential school, the children were removed as much as possible from their own culture. They were given new names and punished for speaking in their own language. Their hair was cut; they were fed different foods and they wore different clothing. Siblings were separated. During their long years at school, many students were denied even a single visit with their families.
The many harmful effects of that residential school system have been passed down from survivor to child to grandchild.
All Canadians need to understand clearly and acknowledge the devastating impacts which are still being felt by survivors, their families and their descendants.
“Reconciliation must begin with all of us.”
Author and consultant Monique Gray Smith lives on Lewungen territory in British Columbia and has also written the picture book, You Hold Me Up.
** Recommended for ages 9 to 13 years, for both individual reading and classes.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library.“Clarity”, “compassion”, “kindness” and “respect” are four words that apply to Monique Gray Smith’s impactful resource about Canada’s relationship with its indigenous peoples – a relationship that is as complex as it is difficult and painful.
…
Added Aug 23, 2018
Comment:
You can find another review of this book in "Summary".
Summary:
On the morning of the first day of school, twenty new kindergarten students begin the day in different ways. Some wake up quickly; others try to sleep in. Some are nervous; some are happy … and one is “sure he won’t survive” the day. Some of the students get dressed in jeans; others pull on dresses. Some wear mismatched socks.
Ten children have “bed head” (and of those ten, nine use their combs and one uses a brush, but to no avail).
Some of the students eat toast for breakfast… others, pancakes. Some drink juice; others have a glass of milk.
The students arrive at the school in various ways too: by school bus, by foot or by car. Once there, some are still nervous. Others are excited and have no worries at all.
No two children have begun their morning in exactly the same way, but now that they are all in their new kindergarten room, there IS something which is the same for each of them. What is it?
The thing that is identical is that each student is equally welcome in their new kindergarten classroom!
This reassuring, wonderfully-illustrated picture book, which will help to calm first-day jitters, is careful to portray the diverse ethnicities, skin colors, hairstyles, personalities and behaviors of the new students.
** Recommended for ages 3 to 7 years of age.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library.On the morning of the first day of school, twenty new kindergarten students begin the day in different ways. Some wake up quickly; others try to sleep in. Some are nervous; some are happy … and one is “sure he won’t survive” the day. Some of the…
Added Aug 13, 2018
Comment:
You can find a full review in the Summary section.
Summary:
For many years, the planet Mars has been a source of endless fascination and speculation. Humans have yearned to learn about and to travel to the “red planet”, located 57.6 million kilometers from Earth.
Markus Motum’s large, non-fiction picture book – illustrated in mixed media – is the true account of the Mars robot rover named “Curiosity”, which has been exploring Mars for signs of life since 2012.
Told in first-person narrative, Curiosity explains how “she” was built, how her name was chosen, why a rover was chosen to visit Mars instead of a human, how she was launched from earth to the red planet, and how she tests and analyzes soil samples for small life forms called “microbes”.
Did life once exist on Mars? Why did it change from a warm planet with water to a cold, dry planet, and how did its atmosphere disappear? What are some of the characteristics of its climate and geology? These are some of the questions which scientists hope Curiosity can help to answer.
Carrying 17 cameras which are constantly sending images back to the NASA team on earth, Curiosity is still exploring Mars today … after more than 2070 days!
Informative and well-researched, this fascinating book really does bring the car-sized rover, Curiosity, to life for young readers.
A timeline, glossary and information about other Mars rovers are included at the end of the book.
** Recommended for ages 6 to 11 years of age.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library.For many years, the planet Mars has been a source of endless fascination and speculation. Humans have yearned to learn about and to travel to the “red planet”, located 57.6 million kilometers from Earth.
Markus Motum’s large, non-fiction…
Added Jul 12, 2018
Comment:
Please see "Summary" for a full review of this book.
Summary:
Nick and his two cats, Verne and Stevenson, were the best of friends and they did everything together … except reading.
Nick enjoyed stories so much that he was sure the cats would enjoy them too. He decided to teach them to read.
However the cats had other ideas.
Nick began with easy words in large print. Verne and Stevenson paid no attention. They just wanted to play.
At lunchtime Nick tried to teach the cats words about eating. The cats ignored him. They just wanted to eat. Later when he tried to teach them the word “nap”, they fell asleep.
The next day, Nick printed some words on pieces of paper which had been cut in the shape of fish. Now Verne was interested … but not Stevenson (who just said “Mrrp” and crawled under the bed).
As Nick introduced more words about fish - and food and cats - Vernon began to learn about letters and sounds. He struggled at first, but persevered. When he had mastered words, Nick started to read him stories. Soon Vernon could also read stories for himself!
But Stevenson still wasn’t interested, even when Nick and Vernon went off to the library for more stories to read.
Was there anything at all that could turn Nick’s grumpy, reluctant cat into a reader?
This totally endearing, amusing and quirky tale happily celebrates the joy of reading and the power of the imagination.
** Recommended for ages 3 to 7 years of age.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library.Nick and his two cats, Verne and Stevenson, were the best of friends and they did everything together … except reading.
Nick enjoyed stories so much that he was sure the cats would enjoy them too. He decided to teach them to read.
…
I Can't Believe It!I Can't Believe It!, Book2
Book - 2018Book, 2018
Added Jun 27, 2018
Comment:
You can find a full review of this book in the "Summary" section.
Summary:
There are many things in our world which are strange, extraordinary, amazing and simply unbelievable … and true.
Can you believe that giant squids can measure 18 meters in length and weigh 900 kilograms … or that octopuses can play with toys and even solve some puzzles? Is this possible? Yes, it is! Did you know that chameleons can change the colour of their skin to reflect their mood (or to blend in with their surroundings)? How about platypuses: have you ever suspected that these animals might have electrical receptors in their snouts to detect prey animals? Amazing – but true!
Here are a few more I-can’t-believe-it facts: a tsumani can move faster than a Boeing 777; on a clear night it’s possible to see as many as 2500 stars without using a telescope; a blue whale’s heart weighs as much as a motorcycle; a large African elephant can hold 10 litres of water in its trunk and the heaviest species of spider (the goliath spider) is bigger than an adult human’s hand ... large enough to eat a bird!
The world’s tiniest computer is the size of a grain of rice, yet it can take pictures, read temperatures and record pressure readings! Who knew?
Boggle your brain with many more astounding and fascinating facts about our incredible world from this colorfully-illustrated book.
** Recommended for ages 8 to 12 years.... but adults and teens would also be intrigued & interested!
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library.There are many things in our world which are strange, extraordinary, amazing and simply unbelievable … and true.
Can you believe that giant squids can measure 18 meters in length and weigh 900 kilograms … or that octopuses can play with toys…
Added Jun 21, 2018
Tags (1)
Added Jun 21, 2018
Tags (1)
Added Jun 15, 2018
Comment:
A full review of this book can be found in the "Summary" section.
Summary:
It all started when Henry found the "most awesome", "amazing" and "stupendous" book to read in his classroom. It was about a bike, and Henry just couldn't put it down ... not even when the school lunch bell rang.
Henry ignored the lunch bell, stayed put and read on.
The cafeteria lady and the teacher couldn't believe it! Had a student ever missed lunch before to keep reading a book?
The principal and the town mayor were informed. They were incredulous. Perhaps the school needed a louder bell?
The next day, the old bell was replaced by one that sounded like an explosion at a drum factory.
But Henry read on.
What to do now? The governor was consulted and on the following day an even louder bell was installed in the school. Its blast sounded like a ton of air horns getting smashed by a freight train. The sound blew half the whiteboards off the walls and caused calamity on the streets close to the school ... but even then, Henry merely read on!
Now the bell was replaced again. The new bell was louder than the Daytona 500 and a whole squadron of planes. It blew everyone out of their desks ... but Henry continued to read, upside-down.
Obviously, a different solution was needed ... but what?
Children will be delighted by this hilarious story and its surprising conclusion.
** Recommended for ages 4 to 8 years.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library.It all started when Henry found the "most awesome", "amazing" and "stupendous" book to read in his classroom. It was about a bike, and Henry just couldn't put it down ... not even when the school lunch bell rang.
Henry ignored the lunch…
Added May 28, 2018
Comment:
You can find a full review of this book in the "Summary" section.
Summary:
It’s time for the children’s storytime in the library, but something – or someone – is missing. It’s not the children, or the books. It’s the librarian, Ms Merryweather …. who is never late!
The children decide that she must be missing and they begin to search the library for clues. What they find is quite surprising: footprints which look more like paw prints, an overturned jar of sticky honey on the librarian’s desk, and a couple of shredded books. What’s going on?
Suddenly, they look up and see … a new LIBEARIAN!
The new liBEARian – who really does look very much like a bear - isn’t interested in reading a princess story or one about knights and dragons to the children. However, he’s very happy to read them a scary story … about bears, complete with some loud growling, roaring and stomping.
The children, thoroughly frightened, love it!
Just then, Ms Merryweather arrives. Without noticing the new liBEARian, she begins to read “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” to the children. But wait! Baby Bear is missing from the story … until Ms Merryweather realizes that he has stepped out of the book and is in the library. In fact, he is the new “liBEARian”!
When Baby Bear returns to the book, Ms Merryweather continues to read … until everyone realizes that someone else is missing from the book!
Who could it be?
This clever, imaginative story about the magic of stories is sure to enchant young listeners.
** Recommended for ages 3 to 6 years.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library.It’s time for the children’s storytime in the library, but something – or someone – is missing. It’s not the children, or the books. It’s the librarian, Ms Merryweather …. who is never late!
The children decide that she must be missing and…
This Book Stinks!This Book Stinks!, BookGross Garbage, Rotten Rubbish, and the Science of Trash
by Flynn, Sarah WassnerBook - 2017Book, 2017
Added May 22, 2018
Comment:
Find a review of this book in the "Summary" section!
Summary:
Why does this book “stink” (and why would an author admit it)? The answer: it’s because this National Geographic Kids book is all about garbage.
The next question would be why someone would devote an entire book to the subject of trash?
Here’s the thing … trash is everywhere - absolutely everywhere - on our planet, even in the oceans, the mountaintops and in outer space! And all that garbage is very harmful to our planet’s health – including the health of all wildlife and to human health as well.
Consider this awesome but unfortunate fact: around the world, people throw away about 4 million tons of trash every single day!
Despite the subtitle to this book (“Gross Garbage, Rotten Rubbish, and the Science of Trash”), not everything about garbage is actually gross, disgusting and hopeless.
If we change the way we think about trash, and learn what is actually trash and what isn’t, then we can lessen the amount of garbage in our world. We can recycle more – much more. We can reuse things more than we do. We can compost more – and we can use much less in the first place. This book tells us how to do so, including some creative and cutting-edge ways in which we can recycle and reuse.
Everyone can make a difference! In the process, we can also make a difference to climate change.
Oh yes … be sure to take the “personality quiz” (page 38) to discover how wasteful YOU are!
** Recommended for ages 8 to 12 years.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library.Why does this book “stink” (and why would an author admit it)? The answer: it’s because this National Geographic Kids book is all about garbage.
The next question would be why someone would devote an entire book to the subject of trash?
…
Top DogsTop Dogs, BookTrue Stories of Canines That Made History
by MacLeod, ElizabethBook - 2017Book, 2017
Added Apr 26, 2018
Comment:
A full review of this book can be found in the "Summary" section.
Summary:
Working dogs help people in an incredible number of ways. There are search and rescue dogs, police dogs, military and combat dogs, guard dogs, sheep-herding dogs, sled dogs, therapy dogs and service dogs which assist blind or deaf people…. and these are only some examples.
You may not know that some of these working dogs have even become heroes – or “top dogs”!
During World War I, a spunky terrier named “Rags” regularly took important messages from headquarters to the front lines. Who would suspect that the dog was carrying hidden messages written on pieces of paper tucked into his collar? Another dog, Stubby, could smell a deadly gas attack long before people could. Instead of running away, he would warn soldiers by racing through the trenches, loudly yipping and barking.
Many people know the story of Balto and Togo, sled dogs whose teams brought life-saving serum to Nome, Alaska, in 1925 during a diphtheria epidemic. With a severe blizzard raging, there was no other way to deliver the medicine. Every year, these canine heroes are remembered during the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
On September 11, 2001, two World Trade Centre towers in New York City collapsed after a terrorist attack. Amazingly, despite all the dust, smoke and ash in the air, a German shepherd named “Trakr” was able to smell and find an injured person lying under the piles of concrete and steel 24 hours after the disaster.
There are many more examples of hero dogs. This book also delves into some of the reasons why our canine friends can be so helpful. Did you know that they see movement and light much better than humans, and they have better night vision? Their sense of smell is amazing - and they hear four times better than us.
Vividly illustrated,Top Dogs has earned a well-deserved nomination for the coveted 2018 Silver Birch Non-Fiction Award.
** Recommended for ages 8 to 12 years of age.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library.Working dogs help people in an incredible number of ways. There are search and rescue dogs, police dogs, military and combat dogs, guard dogs, sheep-herding dogs, sled dogs, therapy dogs and service dogs which assist blind or deaf people…. and…
Fault LinesFault Lines, BookUnderstanding the Power of Earthquakes
by Wagstaffe, JohannaBook - 2017Book, 2017
Added Apr 23, 2018
Comment:
A complete review of this book can be found in the Summary section.
Summary:
What are fault lines? Why are they significant enough that a whole book would be written about them?
The earth’s surface crust actually consists of tectonic plates with cracks between the plates. Those cracks are called “fault lines”. As the tectonic plates move about – very, very slowly – they sometimes collide. This collision is an earthquake … and the earth’s fault lines often determine where earthquakes are most likely to occur. This is why fault lines are important.
Scientists believe that millions of earthquakes actually happen each year around the earth. Most are too small to be felt or detected. However, some are so large that they cause immense damage.
Where did the largest earthquake occur? It was in southern Chile, in 1960, and it caused a huge tsunami and a volcanic eruption. Incredibly, the aftershocks continued for years.
There are plenty of intriguing “did-you-know’s” in this book. For example, did you know that shallow earthquakes are often more destructive than deeper earthquakes? Did you know that quakes can create mountains and even volcanoes, that we have written records of earthquakes happening 3000 years ago, and that earthquakes also happen on other planets?
Author Johanna Wagstaffe is a seismologist and meteorologist who has always had an interest in earthquakes. She can also be seen regularly on CBC. Her book (which includes various illustrations, maps and graphs) provides clear explanations and descriptions of how and why earthquakes happen, and it will appeal to readers with an interest in such disasters and in science in general.
** Recommended for ages 8 to 12 years of age.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, librarian, Stratford Public Library.What are fault lines? Why are they significant enough that a whole book would be written about them?
The earth’s surface crust actually consists of tectonic plates with cracks between the plates. Those cracks are called “fault lines”. As…
Added Apr 12, 2018
Comment:
A full book review can be found in the "Summary".
Summary:
Amid the grey, barren jungle of tall buildings, concrete and asphalt in a large city, two boys find a small sapling growing behind a low wall. One of the boys, remembering his father’s stories of playing happily in the trees and grass as a child growing up in the country, imagines the small tree as it might appear in the future: tall, majestic and beautiful.
Alas, the future doesn’t appear very bright for the sapling when the boys learn that a 247-floor condominium will be built on the very spot where the tree is trying to grow.
The two friends resolve to save what they imagine might be the last tree on earth, for it certainly appears to be the last tree in their neighbourhood. They dig up the sapling and bicycle for hours to find a safe place outside the city. Then they carefully replant it.
This picture book is beautifully illustrated, offering a distinct colour contrast between nature and the increasing urban sprawl of our world. With its powerful ecological message about preserving nature, Ingrid Chabbert’s story inspires an appreciation of trees, nature and beauty. It reminds readers that people of all ages – even children – can take some action to help our world.
** Recommended for ages 4 to 8 years.
** Reviewed by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian, Stratford Public Library.Amid the grey, barren jungle of tall buildings, concrete and asphalt in a large city, two boys find a small sapling growing behind a low wall. One of the boys, remembering his father’s stories of playing happily in the trees and grass as a child…
Comment: