This One Summer
written by Mariko Tamaki
illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
Age: 13+
Interests: graphic novels, adolescence, friendship, family, summer vacation, depression, sex, teenage behaviour, sexism, feminism
This One Summer
22 Mar 2018 Leave a comment
in Books, books 13+, Canadian books, Uncategorized Tags: adolescence, bad behavior, depression, family, feminism, friendship, graphic novels, sex, sexism, summer, teens
Alice, I Think
14 Oct 2016 Leave a comment
in Books, books 12+, Canadian books, Uncategorized Tags: angst, Canada, coming of age, family, fashion, humour, romance, small town life, teens
Alice, I Think
by Susan Juby
Age: 12
Interests: family, teen drama, small town life, fashion, career choices, coming of age, how lame adults can be More
Chester
26 Sep 2013 2 Comments
in Books, books 5+, Canadian books Tags: artists, bad behavior, cats, comedy, mice, storytelling, writers
Chester
text and illustrations by Mélanie Watt
Age: 5+ (but older kids will find it funny too – 7,8)
Interests: cats, mice, artists, telling stories, bad behaviour, humour
A Land Divided
17 Sep 2013 Leave a comment
in Books, books 10+, Canadian books Tags: action, adventure, boats, Canada, Canadian history, country life, history, travel, war
GOVERNOR GENERAL’S AWARD WINNER – 1951
by John F. Hayes
illustrated by Fred J. Finley
Age: 10+ (independent reading)
Interests: Canadian history, war, adventure
Starbuck Valley Winter
04 Apr 2013 Leave a comment
in Books, books 10+, Canadian books Tags: animals, Canada, forest, hunting, independence, nature, wilderness survival, winter
CANADIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION BOOK OF THE YEAR – 1947
Starbuck Valley Winter
by Roderick Haig-Brown
Age: 10 +
Interests: hunting, wilderness survival, winter survival, animals, canoeing, Canada, British Columbia
The Incredible Journey
23 Jan 2013 Leave a comment
in Books, books 7+, books 9+, Canadian books Tags: adventure, animals, Canada, cats, dogs, pets, wilderness survival
by Sheila Burnford
Hodder and Stoughton, 1961
127 pp. – 11 chapters
Age: read to – 7+ independent reading – 9+?
Interests: pets, cats, dogs, wilderness, adventure
Next: 1963 Disney movie The Incredible Journey
Picture Books – Best of 2012 lists
14 Nov 2012 Leave a comment
in Books, Canadian books
Glazomania strikes! (love/obsession with lists)*
We all must start thinking of holiday gift ideas, I suppose, so here are a few lists of excellent children’s picture books from 2012:
Publisher’s Weekly Best Picture Books of 2012
New York Times Best Picture Books of 2012 (annoyingly, in slide show format)
American Library Association’s Best Children’s Books of 2012 (long list, all categories)
Canadian Children’s Book Centre list – for some Cancon! (scroll down for picture books)
Goodreads 2012 Picture Book Semifinalists (voted on by Goodreads members)
Amazon’s Best Children’s Picture Books 2012
How about some award-winning Science Books?
For UK titles, you can download the 2012 Best Book Guide from the Book Trust here – 10 titles in each age category (5 and under, 5-8, 9-12, Teen and Young Adult), and I also love that they give both the Reading Age (at which the child can read the book on his/her own) and an Interest Age (when the child will start to enjoy this book).
*thanks to my friend Ellen for teaching me that word yesterday!
Making the Moose Out of Life
06 Jan 2012 Leave a comment
in Books, books 3+, Canadian books Tags: adventure, animals, boats, island, moose, travel, trying new things, wilderness survival
BLUE SPRUCE nominee – 2012
by Nicholas Oldland
Kids Can Press, 2010
30 pp.
Age: 3+
Interests: animals, moose, adventure, boats, islands, travel, trying new things, survival skills
Also by this author: The Busy Beaver, Big Bear Hug
Small Saul
11 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in Books, books 5+, Canadian books Tags: adventure, boats, pirates, trying to fit in
BLUE SPRUCE nominee – 2012
Small Saul
by Ashley Spires
Toronto: Kidscan Press, 2011
32 pp.
Age: 5+
Interests: pirates, adventure, travel, ships, ocean, being unique, trying to fit in
Also by this author: Binky the Space Cat
Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth
10 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in Books, books 3+, Canadian books Tags: animals, digging, scientists, single parent
BLUE SPRUCE nominee – 2012
Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth
by Marie-Louise Gay
Toronto: House of Anansi/Groundwood Books, 2010
28 pp.
Age: 3+
Interests: digging, scientific inquiry, nature, animals
Also by this author: Rainy Day Magic, Stella: Queen of the Snow
Rarest Kind of Best 