Posted on December 22nd, 2015 by pajamapress
“With Remembrance Day just past, B.C. writer Michelle Barker brings young readers (six to nine years) A Year of Borrowed Men, a feel-good story that occurred in Germany in 1944. Barker’s mother, Gerda, saw three French prisoners of war arrive at the family farm as labourers. There were strict rules: no fraternizing. But Gerda found ways to make friends. While the men lived in the “pig kitchen” close to the animals, Gerda helped them celebrate Christmas by making ornaments out of catalogue pictures. Ontario artist Renné Benoit’s gentle paintings help show compassion is possible even in times of war.”
—Helen Norrie
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Posted in A Year of Borrowed Men | Tagged a-year-of-borrowed-men, helen-norrie, michelle-barker, renne-benoit, Review, winnipeg-free-press
Posted on June 23rd, 2015 by pajamapress
“…With gorgeous illustrations done in vibrant acrylics, Giraffe Meets Bird tells how an unlikely friendship developed between these two.
Good for reading aloud, this vibrant picture book tells an important lesson: despite minor clashes, true friends will be there when you most need them.”
—Helen Norrie
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Posted in Giraffe Meets Bird | Tagged giraffe-meets-bird, helen-norrie, picture-book, rebecca-bender, Review, winnipeg-free-press
Posted on April 20th, 2015 by pajamapress
Vancouver author Sarah Ellis is well-known for her books for young adults and intermediate readers. In A+ for Big Ben (Pajama Press, $10, board book) she has written a delightful story for youngest readers (ages 2-5)….
B.C. artist Kim La Fave has added large, colourful illustrations that help make this a book that will be a favourite with any child who wants to be “like the big guys.”
—Helen Norrie
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Posted in A+ for Big Ben | Tagged a+-for-big-ben, board-book, helen-norrie, kim-la-fave, preschool, Review, sarah-ellis, winnipeg-free-press
Posted on March 25th, 2013 by pajamapress
“JILL MACLEAN of Bedford, N.S., has written many young adult books, but her latest, Nix Minus One (Pajama Press, 296 pages, $15 paperback), is an exceptional novel that is not to be missed. Written in free verse, it explores the life and emotions of Newfoundlander Nixon Humbolt (Nix) between his 14th and 16th years.
…Maclean’s free verse is poetic and evocative, but compelling. Written for ages 13 and up, this is a powerful novel, hitting hard on contemporary life.”
—Helen Norrie
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Posted in Nix Minus One | Tagged book, Canada, dog, fiction, free-verse, helen-norrie, jill-maclean, newfoundland, nix-minus-one, Novel, Pajama Press, Review, teen, winnipeg-free-press, ya
