December 4th, 2017
Wild One by Jane Whittingham and illustrator Noel Tuazon has been selected for the Toronto Public Library’s 2017 First and Best list. The First and Best list is Toronto Public Library’s “top picks of the best Canadian children’s books for building reading readiness in kids under five.” Click here to see all the First and Best […]
Posted in Wild One
November 16th, 2017
“[4/4 stars]…Wendy Orr’s Dragonfly Song is a work of beauty. From the stunning cover to the mythological imagery and lyrical prose, readers are drawn in and carried along on an intense ride. Since Aissa is mute for much of the story, her thoughts and observations are inserted in the form of short poetic phrases. This change in […]
Posted in Dragonfly Song
November 10th, 2017
“Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a starred review) 5… Everything works out in the end, but in a way that feels natural and realistic. A glossary of hummingbird facts and an author’s note add dimension to the story. This is a sweet, gentle novel about friendship….Recommend to readers who are moving beyond early chapter books into […]
Posted in The Theory of Hummingbirds
November 7th, 2017
“Rating: ★★★★…I really enjoyed this story….[A] great introduction to the Ancient Greek style for young readers, if they also have some guidance from an adult.” Click here to read the full review
Posted in Dragonfly Song
November 6th, 2017
“I love the gentleness and the vulnerability in this story. I also love the hope, the knowing that there is more in store for Aissa. And I love Aissa’s sense of good and her perseverance. My goodness, she certainly perseveres. This is a book to give readers that love being absorbed in another world. Readers […]
Posted in Dragonfly Song
October 31st, 2017
“Without delving into fine detail, the book portrays enough aspects of living with ASD to be familiar to those on the spectrum and those who care for them. From agendas (the Canadian version of IEPs) to a teacher’s lesson on making friends to a father staving off a tantrum during a project by using clever […]
Posted in Slug Days
October 28th, 2017
“[5 stars]…Best Pirate is a wonderful, amusing tale that shows sometimes it takes smarts, rather than fighting, to get out of a sticky situation. And sometimes an enemy may really be a friend…if you’re willing to work together. The story is beautifully illustrated with expressive characters that capture the imagination of those reading or listening to […]
Posted in Best Pirate
October 26th, 2017
“Fullerton notes that in Tanzania and other parts of Africa, there are still millions of people who cannot afford transportation….Some NGOs donate bicycles and open bicycle libraries where children can sign out a bicycle. In a Cloud of Dust lists organizations in North America that donate bicycles to Africa….Learning more about these organizations and doing fundraising in […]
Posted in In a Cloud of Dust
October 25th, 2017
“For the primary crowd, this story would likely work best as a read-aloud…Alternatively, it would be a good fit for slightly more developed readers transitioning to chapters. The text is quite humorous, and the silliness in the character’s names and antics will delight the young crowd. Whimsical drawings in Gay’s signature style are on each […]
October 21st, 2017
“…Like Alba, author Michelle Kadarusman experienced juvenile surgeries for clubfoot, as described in her ‘Author’s Note’, and Alba’s perspective here is delightfully authentic…. Indeed, it is these facts that will keep readers intrigued over and above the more common theme of friendship that binds this story, elevating this novel to a rich and thought-provoking read. […]
Posted in The Theory of Hummingbirds
