scholarly journals Snap! by H. Hutchins

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Tan
Keyword(s):  
Team Member ◽  
Editorial Team ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Award Winning ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Medical Librarian ◽  
Children And Young Adults ◽  
Fountain Of Youth ◽  
Alberta Health

Hutchins, Hazel. Snap! Illus. Dušan Petričić. Toronto, ON: Annick Press, 2015. Print.Evan is the proud owner of a brand new pack of crayons. When a crayon breaks, Evan is introduced to a world of creative possibilities as he uses the broken crayon pieces in different ways an Evan discovers how to combine his remaining crayons to create new colours as other crayons get lost or used up.  Hailing from Southern Alberta, Canmore-based author, Hazel Hutchins, has written several books for children and young adults. Serbia-based children’s book illustrator, Dušan Petričić, is known for his artwork on In the Tree House and The Man with the Violin. Hutchins and Petričić teamed up previously, to create 2009 Alberta Literary Award-winning Mattland.In Snap!, Hutchins uses repetition, onomatopoeia to great effect, creating a sense of rhythm and momentum as Evan experiences repeated challenges and successes during his colouring activities. Petričić employs a riot of colour and a messy, scribbled style that capture the main character’s expressions, personality and passion as Evan draws with wild abandon.Snap! is a great story for a child who has received their first set of crayons. Young readers will relate to Evan’s feelings of frustration and desperation as his crayon collection is depleted, and they will be surprised and inspired by his discoveries. Children will delight in the playful illustrations and won’t be able to resist experimenting with their own crayons after reading about Evan’s adventures.One piece of the story may concern parents of young children – when Evan rubs the crayons on paper and reveals the shapes of various objects underneath the page, one of the items is an open safety pin.The story’s ending is really a beginning of another adventure – a nice addition would have been some instructions on how to make the paper-folded models illustrated at the end of the book.While the publisher recommends this book for children 4-7 years of age, it may be more appropriate for those on the younger end of that range.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Maria TanMaria C. Tan is a Medical Librarian at the Abdul Khaliq Library in Alberta Health Services’ Cross Cancer Institute and a former editorial team member of the Deakin Review. She firmly believes that children's literature is an essential component in the fountain of youth.

scholarly journals I Can See Just Fine by E. Barclay

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Tan
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Team Member ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Editorial Team ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
Medical Librarian ◽  
Eye Examination ◽  
Fountain Of Youth ◽  
Alberta Health ◽  
Older Siblings

Barclay, Eric. I Can See Just Fine. New York, NY:, Abrams Appleseed, 2013. Print.Paige is a little girl who really needs glasses, but doesn’t know it. Her teachers and her mum and dad notice that she is having trouble with her vision, but when her parents decide to take her to the eye doctor, she’s not keen on going.Young readers will follow Paige as she goes for her eye examination and through the process of choosing frames. They will witness the dramatic change in how Paige sees the world when she finally gets her new glasses. I Can See Just Fine gives children get a sense of what to expect if they need glasses, ranging from what they will encounter during a visit to the optometrist or ophthalmologist, to the clinic environment, to the equipment and procedures, to being fitted for lenses and frames.Author and illustrator, Eric Barclay, crafts a story that is engaging, humorous, and instructive. His text and artwork highlights the fun and fascinating aspects of the eye exam and frame selection process. Barclay includes many details that draw in the reader and make reading and re-reading the story enjoyable, weaving humorous details around the central issue of Paige’s vision impairment. He employs two-page spreads at strategic points in the story, in one case representing the vast array of frames for Paige to select, and in another communicating the dramatic contrast between what Paige sees with and without her new glasses.I Can See Just Fine is a story that will entertain and educate young readers, and help children to feel less anxious about having their vision assessed and corrected. The story’s text and illustrations include subtle details that will appeal to older readers or to parents/older siblings reading the book to young children.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Maria TanMaria C. Tan is a medical librarian at the Abdul Khaliq Library in Alberta Health Services’ Cross Cancer Institute and a former editorial team member of the Deakin Review. She firmly believes that children's literature is an essential component in the fountain of youth.

scholarly journals When I Feel Worried by C. Spelman

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Tan
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Editorial Team ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Introductory Note ◽  
Medical Librarian ◽  
Fountain Of Youth ◽  
Alberta Health

Spelman, Cornelia, When I Feel Worried. Illus. Kathy Parkinson. Chicago : Albert Whitman & Company, 2013. Print.In When I Feel Worried, readers follow a young guinea pig’s transformation from being full of worry and uncertainty, to being happy, engaged, and confident. Through the main character, the book’s creators, Cornelia Maude Spelman and Kathy Parkinson, identify situations that can induce worry, explore the physical and cognitive dimensions of the emotion, normalize these feelings, and introduce common practical strategies to reduce worry and anxiety.Author, Cornelia Spelman, uses simple, descriptive vocabulary suited to young children’s comprehension level, and presents examples to which they can relate. Children’s book illustrator, Kathy Parkinson, combines pale backgrounds with water colour illustrations outlined in black crayon. Her playful use of colour, pattern, and texture create a vibrant tableau. Although animals act as surrogates for humans in this book, Ms. Parkinson manages to portray very human expressions in the story’s animal characters. The colourful illustrations, positive messages, and relevant examples will appeal to young children. Prior to becoming a full-time children’s author and artist, Ms. Spelman was a clinical social worker. Her background as a therapist with children and families comes through in her work on When I Feel Worried. Ms. Spelman includes an introductory note to parents and teachers, framing anxiety as something that affects everyone, including children, and provides practical strategies for supporting young children as they manage their anxiety.Ms. Spelman and Ms. Parkinson have collaborated on numerous children’s works, including eight books that comprise the How I Feel Series; When I Feel Worried is the most current of these. Their literary works for young people have been translated into multiple languages.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Maria TanMaria C. Tan is a medical librarian at the Abdul Khaliq Library in Alberta Health Services’ Cross Cancer Institute and a former editorial team member of the Deakin Review. She firmly believes that children's literature is an essential component in the fountain of youth.

scholarly journals Noni Speaks up by H. Hartt-Sussman

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Tan
Keyword(s):  
Team Member ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
Editorial Team ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
Speaking Out ◽  
Being Bullied ◽  
The University ◽  
Speak Up ◽  
Similar Issue

Hartt-Sussman, Heather. Noni speaks up. Tundra Books, 2016.Nominated for the Ontario Library Association’s Blue Spruce Award, Noni speaks up is the third book in the Noni series by Toronto-based children’s picture book author, Heather Hartt-Sussman, and acclaimed illustrator Geneviève Côté.When Noni sees Hector being bullied by other kids at school, and is encouraged by her friends to join in, she is unable to speak up; Noni is paralyzed by fear of making enemies if she stands up for her schoolmate. Noni feels bad for not defending Hector, but is uncertain about what to do.During a restless night, she worries about what might happen if she doesn’t take her friends’ side. She considers the things Hector is being bullied about. As Noni reflects on her relationships with her friends, she notices that they sometimes say and do things to her that are hurtful.When Noni goes to school the next day, she sees Hector being bullied again and experiences the same fear and inability to speak. But when her friend laughs at Hector’s misfortune, Noni has had enough and screws up the courage to defend Hector. Speaking out stops her friend laughing, and Noni and a grateful Hector actively ignore the bully’s taunting, demonstrating another strategy for dealing with bullying.Noni speaks up presents a realistic scenario and provides accurate, helpful information for dealing with bullying, in an empathic and reassuring manner. Young readers will relate to the events in the story, and the Noni models positive behaviour that children experiencing a similar issue could put into practice. This book meets the Juvenile Health Fiction Checklist criteria (described in the October 2014 issue of the Deakin Review).Readers who enjoy Noni speaks up can re-connect with Noni in Hartt-Sussman’s other books, Noni is nervous and Noni says no.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Maria TanMaria is a sessional instructor at the University of Alberta and a former editorial team member of the Deakin Review. She is the co-author, with Sandy Campbell, of the Children’s Health Fiction Checklist, described in the October 2014 Special Issue of the Deakin Review (Vol. 4, No. 2) https://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/deakinreview/article/view/23321.

scholarly journals Gerbil, Uncurled by A. Hughes

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Feisst
Keyword(s):  
Picture Book ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Young Adult Fiction ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Hard Time ◽  
Award Winning ◽  
The University

Hughes, Alison. Gerbil, Uncurled. Illus. Suzanne Del Rizzo. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2015. Print.Gerbil, Uncurled is the latest in Fitzhenry & Whiteside’s ‘Tell-Me-More! Storybook’ series and the 2nd title to use award-winning children’s book illustrator Suzanne Del Rizzo’s unique plasticine dimensional illustrations, the 1st being Skink on the Brink. The ‘Tell-Me-More! Storybook’ series is a set of fictional picture books that tell a tale about our natural world and include additional activities and brief informational text.This is award-winning writer Alison Hughes’ first foray into picture book territory, and she succeeds.  The storyline is sweet: Little Gerbil is trying her very best to fit in with her gerbil family by following the Gerbil Mottos. The Gerbil Mottos are the basic life rules that her extended family follow daily, and include keeping one’s whiskers clean and ‘celery tops come to those who wait,’ among others.  Little Gerbil is having a hard time with a specific motto, though; ‘curl up nose to toes’ while sleeping, as she finds it too restrictive and enjoys sleeping stretched out. Little Gerbil confides in wise Grandpa Gerbil who is ‘five whole years old’ and while he is sensitive to her predicament, she still can’t sleep curled up nose to toes though she certainly tries.  But our Little Gerbil is brave, and in her willingness to stand up for herself and question the world, others are able to question the mottos, too.This delightful and visually appealing book encourages young readers to be themselves, ask questions and respond positively to suggestions if it can make you happier.  The factual information about gerbils and other rodents as well as the instructions on making a clay gerbil are great endings to the book.Recommended: 3 stars out of 4Reviewer:  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.

scholarly journals No Fits, Nilson! by Z. OHora

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Connie Winther
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Ice Cream ◽  
Read Aloud ◽  
Outdoor Activities ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
Medical Librarian ◽  
Broad Interest ◽  
Alberta Health

OHora, Zachariah. No Fits, Nilson! New York : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2013. Print.No Fits, Nilson! is a children’s story book written and illustrated by Zachariah OHora. Mr. OHora has written several other well received children’s books and is an accomplished illustrator.It is about Amelia and her best friend Nilson, a large blue gorilla. These two inseparable characters have such a strong friendship that they even share time-outs. Running errands with Amelia’s mother is a test of patience and Amelia provides support to her big blue friend with the encouraging words “no fits, Nilson” and promises of banana ice cream. Amelia herself gets tested when the banana ice cream runs short, but in the end Nilson is a true friend who lends a helping hand. This is a story of patience and fits, friendship and support, and is a reminder that sometimes life is challenging for children as they learn to navigate the world.No Fits, Nilson! is illustrated with beautiful flat drawings in a rich pallet of turquoise, pink, and mustard yellow. The simplicity of the illustrations together with the use of white space and a simple bold black font draws the reader’s attention to the facial expressions and emotion of the characters and this is the strength of the book.This book is recommended for preschool children as a read aloud story. While the story does not recommend ways to manage difficult behaviours, it will be sure to stimulate conversations between children and their caregivers about feelings and behaviour.Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer:  Connie WintherConnie is a Medical Librarian with Alberta Health Services. She has a broad interest in health care and medical librarianship. When not working, she enjoys all types of outdoor activities with her family.

scholarly journals Belle & Boo and the Yummy Scrummy Day by M. Sutcliffe

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joycelyn Jaca
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
School Libraries ◽  
The Other ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
The World ◽  
Medical Librarian ◽  
Age Appropriate ◽  
Alberta Health ◽  
Frequent Visitor

Sutcliffe, Mandy. Belle & Boo and the Yummy Scrummy Day. Sydney: Orchard Books. 2013. Print.This beautifully illustrated book by Mandy Sutcliffe is about a little girl named Belle and her fussy-eater but funny friend bunny, Boo. Belle and Boo have many other fun-filled days of adventure and discovery, but in this one, the duo explores the orchard and the kitchen.Boo loves cakes and has all the excuses in the world to not eat nutritious food. Belle, on the other hand is a calm but “sneaky” cook who never forces her friend to eat healthy. Instead, she finds a way to lead Boo into trying yummy scrummy fruity things that are not cake!The story is simple, interesting and funny. It attempts to encourage kids to eat healthier but it does not lecture or preach so it is not at all boring.  ``Trying things first before saying you don`t like it`` could be the take-away message that young readers will get from this book.The language is age-appropriate and the length of the story is just right. The illustration is vintage-inspired and the colors used made each page attractive and pleasing to the eyes.Belle and Boo and the Yummy Scrummy Day is a book that elementary school libraries and public libraries should have. Parents with young children could definitely add this title to their bedtime stories booklist.Highly recommended:   4 stars out of 4 Reviewer:  Joycelyn JacaJoycelyn Jaca is a medical librarian with Alberta Health Services. She is a mother of three girls and is a frequent visitor of public libraries and bookstores to find children’s books.

The “Best of 2021 List” of Health Promotion Researchers

2021 ◽  
pp. 089011712110732
Author(s):  
Paul E. Terry
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Editorial Team ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Workplace Interventions ◽  
Award Winning ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Criteria For Selection

Each year the editorial team of the American Journal of Health Promotion selects our “Best of the Year List” of health promotion studies from the prior year. This editorial features the Editor’s Picks Awards, the Editor in Chief Awards, the Michael P. O’Donnell Award and the Dorothy Nyswander Award for the research and writing published in 2021 in this journal. Our criteria for selection includes: whether the study addresses a topic of timely importance in health promotion, the research question is clearly stated and the methodologies used are well executed; whether the paper is often cited and downloaded; if the study findings offer a unique contribution to the literature; and if the paper is well-written and enjoyable to read. Awardees in 2021 offered new insights into addressing discrimination against race or sexual identity, preferred sources of information about COVID-19 and the impact of community and workplace interventions on healthy lifestyles. This year’s award winning research spans from character to culture relative to improving well-being.

Publishing quantitative careers research: challenges and recommendations

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bert Schreurs ◽  
Angus Duff ◽  
Pascale M. Le Blanc ◽  
Thomas H. Stone
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Team Member ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Editorial Team ◽  
Board Members ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose This article aims to provide prospective authors guidelines that will hopefully enable them to submit more competitive manuscripts to journals publishing careers research.Design/methodology/approach Based on their experience as an author, reviewer and editorial team member, the authors identify the main criteria that a quantitative study must meet to be considered for publication in international peer-reviewed journals covering career-related topics. They emphasize the importance of contributing to the careers literature and of designing the study in accordance with the research question.Findings Manuscripts are rejected because they are insufficiently innovative, and/or because sample, instruments and design are not appropriate to answer the research question at hand. Cross-sectional designs cannot be used to answer questions of mediation but should not be discarded automatically since they can be used to address other types of questions, including questions about nesting, clustering of individuals into subgroups, and to some extent, even causality.Originality/value The manuscript provides an insight into the decision-making process of reviewers and editorial board members and includes recommendations on the use of cross-sectional data.

Analysis of Latino award winning children’s literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 507-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Gomm ◽  
Melissa Allen Heath ◽  
Pat Mora
Keyword(s):  
Children's Literature ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Children’S Literature ◽  
Latino Children ◽  
Emotional Needs ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Children's Picture Books ◽  
Award Winning

In this article, we offer information about the specific challenges US Latino immigrant children face. We then determine which of these challenges are included in 72 award winning children’s picture books, specifically created for and/or about Latino children. Our analysis offers information to assist school-based mental health professionals, children’s librarians, educators, and parents in prescriptively selecting books that align with Latino children’s social emotional needs. Additionally, we analysed each book’s proportion of Spanish/English text and described the book’s targeted age level and Horn Book Guide rating. From our perspective, books containing colorful illustrations that include Latino children, realistic situations, familiar Spanish words and phrases, and true-to-life characters help Latino children engage and identify with these stories. Children’s book author Pat Mora also explains her perceptions of quality children’s literature. Although this article is specific to Latino children’s literature, implications are offered that generalize to other ethnic and cultural groups that are typically underrepresented in children’s literature.

LGBTQ+ Literature in the Elementary and Secondary Classroom as Windows and Mirrors for Young Readers

2020 ◽  
pp. 198-222
Author(s):  
April M. Sanders ◽  
Laura Isbell ◽  
Kathryn Dixon
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
American Library Association ◽  
Adult Readers ◽  
American Library ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
Award Winning ◽  
Secondary Classroom ◽  
Critical Content

Educators looking for books to offer to children and young adult readers with LGBTQ+-inclusive themes can use these results to review award winning books and the themes found in the texts. This critical content study includes children's and young adult books winning the Stonewall Award from the American Library Association. The selected books are reviewed for themes applicable to mirrors and windows that are provided to readers in the text. Windows provide a way for readers to see an experience unlike their own while mirrors offer a reflection of experiences the reader has experienced. Both offer a way for readers to connect with the text.

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