scholarly journals how to by J. Morstad

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sulz
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Elementary Education ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Lower Case ◽  
Library Studies ◽  
The Face ◽  
Lateral Thinking ◽  
Bike Ride

Morstad, Julie. how to. Simply Read books, 2013. Print. Anyone who is a fan of creative and lateral thinking will love this book. The simple text and illustrations evoke complex connections and imagination. The title gives away that it is a “how to…” book but the things to do and learn are not your usual “… make cookies” or “… build a birdhouse.” I love that the text problems are answered by text-less illustrations. For example, “how to make new friends” is answered by an image of a child making sidewalk chalk drawings of various creatures (including people) and “how to wash your socks” is accompanied by a group of children stomping in a puddle of clean-looking water. While a few “how to’s” are answered with several possibilities, most have only one. This might be considered a weakness or, on further reflection, the multiple-answer examples suggest a pattern so the reader will search for their own variations.I’ll admit to some discomfort with the choice to make all the “how to” phrases unpunctuated and in lower case letters because I believe proper writing is learned through example. However, it is a tiny quibble about an inspirational book. I will be sure to feel the breeze and appreciate the face wash on my bike ride home in the rain.Recommended:  4 out of 4 starsReviewer: David SulzDavid is a Public Services Librarian at University of Alberta and liaison librarian to Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. He has university studies in Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics;  he formerly taught in schools and museums. His interests include physical activity, music, home improvements, and above all, things Japanese.

Louis the Tiger Who Came from the Sea by M. Kozlowski

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sulz
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Elementary Education ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
Press Release ◽  
The Other ◽  
Breakfast Cereal ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Library Studies ◽  
The University

Kozlowski, Michal. Louis the Tiger Who Came from the Sea. Illus. Sholto Walker. Toronto: Annick Press, 2011. Print. If you are a logical thinker, as many adults are, this book just does not make sense. How could a tiger be mistaken for a carrot or a pumpkin? What do white chin-patches and nose-tickling whiskers have to do with the name Louis? Why would you put on swimsuits and snorkeling gear to nudge a bucket of breakfast cereal into a sleeping tiger’s belly with a push-broom? And, above all, what self-respecting parents would parade their family dressed up as a narwhal, dolphin, blowfish, and 6-tentacled octopus to lure a tiger back to the ocean so it can swim into the orange sunset? On the other hand, if you can appreciate whacky logic and enjoy engaging illustrations with thoughtful background details and telling facial expressions, you will find yourself reading this story over and over until it eventually almost makes sense. If you figure out why 24 words are printed in larger type and bright colours, let me know!  Recommended age from press release: 4-7 years. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: David Sulz David is a librarian at the University of Alberta working mostly with scholars in Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. His university studies included: Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics. On the education front, he taught various grades and subjects for several years in schools as well as museums. His interest in Japan and things Japanese stands above his other diverse interests. 

The World is your Oyster by T. James

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sulz
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Elementary Education ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Garden Path ◽  
The World ◽  
Library Studies ◽  
The Many ◽  
The University

James, Tamara. The World is your Oyster. Illus. Emma SanCartier.  Vancouver: Simply Read Books, 2009. Print. It is never a bad thing to introduce children (and other language learners) to the many fascinating idioms, metaphors, and baffling expressions that are key to really understanding English. This nicely-illustrated book strings together twenty-two such sayings, the second half giving feel-good and inspirational sayings to overcome the “feel-bad” descriptions in the first half. A few examples, however, left me scratching my head. “Some days your world is raining cats and dogs” implies in this story that the world is conspiring against you, or you are overwhelmed by the demands of the world, rather than the more common, simpler interpretation of an extremely heavy rainstorm (although, I suppose, such rain might thwart your long-anticipated plans to play outside). Another example is feeling like you want to “throw yourself to the lions;” I always thought other people were thrown to the lions. Another quibble with this book is that the extremely literal illustrations do nothing to help illuminate the real meanings of the idioms. A picture of a cute little kitty-cat yanking out a boy’s tongue might be humorous, but says nothing about being at a loss for words. The image of a child and a bull stomping on china plates implies purposeful destruction and anger rather than just being clumsy, gauche, or inconsiderate. The sayings are important and the artwork is first-rate, but without further explanation, someone unfamiliar with the sayings might be “led down the garden path.” Recommendation: 2 out of 4 starsReviewer: David SulzDavid is a librarian at the University of Alberta working mostly with scholars in Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. His university studies included: Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics. On the education front, he taught various grades and subjects for several years in schools as well as museums. His interest in Japan and things Japanese stands above his other diverse interests.

scholarly journals How do you Hug a Porcupine? by L. Isop

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sulz
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Elementary Education ◽  
Real Life ◽  
General Rule ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Library Studies ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The University

Isop, Laurie. Illustrated by Gwen Millward. How do you Hug a Porcupine? New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Your Readers, 2011. Print. A charming and hopefully harmless little book.  The variety of animals is illustrated realistically enough to be recognizable on the page and probably even in real-life. The text is nicely lyrical with a rhythm and rhyme that makes you want to sing while reading. The message, however, is not all positive. On the good side, the portrayal of animals as worthy of human attention, respect, and appreciation (although not particularly original in children’s books) is always welcome.  Also nice is the mix of familiar animals (e.g. cow, horse, pig, giraffe) with some that don’t get much attention (e.g. hedgehog, yak, ostrich) so young readers might learn something new. On the negative side, however, is the encouragement to hug any-and-all animals. Knowledge of the difference between tame (domestic) animals and wild animals should be instilled from a young age and, even if not taught explicitly, children’s authors should at least not introduce ideas that must be unlearned in real life. Pandas, yaks, porcupines, kangaroos, and dolphins should NOT, as a general rule, ever be hugged and people should NOT be convinced that everything needs a hug. For one thing, animals are unpredictable and potentially dangerous to the hugger. For another, hugging or touching a wild animal can be dangerous for the hugged - hugging a porcupine would dislodge many quills and reduce its defenses against predators. Sometimes I wonder if the national park tourists who slather honey on their child’s arm to get a picture of the cute bear licking it or approach a fully-grown elk to touch its antler velvet were maybe too exposed to this sort of book. In short, the answer to “how do you hug a porcupine?” should be, “you don’t!” Stick to hugging your own kitty-cat or puppy-dog instead that you know will probably appreciate it and not attack you. Recommended with reservations: 2 out of 4 stars (charming and lyrical but potentially dangerous in later life). Reviewer: David Sulz David is a librarian at the University of Alberta working mostly with scholars in Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. His university studies included: Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics. On the education front, he taught various grades and subjects for several years in schools as well as museums. His interest in Japan and things Japanese stands above his other diverse interests.    

scholarly journals Word after Word after Word by P. MacLachlan

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sulz
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Elementary Education ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
The Real ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Children's Writing ◽  
Library Studies ◽  
The Many ◽  
The University ◽  
Core Message

MacLachlan, Patricia. Word after Word after Word. New York: Katherine Tegan Books, 2010. Print. Ms. Mirabel, a famous writer, starts visiting a grade four class regularly and has a profound impact on a group of five friends by encouraging them to write, even if it means breaking the rules that their teacher believes are essential (such as creating an outline).  Ms. Mirabel’s core message that writing “word after word after word” can change your life strikes a chord with the five friends and, as their daily discussions under a lilac tree suggest, there is a lot they would like to change.  Lucy’s mom has cancer, Evie wants desperately to find a new woman for her recently-separated dad, a new baby is entering May’s family, and Russell not only has to babysit his younger brother every day but also deal with the recent death of his dog.  In contrast, Henry discovers writing helps him not to change anything but to “save everything I have.” The last scene, an open-house highlighting the children’s writing brought a lump to my throat as the parents read their child’s inner-most feelings and realize how their actions as adults and parents have unexpected and powerful effects on their children. I have to admit, Ms. Mirabel annoyed me. She dresses flamboyantly to grab attention; she is sensitive, creative, and wise in a way no ordinary teacher could ever be; and she even encourages Russell’s annoying questions that make the real teacher sigh. Perhaps I am little sensitive about the stereotype of real teachers as boring, rule-bound, and uncreative. On another note, there is something about the kids that does not ring quite true; they come across more like how an adult might romanticize that time of life rather than what real grade four kids are like. To be fair, the real author (Patricia MacLachlan) notes she visits many classrooms and receives letters from young readers of her other books, so perhaps she has a different insight into the thoughts and emotions of that age group. In fact, as she tells us in the author’s notes at the end, this book was written to address the many questions she gets about the hows and whys of being a writer in a more entertaining way. Overall, this is an inspiring book about the joys and power of writing. Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: David SulzDavid is a librarian at the University of Alberta working mostly with scholars in Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. His university studies included: Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics. On the education front, he taught various grades and subjects for several years in schools as well as museums. His interest in Japan and things Japanese stands above his other diverse interests.

scholarly journals End of Days by E. Walters

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sulz
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Education ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
Distant Future ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Library Studies ◽  
Essential Questions ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Noah's Ark

Walters, Eric. End of Days. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, 2011. Print. T minus 24 years: Professor Sheppard is kidnapped from his bed at gunpoint and delivered to a top-secret research institute in Switzerland where he meets equally eminent astrophysicist, astronomer, and mathematician colleagues who were supposedly dead. T minus 17 years: Joshua Fitchett, world’s richest and most secretive man, calls a sudden press conference, announces that the earth will be destroyed in 17 years by a meteorite, and then “dies” the next day when his mansion compound burns to the ground. T minus 1 year: Billy, teenage leader of a gang of children surviving in the pre-collision chaos, is arrested by police and delivered to a cavernous, underground compound populated by the world’s most promising children. The connecting thread is a riveting exploration of how humans might respond if the earth were certain to be impacted by a massive meteorite in the not-so-distant future. Eric Walters has chosen four possibilities to explore in-depth. Governments and the scientific community try to keep everything secret, gather the best scientists, and collaborate on an unprecedented scale to devise a technological way to destroy the meteorite before it hits. The world’s richest man believes that a) humans deserve to know of their imminent destruction and b) that the earth will be uninhabitable for an indeterminate time. He creates a modern-day Noah’s ark and gathers only the best prospects to repopulate the world. Reverend Honey believes this is God’s Judgment Day and that salvation depends on thwarting all efforts to avert the disaster. Humanity in general gradually descends into chaos as the impact draws nearer. End of Days is a fantastic story that asks tough, but essential, questions including, “How would you act if we knew humanity’s doom to the exact minute but it was many years hence?” I hope there are more installments because the ending is just the beginning. Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: David SulzDavid is a librarian at the University of Alberta working mostly with scholars in Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. His university studies included: Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics. On the education front, he taught various grades and subjects for several years in schools as well as museums. His interest in Japan and things Japanese stands above his other diverse interests.

scholarly journals The Highest Number in the World by R. MacGregor

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sulz
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Education ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
Passive Voice ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Know How ◽  
The Past ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Change Perceptions ◽  
The World ◽  
Library Studies

MacGregor, Roy. The Highest Number in the World. Illus. G. Despres. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2014. Print.It shouldn’t surprise you that Roy MacGregor writes a good children’s book about hockey especially if you read the Globe and Mail where he is a sports writer. Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of professional sport with little interest in stats, trades, and game results. However, Roy MacGregor always finds an interesting twist to set his stories apart.So it is with this book. On first glance, it seems to be about a hockey-prodigy; a 9-year-old girl idolizing a famous Canadian female hockey player so much she would give up playing because she has to wear #9 on her new team (not the #22 of her idol). How predictable and boring is that? BUT… her grandma sets her straight on why #9 is actually a better number to live “up” to (incidentally, “highest” in the title refers to height).The illustrations are fantastic - filled with witty references to the life of a Canadian, 9-year-old, hockey-loving girl such as drawings hung with hockey tape, embarrassing Velcro skates with toe-picks, sock-monkeys, and many more.A small quibble is the passive voice used in the first few pages; while chronologically correct, it detracts from the opening action just a little. Then again, hockey games themselves usually build up in intensity and excitement. The main reason for loving this book is the use of history to change perceptions. In a world so concerned with the desires of now, this book reminds us that the present is intimately shaped by the past (even if we don’t quite yet know how).    Highly recommended: 4 stars out of 4Reviewer: David SulzDavid is a Public Services Librarian at University of Alberta and liaison librarian to Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. He has university studies in Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics;  he formerly taught in schools and museums. His interests include physical activity, music, home improvements, and above all, things Japanese.

scholarly journals Pathfinder by O. S. Card

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sulz
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Elementary Education ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
Harry Potter ◽  
Theoretical Physics ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Library Studies ◽  
Sense Of Time ◽  
Will Power

Card, Orson S. Pathfinder. New York: Simon Pulse, 2010. Print. Two warnings are in order before you read the first line. It is long (657 pages) and just the first in a series. Warnings are offered because the story is so completely engrossing that your sense of time will be altered. While you are in the story, time will speed up or slow down with the pace of the story and you will want to linger in some passages to figure out what is going on but speed through others to find out what will happen. When you are away from the story, your sole thought will be how to get back to it. Hours will pass in seeming minutes and minutes will linger for hours. And, as you approach the last few pages with the disappointment that comes when a great story ends but the satisfaction that all the loose ends will be tied up, a twist gets thrown in to make you desperate for the story to continue. These are the likely reactions for those who love science-fiction fantasy stories set in a future that is more like the past, with multiple story lines that converge and diverge, and characters who discover they have abilities that seem far-fetched yet somehow possible if only we knew a few secrets and had the will-power to practice them. This is a story about time travel and intrigue where people are not simply good or bad; in fact, each character is both with the ultimate judgment falling on the reader. The typeface splits the novel into two strands. In one, Ram and the expendables control a spaceship filled with sleeping human colonists that “make a daring leap into theoretical physics” to colonize another earth-like planet. The jump into the fold creates nineteen ships moving backward (yet forward) through time. In the other strand, thirteen-year-old Rigg is thrust from his life in the forest with his father’s dying order for him to find his mother and sister using a bag of nineteen jewels and the name of a banker in the city. Along the way, Rigg collects a trusty band of companions to help him. As expected, they have many adventures which are quite unexpected even for readers of similar novels. Fortunately, all that seemingly useless education from his father in the forest turns out to be very useful after all. The writing is fantastic without a word out of place, the characters are believable whether they are youths or adults, and the author is a master of creating new worlds and new words that are readily understandable. I saw hints of many favourite fantasy/science fiction/historic future adventure stories: Harry Potter, the Hobbit, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and of course, Orson Scott Card’s own series starting with Ender’s Game. It would be impossible to put an appropriate age on this book as it can be enjoyed (or not) at many different levels – the writing is probably understandable for some starting in grade 5; the cover says “12 and up.” Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: David SulzDavid is a librarian at the University of Alberta working mostly with scholars in Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. His university studies included: Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics. On the education front, he taught various grades and subjects for several years in schools as well as museums. His interest in Japan and things Japanese stands above his other diverse interests. 

scholarly journals Warriors and Wailers by S. Tsiang

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sulz
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Education ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Chinese Script ◽  
Individual Choice ◽  
Job Descriptions ◽  
Record Keeping ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Library Studies ◽  
Peasant Farmers ◽  
History Books

Tsiang, Sarah. Warriors and Wailers: One Hundred Ancient Jobs You Might Have Relished or Reviled. Illus. M. Newbigging. Toronto: Annick Press, 2012. Print.   I did not confirm that there really are 100 jobs in this colourful and well-illustrated little book but there certainly are many, and a wide variety. The index does list the title’s “wailer” but not “warrior.” In fact, there are several warrior-ish jobs such as watchtower guard, female warrior, military service-conscripted, Shaolin warrior monk, and even a few illegal warrior-like positions (e.g., assassin, pirate admiral, and rebel leader). This book is one in a series of “jobs in history” books by Annick Press but is not merely a formulaic adaptation. These really are ancient Chinese jobs and many probably did not exist elsewhere (e.g., pearl maker, jade worker, lacquer worker, acupuncturist, or bone diviner). It also seems the jobs are arranged in an appropriate order, reflecting decreasing rank and honour from the Emperor and imperial jobs, through scholars and servants, to peasant farmers, then artisans and craftspeople, and finally, merchants who did not grow or make anything (with some illegal jobs at the end). The short introductions to the Chinese dynastic method of counting years, education, rank and honour, religion and schools of thought are really helpful in providing context to a culture that is quite different for most readers.  If I could suggest one addition, it would be a consideration of how we know today about jobs that existed between the Han and Tang dynasties (206 BCE to 907 CE) more than 1000 years ago. The answers (presumably a combination of the ancients’ meticulous record keeping and desire for meaningful artistic ornament, combined with conscientious preservation, and modern skills in the humanities and social sciences) would shed further light on interesting jobs, careers, and intellectual pursuits for today’s students. There may be a few, minor short-comings. One is a subtle, underlying theme suggesting more individual choice of careers than there actually was. Another is some job “descriptions” refer to something that maybe happened only once in history – not really an everyday job. Also, the examples of Chinese script, while illustrative, seem to be just a little off in terms of balance or correct stroke order. But these are minor. Overall, this book is a wonderful introduction to Ancient China that should stimulate further exploration into the fascinating study of History. Recommended:  4 out of 4 starsReviewer: David SulzDavid is a Public Services Librarian at University of Alberta and liaison librarian to Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. He has university studies in Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics;  he formerly taught in schools and museums. His interests include physical activity, music, home improvements, and above all, things Japanese.

scholarly journals News and Announcements

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sulz
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Education ◽  
American Literature ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Website Design ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Caldecott Medal ◽  
Summer Reading ◽  
Children's Book ◽  
Library Studies

Welcome to spring for many of our readers - except those of us in northern Alberta where winter, beautiful winter, just won’t let go this year. You can be sure that we will appreciate spring all the more when it finally takes hold.On a sad note, Andrea Deakin (for whom this publication is named), informed us that Jan Ormerod recently passed away.  The Guardian’s obituary of Sunday, February 3, 2013 reminds us that Jan Ormerod “brought a fresh vision to children's picturebooks with her luminous images, storytelling genius and understanding of how children behave” and that she was “admired for her ability to cut away all that was unnecessary in her stories.” (www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/feb/03/jan-ormerod).Although too late for interested groups to participate in the voting this year, the Rocky Mountain Book Award winners will be announced on April 23, 2013. This is a readers’ choice award in its 13th year where groups of students in grades 4-7 read, then vote for, their favourite book from a shortlist of “exemplary Canadian literature” chosen by a committee of teachers, librarians, parents, and students. The award is sponsored in part by the Lethbridge (Alberta) school district and the University of Lethbridge. All the information about participating and pervious winners is at http://rmba.lethsd.ab.ca/index.htm (although the website design is a little challenging to use).As indicated in our last issue, the various 2013 awards from the Association for Library Service to Children division of the American Library Association have been announced. The 2013 Newbery Medal (contribution to American literature for children) winner was The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. The 2013 Caldecott Medal (picture book artist) winner wasThis Is Not My Hat, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen. For other medal winners as well as “honor book” recognition, see www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia.By the way, if keeping track of book awards is a favourite past-time, have a look at the Canadian Children’s Award Index posted by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre at www.bookcentre.ca/awards/canadian_awards_index. I hope you have lots of free time if you want to keep track of them all.On that note, have a wonderful spring and start setting aside piles of books for your summer reading pleasure.David Sulz, Communications EditorDavid is a Public Services Librarian at University of Alberta and liaison librarian to Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. He has university studies in Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics;  he formerly taught in schools and museums. His interests include physical activity, music, home improvements, and above all, things Japanese.

Beyond the Moongate by E. Quan

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sulz
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Education ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Young Reader ◽  
Chinese History ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
The People ◽  
Cultural Research ◽  
Library Studies ◽  
The Status ◽  
Written Descriptions

Quan, Elizabeth. Beyond the Moongate: True Stories of 1920s China. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2013. Print.“Beyond the Moongate” is a reminiscence of two long-ago childhood years spent by the author as a young girl in her father’s hometown in inland China in the 1920s. This is probably an important book that has the potential to complicate history (i.e. make more interesting).  I use “probably” and “potential” because a young reader likely would not pick up on these themes. A keen reader willing to question and explore further, however, is rewarded with a deeper understanding not only of Chinese history but also of Canadian history and the discipline of history itself.The “remote village in the south” is described as “not yet touched by technology” and many “pre-technology” examples are given such as brick stoves, wooden wash basins in the courtyard, oil lamps, “primitive machines,” and clothing “stitched entirely by hand.” This implies a contrast to more advanced technology elsewhere (if it was not unusual, why write about it?). Where was this “elsewhere”?  Was it Canada in 1920? If so, it might reflect the social class of the author’s family since one can imagine similarly “pre-technology” conditions in parts of Canada at the same time. Or, the “elsewhere” might have been other parts of China – cities like Hong Kong or Shanghai. Or, is the author comparing technological expectations in the 21st-century to remind readers it has not always been so? These options (and more) are potential topics for interesting historical research into the “facts” of when technology arrived in various areas (or didn’t) and what this says about development.One could also explore the concept of “technology” itself.  China is often described as the origin of many technologies we take for granted (e.g. paper, gunpowder, ceramics) and each story in this book features various technologies such as fabric for blouses and pants; lumber for houses and furniture; the cultivation of a variety of food; writing with ink, brushes, and paper. The issue then is not so much having technology but the effects of the availability of new or relatively advanced technologies.There are some rich social and cultural research possibilities, too. When they first arrive, the author’s father “kowtows” to his mother which makes her deeply happy. Kowtowing is fascinating because in English it has come to represent “groveling” or “giving in” (not deep respect) and has been the source of much diplomatic tension. Also, the author refers to the people of her ancestral land as the “Hans” which is not the whole story because there are various other “peoples” in China that mean deep discussions about Chinese identity even today.The story hopefully makes one rethink the status of immigrants in Canada. It is often assumed that immigrants to North America came and stayed because they were poor, had escaped poverty or tyranny, and it was impossible to go home (until modern times of cheap airfare). It is sometimes acknowledged that many people (some Chinese and Japanese that I know for sure) dreamed of becoming rich and going home or, at least, having their remains sent home after death. The idea that a whole family could afford to go back to China (or any homeland) for years in the 1920s might seem unusual to some readers. There is, however, much evidence that people came and went quite regularly although the issue of not getting permission to enter Canada (even if your parents and family were allowed) sadly led (and probably still leads) to many heart-breaking stories.The artwork that accompanies each story is brightly coloured and complements the text nicely giving visual representation of the written descriptions. I am curious whether it appeals to other readers because it has a feel (in the colours, lines, and facial expressions) that seems quite different than many other picture books. The author’s bio at the back highlights her watercolourist credentials and mentions a connection to Jack Pollack (not to be confused with Jackson Pollack).I think this is an important book that could be enjoyed by young readers in grades 3-6 but could also be used with older students in high-school or even university to problematize (and thus look beyond) the seemingly simple and factual stories. In fact, such a discussion might start with the subtitle itself by unpacking what the concept of “true stories” might mean.Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: David SulzDavid is a Public Services Librarian at University of Alberta and liaison librarian to Economics, Religious Studies, and Social Work. He has university studies in Library Studies, History, Elementary Education, Japanese, and Economics;  he formerly taught in schools and museums. His interests include physical activity, music, home improvements, and above all, things Japanese.

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