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 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.

Touched by Fire by I. N. Watts

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanne Pearce
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Minor Characters ◽  
Her Family ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
Anti Semitism ◽  
Time Period ◽  
The Family ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Watts, Irene N., Touched by Fire. Toronto: Tundra Books, 2013. Print.In the first decade of the 20th century, Miriam Markovitz and her family have fled their small town in the country to live in Kiev. She and her family are Jewish and the Tsar does not favor Jews. After narrowly escaping the pogroms, Miriam’s father Sam dreams of taking the whole family to America. Known as the “Golden Land”, in America Jews are free of persecution.     Over the next few years the family relocates to Berlin where Miriam’s parents and grandparents work hard to save enough money. The plan is for Sam to travel to New York ahead of the family. Miriam is fourteen years old when the first set of tickets to America arrives in the mail from her father. Leaving on the adventure of their lives, the Markovitz family must endure illnesses, family quarrels, and filth. For Miriam it seems crossing the ocean is the hardest thing she has very done, but she is destined to witness an even worse tragedy in her new country.     Touched By Fire is an enlightening story that brings to light many of the injustices Jews were forced to face, long before the anti-Semitism of the Nazis’ era. It is easy to form an attachment to the characters, and I found myself hoping and worrying for the Markovitz family. Miriam is especially vivid and comes out clearly as a strong and self-sacrificing heroine.These positive points aside, there were some peculiarities about this book that stood out in my mind. Firstly, Miriam’s journey is relatively tame, especially when you consider how graphic young adult literature has become. While there is a fair share of danger and hardship in the journey, Watts has left the harsher struggles to be faced by minor characters, leaving Miriam as merely a witness. I would also have liked more development of the characters Miriam met along the way. Leaving these characters underdeveloped reduced the impact of their struggles and made Miriam’s feelings about them somewhat flat. Finally, I must admit to some puzzlement as to why Watts chose to give the book the title Touched By Fire, as it refers strictly to the tragedy detailed in the conclusion, when most of the book’s focus is on Miriam’s journey and her maturation.In considering these criticisms alongside the overall story, I found myself divided as to how I felt about the book. I have to conclude that younger readers may not be drawn to these inconsistences and nuances, but would rather enjoy the story for the picture it paints of the time period. I have therefore given the book three out four stars. Touched by Fire is most suitable for children ages 9-13 and would be enjoyed by young readers that enjoy historical fiction.Recommended: 3 out of 4 starsReviewer: Hanne PearceHanne Pearce has worked at the University of Alberta Libraries in various support staff positions since 2004 and is currently a Public Service Assistant at the Rutherford Humanities and Social Sciences Library. In 2010 she completed her MLIS at the University of Alberta. Aside from being an avid reader she has continuing interests in writing, photography, graphic design and knitting.

Writing, Elementary School

1984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcia Umland
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Elementary School ◽  
Ice Cream ◽  
Fourth Grade ◽  
First Grade ◽  
Close Friend ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Cornell University ◽  
Before And After ◽  
First Time

I was born on October 28, 1942, in Washington, B.C., where we were living because my father was in the service. I don’t know exactly what he was doing there. We lived in Washington only six months. We moved a lot, New York, Virginia, Southern California, Nebraska—six months here, six months there. I remember Father studied at Cornell to become an entomologist, so Mother did secretarial work there. Dad was the first in his family to go to college. His father died when he was a teenager. A lot of pride revolved around his Ph.D. from Cornell University both before and after he got it. He finished school when I was in the first grade. I felt his pride in me when I gained academic and leadership recognition in college. I was not expected to do well in college. It was pleasing to surprise everyone, but most of all, my father. By the time I was in eighth grade I had been in eight schools. I remember being new all the time. I made a very poor adjustment at first up in New York. But for three years we lived in a tiny town in Virginia called Holland, where I went to second, third, and fourth grade. I was very shy. I remember the teachers. On the first day there a girl brought me an ice cream bar, and across the classroom sat an Indian boy. We eyed each other a lot. I felt an identity with him because I had been mistaken for an Indian myself. I even made a close friend, Elizabeth Ann Felton—I don’t remember whether she spelled Ann with or without an “e”—I think she became a minister. I remember going to her farm and loving her family. They seemed so stable. In Virginia I wrote a sentimental story. It was the first time a teacher paid attention to me. She told me she wanted me to read it at the PTA meeting. I was very shy, but I did it. As I began reading the paper aloud I got caught up in it and read it well.

Tom’s Tweet by J. Esbaum

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Desmarais
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
Read Aloud ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
A Minor

Esbaum, Jill. Tom’s Tweet. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. Print. This delightful picture book is about an unlikely friendship between a hulking cat named Tom and a tiny bird called “Tweet”. The story begins with Tom feasting his eyes on Tweet, ready to gobble him up for breakfast, when he quickly realizes that his prey is simply too skinny to eat. Tom is about to leave yet he finds it impossible to ignore Tweet’s incessant tweeting, so he decides that he’ll put a stop to the ruckus by finding a juicy worm for his hungry friend. Hilarity ensues when Tom selects a suitable wiggler and gingerly mashes it to a pulp in his mouth to make it more digestible for Tweet. Nota bene: the picture of Tom’s bulging face as he squirms with the worm in his mouth may provoke hearty laughter from readers of all ages. The engaging story continues with animated scenes that show Tom returning Tweet to his home nest after being pursued by angry Mama Tweet. Later in the evening Tom realizes that he actually misses that “bothersome bird”, so readers will be pleased to see that Tweet returns the next day. Tom declares, “Tarnation! You have to stay up there. You cannot be my friend! I’m a cat!” The book concludes with Tom “tweety-sitting” for Mama Tweet, now that she sees Tom as a lovable softie and not a threat to her feathered offspring. The flow of events in Tom’s Tweet has a musical cadence, and the story begs to be read aloud. All of the illustrations were created using Photoshop, and they have an irresistible quality that is both fun and colourful. A minor quibble with the book is the colour and choice of font, which is not an ideal pairing with the charming illustrations. Nevertheless, “Tom’s Tweet” is an excellent choice to introduce young readers to the concept of friendship. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars
              Reviewer: Robert Desmarais

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 Bugs in My Hair! by D. Shannon

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Connie Winther
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Head Lice ◽  
Her Family ◽  
Children And Parents ◽  
Medical Librarian ◽  
Age Appropriate ◽  
Primary School Age

Shannon, David. Bugs in My Hair! New York: Scholastic-The Blue Sky Press, 2013. Print.Bugs in My Hair! is an illustrated story book about head lice by acclaimed children’s author and illustrator David Shannon. This highly recommended book would be a good addition to any public, school, or health library interested in providing accurate but engaging information about head lice which is a common condition in the preschool and primary school age groups.The book sheds a humorous light on the not so funny topic of head lice through the experience of a young boy with this condition. Through this fictional account, Bugs in My Hair! portrays accurate medical information about head lice including method of transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, and cure. This book also dispels common myths about head lice, such as the ability to get head lice from animals, or using mayonnaise as a remedy. The story also depicts the social stigma and shame of having head lice and the feeling of being overwhelmed by the treatments,  which would help a child understand the emotional experience or empathize with others who have head lice.The book has detailed and amusing illustrations such as the “lice-a-palooza” party on the host’s head. The age appropriate illustrations together with the hand drawn font keep the reader’s interest and charge the imagination.All in all, Bugs in My Hair!, is a fun and accurate read and a good way for children and parents to learn about head lice.Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: 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.

scholarly journals Found by S. Yoon

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Kammerer
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Elementary Education ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Read Aloud ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Rightful Owner ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
The University

Yoon, Salina. Found. New York, NY: Walker Books for Young Readers, 2015. Print.The fictional picture book Found, written and illustrated by Salina Yoon, takes place in the forest and follows Bear, who found a stuffed bunny and tries to find its rightful owner by putting up FOUND flyers and searching for them.This book has a strong visual quality with fun illustrations in bold colours. The limited text on each page is appealing for younger and beginning readers and work collaboratively with the illustrations in an aesthetically pleasing manner. The story could be understood without looking at the text as the illustrations clearly dictate what is happening in the plot. Yoon includes a variety of ‘Lost’ posters throughout the book that are engaging to read, beyond the book’s text.Children can easily make connections to this picture book because of the idea of ‘lost’ and ‘found’ are familiar to them. Some readers may find the book’s ending unrealistic as the bunny’s rightful owner allows Bear to keep it. Young readers may recognize that in real life, this is often not the case, or they may have a false hope in the future when they find something they would like to keep that is not theirs.Recommended: 2 out of 4 StarsReviewer: Tara KammererTara Kammerer is a grade 2 teacher with Elk Island Public Schools and is currently completing her Masters Degree in Elementary Education at the University of Alberta. Tara loves how excited her grade 2 students get every time she brings a new book into the classroom to read aloud to them!

Wieland; or The Transformation, and Memoirs of Carwin, The Biloquist

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Brockden Brown
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Spontaneous Combustion ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Small Community ◽  
Actual Case ◽  
Her Family ◽  
American Novels

One of the earliest American novels, Wieland (1798) is a thrilling tale of suspense and intrigue set in rural Pennyslvania in the 1760s. Based on an actual case of a New York farmer who murdered his family, the novel employs Gothic devices and sensational elements such as spontaneous combustion, ventriloquism, and religious fanaticism. The plot turns on the charming but diabolical intruder Carwin, who exercises his power over the narrator, Clara Wieland, and her family, destroying the order and authority of the small community in which they live. Underlying the mystery and horror, however, is a profound examination of the human mind's capacity for rational judgement. The text also explores some of the most important issues vital to the survival of democracy in the new American republic. Brown further considers power and manipulation in his unfinished sequel, Memoirs of Carwin the Biloquist, which traces Carwin's career as a disciple of the utopist Ludloe.

scholarly journals The Best Birthday Party Ever by J. LaRue Huget

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Feisst
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
Read Aloud ◽  
Young Adult Fiction ◽  
Elementary Grades ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Birthday Party ◽  
Layer Cake ◽  
The University

Huget, Jennifer LaRue. The Best Birthday Party Ever. Illus. LeUyen Pham. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011. Print. “My birthday is 5 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, and 8 hours away.  Today I started to plan my party.” And so the planning begins for the 5-year-old soon-to-be birthday girl in this charming picture book.  She has to start planning early if she wants the best birthday party ever.  She is going to invite all 57 of her friends including the mailman and the invitations will be sprinkled with fairy dust.  She will have 9 thousand balloons, streamers and napkins: all in pink.  On the menu is a 17-layer cake, each layer a different flavour, with 6 zillion candles on top.  Not only will there be: a magician, camel rides and a Ferris wheel, but each lucky guest will receive a hamster as a party favour. In a kid-friendly countdown style towards the big day, our sweet party planner gets more and more excited as her birthday approaches and the plans get more and more grandiose.  Only after her mother comments that this birthday party is “getting out of hand” does she agree to skip the sparkly necklaces.  The day finally arrives and while it may not be the party she dreamed of, she is appreciative and enjoys her day so much that she immediately begins plans for her next birthday. This beautifully illustrated read-aloud captures the excitement of a child as she looks forward to her special day and will appeal to lower elementary grades as well as preschoolers.  The whimsical mostly-pink drawings may be initially off-putting to boys but they are certain to relate and enjoy the story. Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: 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. 

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