Summary:  All the animals of the forest and jungle get to choose their clothing, except for Greedy Zebra who has to take the left over pieces.

Comments:  This text models use of descriptive vocabulary "...soon all the animals were on their way to see the cave, running..., jumping..., sliding..., swinging...., slithering…." Light-hearted illustrations help to depict the foolishness of the zebra. A picture book from Kenya, Greedy Zebra, can be used in a study of folk-tales.  Back to:  K-2List | 3-4List

Looking at Opposites: Hot Cold Shy Bold 

Summary: This book presents opposites in unexpected ways by using photographs of human faces. Opportunities to discuss physical feeling, emotions, size and time, etc. are depicted by (for the most part) children’s faces.

 Comments: Young children are eagerly drawn into the concepts presented in this text by virtue of the photographs. The quality of the photographs captures the personalities of the young children depicted.  Back to list

Summary:  Set in Canada’s North, readers are exposed to activities and settings in the tundra. Alliterations of places in the North form a border for each illustration.

Comments:  Brightly coloured folk-art illustrates life in the North. As a support for social studies curricula, First Nations’ culture is presented in a positive light. In an unexpected use of figurative language, the author uses alliteration in expository text.   Back to:  K-2List | 3-4List | 5-6List | 7-9List | Canadian List

HEIDBREDER, Robert

PATKAU, Karen (illus.) 

Don't Eat Spiders  (Poetry) 

Summary: In poems that play with the sound of language, children can be entertained with tales of animals in unfamiliar situations, number and alphabet chants, and by imagining themselves in fanciful settings. The mixed media illustrations help to build fantasy and fun. 

Comments: This text is a great support for student read-aloud, choral reading and chanting. Its language is meant to be savoured by readers and listeners alike. Children will be engaged by the poet's use of humour.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | Canadian List

Summary:  The author explores the world of words by collecting and illustrating a variety of collective nouns. She presents her collective nouns by using rhythm and rhyme in the language.

Comments: The language and illustrations make this an outstanding book. This is the first book in a series on parts of speech by Heller. Young children will enjoy the book for its language and illustrations while older students could use it for a variety of projects: e.g., a contrast and comparison of English language over time.  Back to:  K-2List | 3-4List | 5-6List | 7-9List

Summary:  Using simple, lively verse and vivid full-color pictures, Ruth Heller introduces young readers to many basic concepts about verbs and verb usage without ever becoming complicated.

Comments:  This book successfully complements the language art curriculum at all levels. It is a useful reference for enhancing vocabulary and grammar awareness. Other books by the same author include: Merry Go Round: A Book About Nouns; Many Luscious Lollipops: A Book About Adjectives; Up, Up and Away: A book About Adverbs, and A cache of Jewels and Other Collective Nouns.  Back to: Back to: K-2List | 3-4List | 5-6List | 7-9List

Summary:  Ruth Heller takes a fascinating look at nouns and how they are used. It is a playful, rhyming text that cleverly defines many familiar noun forms such as: concrete and abstract nouns, possessive, plurals and more.

Comments:  This is a beautiful picture book which both teaches and entertains and will enhance any reader’s appreciation for language. The text makes learning about nouns an enjoyable experience.   Back to: K-2List | 3-4List | 5-6List | 7-9List

Summary:  After the circle dogs wake up and share morning kisses with the family, Papa lets them out to run. The day is long and happy for the dogs, Mama, Papa, Big Sister, and Baby. Then it is time for bed, "Shh. The dogs are sleeping…"

Comments:  Interactive questions involve the reader, "See the dogs? See the circles?" Children quickly respond to these rhetorical devices. Regular geometric shapes, symmetry of illustrations, motion geometry and repetitive patterns make this an excellent resource for mathematics curricula. Repetition of words and phrases enables young readers to make predictions and to chime along with a teacher read-aloud. Playful language engages readers and listeners.

***This is A MUST HAVE BOOK for every school library. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4List | 5-6List

Summary:  Lilly, a student who loves school arrives one Monday morning with a brand new purple plastic purse. She shows her classmates fascinating objects from inside her purse before the class sharing time. As a result, she loses her prized possessions to her teacher. Beloved Ms. Slinger and Lilly manage to work out the situation as Lilly learns the importance of being patient.

Comments:  Kevin Henkes uses a humourous tone to stress the importance of being patient and respecting the rights of others in the classroom. The book can be used to support and generate rules about being good audience members for their classmates. One reviewer shares, "My class really loved it, especially the `really, really, really...sorry’ page." It is recommended as a teacher read-aloud because there is too much print for early primary students.  Back to List

Tana

Is it Red? Is it Yellow? Is it Blue? 

Summary: Children explore colours, sizes, shapes and relationships in this wordless photo concept book. 

Comments: Preparing children to read print, the text signals with one or more coloured circles at the bottom of the page what colours the children can read on a page. In this text, children read colours and shapes that they see in their every day environment.  Back to List  

HOBERMAN, Mary Ann FRASER, Betty (illus)

A House is a House for Me

Summary: This lengthy, fast-moving poem introduces readers to clusters of images with extensive examples of houses.

Comments: Predictable rhythm and rhyme encourage student participation in a teacher reading. Repetitious text encourages student chanting. Readers run through a gamut of emotional responses such as humour, surprise, and comfort which can contribute to meaningful class discussions. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List

Summary:  As the Peters household grows, each new addition to the family brings a new demand for a special dish. Even though Mrs. Peters picks, peels, strains, scrapes, poaches, fries, and kneads, the requests for special foods keep coming. It isn’t until Mrs. Peters birthday arrives that a present from her children solves the problem and surprises everyone.

Comments:  In this charming text, the author cheerfully ignores all notions of good nutrition. She has created a happy, affectionate celebration of family chaos and cooperation for picky eaters of all ages. Students love the rhyme and use of synonyms to reflect similar ideas as well as the silliness of the book. Illustrations are wonderfully intricate. Students are engaged in identifying each of the seven children as they grow.  Back to:  K-2List | 3-4xList

Summary:  Grace loves stories whether they are in books or in movies, or in the kind that her grandmother tells. When Grace’s class learns that they will be staging Peter Pan, Grace announces that she want to play the lead character. Two children in her class try to dissuade her by saying that she cannot be Peter Pan because she is a black girl. Luckily for the entire class, Grace’s grandmother convinces Grace that she can be anything that she wants to be including an amazing Peter Pan.

Comments:  Self-confidence and self-expression are worthy qualities for any child. Connections to familiar stories like Aladdin and Joan of Arc can be used to extend the narrative repertoire of children at any grade level. The joyful, warm watercolours make this a perfect book to set children’s imagination soaring.  Back to:  K-2List | 3-4List | 5-6List

HOWE, James

IMMERSHEIN, Betsy  (illus.)

When You Go to Kindergarten  

Summary: Starting kindergarten is a giant step for young children because it is their first experience with ‘real’ school. This book addresses many of the questions that young children have like: How do I get to kindergarten? What will the classroom be like? Will there be friends in my class? What will I learn in kindergarten? Colour photographs introduce children to aspects of life in the kindergarten classroom. 

Comments: This book can be used to help ease uncertain kindergartners into the routines of school. It also can be used as a model for a kindergarten class’ memory book where photographs of activities can be pasted and scripted to create text throughout the school-year. At the end of the school-year, each child may receive a copy of their class’ kindergarten book.  Back to List

HUCK, Charlotte

LOBEL,  Anita  (illus.) 

Princess Furball  

Summary: A beautiful young princess is betrothed to an ugly old ogre for the sum of fifty wagons of silver. She attempts to prevent the marriage by requesting bridal gifts from her father. The king ensures that she does receive her special gifts including the coat made of a thousand kinds of fur. As the marriage draws nearer, the princess runs away taking the gifts with her. She lands in another kingdom where she ingeniously overcomes all obstacles. Ultimately, she finds favour with the new king and marries him. 

Comments: ***This book is a must-have for any school library. A take-off of the Cinderella theme, this text allows opportunities for comparisons with other stories with this motif. Anita Lobel’s vivid illustrations are a wonderful companion to this charming fairy tale.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List

HUCK, Charlotte

LOBEL,  Anita  (illus.) 

Toads and Diamonds  

Summary: Renee, a lovely young woman, lives a life of servitude with her wicked stepmother and stepsister. Renee’s only escape from the constant demands is her daily walks to a spring to retrieve water. On one such occasion, she meets an old woman who bestows a gift upon her. For every word that Renee speaks, a flower or jewel drops from her lips. In hopes that her own daughter will receive such a gift, the greedy stepmother sends the selfish stepsister, to the spring. Unfortunately, the gift bestowed upon Francine is not what her stepmother expects. Renee's goodness is rewarded as she meets and marries a young prince. 

Comments: A version of the Cinderella story, this text is excellent for comparison other versions such as Yeh Shen, Rough Faced Girl, and Disney’s Cinderella. This book’s strong vocabulary and beautiful illustrations by Anita Lobel appeal to readers of all ages.   Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List

Summary:  Snow Story is about Chloe’s winter experiences. First, she feels great joy at the first snow and she paints a snow angel with food colouring. Winter passes and she grows tired of playing in the snow and of thinking of new things to do inside. One morning Chloe looks out the window and to her surprise the snow is almost gone. Her painted angel has soared off into the sky.

Comments:  This book could serve as a connection to another snow story, Sadie and the Snowman. Children relate to the fun of playing in the first snow of the year and to the excitement of the coming spring.  Back to List

Ben’s Snow Song 

Summary: A family prepares to go cross-country skiing with a picnic packed, winter clothing gathered and all equipment stowed in the truck. Then they are ready for an enjoyable day in the mountains. 

Comments: Simple, precise vocabulary graces this text. Children can use this story as a means of classifying and building winter experiences. Hazel Hutchins lives in Canmore with her family.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | Canadian List

Little Lumpty 

Summary: Expanding on the traditional fairy tale of “Humpty Dumpty”, Little Lumpty wants to experience Humpty’s wall without the fall. Ignoring the warnings of his parents and the historical cautions of the fall, Lumpty climbs up the wall anyway. When things begin to look like history will repeat itself, Lumpty thinks of his mom, dinner and how not to fall. He calls for help and the whole town pulls together to help Lumpty fall safely from the wall.

Comments: Using traditional background knowledge is a supportive way to help students have a new experience with story. Children can identify with Lumpty’s predicament for although he is an egg, his behaviour is very much like that of a young child. Lumpty’s experience with safely solving a difficult problem can be used as a model for how children may solve their own problems.  Back to List

Ben’s Trumpet 

Summary: Ben loves jazz, especially the sound of the jazz trumpet. Longing for a trumpet of his own, Ben entertains his family and friends with the sound of his imaginary trumpet. One day, the trumpeter of the Zig Zag Jazz Club, brings him into the club and Ben makes his debut playing a real trumpet. 

Comments: This text was awarded a Caldecott Honor Medal for 1979. An artistic book which appeals to the visual musical arts, the black and white drawings employ many types of lines and colour fills such as pointillism and cross-hatching. Young children can learn the names of instruments. Older students can learn book design. This story can help support the theme of how we can live our dreams if we have someone to help us.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List  

Reflection 

Summary: A child’s perfect day is captured in this book which can be read forward and then flipped upside down to continue the story. In each full-colour picture, another image is reflected. Ann Jonas has created a double wonder on every page. 

Comments: Simple print at the bottom of the image depicted on each page makes this suitable for beginning readers. The composition of double images on one page is worth analyzing by older readers. In this way, it can serve as a model for their own writing.

Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

KELLERHALS -STEWART, Heather

ZWOLAK, Paul  (illus.) 

My Brother’s Train 

Summary: A girl and her brother journey across North America by train. The children are treated to views of galloping horses, salmon leaping in streams, and bears’ eyes gleaming in the mountains at night. The train itself is from a bygone era when train travel was the only way to cross this unspoiled land. 

Comments: This text supports social studies curricula and family life themes. Dream-like illustrations capture the surreal mood of the journey. A suitable companion to this text is The Polar Express.

Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List | Canadian List

KELLOGG, Steven 

Summary: Arnold really wants to have a pet. In a repetitive and predictable text, Arnold suggests animal after animal to his mother and she vetoes each suggestion.

Comments: As an exercise to stimulate prediction, teachers can read this text aloud as an oral cloze activity. Many children share Arnold's strong desire to own a pet. This text can serve as a model for class writing about animals that the class desires and reasons why these animals are unsuitable. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List

Miss Spider’s ABC 

Summary: Using the pretext of an alliterative ABC, Miss Spider’s insect and annelid friends hide in order to surprise her with a party for her birthday. If readers view the inside title page carefully, they may be able to predict the end of the story. 

Comments: David Kirk continues his vivid depiction of Miss Spider and her environment, with bright oil painting illustrations that border on the surreal. The author cleverly writes a sentence which incorporates two letters on a two-page spread. Readers of all ages will love this text’s whimsical tone.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List

Miss Spider’s New Car 

Summary: Miss Spider’s mother invites her to tea. It is a dangerous journey so Miss Spider and Holley decide to buy a car for the trip. Miss Spider and Holley visit a bumblebee, mantis, and other insects as she tries to find just the right car. 

Comments: This text can be used with young students in the early grade to teach shape and colour. Throughout the exaggerated illustrations, the expression of feelings is portrayed vividly. Rhyming words and alliteration are used throughout the text. The value of friendship is also explored. Resembling computer generated drawings, David Kirk’s illustrations are oil paintings. Other titles in this series are: Miss Spider’s Wedding, Miss Spider’s Tea Party, Miss Spider’s Tea Party: The Counting Book, and Miss Spider’s ABC.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List

KRAUS, Robert

ARUEGO, Jose

DEWEY,  Ariane  (illus.)

Little Louie the Baby Bloomer 

Summary: Leo’s little brother, Louie, couldn’t do anything right. Leo is impatient for Louie to be able to do the things that he, Leo, can do. Their father wisely counsels Leo, “Little Louie will play with you in his own good time… He’s a late bloomer, just like you.” As Leo learns patience, Little Louie blooms with his brother’s support. 

Comments: Waiting for younger brothers and sisters to grow old enough to play with them is a common experience for young children. The text models opportunities for children to act as teachers. They can demonstrate something that they know how to do to someone who does not. This book has links to the homemaking centre where older children can role-play taking care of younger children.  Back to List

Summary:  A little mouse runs away from home in search of "the perfect family" because he believes his own family doesn’t care for him. Once night comes, he realizes how much he misses his parents so he calls for them to come get him. Little Mouse realizes at the end that his family truly does love him.

Comments:  Sometimes children feel that they would be better off if they left home. This book helps them realize what they have with their families is as special as they are.  Back to List

Summary:  A young girl narrates the events of a morning that she guards as a treasure. Fishing with her family, Amy’s first catch is a disappointment when the fish she hooks swims off with her rod and line. The day ends happily when her brother manages to hook the same fish and recovers her rod and line at the same time. So ends a great day of fishing.

Comments:  Winner of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre Choice Award for 1992, the narrative begins with text on the inside title pages. "Amy! Time to get up!" Beautiful watercolour illustrations clarify the print. Family relationships are supported by the depiction of the closeness of Amy’s family members.  Back to:  K-2List | 3-4List | 5-6List | Canadian List

Summary:  Emma and the Silk Train relates a part of Canadian history (transportation). Swift trains would transport silk from Vancouver across Canada. One day there was a terrible crash of a silk train. Some of the silk spilled into the river. People who found and returned the silk were rewarded. Young Emma wanted a piece of silk so she explored further down the river than she should have gone. A student’s retelling carries the story further, "Emma got lost when she was fishing for silk even though she got silk. she went to a little island and her parents found here there."

Comments:  One teacher expressed some concerns about a possible safety issue for grade two students. We discussed the danger when Emma wades into a swift current to retrieve the silk. Another potential safety issue is that Emma gets too close to a fast-moving train. A student related the text to her own personal experience, "it reminds me of when I got lost and I was very very scared. But then my mom found me." This book supports social studies, religion and health curricula. Back to: K-2 List | Canadian List

Summary:  Based on an actual event, a cougar enters the city of Victoria unexpectedly. The story unfolds through the eyes of the daughter of the city’s conservation officer. The reader experiences the same relief as the daughter, when she sees her dad exit the Empress Hotel parking lot with the tranquilized cougar draped over his shoulders.

Comments:  Muted illustrations encourage the reader to hunt for the cougar along with the characters in the story. By viewing the impressionistic illustrations without reading the text, older students can use the illustrations to begin their own writing. Social studies curriculum can be supported in a study of Canadian regions and their people. Children of all ages love this book. Back to:  K-2List | 3-4List | 5-6List | Canadian List

Summary:  In her first night in the mountains, a young girl imagines the nighttime world outside while her family sleeps peacefully. Juxtaposed against this quiet nighttime reverie is her imaginings of future daytime activities in the magical snow.

Comments:  Sheen Lott’s stunning watercolour paintings together with Lawson’s evocative narrative come together to recreate a child’s view of the wonders of the mountains in winter. The prosaic narrative of the daytime text alternates with the poetic reflections: "This morning we made snow angels… It’s quiet in the mountains. So quiet, I hear the cold." The illustrations alternate the woods of high-energy daylight with the graceful midnight. Children of all ages enjoy this book.  Back to:  K-2List | 3-4List | Canadian List

Summary:  A collection of silly nonsense poems on a myriad of topics, all themes children will relate to.

Comments:  This collection of modern poems is a playful alternative to the Mother Goose rhymes. The detailed illustrations by Juan Wyngaard are delightful. These humourous rhymes of Dennis Lee kindle children’s interest in poetry. Other favourite titles by Dennis Lee include "Alligator Pie" and "Garbage Delight."  Back to:  K-2List | 3-4List | Canadian List

MACKAY, Claire

Summary:  Grandma, an avid baseball fan, responds to her grandson’s question while watching a game. Her answers refer equally to the game as well as to her grandson’s questions. Is Grandma really listening or is she really absorbed in the baseball game?

Comments:  Large illustrations draw listeners into the story. This book can support health, social studies, physical education and mathematics curricula. It is also useful for teaching the literary technique of allusion.  Back to: K-2 List | Canadian List

Summary:  Froggy doesn’t want to learn to swim because he would rather play. His parents persevere in their encouragement to show him that frogs born in the water are great swimmers. He will be one, too. In spite of his initial resistance to the idea, Froggy becomes an avid swimmer.

Comments:  A willingness to try something new enables one to learn new things. This book proves the old adage, "practice makes perfect." Lots of repetition gives children opportunities to chime in with the teacher.  Back to List

Summary:  This appealing book is a lively poem listing many kinds of dances and activities in all kinds of places and situations. It has an atmosphere of great energy and plain old fun.

Comments:  The emphasis is on action. Everyone moves. This would certainly be a fun way to introduce or reinforce rhyming words. It is also an excellent example of the use of colorful, descriptive vocabulary, Children are easily hooked by the rhythm of the piece.   Back to List

MACDONALD, Anne Louise

LAFRANCE,  Marie (illus.) 

Nanny-Mac’s Cat

Summary: Glynnis and her grandmother, Nanny-Mac, spend Fridays together. Shortly after Glynnis arrives, she searches for Patches, Nanny-Mac’s ever-frightened cat. When Nanny-Mac lands in hospital and Patches must find a new home, Glynnis worries about Patches’ adjustment to his new home. The new owner invites Glynnis to visit Patches in his home where she is surprised to find that he is not afraid of everything after all.

Comments: Glynnis’ and Nanny-Mac’s special relationship is built on their own private traditions and rituals. This relationship can serve as a support for family life discussions. Glynnis’ concern for Patches is a common experience for children with their own pets. Lafrance’s fanciful illustrations help to depict the character of Glynnis and Patches. This is Anne Louise MacDonald’s first book. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4x List | Canadian List

Comments:  This picture book can complement the science, language arts, health, art, drama and physical education (body movement) curricula.  Back to List

MAHY, Margaret 

The Five Sisters (beg. novel)

Summary: Sally's Nan cuts out a row of five paper dolls. On the first doll, she draws the face of a wild adventurous girl with ears that stick out. Soon the five paper dolls are whisked away on an adventure before the other dolls' faces can be filled in. At each new stop in their adventure, one more paper doll is completed.

Comments: This magical fantasy is filled with humour. The drawings capture the spirit of the adventure. Metaphors, puns, wordplay, and poetry make this a terrific read-aloud. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List

Summary:  Victor, a reading victim, hates to read. By vicariously experiencing a sequence of adventures with storybook characters he discovers that he knows a lot about books. Later, he hates to come to the end of a book.

Comment:  The message of this book is that every child brings some experience of stories to texts, and that building on this experience leads children to read. Reluctant readers in a class can relate to this message.  Back to:  K-2List | 3-4List

ARCHAM- BAULT,

John

Summary:  The story consists of the letters of the alphabet having an adventure in and around a coconut tree. The story is an alphabet chant.

Comments:  The ABCs are sequenced through a chant. The bright colours have high student appeal. A cassette tape of the text is also available. Many children can use this chant as a mnemonic to memorize their ABCs.  Back to List

MARTIN, Bill Jr.

ARCHAM- BAULT John (illus) 

Summary: Rhyming couplets demonstrate different parts of the body and their function. "Here are my eyes for seeing and crying. Here are my ears for washing and drying."

Comments: This book supports a theme of "All About Me." The illustrations support tolerance for others because they depict children from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Vivid colours appeal to young readers. Back to List

Mariana

Summary: Luke's and Matthew's gospels tell different versions about the birth of Christ and the events directly following the nativity. This telling of Jesus' life until the time of his recorded ministry follows Matthew's gospel in which Joseph takes his family to Egypt in order to avoid Herod's slaughter of male infants. Expanding on the gospel accounts with apocryphal documents and the recorded visions of Venerated Anne Catherine Emmerich, Mayer chooses Old Master paintings to illustrate the life of Jesus.

Comments: This book is an essential text for any Christian school library. An excellent resource for considering the humanity of Jesus coupled with his divinity, children can learn how Jesus is like them in many ways: love of his parents, friendship with his cousin John, etc. The high quality art reproductions are excellent for developing visual literacy. In particular, a study of Tissot (an artist who spent much time in the Holy Land in the 19th century) can be initiated by viewing the representative paintings of his work in this book.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

Mariana

Summary: Few details are known about Mary's early life beyond the well-known Bible stories. Using information from the writings of the early saints and mystics together with twenty-four Old Master paintings, the author crafts a sensitive portrait of the young girl who would become the mother of Jesus.

Comments: Paintings from the middle ages to the 19th century grace the pages of this text. This book is an excellent resource for religion discussions (as in the month of May) as well as models for composing visual images. Because Christians of all ages appreciate Mary's contribution to Catholic faith, this book is a welcome addition to any school library.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

MAZER, Anne

JOHNSON, Steve (illus.)

Summary: Brian is determined to raise a wild salamander in his bedroom. Imagining how he will handle all the problems associated with not living in a salamander’s environment, such as when the salamander needs food, he brings insects into his room with bullfrogs to control the insects. The musings continue until Brian is now living in the salamander’s room, a forest full of lush trees where Brian sleeps in his bed under the shadowed night sky.

Comments: Factual information supports science curricula. Brian’s flight of imagination can serve as a model for students’ own writing about a different animal’s environment. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List

Summary:  Little Nutbrown Hare loves Big Nutbrown Hare as far as he can reach, as far as he can stretch his toes, as high as he can hop. Big Nutbrown Hare surpasses this love because of his wider reach and ability to leap higher.

Comments:  This book tries to describe the immeasurable love between a parent and a child. All children can relate to the love between themselves and one or more of their parents. Beautiful illustrations create two easy to love characters. The text is repetitive and could be used for their own writing on Mother’s or Father’s day.  Back to List

Summary: A little girl and a bear cub wander away from their berry-picking mothers and mistake each other's mother for her own.

Comments: ***Caldecott Honor winning author-illustrator, Robert McCloskey's navy pen and ink drawings capture the wonder of blueberry picking in Maine. The author effectively captures the sights and sounds of blueberry picking.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List 

Summary: Mirette is a child called to walk the high wire. At first, she practises by herself with no instruction. One day, Mr. Bellini discovers her at practice and helps her to try more daring tricks. Mr. Bellini is a famous high wire artist living in retirement because he has become fearful of falling. When Mr. Bellini is offered a great deal of money for another high wire crossing, Mirette joins him as they both find their way back to the end of the wire.

Comments:  In order to become a success at any type of new learning, children must learn to stretch past their confidence level and become risk takers. Mirette is such a risk-taker. Both Mirette and Mr. Bellini are examples of coaches who encourage people to move beyond their fears of failure. Emily Arnold McCully's illustrations recreate early 20th century Paris with images reminiscent of Toulouse Lautrec's posters of the same period. ***This text won the Caldecott medal for 1993.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List 

Summary: This salute to farm animals appeals to children from the country and the city, alike. Using a repetitive sentence beginning, children are encouraged to make predictions and chant along with the reader.

Comments: Large, brilliant portraits and large font print encourage children to link print to oral language. The front cover contains instructions for a game that can be played as an extension of the text, "Musical Farm Animals." A farm theme is supported by this text. The repetitious pattern can be used for children to tell or write their own "I love..." stories.  Back to List

 LIGHTBURN,  Ron (illus.)

Summary: Grandfather and his granddaughter share a special bond. From early babyhood, the little girl and the old man spend summer days watching for the return of the orcas and tending to Grandfather's garden. One day, the little girl returns to Grandfather's home but he is no longer there. She takes over his whale vigil so that she can see Grandfather's spirit leaping and swimming with the orcas.

Comments: ***This book is a must-have for every school library as it is the winner of Canada's most prestigious children's book awards: Governor General's Literary Award for Illustrations, IODE Book Award for print, Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrators Award and the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award. This text is an excellent support for the family life themes of bonds between the young and old, and care for the environment. Ron Lightburn's illustrations capture a photographic stillness. The print combines poetry and prose forms.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | Canadian List

LOTT, Sheena (illus.)

Summary: Erin cannot sleep the night before the fair begins. She dreams of her pumpkin winning first prize. As friends and family gather, Erin's excitement and apprehension grows. Erin and her friends visit various events and displays throughout the day. All the fun and excitement of the fair is described in rich detail. Finally, it is time for Erin to learn the results of the pumpkin growing contest.

Comments: Watercolour and pencil illustrations capture the excitement of the fair. The sounds, sights and smells of a day at the fair vividly described. This text supports social studies themes of comparing rural to urban life. An excellent companion to this book is Come to the Fair by Janet Lunn.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | Canadian List

Summary:  Molly and Matthew wake up to find that there has been a huge snowstorm. They work together and build snowhorses instead of snowmen. The snowhorses spring to life and the children join them in a magical adventure.

Comments:  This fantasy appeals to the child’s imagination. The language is very descriptive with a superior use of adjectives and strong verbs. The illustrations ably depict the mood of magic and adventure.  Back to List

Summary: Spare print and pictures from unusual points of view play with readers' predictions and help them to see things as they would not usually see them. Playing with print sizes and fonts, positive and negative images, cut-out windows and doors, the author shows readers of all ages that it's fun to be fooled.

Comments: Visual acuity and optical illusions help students discuss how we see what we think we see. Readers of all ages can be challenged to pay closer attention to what they see. Loosely linked by the main character's vantage point, the reader can enter into the forward sequence at any point. This book supports discussion of book design and publishing as well as art elements of composition and design.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List

Summary:  The days of the week and the responsibilities of a mother are connected in this story. Mother is committed to teaching her son to be responsible. By knowing the colour of the apron, the reader knows which day of the week it is.

Comments:  This book is a wonderful way to discuss cultural differences while introducing a piece of history, e.g., African American history. The use of colour in the illustrations is effective. Soft pictures enhance the mood.  Back to List

Summary:  A mob of weird and wonderful aliens is headed for Earth. Are the aliens here to conquer us? The suspense builds as the aliens approach Earth. Can Earth be saved?

Comments:  This book would be a fun addition to a unit on Space. The illustrations and descriptive language engage children readily. The predictable language would be helpful to use with emergent readers.  Back to List

Summary:  This story is about a man who takes a cruise and to his consternation, has to share his room with some naughty pigs. They turn the cruise into a catastrophe. Reaching the end of his patience, he puts them off his ship. Once alone, the man is bored without the pigs and is happy to be reunited with them when he gets home.

Comments:  Children identify with the pigs. They, too, can be messy. The humour of the story is achieved through predictable rhymes and colourful illustrations. David McPhail’s vocabulary is effective, particularly in the use of strong verbs like: "embark", "declare", "recline", and "depicting".  Back to List

Summary:  A little girl has a dog named Martha, who loves to eat alphabet soup. As a result the dog can talk. One day, the alphabet soup changes and Martha no longer makes sense when she talks. Martha goes right to the root of the problem and saves the ‘soup’.

Comments:  This book is a good read-aloud for emergent readers and writers to illustrate the importance of vowels in words. A great book for every school!  Back to List

Summary:  This book is a fun rhyming book which gives much information about various musical instruments. As each instrument is added to the text, it is added to the prior ensemble of instruments to eventually build an orchestra.

Comments:  Rhyme and correct musical terminology is found on each page. The illustrations are colourful and flow like music. Apart from the obvious connection to music curriculum, the book could be used to support mathematics and vocabulary-building in language arts.  Back to List

Summary:  This book is a personal narrative of an ESL child when she moves to Canada from Beirut, Lebanon. When she joins the kindergarten class, she does not understand English and is very fearful of this different culture. With time, she adjusts to these new customs and feels less-threatened. Eventually, she comes to accept her "new" culture while maintaining her birth culture’s traditions.

Comments:  There are some references to war and its devastating effects on children. This book is an excellent way to introduce students with culturally different backgrounds to accept each other’s differences. Because of its underlying themes of valuing culture and belonging, From Far Away supports religion and social studies curricula.  Back to List

Summary:  Meet Zoe, the greatest gymnast who zips and zooms around the gym demonstrating opposites such as: on/off, inside/outside, high/low, etc.

Comments:  Children love the bright colorful illustrations that were done with acrylic paint. Children respond to the rhyme and rhythm of the descriptive text. A great text to complement mathematics spatial concepts and physical education. Back to List

Elisabeth

Summary: A little Jewish girl, living in Germany before WW II shares everything with her doll, Elisabeth. Theirs is a special bond of love that cannot be broken. When the family must escape Germany, they leave everything behind including Elisabeth. The years pass and Elisabeth reenters into the grown Jewish woman's life when she searches for a doll for her own daughter. Passing by an antique shop, as if by the magic of love, she finds Elisabeth and shares her with her daughter. A broken heart and story is mended as she is passed from generation to generation in one family.

Comments: This text reflects the value of maintaining family icons and memoirs and as such can serve as a model for students to create their family memoirs. The illustrations created by the author, are rich with detail and evoke strong emotional responses. This simple and beautiful text tells the story of a difficult historical time from the point of view of a child who lived through it. Other texts which can support the discussion of the Holocaust with young children are: Number the Stars and Star of Fear, Star of Hope.  

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Summary:  John Tommy Fiddich, is a poor young boy who has laboured in his vegetable garden with hopes of selling his produce to earn much needed money. When a hailstorm destroys his garden, only a large gray stone remains. News that a very rich man, Sir Henry Pellat, builder of Casa Loma, needs big stones to complete his castle wall inspires John to push his stone all the way up the hill. Unfortunately his now white stone is rejected so John disappointedly trudges home. Feeling himself to be the unluckiest boy of all he meets Sir Henry. Not only does Sir Henry offer to buy the stone but he offers John a well-paying job. Now he’s the "luckiest boy of all".

Comments:  This story, set in the early 1900’s in Toronto, deals with an incident in Canadian history. The theme of personal goals and working hard is appropriate for all levels. The language uses repetition and contrast very effectively, as well as opposites: e.g., lucky/unlucky, poor/rich, old/modern. Illustrations are detailed with well-researched drawings of Casa Loma and Toronto 80 years ago.  Back to:  K-2List |  3-4List