Summary: Without words, Daniel Peddle tells the story of a boy who creates a snowman. Playing with perspective, snow and sunshine figure prominently in this snowman's day.

 Comments: This text is an excellent resource for students of all ages including ESL learners. Students can write their own scripts for the illustrations. Another wordless picture book which deals with the same theme is The Snowman by Raymond Briggs.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

Summary:  This story is about a little girl named Samantha who has her hamburger stolen and her brother comes up with a plan to catch the thief. They concoct a truly unappetizing hamburger with mayonnaise of bugs. In the end, the thief turns out to be a dog.

Comments:  Sensational Samburger is packaged as a hamburger book which pops open as it is read. Teachers or librarians could share this book with children. However, its questionable durability may limit its ability to circulate. The pop-up pictures are very life-like (and stomach-turning). The use of rhyme leads to prediction. However, there is a surprise ending.  Back to List

October Smiled Back

Summary:  The months of the year are personified in a poem to share children’s feelings about friendship. Through a child’s eyes, the reader sees how friendship ebbs and flows with the changing seasons. Illustrated by Ed Young, natural elements are depictions of friendship.

Comments:  The text has many possibilities for cross-curricular links. A teacher could use this book to open a mathematics lesson on the measurement of time. The religious theme of building friendships can be explored. The artistic decisions made by the illustrator can be discussed in an art lesson. THIS BOOK IS A MUST-HAVE BOOK FOR EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARY.  Back to:  K-2 List | 3-4 List

Summary:  Some of Jimmy’s days are great and other days are not. Jimmy shares things that happen at home and at school. When he wakes up in the morning, he checks out what kind of day it might be and why it might be that way. His mother makes sure each day starts out well.

Comments:  Children can easily associate their feelings and experiences with Jimmy. The illustrations create scenes that are familiar to young readers. The text supports family and social interactions.  Back to List

Summary:  This is a wonderful book which shares the traditions of a First-nations’ people. It celebrates the love of a family and the traditions that connect them to each other.

Comments:  The background images contribute to the story and its deeper meaning. This book supports social studies curricula. Children are intrigued with the illustrations and their underlying symbolism. The native language helped to extend their understanding of First-nations’ cultures.  Back to:  K-2 List | 3-4x List

Summary:  Toniya Wakanwin is a young girl growing up on the Great Plains many years ago. Every day she sits beside her great-grandmother on the buffalo robe and watches as the old woman takes beads from a bead pot and stitches them onto the moccasins she is making. When the great-grandmother passes onto the spirit world, Toniya inherits both the bead pot and the old woman’s role.

Comments:  This native tale deals with generations and the passing on of traditions. It parallels the story of The Elves and the Shoemaker, in that the bead pot is magically filled with beads each night and used up during the day.

***One reviewer was concerned that some ideas in the book may extend present native stereotypes and the idea that the lives of Natives were improved with white intervention.   Back to:  K-2 List | 3-4 List | Canadian List

Summary:  The people of Triple Creek have lost the ability to read with the advent of television. Books have been relegated to useful door stops, shelters and damming materials. The knowledge of reading is passed from a librarian grandma to a child who passes it on to his friends and ultimately the town. When the dam breaks, books shower down onto the townsfolk and are perceived as a sign to begin reading.

Comments:  The importance of books and reading as ways to opening many doors is a theme worth discussing with children. The bold, beautiful watercolours express and capture small town life. The literary techniques of exaggeration, hyperbole, foreshadowing, figurative language and colloquial language in realistic dialogue can make good models for children’s writing.  Back to:  K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List

Rocking Horse Christmas

Summary:  This book is a wonderful story about a boy and a rocking horse, who share many exciting imaginary adventures. As the years pass, the boy spends less time with the horse, and soon the rocking horse is packed away until, many years later, the son of the little boy discovers him in the attic and the adventures begin again.

Comments:  The paintings used in the illustrations are very detailed and colorful, and appealing to children. The story leads to discussions about student’s own fantasies.  Back to List

SO,  Meilo  (illus.)

Summary: Jack Prelutsky has selected over 200 poems about the beauty of the animal kingdom from the lowly earthworm to the majestic whale. More than 100 of the 20th century's acclaimed poets celebrate animals with joyous, funny, provocative, and beautiful language. Meilo So's lyrical watercolour paintings capture the essence of each poem.

Comments: ***This anthology is a must-have for every school library. The breadth and depth of this collection can meet the needs and interests of people of all ages. It is a treasure for children to grow with- from emergent reader to fluent reader. As an accompaniment to student research of animals or to any animal theme, children can learn about many different poetic structures.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

BERG, Ron

Night Fun

Summary:  Inspired by the timeless nursery rhyme ‘Hey, Diddle, Diddle’, Night Fun describes the adventures of Kevin. Soaring away into the world of the original poem, he plays and flies among the stars until the sun comes up and his dog barks to awaken him.

Comments:  The artwork used in this book is exquisite with brilliant colors and use of light. This book could complement a study of nursery rhymes. One reader found the book useful as an introduction to a space theme.  Back to List

COWLES, Rose

Gilbert de la Frogponde – A Swamp Story

Summary:  Gilbert de la Frogponde, a rather robust frog, enjoys the good life, catching flies and dozing on the dock in the swamp. One day his tranquility is threatened by the arrival of two gourmet chefs in search of dinner. Fearful of his destiny, Gilbert has to use his wit to outsmart the chefs.

Comments:  This rhyming poem/story appeals to children’s sense of fun and rhythm. The text would be great scripted for choral speech or reader’s theater. The illustrations are outstanding.  Back to:   K-2 List | 3-4x List

Summary: Illustrating the manual signs of American Sign Language, this text uses exquisitely detailed drawings to communicate the sequence of the alphabet. Accompanying each hand sign is something that begins with the same letter.

Comments: This text can support students' learning to communicate in another English language dialect especially as more and more hearing-impaired students are being integrated into regular classrooms. Children can learn the manual representations of the onset sounds of each letter and use them to make associations with the print representation of the letters.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List 

Summary:  A boring policeman fails to convincingly deliver his safety messages to school audiences. Accidents continue to happen. Once Officer Buckle gets a canine partner, student interest increases with Gloria’s antics during his presentations. Accidents now begin to happen less frequently. When Officer Buckle discovers that Gloria is more popular than himself, he refuses to give any more safety messages. Gloria alone gives presentations to the audience and again the children are bored. Accidents happen again. In the end Officer Buckle and Gloria realize that he needs Gloria and she needs him to be effective.

Comments:  Primary children relate well to the text’s message that in a partnership, each party is equally important to its success. The text supports health and religion themes of how to be a good friend. Illustrations of how Gloria hams it up to the audience inspire student laughter and enjoyment.  Back to List

Summary: Two girls attend a big family birthday party for their grandmother. They start out nervously meeting their unknown relatives. Once the ice is broken, they have a great time playing with their cousins and are reluctant to leave.

Comments: Barbara Reid's claymation illustrations capture the joy and excitement of a family party. Family parties are common experiences for young children. The author authentically expresses the child's point of view in her storytelling. Art and family life themes are supported by this text. Children will enjoy creating their own claymation illustrations.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | Canadian List

Summary: This is the story of a chick who found a family. First there was her parent, a boy. Next there was a clutch of eggs which she hatched, ducklings. As they grew, she continued to spend afternoons sleeping under a tree on the boy's lap with her grown ducks under her wing. Essentially, this is story of differences and love.

Comments: A strong support to a farm theme, children of all ages can be encouraged to participate in how families begin as surprise families. The author says about her book, "Parents and children meet as strangers and grow up together, surprising one another with interests and talents that are not exactly what had been expected. And they continue to love each other anyway." In this way, the text supports family life themes and building families in the classroom. Mixing rebus elements, cartoons with sounds and full page illustrations, the book begins and ends with cozy quilt endpapers.  Back to List

THOMPSON,   John (illus.)

Summary: At every Thanksgiving in Amanda's memory, all of her family gathers at her grandmother Bubbe's house for a sumptuous feast prepared by Bubbe. Every dish is special to Bubbe and Thanksgiving Day. The best part of Thanksgiving is not the meal. Bubbe saves a wishbone for each of her grandchildren to make a wish. When Thanksgiving comes again after Bubbe's death, Amanda misses her deeply. Although not physically at the table with Amanda's family, Bubbe's spirit helps Amanda experience joy at this meal. Fellowship extends beyond Amanda's family to Mrs. Yee, their neighbour, a grandmother with none of her grandchildren living close by.

Comments: This text supports family life themes of relationships of young and old, and death and dying. It is a welcome holiday addition to any school library. John Thompson's realistic paintings capture Amanda's emotions and the atmospheric mood of Thanksgiving Day.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

KISS, Andrew (illus.)

Summary: For children who live near, in or visit the mountains, this text supports their curiosity of the Rockies. This book motivates their interest about the alpine environment. Each page has one sentence replete with alliteration. The illustrator, Andrew Kiss, has hidden many other alphabetic surprises in each painting. A key at the end of the book encourages children to search the illustrations more carefully.

Comments: Readers of all ages will find much to capture their interest in this text. Each painting depicts a special mood in the mountains and is a painting in its own right. A lyrical text and useful notes make this book as informative as it is useful.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List | Canadian List

Summary:  Beginning with January, children are given the opportunity to pray and create their own special prayers for each month. Each prayer is written from a child’s point of view and in child’s language. Repetitive lines encourage very young children to chime in with the prayer leader.

Comments:  Illustrated by the author, children can relate to the bright colours and childlike painting that make the book true to their experiences. Children offer seasonal blessings for family members and pets. Each short prayer can develop both secular and religious themes. Back to List

The Bookshop Dog

Summary:  Martha Jane’s owner loves her so much that she takes her to work every day in her bookstore, Read It and Reap. To honor her dog, she renames the store Martha Jane’s Bookshop, which creates some confusion when people ask for Martha Jane’s advice. Soon the townspeople discover the truth about Martha Jane and her limitations as a book critic, but they love her all the same. When Martha Jane’s human is hospitalized, everyone volunteers to be the person who will look after the dog. Martha Jane chooses a male human who in turn becomes her mistress’ new husband.

Comments:  (Illustrated by the author) Children can relate to the bright colours and childlike paintings that make the book true to their experiences. The author’s love for dogs and books emanates from every page. Students can use this book as a model for writing a fictional story that features their own pets.   Back to List

Summary:  In rhyme, this story shows what Cat Heaven is like. Cats find their favourite foods, things to do, toys, angels and God in Cat Heaven. The reader senses that God loves cats very much.

Comments:  The simple child-like images are appealing to the reader because they are similar to the illustrations that a child him/herself could create. The strong, poetic language encourages prediction. This book supports religion curriculum in its references to God’s goodness and respect for his creatures.  Back to List

Summary:  In this beginning novel, Henry and his dog Mudge travel with Henry’s parents to Grandmother’s house. Because Grandma hasn’t yet met his dog, Henry is worried that Mudge will do something to upset her and will have to sleep outside. When Henry’s worries are accurate, he experiences difficulty sleeping without Mudge.

Comments:  Children can relate to this book because many of them have and love pets. They need to learn the necessity of respecting the rights of others like Grandma’s right to sleep. This text supports religion, health and social studies curricula.  Back to List

The Old Woman Who Named Things

Summary:  To stop herself from being lonely, an old woman who has outlived all her friends, names all the things in her life that she knows she will never outlive. She names her house, chair, bed and car. When a puppy shows up at her front gate, she restrains from naming him because she does not want to outlive him. Each day she tells it to go home. When the puppy does not show up one day, she looks for him. She finds him at the animal shelter and he comes when she calls him Lucky.

Comments:  The understanding that by giving things names, we enter into relationship with those things is an interesting theme to discuss with children. This text explores how the use of language can create a less lonely life. As in most of her books, animals figure prominently. This book can support a theme of relationships and friendship in religion.  Back to:  K-2 List | 3-4 List

Summary:  There is more to a scarecrow’s life than meets the eye. People know that a scarecrow is constructed of bits and pieces of inanimate material. The scarecrow knows that it is not real either. Yet there is a certain viewpoint that can only be seen through a scarecrow’s eyes. A scarecrow stands still and is able to see the passing of days, seasons, and weather. He is given the time to be able to really see - see what people are unable to see.

Comments:  Lauren Stringer’s cheerful acrylic paintings help the reader see what the scarecrow sees. In this way, children can develop a better idea of point of view by using both the print and illustrations to create meaning. Repetitious words and phrases help young readers make predictions. Rylant captures the beauty of being out in a garden with a spiritual touch. Children love this book. It can be used as part of a fall or spring theme or to support the science curriculum.   Back to List

The Van Gogh Café

Summary:  Magic is in the atmosphere at the Van Gogh Café in Flowers, Kansas. Ten-year-old Clara works alongside her father in the café. She senses that magic is about to happen even before it occurs. She is open to the possibility that it can happen. Each chapter ends with an unexplained hook of something to be answered in the subsequent chapter. The café itself acts as a character in this short novel.

Comments:  This book may be considered either a selection of short stories or a loosely connected novel. Each chapter can stand alone as it is a story in itself. The unifying elements that make it a novel are the characters  and the café. The theme that miracles can happen if you just believe appeals to students of all ages as does its counterpart that things happen for a reason. This novel connects to the art curriculum because of its connection to Van Gogh and its descriptive visual language. Students can use the open endings to each chapter as springboards to write their own original texts. Genre mixes such as Marc’s poetry in the midst of prose can encourage children to write their own multi-textured texts. The vocabulary is simple, carefully chosen and evocative. Back to:  K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List

Summary:  This autobiographical account of Cynthia Rylant’s childhood describes what made her life special. Grandmother made hot corn bread and fried okra. Each pleasure was one to share and is part of a gentle story that tells about the love of life, family and most of all, of home.

Comments:  In Rylant’s first children’s publication, she shares that, "The inspiration for this book came from memories of my childhood in Appalachia, when I lived with my grandparents and other relatives in a four-room house in Cool Ridge, West Virginia. We children had to make do with each other and what we found in the mountains, and do you know I was never bored!" Few autobiographies exist for children. This text is an excellent model for encouraging students to write about a special memory in their own lives. Religion and social studies curricula about family relationships are strengthened by this text.  Back to:   K-2 List | 3-4 List

Summary:  Allison, a Japanese-American girl, suddenly realizes that she looks more like her favourite doll Mei-Mei than her parents. This elicits the questions: "Where do I come from?" "What is my real name?" It is through the answers to these questions that she discovers that she has been adopted. Struggling with this new-found information, she in turn "adopts" a stray cat.

Comments:  Many children struggle with having been adopted. The story helps children to identify the commonalities between people of all races and cultures. The illustrations are realistic, frozen moments in time. They have a stillness like photographs.  Back to List

Summary:  Grandfather and Allen (the narrator) share a deep love for Japan and America. Both individuals wish to be in both places at the same time. Because of this feeling of having been displaced, they share a personal struggle to fully belong to the culture in which they live while living there. An important part of them resides in both Japan and America.

Comments:  A Caldecott winner in 1993, the illustrations document Grandfather’s life in America as a young man and his life as an old man in Japan. The language of the text is poetic yet simple. The text suggests but does not tell how Grandfather feels. While many New Canadians adapt to their new homes, they leave parts of their hearts behind. The concept of what it truly means to be free is also implied. This book is a strong piece for discussing the power of illustrations for telling stories.  Back to:  K-2List | 3-4List | 5-6List | 7-9 List

SCHERTLE, Alice

GREEN, Norman (illus.) 

Advice for a Frog (poetry)

Summary: This poetry anthology introduces the reader to fourteen of nature’s remarkable animals. The poems sometimes discuss environmental issues and sometimes discuss animals seldom written about before.

Comments: Supporting information about each of the animals appears at the end of the book. Unusual print placement and idealized paintings create long-lasting impressions about the animal portraits. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

SCHROEDER, Alan

FUCHS, Bernie (illus) 

Summary: Delia loves to dance. Wherever she goes, she hears music. There is music in the carpenters' hammers and in the charcoal seller's song. The streets of Charleston, South Carolina are filled with rhythm: rain, laughter, and vendor's calls. Delia takes the readers on a musical tour of the streets of her home.

Comments: This sensory part of America's past comes to life with the distinctive calls of each street vendor. The author challenges readers to listen for the music in their own lives. The golden illustrations evoke happy feelings for times gone by. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4x List

SCIESZKA, Jon

JOHNSON, Steve (illus.) 

Summary: The shocking truth of “happily ever after” is thrown on its ear. Now that the prince is no longer a frog, the princess nags him about his froggy habits. Hoping that he can return to his life as a frog, he hunts for a witch to reverse his current condition. On his search, he encounters several characters from traditional fairy tales: the witch from Snow White, the witch from Hansel and Gretel, the witch from Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella’s fairy godmother. Finally, the frog tires of his search and he returns to the princess who loved him even before his taking human form.

 Comments: This picture book is an excellent culmination for a fairy tale theme. The placement of the conventional characters in unconventional settings can serve as models for students’ own writing. On a more serious theme, children can discuss what happiness really means. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

SMITH, Lane (illus.)

Summary: In a first person narrative, Alexander T. Wolf tells his side of the Three Little Pigs tale. He believes that he has been much maligned and that he needs to set the record straight from his prison cell. A cup of sugar, a sneeze and poorly crafted houses lead to his demise as he could not leave a perfectly good pork dinner to spoil...

Comments: *** A must-have book for any library, children can use this text to discuss point of view. Every child has experienced being misrepresented in a classroom, familial, or playground dispute and this text gives the wolf equal time. Students can use this text to guide their own written retellings of folk and fairy tales. Page layout can lead to discussions of newspapers and illustrations.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

SEIDEL, Ross

KURZ, Rudolf (illus.) 

Summary: An old woman falls asleep and rats invade her house apparently looking for food. The old woman awakens and rather than try to rid them from her house with her broom, she welcomes them into her home. They all join in a routine of cooperative housecleaning in exchange for food.

Comments: This text is filled with whimsical print and illustrations. The message of cooperation and sharing is worth discussing with small children. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | Canadian List

Summary: When David Shannon was five years old, he wrote a semi-autobiographical story about a little boy who broke almost all of his mom's rules. He chewed with his mouth open, jumped on all of the furniture and broke Mom's vase. Her constant response was, "No, David!" This story is his illustration and memory of this earlier writing.

Comments: ***This is a must-have book for every school library. Learning to get along with others is fraught with rules for children. Each child has heard a parent or teacher (gently or not so gently) remind them "No, ________!" David's character and behaviour connects with these memories. Awarded the 1998 Caldecott Honor Medal, this text uses consistent, child-like paintings and colours to portray David's point of view.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

Summary: In this sequel to No, David! the main character continues with his rapscallion behaviour. When the teacher's repetitious "No, David," does not curb his wayward behaviour, he serves a detention. After school, the weary teacher talks to David and helping him to realize that he can have a great time learning at school.

Comments: David's experience in beginning school is similar to that of all children. He, like they, must adjust to a new set of rules and consequences. David Shannon's childlike illustrations capture the character of David with his triangular nose for trouble.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

Tomorrow’s Alphabet

Summary:  This witty concept book is about process and creation. You start off being puzzled: ‘A is for seed’ – what’s going on here? Then the opposite page explains, ‘tomorrow’s apple’. On the left-hand page, a spreading hand holds a tiny seed; on the opposite page, a hand holds a rosy apple. As children begin to get the idea, they’ll love the surprise and will want to make their own predictions/evaluations.

Comments:  The challenging vocabulary in this book is clearly defined through Donald Crew’s realistic illustrations. Children can use this book as a model for creating their own tomorrow or yesterday’s alphabet. This alphabet book is enjoyed by students of all ages. Back to:  K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

Summary: This book is composed of white shapes and print on a dark blue background. Sometimes the shape looked like Spilt Milk. But it wasn't Spilt Milk. Sometimes it looked like a Bird or an Ice Cream Cone or a Birthday Cake or an Angel. But it wasn't a Bird or an Ice Cream Cone or a Birthday Cake or an Angel. What was it?

Comments: Young children can make predictions about what 'it' is. Repetitive text engages students to join into the oral reading. Science and art themes can be supported with this text as children draw their own shapes as suggested by clouds.  Back to List

SHEPARD, Aaron

FIEDLER, Joseph Daniel (illus.) 

Summary: Sheltered Mi Nuong becomes enchanted with the song and sweet voice that floats up to her window from the Red River. She is desperate to hear the song again and to meet the man who sings the lovely music. Her obsession results in her weakening and taking to her bed. Desperate for Mi Nuong to be healed, her father sets out to find the handsome young man who sings the song. The singer is found and brought to Mi Nuong. Unfortunately, he does not measure up to her expectations and Mi Nuong is cruel to the man. In time, she realizes her mistake.

Comments: This is an excellent legend to study during a theme of traditional tales. People’s unrealistic expectations and inappropriate treatment of others can serve as a focus for instruction. This text is an appropriate text for ESL learners as it can support Vietnamese Canadian’s experience. Haunting illustrations help the storytelling. Unfortunately, the young woman appears to be more Caucasian than Asian. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List

Summary:  A boy and a tree have great affection for each other. The boy eats the tree’s fruit, climbs her trunk, swings from her branches, etc. As time goes by, the boy visits the tree less often but still relies on her for money, house, boat and other needs. The tree gives everything, asks nothing in return, and remains elated just because she is able to give.

Comments:  This classic story is about the true meaning of giving, or being your neighbor’s keeper, which has great relevance for today’s society. The language is simple and eloquent, as is the message of the book. Students of all ages love this book.   Back to:  K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

SIMARD, Rémy

PRATT, Pierre (illus.) 

The Magic Boot

Summary: This pourquoi tale of how Italy became known as the boot begins with Pipo. He is a young boy whose feet are so large that he could not find shoes to fit.

Comments: Humourous print and illustrations exaggerate Pipo’s special predicament. This short text is an excellent introduction to pourquoi tales. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | Canadian List

SOTO, Gary

GUEVARA, Susan (illus) 

Summary: Chato, the cat, prepares all kinds of taste-tempting food in order to attract his new neighbours, the mice. To Chato's dismay, the mice bring a friend along with them which upsets his plans for a delicious meal.

Comments: Many ESL students will enjoy the Spanish words and phrase embedded in the text. A glossary is provided to the support the reader. Large, bright illustrations bring this cat and mouse story to life. Back to List

WILSON, Janet  (illus.)

Summary: A grandmother recalls events and emotions from her life as a child. When Sarah needs a new dress, her parents focus on practicalities. Sarah dreams and wishes for a new red dress. By invoking the wind, rain, and sun, Sarah's serviceable blue dress becomes a beautiful red dress.

Comments: Descriptive language helps bring the story alive to young readers. Connections to the past invite discussion about one's one memories. Social studies themes of meeting needs and "Canada and Its People, Past and Present" are supported by this text. Aging and physical changes are handled sensitively and can be used to support family life themes.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | Canadian List

Two Cool Cows

Summary:  The story is a spin-off from the nursery rhyme, ‘Hey, Diddle, Diddle. How did the ‘two cool cows’ get there? Why did they go? What did they do? Read the story to find out why the Huckabucks want the ‘two cool cows’ to come back to Huckabuck farm.

Comments:  Repetitions, rhyming words and alliteration are all included in the text and make the book fun to read. The pictures in the book, illustrated by Barry Root, are attractive and up–to-date. Number words and direction words support math and science concepts.   Back to List

Summary: Hare has recently lost a risky bet with tortoise and now he has nothing but a hungry family. He enters into a farming partnership with lazy Bear who owns a lot of land. Hare's family provides the labour and they agree to halve the harvest of the crop. When the harvest is completed, Bear discovers that he has been tricked by clever Hare who has taken more than his agreed-to share. They enter into a succession of new deals. Firstly, Bear agrees to take the top of the crop and Hare the bottom. Next, Hare will take the top of the crop and Bear will take the bottom. Finally, Hare suggests that Bear take the top and the bottom of the next crop. In each crop, he discovers that he has been tricked by Hare.

Comments: The trickster uses his wits to overcome hardship and misfortune. This text is an excellent source for encouraging children to make predictions about how Hare will be successful. The expressive illustrations help with the characterization of the hares and bear. Themes such as: the farm, gardening, and tricksters can be supported by this text. Other texts on similar themes are: The Enormous Turnip, The Ant and the Grasshopper, and The Little Red Hen. ***This book is a Caldecott Honour Book for 1995.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List  

STEVENSON, James 

Summary: It is summer and it is very hot. Too hot for Alex the frog to hop into the river. Cumley the skunk sees mirages. There is no shade for Marty the elephant. Temperatures and tempers are rising. Finally Raymond the Rainmaker promises to bring rain to Mud Flat. Will the animals be able to get respite from the heat?

Comments: The author/illustrator uses a variety of fonts to engage interest. Short, fast-moving chapters support beginning readers. Animal dialogue and rich description are used extensively. Back to List

Summary: Rhyme, and number patterns support children's oral participation in this countdown story. Continued experience with the text can lead to its being chanted by children.

Comments: This book can support a dinosaur theme. Colourful, whimsical dinosaur illustrations engage children's enjoyment of this text. There is nothing to fear from these dinosaurs. Mathematical concepts of one-to-one correspondence, counting backwards, and subtracting one at a time are supported by this text.  Back to List

LEWIS, Robin Baird  (illus.)

Summary: Kelly's mother does not understand about red. She offers Kelly clothing and accessories in many colours but Kelly always chooses red. In Kelly's mind, red is best. She explains why they are her favourites.

Comments: Simple print and repetitive text engage children's participation in a teacher's reading of this book. In this way, students can make a connection between oral and written language. This text supports children's development of the concept of colour in a whimsical context. It is an excellent support for early literacy development. Back to: K-2 List | Canadian List

STRICKLAND, Tessa 

Summary: This collection of prayers brings together offerings from many cultures and religions. Full-colour photographs illustrate the wonders of the earth and children from the representative religious traditions. Words and pictures together express a deep reverence for the earth and the Other.

Comments: The evocative photographic images help to draw children into a prayerful space. Containing simple prayers for every occasion and incidence, this text is a welcome support to any religious study program. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

Summary: This text is comprised of two pattern stories in one. Beginning from one cover of the book and reading to the middle of the binding, readers discover what the sun sees by day. Beginning the text from its other side, readers discover what the moon sees by night. Comments: The repetitious sentences engage student predictions and participation in a teacher reading of this text. Detailed, colourful illustrations show the opposites of day and night very well. The coloured text strips at the bottom of each page become part of the illustrations. This book supports seasonal themes and can also be used as a model for children's own pattern writing.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List 

Summary:  Through vibrant illustrations, nature is depicted showing change over differing time-spans ranging from a few seconds to a year. A coral reef, savannah, forest, school-yard are recorded as they are affected by the changes that time brings. Border illustrations help the reader to identify wildlife.

Comments:  Animals, plants and their communities change and move over time. Life on this planet can be seen in many forms and places. The text encourages the precise scientific terms for the animals depicted. This book supports science and religion curricula.  Back to List

Summary:  This story depicts a day in the life of the animals who live in the city. In a circular framework, children are able to predict which animal will be presented next. The reader is informed about habitats, food sources and the activities of a variety of animals like reptiles and insects who live in an urban area.

Comments:  A strong support to science curricula, students learn that each species has an interdependency with other species. The text encourages problem-solving by providing picture clues as to what will follow in subsequent pages. The descriptive vocabulary paints pictures in the reader’s mind. Children can connect their personal experiences with wild animals in their own neighbourhoods. Back to List`

SLAVIN, Bill (illus.) 

Summary: This non-fictional text is a counting book with a delightful difference. One to ten become more than numbers - they are a celebration of Canada, its land and its resources, a rejoicing in our heritage and our people. Concepts introduced with each number are given further explanation in "Notes on Canada" at the back of the book, e.g., 7 is the Group of Seven a key is given about the individual painters who make up the Group of Seven.

Comments: ***This is a must-have book for every school library. Readers of all ages can find ways to engage with this text from the simple counting sequence to abstractions like "O Canada" on a musical staff. Bill Slavin's illustrations provide additional information by creating images within the numbers and with map insets while creating visual beauty. This text supports social studies themes of Canada's geography, people and history as well as general themes of friendship, tolerance, art and music  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List | Canadian List

Summary:  Eddie eats, dreams and sleeps kites - imaginary kites and kite flying. Too poor to own a kite, Eddie creates an invisible kite in his imagination. Infecting the other children with his own belief, they cheer for his invisible kite which he flies over the hill tops. Eddie’s enthusiasm inspires Old Chan to organize the annual festival of kites which in turn helps Chan to realize his own dreams of becoming a poet. Both their dreams come true.

Comments:  This text supports social studies research about China and Chinese culture. Children are drawn by the boy’s dreams and how he realizes them. Many students’ personal responses are evoked by this story.  Back to List | Canadian List

Summary: This wordless picture book is a reversal of the characters of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." A human family goes for a walk only to return to their house where the porridge has been eaten, the chairs broken and a baby bear asleep in the smallest bed.

Comments: Pencil and wash pictures bring warmth and life to this story. Readers of all ages can enjoy the switched roles in this topsy-turvy "Goldilocks" story. Older students can explore point of view and how it can change a text. Opportunities exist for many different versions of scripts to be written by children.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List

Summary: Miss Moody, a beach scavenger, discovers a mysterious, blue bottle labeled, "Do not open." Shortly afterward, she hears a child's voice asking to be released form the bottle. Immediately, a large monster is released into the sky and taunts Miss Moody to confess her fear. When she is unimpressed, the ogre grows even larger and more convinced to frighten her. Showing her superior strength, Miss Moody outwits the monster and returns happily to her cottage.

Comments: In this twist on the genie in the bottle, Brinton Turkle unleashes new whimsical characters, a horrid ogre and evocative seascapes. This book could be read in a study of trickster tales. The illustrations are full of vibrant colours with an expert use of light and shadows. Children can discover that they have the imaginative power to eliminate their biggest nightmares.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List 

Summary:  Echoing the "Twelve Days of Christmas", a male black bear provides his bride with wedding gifts. Each gift is presented to the female by different wedding guests, all of them Canadian animals. As each gift is presented, each previous gift is also repeated.

Comments:  One class reflected after reading the text together: "We wonder why it’s not called `The Twelve Days of Christmas’. It’s unusual that eight maids are making (milking) the Milky Way. A lot of the story is told in the beautiful illustrations. The animals wear hats and jewellry just like people really wear at a wedding." A teacher noted that upon reading the story, the children researched the call of the loon. It can be used to support mathematics curriculum.  Back to List

UNICEF (comp.) 

Summary: Children from former Yugoslavia composed the drawings and writings in this text. Representative of the hopes and fears of thousands of children from the region whose world has been shattered by death and the destruction of war, this book depicts hope as well as despair. UNICEF collected the drawings, letters, and poems from schools and refugee camps in former Yugoslavia to help heal children’s psychological wounds.

Comments: As many refugee children from the World’s hotspots are in schools, this text can speak directly to their experience prior to their flight to Canada. This book supports peaceful discussions for Remembrance Day and in religion class. The voices of these children can serve as models for children’s own writings and drawings for a class book, We Dream of Peace. ***Teachers of young children may wish to select out disturbing passages for their students. Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

Bad Day at Riverbend

Summary:  Inspired by his young daughter’s scribblings, Van Allsburg weaves a western tale of mysterious happenings in the town of Riverbend. This book delights and fascinates the reader.

Comments:  Van Allsburg’s writing style hooks the reader/listener from the first to the last page. This book highlights the ‘Aha!’ experience as the reader/listener puts together clues to solve a mystery. This text lends itself to making predictions, noting the importance of attending to illustrations and experiencing a surprise ending.  Back to:  K-2List | 3-4List 

Summary:  In a courtroom setting, various beetles testify against the bark beetle. By doing so, the beetles tell all about themselves and what makes them unique.

Comments:  Through the events of the story, the reader discover various types of beetles. Supported by a glossary, the text shares correct scientific information about beetles. The illustrations accurately depict the different varieties of beetles. Back to: K-2 List | Canadian List

Summary:  Alexander voices his fear and anger about having to leave the security of his home and community. Once he learns that things will be okay in his new home, he agrees to move this time but never again!

Comments:  Children relate to Alexander’s fear of change. This book can help new students adjust to their new class as well as those who are moving away. One teacher polled her class, "10 people were afraid of moving." The same class generated the following questions: "What made him change his mind? I wonder which city he was moving to? Do we know where the story starts? Where do you find a pickle barrel like that?" This book supports religion, health and social studies curricula.

****Some people may be offended by the term "pukeface".  Back to List

RECZUCH, Karen  (illus.)

Summary: An Ojibway grandfather and grandson set out early one morning in a birchbark canoe. The quiet of the morning is broken by the sound of a loon. At noon, they climb high on a rocky cliff are honoured by the presence of an eagle. Later at night, they travel into the dark woods and are rewarded by a visit by a pack of timber wolves.

Comments: ***This is a must-have book for every school library. This text sensitively expresses the awe of nature, the chill of dark trees and the spiritualism of an eagle feather. Karen Reczuch's illustrations respectfully capture the relationship between the characters and the beauty of their environment. As an excellent representation of First Nations' people and their beliefs, this text would provide support for social studies and religion.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | Canadian List

WAGENER, Gerda (1995) Beginning novel

A Mouse in the House (beg. novel)

Summary: The mouse in their house thrills Julia and her brother and sister. Socks, the cat and Mother are not happy about this new development. The children name the mouse Lisa and leave food around the house for her. Lisa leaves droppings everywhere, nibbles the corner of the book that Julia is reading, and manages to evade the mousetrap. Something must change because Lisa can no longer stay.

Comments: Engaging illustrations and language attract a young reader's sustained attention. This text is an easy entry into the world of chapter books.  Back to List

Summary:  After a boy and his family relocate, he is concerned about making new friends. Ivan decides to become a movie star and a rock star instead of making new friends. Neither works out. Soon he’s invited by the neighbourhood children to play baseball. Even though he’s not good at it, he’s invited back repeatedly. With practice, he improves. The children form a team and name it "The Westside All-Stars". Ivan becomes a star after all.

Comments:  This book supports religion and health curricula. Children learn that if you want to be good at something, you must try, try again. This is a good book to use if a new student moves into the class or if a student is moving away. The dialogue incorporates realistic colloquialisms.  Back to List

A Winter’s Tale

Summary:  On her 9^th birthday, Abigail, with her father and brother, go on their annual winter camping trip. The trip fulfills her dreams about camping in the wilderness – snow shoeing, cooking, building a campfire, and building a bed of snow. Abigail discovers a fawn in danger is able to help in its rescue.

Comments:  Beautifully descriptive language and illustrations pull the reader into the forest. The text could complement a study of nature and animals in winter.  Back to:  K-2 List | 3-4 List | Canadian List

The Sandwich

Summary: Vincenzo feels different from his second grade classmates. They eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. He eats stinky mortadella and provolone cheese sandwiches. Vincenzo feels uncomfortable when everyone laughs at him. He tries to solve his problem without hurting his father’s feelings and without losing his friends.

Comments: Simple pencil line drawings support this beginning novel. This text supports religion curricula with its exploration of tolerance and understanding for people who are different from us.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | Canadian List

HODDER, Wendy  (illus.)

Summary: Using a cumulative pattern based on the cultural sequence of the days of the week, Grandpa's slippers became progressively more tattered and torn. Ending with a surprise, children can predict a new story, Grandpa's Cardigan.

Comments: Humour and dialogue figure prominently in this text as the characters of Grandpa and Grandma unfold in the telling. As the children listen to the text being read aloud, they can participate in the text by chanting the repetitive elements for each day of the week. Children can use this text as a model for their own writing by continuing with what happens to Grandpa's cardigan over time.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List 

Summary:  A child’s imaginary friend is a dinosaur. Her dinosaur feeds her dreams and imagination as he takes her on a nighttime adventure.

Comments:  This book can encourage children to go to bed and sleep because they may meet with a similar protector in their dreams. It fosters the idea that pretending and imagining are acceptable child-behaviours. Our dreams can comfort and reassure us. The text is simple, descriptive and easy to read. The illustrations reassure the reader by recreating the softness and gentleness of a comfortable night.  Back to List

Summary:  Max and Ruby make cakes for their grandmother’s birthday. Ruby bakes her cake in the kitchen. When Max spills Ruby’s ingredients, he goes to the grocer to replace these ingredients. Because he cannot remember the ingredients, he asks for Red-Hot Marshmallow Squirters for the cake. When the grocer does not understand what Max wants, Max draws him a picture.

Comments:  The main message of this book is the importance of communicating effectively. Children can reproduce the recipe because Wells has added the "grocery list" to the text. This book can support student-writing, mathematics and science curricula. Another popular Max and Ruby story is Bunny Money.  Back to List

Summary:  Max adores cupcakes. Ruby tries to cure Max’s sweet tooth by telling him a variation of the Kind Midas myth. Midas’ touch turns nutritious food into unhealthy food. Max must decide if it is healthy to eat cupcakes or not.

Comments:  There is a slight tie-in with the nutrition component of the health curriculum. Because of its implied teaching of the problems of being greedy, this text supports religion curriculum. The humorous text is appealing to students. Back to List

Summary:  Classmates ask a young native boy about his new moccasins. Through repetition, he explains the process his grandmother used to make the leather moccasins.

Comments:  Two generations bridge traditional customs and adapt them to present realities. The steps and materials used in making moccasins are clearly explained in this narrative. The text is an effective model of the repetitive story framework for student-writing. This book supports religion and social studies curricula.  Back to List

Summary:  A young boy is given a velveteen rabbit as a Christmas gift. The more expensive gifts look down on the rabbit. The only toy friendly to the rabbit is Skin Horse, who is very old and very wise and has become real because he was once loved. The Velveteen Rabbit wants to become real like the horse and finally achieves his wish.

Comments:  This story deals with love in many ways; the true meaning of love, the magical effects of love, that love transcends physical appearance and social standing. It flows like a fairy tale, and has water colour illustrations of exceptional quality. This text has strong appeal for children of all ages.  Back to:  K-2 List | 3-4x List

Summary:  A mother guides her daughter through experiences in order to feel the completeness of God’s love. She demonstrates how God’s power is present in our prayers and in the action of forgiveness.

Comments:  Prayer is important in our lives to help us through our daily challenges. It is an effective tool for dealing with fear. The text supports family relationships and our spiritual development.  Back to List

B is for Bethlehem

Summary:  This alphabet book is a sumptuous, joyful collage of illustrations. The graceful rhyming couplets tell the story of the nativity from a to z.

Comments:  This alphabet book tells the Christmas story in chronological order. Each couplet can be easily memorized. Folkloric, bright tender illustrations capture the joy of Christmas. Children of all ages love this book.   Back to:  K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6x List

Summary:  The desire to read compels an old woman to learn to read. When her life slows down as she gives up more household chores, she has the time to read.

Comments:  The joy of reading and desire to read make strong connections to language arts. The text makes comparisons between city-living and country-living. Colourful, detailed illustrations depict rural life and seasonal farm work.  Back to List

SOENTPIET, Chris K.  (illus.)

Summary: Building on a happy childhood memory, the author writes about a little girl who longs to find something beautiful in her community. She seeks to create happier visions than the angry words, and scary sights on the sidewalk just outside her home. She asks her friends and neighbours if they can share something beautiful with her because she thinks, "beautiful means something that when you have it, your heart is happy." Her hope is that once her quest is successful, she can share something beautiful with her mother.

Comments: Finding beauty in fried fish sandwiches and in the smoothness of a stone reminds children that there are many beautiful things around us if we just pay attention. One person can make the environment beautiful. The author's personal note at the end of the text can be used as a model for the children to write their own personal memoirs. Chris Soentpiet's realistic paintings help to capture the little girl's surroundings with the beauty that is sometimes just below the surface.  Back to: K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6 List | 7-9 List

A Fish Tale: Or, the Little One That Got Away

Summary:  A young fish, enrolled in and failing dart school, narrates the story of the fish’s attempts to hook into heaven, led by a smooth-talking fish named Jack. It’s a trip that brings him perilously close to winding up in a frying pan.

Comments:  Students are hooked into this story that has mythical and religious implications. This book is relevant to the language arts and religious studies curricula.  Back to:  K-2 List | 3-4 List | 5-6x List

ZOLOTOW, Charlotte

RANSOME, James (illus) 

Summary: When young Ben finds his old dog dead one morning, he spends the rest of the day remembering all the good times that they had shared.

Comments: This poignant story deals with the hurt and confusion felt by a child after a first encounter with death. James Ransome's striking oil paintings draw the reader into Ben's grief and memories of the old dog.  Back to List

ZOLOTOW, Charlotte

VITALE, Stefano 

When the Wind Stops

Summary: A young boy asks his mother at the end of a happy day, “Why does the day have to end?” His mother points to the pale sliver of moon in the darkening sky and tells him that the day must end so the night can begin. Thus begins an exchange of questions and answers about the natural world. Finally the boy realizes that “nothing ends” in the natural world. It just begins in another place or in a different way.

Comments: Lyrical prose and stunning paintings on wood create a reassuring celebration of the continuity of life. When the Wind Stops is a story about new beginnings: day and night, wind and waves, rain and seasons. This natural cycle can serve as a support to a religion theme of respect for God’s creation and a science theme of caring for the environment.  Back to List