Alphabeasts by
From the weird and wonderful imagination of an amazing new artist comes an alphabet book like no other. Kids will delight in discovering animals from A to Z living together in an old Victorian mansion. They'll meet an elephant in the ballroom playing with a model train, an octopus hanging from the foyer chandelier -- and even a zebra enjoying a soak in the bathtub! Using watercolours and colored pencils, Wallace Edwards has created a bizarre and luxurious world, rich in texture and detail. An engaging mix of art and alphabet book, Alphabeasts provides the basis for hours of animated discussion and quiet contemplation.
Badger's New House by
Badger loves his little cottage, but doesn't think he can fix the damage done by a huge storm. He gives the cottage to Grandmother Mouse and moves to a lovely mansion. He feels lost and lonely there, so he visits Grandmother Mouse and fixes something at each visit. Soon it's as good as new, but is too small for all the Mouse family. But, Badger can fix that, too!
Courage to Fly by
Alberta Children's Book of the Year Alberta Book Illustration of the Year Can she find courage in her new big city home? Meg is new to the city with its tall buildings and long shadows. It's nothing like her Caribbean home. Here, the city closes in on her and she feels safe in her bedroom. But gradually she begins to discover that there's more to the city than she thought. For instance, there's the Chinese man who exercises in the courtyard near her apartment. His exercises are intricate and graceful, and they have interesting names. One day on her way home from school, Meg finds a tiny swallow brought down by a sudden early snowstorm, and she takes it home to nurse it. Once it is better, she is reluctant to let the bird go, but her mother and the Chinese man both gently suggest that the bird needs to be free if it is going to live. Meg and her new friend, Jenny, both release the bird. Courage to Fly captures the anxiety of a child who is alone in a new and strange world but whose imagination and courage are nourished by unexpected friendships.
Full Moon Rising by
Through the centuries people have measured time by the phases of the moon. From January’s Wolf Moon to June’s Honey Moon, and from September’s Harvest Moon to December’s Long-Night Moon, Joanne Taylor introduces the names of each full moon in a gentle narrative that follows the rhythms of a farm family’s life. Folklore and real life blend in a beautiful new book about the seasons. The lyrical text is perfectly complemented by Susan Tooke’s gorgeous paintings.
Give Maggie a Chance by
Blue Spruce Award nominee Chocolate Lily Awards nominee Resource Links "Best of 2002" Tiny Torgi nominee Now that she can read, Maggie is eager to show her new teacher. But when Maggie is called to the front of the class, her knees shake like jelly, her mouth dries up like a desert, and she can't utter a sound. She's forced to sit down while snooty Kimberly takes over and reads with ease. And the next day is no better. When called on, a miserable Maggie silently prays for the floor to swallow her whole or a rocket to blast her into space. And Sneering old Kimberly, who coolly remarks that she's been reading since she was a baby, triumphs again. All poor Maggie can do is hold back the tears while she imagines all manner of uncomfortable fates to befall her stuck-up rival. It isn't until Kimberly picks on the stuttering Sam that Maggie is able to forget her own fears. And indignant and determined, she summons up the courage to defend her pal and show everyone what she can really do. The author of No Frogs for Dinner and So Long, Stinky Queen, Frieda Wishinsky addresses an all-too-common fear that primary students face, and gives it a delightful twist that will have early readers howling and turning the pages to find out what happens next. Artist Dean Griffiths (Ballerinas Don't Wear Glasses, Fairy) creates, in his feline subjects, a heart melting, all-too-human quality that readers will love. A must-have for all intrepid heroes in the making.
The Name of the Child by
During the flu epidemic of 1913, Lloyd has been sent to relatives in the country. He is frightened of coyotes, illness and independence, but finds himself bundled into a wagon on a stormy night, a tiny nameless baby thrust into his arms. He must get the baby to safety, but will he be able to overcome his fears sufficiently to drive the wagon along the deserted muddy road, as rain pelts down and darkness falls? When the wagon slips sideways into a ditch, Lloyd faces an even greater test.
The Rumor by
Long ago in Ancient India, there lived a young hare who worried about everything -- food, rain, and even the color of her eyes. As the worrywort hare tries to settle down for a quiet nap in her favorite sun-dappled grove of palms and mango trees, she is startled into action by a sudden and very loud explosion. Convinced that the world is breaking up, the hare tears out of the grove, into a thicket, across a marshland, through a forest, out into the scrubland and onto the open plain. All along the way, she spreads her alarming news, gathering up an ever-increasing herd of terrified animals: hares, wild boars, deer, tigers, and rhinos. The stampede continues and the frenzy grows, until one wise voice prevails.... Perfect for reading aloud, this beautifully told traditional story from India is a lovely version of a classic "The Sky Is Falling" tale. Vibrant illustrations set inside exquisite borders in a handsome large format book have an effect like gorgeous tapestries on every page. The richness of each illustration adds layers to this deceptively simple fable, and young readers will love to pore over the art to pick up the hidden details in each piece. Nature Notes at the back of the book give additional information on the wildlife, flora, and fauna featured in the story and illustrations, as well as the origins of the tale and the style of illustration. The Rumor is a retelling of an ancient Jataka tale from India. Jataka tales have been used for more than 2,500 years to teach about sharing, compassion, and the difference between good and bad.
Stella, Fairy of the Forest by
Stella's little brother Sam wonders whether fairies are invisible. Stella assures him that she has seen hundreds of them and that if she and Sam venture across the meadow and into the forest, they are likely to find some. So begins another adventure in the Stella and Sam series about the irrepressible red-head, and her slightly apprehensive little brother.
When the Giant Stirred by
A stunning new Information Storybook Award-winning author/illustrator Celia Godkin once again turns to the subject of nature's remarkable ability to renew itself in this beautiful new book. A small island in the Pacific exists in perfect harmony, where all the plants, animals and people are interdependent. But the islanders live with the knowledge that their mountain god sometimes grumbles and threatens to awake. When that happens, the people offer up prayers and garlands of flowers to coax the giant back to sleep. There comes a day, however, when the god will not be appeased. Smoke rises out of the mountain's crater, and ash and cinders begin to fall on the village. The chief tells his people it is time to leave. And days later, when the people have barely landed on another island, the volcano explodes. Soon there is nothing left of the old island but a smoking ruin devoid of all life. But the story is not over. Slowly, gradually, the island begins to support the stirrings of life once more. And with the return to its lush, former glory comes the hope that the island will be home once more to a sleepy village and its gentle, smiling people. Written with the grace and dignity of a native storyteller's voice, When the Giant Stirred demonstrates how even one of the world's most cataclymic events can be an integral part of nature's cycle. Celia Godkin takes her artwork into a new, exciting level with oils that are saturated with colour. Her depiction of a primitive people and their jewel-like paradise is reminiscent of the great post-impressionist Gauguin. This information storybook is a must-have for schools, libraries and homes everywhere.
Z Is for Zamboni by
In the mold of our very popular series of state alphabet books, we offer Z is for Zamboni to hockey fans young and old across North America. Matt Napier's "breakaway" rhymes and "hard-checking" expository text team up with the "top-shelf" illustrations of Melanie Rose to elucidate this increasingly popular game for every beginning hockey aficionado. Highlighting rules, players, coaches, teams, and the history of the game, it is both fun and educational.For more information on this title click here!
Z Is for Zamboni by
In the mold of our very popular series of state alphabet books, we offer Z is for Zamboni to hockey fans young and old across North America. Matt Napier's "breakaway" rhymes and "hard-checking" expository text team up with the "top-shelf" illustrations of Melanie Rose to elucidate this increasingly popular game for every beginning hockey aficionado. Highlighting rules, players, coaches, teams, and the history of the game, it is both fun and educational.For more information on this title click here!