Forest of Reading®, K to 6 Programs

Time Detectives by Donalda Badone Introduces children to the mystery and excitement of archaeology from Newfoundland to the Arctic Circle. Forest of Reading 1994 nominee. Silver Birch award nominee 1994.

Ticket to Curlew by Celia Barker Lottridge Winner of the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award and the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People It is 1915, and Sam Ferrier and his father arrive by train in Curlew, Alberta, to build a new home for the family. When they finally reach their parcel of land, Sam can see nothing but endless stretches of grassland and blue sky. It is nothing like their old home in Iowa, and he wonders why his restless father ever decided to bring the family to this lonely, barren land. In time, though, the house is built, and the rest of the family joins them. Gradually Sam discovers that there is much more to the flat and featureless prairie than he realized -- gleaming white skulls, torrential thunderstorms and, best of all, a new friend and a brave, resourceful horse named Prince.

On the Shuttle by Barbara Bondar; Roberta Bondar What is it like to live in outer space? On the Shuttle will take you on board! Barbara Bondar accompanied Discovery crew member and sister Dr. Roberta Bondar for several weeks during the training procedures prior to the IML-1 shuttle mission. With complete insider knowledge, On the Shuttle provides readers with a detailed look into the first International Microgravity Laboratory. This book contains countless interesting facts--from detailed space shuttle components, to maintaining daily hygiene on board.

Doctor Knickerbocker by David Booth; Maryann Kovalski (Illustrator) Pen-and-ink illustrations lend a 19th-century look to this lively 20th-century collection of more than 100 of the best, the funniest, the naughtiest and the most memorable schoolyard rhymes. From jingles, riddles, ball-bounce chants, tongue-twisters, action songs and more, these verses are the lore of childhood.

If You're Not from the Prairie... by David Bouchard; Henry Ripplinger (Illustrator) Award-winning poet David Bouchard offers words that remind the reader of the power of the wind, the sweep of the sky, and adventures on a cold prairie night. Henry Ripplinger's stunning paintings are treasures for the mind and the heart.Ages 6 and up

My Mother's Ghost by Margaret Buffie Previously published as: My mother's ghost. 1992. Something frightening is happening at Willow Creek Ranch, where Jess and her parents moved after the death of her brother. Jess is seeing things -- or are they seeing her? Margaret Buffie's ambitious novel delicately intertwines two stories -- one set in 1908, the other in the present -- and explores how Jess deals with her own and her parents' grief.

Bryna Means Courage by Mitzi Dale "A Groundwood book" Forest of Reading 1994 nominee. Silver Birch award nominee 1994.

Spud Sweetgrass by Brian Doyle In the secret lockup of the Authority, the council that decides what can and can't be done with magic, an undead magic user has possessed one of the prisoners. He wants his freedom-and then some. Now Allie Beckstrom and her lover, Zayvion, are the first line of defense against the chaos he's about to unleash on the city of Portland...

Pick-Up Sticks by Sarah Ellis Thirteen-year-old Polly loves life -- with her single-parent mom (a stained-glass artist), her quirky best friend Vanessa (who has a crush on their English teacher), and her endearing neighbor Ernie Protheroe (who collects postal codes and TV theme songs). But when the house they live in is sold, Polly's perfect life seems to vanish overnight. Her mom doesn't have much luck finding them an affordable place to live. And Polly is beginning to think that having a father -- and a conventional lifestyle -- wouldn't be such a bad idea. As an interim solution, Polly goes to stay with her affluent relatives. But Uncle Roger turns out to be crass and chilly, his wife is self-indulgent, and their daughter, Polly's teenage cousin, is on a shoplifting spree. With humor and compassion, Sarah Ellis portrays adolescent enlightenment, as Polly discovers that like the child's game of pick-up sticks, each part of life touches every other and cannot be disturbed without affecting the whole.

Drifting Snow by James R. Houston (Illustrator) Having been taken from her Arctic home when a tiny child, a teenager returns to look for her parents and learn once again about her Eskimo culture.

Real Live Science by Jay Ingram (Illustrator) What do scientists do? Do they all bend over test tubes in stuffy labs or work with impossibly complicated equations on blackboards? Real Live Science introduces 21 renowned scientists, from an astronomer to a zoologist, and shows the challenge, variety and excitement that is part of a real science. Children will learn a little about these men and women and what first twigged their interest in science. Each spread also presents an activity which relates to the scientists' research, so young experimenters can experience the thrill of scientific discovery. Readers will make their own "lava", construct a super flyer, become dinosaur footprint detectives, and much more.

The Year of Fire by Teddy Jam; Ian Wallace (Illustrator) When the time comes each Spring to make maple syrup, an old grandfather reminisces with his granddaughter about the time when the whole county caught fire and burned for a year. Only the snow finally seemed able to smother the fire. Now a new forest has grown over the scar, but the grandfather can still see traces of the fire and show them to his grandchild.

Hero of Lesser Causes by Julie Johnston World War II has just been won, and everything seems possible to young Keely Connor. She sees herself as a hero on a white charger, able to conquer the world, even though in reality her charger is Lola, the placid horse that lives in the field behind her house. One fateful summer day her brother Patrick is stricken with polio. Here is an enemy Keely cannot conquer. With all the will in the world, she cannot pass on to Patrick her zest or her energy or her own good health. Keely’s battle to save Patrick has become one of the classics of Canadian children’s literature and, in translations, around the world. This beautifully redesigned edition will capture the hearts of a whole new generation of readers.

The Twinkie Squad by Gordon Korman Chaos spreads when Douglas, the most eccentric sixth grader in Thaddeus G. Little Middle School, joins the Twinkie Squad, a special counselling group for problem students.

Ellen/Eléna/Luna by Paul Kropp Ellen assumes two false identities when she answers two personal school newspaper advertisments so that she can make her life more interesting and perhaps get a good newspaper story out of the experiences. Forest of Reading 1994 nominee. Silver Birch award nominee 1994.

Diana: My Autobiography by Kevin Major Story of Diana, a spirited girl of eleven, living in St. John's, Newfoundland, who was born near the time of the famous royal wedding. Her parents named her Diana and she has been obsessed with royalty ever since. Forest of Reading 1994 nominee. Silver Birch award nominee 1994.

Daniel's Story by Carol Matas; Carol Matas Daniel barely remembers leading a normal life before the Nazis came to power in 1933. He can still picture once being happy and safe, but memories of those days are fading as he and his family face the dangers threatening Jews in Hitler's Germany in the late 1930's. No longer able to practice their religion, vote, own property, or even work, Daniel's family is forced from their home in Frankfurt and sent on a long and dangerous journey, first to the Lodz ghetto in Poland, and then to Auschwitz -, the Nazi death camp. Though many around him lose hope in the face of such terror, Daniel, supported by his courageous family, struggles for survival. He finds hope, life and even love in the midst of despair.

The firefighter by Bernice Thurman Hunter Forest of Reading 1994 nominee. Silver Birch award nominee 1994.

The St. Andrews Werewolf by Eric Wilson

The Science Book for Girls by Valerie Wyatt; Pat Cupples (Illustrator) Studies show that many girls' interest in science falls off during the preteen years. In an effort to keep girls tuned in to science, this book demonstrates that science is fun -- and that it is for girls. In this title in the Books for Girls series, lively text and illustrations help kids investigate what makes their toast turn brown in the morning and why their stomachs rumble. They'll find out how to collect and compare snowflakes, discover how genetics relates to family traits and much more. With brain teasers, puzzles and experiments in astronomy, physics, zoology, botany, geology and chemistry, The Science Book for Girls will help build science skills and confidence, as well as introduce readers to women who have exciting careers in science. With a distinctly female slant, this stimulating book gives girls a positive and non-threatening look at science and science careers -- although there's nothing stopping "other intelligent beings" from taking a peek, too!