Librarian’s Picks – An Arithmetic Village Birthday Party!
Because it’s math week, I’m sharing my review of the Arithmetic Village books, and the story of how we used them for my son’s birthday party!
Librarian’s Picks – The Artful Picture Books of Steve Jenkins
This week, continuing the art theme I started on Tuesday, I’m sharing one of my all-time favourite writer / illustrators: Steve Jenkins.
Librarian’s Picks – Birds, Bears & Robert Bateman
If you’re a wildlife aficionado, a naturalist, or an art lover (or a Canadian), you are probably well aware of artist Robert Bateman. But, are you also aware that he has written books for children? If this is your first introduction to him, you’re in luck! If not, enjoy these recommendations anyways!
Librarian’s Picks – Books for Owl Lovers
I’ll admit, we’ve been a little obsessed with owls lately. It started last winter, when I made my son a patchwork owl for Christmas. Since then, we seem to encounter them everywhere: at the zoo, at the rescue centre, at the craft fair, on the beach! Something about their giant eyes, their beautiful grace, and their appealing “hoot.” Perhaps they’ve been marketed well. For whatever reason, we love owls. If you’re also intrigued by these magnificent night hunters, here’s a list of our favourite owl books. This week, we began our first read-aloud chapter book (the kind that takes more than one night to finish!). The book we chose, Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat. For those of you who aren’t Canadian, you may not know that Farley Mowat is a Canadian classic novelist. His best known works include Never Cry Wolf and Lost in the Barrens. Owls in the family is a childhood memoir that recounts the unusual pets he collected as a child. My son and I are thoroughly enjoying the book, which is told in an easy and readable voice and conveys the sense of engagement Mowat had with the natural world, even as a child. It was written in the 60’s, so, sure, it’s dated, but only in the way any classic is. It tells the tale of Billy, his 2 rescued owl pets (Wol and Weeps) and their adventures growing up together in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. If you’ve ever read Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods, you’ll get the sense that it’s this kind of childhood he is lamenting the loss of. Owls...
Librarian’s Picks – WoodsWalk & Night Science for Kids
Because it’s winter, and we can sometimes be a little lazy about bundling up to get outside and play, I thought I’d share two of my favourite outdoor exploration guides with you.
Librarian’s Pick – Transformed: How Everyday Things Are Made
After reading, Transformed: How Everyday Things Are Made by Bill Slavin, everyday for the past month or so, I’ve decided it’s a “must share.” If you have a child whose mind tends toward the scientific – a budding engineer, a creative soul, an inventor extraordinaire – or just the curious, this book won’t disappoint.
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