Shelf Candy

Stylin'

2013-05-17T14:38:13Z

My sister is a stylist. Her teen years were a revolving door of trying on different styles and personas as she figured out what she wanted to wear - and some of these phases were shockingly bad, given her current profession! If only she'd had this book...

Learn To Speak Fashion
by Laura deCarufel
OwlKids
ISBN: 978 1 92697 342 5

Starting from the premise that fashion is a means of expression, and can be seen as art meeting clothing, the author goes on to talk about fashion at length. What are people saying with different looks? Where does "fashion" come from? How do you get ideas and how do they boil down into your own style?

She walks through the elements of getting dressed and building a wardrobe, fit, and clothing care to get things started, and then moves onto design and inspiration. For the truly creative, she talks a bit about making your own clothes, as well as what goes into creating a memorable runway show and how fashion photo shoots actually come together. Finally, we get down to business - or the business end of fashion, anyhow - with a section on magazines, blogging, buying and selling, and so on.

It's a pretty good overview of the world of fashion for a tween or teen who is interested and wants to get a taste of what it's all about - and the jaunty, stylized illustrations give it a fun feel and a bit of flair. This is a good one for any budding fashionista!

Dog Science/Dog Art

2013-05-12T17:22:30Z

There are kid books, and then there are teen books, and also there are adult books - but some books are anyone books. This is one of those. Oddly compelling, it's a blend of fascinating and amusing, and it's perfect for dog lovers.

Maddie On Things
Theron Humphrey
Chronicle Books
ISBN: 978 1 4521 1556 6

This book is subtitled "A Super Serious Project About Dog and Physics" - but it's also a collection of photos and reminiscences about traveling with a buddy. Having a foot each in different areas is perfect, since it's also about balance - specifically about a dog with phenomenal balance standing on things which, while a simple idea, is pretty funny and occasionally amazing.

Maddie and Theron's trip across America turned into a popular tumblr (now on his website) as he began to post his quirky, affectionate photos capturing her unusual talent, and now, this collection, with little notes about how it all came to be, makes a charming capture of their travels and their friendship - not to mention a great gift for any dog lover. It reminds me a little of William Wegman in the relationship between the artist and his canine muse, so I'm giving my copy to a friend who is a fan of his work, as well. Check out the site for loads of examples if you are curious - and the one below, which I think might just be my favourite.

It's also available as an ebook - but would really require a colour reader to be fully enjoyed.

Between Dragonkind and Us

2013-05-08T03:17:48Z

There have been a few big series of kids books about dragons in the last few years - Inheritance and Ice Fire come to mind right away. Honestly, I haven't read them. Fantasy isn't really my area, so I read selectively, and the kids who wanted those were already into them. I had heard, though, though this new one was something a little different, and a lovely book, at that, so I dove in - and am glad I did.

Seraphina
by Rachel Hartman
Doubleday Canada
ISBN: 978 0 385 66839 2

Seraphina has a secret, and she and her father think it might be worth her life to avoid drawing any attention to herself - but somehow, that's not how it happens.

Instead, with the approach of the 40th anniversary of the peace treaty between dragons of the people of Goredd, it turns out that there are agitators on both sides who want to disrupt the celebrations and throw the nations back into war. Seraphina, with a keen understanding of both sides in this tense truce, gets involved in both advising the princess and in helping Prince Kiggs find and stop the traitors. Not exactly a low profile...

To make matters more complicated, she is learning more about who she is, what powers she has, and how to control and use her peculiar gifts. And of course, there is the small matter of finding herself madly in love with the Prince, who is betrothed to his cousin, the Princess. This particular story ends in a good note, but also leaves the door wide open for a followup, which I fully expect to see soon.

Seraphina is a fantastic character - tough, yet full of her own flaws and fears, and possessed of a great talent and passion for music. I find myself hoping for a sequel, in fact, so I can hear more of her story, and what eventually happens between her and Kiggs who, by the way, is a perfectly swoon-worthy other half of a love story. That doesn't hurt... On the whole, I really enjoyed this, and even though I found the start a bit slow, once I fell in, it was well worth it.

Scholastic Decoder: May 2013 Edition

2013-04-30T20:34:37Z

It's MAY!!! At last! And the weather has suddenly turned nice like it just realized it's supposed to now that April is officially done. Shall we celebrate with some good books to enjoy outside?

Elf
Mouses's First Summer - I like these mouse books for the toddler age - they are simple, cover their themes nicely, and have just enough softness and sweetness, but not enough to make your teeth ache. Good introductions, aimed at just the right level.
One Love - I like this adaptation of Bob Marley's classic song to have a message about community spirit. I've got a full review of this here from last year!
Sing & Read Collection - I love song books. if you're like me and can't always remember all the words, they help you out. They are great for sharing, and giving kids something to look along with. They reinforce that text has meaning, connecting the words on the page to the words of familiar songs. They can help expand your repertoire. If you like singing with your kid, these are a great way to go.
Make Your Own Popsicles - Cooking with kids is great - it reinforces literacy skills as well as math skills, and it's a fun project to do together. For little kids, this is a nice simple place to start, and perfect for summer!
National Geographic Little Kids: Big Book of Why - Little kids are full of questions, and books like this are a fun way to start exploring the world with them. National Geographic has a nice line of non-fiction for kids now, with solid information, an attractive format, and content aimed at their level.
Balancing Act - This is one of those rare cases in which I am about to recommend something I've never seen. Why? Because I've enjoyed all of her concept books, which she populates with these same cute little collage art mice, and she does a great job on getting the idea across on a little kid level every time. This is totally a good bet, if you ask me - and I'm ordering one for myself.
Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go - This is a classic book about vehicles of all sorts, jammed with fun little stories, kooky characters, and lots of lots of funny details. If you'e got a kid who likes to pore over pictures, this will keep them happy for hours. Also just the thing for the young truck and car enthusiast.
The Usborne Book of Everyday Words - This is not a book for everyone, but for anyone who is looking for vocabulary helpers to push along language acquisition, these books do a great job of it. If you know a kid who needs a little boost in their language, this is a good choice.
1001 Things to Spot Pack - These are books for kids who love a little puzzle and will want to spend time hunting through the pictures for details. They are great for trips, waiting rooms, and those times when you need to keep them busy, and with a few in the pack, this could keep you going for a while. (They are also great loot bag goodies!)
***Frog and Toad Pack - If you don't have these and are only going to order one thing this month, make it these. Packed with funny little stories of friendship and gentle life lessons, these are great for sharing, and are solid classics. I love them, and you will, too.
Llama Llama Pack - These Llama Llama books are, to be honest, not the favourites of parents, but young kids love them, because they really capture the way a toddler works, that is to say, Llama throws a fit when he is overwhelmed with emotion, and then reassured by his mama.
Franklin Classics Library - These are some of the original Franklins, written by the author before the television show. These ones are still repetitive, being a series, but I like the quality better. Franklins often appear in various differently-sized packs and collections, so while this is huge, others will definitely appear.

SeeSaw
The Dot - This story is about making art, but also about gaining the confidence to go ahead and try something. It's lovely, and a great boost for the kid who finds it hard to take a risk.
The Boy Who Cried Ninja - A funny twist on the boy who cried wolf story, in which ninjas keep doing naughty things and a boy finds himself blamed and not believed when he explains the ninjas. In the end, everything turns out, of course, but it's a cute take on the topic of lies.
Klutz Build-a-Book: Why I Love My Dad - By now, I'm sure you all know I'm a fan of the nice clear instructions and successful outcomes that tend to come from Klutz books. And what's not to love about an activity that culminates in a book for and about your dad? if you're going to celebrate Father's Day, this is a great way to do it.
Get Outside - Like any parent, I'm all for kids getting outside, and with the help of some good ideas, it can be so much fun that it outweighs the bugbites and sunburn, if you play your cards right! This should help those of you who, like me, are not inspired to create organized fun by temperament and need a little nudge.
The Blue Hippopotamus - This is Phoebe Gilman's last book, with illustrations finished by someone else. It tells the story of a hippopotamus who loves an Egyptian princess and is turned into her toy by a magician so that he can be near her. Gilman is a great storyteller, and I love that she wrote a story that seems inspired by William, the Met's blue hippo.
Duck! Rabbit! - This simple and fun book introduces the idea of optical illusions where the image can be interpreted two ways - is it a duck or a rabbit? Voices from off the page argue about it right to the very end. From a favourite of mine, Amy Krouse Rosenthal.
Chester's Masterpiece - Chester is not pleased with the direction his author is taking, and tries to steer things his way in these very funny picture books that are a big hit with kids. This is one of a set, and Chester is likely to appear again, so if you want more than just this one, you could wait it out.

Lucky
Magic Tree House - I'm not always a fan of big series for kids, although they very definitely serve a purpose. They are by nature formulaic, and often not well-written. These definitely follow a formula, but the writing is better than it has to be, and the various times and places visited give kids a nice little taste of history and different cultures, which I like.
Ivy & Bean - Among the many series of books about young girls for this grade 2-3 range, I quite enjoy this series about two friends who et up to mischief together. The writing quality is good, the trouble not too terrible, the girls not too bratty, and the fun of a best friend is something I always love in a story. Kids eat these up once they get going, too.
Clementine - There are lots of books about spunky, precocious girls for these grades, and one of my favourite stars among them is Clementine. She is a good kid at heart, who just has trouble with her self-control, and gets into some pretty funny messes because of it. her family, though, is wonderful, and her teachers do pretty well at working with her, too, so I like that the overall is a picture of warmth and understanding, rather than a bratty kid at odds with exasperated adults.
Classic Chapter Books Pack - This pack features two great writers - Andrew Clements, the master of the school story, and Kate DiCamillo, who writes gorgeously. Frindle is a story of a kid who starts an experiment about renaming something and how words become adopted, based on something that his teacher said. Because of Winn-Dixie is a moving and fun story of a girl who has trouble fitting in until a dog with a gift for friendship comes along, it's satisfying in every way.
Magic School Bus - These are great books, and kids love them. They mesh factual information with fun adventures that a class goes on with their wacky teacher and her magic bus. The kids are consistent characters, and each has a personality that you come to know. There are lots of little extra bits with factoids, little jokes, and so on that makes it fun for kids to peruse. these do show up in various different packs often enough, as well.
Cam Jansen - These are classic early chapter mysteries, featuring a girl with a photographic memory (Cam is short for "camera") who solves problems. The mysteries are pitched right for grades 2-3 or so, the target audience for these early chapter books.
Encyclopedia Brown - Remember these? Little, short mysteries that hinge on a fact that Encyclopedia Brown (not his real name) knows, but someone else doesn't. You have the chance to guess the answer to each one before flipping to the end of the book to read the solution. For a kid who loves a puzzle, this is really fun.
A to Z Mysteries - This series does, as the name suggests, have a mystery for each letter. Nicely pitched for grades 2-3, these are fairly popular and will work well for a kid who likes mysteries.
Scaredy Squirrel Pack - Scaredy is a squirrel - a neurotic, agoraphobic, OCD-plagued nut of a squirrel, in fact. He is also hilarious, and a massive hit with kids, making this a pack worth picking for sharing out loud. These show up often enough to wait for the full collection, if you want to have them all.
***Stuart Little - now this is a classic that I love! This little mouse has big adventures, complete with love, friendship, and peril. No kid should miss the chance to read or listen to this one.
Klutz Kits Twisted Critters - The Klutz kits aren't great literature - heck, they aren't even literature - but they are excellently done kits for a variety of activities, and include everything you need for your project. The instructions are very clearly written, and following instructions is a discrete literacy skill that is worth exploring. These make for good gifts, as well, so getting them at a little cheaper price is a nice thing.
Made By Me - I always like craft books, and not just because my own kid is crafty. Learning to follow directions is a specific and very useful literacy skill, and if you are sometimes, like me, at a loss for an activity ide, it's a great place to get some inspiration. If your kid is like mine, they will take the book and disappear, and come back later with something awesome (after asking you for 60 things). A win all around.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid - This series has been wildly popular with kids from about grade 2 up to grade 6, even among the most reluctant of readers, who appreciate its humour and its half-graphic format. It's an easy read, and his school troubles resonate with kids. The pack is on frequent offer.

Arrow
Bridge to Terabithia - This modern classic is an excellent book filled with fantasy and a magic all its own, but parents should know that it does involve the death of a child, particularly one who is a best friend.
The Kane Chronicles - Rick Riordan, of Percy Jackson fame, has started a series related to Egypt this time, and predictably, it's been a hit. Fans of his are sure to be asking for these, and yes, they will show up again.
Guinness World Records 2013 - These books are great fun for browsing, and favourites among even the most reluctant readers, who can find bizarre and fascinating records to pore over and share with friends. This would make a great gift or a nice way to hook a kid who doesn't gravitate toward books naturally.
Klutz Friendship Bracelets - The Klutz kits aren't great literature - heck, they aren't even literature - but they are excellently done kits for a variety of activities, and include everything you need for your project. The instructions are very clearly written, and following instructions is a discrete literacy skill that is worth exploring. These make for good gifts, as well, so getting them at a little cheaper price is a nice thing.
Calvin & Hobbes - these are funny - you might remember them from a good 20-25 years ago? They still appeal. Readers and reluctant readers alike enjoy cartoons, so if your kid won't gravitate to a full-on novel just yet, these might grab his/her attention in the meantime, not to mention that you can share some good belly laughs reading them together!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid - This series has been wildly popular with kids from about grade 2 up to grade 6, even among the most reluctant of readers, who appreciate its humour and its half-graphic format. It's an easy read, and his school troubles resonate with kids. These are on frequent offer.
***Rules - This is a phenomenal book about a girl who helps look out ofr her brother with autism, but also comes to realize that she is way more self-conscious and embarrassed about him than she needs to be and finally starts accepting more. Loved this.
A Semester in the Life of a Garbage Bag - I only rarely will suggest a book I haven't read, but in this case, well, Gordon Korman is a standard suggestion for kids looking for a funny but well-written novel, most of which are set in or around school. Korman's been a Canadian favourite for a good 30 years now, and is still going strong for good reason!
Award Winners Pack - Packs can be pretty uneven, but there is not a loser in this bunch, and a lot of them are not the dry award-winners of past, but really fun stuff that kids actually enjoy, too, so if you've got a reader, this is a good solid choice.
Dear Canada Pack - these diary-format books highlight major events in Canadian history from the perspective of someone involved or affected, bringing history to life. The quality of these books in generally quite high, and they are written by some top-drawer authors.
Usborne Big Book of Experiments - I love science for kids, and this looks like it has enough in it to keep them busy for a while trying out new stuff while they (shh!) learn something, too.
Loser - Spinelli does the most interesting books about characters, and this one is sort of a fascinating study of how a kid goes from being a regular kid to being a loser. It looks really carefully at what other kids consider uncool and asks questions about why those traits are seen that way - a really good way to get kids thinking about other kids, actually.
Fudge Boxed Set - Good old Fudge by Judy Blume chestnut has acquired classic status, and is still much-requested by kids in grades 2-4. A good read for boys and girls alike, kids very much relate to Fudge, it seems!
The Chronicles of Narnia Boxed Set - Another series that needs no introduction, because not only is it a serious classic, but the movies have been coming out over the last few years, bringing it a whole new audience. It's seven books strong, a perfect introduction to fantasy, and should be read by or to everyone.
The Complete 39 Clues - This series is written by some of the top names in adventurous kidslit, and keep kids guessing and following along. Be prepared to have an obsessed kid, but here you have the whole set, or, as these are another often-featured set, you can always put this on the back burner and know you can order later, too.
Amulet - I've read the first three of these graphic novels, and can't wait to get around to the last two now. These are beautiful and full of adventure and fantasy. I reviewed them not long ago here, if you'd like more detail on them.

And that is it, my friends - and only one more to go before - can you stand it? - summer holidays!

Infographics for Everyone!

2013-04-30T01:54:46Z

We all love infographics, right? Information chunked into digestible little bits and represented in a pictorial spread makes things easy to understand, quick to process, and draws us in by being visually catchy. They are all over the online world, but have also long been a staple of children's non-fiction, where breaking up information into chunks has been going on for a while now. This new pair of books does a great job of making their topics accessible using this tool.

The Natural World: The World in Infographics
ISBN: 978 1 92697 374 6
Planet Earth: The World in Infographics
ISBN: 978 1 92697 375 3
by Jon Richards and Ed Simkins
OwlKids

Bright, simple, colourful spreads illustrate a host of topics in these these books about the world around us. the statistics and hard facts make them useful for school assignments and the like, as they are in fact populated with solid information, but the real joy is how accessible they make the content.

For some kids, browsing is how they read - this is often one way to get a reluctant reader to engage with a book, where they don't have to read in a continual, linear narrative. These are the kids who love the good ld Guinness Book of World Records, for example. It's not that they can't read, it's that they need a different kind of engagement, and this kind of material provides it perfectly, allowing them to be interested and entertained even while they are learning about the world. While this may not look like the dry non-fiction of long ago, I call that a win all around!

Even for grownups, this is a fun way to find out interesting little things. did you know, for example, that the Pacific Ocean makes up 46.5% of the world's total oceans? and that 68.7% of the world's freshwater is found in glaciers? There are loads of interesting comparisons and "did you know" facts in here, enough to keep anyone busy for a while. You might need to get ready to learn a few things yourself, should you bring these home!

Playing With Your Words

2013-04-27T01:42:38Z

April is Poetry Month - and always a great opportunity to encourage kids to have fun with language.

Paper Dolls
by Julia Donaldson
HarperCollins
ISBN: 978 0 230 74108 9

This story is about a little girl and the string of dolls she made and took on adventures, and also about how things may disappear, but live on in memory, and about making paper dolls one day with her own little girl. It's lovely and sweet and fun, without ever lingering too much on either the awfulness of boys with scissors or on the sweetness of how things go on. A bit of fluff on first glance, it's grown on me more with each reading, and now I think it's not just cute, but a real charmer.

Julia Donaldson has a great way with rhythm and rhyme, and while this story is not told fully in rhyme, it features a repeating little ditty about the dolls that is great fun to say aloud on every other page, making the whole book bounce along joyfully- one of the great things that poetry can do.

I Scream Ice Cream!
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Chronicle Books
ISBN: 978 1 4521 0004 3

"Wordles" are not poetry in the traditional sense, but a fun way of playing with the sounds of words that is nearly poetic in its form. So what exactly is a wordle? Wordles are groups of words that sound exactly the same but mean different things. Sort of extended homophones, you might say. So.
Heroes. He rows.
Uh, not her. A knotter? An otter!
and so on. All illustrated in a silly, quirky style that brings the goofy ones to life and makes the more esoteric things clear. It's got the makings of a fun game outside of the book, as well, for kis who have the language skills for it, or hey, just to amuse ourselves in line...

Fine Furry Friends

2013-04-22T01:08:49Z

A pet can be a best friend - if dreams are lived up to. Or they can have a mind of their own - or other, less savoury drawbacks. Choose wisely, kids! These girls have had to make certain adjustments to their expectations...

A Pet for Petunia
by Paul Schmid
HarperCollins
ISBN: 978 1 06196 331 5

Petunia loves skunks. Small, cute, they are everything she wants, and what she wants is a pet skunk. Her parents refuse, to no one's surprise but Petunia. Thwarted and grumpy, she goes into the woods, where she meets one and discovers that her parents are right, they DO stink! Not that this makes her love them less, but perhaps she will be content with her stuffed one after this revelation - or find a whole new kind of pet to long for.

Matilda's Cat
by Emily Gravett
MacMillan
ISBN: 978 0 230 74537 7

Matilda's cat likes ~~playing with wool~~. Actually, Matilda's cat doesn't like doing anything she enjoys, and Gravett's brilliant way with an expression and body language make it clear that his reactions to her plans range from bored to terrified. So why does he keep hanging around? Because, as we discover at the end, what he really likes is Matilda!

Gravett is an excellent go-to for comedic illustrations, and this book is no exception. Check out this sample page:

Aftermath

2013-04-20T02:52:18Z

Reading this book this week was timely, since it deals with the aftermath of a tragic event and how the family members are affected. Moving forward from something traumatic is not an easy thing, and we have a window here into how Henry starts to make his way, with a little help.

The Reluctant Journal of Henry K Larsen
by Susin Nielsen
Tundra Books
ISBN: 978 1 77049 372 8

I loved Word Nerd, by Susin Nielsen, who knows her way around giving good quirky, offbeat characters, and even writes that lovable nerd, Ambrose, into this book as a minor character. This book is a whole new level of looking at bullying and oddballs, though, and it is a very good read. Where Word Nerd won the Red Maple, Reluctant Journal has won the Governor General's Award - yes, she is establishing herself some serious literary cred, and it is well-deserved.

At the outset of the book, we know something has happened in Henry's life - something serious enough that he is seeing a therapist and has moved schools. We know it's just him and his dad, and that they are major wrestling fans, and we know that he is not thrilled with any of this and took to talking in a robot voice as a coping mechanism. The rest of the story comes out slowly, as Henry allows himself to talk about it and open up incrementally at first, and then in a flood.

I hate to post any spoilers, but the content is key here, so I'm going to give you the sketch outline, though not the ending. Henry's brother had been badly bullied and ended it by shooting the ringleader and then himself, taking both of their lives. Henry's family was instantly hated, and left the community. His mother, unable to cope, had had a breakdown and was is still recovering in another province, leaving him and his dad to fend for themselves as they try to start a new life while coping with the emotional fallout from the past. It's not an easy topic, but Nielsen finds a perfect balance between the serious and the light here, blending moments of absurdity and regular teenage moments with times of emotional intensity and poignancy in perfect proportion. It is a really, really great read without ever making light, and I highly recommend it for teen readers.

Also available as an ebook.

Get Moving

2013-04-15T14:51:15Z

Whether you are trying to get a young one moving and stretching or feeding the sports obsession of a bigger kid, I've got something for you!

The Yoga Game
by Kathy Beliveau
Simply Read Books
ISBN: 978 1 89747 672 7

Little kids need some work on their gross motor skills and on their paying-attention skills, and yoga makes for a nice activity to help in both these areas. But how to get a kid interested in something that is complex for some adults, not to mention how to answer the questions about the names of the poses? How about making a game of it? For each of the 16 poses, there is a description that works well to point out the attributes that inform the pose, and then a chance for the child to guess what it is. Try this one:
                 One foot stands planted on the ground,
                 and in my mind I send roots down.
                 Balancing, my arms stretch high,
               like branches reaching to the sky.
                 What am I?
                           (I am a tree)

I especially like that it brings it into a child's schema - animals and the natural world are familiar, and this approach is more their speed (and mine) than the more traditional focus on looking inward. I'm thinking I'm going to use this with a group of preschoolers or a kindergarten class this spring for a stretch after story time, but it's also a fun way to get you and your kid trying it out.

WeirdZone: Sports
by Maria Birmingham
OwlKids
ISBN: 978 1 92697 361 6

From solo to team sports, from water to winter, there are some weird things going on in the sporting world, and this book takes a good, and very entertaining, look at them. Grouped by type of sport and broken into easy little chunks for browsers, this is a great light little read for a kid who is not a big reader, but loves funny stuff, sports, or trivia. Filled with quizzes, glossaries, related science facts, records, and how-tos, there are sidebars and tangents aplenty to keep kids amused and fuel their curiosity - but these easily sharable bits mean that you should be prepared to hear all about this stuff, too!

Artsy Goods

2013-04-13T01:26:28Z

Some kids like to be freely creative - and that's great. Some need a little nudge, or even some lines to colour in, and for those kids, I have a couple of great new activity books.

Windblown
by Edouard Manceau
OwlKids
ISBN: 978 1 92697 377 7

Scraps of paper are blowing in the wind... bright colours and interesting shapes appear on the page. Whose are they? Different animals claim them, each demonstrating how you could make a chicken, a fish, a frog, and so on out of them. In the end, the wind scatters them again and delivers them to the reader, asking what s/he will make of them.

It's a fun little concept, modelling the idea of paper collage and seeing more than the sum of the pieces, and then setting kids loose with them - training wheels of sorts. If you want to extend it in the obvious way, by giving a child the same shapes, OwlKids has a printable version of them to get you started. And after that, a child may just be ready to head out on their own, with other random shapes!

Windblown is available for pre-order, and comes out on April 15th. Meanwhile, here's a sample page to check out:

Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Colouring Book
by Johganna Basford
Laurence King Publishing
ISBN: 978 1 78067 106 2

One part I Spy, one part detailed colouring book for bigger kids, and every bit incredibly gorgeous, this beautifully made book is sure to keep you and/or your kid busy gilding the lilies found on its pages. This is definitely for a kid who is too old for your standard-issue colouring book, but may still love to colour, who may want to make beauty even if they aren't feeling creative enough to have their own thing to draw. It's a great gift for bigger kids or teens when bundled with some coloured penciils or markers, which are the tools the level of detail demands.

This one? Is going to work with me, because I don't want to share it with my kid. Hey, adults need the relaxation of colouring sometimes, too. Okay, I'll probably buy her a copy, too. But can you blame me? I mean, just look at one page of this artistry:

Scholastic Decoder: April 2013 Edition

2013-04-10T18:27:44Z

April... 10th? Wha? Suddenly, days are flying by, and it's time to post the Decoder. There's some fun stuff in here - enjoy!

Elf
Favourite Authors & Illustrators Pack - I'm not always fond of the packs, which can be pretty mixed, but this is a great pack, with some really solid stuff in it.
Plant a Kiss - a sweet little story from Amy K Rosenthal about the joy of spreading the love, illustrated by Peter Reynolds. I reviewed it last year here.
Shel Silverstein Collection - I'm a huge fan of Shel's work, and these are, in my opinion, his best two works of poetry, plus a story that is very famous, but not one I love. If you're a fan of The Giving Tree, this set is even better, but if not, you could always wait for the occasional offering of just the poetry.
The Tiny Seed - a perfect spring book, this one is about a little seed that makes it through all the perils until it actually gets to grow, and whoa, does it ever. Eric Carle is almost always a good bet, too.
***Classic Family Library - another surprisingly good pack, with not a single loser among them. I love every one of these, and call this one the best pick of the month for Elf.
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space - I'm liking this series of non-fiction for little guys from a solid source. They're attractive, and a good introduction to things kids are often interested in. Especially for less keen readers, non-fiction can sometimes be a perfect solution, if you find something on their topic of choice.
Over the Rainbow Book & CD - If you are, like me, hugely nostalgic about The Wizard of Oz, then this one may just speak directly to you in that you must have me whisper. Go ahead. With the CD included, you don't even have to be able to actually sing it yourself, either.
***Press Here - Fantastic. This interactive book is a massive hit every time I use it, and kids can play with it themselves with little reading under their belt. Highly recommended.
Little Critter's Bedtime Storybook - I have always enjoyed this messy, chaotic little guy who is at heart a good kid, just seriously lacking in impulse control. (Maybe I relate?) This is a little collection of stories all in one book, which is always nice, but if you do want a whole pile of them, bigger packs appear now and then, too.

SeeSaw
Good News, Bad News - This book swings wildly between the optimist's view and the pessimist's, and the result is a funny little adventure in a boldly-drawn comic style and a very few words. I loved it, and reviewed it here.
Every Little Thing - I'm an optimist, so I love this reassuring, positive little book based on Bob Marley's song. They did a great job bringing One Love into a kids' world, and now this one has gotten the same sort of treatment. Making me smile and hum...
A Butterfly is Patient - this look at the natural world is beautifully illustrated, and teaches kids about cycles like pollination and migration, and well as camouflage. One for the nature-loving kid in your life.
Penny and Her Song - Penny is eager to share her song, but has to learn when it's the right time. I'm a massive Kevin Henkes fan, so while Penny is no Lilly, I still quite enjoyed this one, and I also reviewed it here.
Stuck - this recent one by kidslit darling Oliver Jeffers is offbeat, but fun. I've talked about my Jeffers-philia over here before...
Scaredy Squirrel Puppet Pack - Scaredy is a squirrel - a neurotic, agoraphobic, OCD-plagued nut of a squirrel, in fact. He is also hilarious, and a massive hit with kids, making this a pack worth picking for sharing out loud.
Little Creature: Just a Piggy Bank - As I mentioned above, I do love the little crazy beastie, and his utter lack of restraint makes him a perfect candidate for use when you are talking to kids about learning to save. Think I am going to pick this one up myself, in fact!
Freckle Juice - Judy Blume writes great stuff for kids - you might remember this yourself, because it is an oldie but goodie. Aimed at grades 2-4, it is a great read-aloud or read-alone for kids who are just into chapters.
Little House Collection - I never loved this like so many do, but it is solid classic fare for reading aloud, and this set gives you the whole series, so you can follow Laura and her family from start to finish.
Spring Book & CD set - This is a fun little pack of goodies, but they are more expensive because they come with CDs. If this would be good for you to help keep your wee ones busy with, it's a good choice. If not, some of these will appear in other packs again.

Lucky
Diary of a Wimpy Kid - This series has been wildly popular with kids from about grade 2 up to grade 6, even among the most reluctant of readers, who appreciate its humour and its half-graphic format. It's an easy read, and his school troubles resonate with kids. This pack or version thereof are on frequent offer.
Mythbusters: Confirm or Bust (bk #2) - Science experiments are a great way for kids to learn through activities, and no one better to walk them through it than the Mythbusters, TV's squad of specialists at exploring urban myths by experiments. This is my daughter's favourite show, and their sense of fun combined with curiosity is a great inspiration for anyone with questions. Note - this is their second, now!
Everything On It - this is a posthumously edited and published book of Silverstein's extensive body of work left behind. His family and editor worked on it together, and the result, while a bit uneven, sure feels and looks like the ones he was directly involved in. I reviewed it here in more detail.
Silly Stories pack - Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and its follow-up tales by Judi Barrett. Silly, indeed, with fantastically detailed illustrations, my daughter loved these.
Let's Do Nothing! - this picture book is about two boys who attempt to do nothing - and don't really succeed all that well. On to the next activity... Very cartoon-styled, and lots of fun.
Captain Underpants - I know. he's gross and crude and it's bathroom humour and adults get disrespected and omg... but. They are funny. That, and even kids who would tell you they hate reading will read them, so even though YES, they are not high art of even medium art, I'm going to say if you've got the kid who loves the gross fart jokes, you may just want to try these.
Magic Tree House - I'm not always a fan of big series for kids, although they very definitely serve a purpose. They are by nature formulaic, and often not well-written. These definitely follow a formula, but the writing is better than it has to be, and the various times and places visited give kids a nice little taste of history and different cultures, which I like. These appear in great and smaller packs all the time, so if you want a bigger pack, hold off so you can get them all at once with duplicates.
Klutz Star Wars Foldable Flyers - Every month, I tell you how much I like the Klutz kits for their simple instructions and the fact that they contain everything you need. This is a great pick (or gift item) for a Star Wars fan with the patience to fold carefully.
Judy Blume pack - Otherwise Known As Sheila The Great, Fourth Grade Nothing... these are not the girly Blume books, but ones with great appeal for grades 3-5. These are still much-requested and somehow, these good old favourites are still relevant, funny, and totally relateable.

Arrow
The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers - this is the second series in the 39 Clues, and continues to be written by fantastic, big-name authors, though this newest one is an adult author used to writing thrillers (David Baldacci, wha?!). #6 is available here on its own or in a pack with the other 5.
Old Yeller - Yeah, it's a classic. but I also have to warn you that I used about a box and a half of kleenex when I read it is grade 5 or 6 on my mom's advice because it was a classic, so while I like to point out the solid stuff that shows up here, I also have to tell you this one comes with that caveat.
Titanic trilogy - Korman has a few trilogies, all with an adventure/disaster/survival theme that gives them great boy appeal (think Everest, Kidnapped, and ones about being trapped on a deserted island and one about a dive). They are well done, and this was timed with the 100th anniversary of the sinking last year, when attention was on Titanic everywhere.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians - I love this series. The writing moves quickly, the quests are studded with many mythological monsters, and the overarching storyline is the stuff of archetype. I highly recommend this series, which grabs readers and carries along so masterfully that even a lot of reluctant boys at work have chewed through them.
My Story megapack - This pack of 15 titles shows ten of the titles aimed directly at boys and taking place mostly in battles, and five that are about major events and royalty. Diary-format books about he lives of people who lived through historic times have been working well for a lot of kids, and as with the Dear Canada series, there are some solid authors involved here. If you've got a history buff, this pack might just be worth it for a good bunch of reading.
Diary of Anne Frank - for Holocaust remembrance that doesn't dwell on the horror, but brings home how normal kids got caught in a terrible time, this famous historic document is a perfect way to start talking about something so big and so hard.
Dear Canada: Pieces of the Past - these diary-format books highlight major events in Canadian history from the perspective of someone involved or affected, bringing history to life. The quality of these books in generally quite high, and they are written by some top-drawer authors. This one focuses on the Holocaust, and is written by Carol Matas, who visits this topic frequently.
50 Things To Draw and Paint - I like these little Usborne books of art ideas. The pictures and instructions are nice and clear, so kids can do much of this on their own by this age, and my own kid loves looking through them for ideas. These are also on frequent offer, so if this one isn't what you're looking for, check back next month.
Sadako & The Thousand Paper Cranes - Another famous story of war, this slim volume is about a girl's wish for peace and life as she is dying after the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It's a tear-jerker, but also about hope and again, an approachable way to start discussing war at a child's level.
The Giver - This is another classic Newbery Award title and dystopian standard for older kids. Lois Lowry is an outstanding writer, and if you have a kid who reads fantasies or sci-fi, you can't go wrong here. (It's also likely to be found on reading lists from school.)
Award Winners Pack - Holes; Bud, Not Buddy; Al Capone Does My Shirts. The first is a strange and wonderful book that has a sort of dream-like, mythic quality to it that all comes together at the end, and it's one of those books that both grownups and kids really, really like. A must-read. The second, a depression-era tale about a boy searching for his dad, out on his own and touched with both jazz and a good dose of humour. The third mixes funny and suspense to great effect. This is good reading, in this pack.
Calvin & Hobbes Pack - these are funny - you might remember them from a good 20-25 years ago? They still appeal. Readers and reluctant readers alike enjoy cartoons, so if your kid won't gravitate to a full-on novel just yet, these might grab his/her attention in the meantime, not to mention that you can share some good belly laughs reading them together!

Springiness In The Air

2013-04-02T03:16:45Z

Okay, yesterday, there was springiness in the air, today not so much. Such is the way of spring, but I am still ready for her, and the first of these books is with me. The second? Well, what better time to visit a farm than when all the little animals have been born? I call it springy, too.

Sorting Through Spring
Lizann Flatt
OwlKids
ISBN: 978 1 92697 359 3

This book looks at patterns, probability, and more using nature to illustrate. On each double-page spread, a short verse asks questions that lead you to look at the illustrations and find patterns. There are also extra questions in small boxes, to extend the idea and get kids more involved. It's an interesting way to discuss the math concept involved, though it is not designed to teach, more to be a tool for looking at together and talking through as you find examples in the images and try out the ideas.

For those who are highly nature-oriented, there is some extra information about the animals at the end of the book. This book is primarily useful for extending knowledge and working with for one-on-one discussions, but for those who would like to have that kind of material, this one is notable for its gorgeous paper collage illustrations, a rarity in teaching materials. This interior spread will give you an idea:

A Day At The Farm
by Severine Cordier & Cynthia LaCroix
OwlKids
ISBN: 978 1 92697 376 0

This cute little book is less narrative and more about some vocabulary and a few sentences about what the children are enjoying on their visit. It's a great vocab builder for toddlers and preschoolers new to farm life, and sized well for small, clumsy hands, complete with thicker, less-fragile pages. The illustrations here are perfectly pitched - cute and friendly for toddlers, but not syrupy and twee. This one is a lovely gift for a young kid!

This one comes out April 15th, but it's ready for preorder!

Easter Already?

2013-03-30T01:12:49Z

Wasn't it just February, with all the complaining about the endlessness of winter? March has gone insanely fast, and here we are, nearly at the end, with Easter just days away. Sweet! In celebration, my new favourite Easter title.

The Easter Bunny's Assistant
by Jam Thomas
HarperCollins
ISBN: 978 0 061 69286 4

A Bunny is going to dye eggs, and Skunk is going to help as they teach us, too. Skunk is so excited! And when Skunk gets excited... yuk. Can he contain his enthusiasm enough to allow Bunny to make the eggs? As hard as he tries, Bunny ends up putting him outside so he can finish in peace, and lets him back in at the end.

It's effectively one big fart joke, but it's perfectly pitched for kids, and silly enough for a good range of ages, something Jan Thomas is a wizard at doing. The illustrations are big and bold enough even for the small, and it is easy to make interactive for using with a group, and the funny bone, she is struck. This is certainly for the secular approach to Easter, but for anyone who works with kids, it's what you're looking for. That, and it contains instructions for egg dying at the end, so kids can follow the same steps as the Bunny and make their own Easter eggs. Fun!

New Friends Are Silver

2013-03-24T17:57:57Z

As I often say, I'm a sucker for friendship stories, and these two are very different examples. One is sweet, and one is more of a moral tale of what you could miss out on if you're not open to new people. Both great-looking new books for two different situations - check out the interior spreads as well, they really are an attractive pair.

Flora and the Flamingo
by Molly Idle
Chronicle Books
ISBN: 978 1 4521 1006 6

This wordless picture book depicts a girl and a flamingo getting to know each other and building the start of a friendship as the girl copies the flamingo's movements, and he slyly plays along. At first she is shy, pretending she is not tagging along, but by the end, the actions are perfectly in synch, and the two are dancing together.

The illustrations are pretty and full of expression - adorable, if a little pink for my taste, though it does play perfectly into the way this reads as a pas de deux. It's made even more fun by the addition of a few flaps that reveal extra moments that pass between the two dancers, and the whole is really both lovely and gently funny. Being wordless, it's a perfect book to read and talk about with your child, and myself, I can't wait to share it with a group.

My Neighbor Is A Dog
by Isabel Minhos Martins & Madalena Matoso
OwlKids
ISBN: 978 1 92697 368 5

A child's neighbour moves out, and in moves - a dog! Not just any dog, but one who plays saxophone and blows bubbles, no less. Her parents aren't thrilled, and think the dog is weird, although the little girl likes him. Shortly after the dog follow other strange neighbours, and eventually, the child moves away.

I'm honestly of slightly mixed opinion, because the parents are kind of jerks, but on the other hand, I love that the kid is not bothered by this, and makes up her own mind about them, discovering some fun and interesting new friends. It's a great opportunity for discussing prejudice and open-mindedness, so if this is a talk you are looking to have, this is a good place to start.

(Just a note: This one comes out next month, but is ready for pre-order.)

Here's a little shot of the illustrations, which have a great, bold offbeat style that feels a little like the opening of The Pink Panther. Take a look!

Ghosts Have Known

2013-03-18T20:47:35Z

Part story of fitting in, part ghost story, part a point about standing up for yourself, this teen graphic is a great read with a few good themes running through it. Who says comics need to be simplistic?

Anya's Ghost
by Vera Brogosol
First Second Books
ISBN: 978 1 59643 552 0

Anya is not at all thrilled with life. She is, after all, a teenager, and a teenager who doesn't really fit in well at her prep school, what with being the teensiest bit plump, her immigrant mom, and not being rich. So it seems like the best thing that ever happened when a ghost she met at the bottom of a well starts to help her out. Soon she is doing better on tests and catching the attention of a boy she likes - but she also finds out everything isn't quite what she thinks, either.

That cute boy? Turns out to be a creep, and his perfect girlfriend doesn't have it all, after all. Worst of all, her ghost turns out not to be the good buddy with a tragic past that Anya thought she was... and now Anya has to figure out how to get rid of her.

It's a good story, but of course, you can't talk about a graphic novel without talking illustration. This one is all black and white, with deep, heavily inked blacks and a bold, comic style that keeps it from being too gothic. Think more Emily the Strange than Gustav Dore, and this, I think, sits about right for the audience. Facial expressions are always something I look for, and I think they work well here, both on Anya and on the ghost, as she changes, at first subtly and then drastically. On the whole, I think this has more appeal for girls (I hate to gender specify, but honestly, most teenaged boys won't read a graphic about the life of a girl, and it would be a shame to waste it on someone who would only roll their eyes at you!), and speak pretty directly to most girls, because how many of us really felt like we fit in perfectly as teenagers?

One last thing - I like to try to show you a bit of a graphic when I post it, because you really can't, I think, but a graphic without seeing a sample of the art, so here you go, with my recommendation: