Okanagan Child » Books

Book of the Month: February

Colleen — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:28:18 +0000

Maclear, Kyo. Illus. Issabelle Arsenault. Spork. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2010.

The Okanagan Regional Library has picked Spork as February’s book of the month! Spork is the son of a fork and a spoon. He doesn’t know anyone else who is two kinds of cutlery and he feels isolated. Because of his appearance he is rejected by both forks and spoons, and it seems he has no place in the kitchen. Spork finds an important job that only he can do and becomes proud of his rare shape.

This is an excellent book for children in mixed race or multicultural families. It is also great for teaching any kid about accepting who they are, especially if they are having trouble fitting in.

Book of the Month: November

Colleen — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:06:57 +0000

Milway, Katie Smith. Illus.Eugenie Fernandes. One Hen. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2008.

Based on a true event, One Hen is the story of how a hen and a small loan changed the life of a boy and his community. Kojo and his mother live in poverty in Ghana, Africa. One day Kojo receives a very small amount of money. He uses the loan to buy a hen, and after a few months of selling eggs, he buys more hens.

Time passes, the number of hens grows, and Kojo has earned enough money to go to school, start a poultry farm, employ the villagers, and give out small loans to those needing a chance.

The text, along with rich and colourful acrylic artwork, explains the complex concept of micro-loans in a simple, interesting, and entertaining manner. The story is told on two levels, simplified in the “House that Jack Built” style for a younger audience and more detailed for older readers.

This book is a wonderful tool for teachers or parents to use when discussing poverty and how to overcome it.

Ages 8 and up.

Book of the Month: October

Colleen — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:55:50 +0000

Harper, Cherise Mericle. Just Grace. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2007.

The October Book of the Month from the Okanagan Regional Library is Just Grace!

Meet Grace, a spunky eight year old, who shares the trials of life in third grade. Grace is not given the lead role in the school play, but rather that of a boring part of a tree. At her own birthday party, someone else is chosen to be the magician’s assistant. She gets the stomach flu and misses the class talent show. To top it off, Grace shares her name with three other girls in her class. She is given a new name of JUST GRACE when all she wants is just to be called GRACE!

Grace puts her problems aside when she learns of her neighbour’s troubles. Mrs. Luther has broken a leg and lost her pet cat. Grace, determined to cheer up her depressed neighbour, comes up with a plan that soon backfires. Grace, now suspected of catnapping, must seek the help of a boy she dislikes in order to find the cat and clear her name.

Grace is an engaging and humorous character. Short chapters written in a diary-like format, interspersed with cartoon line drawings create a wonderful easy to read chapter book for girls. Grace’s adventures continue with Still Just Grace (2007), Just Grace walks the dog (2008), Just Grace goes green (2009), and Just Grace and the snack attack (2009). (Ages 7-9)

Book of the Month: September

Colleen — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 06:44:05 +0000

Kaner, Etta. Have you ever seen an octopus with a broom? Illus. Jeff Szue. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2009.

It’s great to curl up and read a book with your little one(s), but it’s even better when you find great reads. Each month, we’ll share a Book of the Month recommended by the Okanagan Regional Library!

Check out September’s book – it’s an informational picture book in the Have You Ever Seen series introduces young readers to interesting facts about common animals.

It compares basic human activities, such as sweeping the floor or using a washcloth, to the same activities done by animals. Did you know that an octopus uses its tentacles to sweep stones out of its den or that a chimpanzee uses moss and leaves like a washcloth to wipe juices from its fur? Bright and colorful illustrations, along with simple sentences, create a book that is perfect for sharing with young animal lovers. Also included is an easy family game that encourages fun comparisons between animals and humans. Other titles in this series include Have you ever seen a duck in a raincoat (2009), Have you ever seen a hippo with sunscreen (2010), and Have you ever seen a stork building a log cabin (2010).

Recommended ages: 3 – 7 years.

Books for BC Babies Funding Shortfall

Colleen — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 07:52:04 +0000

Books for BC Babies (B4B) is urgently seeking financial support in order to continue operations. B4B is an early literacy and parenting program that seeks to address developmental challenges at the earliest stages in the lives of all BC children, including the twenty-nine per cent that arrive at Kindergarten developmentally vulnerable(1). In order to operate in 2011, B4B needs to raise more than $250,000 through private donations or sponsorships before January.

B4B was launched in BC in 2005, and had been funded by the provincial government until recent cutbacks. The program is based on extensive research that supports the correlation between positive newborn environments and children’s future success rates. The program delivers learning resources directly to families of all newborns in BC and connects them to additional resources in their community. In 2009, more than 40,000 resource kits were distributed.
“Reading, talking, and singing to newborns are the best ways to build early language and literacy skills – skills that impact a child’s lifelong development,” says Rhian Piprell, Co-Chair, Books for BC Babies. “By providing a parenting resource at a crucial stage of a child’s life, we can give kids the best chance at future success.”

Research conducted by The Council for Early Child Development has demonstrated that newborn experiences matter. The relationship between caregiver and infant plays a pivotal role in influencing neural pathways for language and higher cognitive functions, especially within the first 12 months of a child’s life (2).

“Early childhood development depends upon the experiences children have in the environments where they grow,” says Dr. Clyde Hertzman, Director, Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) UBC. “The Books for BC Babies program provides families with the resources they need early in the child’s life to begin to create the positive experiences that influence the child’s subsequent life chances.”

In most communities, public libraries work with public health nurses and health centres to deliver the Books for BC Babies Resource Kits to families of newborns. The kits include tools to get families started in reading, singing, and playing with their babies. Materials include a guide for parents, a board book, a CD of rhymes and songs, and information about local library and community resources.

In order to save the program, the B4B Steering Committee is looking for donations from the public and has developed a full range of sponsorship opportunities for the private sector. Given that the program is delivered by existing resources, one hundred percent of funds raised will be used to purchase Books for BC Babies kits. Each kit costs approximately seven dollars.

Donations can be made online at http://books4babies.bclibrary.ca/for-supporters. Companies interested in sponsorship opportunities can download a sponsorship package at http://books4babies.bclibrary.ca/for-supporters/sponsor-us.

About Books for BC Babies:
Books for BC Babies (B4B) is a community-based early literacy and parenting program that delivers learning resources directly to families of newborns and connects them to additional resources in their community. Launched in BC in 2005, the program is based on extensive research that supports the correlation between positive newborn environments and children’s future success rates. B4B is administered by the BC Library Association and led by a steering committee comprised of early literacy, public library, and public health professionals. http://books4babies.bclibrary.ca/

Get Planting!

Colleen — Mon, 31 May 2010 20:02:02 +0000

If there’s one thing you’ve learned in your years as a kid, it’s this: never say “I’m bored” in front of an adult.

You say “I’m bored” and you’re gonna be put to work. And guaranteed, it’s not going to be fun. But summer’s coming and you know you probably will be bored at least once or twice. What can you do?

Grab “Kids’ Container Gardening” by Cindy Krezel, photography by Bruce Curtis. With this book, a few easy-to-find containers, and some inexpensive garden seeds, you’ll weed the boredom right out of your entire summer.

So you eat vegetables, like ‘em or not. You enjoy fruit, which comes from trees. You might even like looking at nice plants in the mall, the park, or maybe even in someone’s house. Did you ever think that maybe a bit of green might look nice in your bedroom, too?

The first thing you need to know about container gardening is that different plants need different things.

Some like lots of sun. Others need shade. All of them need drainage, so their roots don’t drown in water. You’ll have to know how to feed your plant (yep, even vegetables – which are food – need food, too). And if you’re going to put your plant outside, you’ll want to know what Zone you live in because some plants can’t handle certain climates.

To do container gardening, you’ll need a few things… like, containers, duh. You can use real garden pots, but old bowls work, too. You can even use a fancy glass, if you find one. Anything will work, as long as you remember the drainage rule.

You’ll also want some peat pellets, potting soil (a bag of real potting soil, not just dirt you dug out of the ground) and water – for you and for your new plant.

Ready?

In this book, you’ll find seventeen great gardening projects, including some that are just for fun. You’ll learn to grow things you can eat, give as gifts, or just to put on your bedroom windowsill. Some projects require the help of an adult, and some are things even your little brother or sister can do. Every project in this book is designed for a kid like you, so you can put a little leaf in your life.

In her introduction to adults, author Cindy Krezel speaks to the gardener in all of us, reminding grown-ups about the soul-soothing memories you make when you “get in touch with the earth.” This book makes it easy to pass that joy along.

I liked the relative simplicity of “Kids’ Container Gardening” and its kid-friendly language, but keep in mind that nearly all the projects in here will require at least a little adult guidance and some are probably well beyond what the audience for this book is capable of doing themselves.

Still, if you love gardening or are just fascinated with what it can do, this is a good introduction for your 6-to-12-year-old. “Kids’ Container Gardening” will plant the seeds of a fun summer for them.