UPDATED:Book Selection – January 2016

POST UPDATED 01/05/2016

Time to announce our January 2016 book selection for Kaelyn’s Book Club.

The Princess and the Pony

by Kate Beaton ( Arthur A. Levine Books)

http://bookmanager.com/1680560/?q=h.tviewer&using_sb=status&qsb=keyword&qse=KTN6Q2Wiy7X-zQJxzvOU5g

If you haven’t had a chance to read this book yet, here’s a read aloud preview.  We are BIG fans of Pinecone in this house, and I know you will be too!

This book is available at most libraries and book stores, including at our favorite Independent Book Store, The Box of Delights in Wolfville, NS (http://www.boxofdelightsbooks.com/)

And don’t forget The Box of Delights gives ALL members of Kaelyn’s Book Club 10% off the monthly book selection.  (Thanks Hilary and team!)

R & K

P.S. Kate Beaton IF you happen to be in Nova Scotia and want to join us at book club, we would LOVE that!!!

Update 01/05/2016-We did reach out to Kate Beaton (@beatonna) via Twitter, for FUN (we knew it would a HUGE Longshot that she would be in our part of the country).  She’s sticking close to her HOME.  But Thanks for the Reply.  🙂

 

UPDTED – Best of…..2015

**Post has been updated.  Scroll down**

It’s the time of year when there are many MANY Best of lists coming out.  I have decided to link them all together if you are interested in see what are the most talked about books of the year.

One of my favorite lists is from the Toronto Public Libraries.  I just found it recently, but think it’s a great thing (and they have some great resources on their website too, if you have a few minutes take a look at the KidSpace section of their website ( http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/kidsspace/ ) it’s full of some great resources.

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ready-for-reading/first-and-best.jsp

From the Boston Globe we have the Best Books of 2015

http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2015/12/04/the-best-books/pbHAwhg02UDEyRf95kIQiK/story.html#kids

Next from Quill & Quire, 2015:Kids’ Books of the Year

 

http://www.quillandquire.com/omni/2015-kids-books-of-the-year/

Notable Children’s Books of 2015, New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/06/books/review/notable-childrens-books-of-2015.html?_r=0

UPDATED, 12/17/2015

New York Public Library, Children’s Books Recommendations http://www.nypl.org/browse/recommendations/staff-picks/annual/childrens?hspace=328064

2015 Favorite Storytime Picture Books http://jbrary.com/2015-favourite-storytime/

(Our) Best Picture Books of 2015 (Part 4) http://www.whatdowedoallday.com/2015/11/best-picture-books-of-2015.html

UPDATED 01/03/2016

The Best Children’s Books of 2015 http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-best-childrens-books-of-2015-1449869178

**I’ll continue to update this post with new lists as I see them.**

Do you have any FAVORITE books of 2015.  Please share them with us.  We would LOVE to hear about them, and read them!

UPDATED-I Dare You Not to Yawn by Helene Boudreau and Serge Bloch -Read Share Celebrate Day 28

**This post has been updated with our photos and experiences aftere reading this book.  Scroll all the way down.**

We’re down to the last three selections of Picture Book Month.

Day 28 – I Dare You Not to Yawn by Helen Boudreau and Illustrated by Serge Bloch.

 

A yawn can land you in your pj’s and under the covers before you can blink and say “Baa baa black sheep.” So clamp your mouth shut and look away from your sleepy dog, stay away from your cuddly blanket, and whatever you do, don’t think of baby orangutans stretching their long arms out for a snuggly hug. Otherwise, you might find your mouth opening wide and letting out a great big yawny yaaaaaawn — hey, you were supposed hold it in! A hilarious read-aloud that is so much fun, kids will beg for it again and again, whatever the consequences.

Just try to resist this comical — and infectious — cautionary fable that will have even bedtime-avoiders gladly snuggling up for a nightly challenge.

Source – http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763650706&pix=n

Source – http://www.candlewick.com/bookxtras.asp?isbn=0763650706&id=&browse=Title&view=sprd&sprd=./images/cwp_spreads/648/0763650706.int.2.jpg&bktitle=I+Dare+You+Not+to+Yawn

So while we still wait our turn for this book from the library, I found a read aloud from Lansdowne Public Library.

One more video.  I really enjoyed watching this video posted by SickKidsInteractive for their Story Time programming. Take a watch…

---

About the Author, Helene Boudreau –

I grew up in a really large family on a small island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean where we had sleepovers in lobster boats, hiked to secret beaches, and got chased by wild cows through forest paths. I started writing stories at a really young age, and many of my books are inspired by the fun times I had growing up with my seven siblings and many cousins and friends.I Dare You Not to Yawn was inspired by my cheeky daughter, who will do anything for a laugh. When she was about four years old she would open her mouth in a very theatrical fake-yawn at the dinner table then smile and see if her yawn would catch on. Soon, we’d all be yawning, and laughing, and vowing we would never fall for her trick again. But of course,we always did.

Three Things You Might Not Know About Me:

1. I once slept in a tent for a whole summer.

2. I hate cotton balls and the squeaky sound they make. They are seriously creepy to me!

3. I know how to spell super-long words like supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. See?

Source – http://www.candlewick.com/authill.asp?b=Author&m=bio&id=9284&pix=y

 

Helene’s website can be found here, http://www.heleneboudreau.com/#!i-dare-you-not-to-yawn/cusy

About the Illustrator –

Serge Bloch’s first children’s book, I Can’t Wait by Davide Cali, won the prix IBBY and has sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide. His other credits include The Enemy, also written by Davide Cali, and several books he has written himself: Butterflies in My Stomach, You Are What You Eat, and Reach for the Stars. He divides his time between New York and Paris.

Source – http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763650706&pix=n

For more information on Serge and his other illustrations you can check out his blog, http://www.sergebloch.net/blog/ or his website, http://www.sergebloch.net/

---

Update (12/04/2015)

What a fun little book!  We have finally had an opportunity to hold the book in our hands, and have a little story time with it.  We enjoyed going through the book, and playing along with the stretching, and the yawning, and the eye squinting actions.

Definitely enjoyed this book, and had a few chuckles as we read it.

If you have had the opportunity to read it, hope you enjoyed it too.

UPDATED Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino and Isabelle Malenfant – Read Share Celebrate day 24

Good Morning from Kaelyn’s Book Club.  We have added a Painting Project to this blog post, and pictures of our project as part of our #PictureBookMonthBloggers post.  Please enjoy and if you are looking for a crafting idea, we hope you will try our Morris inspired Painting Project.

---

**Original Post**Day 24  – Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christina Baldacchino, and Illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant

available in English and French.

 

 

Morris is a little boy who loves using his imagination. He dreams about having space adventures, paints beautiful pictures and sings the loudest during circle time. But most of all, Morris loves his classroom’s dress-up center — he loves wearing the tangerine dress.

But the children in Morris’s class don’t understand. Dresses, they say, are for girls. And Morris certainly isn’t welcome in the spaceship some of his classmates are building. Astronauts, they say, don’t wear dresses.

One day when Morris feels all alone, and sick from the taunts of his classmates, his mother lets him stay home from school. Morris reads about elephants, and puts together a puzzle, and dreams of a fantastic space adventure with his cat, Moo.

Inspired by his dream, Morris paints the incredible scene he saw, and brings it with him to school. He builds his own spaceship, hangs his painting on the front of it and takes two of his classmates on an outer space adventure.

With warm, dreamy illustrations Isabelle Malenfant perfectly captures Morris’s vulnerability and the vibrancy of his imagination. This is a sweetly told story about the courage and creativity it takes to be different.

 

• Winner of the CBC Bookie Award for Best Picture Book 2015
• Short-listed for the Blue Spruce Award 2015
• Selected for the Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens 2014
• Selected for the Quill & Quire Books of the Year for Young People 2014
• Selected for the Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year 2014
• Selected for the Kirkus Best Picture Books Celebrating Diversity 2014
• Selected for the Today’s Parent Top Picture Books of the Year 2014
• Selected for the Huffington Post Best Picture Books of the Year: Most Touching/Heartwarming 2014
• Selected for the Stonewall Honor Books in Children’s and Young Adult Literature 2015
• Selected for the American Library Association Rainbow List 2015
• Selected for the Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices 2015
• Short-listed for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award 2015
• Short-listed for the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award 2015

 

32 Pages, ISBN 9781554983476, from grade JK to grade 2

Source – http://houseofanansi.com/products/morris-micklewhite-and-the-tangerine-dress

So when I asked Kaelyn today where we should have our afternoon story time she wanted to sit by her small Christmas Tree.  So here we are,  reading Morris Micklewhite by the Christmas Tree.

I have already added this book to the list of books that “I LOVE!”

There are so many lessons from this book we can teach and share from reading it.

• Friendship
• Creativity
• Understanding
• Acceptance
• Indivuality

….just to name a few.

This video of Christine Baldacchino was posted by CBC Books earlier this month leading up to the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, [ http://www.cbc.ca/books/2015/11/the-boy-who-inspired-morris-micklewhite-and-the-tangerine-dress.html ]

http://www.cbc.ca/video/swf/UberPlayer.swf?state=sharevideo&clipId=2678580423&width=480&height=322

This book also hit close to home, before I watched that video. But even more so now.  Our family knows a little boy that could be Morris.  I will never forget the day I saw him running across his Grandparents yard in a Gold Sequin Dress.  Luckily he  is a very well adjusted, Supported, Strong, and Happy 6 year old.

We really hope that if you haven’t had an opportunity to pick up this book (or borrow it from your local library), that you do.  It’s so important

As we wrap this post up for today, anyone who has taken a look at my other posts knows that I love Read Aloud videos (so that even more of you can share in the book with us)   So I scoured YouTube and have come up with a video to share.  This was “Created as a digital story project for LIS 409: Storytelling at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.” by Thaddeus Andracki

 

**UPDATE** Now onto a Post Story time Craft.

We decided to share a painting project….Morris LOVES to paint!!  It’s not an original idea, but every finished product is as original and unique as the artist.

Supplies Needed:

• Canvas (we found canvas panels work the best for us, because little hands sometimes push hard on the stretched canvas)
• Painters Tape (write any work/design you want.  We obviousl have chosen LOVE)
• Paint (we used Finger paints, because it was a fun sensory experience for the little hands)

There isn’t really any hard an fast instructions.  Decide what word or design you want to write on your canvas with your painters tape, and then paint. We did wait about 24 hours before removing the tape (I just wanted to make sure it was fully dried.  Our canvas was pretty saturated with paint!  It was wonderful!!!!)

Enjoy painting!  This would be a great project any time of the year.  Or as a project to do with a group of friends.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

---

About the Author

Christine Baldacchino is a graphic artist and web designer with a background in early childhood education. She lives with her husband in Toronto. She likes cats and the colour orange. This is her first book.

Source -http://houseofanansi.com/products/morris-micklewhite-and-the-tangerine-dress

About the Illustrator

Isabelle Malenfant
Isabelle Malenfant was born in the north of Quebec, between gold mines and lakes, in the city of Val d’Or city. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Université du Québec à Montréal, then fell in love with illustration. Since then, Isabelle has illustrated more than a dozen children’s books. Her illustration style mixes mediums such as watercolor, pastel and charcoal to create poetic and sensitive worlds. She lives with her family in Montreal.

Source – http://houseofanansi.com/products/morris-micklewhite-and-the-tangerine-dress

For more information on Isabelle, http://isabellemalenfant.ca/index.html

---

 

UPDATED-Starring Shapes! by Tania Howells – Read Share Celebrate Day 13

**This post has been updated from the original version, as we have no had a chance to have a full Story Time with the book**

Onto our 13th book selection for our Canadian, Read Share Celebrate – Picture Book Month Project.

The book is, Starring Shapes! by Tania Howells.

Here’s another confession, we haven’t had an opportunity to read this one yet, but I am VERY EXCITED TOO!!!

The book was just released (September 1, 2015), and it’s not yet in my local library to borrow.  I have requested it through an inter-library loan process, and just waiting. … … …  I promise to update, as soon as we get our little hands on the book, and can READ it!!

Here’s an extended blog post from JacketFlap talking about the book (and their post includes pictures), http://www.jacketflap.com/megablog/?postid=1396677

**Please if you have read this book, feel free to leave some comments for us.**

---

In this clever picture book, six different shapes attend Shapeston Elementary School along with the children: Triangle, Square, Circle, Rectangle, Rhombus (or “Diamond” to her friends) and Oval. As the story begins, the big news at school is the upcoming play. Everyone is looking forward to auditioning, especially the shapes. One by one they are introduced, with descriptions of their unique personalities and interests, along with the roles they’ve played before (Triangle as a tortilla chip, Oval as a skating rink, Diamond as a kite and the like). Happily, after all the wonderful auditions, the drama teacher decides everyone gets to be in the play!

This fresh and playful idea for a concept book, written and illustrated by Tania Howells, makes shapes and early geometry fun. Each shape gets its own two-page spread. On the left is a large picture of the shape, with a simple and expressive face and limbs set in a jaunty pose, along with the explanatory text. On the right are boxes containing smaller illustrations of objects made out of the shape. The art, simply drawn in bright, bold colors, is charming and engaging. These spreads could easily work on their own for a lesson on shapes, and the book could be used to spark a variety of “I spy” activities with young children, in the classroom, in the playground or anywhere out in the world. Also, the ending spread showing the play’s performance offers a terrific opportunity to search for the different shapes on the stage.

Source – http://www.kidscanpress.com/products/starring-shapes

Here’s how the author/illustrator talks about this book on her blog (dated May 2015),

http://tania.blogs.com/tania/2015/05/starring-shapes.html

---

About Tania Howells –

You must check out her Biography on her blog.  LOVE IT!!!  http://www.taniahowells.com/tania4.html

Tania lives in Toronto with her husband and son, Finch. She graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design in 1997 and has been a freelance illustrator for 15 years. Tania has done work for clients such as Today’s Parent magazine, Chirp, Holt Renfrew, The National Post and many others. She is currently a stay-at-home mum, and after bedtime, she works on her drawings. In another life, Tania might like to be a fabric designer, a librarian or even a small-town cafe owner. She sometimes has trouble saying things out loud, just like Willow. She likes coffee and tea, walks, reading books, daydreaming and baking things. Instagram: @taniahowells
Twitter: @taniahowells

Source – http://www.kidscanpress.com/creators/tania-howells/672

---

**UPDATE December 2, 2015**

We have now had our opportunity to have story time with this new book.  Starring Shapes! is a very colourful book, however I seem to have a bit of a Love – Hate relationship with it.

What I LOVE about this book is the colour. The illustrations are fun, and bright, and we loved them.

What has me on the hate side is the text.  We found it pretty wordy.  And although my little book queen reads a lot of book above her age, she just couldn’t get into this one. (we tried several times).

Probably best for the older kids, but the pictures are fun, and you can probably make up your own fabulous stories with these pictures if your little ones are interested in the actual text.

UPDATED Bagels from Benny by Aubrey Davis, Illustrated by Dusan Petricic – Day 12 Read Share Celebrate

**This Post has been updated with a new video and more pictures.**

Wow already at Day 12 of READ SHARE CELEBRATE.

It’s another day with two different book suggestions, both by Aubrey Davis. And Both Illustrated by Dusan Petricic

Bagels from Benny is our English Selection

La grosse patate for our friends looking for a French selection [ blog post here – http://wp.me/p6LbVr-9G ]

---

Benny loves to help out at his grandpa’s bakery in the morning, and the customers love the crusty bagels with their soft insides. When Grandpa explains to Benny that God, not him, should be thanked for the wonderful bagels, Benny sets out to do just that. He decides to leave God a bagful of bagels in the synagogue at the end of each week. And each week God eats the bagels — or so Benny thinks …

Lovingly told, Bagels from Benny explores the values of caring and sharing, building a strong sense of community and finding joy in giving thanks.

Source – http://www.kidscanpress.com/products/bagels-benny

What a fabulous book.  It wasn’t until a couple weeks ago that I had actually read this book.  And although it’s a book aimed at children a bit older than my Kaelyn, it has such a great, positive message.  I strongly encourage anyone (with or without Children) to read this book. 

• Age Range: 4 – 8 years
• Grade Level: Preschool – 3
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Kids Can Press (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1553377494
• ISBN-13: 978-1553377498

IF you haven’t read this book yourself, check out Aubrey Davis’ website, http://aubreydavis.com/portfolio/bagels-from-benny/ , he has an audio recording where you can hear him read this book aloud.  So great!

OR

if you prefer a more visual read aloud.  Check out this video posted from the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City,  Miss Janet Reads Bagels from Benny

https://www.youtube.com/embed/agGg4VIusvM“>http://

Multi-tasking, and watching the Read Aloud on YouTube, while (kindof) following along with the book.

Here’s an article from Huffington Post, 50 More Inspiring Children’s Books with a Positive Message, by Julie Handler [ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julie-handler/50-more-inspiring-childrens-books-with-a-positive-message_b_4739495.html ] putting Bagels from Benny #6 on the list.

Among Awards and Recognition, this book has been acknowledged many times.

• 2005 – Blue Spruce Award, Ontario Library Association, Short-listed, https://www.accessola.org/web/Documents/OLA/Forest/Archives/BlueSpruce-Archive.pdf

• 2004 – Mr. Christie Book Award, Runner-up,

• 2004 – Canadian Jewish Book Award, Winner

• 2004 – International Book Awards, The Society of School Librarians International, Short-listed

• 2004 – Toronto IODE Book Award, Winner

• 2004 – National Jewish Book Award, Short-listed

• 2003 – Best Bets, Ontario Library Association, Winner, https://www.accessola.org/web/Documents/OLA/Divisions/OPLA/Children/OLA%20Best%20Bets%20Children%202003.pdf

• 2003 – Sydney Taylor Book Award, Winner

---

---

About the Author –

Before becoming an award-winning writer and storyteller, Aubrey Davis worked as a logger, house painter and lab technician. He sold antiques, car parts, books, and beads. A retired teacher with an M. Ed. in psychology and adult education, he taught an oral language program to primary and special needs students. He has written six books including Bone Button Borscht, Sody Salleratus and The Enormous Potato. His fourth, Bagels From Benny, has won multiple awards including the Sydney Taylor Award, The Mr. Christie Award (Silver) and the Canadian Jewish Book Awards Children’s Literature Prize. Aubrey has also written a screenplay for Sheldon Cohen’s new animated film, The Three Wishes (Film & DVD: NFB & PMA Productions, 2005). His most recent picture books are Kishka for Koppel (Orca, Oct. 2011) and A Hen for Izzy Pippik (Kids Can Press, March 2012). Aubrey tells his tales to people of all ages across Canada and the US. A featured presenter at festivals and conferences, he’s also told stories on national radio and television. He is currently a Director and Corporate Secretary for The Institute for Cross-cultural Exchange (ICE), a charity helping at-risk Canadian and Afghan children read and own their own books. Aubrey lives in Toronto with his wife and storyteller Sandra Carpenter-Davis and their dog, JojoBella. His daughter and grandchildren live in Saskatoon, and his son lives nearby.

Source – http://www.bookweek.ca/authors/aubrey-davis

More information about Aubrey and his projects can be found on his website, http://aubreydavis.com/

About the Illustrator –

Dušan Petričić was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and grew up in Zemun, an old city located just across the river (and now a part of Belgrade). As a boy he did all the forbidden things that children do, but what Dušan loved most was to draw.

He started drawing at age four and, encouraged by his parents, he never stopped. He found inspiration in everything, and drawing became a way to communicate with the people around him. Two books that were very important to his childhood were an old encyclopedia with lots of pictures and The Boys from Pavel’s Street by Ferenc Molnár. Early on, he was moved by the drawings found within the encyclopedia. As he grew older, he adored many artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, Dürer, and Picasso.

Dušan has been illustrating children’s books for many years. He has received numerous honors and awards for his work, in North America and internationally, including an IBBY Certificate of Honour and an Alberta Book Award for On Tumbledown Hill (Red Deer Press). The Longitude Prize (FSG) was selected as a Robert F. Siebert Honor Book for a Distinguished Informative Book for Children in the US. His beautiful, evocative illustrations for Mattland (2009) by Hazel Hutchins and Gail Herbert garnered Dušan the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award from the Canadian Library Association as well as the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award.  Written by Kathy Stinson The Man with the Violin (2013), was greeted with rave reviews, including starred reviews in Kirkus and Quill & Quire. It went on to win the TD Children’s Literature Award among many, many other honors.    

His latest book with Annick is Snap! (Fall 2015), written by Hazel Hutchins. Here, he has created a riot of color and movement to capture both the frustration and joy of a young boy whose new set of crayons break, get crushed or simply disappear.

Some of his new books with other publishers include My Family Tree and Me (Kids Can Press, 2015), which he both wrote and illustrated, and Invisibill (Tundra Books, 2015).

Luckily for Dušan, his profession is his favorite hobby and he is happy when at work. To young artists he would give this advice: “Think, think, think, think, draw!”

Dušan lives in Toronto and Zemun. 

Source – http://annickpress.com/author/Duan-Petrii

A Poppy is to Remember by Heather Patterson, Illustrated by Ron Lightburn – Day 11 Read Share Celebrate

Welcome to Day 11 of READ SHARE CELEBRATE.

Today as we are celebrating Remembrance Day in Canada, we have selected….

A Poppy is to Remember [ Un Coquelicot Pour Se Souvenir ] by Heather Patterson and Illustrated by Ron Lightburn

---

How did the bright red poppy that we all wear in November become Canada’s symbol of honouring those who fought for our freedom on Remembrance Day?

Moving text coupled with stunning illustrations by Governor General’s Award-winning artist Ron Lightburn explain the symbolism behind the poppy.

A bonus for teachers is the five-page spread all about the poem, “In Flanders Fields,” Canada’s wartime and peacekeeping endeavours, and the adoption of the poppy as our Remembrance Day emblem.

Scholastic Canada Ltd | ISBN 9780545999816 Paperback
32 Pages | 8.04″ x 10″ | Ages 6 to 8

Scholastic Canada Ltd | ISBN 9780439967860 Hardcover
32 Pages | 8.34″ x 10.3″ | Ages 6 to 8

Source – http://www.scholastic.ca/books/view/a-poppy-is-to-remember

I absolutely think this is a Fabulous books for ALL ages.  We will be taking this out for a special Family Read Aloud each Remembrance Day going forward.

Before we received our copy of the book, we read it at one of our many visits to our Local Library.  They had some great Remembrance Day Colouring Sheets.  So while I read the book to my daughter, she worked very diligently in colouring.

Now for those of you who have not yet had the opportunity to read this book, I found this video online while doing some book research.  It was posted last year from the Grade 4-5 class of Williamstown Public School, South Glengarry, Ont. And I think it’s fabulous.  The students read the book aloud (English and French translations) and it’s so great to hear.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/-CQzmv5u_4c“>http://

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Source – For The Fallen by Robert Laurence Binyon [ http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/laurence-binyon-for-the-fallen.htm ]

Very last thing, I promise.  I have created a Pinterest Board with a few other Remembrance Day book suggestions, and some activities to do with the Family.  Please enjoy!  https://www.pinterest.com/ralford/remembrance-day-books-and-activities-kaelyns-book-/

UPDATED-Dreamtime by Deirdre Kessler and Illustrated by Christina Patterson – Day 10 Read Share Celebrate

**post has now been updated, with our own story time experience. Scroll down**

Welcome to Day 10 of READ SHARE CELEBRATE.

Today we have 2 different book choices from Deirdre Kessler.  One English, One French.

Dreamtime Illustrated by Christina Patterson

Un homard dans ma poche Illustrated de Brenda Jones (English Title, A Lobster in My Pocket)

---

Another Confession in my Picture Book Month project.  Dreamtime is another book that we have yet to read.  I have placed a hold on the book from the library, and the last I checked it was in transit (hopefully to me).

** I will update this post as soon as we have the book in hand and Read it Aloud!! **

Until then….

The soothing rhythms and sounds of the words of this story will work their magic on children at bedtime. Written by award-winning author Deirdre Kessler and illustrated by the talented young artist Christina Patterson, this book evokes a quiet nighttime in Prince Edward Island–a perfect going-to-bed story. Dreamtimeis sure to be a classic of the 21st century.

Product Details Hardcover: 24 pages Publisher: Acorn Press; 01 edition (Oct. 31 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 1894838645 ISBN-13: 978-1894838641 Product Dimensions: 18.4 x 0.6 x 18.4 cm

Source – http://www.amazon.ca/Dreamtime-Deirdre-Kessler/dp/1894838645

Dreamtime by Deirdre Kessler, illustrations by Christina Patterson (Acorn Press, 20 pages, ages four and under, $15.95)

Dreamtime is a perfect bedtime story book, with a rhyming text as soft, warm and lovely as a down comforter.

“And birds begin to whisper — their day’s last song is sung. And soft as feathers, evening sighs that dreamtime has begun.”

Deirdre Kessler teaches creative writing and children’s literature at the University of Prince Edward Island and is the author of a dozen other books for kids, including Lobster in My Pocket and Brupp Rides Again. Illustrator Christina Patterson also lives on P.E.I., and their words and pictures together evoke a quiet and lovely dusk that fades to nighttime on the island.

Patterson’s charming oil illustrations are both vivid and soothing. Her use of oil paints gives the pictures a very cool tactile quality — you want to not just look at them, but touch them, too.

an excerpt from, http://thechronicleherald.ca/books/36975-kitts-shares-journey-sable-island

---

About Deirdre Kessler

I am a writer and teacher with a recently published collection of poetry, Afternoon Horses (Acorn Press), two poetry chapbooks, and many poems published in journals and magazines. I am author of a dozen young people’s novels and children’s picture books, which have been translated into French, Dutch, and German, and author of over a dozen educational and commercial texts. In addition, I have worked as a writer and broadcaster with CBC Radio and Television, specifically as arts reporter and as host of CBC Radio’s “The Story Show” for children, have worked as a book editor and as a writing workshop facilitator. For many years I have taught creative writing and children’s literature part-time with the University of Prince Edward Island’s Department of English.

You can check out Deirdre’s website for more information on her other projects. http://deirdrekessler.com/index.html

About Christina Patterson –

Christina Patterson has won numerous awards and competitions for her artwork including receiving the People’s Choice Award for Open Air III in London, Ontario. From her home studio she illustrates, sculpts personalized clay portraits and designs for a living. Her art has been featured on the Regis and Kelly Live Show, Gizmodo, Le Journal du Geek, Blizzard Entertainment, CBC, CTV Live at 5 and several new articles in newspapers across Canada. Christina lives in Charlottetown with her husband.

Source – http://www.nimbus.ca/cw_contributorinfo.aspx?ContribID=1831&Name=Christina+Patterson

---

We just had the opportunity to read Dreamtime by Deirdre Kessler for one of today’s story time sessions.  We both really like the colourful illustrations, but I found myself disappointed with the text.

Typically a Picture book has 32 pages (that’s not to say that some have don’t have a few more, and some have less).  This book has 24 pages.  I just found that by the time we got to the end of the book there was a feeling that I had missed something, or that it just ended too soon.

Wondering your opinion…. 

1. Have you an opportunity to read this book? 
2. What are your thoughts?

ABC of Canada by Kim Bellefontaine and Illustrated by Per-Henrik Gurth – Day 8 Read Share Celebrate

Welcome to Day 8 of READ SHARE CELEBRATE.

Today we have 2 different book choices.  One English, One French.

ABC of Canada by Kim Bellefontaine and Illustrated by Per-Henrik Gurth

Canada 1, 2, 3 de Kim Bellefontaine et Per-Henrik Gurth ( https://kaelynsbookclub.wordpress.com/2015/11/08/canada-1-2-3-de-kim-bellefontaine-et-per-henrik-gurth-lire-partage-celebrer-8-jours-selection-francaise/  )

---

**NOTE If you are seeing this post again, it’s because I am part of a group of bloggers celebrating #PictureBookMonth.  Today November 12 is my turn to share.  ABC of Canada is the book of the day for this project.**

---

Let’s be honest there are a lot of ABC books out there, but the fun thing about this book is obviously that we are CELEBRATING what is special about Canada.  And the Illustrations are Fabulous!!  This BRIGHT and BOLDLY illustrated book is just what a Little one needs to be engaged.  Per-Henrik Gurth really nails it with these images.

From Arctic to Zamboni, kids can follow the alphabet on a colorful tour across Canada. On their journey, they’ll visit Canadian landmarks, including Jasper National Park and Peggy’s Cove. They’ll also meet friendly characters enjoying Canadian pastimes, such as riding in the Calgary Stampede, playing hockey and watching the Northern Lights. Vivid illustrations and simple language guarantee that even the youngest traveler will enjoy this trip!

978-1-55337-340-7 | Mar 1, 2002

List Price: USD $15.95, CAD $15.95

4-color 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 32 pages

Grades: Toddler To 1 / Ages: 2 to 6

Source – http://www.kidscanpress.com/products/abc-canada

This book is part of a Series called – Canada Concept Books

Artist Per-Henrik Gurth presents early-learning concepts using all-Canadian images and an adorable animal cast of characters. Encompassing all major regions of Canada, each book is an eye-pleasing coast to coast journey. The bold, bright art and simple text give pre-readers an introduction to the alphabet, numbers and colour — and to their beautiful country.

Source – http://www.kidscanpress.com/series/canada-concept-books

Kids Can Press also has a couple great FREE Downloads available, especially if you are looking for something fun to decorate the walls of a Reading Nook, or in your classroom.

Poster Download – http://www.kidscanpress.com/sites/default/files/products/assets/AbcOfCanada_1532_posterLG.pdf

Sticker Download – http://www.kidscanpress.com/sites/default/files/products/assets/AbcOfCanada_1532_stickers.pdf

This book was a 2003 winner for the – Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, http://www.bookcentre.ca/publications/our_choice_2003

About Kim Bellefontaine –

Kim Bellefontaine grew up in a military family and had the opportunity to live and study across Canada and Europe. She graduated from Ottawa’s Algonquin College as a Museum Technologist and worked in that field in both Germany and Canada. During that period she found that her interest lay in children’s education and worked on education programs within museums. Her first book, ABC of Canada, is an introduction to our country at the primary level. Kim teamed with a friend who was a known children’s book illustrator for her three published works.

Kim is currently living in Kingston, Ontario, with her two children, Emily and Ben. She is presently expanding her education at St. Lawrence College, but is always looking for and working on new projects.

Source – http://www.kidscanpress.com/creators/kim-bellefontaine/552

About Per-Henrik Gurth

The Canadian artist was born in Freiburg, Germany, and he studied art and graphic-design at the renowned School of Design in Basel, Switzerland.

After Per immigrated to Canada in 1995 he lived in Toronto and worked for various design and new media agencies. He developed print and multimedia designs for accounts like Labatt, Roots Canada, TV Ontario, IBM, Nikon Canada and many more.

In 1999 Per formed the company Per-Design Inc. and launched the Per-Design wholesale line of Canadian apparel and gifts. The Canadian T-shirt line quickly became one of the most popular and successful  lines in the resort and gift industry in Canada. Customers include Canadian airport shops, Air Canada, BC Ferries, Biodome of Montreal, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Calgary Stampede, Tundra Buggy Tours in Churchill, Hudson Bay Company, Fairmont Hotels, Mc Michael Museum, Canadian National Parks and Canadian Provincial Parks, Royal Mounted Police, The ROM, Toronto Zoo, Calgary Zoo, Granby Zoo, Kanada Tshirts and many more.

Per has been commissioned to create art and design work for diverse organizations such as The Hudson Bay Company, Museum of Civilization, Ottawa/Hull,  the Royal Mounted Police, the Rocky Mountains National Parks, the Eatons private art collection and various other art collections and institutions.

In 2002 Per donated the fundraising design for Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. Its application on various merchandise helped raise about half a million dollars for the hospital.

In 2005 Per designed and donated the official logo “Friends in High Places” for the Canadian Rocky Mountains National Parks. The logo is used on signage, stationary as well as on merchandise that is being sold in all of the National Park’s gift shops to raise funds for the parks. In 2008 Per developed a series of Canadian designs for apparel and merchandise for Sesame Street Canada.

The Canadian artist has also illustrated and written over 2 dozen published children’s books. His book “ABC of Canada” and “Canada 123” by Kids Can Press have been on the bestseller list for Canadian children’s books. The half a dozen books in this “Canada Concept” book series have sold almost half a million books and have become a Canadian classic in Canadian kindergarten and grade one and two class rooms.

The book “Oh Canada” has recently been promoted and featured on Kellogg’s cereal boxes all across Canada.

His books “When Wishes come True” and “Together Forever” by Lobster Press, Montreal was illustrated as well as written by Per. The story with Canadian polar bears for the book “When Wishes come True” was inspired by his daughter Emily.

Source – http://www.red-maple.ca/About_Us.html

For more Information on Gurth, and his Business Red Maple, check out their website, http://www.red-maple.ca/Canadian_T-shirts_and_gifts.html

---

Now for the after Reading Fun.  First of all I borrowed this fun post from http://www.savvymom.ca for a Canada Day Party. Why wait until July 1, when you can have a fun party anytime of the year. http://www.savvymom.ca/index.php/partysavvy/Canada_Day_Party/1311/loot_and_decor

And then because Colouring, Painting and Crafting is a HUGE Favorite with the Little One in the house.  I have added some fun colouring sheets, of a great Canadian Symbol.  The Mountie.

Download your own here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0ubftdvnxjt1hhh/AAAIMO0bRS2FL0UgOsMivky4a?dl=0

We also took some Alphabet and blocks out and played a little matching game.  Once the letter (or number) was located we read the page.

---

If you are looking for more FUN,  A B C Books and Activities, please check out my Pinterest Board – https://www.pinterest.com/ralford/a-b-c-book-suggestions-activities-kaelyns-book-clu/  

I also have a board dedicated to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr and John Archambault, Illustrated by Lois Ehlert.  Check that out here, https://www.pinterest.com/ralford/chicka-chicka-boom-boom-kaelyns-book-club/

We hope you have a lot of fun with the A B C’s and our Picture Book Month Selection – ABC of Canada.

Canada 1, 2, 3 de Kim Bellefontaine et Per-Henrik Gurth – lire partage celebrer, 8 jours, selection francaise

Une feuille d’érable, deux ours polaires et trois totems… Apprendre à compter jusqu’à dix est facile et agréable grâce à cet album haut en couleurs, où chaque illustration rappelle des thèmes bien de chez nous.

2 à 6 ans
22 cm x 22 cm
32 pages en couleurs
9,99 $
978-0-439-94042-9

http://www.scholastic.ca/editions/livres/lecanada/

To download this poster – http://www.kidscanpress.com/sites/default/files/products/assets/Canada123_1833_posterLG.pdf

To download stickers – http://www.kidscanpress.com/sites/default/files/products/assets/Canada123BoardBook_1988_stickers.pdf

About Kim Bellefontaine –

Kim Bellefontaine grew up in a military family and had the opportunity to live and study across Canada and Europe. She graduated from Ottawa’s Algonquin College as a Museum Technologist and worked in that field in both Germany and Canada. During that period she found that her interest lay in children’s education and worked on education programs within museums. Her first book, ABC of Canada, is an introduction to our country at the primary level. Kim teamed with a friend who was a known children’s book illustrator for her three published works.

Kim is currently living in Kingston, Ontario, with her two children, Emily and Ben. She is presently expanding her education at St. Lawrence College, but is always looking for and working on new projects.

http://www.kidscanpress.com/creators/kim-bellefontaine/552

About Per-Henrik Gurth

Per-Henrik Gürth is a graphic designer and illustrator of more than a dozen children’s books, including the bestselling titles Canada 123 and ABC of Canada. He lives in Kingston, Ontario.

http://www.kidscanpress.com/creators/henrik-g%C3%BCrth/82