#IMWAYR May 10, 2021

Hello out there. It's #IMWAYR time again, when readers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to in the past week. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the kidlit rendition. Whatever you are looking forward to in your next great read, these are fabulous places to start your search.


Our house got new windows this week. It is glorious! The most important difference is in our living room. We had a huge double pane picture window that water had leaked into so they never looked clean. Our new ones are crisp clear and have two casement windows on each end to let fresh air flow in. Now all we have to do is finish the trim around them. We also have to finish the rest of the renovations, but it is coming along. 

Aside from that, I spent a lot of time working in the garden this week. I didn't cover my seeds when I planted the first batch and the birds got them. I put netting over the last batch and am keeping seedlings in the cold frame until they get a bit bigger. I sure wish the birds would pull out and eat the weeds that are sprouting. 

Titles with a 🍁 indicate this is a Canadian or Indigenous Canadian Author and or Illustrator. 

Clicking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page of the book. 

BLOG POSTS LAST WEEK

This Is Ruby by Sara O'Leary & Alea Marley

Out into the Big Wide Lake by Paul Harbridge & Josée Bisaillon (Illustrations)


This is a charming story about a young girl and her grandfather. Although the two of them don't speak the same language, they have a delightful day together and end up bonding. 


Remember Sadie? Meet her friend Ruby. Ruby is a curious, innovative, go getter. Ruby is never bored. This book is a celebration of science and creativity. Check out my blog post here to read more and see images of the gorgeous artwork. 

5 stars

Out Into The Big Lake by Paul Harbridge & Josée Bisaillon (Illustrations) May 18, 2021  🍁

You are going to love Kate! She's based on Harbridge's sister who has down syndrome. A pluckier hero is hard to find. Josée Bisaillon's illustrations are award worthy. Check out my blog post here to read more and see images of the gorgeous artwork. 


LeUyen Pham records the events of the past year as the world shut down because of Covid 19. In spite of the heartache and heartbreak, the book is full of optimism and hope.
Such a beautiful and important book.

NON FICTION PICTURE BOOKS

5 stars

The Case of the Vanishing Little Brown Bats: A Scientific Mystery by Sandra Markle January 1, 2014

This has been on my to read list since 2014. It's a well written book that talks about what causes white nose syndrome (Pd - Pseudogymnoascus destructans) in little brown bats. It details how scientists identified the cause and what they are doing to try and stop the spread and save these helpful creatures from extinction. It's depressing as heck. Some experts consider white-nose syndrome to be one of the deadliest wildlife diseases in modern times. 
Since this was published in 2014, I did a bit of searching to see what the animal's status is now. It turns out that it attacks other kinds of bats as well. It has spread fast and far in the past decade. In areas where Pd has spread, at least 90% of the bat population has been decimated. In some areas 99% was wiped out. It hasn't reached British Columbia yet, but it's just a matter of time before it arrives here.
On a positive note, it looks like some bats might be genetically resistant to the disease. Whether this will make a difference in the long run, only time will tell.
 
NOVELS


Right from the get go I worried about these children. Upon their emotionally remote grandmother's death, with no one to look after them, three children are evacuated from London to avoid the bombing of WW2. Their lawyer instructs them to keep the secret of their wealth to themselves and see if they can find someone to be their permanent guardian. They go through much hardship before finally finding solace with the local librarian.
I admit that my eyes leaked a bit while reading this.

5 stars

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo June 5, 2012

Leigh Bardugo writes fiction that knocks my socks off. Her world building, her characters, and her stories are all compelling. I believe in the reality of her creations.
Shadow and Bone is a story of friendship, love, magic and betrayal. It's about hope, wrenching off the shackles of those who would control you and coming into your own power. I was heartbroken to discover that there is a long line of people ahead of me for the next one in this series.

5 stars

Go Tell It On the Mountain by James Baldwin & Adam Lazarre-White (Narrator) May 18, 1953

I had almost forgotten how beautiful Baldwin's writing is.
This semi biographical novel shows readers the good and bad of the pentecostal church. On the one hand is the amoral hypocrisy of the leaders and on the other, the inspiration and support of community.  It's a hard read that made me want to weep and scream. There is little of compassion in this book. John Grimes' step father is a church pastor. He's hypocritical and physically and emotionally abusive. 

NON FICTION MEMOIR 

Alexandra Morton, "the Jane Goodall of Canada", started out studying whale communication with no intention of ever becoming an activist. When salmon farms first showed up on British Columbia's coast she was only concerned with how they would affect the behaviour of the orca pods in the area. It was local fishermen coming to her with their concerns about wild salmon that started her on the course of advocating for their survival. She went from being a scientist to becoming a scientist activist. This pitted her against multinational farming consortiums, provincial, and federal governments. This is her story. It's a story of corruption, misinformation and intimidation. It's a story of resilience and hope.
Did you know that the only places left on the planet with healthy wild salmon runs are Alaska and Russia? They are also the only places who have kept salmon farming from their waters. If you care about wild salmon, please purchase and read this book. Donate money to Alexandra Morton so she can continue to advocate for these endangered fish.

DISCWORLD NOVELS

I'm so close to the end of the collection that I am reading the last few slowly and savouring each word. 

CURRENTLY 

This is what I have on the go:
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel 
The Electric War: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse and the Race to Light the World by Mike Winchell
Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett

UP NEXT

Love Is A Revolution by Renee Watson
Too Small Tola by Atinuke
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel 

BLOG POSTS NEXT WEEK

Constellation of the Deep by Benjamin Flouw
We Are All Under One Wide Sky by Deborah Wiles

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2021 12/25 one in progress

#MustReadNFIn2021 4/12 one in progress

#MustReadPBIn2021 32/100 

Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 16/25

Books by Canadian Authors: 48/100

Canada Reads 2021 4/5 

Discworld Series 39/41 

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 176/333

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Out Into The Big Lake by Paul Harbridge & Josée Bisaillon (Illustrations)


Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It will be released May 18, 2021 by Tundra Books. Preorder it for your libraries.

You are going to love Kate!

One day Grandma comes to visit. She wants Kate to come and spend the summer with her and Grandpa. After a bit, Mom agrees. Grandma and Kate travel on a train and then by boat to get to Kate's grandparents home on the lake where they run a local store. 

Sleeping in what used to be her mother's bed, Kate is a bit homesick. However, she's soon busy helping her grandfather deliver groceries. Most of the people they deliver to are friendly, except for grumpy Walter. 

In the evenings Grandma teaches her how to drive the boat and Parbuckle, the dog, becomes a good friend. 

One morning Grandpa collapses with a heart attack. After he is rushed to the hospital, Kate sits on the dock with the groceries and decides to deliver them herself. Her only worry is that troublesome Walter. 

I enjoyed this book a couple of times before reading the information about the author and illustrator on the jacket flaps. Knowing that Harebridge wrote this for his sister who has down syndrome, and that the protagonist, Kate, is based on her, brought significant meaning to aspects of the story. I appreciated it even more. 

Josée Bisaillon's artwork is swoonworthy. It wowed me right from the start. Her illustrations, "a mixture of collage, drawings and digital montage, take us into a world so richly detailed and multidimensional that you'd hardly think it all came out of only one person's imagination." 
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This is Ruby by Sara O'Leary & Alea Marley


Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It will be released May 25, 2021 by Tundra Books. Preorder it for your libraries.

Remember Sadie? This is her friend, Ruby, another creative strong girl who is interested in all things STEM! 

Ruby is never bored. This curious, creative, little girl is an explorer,  an inventor, and a time traveller. She likes to watch things grow and take things apart to figure out how they work. 

She isn't sure what she wants to be when she grows up, but knows her options are endless. These days she is contemplating being an animal conservationist, a doctor, an engineer, or an astronaut. With Teddy, her best friend, she might even become an archaeologist. 

Ruby has already accomplished many things. She made a book of smells for animals and others who can't read words. She created a potion that tastes like clouds. She even invented a time machine. 

There is so much to love about this book. I liked the bits of humour, especially when Ruby goes back in time to visit the dinosaurs, and then even farther back to when her parents met. I like that her parents may or may not be same sex. I like that Ruby is Black. Energy and joy fill these pages in both words and images. 

Alea Marley's illustrations are glorious explosions of colour. Her favourite medium is chunky pencils, watercolour crayons, and digital brushes.  

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#IMWAYR May 3, 2021

Hello out there. It's #IMWAYR time again, when readers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to in the past week. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the kidlit rendition. Whatever you are looking forward to in your next great read, these are fabulous places to start your search.

#CCBCBookWeek2021 began on Sunday. Canadian Children’s Book Week is a celebration of Canadian authors of children's literature. 
"From May 2 to May 8, Canadian children’s authors, illustrators and storytellers will embark on our first-ever virtual tour, reaching 17,205 kids and teens across the country. Hosted on digital platforms, our goal is the same as it has always been: to share stories and captivate the imaginations of children and teens. Throughout the week, 45 authors, illustrators and storytellers will visit hundreds of schools, public libraries, bookstores and community centres across Canada to read from their books and share with children the magic of reading, writing, illustrating and storytelling. Touring participants will be visiting students all across Canada, including remote communities like BC’s Salt Spring Island, Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories, and Lennox Island First Nation, PEI."
I've tried to focus on sharing books by Canadian authors this week and will try to read #CanKidLit books this week.

Titles with a 🍁 indicate this is a Canadian or Indigenous Canadian Author and or Illustrator. 

Clicking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page of the book. 

BLOG POSTS FROM LAST WEEK



PICTURE BOOKS

5 stars

My Family, Your Family! by Kathryn Cole & Cornelia Li (Illustrations) September 8, 2020  🍁

I love that this features so much diversity in families. I've ordered copies of this board book for my youngest grandbabies.

4 stars

Blue Rider by Geraldo Valério March 1, 2018  🍁

In this wordless story, A young girl finds a picture book on a busy street and brings it home. When she opens it, she is taken from her drab city existence into a world of nature. Pages explode with colour as she reads it. When she finished the book, her bedroom has been transformed.

5 stars

At the Pond by Geraldo Valério March 1, 2020  🍁

A boy visits a pond with his dog and ends up discovering a new way to be in relationship with the animals, plants, and world around him. 


This wordless book is stunningly gorgeous. 

5 stars

Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore & Kristi Valiant (Illustrator) May 1, 2014

I connected with this book right from the first page. I remember being a child watching my slightly older aunts and uncles cooking with my grandparents. Just like Cora, I longed to be a part of that crowd. When her older siblings go out to the mall, Cora and her mother cook pancit together for the rest of her family.
I appreciate that there is a glossary and recipe for pancit at the end of the book. I had to adapt it for only the two of us, but it was delicious.

There is so much to love about this book. I ordered two copies - one for each of my almost four year old grandkids to help prepare them for kindergarten. The 'Richard Scary' format will keep them entertained and ensure they go to the book back again and again. You can read my full review here. 

3 stars

Skunk on a String by Thao Lam March 15, 2016  🍁

Somehow a skunk has been tied to a helium balloon and, unable to untie himself, is floating across a city sky.
The art in this is gorgeous, but at times I had a bit of difficulty making sense of the story.
 
CHAPTER BOOKS

This graphic novel style picture book packs an overload of sweetness and humour. Read my whole review here. 

NOVELS

5 stars


This book is for everyone who has had that defining moment, that episode of utter humiliation that changes their lives for at least part of their life. I've got at least one of my own and bet you do too. This is about how, with a little humour and help from friends, you can rise above it.
This is about the power of friendship. It’s about being friends across ages and cultures. It’s a little bit about finding romance when you least expect it. Ultimately it's about becoming the best kind of person you can be. You can read more about this book here. 


Hiram Walker was born a slave. His father was the plantation owner. He was much smarter and more responsible than his white half brother. It doesn't matter. He will always be a slave. It turns out that Hiram has the special power of conductivity. Eventually he is freed from slavery from an unexpected person and ends up joining the Underground Railway. This is an odd book to review because it's a mixture of magical realism, fantasy, and historical fiction. While there were places where the narrative got a bit bogged down, I was compelled to finish listening to Hiram's story. 

NON FICTION

This memoir reminds me that Indigenous people on Turtle Island lived here long before it was separated into different countries. The history of Gansworth's family showed me a history similar to those I've read of Indigenous people here in Canada. 
I was struck by the many references to Canadian place names and pop culture. I was reminded that the Sylix here where I live have close family on both sides of the border. There is one particular section when he writes about sharing a Tragically Hip tune with his niece that says it all. "The Canadian side of her DNA wakes up, and since we don’t consider it another country, the Canadian side of my DNA wakes up as well, as we listen to Gordon Downie singing of poets and hockey and ice storms and hockey and Toronto and hockey and penguins and hockey and fireworks and the power of phantoms, or fleeting, phantom power, and in return she walks into the house and returns, offering me slices of cornbread, buttered and salted, on a paper towel." 
That's big picture stuff.
In the minutia of one family, this is a story of tragedy, determination, resilience, and love. It's a story of redemption, reconciliation, and rejuvenation.
Some of these poems made me weep. Others made me laugh. I was always in awe.


Wab Kinew is a well educated, former CBC reporter who is now the leader of the NDP party in Manitoba. This memoir was written by him as his father neared the end of his life. It's the story of his father's experiences and how these in turn influenced his own. Kinew's father was a residential school survivor who became an accomplished academic and politician. He was often away from home and emotionally distant from his family. Kinew's mother is a white woman. He is comfortable in both worlds. 
This book is full of what reconciliation means. The official apology for residential schools was just the beginning, not as many people might think, the end. 
It was fascinating to be listening to this book at the same time as I was reading Gansworth's memoir with my eyes. There are many similarities in their family's experiences. Just as Gansworth's family stretches into Canada, Kinew's stretches into the United States. Unfortunately, The Reason You Walk lacks the emotional intimacy of Apple: Skin to the Core

DISCWORLD NOVELS


I finished listening to this more than a week ago, and then started it all over again. I have so much love for this book and this mini series inside the Discworld collection. In this, the second to last book, Tiffany is now the fully-fledged witch of the chalk. The baron dies and Roland, his son, takes over. Roland has gotten himself engaged to a weepy, but beautiful, princess with a tartar for a mother. Tiffany's conflicted feelings about his engagement are compounded by his no longer seeming to be her friend. On top of this, a powerful demonic spirit, the Cunning Man, is stalking her. The Cunning Man despises all witches and uses his powers to fill minds with suspicion and hate towards them. Tiffany must defeat him, because if she doesn’t, and he manages to take over her body, the other witches will have to destroy her. Thankfully Tiffany has many allies, including new witches, a promising young man, and the fearless Nac Mac Feegles to help her.

CURRENTLY 

This is what I have on the go:

Not On My Watch by Alexandra Morton
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel 
Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

UP NEXT

The Electric War: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse and the Race to Light the World by Mike Winchell
Love Is A Revolution by Renee Watson

BLOG POSTS NEXT WEEK

This Is Ruby by Sara O'Leary

Out into the Big Wide Lake by Paul Harbridge

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2021 11/25 one in progress

#MustReadNFIn2021 4/12 

#MustReadPBIn2021 29/100 

Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 16/25

Books by Canadian Authors: 44/100

Canada Reads 2021 4/5 

Discworld Series 39/41 

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 168/333

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1, 2, 3, Off to School! by Marianne Dubuc & Yvette Ghione (translator)

 

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It will be released May 4, 2021 by Kids Can Press.

Pom, who is only four, heads off to explore what happens at school for their animal friends. 


Mouslings are just arriving for the day when Pom gets to Nutcracker school. 
At Hopalot School for rabbits, bunnies are learning to read, write and count. (I adored the rooftop garden there.) 
The frogs at Cattail Academy are drawing, painting and making music. 
Pom joins the foxes in their exercise program at Foxtrot School and has lunch with bears at Honeycomb School. 
At Sleepytime School Pom is happy to nap with the sloths. 
As the day progresses Pom visits squirrels as they learn about nature, reads with wolf pups in the library, and watches turtles tidying up. Pom visits the hedgehogs at Quill Academy after school before finally heading home.

Enchanting is the word for this picture book. Marianne Dubuc fills this book with details showing us many stories beyond Pom's own journey. It reminds me of the Richard Scary books my boys used to pore over when they were young. I'm charmed that Pom is a nongendered character. I was delighted by the fairy tale characters who showed up at the different schools. 

I've already put orders in to send copies of this to my almost four year old grandkids. I think they will love the active format of this picture book. Hopefully they will enjoy poring over the many glorious details. By following along with Pom's adventures it will help them get ready for kindergarten too. 
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Tremendous Things by Susin Nielsen

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It will be released May 25, 2021 by Penguin Teen.

This book is for everyone who has had that defining moment, that episode of utter humiliation that changes their lives for part of their life. I've got at least one of my own and bet you do too. This is about how, with a little humour and help from friends, you can rise above it. 

Wilbur Nuñez-Knopf lives with his two moms, Mup and Mum. Until grade seven he was homeschooled. His first day in public school ended up in disaster. Their teacher, Mr Markowitz, asked students to write a letter to themselves that he would return to them the day they graduated high school. Wilbur wrote honestly about his goals and dreams. Mr Markowitz accidently dropped the letter while taking it to the school's time capsule. It was picked up by the school bully, Tyler Kertz, and posted online.

Wilbur calls that his defining moment. Two years later, he tries his best to stay under the radar of everyone, especially Tyler, who hasn't let up on the name calling and snarky remarks. 

While most people avoid him, Wilbur has a couple of best friends. Sal is Wilbur's 86 year old next door neighbour. Alex has been his friend since grade 7. Being one of the queer kids makes him an outsider too. Wilbur writes poetry and Alex sets it to music. 

Wilbur's family struggles to make ends meet. Mup works a number of part time jobs while Mum tries to build a career as an actor and refurbishes old furniture to sell. Wilbur has a part time job at a Submarine Sandwich shop. When the school band ends up doing an exchange with a French school group, finding the money is a serious issue. It isn't a problem right away though because the French contingent is coming to Canada first. 


Wilbur's billet, Charlie, turns out to be a girl instead of a boy. Charlie is independent, smart and very classy. Wilbur ends up with a huge crush on her. At a dance at the end of the visit, she ends up making out with Tyler. It isn't that she likes him, she just doesn't like Wilbur in that way.

Mortified and heartbroken, Wilbur decides not to go to France. Thankfully, Sal, Alex, and Fabrizio, Alex's boyfriend, stage an intervention. What follows is like an episode from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. They revamp his wardrobe, get him repeating affirmations and improving his French. Alex and Wilbur take up running. In the process of all this Alex and Wilbur address issues between the two of them, and Alex becomes friends with Fabrizio.

Wilbur works extra shifts to make extra money to cover the cost of the trip to France. His boss made him shift supervisor rather than increase his salary. As Wilbur's self confidence grows he eventually fires a lazy, entitled employee. This backfires and Wilbur ends up getting sacked. With money tight, it looks like Wilbur might not make it. Thankfully his mom's come through for him and he is ready to head off to Paris. 

Paris is spectacular. Charlie's academic father is stern, compassionate, and hilarious. Together Charlie and Wilbur stand up to her estranged overbearing mother. No matter how the relationship between the two of them turns out, Wilbur is going to be ok. 

I liked so much about this book. 

The characters and their relationships with each other are real. Their development is authentic. Wilbur reminds me of one of my adorably geeky library monitors. Like Wilbur he was tall for his age with unique interests. Sal reminds me of the old men in my family. The parents and other adults (except for Charlie's mother) are supportive strong role models. I liked reading Wilbur's poetry. The connection to Charlotte's Web, my favourite book, delighted me completely. Wilbur started out as William, but loved the book so much he asked to change his name. This book is full of heart and humour. I laughed out loud numerous times - way more frequently than I cringed.

Ultimately this is a book about friendship. It’s about being friends across ages and cultures. I adore the honesty that Alex and Wilbur build. I love the advice that Sal gives Wilbur. I had a tear in my eye reading about their back story. I love the acceptance between all of them. I appreciate that Fabrizio makes an overture towards Wilbur to begin their own relationship. I especially appreciate that Charlie sets boundaries that ensure their continued connection no matter what the future brings. It’s a little bit about finding romance when you least expect it. This is also a book about becoming the best kind of person you can be. All you need is a little help from your friends. 

I've never read a Susin Nielsen book that I didn't love. This one might be the best so far. 

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Scaredy Squirrel in a Nutshell by Mélanie Watt

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It will be released May 25, 2021 by Tundra Books.

This graphic novel chapter book is preposterous, hilarious, and full on fun. If you haven't heard of Scaredy Squirrel, the world's most famous atypical squirrel, you must have been hiding under a rock, or maybe a nut. 

Scaredy is called Scaredy for a reason. If something exists, this squirrel will find some way to worry about it. Yet at the same time as Scaredy is full of anxiety, the little rodent is also ingenious, creative and an expert risk calculator. If all else fails, there is always the play dead option.

The prologue consists of a covid type security quiz. (Also, the end papers are of rolls of toilet paper.) You must achieve a score of 1 - 5 to proceed. I think it's impossible to fail, but you never know. What dire things might happen if you continue?

Chapter one finds Scaredy in his tree. He worries about aliens, mammoths, lumberjacks, woodpeckers, cats and termites. At the same time, he has stratagems for dealing with each of these eventualities. The only problem with these safeguards is that they collect dust. So every once in a while our little critter has to don his dust fighting outfit, drag out his vacuum cleaner, and clean off the safety equipment. Even if the hose gets clogged, Scaredy has a plan. 

Unfortunately, this time, he sets of a series of events that lead to an unforeseen disaster and Scaredy playing dead. 

Chapter two finds our friendly rodent hungry. The previous disaster knocked all the nuts off the tree. Terrible dangers await him if he decides to leave his tree and pick some up. Rocks, puddles, cacti and other hazards wait for an unsuspecting squirrel. Scaredy decides to order takeout instead. There are just so many choices. 

When his pizza arrives, Scaredy he puts on his ground level get up. Just when he is about to grab a slice, an unexpected event startles him. He scrambles to safety and once again, plays dead. 

In the final chapter Scaredy has to figure out if it is worthwhile taking risks to make a new friend. 

Will he end up playing dead again?

I liked so much about this book. I adore Watt's illustrations. I like the puns and slapstick humour. At one point Scaredy wonders, "Ivy might be poisonous! (name makes me itchy.)" I like that Scaredy Squirrel playfully models how to cope for kids with similar neuroses. I like that he shows the rest of us what living with these anxieties is like. I like that Ivy, and maybe even Timber, accept him just as he is. 

I'll be looking forward to the next in this new series. 

Preorder this for your libraries. Make it two or three copies. Young readers are going to love it. So will their big people.

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