Family Board Game: Tsuro

Over the years our family has played a lot of board games, but we’ve also found that while in theory board games are fun, they often end up being more like an opportunity for screaming matches more than fun quality time.

As a result, we’re always looking for games that work easily for out family without too much competitiveness, that don’t last too long and that are simple to understand. Lately the winning board game: Tsuro

What is it?

From the publisher:

A beautiful and beautifully simple game of laying a tile before your own token to continue its path on each turn. The goal is to keep your token on the board longer than anyone else's, but as the board fills up this becomes harder because there are fewer empty spaces left... and another player's tile may also extend your own path in a direction you'd rather not go. Easy to introduce to new players, Tsuro lasts a mere 15 minutes and actually does work for any number from 2 to 8.

My description: You lay down tiles to try to bump everyone else off the board and be the last person left!

Tsuro game board, game pieces and game tiles

Tsuro game board with tiles and game pieces on the board to show how pieces move during the game

Game statistics:

2-8 players (we find it better with more people and avoid playing with 3 or less)

8+ (though we think it could easily work for 6+ depending on the kid)

15-20 minutes (this is key - it doesn’t last long enough for people to get bored, antsy and start sniping at each other)

Where can you get it?

We checked in with local games store Kessel Run and they sell Tsuro!

Have you played Tsuro? What do you think? What other board games do your family play without ending up in screaming matches? :)

Cycling in Ottawa

KITC would like to welcome back guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel. During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During a non-pandemic winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.

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After my family and our good health, I have been most thankful for my bicycle during the pandemic. This might seem to be an odd statement but my bicycle has helped both my physical and mental health. Since the pandemic started, I have explored pathways both near and far from my house. Here are a few of my favorites.

Many people in Ottawa are very familiar with the NCC pathways that meander along the Rideau Canal, Ottawa River, and Rideau River. I thought I would focus on some of the more undiscovered gems.

Rail Trails

These pathways are aptly named. They are former rail lines that have now been converted into multi-use pathways. The closest rail trail to my house is the Prescott-Russell pathway. This pathway is found in Ottawa’s east end near Blair Road and stretches all the way to near the Quebec-Ontario border for a total distance of 94 kilometres. I can’t profess to ever doing anywhere near this distance. Most of my jaunts are about 10-15 kilometres.

One thing that I like about this trail is that even when all of the trails near Mer Bleue are packed I can be almost alone on the trail. I have noticed a rise in popularity on the trail since the pandemic started but it is still very manageable.

A bucket list trip for me post-pandemic is to take the PR trail near Navan and discover some of the wineries that are located near the trail.

There are a couple of other rail trails found in Ottawa. In the south end, there is the Osgoode Pathway which extends from Leitrim Road all the way to Osgoode. Portions of this trail are under construction near Leitrim as the city builds the second stage of light rail.

In the city’s west end is the Ottawa-Carleton pathway which extends from Bell’s Corner all the way to Carleton Place.

National Capital Commission Weekend Bikedays

One of my favorite activities during the pandemic has been hopping on my bike almost every Saturday in the summer and cycling along the Sir George Etienne Cartier Parkway. The first time I was cycling on the parkway, I was expecting to be pulled over by a traffic officer or have a vehicle honking at me. Of course, the parkways are closed to motorized traffic during the bikedays so I experienced neither.

I loved the egalitarian nature of the bikedays. You have everyone from lycra-clad cyclists riding bikes that cost as much as a down payment on a house to families teaching their kids to ride for the first time.

Post-COVID, I could imagine bikedays becoming an even more festive occasion with perhaps activities along the way and vendors selling food.

Thankfully, the weekend bikedays have been extended for another season running from May 1 to October 11. Full details about road closures and hours can be found here https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/weekend-bikedays

Mountain Biking

I must admit, this is an activity I have not tried out but it is on my bucket list for 2021. Our family first discovered mountain bikers when we were hiking in the Larose Forest last summer. All the mountain bikers we encountered on the trails were very friendly and considerate. They also seemed to be having a blast.

Upon further research, I discovered via the Ottawa Mountain Bike Association’s website, ottawamba.org, there are extensive mountain bike trails around Ottawa. Larose Forest is located about forty minutes east of Ottawa.

In the west end of Ottawa, mountain bikers can get their fix at the South March Highlands. Reading online, these trails have very favorable ratings for both mountain biking and hiking.

This article only skims the surface of cycling options in Ottawa. There is also road cycling, a trip on the extensive network of NCC and city pathways or just a jaunt around the neighbourhood.

See you on the trails!

Storytime at the Ottawa Public Library

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some great storytime books for preschoolers and kinders. This month’s post is by Charmaine Atrooshi, Children’s and Teen Services Librarian at the Hazeldean Branch of the Ottawa Public Library.

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The Hazeldean Children’s team loves storytime and all things picture books! In this blog we will share some of our favorite stories, and online resources for preschoolers and kinders!

When I begin my storytime programs here at the branch, I love to begin with the Hello Friends song, with matching sign language actions. It’s great as it has a lot of repetition and teaches children some basic signs!  Want to learn some other hello and good bye songs?  The team at JBRARY has compiled many, many videos of storytime songs for all to learn and enjoy!  Looking to learn some new French songs? Try 1, 2, 3 on chante!

Pete the Cat and His four Groovy Buttons by James Dean and Eric Litwin is a storytime classic! Not only does it have children counting, but it also has humor and a super catchy jingle that everyone can sing along to! (”my buttons, my buttons, my four groovy buttons...”).  Not sure of the tune? Check out the HarperKids video for a sing along!

Is Everyone Ready for Fun? By Jan Thomas

Big bright pictures, ’fun loving cows,’ and a tiny chicken’s sofa- what’s not to love about this book?  The cows love to jump, wiggle, and dance on chicken’s sofa.... but chicken is not too happy about this....  A fun story that will have kids jumping up and down, and dancing, following cow’s actions.

Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

This Caldecott medal winning picture book features a lovely little kitten who just wants to have that little bowl of milk in the sky. She chases it, runs up trees, and tries her very best to get it...but ends up all wet and hungry.  However when she gets home there is a surprise waiting for her!

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

 Little dog George cannot bark!  George’s mother says Bark! But George meows, quacks and oinks instead! What is wrong with George?  His mother takes him to a vet, where the uncover the problem...  A fun story that will have toddlers practicing their animal sounds and laughing out loud as George tries so hard to just ...bark!

The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort

Everyone knows the wheels on the bus—but what about the seals on the bus! A great book to sing along to --  tigers on the bus roar, geese go honk, monkeys go eeeeeh, eeeeh and there are even skunks---- and they go sssss, sssss, sssss!  This book is even more fun with puppets!

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Eric Carle is a world renowned children’s author who writes beautiful colorful picture books for children that are easy to follow, and fun to read.  Head to Toe features animals trying to show small children how they move, and encourages them to try as well-- for example, cat arches their back-- can the child do it too?!trying to show small children how they move, and encourages them to try as well-- for example, cat arches their back-- can the child do it too?

Mortimer by Robert Munsch

Last (but not least) is Mortimer by Robert Munsch!  We love Mortimer - and all his noise! -- ”Clang, clang, rattle-bing-bang Gonna make my noise all day. Clang, clang, rattle-bing-bang Gonna make my noise all day.”  Children love to sing along with Mortimer as he makes his noise—and adding instruments to the mix makes for even more fun!

All these great books are available to borrow from the Ottawa Public Library!  Really love one of the titles and want to find something similar? Check out NoveList K-8 for read-alikes, recommendations, and we also have a vast array of children’s e-books and audiobooks to borrow available through Overdrive.

And don’t forget Tumblebooks—with read alongs for all ages including picture books as well as chapter books, and even songs!

Don’t have a library card yet?  No problem, you can register online!

Stay safe everyone, and we hope to see you all one day soon.

Will it grow? Experiments for kids in growing vegetables

I’m not an avid gardener but I’ve been having a lot of fun in the last while learning what I can and can’t grow - part of it is experimentation and getting ideas from the internet so I thought I’d share a few of the things I’ve seen, have tried, and am currently trying to see if it inspires you!

A mini window greenhouse

This idea from Tiktok is a simple activity that’s fun to try out with little kids to see things grow. I haven’t personally tried this one out but it’s one I would have loved to try with my kids when they were younger so wanted to share.

It’s simply a ziplock bag, wet paper towel, seeds and some construction paper!

@unlikelycharming

Mini Greenhouse... #children #lessons #germination #lessons #educating #kids #project #funlessons #seeds #educating #teaching #letstry #garden #🌱

♬ original sound - Unlikelycharming

Regrowing lettuce

I’ve never done this long enough to eat the lettuce, but the watching the lettuce regrow is always fascinating to me (and even my tweens). Based on this article I may try romaine next time! It’s as simple as cutting off the bottom of your store bought lettuce and sitting it in some water. This is about 3 days out for this iceberg lettuce regrowth. As more browns I will peel off what’s dying away and more new green will replace it!

Lettuce bottom held in water by toothpicks with new growth popping in

Planting old onions

Onion that has sprouted

Every time I find a sprouted vegetable in my kitchen I’m now curious if I can replant it! I did a bit of research and have now attempted to regrow onion!

Here’s what I learned.

Step one - find an old onion that has spouted - don’t throw it away!

Sprouted onion partially peeled down to centre

Step two - peel back the onion - all the way down, and you’ll find multiple onions to regrow. I had two, but it sounds like there are often more in an onion. Leave the roots on the onion.

Sprouted onion peeled down to centre, ready to be cut into two

Step three - once you get all the way down, cut apart the onions using a knife.

Pieces of sprouted onion planted about one inch deep.

Step four - plant about an inch deep in soil (I was worried about planting them right into the garden when we might still get below freezing so I planted them in a bucket for now, but it does seem that they are able to withstand up to -5C (20F) so it might be ok to plant them right into your garden now. )

Step five - Keep them well watered wait about 3 months and then you probably (maybe) have onions! They are ready to harvest when the necks are soft and bending over. If they’re still standing up straight leave them to grow a while longer.

Let me know if you found this interesting and you’d like to hear about more of the things we attempt to regrow and how we do it! Our pineapple plant from last year is still doing great and I’m hopeful in a year or two we’ll get a tiny little pineapple from it too!

Keep Calm and Dream On with Books from the Ottawa Public Library

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some of their favourite books for ages 0 to 12. This month’s post was submitted by Sarah Godding and Kristina Roudiy, Children’s Program Assistants at the Alta Vista Branch

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Dream big! Now dream BIGGER! Find a quiet spot and take a moment, maybe before or after reading a book. Sit quiet and take some deep breaths. Think about what you really want out of your life. What would you like to do? Who would you like to be? Where do you want to go? Now, forget about all the reasons why you can’t. What’s left is a dream, your dream. You can keep it in your heart. Tend to it often. Give it opportunity to grow and soon this dream may become your reality!

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1- Picture book : Most Marshmallows / Rowboat Watkins. Published in 2019. For ages 3-5

 A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you’re awake or asleep. It is a hope for the future, and it is something to be cherished. With charming collage art and delicate drawings, the whimsy tale “Most Marshmallows” shows us what can happen when some marshmallows dream of different things.

2- Picture book : Brontorina / James Howe. Published in 2010. For ages 2-6

This is a playful and empowering tale of a young Brontorina and her pursuit of her passion: dance! Sometimes, in life, it may seem like something isn’t for you; that in order to participate, you need to be taller or smaller, faster or slower, but that simply isn’t true. The desire to do is permission enough! Our dream is the voice we must pay the most attention to. Brontorina shows us how if there is a will, we can find a way.

3- Picture book : I Dream of Popo / Livia Blackburne. Published in 2021. For ages 3-6

Change is hard at any age, but when a young girl and her family emigrate from Taiwan to America, she leaves behind a lot, including her beloved Popo. The girl misses her Popo and thinks of her every day.  Even as their visits prove to be fleeting, their love remains true and strong. Our love for others can be like a dream. It is a hope the binds and connects us, no matter how near, or far our loved one may be. This book highlights the power of the unconscious mind to bring us closer to the ones we love.

4- Picture book : The Girl Who Spoke to the Moon: A Story About Friendship & Loving Our Earth / Land Wilson. Published in 2020. For ages 4-9

After a young girl named Sofia befriends the Moon, she decides to depart on a dreamy adventure to visit her new friend. From up above, the Earth looks different than she imagined. As Sofia looks down, she sees the Earth as the Moon does and is moved to act in its protection.  Sofia decides to help the Earth in whatever way she can.

5- Picture book : Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah / Laurie Anne Thompson. Published in 2015. For ages 4-8

When Emmanuels was born he only had one good leg. Some people in his life shirked him for it, but his mother did not. His mother sowed the dreams of independence and hope in him. These dreams carried him further than most could ever imagine. This is the tale of a boy who understood that his disability was not an inability. He decided that if he can dream it, he can do it, and so he did.

6- Illustrated book : Drum Dream Girl : how one girl’s courage changed music / Margarita Engle. Published in 2015. For ages 4-8

This is a story based on the life of a Chinese-African-Cuban girl, Millo Castro Zaldarriaga. From a young age, she was passionate about music and dreamed of becoming a drummer. But her father refused to let her play, saying only boys could be drummers in their country. Millo refused to give up, practiced in secret and persisted until her father accepted to let her take music lessons. She eventually got to perform in public... and became famous enough to perform for the Roosevelt presidential home! A hopeful story that shows the power of perseverance and the importance of following your dreams. The text and illustrations work well together, with vibrant acrylic paintings and bright tones transporting readers to the tropical setting. *This title is available at the Ottawa Public Library as a special picture book, an e-book, an audiobook and a DVD. Enjoy!

7- Early Reader : The best first game / Meg Braithwaite. Published in 2019. For ages 6-8

This beginner chapter book will be of interest to the school-aged hockey lovers. It tells the story of Auston Matthews, an American hockey player, who dreamed of playing hockey, and ended up scoring 4 goals in his first NHL game! Auston now plays with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and occasionally against the Ottawa Senators. *Once you’ve read this book, there are 5 more to discover in the “I can read : level 2” series”! Click here to see the other books by Meg Braithwaite.

8- Non-fiction book : Dream builder : the Story of Architect Philip Freelon / Kelly Starling Lyons. Published in 2020. For ages 6-9

 This is an inspirational picture book biography about Philip Freelon. The story starts and ends with a dream... From the first line, Philip Freelon’s world is described as a place where “art breathes dreams to life”, to the last line that describes Philip as “having become a builder of dreams”. As a young child, Philip had difficulty reading, but he didn’t let that stop him. He was able to visualize pictures and angles in his head, and was creative with his hands. He eventually mixed his love of science, math and art in architecture. He became known as an architect who chose to build only places that connect people with heritage and fill their hearts with joy, such as schools, libraries and museums. Philip used his family history and deep understanding of Black culture in his role as lead architected for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). This book is sure to inspire the next generation of dreamers & builders!

8- Chapter book : A Wish in the Dark / Christina Soontornvat. Published in 2020. For ages 9-12

 This may be a stand-alone book (no sequel planned), but it has it all : a colorful setting, a sympathetic hero, humor, adventure, an epic conflict and a dash of magic. The main character is Pong, who was born in Namwon Prison, in Thailand. He dreams of serving the Governor and rescuing civilization, using his unique magical power. When he escapes from prison, Nok, the prison warden’s daughter, embarks on a quest to find him... Some will recognize the plot of this book as being inspired from “Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo. *This Newberry Honor book is also available at the Ottawa Public Library as an e-book.

9- Graphic novel : Hex Vet : Witches in training / Samantha Davies. Published in 2018. For ages 9-12

This is volume 1 in the series “Hex Vet” by acclaimed cartoonist Sam Davies. Nan and Clarion are two young apprentice veterinarian witches, who are pursuing their dreams of caring for magical creatures. As part of their apprenticeship, they use magic potions to help creatures of all kinds, ranging from adorable to terrifying : witches’ cats with claw injuries, dragons, phoenix birds suffering from bird flu, snakes, etc. One day, while the vet is away, a rabbit with hypnotic powers shows up at the Willows Whisper Clinic, putting their skills to the test... A sweet, funny story, with pastel-coloured illustrations.

10- Chapter book : Love, Ish / Karen Rivers. Published in 2017. For ages 10-12

 Twelve-year-old Misha is scientifically minded and intelligent. She has known for years that she’s going to be a Mars colonist. She dreams to be amongst the members of the expedition scheduled to visit the planet in ten years and has already sent 46 applications for it! However, on her first day of 7th grade, she blacks out at school and awakens in the hospital with a brain tumor diagnosis –yet manages to find humor in her situation. This story of love and courage includes a unique, funny main character and some interesting scientific facts. *If you’re more of a Comic Book reader, you could check out this one about Snoopy’s dream to be the first beagle in space! Or if a younger family member wants to also read about going to space, for real, check out “Mae Among the Stars” here.

By the way, did you know that the week of April 12th (Spring Break 2021) will be all about Imagination? Visit this webpage to find out about the Virtual school-aged Library Programs being offered that week.