I Can Survive Anything! Book Recommendations from the Ottawa Public Library

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some of their favourite books . This month’s post was submitted by Elizabeth Fosbery Richardson, Children’s Programming and Public Services Assistant at the Ruth E. Dickinson Branch.

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As we continue to adapt to changing times, we look at some books where the main characters must overcome obstacles to endure. From embarrassing situations to crazy animal antics to avalanches to climate change and war, these books offer lots of inspiration.

Something’s Wrong! A Bear, a Hare and Some Underwear by Jory John

Jeff sets out for his day, knowing something is wrong – but what is it? Something just doesn’t feel right and none of his forest friends have the courage to tell him. Good thing his friend Anders has a plan to help Jeff survive this most embarrassing situation.

Look Out, Leonard! By Jessie James

It’s moving day and Mrs. Shrew doesn’t want Leonard or any of his siblings to get lost. The plan is to have each of the siblings hold on to each other’s tails as they venture through the jungle. But Leonard is quite distractable and doesn’t always pay attention to what he’s grabbing. Follow Leonard’s adventures through the jungle to see whose tail he grabs next. Will it be a snappy crocodile? An angry baboon? A flying parrot?

Pea, Bee, & Jay Stuck Together by Brian “Smitty” Smith

Pea, Bee, and Jay are three unlikely friends that find themselves bonded together after surviving a thunderstorm. The three then must get themselves safely home while encountering more dangers in the forest in form of angry acorns, annoying raspberries, and a frisky fox. This charming new graphic novel series is a great choice for early readers.

Blue, Barry & Pancakes by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson

This delightful trio of a bookworm, frog and giant bunny are best friends. They share everything, including their triplex. On a beach adventure, during a game of keep away, their ball ends up inside a whale! From there, the trio must survive a meeting with aliens, an erupting volcano, and a flight with a crazy pig. This new graphic novel series is perfect for emerging readers.         

Lost!            Avalanche!    Overboard!   Dust Storm!
Survivor Diaries by Terry Lynn Johnson

This four-book series each features a gripping survival story of siblings or friends, followed by important survival tips if the reader were to find themselves in a similar situation. The survival situations include being knocked overboard into the cold ocean, getting lost in the jungle, enduring a dust storm, and surviving an avalanche. Perfect for fans of the I Survived series. Grades 3-5.

Bear by Ben Queen

What happens when a service dog loses his own sight? On the questionable advice from some raccoons living under his house, Bear, a golden retriever/chocolate lab mix, embarks on journey into the forest in an effort to regain his eyesight. Along his dangerous journey he encounters all kinds of dangers. This beautifully illustrated graphic novel is recommended for grades 3 and up.

The Last Bear by Hannah Gold

There are no bears left on Bear Island, at least that’s what April’s dad tells her when they move to a remote Arctic outpost there. Then she meets Bear, a lone and injured polar bear, separated from his family because of climate change and rising temperatures. Can April and Bear survive the journey to reunite Bear with his family? Grades 3 and up. A perfect novel for animal lovers and budding activists.

Ground Zero by Alan Gratz

This is the story of Brandon, a nine-year-old boy, who is in an elevator when one of the planes hits the World Trade Center Tower, and of Reshmina, an 11-year-old girl, who lives in present day Afghanistan. The novel is told in alternating points of view between the two main characters. Both children are facing dire situations and the author weaves their two stories together beautifully. Grades 4 and up.

Kids learning to cook with Julianna Banana

Juliette with her strawberry shortcake. We rushed the final step and the whip cream went on to a still warm cake so while not as tidy as Juliette hoped, we were able to share a delicious dessert with family.

[image of a 12 year old white girl sitting at a table with her face down low, behind a green plate with a home made strawberry shortcake.]

Making sure my kids learn to cook from a young age has always been a priority for me - partially so I know they have the skills they need when they move out, but also so that I don’t have to do as much of the cooking while they’re still at home.

That’s one of the reasons that I love that Julianna Banana is all about teaching kids these skills - and teaching them way better than just how to make Kraft Dinner or how to throw a frozen pizza in the oven! :)

Juliette got to try out the Holiday box last December, and this month she got the Summer box (and even made her first unboxing video - see below!).

Julianna Banana aims to inspire kids and families to get baking, cooking and creating in the kitchen all while learning about food, having fun, and gaining an appreciation for the importance of community and giving back.

They provide culinary experiences for kids and families, ranging from Classes to Culinary Boxes for Kids which combine the fun of a class with a collection of kid-friendly recipe cards, kitchen tools, science activities and more.

What exactly is a culinary box?

Finished pizza ready to eat!

[image of two 12 year olds standing in front of a patio door at night holding plates with pieces of the pizza they just made, ready to eat]

This box is a great mix of recipes, an experiment, an activity, kitchen tools, and support (you can join live online classes for some of the recipes!). My two 12 year olds were able to complete 3 of the recipes in a couple of days with very minimal support from me.

The Julianna Banana Summer Box contains

• A collection of kid-friendly recipe cards and booklet, summer faves like homemade strawberry jam, strawberry shortcake, homemade pizza, charcuterie and more.

• Locally sourced kitchen tools to get your junior chef cooking

• Teacher-crafted food science activity ; the science of ice cream!

• DIY Honey Lip Balm Kits; includes local HONEY 🍯 and Beeswax, tins, plus tags, gift pouch for gifting activity. Make one for a friend!

• handmade fabric jam jar covers and accessories. Make some jam, jar it and gift it! Recipe, fabric, tags and ribbon included.

• Julianna Banana Apron

• Functional storage box to store tools and recipes

• A complimentary LIVE virtual class August and September (we’ll make Pizza together), recipe included.

• Recipe notebook and additional kitchen tool, plus FREE shipping to Ottawa provided with Subscriptions ( set of Summer, Harvest and Holiday Boxes)

• Each one is individually curated and addressed to your junior chef.

A fundamental pillar of Julianna Banana is to support local businesses and to give back to the community. Materials in our Culinary Boxes including kitchen tools and accessories are sourced whenever possible from local vendors. Recipe cards are designed and printed in Ottawa and our Julianna Banana apron is made and printed in Canada.

Quinn adding the sugar to the strawberries as they made the jam

[image of a 12 year old white boy pouring sugar into a large pot of strawberries on a table top burner with a variety of kitchen tools around them and his sister’s arm in the corner]

What did we think?

• Juliette: Julianna Banana was awesome! It was super fun and I really enjoyed  making the recipes. And the meals were so delicious (the strawberry shortcake was my favourite)! I’ll definitely make them again!

• Quinn: Julianna Banana was good. It gave instructions that were easy to understand to make yummy meals that are just so good. My favourite recipe was the strawberry jam. I would do it again because it made cooking fun. I recommend it.

• Mom:
  The variety of kinds of recipes and activities was great! Desserts, something that will last a long time (jam), a main course and things for gifting (jam and lip balm.)

• I often think there aren’t enough activities that are easy for parents to do with their kid. This would make a great gift for a parent looking to have an activity for some quality bonding time.

• Aside from a few moments where I had to let go of how the kids interpreted the instructions and let them do their own thing (because I was looking for something I DIDN’T need to be involved in 😀), it was amazing. The kids were able to make 3 very different recipes independently that all tasted delicious!

• This was the first activity my twins have done together without arguing in a long time, and for that alone it was a great win!

3 jars of delicious strawberry jam made from scratch. Perfect for gifting, or, eating yourself if you’re these two! [Photo of two white 12 year olds standing in front of patio doors with a play structure and trampoline in the background, holding three jars of strawberry jam up while one gives a thumbs up]

How can you purchase one

You can sign up for the summer box, a bundle of three boxes, or individual online cooking classes from the Julianna Banana Web site. Summer boxes are ready for pick up and delivery this week!

Individual boxes are $65 and you can pick up at several locations around the city or for a fee have it delivered.

When you purchase the 3 box bundle it comes with free shipping in the Ottawa area.

We love working with Julianna Banana because the kids really do love the resources and all of the people we know who either purchased boxes or have taken classes have found them to be really well done and keep coming back to buy again. We also love that they are committed to supporting local and giving back to local charity. They are currently fundraising $3000 from Culinary Boxes and Classes for the Ottawa Network For Education.

Check them out!

Please note, Julianna Banana is a Kids in the Capital sponsor and we were provided the summer box. All thoughts and feedback are based on our personal experience with the box.

5 reasons why you should cook over a campfire this summer

Campfires are a classic summer experience, especially here in Ontario. Who doesn’t love sitting around a fire, feeling warm and cozy with their loved ones? A huge part of what makes a campfire so fun is the food that goes along with it—think roasting marshmallows, making s’mores, or cooking a hot-dog on a stick.

But the campfire food isn’t all there is to get excited about. There are tons of other benefits to campfire cooking. Here are some of our favourite reasons why you should try campfire cooking this summer:

1. Because it’s part of our DNA

Humans have been eating around a campfire since the discovery of fire. Perhaps that’s why eating around a campfire feels so safe and familiar. We sit in a circle, reinforcing a sense of connection and equality. We open up and share stories—sometimes we even sing! Even silence feels comfortable when you’re staring into the fire.

2. Campfire cooking is for all ages

Who doesn’t get excited about a campfire? Kids of all ages love it: from the toddler that has to be coached to look but not touch, to the teenager who usually retreats to their bedroom or device. Everyone looks forward to it, everyone is willing to sit together, and everyone wants to help out.

What I love most about campfires is how they inspire adults to share childhood memories with their kids and to pass on traditions. I acutely recall, and now pass on to my boys, my father’s techniques for choosing and whittling the perfect weaner roasting stick.

3. It builds hands-on skills

These skills are not just for kids, but for adults as well. Making a campfire is a task that engages people of all ages because it is both challenging and playful at the same time. I’m constantly learning new things: I’m a competent fire maker, but no expert. I can manage dry wood and split kindling, but my aspirations are to learn to build a fire in the rain and, perhaps some day, with a hand-drill.

See if you can apply what you know about the physics of combustion, thermodynamics, and simple machines (splitting wood with an axe) to making a good fire. At Family Earth, we’ve been perfecting the construction and use of “Swedish candles,” a cooking campfire invented by the Swedish military that allows you to start cooking over a fire shortly after making it.

4. The food just tastes better

We’re serious! Maybe it’s the smoke, searing temperature, the special type of hunger you build up when exercising outdoors, or because our senses are heightened when in nature, but our chili at Family Earth is hands-down twice as good when made over a wood fire. Come try it for yourself at one of our Campfire Cooking workshops.

5. It gets you outside for longer

Spending time in nature is good for us physically and emotionally, and it strengthens our relationships with each other—and with our planet. When we spend time in nature, we feel more connected with the world around us, compelling us to protect Mother Earth.

Adding a campfire and a meal to the time you’re already spending outdoors makes the experience even more memorable and keeps you outdoors for longer. The fire keeps away the bugs and the evening chill, and it opens the door to nighttime experiences. Staying up late around the campfire is when my family watches the stars and delights in fireflies—we’ve even heard wolves howl.

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We hope these benefits inspire you to get outdoors with your family this summer, and to give campfire cooking a try!

A note on responsible campfires

Family Earth helps families engage in outdoor activities like campfire cooking in ways that reduce harm to the environment. Campfires are magical and can help people deepen their relationships with the natural world, but they need to be built responsibly. At Family Earth, we educate about fire safety and how to reduce any negative health and environmental impacts of campfires.

If you’d like to learn more about campfire safety and learn how to cook a delicious campfire meal, Family Earth is offering Campfire Cooking workshops all summer long on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. Please visit our registration page to learn more and to book your spot: https://www.familyearth.earth/campfirecooking

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By Rochelle Johnston
Founder, Family Earth

This article was previously published on Family Earth’s website

Horseback Riding at Captiva Farms

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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I have always wanted to be a cowboy. Perhaps it was growing up in Saskatchewan or watching a lot of John Wayne movies as a kid. I ended up working at a library. I love my job, but it still isn’t a cowboy. 

Luckily, I was able to explore my inner cowboy at Captiva Farms. The farm is about a thirty-five-minute drive north of Ottawa near Wakefield. The farm offers horseback riding for all different levels. Our family certainly fell into the beginner category. 

When we arrived on-site, we were greeted by three employees wearing cowboy hats and blue jeans. Looked like we were at the right place. After filling out all the waivers and forms, we were presented with our horses and led them to a training area. David’s horse was Santana, Sandy had Zoe and I was riding Cleo. 

We met Karine who gave us instructions on how to advance and stop the horses. We also learned how to turn the horses to the right and left. 

Now, it was showtime. Karine taught us how to mount the horses and with some assistance, David and Sandy were able to do so with ease. I would argue that Cleo was the largest of the three horses thus I needed a small set of stairs to mount Cleo. 

After some practice, we mastered stopping, turning and advancing. It was now time to hit the trail. Karine led in the front while Laura was behind us. Both guides were very outgoing and friendly. The scenery was stunning. We were treated to a pastoral landscape with jagged mountains providing a scenic backdrop. 

Karine shared that the plan was to leave the land undeveloped so people would have a beautiful view while doing their trail rides. 

Cleo was a pleasure to work with. She actually made me feel like I knew what I was doing. She did try to stop and eat grass but who could blame a horse for trying to get a free meal. David and Sandy also had a great experience with their horses. 

We travelled through varied terrain including tall grass and forest. My favourite was going through the forest. We went up several challenging uphills and descents. Nothing too extreme, just enough to get the adrenaline going. 

The guides provided plenty of assistance when we passed through muddy spots on the trail or close to trees. 

Soon enough, it was time to head back to Captiva Farms. I was frankly sad to leave Cleo. I totally get the bond that develops between a rider and their horse. I know Sandy and David felt the same. 

There is a good chance my inner cowboy will get a workout in the future at Captiva Farms. 

For more information about trail rides and everything offered at Captiva Farms visit, www.captivafarms.com.

Stephen and his family were provided with the experience for free but all views are his own.

Ziplining between Ontario and Quebec

The other week I got the chance to check out the new zipline between Ontario and Quebec, the first interprovincial zipline in Canada! Interzip Rogers opened on June 24th, and I was lucky to be invited to a media day and decided to sign up.

Where is Interzip located?

You can find the main offices at 40-Z, Jos-Montferrand street, in Gatineau. It is on the Zibi site, and there’s a lot of construction nearby. Participants are checked-in at this location. Street parking is available!

How do I get tickets?

Buy your tickets online and reserve your spot! It’s possible to do a same-day walk-in, but you could risk disappointment if they’re full. Cost is $39.99 for adults and $29.99 for kids 14 and under.

Can I bring my kids?

I brought my 11 year-old, who weighs 81 lbs. There’s no age restriction, but you have to weigh a minimum of 70 lbs (and side note: you can’t be over 275 lbs). My daughter was enthusiastic, but by the time we’d reached the top of the tower she was too scared to go. The staff brought her back down while I zipped across and then walked back to get her.

How does it work?

Once you get checked in you will be given a helmet and all your gear. You are then directed to where you need to walk to get to the tower, which requires crossing over the Chaudiere Bridge. It is a super easy walk (5-10 minutes) and you won’t get lost.

When you arrive at the tower you’re asked for your ticket, and then the operators explain how it will work. You’re instructed to walk up the tower in singles or pairs, and you need to give people time to get to each platform on the stairs before you move up (so that there are never more than 2 people on a set of a stairs at one time). One downside is that there was soooo much construction happening on the site that it was hard to hear all the instructions clearly. I just made sure to ask the staff at the top of the tower to repeat certain things to me.

At the top there are gates across the opening and you are tied in so that there’s no risk you’ll slip off and fall. The staff strap you in and there are two safety checks before you give the OK for them to press the button. The gates open and off you go! Once you arrive at the other side you return your equipment and head back to the car.

Is it scary?

I do not have a fear of heights but I was pretty scared walking up the tower. It was a windy day and the whole tower was moving slightly. But once I got to the top and got strapped in I felt really comfortable. And the zipline itself is smooth and not too fast, so I never felt scared. You’re going at a speed of about 40 km/h.

Was it worth it?

I’m definitely glad I did it, especially after I felt so nervous going up. It was a great adrenaline rush! One thing to be aware of is that the ride isn’t long - about 40 seconds. But the scenery is beautiful and I enjoyed looking out over the river and seeing the Parliament buildings. It’s a different experience from ziplining at other places where you’re perhaps in a more forested area and it takes more time (especially if you’re ziplining through a course with several different lines). I’ve only ever ziplined before in Mexico, and I’ve heard there are similar experiences here at Camp Fortune and Abraska.

I think Interzip is one of those “once in a lifetime” activities for locals and tourists alike!