Great Graphic Novels - Recommendations from the Ottawa Public Library

Ottawa Public Library is back to share some great graphic novels books with us. This month’s post is by Lise Dumas, Supervising Librarian, Children's and Teen Services at the Greely, Metcalfe, Osgoode and Vernon Branches of Ottawa Public Library.

The graphic novels for kids I have read have been surprising, informative, entertaining, and beautiful. Many have been based on the author’s own experiences, which open a window into other kids’ lives. This may also allow a child to recognize similar experiences they have encountered in their own life. Other favourites have been pure fantasy, which is a wonderful way to escape into another world altogether.  

For those of you who love graphic novels, Ottawa Public Library has a wonderful collection for all ages.  Here are some of my favourite children’s selections this year:  

Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang

Ages 9—12

Ten-year-old Taiwanese Feng-Li, with her two older siblings, is left by their parents in America when their visas expire. The children are undocumented and must live without drawing undo attention to themselves, all while trying to learn a new language and culture. They must deal with frightening obstacles, racist bullying, finding one’s own identity and making friends. The author uses beautiful vibrant colours for the images. The texts are either in white balloons when they are speaking English or Yellow balloons when speaking in Chinese.

Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter

Ages 8-12

Avery, an eleven-year-old who is feeling sleep deprived and squished in a house with six other siblings. She is vying for her own room and concocts a scheme to make money to convert the basement into another bedroom. It is a heartwarming tale about the importance and the love of family. The images on the page are large, easy to follow and beautiful.

Picture Day by Sarah Sax

Ages 8-12

Seventh-grader, Viv is tired of the same look and routine. On picture day, she cuts her own hair and becomes a school style influencer. In doing so, however, she starts to lose sight of the most important people in her life: her mom and her best friends. The drawings are simple, fun and expressive.

Four Eyes by Rex Ogle and Dave Valeza

Ages 8-12

Sixth-grader Rex must not only contend with being one of the only boys at school who has not undergone a growth spurt, but also weak eyes that require dreaded glasses and a best friend who decides to hang out with the class bully. Rex must find a new way to fit in at school and learn to ask and accept help. Fans of Jerry Craft and Raina Telgemeier will appreciate this book.

Pearl of the Sea by Anthony Silverston, Raffaella Delle Donne and Willem Samuel

Ages 10-13

This beautifully rendered graphic novel is about making unlikely friends, such as sea monsters, and recovery after experiencing loss and grief. This story is about how teenage diver Pearl and sea creature Otto heal each other, while battling outside forces. This graphic novel is located in our teen collection.

Clementine Fox and the Great Island Adventure by Leigh Luna

Ages 9-15

Fantasy graphic novel for young readers, Clementine Fox has some exciting adventures with her friends and family. Vivid colours and fun extras at the end of the book will delight younger readers.

Cat’s Cradle: The Mole King’s Lair by Jo Rioux

Ages 8-12

This sequel to Cat's Cradle: The Golden Twine (2022) is full of action and adventure as Suri, imp Caglio and monstrously large dog Byron, continue their quest to locate Monster’s Cradle. The trio end up in a cave with a troll king, and with the assistance of a thief named Kolya, will attempt a daring escape with a treasure of gold.

Scurry by Mac Smith

10+

Stunning webcomic that is now in print, animal lovers will be mesmerized by the movie-like images. In this story, humans have disappeared from the earth, leaving the animals that depended on them to fend for themselves. House mice Wix and friends are desperately looking for food and ways to survive, while being hunted by feral cats and other predators. They are helped in their struggles by animals of all kinds. Fans of the Redwall books by Brian Jacques will love this tale.

Activities for Teens: Ottawa Redblacks Game

Our teen blogger is back and sharing about his experience heading to an Ottawa Redblacks game!

With school back, I like to make the most of my Friday nights. Lansdowne Park has me covered. I recently went to TD Place on the last day of summer to watch the Ottawa Redblacks play against the Saskatchewan Roughriders to finish off my week.

As soon as we arrived at Lansdowne Park, we could feel the atmosphere of excitement. Redblacks fans were swarming through the pedestrian streets around the Aberdeen Pavilion. Music from the stadium and a clothing color scheme matching the team’s namesake made it feel like a true football night. 

After getting in, we found our seats that gave us an amazing close up view of the touchdown line; a place the Redblacks would make frequent visits. Shortly after sitting down, the Redblacks came storming out of the locker rooms as the countdown to kickoff began. We got some refreshments, stood for the anthem, watched the coin toss and cheered with the release of the football. 

Saskatchewan scored the first touchdown, but Ottawa’s chainsaw was running just before the first quarter ended. We gained the advantage in the second quarter, with a touchdown, two point conversion and field goal within the final 25 seconds. By halftime, the score had the Redblacks leading 19-13. 

During the break, I bought some pizza before going back to my seat. Ottawa advanced its lead by another 2 points in the third quarter, before a fierce battle near the end of the game. The Redblacks scored two touchdowns at the start of the last quarter, and while Saskatchewan was able to match Ottawa, it simply was not enough. Fans cheered as the game ended with a heap of log slices and overheated flare guns.

We left the stadium thrilled with a victorious 36-28 score following an action-packed game and an excuse to sleep in through Saturday.

To have a great time in Ottawa, check out a football game at TD Place before the season closes this year. For more information, click here.

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list. He received a complimentary rental for this post, but all views are his own.

Aero Gatineau - an interview with Carol Pilon

Our teen blogger David has been a fan of the snowbirds ever since he first saw them while visiting his grandparents in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He is looking forward to seeing both the snowbirds and Carol Pilon perform during Aero Gatineau September 15-17. David is back on the blog with an interview of Canada’s first and only professional wingwalker.

With the annual Aero Gatineau show approaching, many will be watching as planes perform aviation acrobatics. I got to speak to Carol Pilon- a performer at the Gatineau Air Show and Canada’s first and only professional wingwalker- to learn more about her and her craft. Here’s what we talked about.

photo credit Eric Dumigan.

You’ve been a professional wingwalker for over 20 years. How do you become a wingwalker?

Well, for me, it was simple. I was at that point in my life when I did not want to go to college because I had no clear path ahead of me. I took a couple years off to really think about what the next step was, when I saw an ad for my local air show. I saw a wing walker on the screen and at that moment I thought “well that’s gonna be the rest of my life”. From that point on, I educated myself about the wingwalking industry and spent the next 7 years harassing all the teams in North America until they finally gave me the chance, and the rest is history. There are no wingwalking courses, it's all about independently getting a good mentor and joining an established team.

What all goes into the preparation and performance of wingwalking?

Really, it's as simple as attaching yourself to a harness and walking on the plane. I can teach you any number of theoretical tips and tricks on the ground, but as soon as you're up in the air, you’re on your own. The biggest safety protocol we have, believe it or not, is the pilot. Their job is to make the flight as smooth and suitable for your performance as possible. Getting the right pilot is 95% of the preparation.

You’ve been to many places, done many things as a wingwalker. What was the most memorable experience you’ve had in your career as a wingwalker?

How do you pick one? I’ve had many great shows, met many great people, and realistically, any day I get to go wing walking is an absolutely fantastic day for me. 

With all your travels, how does it feel to be performing at the Aero Gatineau show two weeks from now so close to where you grew up in Masham, Quebec?

This is a little known fact, but as an air show professional, you’re always warned about doing hometown shows. There will always be increased attention from the audience because of friends and family member’s being there, and it can be a distraction from the task at hand. I’m really excited to be back home, but I gotta balance that with being able to say “hey guys, I gotta go work now”. 

Finally, what does the future look like for you? Any goals, is retirement on the horizon?

You will see at this show that I have developed a new routine in order to hire and incorporate two new wingwalkers. My goal right now is really to educate and mentor the next generation of wingwalkers to carry on the craft. In fact, we will be hosting one young lady to try out wingwalking at this air show to see if she likes it and possibly have her join the team. I’m really focused on growing the field right now. As for retirement, that's not happening any time soon. 

Carol Pilon will be performing at the Aero Gatineau Legends of the Sky show from September 15-17. Tickets must be bought online and are $35 for adults and $15 for kids. For more information, visit Aero Gatineau Ottawa.

Green Corners Farm

A visit to Green Corners Farm is one of my family’s favourite activities during Spring, Summer and even into Fall. We’ve been making trips to the farm for the past 3 years and find ourselves there at least once or twice per season. Green Corners Farm is Ottawa’s largest pick-your-own flower farm and is found on York’s Corners Road. The farm is the official floral supplier for the Canadian Tulip Festival. The owners, Manja and Al are always on site to help welcome guests and provide tips on picking the best blooms for a beautiful bouquet.

Green Corners Farm is perhaps most well-known for its incredible fields of tulips that burst into bloom early May but while the tulip season is short, the following flower seasons shouldn’t be missed. My daughters absolutely love heading to the farm to wander between the rows of various types of flowers. We often pick a few bouquets to share with family and friends and the kids are in charge of which flowers they’d like in their bouquet as well as the arrangement of the bouquet.

Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by a staff member who will check you in. It is recommended to pre-purchase your “picking” ticket through the Green Corners Farm website https://greencorners.ca/product-category/u-pick-bouquets/ or if you’d prefer to take in the views and enjoy the flowers, you can select a “looking” ticket. Tickets may also be purchased on site but you’ll save a bit of money by purchasing online (and entry is not guaranteed if they are full.) Each “picking” ticket has a value of 25 points, with all flowers worth 1 point except for the sunflowers, which are 2 points. You can mix and match your flowers to create a unique bouquet.
Every guest ages 5+ must have either a “Picking” ticket or a “looking” ticket.

Once checked in, you’ll get a quick lesson on how to cut your flowers (you’ll need a certain length of stem) and then you’ll pick up a basket and clippers and be off to explore the many fields of various types of flowers. If you’re looking for photo ops, you’ll find colourful benches and chairs throughout the fields. The flowers provide a spectacular backdrop! After you’ve selected your flowers, you’ll head over to the white tent where you’ll find tables with buckets. This is where the creativity happens! You’ll remove the extra greenery from your flowers and make your arrangement. There’s fresh basil on hand to add to your bouquet (it smells divine!) and when you’re happy with your arrangement, you’ll tie it off with twine. The final step is to admire your beautiful bouquet! 

If you are looking for a beautiful field of sunflowers, this is the place to be! There are several different types of sunflowers to be picked or photographed whether you’re looking for bright golden petals, pale yellow or even a rusty red. Sunflowers are currently at their peak and are available until the first frost in September. Snapdragons, zinnias, marigolds, calendula, statice, strawflower, celosias and strawflowers are just a few of the seasonal flowers available for picking. There is a Bouquet Stand on site that is stocked with seasonal bouquets.

For those who love tulips, daffodils and other spring bulbs, they are available for purchase. Bulbs can be pre-ordered over the summer and are ready in the Fall for pick-up or delivery. Green Corners Farm also offers flowers for Valentine’s Day and Easter. My family purchases the forced tulip bulbs that we grow in vases on stones. They are a lovely addition of colour during the snowy months!

Green Corner Farm
Hours: Thursday to Monday - 9am to last entry at 11:30am and 4pm to last entry at 6:30pm.
Bouquet Stand hours: Friday-Monday 9am-7pm

Candace is a mom of 4 who loves exploring the city and trying out new activities with her adventurous kiddos. Note: the family were gifted their bouquets but all thoughts are their own.

Rideau River Kayak

Kayaking has always been a pleasant activity for me to do on sunny summer days. I enjoy seeing the scenery, flora and fauna and doing a bit of exercise throughout. The only issue is that whenever I go to a kayak rental place, their entire fleet is limited to one boat launch. If I really want to visit somewhere else, there are a few rare instances of them allowing us to strap one of the kayaks to our car and bring it elsewhere, typically at a higher cost. 

This time, I wanted to explore the Rideau River, but found that there were no kayak rentals in the area that interested me. Luckily, Riverview Mobile Kayak had a solution.

We arrived at the Brantwood Park Boat Launch in the mid afternoon. It was sunny and not particularly windy, perfect weather for kayaking. Unlike most kayak places, Riverview Mobile Kayak brings the kayak to the boat launch, meaning they don’t have just one permanent location. 

The owner, Sylvie, kindly provided a briefing on the use of the kayak and recommendations on my route. I then put on my lifejacket, put my phone in the dry bag and launched into the Rideau River. I opted to paddle fast and hard against the current for the first 15 minutes, which was already relatively calm. Once I got upstream to the Billings Bridge, I relaxed and allowed the river to slowly bring me back to the boat launch, while paddling to adjust. It was then that I was able to truly appreciate the combination of scenery and wildlife on the Rideau River.

First, I saw a group of around five painted turtles lying on a log on the shoreline. I was able to stealthily approach them before they consecutively plopped into the water like dominos. As I floated further downstream, I was able to see a diverse array of birds. Canada geese and mallards dotted the waterline, but the highlight for me was seeing two herons. Surprisingly, I managed to get incredibly close to one of them while remaining quiet. After a few moments, it fluttered away and I continued paddling.

I spent around 1 hour and 45 minutes on the water, finding the kayak stable and easy to maneuver throughout. Eventually, I landed on the boat launch where Sylvie was ready to pull me back in. All in all, it was a relaxing trip through the natural heart of urban Ottawa. 

If an afternoon of paddling at one of a diverse set of locations around Ottawa sounds like a nice summer activity, Riverview Mobile Kayak is available at 10 boat launches on the Ottawa and Rideau River. These include Petrie Island, Britannia Beach, Mooney’s Bay and others. The minimum age is 7 years.  The price is $60 for up to 3 hours on the water but if you book for 2 or more participants, the price drops to $45 each.  That’s a good deal. Riverview Mobile Kayak Rental is insured and a fleet of paddleboards is also coming soon. For more information, visit https://www.riverviewkayak.com/.

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list. He received a complimentary rental for this post, but all views are his own.