Winterlude, Winter Sports

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some of their favourite books for children with us. This month’s post is by Sue Townley from the Sunnyside Branch.

Tacky and the Winter Games by Helen Lester
Tacky the penguin is back to compete at the penguin winter Olympics. While the other penguins train and prepare Tacky is his usual lazy self and continues to sleep through the exercises and eat all his favourite foods, pizza, chips doughnuts. In the end Tacky saves the day and leads his team to victory in his fun and zany way. A fun read aloud, especially during winter Olympics years.

Pearl’s New Skates by Holly Keller
Pearl receives a pair of skates for her birthday and can’t wait to try them out. She practices her twirls and spins and dreams of how she will gracefully skate over the lake. When the lake finally freezes over she joyfully heads out to skate. She soon learns that it is not as easy as she thought, as she falls head over heels and soon wants to give up. With some encouragement from her Uncle Jack she learns about persistence and succeeds in enjoying herself skating.

Hans Brinker by Bruce Coville
A beautifully illustrated picture book version of the classic Mary Mapes Dodge tale. This version is much shortened but keeps the key elements of the original story. Hans bravely finds medical help for his father, finds his family’s missing money, and shows his strength of character during the famous skating race. The illustrations by Laurel Long contribute to the classic, nostalgic feel of the book. A magical wintery classic for the older reader.

Polar Skater by Sally Grindley
With charming, fanciful illustrations by Heli Hieta the reader is captured by the joy of a young girl learning to skate by herself for the first time. She slides off into an imaginary winter world filled with walrus’, polar bears, wolves and snow geese. Her happiness is contagious and the reader is swept up into the wonder of winter. With rhyming text this book makes a wonderful wintery read aloud for the preschool set.

The Greatest Skating Race by Louise Borden
With talk of the Elfstadentocht taking place this year in Holland this is a perfect read to introduce young readers to the excitement of long distance skating. Set in 1941 in war torn Holland, we are introduced to ten year old Piet who must help his young neighbours escape from the Nazis, who have imprisoned their father for passing messages to the Allies. Piet, a strong skater, leads them along the canals the sixteen kilometres between Sluis and Brugge, Belgium, outwitting German soldiers. In the story we learn about Pim Mueller, the founder of the Elfstadentocht, the Eleven City race that takes place on the canals of Holland on winters the weather allows the 200 kilometre race to take place. Filled with action and tension this is a good read aloud for the older reader.

Sam the Zamboni Man by James Stevenson
Young Matt comes to visit his grandfather, a zamboni driver, in this charming intergenerational tale. Matt has never seen a hockey game or a zamboni and when his grandfather takes him to see his first game his gets to see how important his grandfather is. His grandfather, a former hockey player, awes Matt with not only his zamboni driving skills but his skating skills as well, when he takes Matt to visit the stadium on a quiet night. The highlight of the trip is when Matt gets an opportunity to drive the zamboni himself. His grandfather promises to teach him to skate and play hockey next time he comes for a visit. This combination of hockey and machinery will surely be a hit with younger hockey fans.

Just One Goal by Robert Munsch
Robert Munsch and hockey is a perfect combination. A fun filled story of a girl named Ciara who desperately wants a hockey rink on the river so that she does not have to go all the way across town to play hockey. With a bit of determination and some help from her father she builds that rink and everyone comes out to play. Somehow Ciara’s team cannot seem to win a game and by the final game Ciara is determined to score the winning goal. She is in a race with spring to get her goal before spring melts her rink. A rollicking, action filled tale by one of Canada’s great storytellers.

Sophie Skates by Rachael Isadora
Rachael Isadora, best known for her ballet stories, turns her attention to the world of figure skating. Sophie, age eight, is determined to become a professional figure skater. Sophie’s day begins at 5:00 a.m., with skating lessons and continues through school and then back to the rink to skate some more. This book is an excellent balance between story and information with details about how to properly tie skates and ice-skating moves. With action filled illustrations this is a nice introduction to the hard work and dedication required of a young athlete.

Something Good

by Amy I am a huge fan of books and words and making learning fun, so when I heard about the Much More Munsch exhibit at the Children's Museum I was kind of excited.

And when I say kind of excited, I was very excited and I figured there was a chance I would have more fun than the kid.

It so happened that my husband and I were on vacation for the week of Thanksgiving and we had planned a Boughner Family Extravaganza. We had already taken a trip to Saunders Farm, visited the Museum of Science and Technology, and we were at a lost for what Friday would hold. A newsletter hit my inbox telling me about the Munsch exhibit and a plan was made.I love Robert Munsch, I love his stories, I love hearing him read them, and I have tried to introduce them into my daughter's life. (I believe The Paperbag Princess has taught a great lesson to girls of my generation).

The Munsch exhibit is inside the Children's Museum at the Museum of Civilization, so for one admission you can tour both. I was young enough to visit the Children's Museum when it opened so I have fond memories and was excited to take my kid for a visit. There is quite a bit to see, traveling around the world and playing all sorts of different games. When entering the Children's Museum they give you a passport that you can stamp at all the different places you can visit. We went through Japan, Egypt and India to name a few, then we travelled through Canada a bit before finding the Munsch exhibit.

The exhibit is supposed to be set up like Robert Munsch's house, so you walk into this room and there's a brick wall with words written on every brick so you can 'build a story' - once you put on your hard hat, of course. Inside there are stairs that stomp and clomp like Mortimer's (a story my mother used to tell me was about me), and different characters behind different doors in the hallway and kitchen.

My favourite part of the house was the velcro wall on one side with velcro letters that you use to create your own onomatopoeias like Robert Munsch does in all his stories. Since Onomatopoeia is one of my favourite words, I was excited that kids are learning about these words that are sounds.

I was a bit disappointed that the Much More Munsch exhibit wasn't bigger, but the kids that were there all seemed engaged, and many of them were sitting at a table near the house writing letters to Munsch. There was a mailbox set up next to the table to get letters straight to him. Combined with the rest of the Children's Museum there was plenty of activity to keep my kid interested for quite a while.

The Much More Munsch Exhibit is on at the Children's Museum inside the Museum of Civilization until April 9, 2012.

Amy is mom to 20 month old Maggie and a 5 year old schnauzer named Henry. You can read her blog at amyboughner.ca where she writes about motherhood and anything else that’s on her mind. She also shares a blog with her husband at boughner.ca where they talk together about parenting a daughter.

Your must read kids' books just got longer : suggestions from the Ottawa Public Library

Have you joined the Summer Reading Club (SRC) at the Ottawa Public Library (OPL)? You can join at any of the 33 branches, and even the 2 bookmobiles!

Have you put all of the stickers on your really neat poster that you received when you joined the Summer Reading Club (SRC), drawn by Kim LaFave? Have you checked out Kim LaFave? Have you done the word puzzles, connected-the-dots, and coloured the wonderful pictures in your SRC booklet? All done? Then it is time to read! (Actually, anytime is the time to read!) Here are some great books, not to be missed. All available at your favourite Ottawa Public Library branch (or bookmobile).

First of all, let me tell you about my favourite books illustrated by Kim LaFave.

Amos's Sweater by Janet Lunn; illustrated by Kim LaFave

“Amos was old and Amos was cold and Amos was tired of giving away all his wool.” But despite his noisy objections, Aunt Hattie shears Amos once again and knits his wool into a brightly colored sweater for Uncle Henry. Poor Amos decides that this time he's had enough – I think one of the best illustrations in Canadian picture books is in this book. Poor Amos was “old and he was cold and now he was angry”. And the illustration is superb! Superb! I invite you to head to the library, and take this book out. You will enjoy reading it, and enjoying LaFave’s superb (yes, they are superb) illustrations.

A Very Unusual Dog by Dorothy Jean Harris; illustrated by Kim LaFave.

Jonathan has a very unusual dog. It likes to go to the park, watch TV, and eat toast crumbs. And it's invisible. His big sister Elizabeth says Dog isn't real, but Jonathan and Grandma know better... A story about imagination and sharing, perfectly illustrated by award-winner Kim LaFave. I give this book to every grandmother who comes into our branch.

We'll All Go Sailing. Richard Thompson & Maggee Spicer. Illustrated by Kim LaFave.

The young narrator and his friends, Maggee and Jesse, travel to a myriad of places to look at sea life that is every colour of the rainbow. Children will delight in the pink octopus, the blue manatee, and the orange barracuda. Richard Thompson and Maggee Spicer have created a rhythmic poem that will encourage the very youngest of new readers. Together with Kim LaFave's bold and playful illustrations, this delightful poem will make a fine book: “To show what we'll see, when we all go sailing on the rainbow seas.”

And some more books that you will have lots of fun sharing:

Stanley at Sea by Linda Bailey; illustrated by Bill Slavin.

Stanley and his pals embark on an adventure that makes seadogs of them all! Its picnic time in the park -- but not for Stanley. He knows he's not supposed to beg, but his people are always eating. And Stanley is always hungry! After he's told to "get," Stanley wanders down by the river where he runs into Alice, Nutsy and Gassy Jack. Soon their keen noses lead them to a delicious treat on a small boat with no people in sight. When the boat's mooring comes loose, they float away with the current down the river, under a bridge and then out to sea! It's a scary new world where the sky stretches in every direction and big waves crash. The dogs know that when you're Outside, sooner or later you always come to a fence. When suddenly through the mist they see what looks like a very tall fence, they know they've come to the End of Outside! But what kind of fence is this? (p.s. if everyone emails Bill Slavin, and tells him I told you what a great illustrator he is, maybe he will come to Ottawa, and visit the Carlingwood Branch!)

Stella, Star of the Sea By Marie-Louise Gay

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Stella and her little brother are spending the day at the sea. Stella has been to the sea before and knows all its secrets, but Sam has many questions: "Does a catfish purr? Does a seahorse gallop?" Stella has an answer for them all. The only thing she isn't sure of, and neither are we, is whether Sam will ever come into the water.

Exquisite, evocative watercolors bring a diaphanous day at the beach alive in this perfect summer story. Gently humorous, Stella, Star of the Sea also captures the relationship between an older sister and her baby brother -- a responsibility that can be both lots of fun and very trying.

Wave by Suzy Lee.

Have you discovered the world of wordless picture books yet? This is a wonderful one to start with. A sunny day, a curious little girl and a playful wave - artist Suzy Lee has taken these three simple elements and created a visual tour-de-force that needs absolutely no words to tell its universal story. With masterful use of line and color, she explores the power of the natural world, the nuance of friendship, and even the very components that make a book.

The Sandcastle Contest. Robert Munsch; illustrated by Michael Martchenko.

Matthew’s family is off to the cottage. When they arrive, there is a sandcastle contest going on. Matthew builds a magnificent sand house . . . one so good that the judges can’t even tell it’s not real!

The Party by Barbara Reid.

It's Gran's birthday, and the whole family is celebrating with a big party!   While the adults enjoy the festivities, the children have their own kind of fun! There are hiding places to find, fabulous make-believe games to play, delicious food to eat, and a scrumptious birthday cake along with a rousing family rendition of "Happy Birthday to You!" (Yes, I am including a Barbara Reid in this blog too!!)

Scaredy Squirrel at the beach, by Melanie Watt.

We know by now that Scaredy Squirrel only feels safe when he's at home in his nut tree, with his defenses, his emergency kit and his back–up plans at the ready. So even though the sun is shining and it's time for a vacation, Scaredy does not want to go to the beach — that vast, frightening place where a squirrel could get stranded. (Not to mention other hazards such as sea monsters, falling coconuts, seagulls, pirates and lobsters.)

Instead, Scaredy builds his own safe beach getaway under his nut tree, complete with germ-free inflatable pool, artificial beach scenery, a flashlight and a plastic flamingo.

Still, the lure of the genuine beach is strong — even a dedicated homebody such as Scaredy can't resist it forever. Can his back–up plans save him from its perils? Will his No.65 sunscreen protect his delicate complexion?

Camping by Nancy Hundal, illustrated by Brian Deines

Who can forget their first camping trip? "Holidays, lolling days. Mom wishes for museums and art galleries. Dad talks about fancy hotels. My sister Laurie wants malls, anywhere. Duncan dreams of arcades. And I long for Disneyland." This year won’t be like the others. There will be no paintings or fluffy towels, clothes racks, jackpots or mouse ears. Nancy and her family are going camping. Just the thought of camping is bad enough. Outhouses, mosquito bites, burnt food and lots of work -- what kind of holiday is that? But from the moment their campsite is established, the family slowly begins to discover the magic of life in the wild. Nights so quiet and dark, it's like being wrapped in a blanket. Food that warms the stomach and awakens the senses. Swimming in the lake, climbing trees and lolling in the sun. And millions, no, bajillions of stars. More time, less o’clock. That's what camping is about.

A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen

Mr. Magee and his trusty dog, Dee, are enjoying a peaceful camping trip when all of a sudden they find themselves plunging down a mountain and teetering on the edge of a huge waterfall! How will they find their way out of this slippery situation? Chris Van Dusen, the creator of Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee, has filled this new adventure with charming illustrations and a playful, rhyming text. A fun read-aloud for children (and adults!) on campouts or snuggling at home!

Rain, Rain by Maryann Kovalski

Jenny, Joanna and Grandma -- the irrepressible trio from the best-selling Wheels on the Bus and Jingle Bells -- are back! In Maryann Kovalski's latest song-filled adventure, a rainy day dashes the girls' hopes for fun at the beach, until Grandma's spirited ingenuity makes it a day they'll never forget.

I hope that you have lots of “reading parties” in August, and enjoy these books. Remember, next time you are at the library, ask your librarian which authors, illustrators, and books, are her favourites. She will have a long list too! Margaret Kirkpatrick, Children’s Librarian, Carlingwood Branch.