River of Crows and Mirror of Wolves - local Ottawa author

We are big fans of reading here at Kids in the Capital, so when NP Thompson, local Ottawa author of River of Crows and Mirror of Wolves, reached out to us, we knew we wanted to have one of our young readers review these books!

Annabelle is a local 12-year old who took the time to read both these novels and share her thoughts with us about them.

River of Crows

This book follows the adventures of Ty Baxter, a 12-year boy who lives in Newhaven. He used to have a pretty normal life, but after teaming up with the new girl in school to help an injured bird, he finds himself in a whole other world full of magic called Arcania. With his newfound friend, he sets off on a daring adventure to rescue her brother from the black guard, an organization controlled by an evil sorcerer who captures children and turns them into crows.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but as a fan of Percy Jackson, I found that it had a similar idea to the series. It was fun to be able to learn about the magic of this new place along with Ty. The author brought this whole book to life with all the characters and adventures that happen throughout the book, like meeting a hob (Arcanian creature similar to a dwarf), rafting across a river and facing incredible dangers, such as a battle against a magical being (I’ll leave it at that, I don’t want to give any spoilers!) With all the challenges presented to the intriguing characters, I am excited to read what happens in the next book.

Mirror of wolves

During the events of this book, Ty has started his training with the renown Quinn Tambrun, a skilled healer and sorcerer, also known as Ty’s grandfather. Although it was going well at first, his studies were discovered to become more difficult as time passed, and he started to have nightmares of his encounter with the evil Emperor Blackthorn. As his nightmares continued to plague him, he tried to focus on his learning but when he learns of a mystical artifact which can show him his destiny, he sets out on an adventure to search for it. 

The continuation of the stories of the arcanium was a very interesting read. During the beginning, I got a bit confused with the switching point of views, but as I continued, I started to understand. There were many plot twists included in the story, which made it exciting to read and fun to see everyone’s reactions. In this book, a few new characters are introduced and each one has a very distinct personality, and I can easily tell them apart. One character in particular was very interesting to read about, which was Paul Baxter. He was introduced in the first book, but in the sequel, we get to explore his character and personality. I personally loved the book, and can’t wait to read the next one. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers my age. (10-12)

Where can you get the book:

You can get the book in print or ebook at the following retailers (and the ebook version is currently on sale at a huge discount, and will remain so until December 15th!)

Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09TX6YDPD
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/river-of-crows-1
Apple: https://books.apple.com/ca/book/river-of-crows/id1612955802

My favourite picture books of 2022 - Ottawa Public Library Recommendations

Want some new picture book ideas for the kids - here is a list of favourites from 2022 compiled by the Ottawa Public Library for us. Let us know if you’ve read any before and which are YOUR favourites.

A Mouthful of Minnows, by John Hare

An alligator snapping turtle named Alphonso, tucked himself between some moss and an old tire at the bottom of the pond.  His mouth is wide open, and his pink tongue is wriggling, waiting for unsuspecting fish to swim in as his breakfast. Soon one minnow arrives; then several more, and then an entire school and a whole family arrives deciding that the “worm” would make a perfect birthday present for grandmother Big Betty. Big Betty said, “I am so glad to have all my children and grandchildren, every one of my sweet babies sharing food with me. This is the very best birthday I could ask for.” Alphonso is so touched, that he not only doesn’t snap shut his enormous mouth to all those minnows, but also saves Big Betty from getting caught on a worm-clad fishing hook.  

This is a humorous picture book about patience, generosity, friendship, and empathy. A Mouthful of Minnows is a surprising and heartwarming picture book that is perfect for story time read-a-loud and bedtime. The backmatter includes fun facts about snapping turtles.

The Baby-Changing Station, by Phett Miller; Illustrated by Dan Santat

James is a regular ten-year-old kid who lives with his parents and a dog. But life changes when his brand-new brother Joe rolled in, and his parents, who adore Joe and, no longer have as much time for James anymore.  At a family pizza night, his exhausted parents ask James to change Joe’s diaper. Above a baby-changing station, James notices a screen and a big advertisement announcing: “turn a crybaby into cool stuff: three options today to send that dumb kid away”. Option 1.  Night-vision specs; two complete sets allow you to see in the dark. Option 2. Two six-string electric guitars. Option 3. Two chemistry sets for the laboratory. Each tempting choice makes James ponder a future without his brother. At the same time, this leads him to realize that he wants to see what his younger brother grows up to be, and he also looks forward to being friends with his younger brother someday. As James carries his younger brother Joe out from the bathroom, Joe shouts out his name, and so his name is Joe’s very first word.

Miller’s humour, playful rhymes along with Santat’s imaginative illustrations, make The Baby-Changing Station stand out amongst other sibling rivalry stories.

The Blur, by Minh Le; Illustrated by Dan Santat

From the beginning, there was something different about this child. The supersonic voice, fantastically elastic limbs, enhanced hearing, and ability to turn invisible, not to mention those ultra-magnetic powers. While those early days were a total blur, every now and then, time stood perfectly still. Until one day, a first step and the child became … The Blur.  Always on the move, racing headfirst toward danger! Leaving no stone unturned! No corner unexplored! Nothing stands in the way as The Blur takes the world by storm. The Blur flew into life, zipping through days, blazing across weeks, and zooming over the years until … time stops again. The last page shows a girl driving a car alone leaving for college.

This book uses a few simple sentences, with vivid bold and bright illustrations, to depict the moment the infant arrives home until the day the child drives off to college. Mom and dad just wonder “how did we get here so fast? It’s all a blur”. The audience for this picture book is parents, and every parent will relate to the scenes depicting an entire childhood of their kids. Time flies, and it will pull at the heartstrings of every parent. 

Me and Ms. Too, by Laura Ruby; Illustrated by Dung Ho

For as long as Moly can remember, it’s always just been her and Dad.  They splashed at the pool, and spun in the park, and baked cookies together.

But that was before Dad married Ms. Too.

Ms. Too doesn’t like to splash. She doesn’t like to spin, and she doesn’t like to bake. Now everything has changed.

Even though Moly liked Ms. Too before, as the school librarian, she doesn’t like her at all as her step- mother. It is nice to read how this complex relationship develops, from dislike to having fun doing a lot of things together, to eventually make for a happy blended family.

It’s a heartwarming, playful, and deeply felt story about a blended family. It’s the perfect book for kids and adults who may be in a similar situation.

Knight Owl, by Christopher Denise

Since the day he hatched, Owl had one wish: to be a knight. Eager owl’s chance comes when knights start to go missing in the kingdom. Owl applies to Knight School and is surprisingly accepted. He is much smaller than the other knights-in-training, struggles to wield weapons, and has a habit of nodding off during the day.  But he works hard and graduates with honour. He is assigned to the Knight Night Watch and does a very good job, until one day, he encounters a hungry dragon who wants to eat him as a midnight snack.  Clever Owl offers pizza to the dragon, and it turns out that the dragon loves pizza. The two talk about how each of them hatched from eggs, how much they liked the night, and how flying was hard to explain to someone who had never done it before. It turns out they really have a lot in common, and clever owl ends up defeating the dragon through friendship.  The following week, and the week after that, not a single knight disappeared.

The expressive illustrations and playful language combine for an engaging story and is the perfect read-a-loud.

King Kong’s Cousin, by Mark Teague

Kong was the most famous gorilla in the city. His cousin, Junior, was not famous at all.  Kong was as big as an apartment building. Junior lived in an apartment building with his mother and his cat. Kong did heroic things, Junior did chores.  “You’re just as special as your cousin,” said his mother, but Junior didn’t believe her. Junior wants to be as big and as strong and as special as his cousin, Kong.  Until one day Junior rescues his cat who was stuck in a very tall tree, and so he starts to feel a little bigger.

This book will encourage kids who strive to be taller and stronger, to do great things and believe in themselves. This is a cozy family read to enjoy together.

Farmhouse, by Sophie Blackall

This book was written by two-time Caldecott medalist Sophie Blackall. It is another masterpiece and has the potential to earn Caldecott again.

“This is a book about a particular farmhouse and the family who lived there, but it’s also about any house and any family and the passing of time, and about the things we leave behind and how stories are the things that remain; stories that we pass down through generations, and stories that outlast us all. Farmhouse is written in one long sentence, and the images are essentially one giant piece of art seen in glimpses, and at the end, as a whole. The illustrations are made of layers with the reverse side of a roll of wallpaper and added floors and walls and furniture made from the scraps and fragments I found in the falling down house, stories about everything and nothing much that stay alive long after children grow up and houses fall down while wildflowers nod their heads in the sun.” This is from Behind the page: Sophie Blackall presents Farmhouse. 

Mina, by Matthew Forsythe

Reader mouse Mina lived in her own little world, where nothing ever bothered her. Until one day, when her dad brings home an animal, declaring it to be a squirrel. But Mina doesn’t think so. Later, his dad brings home two more “squirrels”. Curious that none of the three “squirrels” eat acorns. Mina’s father seeks the advice of a doctor, who determines they are not squirrels; instead, they are cats. Then there are three cats chasing three mice. And just as they are about to eat the mice, a stick insect walks slowly into the fray. She licks her finger and opens a book, and starts reading out loud, and the cats slowly fall asleep.

The whole book is full of humor, suspense, and charm, with captivating illustrations. Kids will enjoy this suspenseful fantasy.

Night Lunch, by Eric Fan; Illustrated by Dena Seiferling

A horse pulls a magical lunch cart to provide meals for nocturnal animals. The chef owl prepares different tasty meals for different creatures. Owl spots mouse, a poor street sweeper, who is trembling. Owl invites the little mouse for a night-time lunch feast together. This dreamlike picture book from the imagination of two acclaimed picture book creators, reveals how empathy and kindness, as well as unexpected generosity and gratitude, can be found -and savored – in the most unexpected places.

Sylvie, by Jean Reidy; Illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins

Sylvie is a story about courage. It’s a story about community. It’s a story about friendship. It’s a story about one small spider with a big bold heart. A spider named Sylvie, observes four families in an apartment building. Lately, she notices that they are all quiet, and don’t do the things they did before.  Sylvie beckons each one to the building’s rooftop, where they quickly bond and transform the space into a community gathering place.  It is a warm story to bring people together, especially during these pandemic times.

For more best picture book recommendations, please check my favorite picture book list at Ottawa Public Library.

This blog is a compilation of a variety of reviews and the info of publisher’s catalogues and was submitted by the Ottawa Public Library.

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.

Mix it up this March Break at the Ottawa Public Library!

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some of their favourite books for children with us. This month's post is by Kristina Roudiy, Children's Program Assistant at the Alta Vista Branch.

Illustration by Slavka Kolesar

Picture book: Mixed: a Colorful Story by Aree Chung
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1103586026

For ages 4-6. Once upon a time, there were three primary colors all living in the same town: Red, Yellow and Blue. One day, a Red announced that they were the best, thus starting a colour war. Soon, each colour was living separately from the others. Until the day that a Yellow and a Blue met, fell in love and decided to mix. How will the rest of the inhabitants react...? This book is fun visually, but most importantly, it will enable families (and classrooms!) to talk about topics such as segregation, community, inclusion, diversity and embracing each other's differences.

Picture book: The Wall in the Middle of the Book by Jon Agee

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1126730026

For ages 4-8. This is the story of a young knight who strongly believes that where he lives is the best and the safest, thanks to a wall built to protect from “the other side”. While the knight tells us all about the dangers lurking on the other side (tigers? a mean ogre!), we spot dangers right behind him (crocodiles? a flood!) on the supposedly “safe side.” Meanwhile, the so-called ogre turns out to be really kind and helpful... A good reminder that, instead of building walls, we should be tearing them down, so that we can better understand and value what is “on the other side.”

Picture book: The Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1079068026

For ages 4-8. This picture book mixes old & new in a fun, smart way. It takes a classic story (The little red hen) and changes elements in that story, so that it has a modern twist. The protagonist is a girl called Ruby, and the other characters are her three younger brothers. One day, Ruby decides to build a fort - something she's never done before. Her brothers aren't very keen on helping her and keep saying she won't know what to do. But when the fort is completed and Ruby can now play in it, they are suddenly much more interested! A story with STEAM elements that remind children  they can do whatever they set their minds to..

Non-fiction book: Masterpiece mix by Roxie Munro

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1049833026

For ages 4-7. This is the story of an artist (possibly representing the author herself) who is gathering her painting supplies and wondering what to paint next. She visits the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. and admires the works of famous painters such as Van Gogh, Leyster, Vermeer, Cézanne, etc.,then she starts painting. When children reach the end of the book, they get to see the artist's final result: a cityscape which incorporates all 37 masterpieces previously looked at. Sport scenes, landscapes, portraits and more...mix it up! Younger children will enjoy learning about painting & drawing, while older children will enjoy learning some cool new fun facts (ex: did you know that Monet painted the same pond more than 250 times?)

Non-fiction book?: P is for Pterodactyl: The WORST Alphabet Book Ever. All the letters that misbehave and make words nearly impossible to pronounce by Raj Haldar

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1145582026

For ages 7-10. During March Break week, families will also be able to mix-up (and remix!) alphabet letters, words, song lyrics, and more! In this fun book about the English language, we learn all about those words which are pronounced differently than they are spelled. Words with silent letters (ex: knight), homophones and tongue twisters...accompanied by lively illustrations.

Non-fiction book: Wet cement: a mix of concrete poems by Bob Raczka

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/961992026

For ages 8-12. Concrete poetry is fun in the way that it uses the arrangement of the words on the page to convey the meaning of the poem, thus mixing the words within the illustrations. In this collection of 21 concrete poems, children will be alternately amused or perplexed by the visuals and will be challenged in decoding them! It will inspire them to create their own poems.

Graphic novel: The city on the other side by Mairgrhead Scott

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1114919026

For ages 8-12. In this fantasy graphic novel, we meet Isabel, a young Latinx girl in early 20th Century San Francisco, who until now has lived in a sheltered, high-society environment. Her life completely changes on the day that she walks through an invisible barrier and somehow steps into a magical & dangerous city, right in the middle of a fairy civil war. Can she trust her two newly-met companions, a mushroom-headed fairy and a Filipino boy who can travel between the two worlds? Can they help her deliver a mysterious necklace passed on by a fatally injured messenger? A fast-paced adventure which kids will enjoy reading.

Chapter book: Blended by Sharon M. Draper

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1126612026

For ages 10-13. This is the story of Isabella, who is 11 years old and biracial,her mother is white and her father is black. People around her sometimes describe her as “exotic,” but she doesn't think of herself that way. Isabella is also from a blended family; divorced parents, two extra stepparents, and an older stepbrother Darren. One day, Isabella is on her way to a piano recital when she and Darren are stopped by the police and a misunderstanding occurs... A book about the search for one's identity, and about the unique struggles still faced by young people of colour.

Illustration by Slavka Kolesar

Winter Books for Readers of All Ages from the OPL!

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share some of their new books for children with us. This month’s post is by Andrea Gowing from the Centennial branch of the Ottawa Public Library.

Winter:  A Bright Baby touch and feel book.

This board book has lovely textured pages full of fun pictures of winter’s magic.  We find a plump happy snowman, a sparkling snowflake, a winter forest and more!  A lovely first winter concept book for little hands.

Hello Winter!  By Shelley Rotner.  A lovely introduction to our coldest season using vibrant photography that speaks of the joys of winter. Children dressed in bright, warm winter clothing show us how to have fun in the snow.  Aspects of the natural world in winter are explored including how animals cope in the cold.  Short sentences and simple text make this a perfect read aloud for children ages 4+.

Mice Skating By Annie Silvestro.  Lucy is not like other field mice!  She does not want to stay all burrowed down in winter.  She loves wearing her “fluffy wool hat with the pink pom-pom on top,” and the feel of the snow crunching under her paws.  She cannot convince her friends to come outside with her, so she goes alone and discovers the thrill of skating.  Eventually Lucy outfits her friends with warm hats and skates, and they too, discover the joys of winter outside.  This is such a sweet book with perfect mousie illustrations.  Curl up with your little mouse and enjoy.  Adults will groan at the ‘cheesy’ puns! 

Winterhouse By Ben Guterson.   The first book in a trilogy for Middle-grade readers, this story is set in a hotel full of secrets!  Eleven year old Elizabeth is shipped off to Winterhouse hotel "…in the middle of nowhere during Christmas with no money and hardly any clothes," by her not so loving aunt and uncle.   Lucy’s new friend, 11-year-old Freddy, who loves puzzles and anagrams as much as she does, helps her solve a long-standing mystery.  A great story for mystery lovers.

The Boy Who Went Magic by A.P. Winter.  While not exactly a winter-themed book, this one is written by A.P. Winter!   Magic has been banned, but is it really gone?  Bert and Finn set out on an adventure to find it.  Airships, fights, adventure, gadgets, and of course magic. This is a fast moving magical tale best described as steampunk meets Harry Potter.  A fast paced, ‘can’t put it down’ adventure that will appeal to Harry Potter and Artimus Fowl fans!