Please email hml@headingleylibrary.ca for more information or to register.
]]>]]>
I had never heard the word “estivate” until I learned about this book by one of my favorite nonfiction authors Melissa Stewart (illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen). Estivation is like hiberation, except it happens in the summer for animals who are looking for a cool escape from the hot temperatures. Some animals will estivate in groups, like ladybugs, while others will find a burrow, nest, hollow long, or underground spot to be alone. I loved learning about how animals adapt to hot weather, and think young readers will be fascinated to learn more about this practice.
]]>I can tell you right now that this will likely be my favourite book of the summer, and it will make my list of top favourites for 2021.
It’s 1978, and Truly and her mom live in a trailer park on an Indigenous reserve on Vancouver Island. Andy El, the Salish trailer park owner, convinces Truly to start a lemonade stand to give her something to do for the summer. When Truly discovers that her mom’s friend knows where her real father is, she makes a secret plan to use the profits from her lemonade stand to find him and bring him back to the trailer park. As a cover, she tells everyone she’s saving for one of their neighbour’s new puppies, and the community helps Truly by buying her lemonade and donating items to sell at her stand. Excitement builds for Truly when a person she’s sure is Elvis Presley moves into the trailer park. But Truly’s mom is spending less time at home and hasn’t told her new boyfriend that she has a kid. As Truly spends more time with Andy El, she discovers the family she desperately seeks might be right in front of her. I wanted to hug Truly so many times for the tough life she had with a mom who didn’t want to be a mom. The community support for Truly and the strong relationship between her and Andy El challenge stereotypes about trailer parks and Indigenous people.
This is a must-read book, and at 200 pages, it’s perfect for a wide range of readers.
]]>Here’s a book that’s excellent for kids interested in doing experiments. Each of the 25 labs starts with a short biography about a scientist in the field of biology, followed by an experiment related to their field. Study fingerprints, grow mold, draw flowers, learn how mosquitoes transmit disease, and so much more. This would be an excellent book for homeschoolers, and would go well with Chemistry for Kids which is the same type of format.
]]>This beautiful book looks at the similarities between trees and human, and also how trees can inspire us to care for each other in better ways. Trees share, support, communicate, and sustain, both protecting and sharing with those around them. The illustrations are colourful and engaging, and the message is an important one for young readers.
]]>I love Terry Lynn Johnson’s books, and I’ll read anything that she writes. This story is a lower MG read about three friends who find some orphaned beaver kits, and are determined to not only protect them, but figure out who is killing the beavers in their areas.
There are several things about this book that I think will make it a hit with young readers. The cover art by Maike Plenzke is colorful, kid-friendly, and very appealing. The length at just over 200 pages will tempt many readers who pass on longer reads. The main character, Madi, is passionate about saving wildlife and following in her grandmother’s footsteps to care for injured animals. There is so much fascinating information about beavers (I had no idea they were so smart and capable of problem solving) without feeling overdone or too factual. Madi’s friends, Aaron and Jack (and Jack’s dog, Lid) are part of the plan to hide the kits so Madi’s mom doesn’t find out, but the adventures that they get into together are funny and typical middle grade behavior. I really appreciated the resolution of the story, and would love to read another story about one of Madi’s animal rescues.
This would be a great classroom read aloud, with an opportunity to talk about animal conservation and poaching, and our role to play in it.
]]>Here is a complete list of the titles that are now in our catalogue. You can log into your account and place holds on them for your readers to enjoy.
]]>
Learn more about how different animals use their tails in this new nonfiction picture book. See which tails shimmer, spin, sting, and grip, and more! This book is great for young readers with easy-to-understand language and very cool facts.
]]>