The art of Emily Carr

Four Pictures by Emily Carr
by Nicolas Debon

The pivotal moments of Emily Carr's life are depicted in comic book format in this original book. Each moment uses Carr's paintings as reference points. Cedar House describes her stay among Vancouver's first nations people, Autumn in France finds her struggling with despair and illness, and in Silhouette, she finds a mentor in fellow artist Lawren Harris. The final chapter, Beloved of the Sky, has a wonderful double-page spread that captures Carr's embrace of spirituality in both her painting and her life.

An artist's inspiration

Silent Observer
by Christy MacKinnon



Artist and storyteller Christy MacKinnon remembers her early life in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Born in 1889, she lost her hearing at the age of two. She describes a simple, charming life on her family’s farm. Raised by her grandparents while her father taught in a one-room schoolhouse, her days were filled with chores, mischief, and misadventure, made more difficult due to her deafness. MacKinnon eventually attended the Halifax School of the Deaf, where she learned to speak.


MacKinnon's paintings have a warm, folktale charm that fondly evokes a past way of life.

Regular kids do heroic things

The Doggy Dung Disaster & Other True Stories
by Garth Sundem


Profiles of 30 kids who did awesome things. Divided into 5 sections - Kids Saving the Environment, Kids Standing Up for Themselves, Kids Helping Others, Kids Overcoming Challenges, and Kids Using Talents & Creativity - these young people will amaze you!


You will meet 8-year-old Omar, who went on a lo-o-o-ng walk; 14-year-old Santosh, who climbed a mountain; 8-year-old Chen Chiu-Mian, who campaigned for worker safety; 12-year-old Rudy, a paralympian; and 11-year-old Vaishali, who discovered an environmentally-safe paint to use on ships.


A friendly Boston Terrier pops up now and then with funny comments, but the book does have a puzzling omission - no pictures of the kids (except on the cover).

Living with autism

Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism
by Temple Grandin


Temple Grandin is an animal scientist who has designed one-third of all the livestock handling facilities in the United States. She also lectures widely on autism because she is autistic, and thinks, feels, and experiences the world far differently than the rest of us. 

Grandin thinks in pictures, not in words or emotions. She describes it as seeing a movie in her head, which she can edit and view from a multitude of perspectives. This unique ability enables her to control her behaviour and function well in society. She also credits her mother for always supporting her, especially in regard to autism treatment. 

Grandin covers a wide range of topics in her book, ranging from the symptoms, development, causes, and treatment of autism, to the sensory experiences of autistics, to the lessons that autism provides us about human thought in general. Interesting chapter headings include developing autistic talent, the link between autism and genius, autism and relationships, and medications and new treatments.

Some of the chapters are a little hard going for those with no experience with autism, but most are fascinating, especially when she explains her intuitive connection with animals and how they perceive the world. Extraordinary and compassionate, Grandin's book enables readers to understand the worth of autistic individuals and to appreciate autism despite its many liabilities. 


For child readers, try Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism & Changed the World.

Amazing kids

Wonder Kids: The Remarkable Lives of Nine Child Prodigies 
by Charis Cotter


Every kid is good at something. But sometimes they're so good, adults flock to see them. In Wonder Kids, meet nine child prodigies with extraordinary abilities - Phillis Wheatley, 12, who became the first African-American slave to publish a book of poetry; Maria Gaetana Agnesi, who spoke seven languages by the age of 13; Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn, both accomplished young musicians; Buster Keaton, a vaudeville star at age five; Dai Vernon, 10, a successful magician; Stevie Wonder, who signed with Motown at eleven; Wang Yani, who began painting when she was three; and math genius Terence Tao,13, who became the youngest winner of the Math Olympiad in 1988.


Their lives were not always easy, but they were dedicated to their chosen subjects and loved what they did. In fact, this is a good book for parents to read. It’ll show them how to nurture a talented child without destroying their childhood.

Appreciate nature

Watching Nature: A Beginner's Field Guide
by Monica Russo
photographs by Kevin Byron


This book encourages us to "open our eyes" and discover the wonders of the great outdoors. Russo shows readers how to locate hidden dens and nests, how to identify animals by field marks, behavioral activities and other clues, and how to listen for distinctive bird, insect, and amphibian songs. Other chapters aid in the identification of flowers and leaves, how to find animals in winter, and how to record one's observations. The full-color photographs are especially attractive and useful. 

A good introduction to nature watching.

Fun at the cottage

The Kids Cottage Games Book

by Jane Drake & Ann Love

Kids can get bored wherever they are, even at the cottage. The next time they say that there's nothing to do, give them this book! It's jammed full of fun things to do inside and outside, like building rafts, hammocks, bird feeders, tree forts, worm farms, and telescopes. Or learning how to build campfires, identify plants, cook bannock, construct a lean-to, and weave mattresses out of bulrushes.

If that's not enough, there's also nature study, weather study, water games and rainy day craft activities to keep children and their parents busy.

Play outside

Let's Go Outside! Outdoor Activities and Projects to Get You and Your Kids Closer to Nature
by Jennifer Ward


Explore the outdoors and have fun by doing some of the 52 activities found in this accessible book. For parents who like teachable moments, Ward also includes ideas to take things further through questions and observation.


Some of her play suggestions are:

• fly a kite
• build a fort 
• play squirt-gun tag or flashlight tag
• listen to the sunrise
• take a moonlight walk
• press flowers
• go fishing
• hunt for bugs
• create a garden
• make a birdbath

Reduce, reimagine, rejoice!

Not Your Typical Book about the Environment
by Elin Kelsey
illustrated by Clayton Hanmer

Children today are very aware of the state of our planet. They've seen lots of pictures of dying coral reefs, non-degradable garbage, endangered animals, and other eco-disasters. What they need is some reassurance and advice on how to change what may seem a hopeless situation.

With this book, author Elin Kelsey wants to make kids happy about the environment. You are not nature's bogeyman, she states. You are nature, and thus you are connected to everything that grows in it. She demonstrates this connection through comic-book sections like How Sea Otters are Connected to Fish Sticks or How Bees are Connected to Your Burger and World Peace. 

Each chapter takes a look at familiar products - t-shirts, food, computers, bicycles - and offers choices kids can make to create a better world. For example, they can choose between four different t-shirt options - bamboo, hemp, organic cotton, vintage - so long as they know the pros and cons of each choice. Supplemented by positive stories of researchers and citizens working hard to find ways of sustainable living, Kelsey succeeds in creating a happy, hopeful book about the environment.

Global warming

This is My Planet: The Kids' Guide to Global Warming
by Jan Thornhill

Beginning with a look at how the Earth works and how climate is supposed to work, readers are then shown how rising temperatures affect the plants, animals, and humans in the Far North and South. An examination of how global warming affects oceans and land follows. The book ends on a positive note with some of the simple things we can do to protect our world.

What makes this book good is how it successfully presents a serious topic in a non-frightening way. Information is delivered in small bits, contained in separate text boxes, with colorful backgrounds. The many photographs are dramatic, yet fun at the same time. The writing is matter-of-fact and even in tone, highlighting key facts without being hysterical. 

An excellent, intelligent book.

Build a country

How to Build Your Own Country 
by Valerie Wyatt
illustrated by Fred Rix 


An easy guide to building your own country in three easy steps: 

1. Stake out your identity, 
2. Run the country, and
3. Meet the neighbors. 

With tips on choosing a name for your country, designing a flag, setting up a government, writing a constitution, making laws, creating currency, and keeping the peace, this is an amusingly creative book. Kids will have so much fun building their country that they may not even realize they're learning something.

Explore the beach

Oceans: Looking at Beaches and Coral Reefs, Tides and Currents, Sea Mammals and Fish, Seaweeds and Other Ocean Wonders
by Adrienne Mason


Detailed drawings and full-color photographs showcase the variety of animals that live on our beaches, rock cliffs, tide pools, and oceans. As well, safe and simple experiments and activities give children hands-on experience with marine life.


A good book for curious explorers who like to get wet.

Ocean journey

Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea
by Steve Jenkins

Steve Jenkins takes readers on an underwater exploration in this fascinating book. As we descend deeper and deeper into the ocean's murky depths, we encounter such unusual creatures as comb jellies, oarfish, bioluminescent squid, and the scary fangtooth.  Kids will be enthralled by Jenkins' stunning paper collages. 

The book ends with more information about each animal and a short bibliography.