Snowflake photographer

Snowflake Bentley
by Jacqueline Briggs Martin 


Wilson Bentley was obsessed with snow. He thought snow crystals were beautiful and wanted to share them with others. He tried drawing snowflakes, but they always melted before he could finish. His career took off after his parents bought him a special camera. At first, no one was interested in his photographs. Then colleges and universities started collecting them. Bentley went on to become an expert on snow, rain, and clouds.

An interesting portrait of a self-taught scientist that should inspire readers to look for the extraordinary in nature. 

photos by Wilson Bentley

Let it snow

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder
by Mark Cassino & Jon Nelson


A speck of dirt or a bit of salt, when combined with water vapor, can turn into a snow crystal shaped like stars, plates, or columns. Many snow crystals stuck together make a snowflake.

A wonderfully simple book that captures the amazing beauty of snow.

Paralympic hockey heroes

Fighting for Gold: The Story of Canada's Sledge Hockey Paralympic Gold
by Lorna Schultz Nicholson


Nicholson tells the story of Canada's sledge hockey team and their pursuit of gold during the 2006 Paralympic games in Turin, Italy. Her play-by-play of each game is quite exciting, culminating in the tension-filled, physical match with Norway.

At 117 pages, Fighting for Gold is a quick, easy read that not only showcases a winning team, but introduces readers to the exciting world of sledge hockey.

Hockey history

The Hilarious History of Hockey
by Helaine Becker


Weird and wonderful facts about hockey emerge in Becker's wacky hockey book. Avid fans will learn the early history of the game when it was even more violent than it is today. They'll also get to relive some really exciting hockey moments, meet the great players, both male and female, and discover new and funny anecdotes that make the game so great.

Hockey!

How Hockey Works
by Keltie Thomas


How is the ice prepared at the Air Canada Centre?
What's the best puck recipe?
What makes a good hockey stick?
What's the best way to handle a breakaway?


For the answers to these and other questions, check out Thomas' book. With helpful insider tips, fun hockey trivia, and a few science experiments, this is an enthusiastic look at the game for fans and non-fans alike.

Baby development

Happy Birth Day!
by Robie H. Harris
pictures by Michael Emberley


Baby's first day is lovingly described in this joyful picture book. Children will love the tender, close-up pictures, while parents will fondly remember the moments of their birth. 




Hello Benny! What It's Like to Be a Baby
by Robie H. Harris
pictures by Michael Emberley


A fictional story combined with fascinating facts about babies, the book is a delightful way to learn about all the amazing things a baby can do, from Benny's first smile to his first steps, culminating in his first birthday.


Part of the Growing Up series:

• Go! Go! Maria! What It's Like to Be 1
• Sweet Jasmine, Nice Jackson: What It's Like to Be 2--and to Be Twins!

Play with baby

Baby Look
by Shanda LaRamee-Jones and Carol McDougall


It's never too early to read to your baby! Baby Look is an accordion-style book that can be unfolded to prop up in front of your baby. They'll love looking at the baby faces, and when they're a bit older, the other side combines action and words.

A good addition to baby's beginner library.

This is book 2 in the Baby Steps series from Nimbus Publishers.


Also available is book 1, Baby Play. 
Book 3, Baby Talk, is currently in production.

Baby science

Baby Science: How Babies Really Work!
by Ann Douglas


What do babies do?
Why do they eat so much?
What do babies like to look at?
Why do babies cry?


Children are always interested in babies, especially if there's a new baby at home. This book helps answer some of their questions. It may even remind them of what they used to be like.

Sheree Fitch

Toes in My Nose and Other Poems
by Sheree Fitch


The year 2012 marked the 25th anniversary of Sheree Fitch's first poetry collection, Toes in My Nose. It launched her career as one of Canada's best nonsense poets, on par, or even better than, Dennis Lee. Now reissued by Nimbus Publishing and newly illustrated by Sydney Smith, a new generation of children can enjoy Fitch's unique brand of whimsy and wordplay. 

Here's a poem featuring one of her beloved characters:


Mabel Murple's house was purple
So was Mabel's hair
Mabel Murple's cat was purple
Purple everywhere.

Mabel Murple's bike was purple
So were Mabel's ears
And when Mabel Murple cried
She cried terrible purple tears.



Sheree Fitch has written many books; for a complete list, visit her website at http://shereefitch.squarespace.com/. 




In 1997, Fitch also wrote a book commissioned by UNICEF called If You Could Wear My Sneakers: A Book About Children's Rights. The resulting humorous poems raise awareness of worldwide children's rights through their interpretation of fifteen articles from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The playful illustrations by Darcia Labrosse help children understand that they have the right to play, to go to school, and to be protected from war.