Gooseberry Park and the Master Plan

by Cynthia Rylant

For the past few months, Gooseberry Park has received little rain. Home to many creatures, the lack of rainfall is a concern to all that live there. Animals, especially the babies and elderly need water and a clever plan is hatched between the parks loyal visitors Kona the Labrador, his housemate Gwendolyn the crab, Murray the bat, Stumpy the squirrel and her 3 kids and a host of other friends to bring desperately needed water back to the park.

This adventurous story features humor and a cast of courageous animals that bond together in a time of need.

Owls In The Family

Owls in the Family

  by Farley Mowat

Billy is a boy who likes to adopt exotic pets.  He’s got 30 gophers, a bunch of rats, a cardboard box full of garter snakes, at least 10 pigeons, rabbits, and Mutt the dog, all of whom live with him and his family at their home in Saskatchewan.

Billy and two of his friends decide that they would like to adopt an owl.  With a little help from one of their teachers, they manage to get two owls that they take to Billy’s house.  He names them Wol and Weeps.

With a five-foot wingspan and inch-long claws, these owls are not your usual pets.  Wol especially is a tough bird and can defend himself against any other animal, including neighbourhood dogs.  Billy and his owls have many humorous adventures, often ending with one owl riding home on Billy's bike handlebars.

A hilarious tale about boys and animals, Owls In The Family will appeal to anyone who loves a great story.

A Child's Treasury of Nursery Rhymes

By Kady MacDonald Denton

This is a classic collection that I use almost every week when I prepare for my storytimes and babytimes. It's a fun collection of nursery rhymes, verses and songs brought to us by the illustrator of such favourites as The Sniffles for Bear and A Bedtime for Bear. This book has everything from Three Blind Mice to Shoe a Little Horsey. I especially appreciate the way that the editor has created categories within the book, for instance, the section entitled; "Welcome Little Baby" is filled with nursery rhymes specifically geared towards baby. Other chapters include; Toddler Time, In the Schoolyard, and All Join In. This won the prestigious Canadian Council for the Arts Governor General's Literary Award. The simple, water colour images on each page add a whimsical feel and help tell the story behind each rhyme. So if you are looking for a calming nursery rhyme or a lively action song please pick up a copy of A Child's Treasury of Nursery Rhymes today.