The Stray and the Strangers

The Stray and the Strangers

by Steven Heighton

Kanella is a scrawny orphan doggie who timidly slinks around the wharfs, waiting for scraps. Eventually settling uphill in a camp, the story of the refugee situation on the Greek island of Lesvos is told through the close perspective of Kanella, the dog with the white-socked paws, whose name means cinnamon. She helps out with the newcomers, bonds with a little boy, and grows quietly fat. When the refugee camp is dismantled, Kanella needs to find a new forever home ... and she does.

Based on a true story, Kanella was the heart of the largest ever refugee community of over 20,000.

Carson Crosses Canada

Carson Crosses Canada

By Linda Bailey, illustrated by Kass Reich

Annie and her dog Carson live in Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island.  When Annie decides to take a road trip to visit her sister in Newfoundland, Carson doesn’t realize how long it will take.

The cross Canada adventure takes Annie and Carson through Cathedral Grove on Vancouver Island, over the Rockies, across the prairies, to Niagara Falls and beyond.  The pair dances to Acadian music in their campground, swims in Lake Winnipeg, visits the home of Anne of Green Gables and finally meets Annie’s sister on her east coast island.

Kass Reich’s colourful paintings bring the landscapes and landmarks of Canada to life.

Carson Crosses Canada is a picture book that will appeal to children from 4-8 years old.

Highly recommended!

 

The Poet's Dog

The Poet's Dog

By Patricia MacLachlan

Siblings Flora and Nickel are lost in a snowstorm.  As the blizzard envelops them, someone comes to the rescue.  But Teddy is not your usual someone – he is a dog.

Teddy takes the two children to his cabin.  The poet who used to take care of Teddy is gone, and Teddy is all alone.  Until now.  

Although Teddy has words and understands English, most people cannot hear dogs when they talk.  But because they are children, Flora and Nickel can hear Teddy and they are thrilled to meet him.  They spend 5 days in his cabin, cooking meals and sleeping by the fire while the wind and snow rage outside.

The poet’s story slowly unfolds during the children’s visit.  Where did he go?  And why has Teddy been left all alone?

The Poet’s Dog is a lovely story about friendship and understanding between humans and animals.  The lyrical writing feels like a long poem.  Although both children and dog are stranded in a forest cabin, they never feel lonely, because they have each other.  But sooner or later, Flora and Nickel will have to return home to their parents.

Will anyone ever come to find them?  And what will become of Teddy, a dog on his own?

Highly recommended, especially for kids who love animals!

The Best Mistake Mystery

The Best Mistake Mystery

By Sylvia McNicoll

Stephen Noble tends to worry a lot.  His mom often says that he makes too much out of things. But when the fire alarm goes off at school and all the kids get sent home without even getting their agendas, Stephen suspects something is really wrong.  Later that afternoon, while walking dogs for his dad’s company, Stephen and know-it-all Renee see the police bomb squad on the roof of the school.  What is going on?

Stephen and Renee set out to solve the mystery.  With dogs Ping and Pong in tow, Stephen and Renee discover that someone has called in a bomb threat to the school.  Then one night, Stephen hears some strange noises at the school; he lives right next to it, so of course, he looks outside to see what’s going on.  He discovers that someone has driven a car into the front of the school.  Then he starts getting some threatening text messages.  Someone thinks Stephen witnessed the car incident and can identify the driver.  Now that person is threatening to hurt Ping and Pong.

Should Stephen and Renee tell Stephen’s parents about the text messages?  Or can they sort out this mess themselves?  The text messages specifically warn Stephen not to say anything.

As Stephen and Renee set out to solve the mystery of who is trying to destroy their school, Stephen makes many mistakes.  In fact, this book is full of the mistakes that Stephen makes every day.  Most are small mistakes, such as letting the dogs off leash.  This leads to a skateboarder being knocked over by some very excited animals.  

But many of Stephen’s mistakes lead him to discover more about the strange occurrences in his neighbourhood.  His “best mistakes” help him and Renee to figure out who is behind the bomb threat, the car accident and the threats.

The Best Mistake Mystery is set in an average neighbourhood and both Stephen and Renee are average kids.  The crimes committed in this book are major enough to cause a stir, but still minor enough that a kid could track down the criminal.  Readers will enjoy trying to solve the mystery themselves.  They are sure to make some mistakes along the way, but maybe these mistakes will lead them somewhere they never imagined…

Mae and June and the Wonder Wheel

Mae and June and the Wonder Wheel

By Charise Mericle Harper

This post was originally published in Canadian Materials, Volume XXIII, Number 16, December 23, 2016. 

June is always open to making friends, and when Mae moves in across the street, it looks like a perfect opportunity. But potential friendship is almost thwarted by the disagreeable April, a girl who is not prone to sharing.

So goes the roller coaster of the primary school social scene. June, like all little girls, wants to be friends with the other little girls. But June has a close friend already – her dog Sammy. June and Sammy are more than just girl and dog. June knows what Sammy is saying (although no one else can hear it), and the two of them are almost constant companions. Together, they are seeking a friend who is “fun, friendly and full of adventure”.

June has another advantage as well. Grandma Penny, “the best present giver in the whole world”, has sent her a Wonder Wheel. The Wheel is a bedroom-sized Wheel of Fortune and comes complete with a chalk board and envelopes full of instructions. After dividing the wheel into a pie chart, June and Sammy spin the wheel each morning and dance to its sweet sounds, (“tackity, tackity tackity”). Then they must carry out the actions prescribed on the wheel.

One day, June must choose an animal and make it her spirit animal, taking on its animal traits to guide her actions. Another day she must start a collection. All of these activities elicit participation and commentary from the children at school and ultimately lead to fun, friendship and adventure. 

The Wonder Wheel is every young child’s dream. It builds excitement into every day, and June is always ready to take on the challenge. It’s also a great way for June to build her friendship with Mae. After Mae has a semi-disastrous playdate with April, Mae and June discover that perhaps their friendship is meant to be.

This early chapter book will appeal primarily to 6-8-year-old girls. Narrated by June, herself, the book speaks directly to girls who will identify with June’s happy explorations and her dismay at the small slights of her classmates. June’s day-to-day adventures reflect the realities of school life for young children. Even her relationship with Sammy is believable, notwithstanding their ongoing conversations. 

A child’s affinity for her pet is part of this novel’s theme: friendship, whether with classmates, pets or imaginary friends, is a cornerstone of childhood and plays a significant role in a child’s psyche. Indeed, friendship is the central focus of Mae and June and the Wonder Wheel.

Adding to the text are Ashley Spires’ gentle, cartoonish watercolours which appear in black and white throughout the book. Illustrations combine with the feel-good nature of Mae and June and the Wonder Wheel, making it a perfect chapter book for budding readers.

Stanley's Party

Stanley's Party

By Linda Bailey, illustrated by Bill Slavin

Have you ever wondered what dogs do when they’re left alone?  Stanley gets bored when his people are out, so he decides to try something new.  He’s not allowed on the couch, but what harm could it do, right?   

The couch is more comfortable than he could have ever imagined! Once he gets used to the couch, Stanley discovers the fridge, the radio and more.  And really, why not enjoy yourself when you’re in your own home?

As Stanley gets more and more confident with his new behaviours, his proclivities lead him into trouble – big trouble with his owners. But Stanley will never forget the fun he had!  This is a very funny and readable picture book – a great for read-alouds!

The Metro Dogs of Moscow

by Rachelle Delaney

Moscow, a city of architecture and history is home to JR, a Jack Russell Terrier who lives there with his owner George. George works for the Canadian embassy and JR has travelled all over the world with George and has some personal opinions on his current residence. This city is busy like Paris and that means no off-leash exploration for JR, who being a terrier is often tempted to explore because of his keen nose. Of course, once JR escapes out the apartment window and tastes freedom nothing can stop him from making friends with Moscow’s stray dogs. They show JR the sights and sounds of Moscow, including how to navigate the metro system and steal delicious Kroshka Kartoshka's (stuffed potatoes) from unsuspecting humans. As his friendship with the stray dogs grows, so does his loyalty to his new friends and when some of the stray dogs begin to disappear, it’s up to JR and his friends to find out where they went. JR enlists his embassy dog friends to help with the search and they travel via foot and metro to collect clues in the disappearances.