When I bought this for Lily, I hadn't realized that the illustrator was the same as in Hello Lighthouse--I just picked a co2016 Caldecott Medal Winner
When I bought this for Lily, I hadn't realized that the illustrator was the same as in Hello Lighthouse--I just picked a couple of the recent Caldecott Medal winners that looked interesting. So I was pleased to see that the illustrator was the same on the two books. She used the same technique in this one of Chinese ink and watercolor on hot press paper.
Finding Winnie is the true story of Captain Harry Colebourn, who bought a bear cub from a trapper on a train platform while he was shipping out to serve in WWI. He named the bear Winnie after his home of Winnipeg, and she became the mascot of his regiment. Although she came all the way to Europe with them, he decided to re-home her in the London Zoo to avoid bringing her into more dangerous territory. There, she made the acquaintance of one Alan Alexander Milne and his son--Christopher Robin.
The frame story is the author, Lindsay Mattick, telling it to her son, Cole. Lindsay is the great granddaughter of Harry Colebourn. She named her son after him.
The final pages of the book include real historic photographs.
I continue to be impressed with the research, storytelling genius, and visual quality that go into a lot of non-fiction picture books (well, particularly award-winning ones, of course). This book was definitely a book for me--it had history, literary deep-diving, and genealogy all in one, and it was a children's book too!
The illustrations are pretty and well thought-out. I especially like the way Blackall showed time passing on the train and Captain Colebourn's decision process when he's thinking about buying the bear.
I cried when Harry left Winnie at the zoo. I wonder if she was actually happy there. They didn't exactly have stellar habitats back then. I also noticed that in the picture of the real card recording her presence at the zoo, she died in 1934. It was an interesting detail discreetly included--not something that pulls down the story itself or makes it sad.
I wasn't sure whether Lily would enjoy this book, but she has sat through the whole thing several times. I don't know whether she understands the interplay between the framing story and the history, but she seems to like it anyway....more
Received the new edition of this book yesterday--an updated version of a really excellent book about children around the world, their families, how thReceived the new edition of this book yesterday--an updated version of a really excellent book about children around the world, their families, how they live, what they eat, their traditions, etc.
It's still way too advanced for Lily, but she actually seemed interested in many of the pages as I read through it in the evening. The page on Korea especially caught her eye with the Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animal.
...or maybe it's not because of the stuffed animal--it's because we've been listening to BTS....more
This is a really cool book featuring children from countries all over the world and explaining some things about their families, daily life, cultural This is a really cool book featuring children from countries all over the world and explaining some things about their families, daily life, cultural traditions, and more.
I passed it along because it's very advanced for my toddler, but I liked it so much that I might pick up the 2016 updated version for later. Oh--yep. I just checked the Amazon page for the new version and the kid from the U.S. has the same name as my daughter. Buying.
I don't remember if it actually includes all of the geographical regions I tagged it with, but it came pretty dang close if it didn't....more
The size of this graphic novel series seems intimidating at first, but I was able to get through it in one evening. Three stories of Essex County, OntThe size of this graphic novel series seems intimidating at first, but I was able to get through it in one evening. Three stories of Essex County, Ontario combine here to form a fairly complex family portrait of several generations of residents. Clever and poignant, it's a fascinating portrait of rural Canadian life....more
We learn about Anne's life before she came to Green Gables in this prequel by Nova Scotian author Budge Wilson. After her schoolteacher parents die ofWe learn about Anne's life before she came to Green Gables in this prequel by Nova Scotian author Budge Wilson. After her schoolteacher parents die of fever, Anne goes through two foster homes (both full of babies to take care of) and eventually to an orphanage. Throughout all of it, she uses her imagination and boundless sense of hope to survive in her awful circumstances.
I thought this stood up well as a prequel to the Anne series. When I first started it I wasn't very impressed with the writing (the author used some of the same words a lot and the love between Anne's parents was so perfect that it became tiring). After Anne's parents died, however, and we really got into Anne's own story, Wilson had obviously done her homework and polished things up. She showed keen insight into human psychology when describing the people around Anne, and her portrayal of Anne's younger character seemed spot-on (although it's been a little while now since I read the series). I'd recommend this book to any fan of Anne.
One thing I'd add, though, is that the original series seemed more targeted toward children... this one seemed more like a book for adults about a child. It tackled a lot of issues like alcoholism, domestic violence, and parental fatigue, and often made it clear that the reader might understand things that Anne herself did not. I don't recall the original books being written that way....more
Young Shi-Shi-Etko, whose names means "she loves to play in the water," has to get ready to go to an Indian Residential School. This book presents theYoung Shi-Shi-Etko, whose names means "she loves to play in the water," has to get ready to go to an Indian Residential School. This book presents the sadness of leaving for one of Canada's forced boarding schools from a child's perspective. The illustrations are very pretty with a great contrast between warm and cool colors, and I like the way the people are designed. Unfortunately, not as much thought went into the text design--a few of the pages are pretty difficult to read because they chose to print black text on a dark background....more
2008 Coretta Scott King Award (author winner) 2008 Scott O'Dell Award Winner 2008 Newbery Honor
I liked this numerous-award-winning story of Elijah, the 2008 Coretta Scott King Award (author winner) 2008 Scott O'Dell Award Winner 2008 Newbery Honor
I liked this numerous-award-winning story of Elijah, the first child born free in Buxton, Canada. It was a wise choice for Curtis to use a free main character to explore issues of slavery--it sounds like it helped Curtis get into Elijah's head and cleverly brought a greater understanding of the sheer horror of slavery to the reader. I found myself crying at points in the book, especially the scene between Mrs. Holton and Mr. Leroy. The idea that one's family could be bought and sold away is inhuman, and that is what was done to slaves. I was also interested in the scene in which Mr. Leroy beats it into Elijah that he should never use the "n-word" and explains why--it seemed like the author must feel strongly about that. I wonder if young black kids today who do use that word to refer to each other would think twice about it if they read this book.
At first I had trouble getting into Elijah's dialect, but pretty soon I was caught up in the rhythm of it and found myself using "ain't" and "done x'ed" when talking with my husband, who looked at me like I was out of my mind (he was probably thinking "That don't make no sense, that don't make no sense atall.")
Despite how significant this book was, though, it still wasn't my favorite. Sadly, the pacing was very awkward. I felt like it took over seventy pages to really get into the story, when the author could have done well cutting much of that. It also felt rushed at the end, and the ending itself wasn't very satisfying to me. Still, the characters were interesting, the theme necessary, and I enjoyed learning about Buxton, a wonderful place I had never heard of before....more
It looks like I read it when I was thirteen, when I was twenty-three, and now again at thirty-three. Not intentional, but kiYep, still love this book.
It looks like I read it when I was thirteen, when I was twenty-three, and now again at thirty-three. Not intentional, but kind of cool. It's a great book to read once every ten years.
On this re-reading, I found myself identifying more with Marilla for a lot of the book--being kind of annoyed at Anne's prattling on and on, but also still loving her.
Anne's decision at the end felt more significant to me as an adult, too.
(view spoiler)[To give up a college scholarship in order to stay home and look after Marilla and Green Gables was a huge deal. It made me feel better about what I may be giving up by choosing to stay in my hometown close to my parents for the time being. (hide spoiler)]
I also love this series for its beautiful treatment of the difficult things in life. Anne's imagination lends her resilience, but she is no Pollyanna. She's able to acknowledge reality, but still keep up hope--one of the things I love most about her character....more
The final book in the Anne of Green Gables series makes a solemn capstone to an amazing run. My Dad bought me these books when I was little on the conThe final book in the Anne of Green Gables series makes a solemn capstone to an amazing run. My Dad bought me these books when I was little on the condition that I read all of them, and I've just now fulfilled that promise.
Covering the duration of World War One, this book, along with Anne's House of Dreams, is definitely one of the saddest in the series. Yet these two books give the characters of Anne and her children, including the title character, her youngest daughter Rilla, a more rounded feel.
The story left me with a sense that the soul can bear a lot more suffering than any of us usually think it can. There is something terrible in that, since the last thing any of us want to experience is more suffering, but also something hopeful, since it helps us to understand that we can live through it and have a sense of happiness again. Maybe not the same unburdened happiness that we used to have--but happiness nonetheless.
Although the book dragged in parts (as I'm sure real life did in those times as people waited desperately for word of their loved ones at the western front), any book that so unapologetically forces me to read it in two days and makes me cry deserves five stars....more
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