The TD Canadian Children's Literature Awards honours the most distinguished children's book of the year. This year's English-language winner was Shin-chi's Canoe by Nicola I. Campbell with illustrations by Kim LaFave. The finalists were: Death in the Air by Shane Peacock, Libertad by Alma Fullerton, Thing-Thing by Cary Fagan, and Word Nerd by Susan Nielsen.

We are proud to announce the expansion of our digital collection to include children’s iPod audiobooks. Available from the iHelp desk, your family can now enjoy such titles as The House at Pooh Corner, 39 clues and Charlotte's Web. All titles circulate for three weeks and can be either loaded on your own iPod or borrow one from the library. To check for available titles please check out the Audio Books link in our catalogue. At this time, iPod audiobooks can not be reserved.
For more information about iPod books available from your library, see Do you want an iPod with your audiobooks?.

Her parents are off on adventures around the world. Collecting strange and wonderful things. Meanwhile Ottoline Brown is home, in her big apartment. She is in charge of looking after her parents collections of odd things...such as teapots with more than one spout. Mr. Monroe, who is a rather hairy sort of creature from Norway, looks after Ottoline. Together they investigate mysteries, which of course involves plenty of disguises and hunting for clues.

This is a wonderful read, aimed at children in grades 2 to 3. Not something you want to miss!

Check our catalogue to see where to find this book

In 1908 Lucy Maud Montgomery had her first book published, Anne of Green Gables, and 100 years later it is still a best seller! It was in this book that the world met a feisty, imaginative, red-headed orphan named Anne Shirley. Although by the time she passed away in 1942, Montgomery had written 20 books along with over 500 poems and short stories she is best known for her books about Anne.

I remember my mother reading me Anne of Green Gables as a child. I loved Anne's character from page one in all her humorous, imaginative, day dreaming glory. She was so passionate about everything, her imagination was wild and wonderful. I started pretending that I had imaginary friends in any glass surface in the house and started talking about kindred spirits and bosom friends. My speech was littered with descriptive words like exquisite and marvelous. When I was upset about something, I was not just upset but in the depths of despair.

For the 100th anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables the Montgomery Estate in conjunction with Penguin books decided to produce a prequel called, Before Green Gables. When I heard this I was a little incensed. How could anyone think that they could write like Lucy Maud Montgomery? How could anyone do the character of Anne justice? Then I heard who would be writing the book, Budge Wilson. Being from Nova Scotia, I have had the enormous pleasure of meeting Ms. Wilson on several occasions and I have read several of her books. She has received numerous awards for her writing and in 2004 was made a Member of the Order of Canada. I decided I would give this prequel a try.

Although I still felt a great deal of trepidation as I began reading Before Green Gables I was quickly pulled into the story of how Anne came to be Anne. Wilson did not try to write like Montgomery but instead used her own unique writing voice to tell the story of Anne's journey from birth in Nova Scotia to that train platform in Prince Edward Island. The book was exquisitely beautiful, heart wrenchingly sad and absolutely perfect in every way. Ms. Wilson did a marvelous job and I believe this is a must read for any one who has enjoyed the Anne books.

In My Backyard is a wonderful book. It is about the wildlife you will find in a backyard. The writing is simple and flows nicely, making it a good read aloud. The accompanying illustrations are beautiful! Ron Broda has done the scenes of the backyard in paper sculpture. Because they are sculptures the pictures are given a 3D quality that make them much more realistic. They are so detailed that it is hard to tell that they are made of paper. If you look closely every page has a ladybug somewhere.

This delightful book is one of the Blue Spruce Nominees.

Check to see if In My Backyard is checked in

I fell in love with the book Grumpy Bird instantly. The comical drawing of a little grumpy blue bird on the cover with the bright yellow background caught my eye. I pulled it off the new book cart and read the first page. The main character, Bird, wakes up one day and is grumpy. He is so grumpy he doesn't even want to fly, instead he decides to walk. Having woken up grumpy for no reason myself quite a few times I felt a kinship to this little bird stomping along. He runs into his friends along the way and they join him on his walk. By the end I was laughing and so was Bird. It was adorable, and funny and my new favourite book!

In October, I was happy to see that it had been nominated for the Blue Spruce Award! But not as overjoyed as I was last week when I found out that the author, Jeremy Tankard, would be autographing copies at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference Expo! So off I went with my copy of Grumpy Bird to meet Jeremy Tankard. It was quite thrilling. He signed my book and drew a sheep on the back of a poster for me. It was amazing how he could make such an adorable sheep just using a black marker! Grumpy Bird is Mr. Tankard's first book. When I asked if he was working on what was next he told me that he has a new book coming out sometime next year called Boo Boo Bird. It will be about a very sad bird who bumped his head. I cannot wait to read it!

If you want to read Grumpy Bird (and really you should!) check to see if we have a copy in by clicking:
Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard

If you would like to learn more about Jeremy Tankard and how he wrote and drew the story of Grumpy Bird check out his website:
http://www.jeremytankard.com/

This charming new picture book by Jan Brett, is an adaption on Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

An Inuit girl, Aloo-ki, is out with her dog team on the ice flows when she becomes separated from her dogs. While looking for them she stumbles across the biggest igloo she has ever seen and decides to investigate. The bears have just stepped out for a stroll while baby bear's breakfast cools down. Like Goldilocks, Aloo-ki tries out the bears things until they arrive home and find her asleep! A beautiful story with Jan Brett's distinctive illustrative style. A must read for all who love the classic version.

The Three Snow Bears By Jan Brett
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I was browsing the new book shelves today and saw that we have a new series of craft books. The series is called the Cool Craft series and is aimed at ages 8 to 12. Each book introduces the craft and gives a little background on how it began. The tools and materials that are required as well as the different techniques you can use to do the craft are laid out in a child friendly manner. The pictures are plentiful and help to explain how to do the craft.

There are five books in the series. Click on the titles below to check to see if they are in and if they are not you can always place a request for them.

Cool Scrapbooks
Cool Beaded Jewelery
Cool Melt & Pour Soap
Cool Painted Stuff
Cool Clay Projects

Title: Lulu luciole s'est engluée
Type of Review: Book
Intended Audience: Kids

It was a really cute little kids book! I am French Immersion and I thought that some of the translations were not so great but it was cute!

Your Rating: *** Recommended

Submitted by Jacqueline

We want to hear about what you have been reading, watching and listening to! Click on the 'Submit a Review' link located on the green side menu to write us a review. We will publish your review in the Kid's News and Reviews section.

Title: Archie #576
Type of Review: Book
Intended Audience: Children/Teens

It was a really funny issue! I was laughin almost the whole time:)
Your Rating: **** Highly Recommended

Submitted by Jacqueline

We want to hear about what you have been reading, watching and listening to! Click on the 'Submit a Review' link located on the green side menu to write us a review. We will publish your review in the Kid's News and Reviews section.