Reviews (9)

Get to know your children's idol!
If your children are fans of Raffi and you must hear his voice everyday, it's nice to know a little background. An amazing life story and very entertaining reading. Who knew?!?

lots of little-known facts
I learned a lot about Raffi's early life and family from this book -- also about the children's music industry. Raffi was and is a pioneer in his field. A fast-moving read and must-have for any children's performer.

Raffi shares his heartfelt beliefs
The Life Of A Children's Troubadour is Raffi's autobiography in which he shares the story of his life, from his childhood in Cairo Egypt, to his adjustment to life in Toronto as a youth, to his professional success as a musician throughout North America. Raffi reveals the details of his remarkable career, from modest beginnings as a folksinger in coffee houses to sold-out children's concerts at Carnegie Hall and on Broadway. Raffi shares his heartfelt beliefs, his love and admiration for children, and his dedication to making the world a better place for kids. The Life Of A Children's Troubadour is a "must" for anyone who has enjoyed and appreciated Raffi's very special music and his influence on a generation of children, parents and teachers.

Even Our Heroes Are Human
I reall enjoyed discovering who Raffi is. It was nice to see that he is not perfect and to see himself work that.

I would have liked to read more about his life and less about how to raise a child. Towards the end of the book, it got a little "preachy" on how to raise a child. I find it a little difficult to get advice from someone who does not have a child.

I do, however, find it inspiring that someone did so well in a path that he didn't choose for himself. He learned to do the best he could and let himself be guided.

Much more than a show-business autobiography
Through his music, Raffi has been in our family ever since our eldest son, now 24, was a toddler. What attracted us, apart from the consistently high musical quality, was the directness and warmth of Raffi's approach, the intelligence, the lack of condescension, and his obvious respect for children and childhood--and for all of humanity, and for all of life. These same values inform his book.

Much more than a showbusiness autobiography, The Life of a Children's Troubadour is about a personal odyssey. It begins with a pained and troubled childhood and describes Raffi's growth into an internationally renowned entertainer, a passionate advocate for children, for the natural environment, and for peace. It has not been an easy journey, and Raffi describes the obstacles and detours along the way with honesty and with an insight that was clearly gained at great emotional cost.

For me the least riveting parts of the book were the depictions of showbusiness events--recording sessions, details of the workings of the entertainment world, etc., although I don't doubt that many will find such information of interest. These , however, do not dominate the book. Raffi's inner and outer journeys do, with all their perils and rewards. As one would expect from a gifted lyricist, the writing is elegant, often moving. Only here and there would one have wished for a firmer editorial hand. This book would delight anyone who has been ever moved by Raffi's music--or whose children have. ... Read more

Book Description

A biography of the popular Canadian singer, from her early days on the music scene to her transformation into an award-winning superstar. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful book!
Shania is such an excellent singer with a fascinating story to tell, and this book does a great job telling it! The pictures are awesome and the book told me a lot about her life. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to any other Shania Twain fan! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My fourth graders love it!
I got ahold of a copy of this book of fairy tales when I was in elementary school and loved it. I have read it and reread it many times since just for fun. It draws me into another world of princes, fairys, sultans, and noble quests. The stories are rich with adventure, enchantment, and humor. The hero, be he the bold but kind-hearted commoner or a "youngest prince" in disguise, always wins. I am now an elementary school teacher, and my students like the book so much they are asking me where they can buy it!

This book is great
I read this book as a child, and now, many years later, I still remember this as my very favorite book of fairy tales. These stories are all entertaining, and very vividly described. If you read these stories to your kids in bed at night, they will still be very awake when you finish! I cannot recommend this book more highly to those who love the classic fairy tale ... Read more

Book Description

Share Anne's delight at receiving the dress of her dreams, the joy of a young woman reunited with her long-lost brother on Christmas Eve, and the surprise of a trio of sisters who inadvertently end a family feud by arriving at the wrong uncle's house for Christmas dinner.

L.M. Montgomery reveals the joys and trials of Christmas and the hope of the New Year in this moving collection, which will be treasured by her fans and by all readers who enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Christmas memories in the making
This book is so charming and gentle. It is filled with lovely stories of Christmases past. All of them have a message of the true meanings of Christmas: giving, loving, sharing, forgiving, and family. The stories are so simple and fresh in today's day and age. Lucy Maud Montgomery is a treasure in any child's library. This is no exception. There is a light warm feeling that comes from reading this book. There are enough stories to count down the days of Christmas with your children with a story each night. What a lovely way to wind down a day, and tuck them in with a warm feeling inside!

Absoloutly Fabulous, darling!
This heart warming book is a fabulous book. It makes readers think that there're lots of generous people who can help you when you feel sad or if you think that Christmas or New YEar is not that exicting.

This is a wonderful, heart-warming book to be treasured.
This collection of Christmas and New Year stories full of the spirit of the season. It is a wonderful, heart-warming book to be treaured all year long. It lets it's readers know that at Christmas time, and at New Year's as well, anything can happen as long as their are kind and generous people in the world.

A warm and wonderful book for any time of year
Fans of Lucy Maud Montgomery young and old will truly enjoy this new collection of short stories. This is what I call "comfort reading", about kinder, simpler times. As always, readers come to care about the characters and their situations. Even the two excerpts from Montgomery's novels that are included in this anthology stand by themselves very well. This book would be a wonderful Christmas present, but I read it in July and found it a treat for any time of year.

A warm and wonderful read for fans of L.M. Montgomery
I was thrilled to find this book, because I have read everything else L. M. Montgomery has written. "Christmas with Anne" did not disappoint me. The characters were vivid and sympathetic and the stories were warm and fascinating. I read this book slowly to savor each story, and hated to see it end. Even the two excerpts from the "Anne" books which were included read differently in this volume and stood alone quite well. This would be a wonderful Christmas present, but you don't have to wait until the snow flies. I read it in July and still loved it. ... Read more

Book Description

The Algonquins are a great family of tribes who were widely spread across the North Central, Northeastern, and Middle Atlantic United States and Canada. Among them are the Lenapé, the Blackfoot, the Cree, the Micmac, the Ojibway, the Pequot, and the Wampanoag. A number of the tribes vanished in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and their stories with them, for not until the late nineteenth century were many tales written down. In Turtle Island, Jane Curry retells twenty-seven such tales from a selection of tribes across the ancient Algonquian homelands.

Here are stories of shapechangers, of magic and mystery, of heroes and tricksters, of how the world was made, and of why crows are black and beavers have broad tails. Animals and humans are of equal importance, sharing the world around them, sometimes as friends, sometimes as opponents.

Skillfully retold by a master storyteller and with evocative illustrations that reflect the customs and culture of the Algonquins, this is a special book for all who, like the Algonquins, enjoy a good story. ... Read more

Book Description

First published in 1983, this stunning adaptation of the Japanese legend of the Crane Wife by three-time Caldecott Honor-recipient Molly Bang is set in nineteenth-century New England. After a shipbuilder rescues an injured goose, a mysterious woman arrives offering to work as a sail maker. She weaves sails of unparalleled quality and the two soon fall in love. But when a rich man orders a set of special sails, their happiness is threatened by an astonishing secret. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gorgeous book
I checked this book out of the library for my preschool-aged son, who loved the sailboat on the cover. However, we found this adaptation was just as compelling as the illustrations, and it quickly became a favorite bed-time book for my son.I also shared it with 10 year olds, who were more able to understand the legend, and they loved it just as much.This quickly became a favorite book for our family, and I'm purchasing a copy to keep. ... Read more

Book Description

Planning a vacation? Want to find a haunted house in your own state? Want to get really scared? Here's the definitive listing of spooky places in every single state and some Canadian provinces, too. Read these true ghost stories and find out some fascinating history -- but watch out, ghosts are everywhere!

DID YOU KNOW...

Book Description

In an ancient time when Winter reigned and ice and darkness covered the land, a young boy’s heroic and unselfish act helps his people find the shelter of southern trees. But Winter isn’t finished yet and shakes the leaves from the trees. To show his gratitude to the trees, the boy uses all his strength and perseverance to help bring back the leaves. This wonderful tale gives hope that, even though Winter can never be vanquished, there is promise of the coming Spring. ... Read more

Book Description

In a series of 21 paintings Shilling re-creates the faces of his Ojibway people – unforgettable for the suffering under the quietness, the courage, and dignity in the pain. He accompanies the art with a poetic text as compelling as the paintings – and writes of sleep and dreams and death, and of his use of color to fight off fear and darkness. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Ojibway Dream
Not a children's book but children would enjoy its bold colors, strokes and hidden images. This book is a mini galary of the works of great native Canadian artist, Arthur Shilling. If you collect art this is important. If you follow aboriginal art this book is a 'must have.' Anton Hart ... Read more

Book Description

Originally published between in 1978, these legends of the Haida people of British Columbia feature the wise and enterprising Mouse Woman, a narnauk (supernatural human - animal shape-shifter) who takes the form of both a mouse and a grandmother. Mouse Woman's role, as Christie Harris's carefully researched and respectfully told legends tell, was to keep order between other narnauks and humans. Both a teacher and a nurturer, the ever-watchful Mouse Woman keeps a particularly close eye on young people. When they are tricked into trouble (often by other narnauks), she uses tact and her own brand of trickery to set things right. A unique and wonderful character, the ingenious Mouse Woman convinces the young people to change their ways themselves with only a little bit of direction from her. This reissue of the original text features the striking original black-and-white line drawings of Douglas Tait. With a new and more contemporary look, these compelling stories hold appeal for fans of the legendary Harris and all readers drawn to legends and folktales. ... Read more

Book Description

The story that I intended to eat them is a fabrication. People will make up anything I did intend to observe them closely under conditions of stress, and more blood would have been very useful to me.

In the end, I would probably have let them go back home. Their father, my husband, was making my life as wretched as his own. In the end, it would have been a choice between having the children back and pretending (for a while) to be a happy-ever-after fairy-tale family, or getting rid of all three of them and moving on.

from "The Prince"

Suddenly I looked down. The current damsel was gloriously attired in something with pearls and ermine trim.I hardly saw her dress. My eyes fixed on her feet.

Glass! I could see right through her shoes!

I stopped immediately. She almost fell. I steadied her.

My eyes had not left her feet as they nestled like twin birds in their delicate little cages. Such feet! Oh, Stephen, you'd have loved them too. How I longed to put them into the footbath, to pour in the perfumed oil!

The music stopped. Everything stopped. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An interesting and clever spin on some old tales
I've always relied on the likes of Angela Carter, Datlow & Windling, and Tanith Lee (among a myriad of others) to feed me my daily dose of fairy tale interpretations, but Priscilla Galloway has prepared such a sumptuous offering of delightful shorts that I've added her to my collection of favorites. You have to applaud the gorgeous Rapunzel tale told from the birth-mother's point of view and set among the Bedouin peoples. If not, try the Cinderella story told by a heartbroken Prince with an undeniable foot fetish, or a Jack and the Beanstalk story in which giants must grind 'pygmy' bones for their bread to curb the effects of a fatal genetic bone disorder. My favorite of them all, though, is the retelling of Hansel and Gretel from the witch's/stepmother's point of view...delightful, dark, and desperate. The writing flows well, perfect for an early teen to adult audience without being either condescending or insultingly simple. Give it a chance, and you won't be disappointed.

No thanks
I read this anthology in hopes of discovering new depths and interpretations of familiar fairy tales. Dark interpretations are usually quite insightful and I thought that this would be an entire collection of chilling and clever retellings.

Nope.

Truly Grim Tales are simply not a lot of fun to read, though (or perhaps because) they certainly live up to the title. The emphasis seems to be purely on making the tales grim, rather than adding new perspectives. I found the resulting stories to be leaden and often revolting, rather than fascinating. Unless you enjoy grimness for the sake of grimness, I would advise skipping these tales in favor of Patricia C. Wrede's remarkably clever and creepy retelling of an old ballad, "Cruel Sisters" (in The Book of Enchantments) or Vivian Vande Velde's equally clever Rapunzel retelling, "Straw into Gold" (in Tales from the Brothers Grimm and Sisters Weird). For dark novel length retellings, Donna Jo Napoli's Zel (Rapunzel) and The Magic Circle (Hansel and Gretel) are a must.

Both intriguing and entertaining, young adult or not.
Ms. Galloway is able to put an interesting and very entertaining spin on the retelling of classic tales, we've all heard as children. Her unique writing style is both humerous and captivating. I found her Truly Grim Tales to be an imaginative and unique collection. I would highly recommend it to any young adult who enjoys, mystery, science fiction, horror or folklore. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1911, Pauline Johnson published Legends of Vancouver, a collection of native stories she learned from a tribal chieftain. One of these stories appears here in a new edition. The Lost Island tells of a long-ago time when what is now Vancouver belonged to the Sqamish people. In poetic prose, Johnson retells the story of a native healer whose visit to a mysterious island ends in a tragic loss, a striking symbol of the arrival of white civilization. Acclaimed artist Atanas's shimmering illustrations evoke a world long vanished. ... Read more

Book Description

When Susan Coyne was five years old her family went, as always, to spend the summer in a cottage on Lake of the Woods in Western Ontario.One of their neighbors was an elderly retired school administrator and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Moir, whose garden was one of the local wonders.

Nearby was a ruined cabin now inhabited, Susan was assured, by elves; all that remained of it was a moss-covered fireplace, a miniature enchanted castle with tunnels and ramparts.If you leaned in close you could hear the hum of elves living and working deep within.Susan swept the heart, filled walnut shells with water, and left a small tribute of flowers.One day when she visited the fireplace she found a letter waiting for her; it was from a princess fairy.and so began a summer's correspondence that would nourish a lifetime.

Susan later knew that the letters were written by Mr. Moir, with whom she stayed in touch over the years.But to her they always remained pure magic, a pathway into the worlds that words alone can create.Here is a memoir for children of all ages - to be read, read aloud, reread, remembered.
... Read more

Reviews (3)

Magic Comes to Western Ontario
From BlueJeanOnline.com
by Amruta Gadgil

J.R.R Tolkien's acclaimed trilogy Lord of the Rings places New Zealand at the center of action, but the summer of '63 Western Ontario became a playground of fairies, kingdoms, fantasy, and a budding friendship for one five-year old girl. Author Susan Coyne relives and reflects on her magical summer In the Kingdom of Fairies.

While on an excursion at the family cottage, Susan stumbles onto a fireplace wedged between her house and the next-door neighbors. Her father's rationale is that the fireplace was built by elves. Intrigued, Susan leaves small gifts and flowers. The kind gestures prompt a correspondence from character, Princess Nootsie Tah through Queen Mab and Susan.

Susan strikes up a friendship with her neighbor Mr. Moir and shares her secret correspondence. Moir a good-natured old man is knowledgeable about the princess fairy Nootsie Tah and revels in Susan's curiosity and merriment in fairies and all things magical.

Nootsie Tah and Susan continue their exchange of letters and drawings while Susan's friendship with Mr. Moir blossoms, until it is time for her to go back to school in Toronto. After that summer, Susan's foray with elves and fairies stop. Nevertheless, her relationship with Mr. Moir never wanes even with the daily distractions of school and friends.

Ten years later when Susan's father sends her the old letters and cards that were exchanged, she discovers that the fairies and elves she communicated with were actually Mr. Moir.

In the Kingdom of Fairies is a true tale mingled with fantasy and friendship. Susan and Mr. Moir's friendship is uncomplicated in a complicated world making that summer one that will be etched in her mind forever.

Copyright 2003 BlueJeanOnline.com

read Read READ this book!
Lately I've been having the worst time trying to find something truly worthwhile to read. Countless titles have been started and then quickly set aside (since I am of an age where I no longer feel compelled to waste time reading boring books). Not only did this book not bore me, it brought me joy. Been a looooooong time since a book did that for me! If you sometimes (or oftentimes) feel as if the world has gone mostly mad, set aside a few hours for this book.

Bravo and thanks to Ms. Coyne (and Mr. Moir)!

strong bio of a child and an adult sharing values
This one-year in the life of biography describes how in 1963 then five-year old Susan Coyne spends a summer at the family cottage in Western Ontario. Susan discovered an abandoned fireplace in the hedge between her family house and that of the next door neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Moir. Her dad explained to Susan that the elves built the fireplace. Feeling some form of kinship, Susan leaves small presents for the elves that are gone by the next day. One day Princess Nootsie Tah on behalf of Queen Mab writes a thank you note. With the help of her nanny, little Susan responds. Soon an elf and a human child become pen pals even while Susan spent plenty of time with the retired Mr. Noir listening to his stories.

This true story is a great book that shows how one caring person can make a difference. Princess Nootsie Tah obviously cherished the classics and sprinkled much of that love into the letters (the allusions are brilliant) that fired the imagination of a child. The letters are incredibly written as Mr. Moir treats his young friend with respect and intelligence. Perhaps starting with that one summer provided the foundation to the dream of becoming an actress that Susan Coyne later fulfilled. IN THE KINGDOM OF FAIRIES is a strong bio of a child and an adult sharing meaningful social values.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, published by Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Assn. on November 1, 1994. The length of the article is 58277 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the author: This paper explores community constructs of infertility and how these constructs influence social support offered involuntarily childless couples. Social constructs observed include that motherhood is biologically based and fatherhood is learned; infertility is caused by psychological factors or male sexual dysfunction; and infertility is a medically constructed problem requiring diagnosis and treatment. Males are considered more stigmatized by infertility than females who are offered sympathy. These constructs alter the traditional support functions provided by interpersonal relations. The relevance of these constructs for treatment seeking behaviour and current debates on reproductive technologies is considered.

Citation Details
Title: Community constructs of involuntary childlessness: sympathy, stigma, and social support.
Author: Charlene E. Miall
Publication: The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology (Refereed)
Date: November 1, 1994
Publisher: Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Assn.
Volume: v31Issue: n4Page: p392(30)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Canadian Ethnic Studies Journal, published by Canadian Ethnic Studies Association on March 22, 1999. The length of the article is 6788 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: L'etranger dans la litterature quebecoise pour la jeunesse: L'affirmation d'un personnage a part entiere.
Author: Monique Lebrun
Publication: Canadian Ethnic Studies Journal (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 1999
Publisher: Canadian Ethnic Studies Association
Volume: 31Issue: 1Page: 92(16)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, published by Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Assn. on August 1, 2001. The length of the article is 1140 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Finding Strength: A Mother and Daughter's Story of Childhood Cancer.(Review)
Author: Arthur W. Frank
Publication: The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology (Refereed)
Date: August 1, 2001
Publisher: Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Assn.
Volume: 38Issue: 3Page: 358

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, published by Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Assn. on May 1, 2002. The length of the article is 7872 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the author: Hagan (1990) extended power-control theory to explain gender differences in vulnerability to crime, a composite of victimization and offending, and the search for deviant role exits. We revisit this elaboration, considering victimization and offending separately, broadening the concept of search for role exits, and including enactment of role exits. Analyses reveal that the model partially explains gender differences in delinquency, but not victimization or the search for role exits. The power-control variables differentially impact the relationship between gender and role exit behaviour. We conclude that the model promises to improve our understanding of gender differences in behaviours other than crime.

Citation Details
Title: A power-control theory of vulnerability to crime and adolescent role exits--revisited *.
Author: Brenda Sims Blackwell
Publication: The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology (Refereed)
Date: May 1, 2002
Publisher: Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Assn.
Volume: 39Issue: 2Page: 199(20)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more