Book Description

When a drought spreads through the land of the short grass, the animals set out across the great plain to find food. Their only hope for survival is a tree with a variety of colorful fruit. The problem is its branches are too high. To reach them, the wise old turtle says, one must know the name of the tree, something only King Lion is privy to. In this Bantu folktale retold by Celia Barker Lottridge, the hero is not the most cunning or the strongest but the one that tries the hardest. Ian Wallace’s striking illustrations of desert landscape and luscious fruit help bring this tale to life. “A strong read-aloud, handsomely illustrated.” — Booklist ... Read more

Book Description

James is following in his father's footsteps, descending deep into the caves below the Atlantic Ocean off of Cape Breton to learn to be a coal miner. Even though James is considered old enough to go to the deeps, his mother cautions him to take care. Coal mining is dangerous work — and the only way his family can earn a living. Readers follow James down into the dark underworld, where he can hear the layers of rock shift around him. Will he survive his first day in the deeps?

Beautifully illustrated with textured and shadowy acrylic paintings, Boy of the Deeps vividly illuminates and honors the lives of coal miners. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Eva lives in an Inuit village in northern Canada. In the winter, people search along the bottom of the seabed beneath a thick shelf of ice for mussels to eat. Eva usually helps her mother, but for the first time, she’s going to go by herself. She soon gathers a pan full of mussels. But then, her candle goes out, and the tide threatens to return! When she is finally safe with her mother, Eva proclaims, "That was my very last first time walking alone on the bottom of the sea." An ALA Notable Children’s Book, Very Last First Time comes from one of Canada's most distinguished storytellers and an award-winning illustrator. "A unique experience for young listeners and an intriguing introduction to another culture." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books "An extraordinary picture book experience." — The New York Times Book Review ... Read more

Book Description

For seven generations the men of Duncan's family have fished in broad wooden boats off the coast of Newfoundland. But those days are over. The cod have disappeared from the North Atlantic, and the longliners no longer return with rich bounties from the sea. Many fishermen have left to find work. Duncan's father is trying to stay put, in the place where he and his family have lived forever... but time and money are running out. Will the family have to leave their home? Or is there another way--Duncan's way? Striking watercolors by Ian Wallace perfectly capture the rugged beauty of the North Atlantic coast. In equally deft strokes, his words chart the emotional journey of a boy and his family caught in a life crisis. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is a great book!
I can't recommend it enough! Get it for all your children! The pictures are very detailed and realistic, and the maps are excellent. ... Read more

Book Description

Located on the main street of a small town, Gully's store sells everything — shoes, wax, matches, and rain gear. If she could, Mavis would buy everything in the store. Merna is married to the owner of the store and when the owner suddenly dies, she holds a wake and then closes the store down — indefinitely. Mavis's parents speculate that Merna must have inherited a fortune. Intrigued, Mavis goes over to Merna's house to see if she can spot any evidence of this fortune. She doesn't find any money, but happens upon something even better: friendship.

This touching, gentle story of loss and the healing power of friendship is Ian Wallace at his finest. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

wonderful read and gorgeous to look at
The title immediately caught the attention of my two grade-school boys; it refers to a statue called Evangelina but "she's not naked," explains her sculptor."She's nude."

A recently widowed artist moves next door to a farm boy and in the end becomes his first art teacher.This is a rich book, deftly covering mourning, creativity, and neighborliness in one small plot.The sculptures are beautiful (and at times adorable), the characters nicely realized and the story held my boys' attention and discussions for several days afterwards.Fabulous last page, too!

Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

An old and esoteric tradition in rural Newfoundland captures the spirit of two favorite holidays — Christmas and Halloween — and combines them in an unusual ritual. In The Mummer’s Song, an elderly woman and her two grandsons are visited by a band of twenty "mummers" — masked and costumed neighbors who carouse, make merry, joke, and dance. The words to a popular song describe the custom of neighbors visiting from house to house for singing, dancing, and refreshments. "Wallace’s ... drawings create a crazy canvas.... For a really different holiday book, you need look no further." — Booklist ... Read more

Book Description

Andre and Elise’s father has gone in search of work, and may not be home for Christmas. The day he left, their mother set an extra place at the table in case a hungry stranger visits. "Wherever your father is, I hope someone will set a place for him," she says. Eight months later, no one has come to their door. Then a mysterious stranger arrives on Christmas night and performs dazzling magic tricks. Can he use magic to bring back their father? In this wonderful story about the rewards of being kind to strangers, Ian Wallace has performed his own kind of magic. ... Read more

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THIS BOOK REALLY TAKES OFF
True or False -Swifts fly in their sleep?

There are more than 8,600 species of birds and new species are still being found.In total, about 100,000 million birds are flying, walking or swimming around the world.They can be seen in coal mines and on mountain tops, in jungles, cities and deserts, and over oceans and icecaps.Almost wherever you look you will see birds.This book is a lively introduction to many of the species and concentrates on the more curious and unexpected parts of their varied lives.

Birds range in size from smaller than moths to taller than people.Some are great travellers, literally flying around the world.Others cannot fly at all.This book looks at birds that dance, vegetaarian vultures, birds that fly backwards, bone-eaters, parrots that sleep upside down, a heron that fishes with bait, and a poorwill that sleeps through the winter.

This book reveals the fascination and beauty of birds and shows that there is still much to learn about the way they live.

ANSWER:True - Swifts do fly in their sleep.They rise high into the sky at dusk and sleep on the wing, flying down again at dawn. ... Read more