Our Children's Librarian columnist, Julie Booker, brings us a new view from the stacks every month.
*****
A Tulip in Winter: A story About Folk Artist Maud Lewis, by Kathy Stinson, illustrated by Lauren Soloy, is an appropriately colourful picture book about the self-taught East Coast artist. Growing up with arthritis, Lewis was forced to quit piano and pick up a paint brush. From that point on, she painted nature. Whether it was green mountaintops in winter or tulips in snow, she chose beauty over realism. Maud’s gruff and miserly husband supported her art by collecting abandoned cans of paint from the ocean and allowing Maud to turn their home and many of its households objects, including the wood-stove, into a work of art. Today, her tiny one-of-a-kind house can be found inside the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. (Kindergarten to Grade 3)
*
Good Morning, Sunshine! The Joey Moss Story, by Lorna Schultz Nicholson, illustrated by Alice Carter, is a moving book. Joey Moss was born with down syndrome. He became a beloved part of the Edmonton Oilers when Wayne Gretzky, a friend of the Moss family, gave him a job in the equipment room. His work ethic, his smile and his ritual greeting of the players (“Good morning, Sunshine!”) ingratiated him with team members. The image of Joey during a heartfelt rendition of "Oh Canada" on the Jumbotron launched his career as a famous Edmontonian, and he appeared as a celebrity as sports events until his death in 2020. The afterword tells of his many awards, as well as the legacy programs and foundations that continue to inspire and advocate for people with disabilities. (Kindergarten to Grade 6)
*
The Girl Who Built an Ocean: An Artist, an Argonaut and the True Story of the World’s first Aquarium, by Jess Keating, illustrated by Michelle See Nutter, is the inspiring story of Jeanne Villepruex. She began as a seamstress but, upon moving to the Mediterranean, discovered a love of sea life. Sketching creatures was difficult, though, so she built the first known aquarium to house her subjects, particularly the argonaut. Her curiosity lead her to discover and document the female growing its own shell. This, along with her invention of the aquarium, garnered her notoriety. There’s a timeline and a biographical note at the back to flesh out her story. (Kindergarten to Grade 3)
*
Walking in the City with Jane, by Susan Hughes, illustrated by Valerie Boivin, begins with a young Jane Jacobs, sitting in her school desk, bored. She learned far more being outside, observing patterns in city life, making connections. Jane gradually understood that a city is an ecosystem, containing parts which make it healthy (i.e. “short city blocks give people more opportunities to turn corners… and meet up with others!”). In New York City, she protested against redevelopment, determined to make cities more people-friendly, rather than car-friendly. She ended up living in Toronto, where her influence can be seen to this day in urban design. (Kindergarten to Grade 6)
*
The Strongest Man in the World: Luis Cyr, by Nicolas Debon, reads like a graphic novel, told through panels and speech bubbles. In a world of circus strong men with flashy tricks, Quebecois Luis Cyr was a true weight lifter who smashed all records and beat all those who challenged him. His career began with lifting a horse, then a boulder, before temporarily turning to police work to support his family. His feats took him from North America to London and earned him enough money to open his own circus, where he lifted 18 men on his back. To this day, some of his records remain. A brief bio at the back helps the reader to understand he’s the real deal. (Kindergarten to Grade 6)
*
Trailblazers: The Black Pioneers Who Have Shaped Canada, by Tiyahna Ridley-Padmore, illustrated by Merryl-Royce Ndema-Moussa, is a perfect book for kids. Each page features a brief bio and a poem, encapsulating the contributions of 38 prominent figures. From lawyers to politicians, from businessmen to activists, this book is organized in chronological order. Beginning in 1589, with explorer Mathieu Da Costa, the book chronicles loyalists and entrepreneurs, slaves with extraordinary outcomes, journalists, and inventors. The author encourages us to digest each page, instead of reading the book in one go. The beginning shows a succinct map addressing enslavement, segregation laws and racial inequality. Also included, are the Five T’s of how to be a trailblazer: target your interests; train; teach; take action; and team up. (Kindergarten to Grade 6)
*
The Extraordinary Life of Anna Swan, by Anne Renaud, profiles the mid-19th century “Nova Scotia Giant girl.” At age 4, Anna measured 4’8”, and was put on exhibit, prior to a career with P.T. Barnum. At 22 years old and 7 1/2 feet tall, she travelled extensively, meeting famous people, including Queen Victoria, before settling down in Nova Scotia with a husband of similar height. They lost two babies —one normal in size, the other weighing 23 1/4 lbs! In a home with customized oversized furniture, she became a beloved part of the community. Today, there is a monument to her in Nova Scotia. (Grade 3-6)
*
On her first day as teacher-librarian, Julie Booker was asked by a five-year-old if that was her real name. She's felt at home in libraries since her inaugural job as a Page in the Toronto Public Library. She is the author of Up Up Up, a book of short stories published by House of Anansi Press.