Illustrated by Kim Smith

I read E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and The X Files: Earth Children are Weird (illustrated by Kim Smith) in March, and never got around to finishing my post...   

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is very much like the movie in book form, and even more so because the primary characters are already children.  On the other hand, The X Files: Earth Children are Weird is more of its own story.

I've always been more of an X Files fan than an E.T. fan, but beyond that, I enjoyed the X Files book more.  Fox and Dana are children and friends, exploring the outdoors and having extraterrestrial experiences before going home.  The book was fun.

As for the E.T. book, if you liked the movie, you are likely to enjoy the book with its charming illustrations.  And of course, you can always root for E.T. making his way home.

Both of these qualify for the Canadian Book Challenge as Kim Smith is from Alberta.

The Elephant Keeper: Caring for Orphaned Elephants in Zambia

The Elephant Keeper: Caring for Orphaned Elephants in Zambia by Margriet Ruurs and illustrated by Redro Covo

Margriet Ruurs is a Canadian author (British Columbia), qualifying this read for the 12th annual Canadian Book Challenge.

I have a fondness for books about conservation and animal rescue, and this book is a double whammy.  Aaron helps with the rescue and care of a young orphaned elephant.  In the process he discovers a passion for helping these beautiful animals that are not the terrifying and horrible beasts he grew up hearing about.

The story is moving with some lovely illustrations.  In a couple places the book breaks to interject some facts and figures about elephants.  The content was interesting and important, but my involvement in the story was broken up in the process of reading these details.  I can see where it might be useful to help connect with the real deal, but I feel it might have done more harm than good.  Personally, I ended up skipping over these parts to finish the story and easily could have not missed them altogether.  I feel they might have been better at the end of the book, when, having finished tehstory, a reader would want to learn more.

In the end you learn that Aaron is a real person who really is one of the elephant keepers at the Lilayi Elephant Nursery.  Overall, I enjoyed and appreciated the book and story.

Anna at the Art Museum

Title: Anna at the Art Museum

Author: Hazel Hutchins & Gail Herbert; Illustrated by Lil Crump

Publisher: Annick Press

A quick book about Anna as she explores an art museum by pushing boundaries.  She touches what she ought not touch, she is noisy when she ought to be quiet, and she thinks a roped-off sculpture looks like a great place to climb.

Anna is bored, and every time she tries to find some entertainment she is shushed, scolded, and held back.  But with a little kindness shown and a backside look at some of the inner workings, Anna finds an appreciation for art and its beauty that she never held before.

The end includes a listing of all the real art pieces Anna encounters along with where they are currently held.  The majority can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, but there are others.

After completing the book I realized that it qualifies for the Canadian Book Challenge.  Hazel Hutchins is from Alberta, Gail Herbert is from Ontario, and illustrator Lil Crump is from Nova Scotia.

Dr. Jo: How Sara Josephine Baker Saved the Lives of America's Children

Dr. Jo: How Sara Josephine Baker Saved the Lives of America's Children by Canadian author Monica Kulling and illustrated by Julianna Swaney is the story of a woman who persevered in spite of what would be expected of her for the better of others.

Dr. Jo lost her brother and father to disease and determined to help others fight a similar fate.  She may have had some false starts, but eventually she made changes that improved the lives of children, particularly poor children, throughout New York City and America.

I was drawn to this book in part because of Dr. Jo's name and in part because I find inspirational biographical children's books a joy to read.  I did not realize that it has a Canadian author and qualifies for the challenge!

Other biographical picture books that may be of interest are: Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum (I read this a few years back with the kiddos, and they LOVED it), Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenia Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist, and Joan Proctor, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles (I read these last two with the youngest and he enjoyed them).

Back to the Future

Part of the POP Classics series, Back to the Future based on the movie written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale is illustrated by Canadian Kim Smith.  I requested all the books in this series since they fit into the 12th annual Canadian Book Challenge.

I've never watched Back to the Future all the way through; I've only seen a few minutes here and there.   So while I knew the gist of the story, this children's books that supposedly (based on other reviews) only hits the main plot points was still new to me for the most part.  The illustrations are bright and the characters are all very expressive.

I'll admit, the new book smell really made this read all the better.  I don't know if I would have enjoyed it so much without the additional sensory input.  Anyway, I will be reading more of these.  I have X-Files and a couple others checked out from the library.

Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein

Title: Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein

Author: Linda Bailey; Illustrated by Júlia Sardà

Publisher: Tundra

ISBN: 9781770495593

Length: Unnumbered + "Author's Note" + "Sources"

Obtained: Library hardcover picture book

Comments:

I have a series of Frankenstein programs scheduled for work, and I've been reading some Frankenstein related books (just kids books so far). This is one of them, but I realized when I finished it that the author, Linda Bailey, is Canadian, so I'm posting to fulfill the 12th Annual Canadian Book Challenge.

 This is a children's book that looks into Mary Shelley's background from her childhood on. It focuses on what inspired her creation of Frankenstein, from her "dreamer" nature as a child to the challenge that prompted the story. The illustrations are charming, and I couldn't help but like Mary her past and creativity is uncovered.

Coyote Tales

Title: Coyote Tales

Author: Thomas King ; Illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler

Publisher: Groundwood Books

ISBN: 9781554988358

Length: 56 pages

Obtained: Library Hoopla ebook copy

Comments:

Thomas King was recommended to me as a Canadian author from a co-worker.  He was born in the US and but has lived and worked in Canada for decades; he is from Ontario.  Byron Eggenschwiler is an illustrator from Alberta, Canada.

Coyote Tales includes two stories.  The first is "Coyote Sings to the Moon" a story that explains both the coyote's cry and the different phases of the moon.  The second is "Coyote's New Suit" in which the most tricky and scheming character is actually Raven.  Both stories contain black and white illustrations along the way to contribute to the story.

Both stories were brief and fun.

White Sand Blues

Title: White Sand Blues

Author: Vicki Delany

Publisher: Rapid Reads (Orca)

Series: Ashley Grant Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781459815353

Length: 138 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

This is the first book I've read for the 12th annual Canadian Book Challenge.  This book is set in the Victoria and Albert Islands (which apparently fall under Britain), but the author Vicki Delany is Canadian, as are the primary and several secondary characters.

This is a Rapid Reads book, which means it is short and fast paced - meant for those who need help with adult literacy or reluctant readers.  Vicki has also written a standalone, A Winter Kill, and the Ray Robertson series (book 1 is Juba Good) for this line.

While I preferred the Ray Robertson series to this book, it was a quick and enjoyable mystery.  Ahsleyhas just gotten in and hasn't even been to her hotel when she is called in to help on her first case as a medic for the Grand Victoria Island; a Canadian has been found dead in the water.  Her intriductionto this new job is even more startling when it turns out she knows the victim's daughter from her school days back in Canada.

I look forward to reading book 2 in this series, Blue Water Hues.

12th Annual Canadian Book Challenge

I participated in this the 6th - 8th years (that last which, as I recall, I didn't finish).  But I'm refreshing myself and this blog.  Plus, I've always enjoyed this challenge.

Between July 1 and June 30 of next year, I will be striving to read AND post at least 13 Canadian books (that is, books by Canadian authors).  I will update them here as well as on the host blog.  Speaking of which, this challenge is now being hosted by Melwyk at The Industrious Reader.  Stop by here for more information: 12th Annual Canadian Book Challenge.

1. White Sand Blues by Vicki Delany
2. Coyote Tales by Thomas King ; Illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler
3. Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey; Illustrated by Júlia Sardà (Spanish Illustrator)
4. Back to the Future by Kim Smith
5. Dr. Jo: How Sara Josephine Baker Saved the Lives of America's Children by Monica Killing; Illustrated by Julianna Swaney 
6. Anna at the Art Museum by Hazel Hutchins and Gail Herbert; Illustrated by Lil Crump
7. The Elephant Keeper: Caring for Orphaned Elephants in Zambia by Margriet Ruurs; Illustrated by Pedro Covo (Columbian Illustrator) 
8. E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial by Kim Smith
9. The X-Files: Earth Children are Weird by Kim Smith
10. ...