The new Juvenile Fiction titles that have been arriving at the OISE Library lately stand out for both their beautiful illustrations and powerful content.

Eight year old Irene Couchie Dupuis was taken away from her community (Nipissing First Nation) and family in 1928 and lived for a year at the Spanish Indian Residential school, where she was exposed to neglect and cruelty. Irene’s grandaughter, Jenny Kay Dupuis, along with Kathy Kacer and illustrator Gillian Newland, tell her story in I Am Not a Number (2016). Irene’s story is told with sensitivity and dignity and will both engage young readers and cause older ones to reflect. This book is an excellent resource for the classroom, it combines striking illustrations with a well-written and vividly descriptive text. It is text-driven, rather than illustration heavy, and the amount of reading is more suitable for older elementary audiences. Irene remained connected to her own sense of identity and hope despite the abuse that she faced. Upon returning home for the summer she was hidden by her father and was able to escape returning to the school. The defiance and bravery of Irene and her family will provide a very real example for students who are learning about the history of the residential school system in Canada. The authors provide helpful historical notes, and an afterward that discusses the real Irene and her family.

Margaret Wise Brown, the author of the much beloved children’s book Goodnight Moon, has created another touching story for young and old alike. The Dead Bird handles the upsetting subject of death and loss with poignant simplicity and an almost blunt narrative style. This simple story includes a song for children to sing at the end, and vibrant illustrations by Christian Robinson. The modern and bright illustrations help to lighten the heavy material of the story. The basic narrative of the book follows a group of children (and a dog) who come across a newly dead bird while playing in the park and decide to give it a proper burial. Margaret Wise Brown explores how children mimic the different traditions and coping mechanisms of adults through the funerary services provided to the bird by the group of children. She has the children in the book confront not only the emotional, but physical realities of death through her description of the state of the bird’s body as time passes. In this way she tackles an upsetting subject with a narrative that is removed enough from human death to allow children to process the subject. The basic message of human kindness and the importance of the recognition of life lived is well communicated so as to not upset, but instead remind children of how important such things are. This lovely book is well suited to young readers.

Jenni Desmond’s The Polar Bear is another stunning addition to the Juvenile Fiction collection at the OISE Library. The bold illustrations (also by the author) use a mixture of white expanses and charming portraits of the everyday life of a girl who is reading about polar bears. The meta-narrative of the book is a refreshing take on the subject of conservation; the book is about reading and learning, and follows a little girl as she reads the book in which she herself stars. The presence of the book within itself (which is difficult to describe without confusion, but works very well) builds a bond between the reader and the content. This book is well suited to class discussions of conservation, climate change and the ecosystem. It would be particularly helpful for a unit on the arctic or on endangered or threatened species.

Another new addition to the Juvenile Fiction collection is The Artist and Me, written by Shane Peacock and illustrated by Sophie Casson. This new title stands out for the vibrancy and beauty of its illustrations even within a collection of other beautiful children’s books. The subjects of bullying, mental illness and responsibility are well handled in this book, which would make an excellent addition to any elementary-level class unit discussing bullying. The story is told by an elderly man reflecting on the bullying that he inflicted on others during his youth in the South of France in the mid to late 19th century. The cruelty of those around him encouraged him to bully those that were seen as different, including an artist working in the area who was seen to be unwell. The reader discovers that this artist was in fact Vincent Van Gogh, the now famous impressionist painter. Students who want to engage in discussions of bullying with their class will enjoy this book. Shane Peacock’s narrative acts as a clever way to discuss the impact of bullying and the pressure that many children face to lash out at those labelled as “different” from them. It also addresses guilt and responsibility for one’s actions in the face of social pressures.  Kindness is once again a theme in this new title, which students will find touching.

A Voyage in the Clouds is a fantastical and upbeat adventure based in an actual historical event: the first international flight by hot air balloon in 1785. Matthew Olshan breathes life into this historical event with humour and witty dialogue, while the illustrations of Sophie Blackall capture the whimsical mood of this high-flying adventure. The dialogue between the characters is engaging and well written, and young readers will find it easy and amusing to read. The book is filled with detailed, busy and creative illustrations, which are complemented by Olshan’s straight-forward style. This would be a good addition to any history lesson, as well as a good bridge into a discussion of early flight. The mixture of historical facts and lively imaginings would provide good material for a book report or class activity. The themes of friendship, curiosity and problem-solving are well conveyed in this book. Other books about flight and aviation in the Juvenile Fiction collection can be found here.

You can find these titles, and many more new additions to the OISE collection, on the ground floor of OISE Library. They will be available on the “New Acquisitions” shelf across from the reference desk.

Happy reading!