Everyone kn0ws Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh, and all their friends in the 100 Acre Woods. But in Finding Winnie we learn about the incredible true story of Winnie the black bear and how she came to the London Zoo. Finding Winnie was written by Lindsay Mattick, the great granddaughter of Captain Harry Colebourn who bought Winnie and took her with him across the Atlantic. Mattick frames the tale of Harry and the bear with one of her telling her son a bedtime story. With beautiful illustrations by Sophie Blackwell, Mattick teaches readers that sometimes the best stories, no matter how unlikely, are true.
The Wonderful Fluffy Little Squishy is the story of Eddie and her search for the perfect gift for her mother. This adorable story, by Beatrice Alemagna, follows Eddie around town as she visits store after store in search of a fluffy squishy. Readers will be inspired by Eddie’s tenacity, her dedication, and her determination. Through Eddie’s journey they will discover that everyone is special in their own way and everyone is the best at something.
Welcome to Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Fearful Cats, everyone is welcome here. Written by Alicia Potter and illustrated by Birgitta Siff, this is the story of a special home where the most timid of cats can learn to be less scared. From Miss Hazaltine readers will learn compassion, acceptance of others, and that it is alright to be afraid (along with pouncing, bird basic and how not to be afraid of the old broom). And Miss Hazeltine’s cats will teach readers that even the most shy and fearful person can be brave and help someone they love when they are needed.
Hiawatha and the Peacemaker is a beautiful retelling of of this famous legend. Told by Robbie Robertson and with gorgeous illustrations by David Shannon, this book tells the story of two men who unite the Six Nations under the Great Law and the desire for peace. Readers will be touched by Hiawatha’s journey form devastation and rage to forgiveness. The book includes a CD featuring an original song written and performed by Robbie Robertson.
In The Only Child, author Guojing brings us the story of a little girl who gets lost on her way to her grandmother’s house. She is found by a fantastical stag and is taken to a wondrous world in the clouds and finally returned home to her worried parents. Readers will be swept away by this beautifully illustrated wordless graphic novel, and it relates this partially autobiographical story with evocative images. Set in the time of the “One Child” law in China, this book speaks of family, love, loneliness and the longing for home.
Develop your students’ understanding of the past with one of the new activity kits at OISE Library: the “People Long Ago Resource Box”. Great for grades 1-3, this kit includes a variety of objects that you can use to show the pioneer way of life, such as a covered wagon replica and pioneer clothing replicas. You can discuss how clothes were different in the past by using the pioneer clothing replicas and the “Comparing Life Venn Diagram” included in the resource box.
