Robert Heidbreder

A delightful book of sometimes silly, rollicking, rhythmic, and rhyming poems on Canadian themes: symbols, traditions, food, sports, plants and animals. I used this book for several years when teaching social studies, especially geography, to primary students. Some of the poems have more merit than others, but kids responded enthusiastically to a number of these pieces.

Sadly “Tumbler Ridge” is no longer the charming name of a small British Columbia community; it now evokes images of a show more suffering community where a terrible school shooting occurred. And a poem about the friendship between the US and Canada seems like a piece of nostalgia. show less

#26 in my 365 Kids Books challenge and request to Goodreads that the Top Readers, etc. lists be fixed. For a full explanation see my review for [b:101 Amazing Facts about Australia|21332402|101 Amazing Facts about Australia (Countries of the World)|Jack Goldstein|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1394253825l/21332402._SY75_.jpg|25417728] You can see all the books on their own shelf.

Another splendid example of how good illustrations can not just visualize show more a story, but also add an extra dimension. Heidbreder's text is amusing, showing how a child can spin a golden fantasy out of straw. It's a popular theme because adults don't do much of that kind of imagining, but are inclined to complain that kids don't know how to anymore, a complaint that likely precedes language, when it would have just been something like a head shake meant to imply that using specific words makes the kids lazy and unable to imagine what someone else means by that tsk noise. Denton's art enables one to see what is really there and how it might very well be, say, a unicorn. Charming and instructive.

Also, I really like that in the absence of a need to demonstrate a specific look for a child, Denton depicts one who is not obviously boy or girl. I am so sick of stereotyped gender markers.

Library copy show less

Young readers will try to teach their own pets graceful ballet steps after diving into this book.

At school, the kids constantly talk about their cats and all the things they do. A boy, of course, can't stay out of the mix, especially when his cat can perform grand jetes and more. It's hard to be sure if anyone believes everything he says, though. So he decides to invite everyone with their cats to visit him at home and see if they can be taught ballet as well.

This is such a light-hearted, show more fun read. Pet owners will have no problem understanding all the antics cats (and a dog) can come up with. As each kid tells the latest actions of their favorite feline, the illustrations let the moment come to life...and that will put a smile on younger listeners' faces. The boy just pops in sporadically with the sophisticated dance moves his cat performs. This will come across a bit as braggy and almost seem as if the boy says it just to join in on the conversation and catch attention. But this book has even more in store.

It's a little silly and humorous, but there are gentle messages and facts at play. At the end of the book, the reader will discover that each kid's name is derived from a famous ballet dancer. There's a short summary of the accomplishments of each one. Then, the various steps and moves mentioned in the book are quickly described, so young listeners can try to do these moves themselves. More or less. It's definitely a nice way to slide in a little information without hinting at anything during the story itself.

These are all cats to adore, and many readers will wish they could have such a talented friend themselves.
I received a DRC and enjoyed the humor and more in this one quite a bit. show less

This book of “playful poems on the air we share” is a good way to introduce very young children to poetry.

Short poems focus on what kids can see all around them, such as leaves, squirrels, clouds, starlings, and flowers. Even city kids - although it would have been nice to have more they could relate to - will be able to recognize these objects and see how their essences can be captured with simple rhymes. For example, one of the rhymes, on a double page spread showing sunflowers and show more bees, is:

“Honeybee
Sweet honeyed sound,
from flower to flower
buzz-buzzing around
hour to hour!”

Adults could ask kids why the bees buzz around flowers, and why the author has described their sound as “honeyed.” There are many teaching opportunities with these poems even besides exploring the elements of rhyme.

Art work is by Emily Dove, a certified naturalist. She states on her website: “My goal is to use illustration as a tool to educate about science and inspire others to fall in love with the natural world, as I have.” show less