CM March 29, 1996. Vol II, Number 24

Table of Contents

Book Reviews

CDNGoldilocks and the Three Bears.
Lilly Barnes. Illustrated by Lindsay Grater.
Review by Carol Carver.
Pre-school to kindergarten / Ages 3 - 5.

CDNGifts to Make with Crayola Model Magic.
Kim Fernandes. Photos by Wally Randall.
Review by Joan Payzant.
Grades Primary - 4 / Ages 4 - 10.

CDNOne, Two, Many.
Mark Thurman.
Review by Alison Mews.
Grades K - 2 / Ages 5 - 7.

CDNCaves.
Neil Morris.
Review by Alison Mews.
Grades 2 - 4 / Ages 7 - 9.

CDNMeyers' Creek.
Connie Brummel Crook.
Review by Irene Gordon.
Grades 6 and Up / Ages 11 to Adult.

CDNAtlantic Sea Stories.
Edited by John Bell..
Review by Joan Payzant.
Grades 9 and Up / Ages 14 - Adult.

Friends of CM

Peguis Publishers

Features

Notable Web Sites

Collaborative Book Review Project

The Great Canadian Trivia Contest

The Little Math Puzzle

Book Review

Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Lilly Barnes. Illustrated by Lindsay Grater.
Toronto: Somerville House, 1995. 32pp, cloth, $16.95.
(Part of "The Storyclothes Series." Includes Goldilocks's bow and headband, bear paws, bear ears, and one-page guide for adults.)
ISBN: 0-895897-42-4.

Pre-school to kindergarten / Ages 3 - 5.
Review by Carol Carver.

***/4

excerpt:

Once upon a time, there were three bears who lived in a house in the forest. There was Great Big Bear, Middle-Sized Bear, and Little Tiny Bear. One morning, Great Big Bear made porridge for their breakfast. Middle-Sized Bear set the table. And Little Tiny Bear ladled the porridge into a great big bowl, a middle-sized bowl, and a little tiny bowl. Great Big Bear said, "This porridge is too hot." Middle-Sized Bear said "Let's go for a walk while the porridge cools down." Little Tiny Bear said, "Yes, yes!" and wiggled his nose and his paws. (He always did that when he was excited.)

Goldilocks and the Three Bears is the second in the series by Barnes and Grater (it follows the well-received Story of the Three Little Pigs). The "Storyclothes Series" consists of classic stories accompanied by a dress-up box and simple washable costume pieces; the goal is to encourage dramatization while having fun with books.

The book is small (13 x 17 cm.), just right for little fingers to hold. The plot follows the traditional Three Bears folk tale with a few alterations: Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear are now Great Big, Middle-Sized, and Little Tiny Bear, with no specific genders; Goldilocks's curiosity is given as the reason for her breaking-and-entering the Bears' house, and the parents' beds are "too high at the top" and "too high at the bottom." The story has only a few sentences on each page but still contains plenty of dialogue, which lends itself well to play-acting.

The cover has a theatrical look which matches the box design. Illustrations are generally colourful and attractive -- with the exception of the picture of Goldilocks (who sports red hair in this version) eating porridge. The three bears are especially appealing. One clever touch is showing them munching the blueberries that Goldilocks left behind breakfast.

The kit also includes a headband with a gold lamé bow (although in the book Goldilocks has a blue one), a set of furry brown paws, and matching brown ears. All props are washable. Sharing headpieces in a primary classroom could be a problem if there is a concern about the spread of lice. Use in a home situation might be more appropriate.

An enclosed note to adults gives suggestions on using and expanding on the material.

Recommended for family home use or as a gift item.

Carol Carver is a Primary Teacher at École Dieppe School in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Book Review

Gifts to Make with Crayola Model Magic.

Kim Fernandes. Photos by Wally Randall.
Richmond Hill, ON: Scholastic Canada, 1996. 31pp, paper, (includes two packages of "Model Magic"), $10.99.
ISBN: 0-590-24902-9.

Grades Primary - 4 / Ages 4 - 10.
Review by Joan Payzant.

**/4

excerpt:

Crayola Model Magic is perfect for making all kinds of crafts. It is lightweight, clean and easy to work with. Best of all, it air-dries in a day to turn your creations into permanent treasures.

This sampler kit, packed in clear bubble plastic, contains a colourful booklet illustrating the possibilities of Model Magic, and two foil packages of the material itself. In this particular package one was of blue Model Magic and one of yellow.

Kim Fernandes's booklet is full of ideas to use with Model Magic, each project well described and beautifully illustrated by photos in this glossy production.

Unfortunately there does not seem to be enough of the modelling material to produce a satisfying number of items. It is also almost crassly commercial, so that parents and teachers might well be irritated by the list of other Crayola products that would be useful supplements to the kit. Although the booklet is well written and expensively produced I felt it was decidedly a promotional gimmick for Crayola.

Recommended with reservations to parents and grandparents as a gift if they are prepared to supplement it with additional colours, glaze and paint from Crayola.

Not recommended for schools unless there is an adequate supply of these Crayola materials on hand.

Joan Payzant is a retired teacher/librarian living in Dartmouth, N.S.

Book Review

One Two Many.

Mark Thurman.
Toronto: Viking Penguin, 1996. Unpaginated, paper, $8.99.
ISBN: 0-14-055826-8.

Grades K - 2 / Ages 5 - 7.
Review by Alison Mews.

*/4

excerpt:

At the Temple, the Keeper beckoned the boys to her. "Well, well, what have we here . . . trouble? Double trouble?? When one becomes two, the desire to part is very, very strong. There is but one way to solve this division. A journey. You must work together, stay together, for only together are you complete and strong. Apart, all is lost."
"You wished for something and you got it," said the Keeper to the boys. "Now you must see it through to the end. You must go to Double Isle.
"Take these three things: this flint torch, this feather, and this bag of pebbles. The journey will reveal their use." She pointed out over the sea, beyond the guardian of the city. "Now go."

One Two Many, originally published in hard cover in 1993, is now released in paperback. The title is a play on words because when Jan's reflection comes to life, Jan discovers that two is one too many. The boys are exactly alike, with each believing he is the real Jan. They decide to resolve their problem by consulting the Keeper of the Keys, who sends them on a journey in which they must solve a riddle, find their way through a maze, and overcome a two-headed giant. Many elements of fantasy and mythology are here: the quest, the intervention of a wise person with mysterious clues, the obstacles to be overcome, and the resolution by using one's wits.

Unfortunately, the book does not live up to this promise. The ambitious nature of the plot overwhelms the slight story, the journey itself is too easy, and the language is pedestrian. Jan looks like an ordinary modern boy in jeans and T-shirt, and while the fantastic coming-to-life of his reflection is smoothly done, and the disagreement in his room (with its everyday treasures and books) is plausible, the subsequent swan flight to the Keeper of the Keys strains one's credulity. The Keeper tells the boys they must stay together or all is lost, but there is no evidence of this, nor do they actually help each other on the journey. There are no crises that require reciprocal support. With each problem, they think of solutions at the exact same time, as if they were one person. The journey, while imaginative, is too linear and doesn't engage the reader.

The illustrations are carefully detailed pencil drawings in black and sepia tones. This gives them an old-fashioned feeling, like that of early photographs, and serves to distance the reader from the present-day world. Thurman has included many visual allusions to mythological times, such as the statue of Atlas, that of Neptune with his trident, the head of Minotaur and the maze itself, among others, to increase the symbolic nature of the quest. While most of this will be lost on the picture-book audience, it does contribute significantly to the work as a whole.

In all, however, I find the story is too facile and pared down to carry the epic nature of the plot, and the elaborate drawings deserve a more complete textual treatment. Reminiscent of the "Zoom" books in execution, it misses their charm and mystery.

Marginal purchase.

Alison Mews is Coordinator at the Centre for Instructional Services in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Book Review

Caves.

Neil Morris.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: Crabtree, 1996. 32pp.
Library bound, $21.95. ISBN: 0-86505-830-X.
Paper, $9.95. ISBN: 0-86505-842-3.

Grades 2 - 4 / Ages 7 - 9.
Review by Alison Mews.

***/4

excerpt:

When a volcano erupts, hot molten rock, called lava, is thrown out and flows on the earth's surface. Sometimes, when a river of lava cools and hardens quickly on the outside, the lava inside remains hot and liquid, and flows on. Eventually the lava drains away, leaving a solid, hollow tube.
These volcanic caves, called lava tubes, can easily collapse. Their roof is usually thin, and earthquakes are common in volcanic areas. Lava tubes very rarely last long.

This informational book on caves is one the Crabapples series "Wonders of our World." It provides an overview of the subject, with excellent visuals and simple text equally sharing the page, rather than an in-depth treatment of the subject. Each topic (for example, ice caves or sea caves), has a double-page spread, beginning with a definition and description of the formation of the specific cave type, and embellished with several colour photos and explanatory captions.

In some cases, labelled illustrations are used to explain unfamiliar terminology, and these are well executed and clear. The photos are well chosen and serve to maintain high interest throughout. The book has a table of contents, a glossary, and an index. Caves is an excellent introduction to the topic, which might serve to hook the reader into exploring the subject in more detail in other sources.

Recommended.

Alison Mews is Coordinator at the Centre for Instructional Services in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Book Review

Meyers' Creek.

Connie Brummel Crook.
Toronto: Stoddart, 1995. 293pp, paper, $6.99.
ISBN: 0-7736-7436-5.

Grades 6 and Up / Ages 11 to Adult.
Review by Irene Gordon.

***/4

excerpt:

The bear turned, her brown nose extended as she sniffed the air, and started towards him. Then less than thirty feet away, she reared up and stood looking down on him.
George pulled his musket down and without taking time to aim, fired.
In that very same second the bear dropped down on all fours and ran away through the field with the speed of a cannonball.
George stood frozen to the spot. There was no point in chasing the bear through the corn. She would be almost impossible to find.
Where was his brother? He must have shot at the bear, too. "Tobias! Tobias!" he shouted.

Connie Brummel Crook has written a typical family-pioneer story based on her own family's experiences as United Empire Loyalists who moved from New York State to what is now the Belleville area of Ontario. The author carefully researched her family's history and says that the events of the book are all true, though she did change some dates. But she chose to write the book as a biographical novel for young readers rather than as a more scholarly biography.

Meyers' Creek is actually a continuation of the Meyers' family story that began with the book Flight. Crook has also written novels about Laura Secord and Nellie McClung, Laura's Choice and Nellie L.

Meyers' Creek is a good blend of adventure (see the excerpt above), historical fact, description of domestic life, and romance.

As a young adolescent, this reviewer devoured novels about life in North America during pioneer days. But after thirteen years of experience as a junior-high teacher-librarian, it seems historical novels are not very popular among today's junior-high students. And boys who might enjoy the adventure of Meyers' Creek may be put off because the main character is female, or by the romance and domestic details.

Teachers of students studying this era of Canadian history should certainly introduce Meyers' Creek and Flight to their students. How many students will actually choose to read either of them for pleasure is another question.

Recommended.

Irene Gordon is a teacher-librarian who has spent the past thirteen years working in a junior high school in Winnipeg.

Meyers' Creek was reviewed by classes across Canada as part of the Collaborative Book Review Project. You can read the students' reviews at the Collaborative Book Review Project site.

Book Review

Atlantic Sea Stories.

Edited by John Bell.
Lawrencetown Beach, NS: Pottersfield Press, 1995. 222pp, paper, $15.95.
ISBN: 0-919001-91-2. CIP.

Grades 9 and Up / Ages 14 - Adult.
Review by Joan Payzant.

****/4

excerpt:

"Men," the skipper bawled, when the crew had huddled amidships, cowering from the wind, "The ship'll strike the Blueblack inside o' thirty minutes. 'Tis every man for his life."
The old man was up on the port-rail with the snow curling about him. He had a grip of the mainmast shrouds to stay himself against the wind and the lunging of the ship. The thud and swish of waves falling back and the din of grinding ice broke from the depths of the snow over the bow -- from some place near and hidden -- and the gale was roaring past. The men crowded closer to hear him.
"'Tis time t' take t' the ice," he cried.

In his introduction to Atlantic Sea Stories, editor John Bell explains the thirty years from 1900 to 1930 were "the golden age of the Atlantic sea story." From that golden age he has selected ten Atlantic authors who mainly wrote tales of the sea and sailing ships. These years covered a time when fiction in periodicals was extremely popular, and could be found in magazines such as McClure's, Ainslee's, Blackwood's, Adventure, Putnam's, The Canadian Magazine, and The Newfoundland Magazine.

In order of their appearance in Atlantic Sea Stories, the authors are: Norman Duncan, W. Albert Hickman, Theodore Goodridge Roberts, Wilfred T. Grenfell, Colin McKay, Frederick William Wallace, Erle R. Spencer, Frank Parker Day, Archibald MacMechan, and Arthur Hunt Chute.

During their lifetimes most of these men had experienced life at sea, either as crew members or passengers on sailing ships. Several were journalists, all of them wrote books -- novels, collections of sea stories, autobiographies, or non-fiction works about maritime life.

Atlantic Sea Stories has a wide range of style and subject matter. For instance, the excerpt above tells of a sealing ship, caught in a rushing ice floe, and headed for a rocky promontory with all hands on board. Another concerns a sailing ship swamped by a water spout. Two humorous stories lighten what might have been an overload of tragedy. One of these is an hilarious tale of a race in Northumberland Strait between a millionaire's yacht and a ship hastily fitted up with Rube Goldberg-like propulsion machinery (reminiscent of Guy Gilpatric's "Tugboat Annie"). There's a pirate story, a rum-running story, a press gang story, and a true account of a first mate whose ship foundered, leaving him adrift and alone.

The overall impression conveyed is of a world far removed from today's maritime scene. Men worked unstintingly, courageously, to make a living, but on an ocean still rich in fish. Electronic navigational aids were unavailable, but skippers and crew were skilled in the art of seamanship. Catch quotas were unknown, but on the other hand, so was unemployment insurance.

Young people reading these stories today will be exposed to a different way of life as seen through the writing of ten remarkable authors who caught the experiences, character, and language of Atlantic mariners living in the first thirty years of the twentieth century.

Highly recommended.

Joan Payzant is a retired teacher/librarian living in Dartmouth, N.S.

Notable Web Sites

Every week, CM presents a brief collection of noteworthy, useful, or just interesting sites we've turned up and actually checked.

Please send us URLs and evaluations of any web-sites you think deserve the exposure.

ScienceWeb (Canadian Science)
http://scienceweb.dao.nrc.ca/can/can.html

ScienceWeb is brought to you by the National Research Council of Canada and contains press releases and many other links to keep you up-to-date on what's happening in Canadian Science.

Cyber Jacques' CyberSeas Treasure Hunt
http://www.cyberjacques.com

Arr! This piratically themed cyberspace scavenger hunt introduces children to a variety of family-friendly web-sites (the language is salty, but not blue) on their way to winning prizes (downloadable animations). Last week's first clue required a visit to Thomas Jefferson's Home (and getting two links further in), but it's not exclusively American. Clue two was a fun U.K. page devoted to espionage.

MayaQuest '96
http://www.mecc.com/MAYA/MQII.html

"In the spring of 1995, a team of five explorers, lead by Dan Buettner, bicycled to ruins in Mexico and Central America, met with on-site archaeologists, and attempted to unlock one of the most perplexing mysteries: the collapse of the ancient Maya civilization....
Beginning March 4, 1996 and continuing for six weeks, the same MayaQuest team members will reassemble for MayaQuest `96, brought to you by MECC. And YOU can join the team!"

It's too late to catch the start of this project, but the account of what they're doing and finding is pretty interesting regardless.

Stonehenge
http://home.earthlink.net/~shadowfax/sfmain.html

The "cover page" of this Stonehenge site will have you thinking this is some weired neo-pagan, druidic fantasy; in fact, it gives a good, sober overview of Stonehenge and similar astronomical stone structures around the world.

The Capt. James T. Kirk Sing-a-long Page
http://www.ama.caltech.edu/users/mrm/kirk.html

Come on, if you found this, you'd have to include it too. Let your students listen to William Shatner's cover-versions of "Tambourine Man" and "Lucy in the Sky" when the've been good, as a treat. . . .

CM
Editor
Duncan Thornton
e-mail: cmeditor@mts.net

CM
Executive Assistant
Peter Tittenberger
e-mail: cm@umanitoba.ca

Copyright © 1996 the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

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