One of the assignments for my children’s literature course last term was to write 25 annotations (snapshot reviews between 50 and 150 words) on all sorts of kidlit. It was a great opportunity to delve out of my comfort zone of MG spec fic 😉 Today’s post, featuring information books, is the seventh and final post in a series where I share those annotations by type (some of these titles I previously wrote full reviews of.)
Board books | Picture books | Early readers | Chapter books | Graphic novels | Middle grade novels | Information books
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating and Marta Álvarez Miguens
This narrative information book describes how Eugenie Clark became fascinated by sharks and overcame sexism to dispel negative myths about sharks. Brightly coloured illustrations portray the wonders Eugenie finds in the ocean in a cute but realistic style. Keating includes shark facts and a timeline of Eugenie’s life at the end. Age 4+.
A Stranger at Home by Christy Pokiak-Fenton, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, and Liz Amini-Holmes.
In this follow-up to 2010’s Fatty Legs, 10 year old Margaret returns to her Arctic home after spending two years at a residential school. Margaret no longer fits in with her Inuit family and their culture: she cannot stomach traditional foods or speak Inuvialuktun, and she worries about praying for her family. She feels torn between being Margaret, the girl from school, or Olemaun, the girl from Banks Island. She finds some support in her father, who also attended a residential school and speaks English, but she struggles most in her relationship with her mother. Stark painted illustrations enhance the narrative by depicting the struggles Margaret faces in her community and the anguish on her face. Small call-outs define the Inuktitut words used throughout. This memoir shares an important story that is less commonly told for children – that of what happened when a child return home from residential school. Ages 8+.S
What Makes Us Unique? Our First Talk About Diversity by Jillian Roberts and Cindy Revell
Written by a child psychologist, this book functions as a positive introduction to individual differences. The book follows a question and answer format, addressing physical, cultural, familial, and invisible (such as how comfortable someone feels in a group) differences and why people should celebrate and respect their differences. Colourful, textured digital paintings depict a variety of children and adults with clear and friendly faces. Age 5+.
Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation by Monique Gray Smith
Speaking Our Truth is a comprehensive text primarily directed to a non-Indigenous audience that describes Canada’s residential school history and the ongoing process of reconciliation. The book addresses the questions of where we have come from, where we stand today, and where we go from here. This is not an impersonal textbook – Smith has both settler and Indigenous heritage; her voice is present throughout the book, as are the voices of many Indigenous and settler children and adults. The book’s design has been well considered, as it uses a consistent vivid colour palette throughout with sidebars of quotes, definitions, reflections, and photographs to support the main text. The final part of the book offers practical steps that children can take to engage in reconciliation, making this text a great choice for youth who should not only learn about their country’s history but also about what needs to be done going forward. Age 9+.
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