Book Review: Fiddles & Spoons: Journey of an Acadian Mouse – by Lila Hope-Simpson




Book: Fiddles & Spoons: Journey of an Acadian Mouse
Author: Lila Hope-Simpson
Illustrator: Doretta Groenendyk
Publisher: DPG: Dery Publishing Group
Date: 2004
Genre: children's historical fiction; age 5-9, gr K-4
Pages: 32
Price: $17.95
My rating: historical event wonderfully-told for children

This is one of the beautiful books I purchased at the children’s book fair in 2016, although my copy has a different cover, as you see below. Apparently, the image above is the newer edition which includes more illustrations.

Fiddles & Spoons: Journey of an Acadian Mouse is written by Canadian author Lila Hope-Simpson, who, in fact, lives only a few miles from me. Illustrator Doretta Groenendyk is also a local artist.

First of all, look at this dedication – which seems very suited to the times we are living in – that she wrote in her book: This book is dedicated to uprooted people from every place and time, whose spirits have proven that after adversity, life goes on. And sometimes, there is even dancing.

Fiddles & Spoons is a historical fiction, fanciful for the child reader. This story is about a mouse family, the expulsion of the Acadians, and the will to survive.

In the small Acadian village of Grand Pré in Nova Scotia, Canada, life was good. Families worked hard to keep their village functioning and to make a life they could be proud of. The men built sturdy dykes to hold back the powerful tides of the Bay of Fundy, creating very fertile farmland along the coast – and those dykes are still there doing what they were intended to do.

Under the floorboards of the homestead of the hardworking Dubois family lived the Souris mouse family. They feasted on the crumbs that fell down through, particularly enjoying Saturday nights when everyone danced and played their fiddles and spoons.

One night in 1755 it all changed. Soldiers marched in and separated the men from the women and children. Mama Souris was determined to not leave the Dubois family, so she and her family scurried along near the feet of all the people being forced onto boats. It was a long rugged trip until they finally arrived in a new land and were reunited with their loved ones. From there they had to start over.

Lila Hope-Simpson told this story of an important historical event in a wonderful way, introducing children – and perhaps adult readers – to the Expulsion of the Acadians, which is a memorable part of local, and far-reaching, history. It is not heavy-handed so as to include lurid details of the atrocities committed against an honest, God-fearing people. On the other hand it is not overly gently told so that the drama cannot be felt and understood.

Doretta Groenendyk‘s illustrations are colourful, playful, effective. I especially like the scenes of Minas Basin and Cape Blomidon which are very familiar to me.

You can find Fiddles & Spoons: Journey of an Acadian Mouse on my BUY THE BOOK page.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂 ♥

Book Review: The Princess and the Frogs – by Veronica Bartles

Book: The Princess and the Frogs
Author: Veronica Bartles
Illustrator: Sara Palacios
Publisher: Balzer + Bray of HarperCollins Publishers
Date: November 15, 2016
Genre: picture book; 4-8 yr, preschool to gr 3 
Pages: 40
Price: $17.99
My rating: such a great example of "girl power"

You know the saying, sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince. Well, this little princess just wanted the frog.

The Princess and the Frogs, written by Veronica Bartles, is a clever twist on the Princess and the Frog fairy tale. This little princess wanted a pet that would be her best friend. It was hard for the Royal Pet Handler to find one to match her specifications – one that liked to swim and play and jump all day, one that would match her green dress and at night would sit on her pillow and sing to her. Finally it was decided that a frog would be the perfect pet.

Princess Cassandra was so happy and everything was fantastic until, in her delight, she kissed the frog. Well, you know what happens in fairy tales when the princess kisses the frog. Yep! She had herself a prince. That was NOT what Princess Cassandra wanted! She put the prince to work in her castle and the Royal Pet Handler had to find another frog for her. Alas, the same thing happened! Several times.

This story is beautifully illustrated by Sara Palacios. The little princess either wears her running shoes or goes barefoot and is always in her tiara and eyeglasses. She is a determined and smart little girl, making the Princess and the Frogs a delightfully funny story with an empowered female main character.

You can find The Princess and the Frogs on my BUY THE BOOK page.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Book Review: How Smudge Came – by Nan Gregory











Book: How Smudge Came
Author: Nan Gregory
Illustrator: Ron Lightburn
Publisher: Red Deer Press
Date: December 12, 1995
Genre: Children's picture book
Pages: 32, hardcover and paperback
Price: may have to find used copies, so price varies from 
less than $1 used, to up to $19.50 in very good condition
My rating: Such a sweet story with fabulous illustrations

How Smudge Came is a gorgeous hardcover book I purchased (unused) at the children’s book fair last year. The author wasn’t there, but I met the illustrator again, Ron Lightburn, whose work is fabulous. I reviewed his picture book here.

Look at the cover illustration of How Smudge Came. That immediately drew my attention to this book. The illustrations throughout are soft and beautiful, created with coloured pencils.

While walking home from her work at the hospice one cold rainy day, Cindy finds a little puppy and tucks him into her bag. She knows she’s not allowed pets so she sneaks him into her room at the group home, and the next day she hides him in the large pocket of her cleaning apron so he can stay with her while she works.

Residents at the hospice enjoy the puppy, but things turn sour for Cindy when he is found. The puppy, whom Cindy named Smudge, is taken away from her and given to the SPCA so a good home can be found for him. Cindy is very upset and determined to get him back, so with help finds where they took him. Things don’t go quite the way Cindy had in mind, though.

At first the reader will not pick up on the fact that Cindy is a young adult with Down Syndrome. She has a cleaning job and is able to travel by bus alone, and has the respect and appreciation of the people around her. The way Cindy is portrayed through how she speaks and the illustrations of her, children will understand how she feels. It’s easy to care about Cindy and Smudge.

This story is sad, but hopeful, and is told by Nan Gregory in such a gentle way with soothing illustrations by Ron Lightburn. The ending is very satisfying.

How Smudge Came won Mr. Christie’s Book Award for Best Canadian Children’s Book, won a B.C. Book Prize, was honoured as an “Our Choice” selection of the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, and was on the American Bookseller’s Pick of the Lists.

You can find How Smudge Came on my BUY THE BOOK page.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Book Review: A Morning with Grandpa – by Sylvia Lui

Book: A Morning With Grandpa
Author: Sylvia Lui
Illustrator: Christina Forshay
Publisher: Lee & Low Books 
Date: May 1, 2016
Genre: picture book for 5-8 yr; pre-school - gr 3
Pages: 32
Price: $17.95 - $23.50
My rating: a lovely story about family differences 
and acceptance

In talking about A Morning With Grandpa, the first thing to mention is the beautiful cover illustration of a little girl doing tai chi with her grandfather. Next to note is the gold sticker as A Morning With Grandpa won the 2013 New Voices Award!

Sylvia Lui has created a sweet story about a little girl and her grandfather who discover they can’t do exactly the same things so they learn from each other.

Mei Mei, is watching her grandpa do tai chi, so he encourages her to do poses with him. Although she tries, she has so much energy she is more bouncy than calm and her youthful excitement takes her beyond the graceful flow of movement he can do. Mei Mei then offers to teach her grandpa yoga poses which he finds a little difficult to do because he is not as nimble as his granddaughter. Despite their differences, they demonstrate patience and love toward one another and enjoy their time together, modifying their poses to what they can manage. No judgement.

A Morning With Grandpa is a book that makes the reader smile. It is refreshing to see the appreciation and acceptance between such widespread generations. The illustrations by Christina Forshay are realistic and very clearly demonstrate the art of tai chi and yoga – and the difficulty and fun Mei Mei and her grandpa have in doing each other’s preferred exercise. In the back of the book, Sylvia Lui has explanations of the different poses mentioned so that children can try them, too.

You can find A Morning With Grandpa on my BUY THE BOOK page.

Thank you for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂 ♥

Book Review: 10 Little Ninjas – by Miranda Paul

Book: 10 Little Ninjas
Author: Miranda Paul
Illustrator: Nate Wragg
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers 
Genre: picture book; 2 - 5 yrs; preschool to kindergarten
Date: August 9, 2016
Price: $14.99
My rating: Delightful variation of 10 little monkeys

10 Little Ninjas is a clever, thought-out variation of 10 little monkeys. It’s a rhyming book, in keeping with the nursery rhyme, but with children instead of monkeys. If you can imagine a household with ten children all the same age then you can understand the tiredness of the parents by the end of the children’s day.

It’s bedtime. Miranda Paul has 10 little ninjas sneaking out of bed, 9 tiny astronauts zooming in the dark, 8 rapid racers revving out the gate … and so on. The fun part is that Daddy is always calling in Mama to sort things out and she appears dressed for the part. For 10 ninjas she’s the sensei, for 9 astronauts she’s the pilot, for 8 racers she’s the marshal.

The illustrations by Nate Wragg are exciting, and rightly depicting Mama the lifeguard – by the time it’s 5 hungry sharks swimming lazy laps – looking a little worn out. When it’s down to 2 sleepy dragons struggling to fly she’s dressed as a wizard and scolding with a yawn.

The last double page illustration is of all ten children sleeping in and on the huge bed, each in a different costume.

This is a fun story by Miranda Paul for young book lovers and early readers.

You can find 10 Little Ninjas on my BUY THE BOOK page.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Book review: The Stranded Whale – by Jane Yolen















Book: The Stranded Whale
Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Melanie Cataldo
Publisher: Candlewick
Date: July 15, 2015
Genre: picture book for ages 5-9
Pages: 32
Price: hardcover $13.98
My Rating: a gently-told story that brings awareness

While on their way home for supper one day, a young girl discovers a whale stranded on the beach. With the tide going out she insists on helping it, so her two brothers pitch in.They know they have to keep it wet, so they dip their sweaters into the ocean and repeatedly squeeze water onto the whale. Of course, it doesn’t do much good, but they want to try to save the helpless creature. When other helpers arrive there is a combined effort – almost like a party atmosphere. This was before modern-day environmental knowledge and large-scale rescues.

The author has dealt with a harsh reality, bringing awareness of such tragic occurrences in nature, in her practiced art of storytelling. Jane Yolen wrote a story that, hopefully, will inspire young readers to become more interested in marine biology or another field of environmental study. At the very least, The Stranded Whale is a well-presented story that informs in a gentle manner – both in Jane Yolen’s words and in Melanie Cataldo’s subdued realistic illustrations.

You can find The Stranded Whale on my BUY THE BOOK page.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂

Book Review: Painted Skies – by Carolyn Mallory

Book: Painted Skies  
Author: Carolyn Mallory
Illustrator: Amei Zhao
Publisher: Inhabit Media Inc                              
Date: June 23, 2015    
Genre: Picture book; K-2; 5-7 yrs                               
Pages: hardcover, 36 pages
Price: $16.95                
My rating: Simply & artfully told, exquisitely illustrated

Last year I had the privilege of meeting Carolyn Mallory at a children’s book fair; of course I bought her book. Look at that title and beautiful cover!

Painted Skies tells the story of a young girl’s introduction to one of Nature’s most spectacular events, the Northern Lights. One night, as two friends are playing in the Arctic snow, the sky begins changing colour. When the colours swirl and move closer in ribbons across the sky, Leslie, who recently moved to the far North, starts getting nervous. Her new friend, Oolipika, reassures her and demonstrates what to do to keep them safe from the playful spirits. When Oolipika tells her the Inuit legend and that it’s about the Northern Lights, Leslie’s fear turns to awe.

Painted Skies by Carolyn Mallory is a beautiful book with gorgeous illustrations by Amei Zhao. The story is told and illustrated in a way that is interesting and educational at the same time, making it ideal in both an elementary classroom and in a child’s collection.

At the back of the book is an explanation of the Northern Lights (aurora borealis), what causes them and when they occur. I’ve felt the awe of seeing the Northern Lights a few times where I live, and would love to see them up close – the way they are depicted in this story.

You can find Painted Skies on my BUY THE BOOK page.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂