Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize (2007) nominee. Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice, 2007 Queen Daisy can’t help it – It’s her feet that are misbehaving! Queen Daisy had a great deal of trouble with her feet. They had a mind of their own and did not like behaving in a royal way. Proper shoes were out of the question, and sometimes her feet did not wear shoes at all! Her feet were especially naughty when Queen Daisy forced them to dress properly. At balls her feet would kick high in the air or tap-dance on the marble palace floors. Once, when a king from a neighboring kingdom brought his mean, bullying ways to Queen Daisy’s court, her feet hauled off and kicked the king in the ankle. That’s when a meeting had to be called of all the wise women and wizards and footmen in the kingdom to find a solution to Queen Daisy’s terrible problem. And what a solution it turns out to be.Queen Daisy’s feet will dance into the hearts of restless feet everywhere. Sarah Ellis’s wonderfully whimsical tale will ring a bell with all children and adults whose feet get restless.
Early Years (ages 2-6)
Book Of Big Brothers
In this episodic tale that’s rich with Cary Fagan’s characteristically dry humor, a boy tells the story of his life with two older brothers. When he is only a week old, his brothers argue over who can hold him first and drop him onto the porch. But they aren’t all bad: they chase away the mean girls who call him names, and they perform a play starring the neighbor’s dog to cheer him up when he has the measles. Later on these troublesome boys set fire to neighbor’s tree, play football in the living room, and even attempt to ride their banana bikes all the way to the Rocky Mountains. Inspired by Cary Fagan’s childhood experiences, this story is a spot-on portrayal of the crazy, mishap-filled, yet undeniably fun and affectionate life in a family with three boys. Luc Melanson’s wonderfully lively and extremely funny retro-style illustrations are a perfect complement to the text.
To The Post Office With Mama
The text, told with simple and poetic language, exudes a sense of warmth and comfort. Two-year-old Shea tells about getting dressed up in her winter clothing and going to the post office with her mother to mail a letter to Nanny. Full color.
Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!
A young bunny named Roslyn Rutabega awakens one morning and informs her father that she will dig the biggest hole on Earth, but the grumpy animals that she disturbs with her digging slow down her progress.
Count Your Way Through Canada
These beautifully illustrated, interactive picture books introduce children to foreign cultures and languages.
When Jo Louis Won The Title
Jo Louis dreads her first day in her new school because she is sure that the other children will make fun of her name. “This will be an effective prompt for many families and how-you-got-your-name stories, and many youngsters, especially reading with relatives, will appreciate the loving evocation of bonds to kin and history.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Zoo-Looking
Flora loves looking at all the animals in the zoo, but what a surprise–she isn’t the only one doing the looking! Flora looks at the giraffe, and the giraffe looks back. She looks at the ostrich, and the ostrich looks back, too. But when Flora looks at her dad, she gets the best surprise of all.
Beloved storyteller Mem Fox has created a lively rhyme for zoo-loving children to read and chant out loud. Candace Whitman’s enchanting torn paper pictures add to the joyous fun of the story.
Sophie
Sophie loves her Grandpa. And her Grandpa loves Sophie. They are best friends. And then one day there is no Grandpa. . . . Family love and the natural cycle of birth, life, and death are tenderly portrayed in this moving story. Foxs spare text distills complex life passages into emotions so clear even a child can understand and perhaps draw comfort from them.
Tom Goes to Kindergarten
When Tom, a young panda, goes to his very first day of kindergarten, his whole family stays and plays and wishes they could be in kindergarten too.
I Love My Dad
Ollie and his dad love banana bread, climbing trees, and piggyback rides.Ollie loves his dad. What else does he love?