Primary (ages 6-9)

Material appropriate for primary age groups

A Pioneer Alphabet

A is for Abigail and Anna, Zebediah’s two sisters. He is making them an alphabet book. From B, which stands for bandalore, a forerunner of the yoyo, H for the hornbook that taught children to spell, and on through the pigeons that blackened the sky, to the uniform that Papa wore when he defended the king, right through to X for the eXhaustion of parents who are homesteading. This lovely romp through the seasons on a pioneer farm is full of fascinating information. Artist Mary Jane Gerber has placed numerous items in each of her paintings and detailed borders, and there is a useful list of them for readers to find. Author Mary Alice Downie has included detailed background notes, making this a sweet introduction to our history. From the Hardcover edition.

Munsch at Play: Eight Stage Adaptions for Young Performers

Presents simple stage adaptations, suitable for school use, of eight stories by Robert N. Munsch, along with staging suggestions and ideas for easily obtainable sets, props, and costumes.

The stories included are: • Angela’s Airplane • Stephanie’s Ponytail • Mortimer • 50 Below Zero • Mud Puddle • Millicent and The Wind • Murmel, Murmel, Murmel • The Paper Bag Princess

Scaredy Squirrel at Night

Exhausted due to lack of sleep because he wants to avoid having bad dreams, Scaredy Squirrel finally devises a Bad Dream Action Plan which includes a fire extinguisher to snuff out dragons and a fan to blast away ghosts.

The Chicken Thief

In this wordless story that is both funny and sweet, a fox steals a hen away from her home. Bear, rabbit, and rooster give chase, but in a twist on the usual children’s story, this fox is not a villain. Rather, he tenderly holds hen as he runs into the night. A funny and life-affirming story, “The Chicken Thief” defies expectations, enlivening the mind with its cleverness while going straight for the heart. This intelligent and charming book is great for all ages. A love story, a road movie, and a playful speculation on stereotypes and misconceptions, “The Chicken Thief” makes for an unforgettable reading experience! Beatrice Rodriguez was born in 1969. She received her degree from the School of Decorative Arts in Strasbourg, France, and works today as an illustrator, creating children’s books as well as pictures for the press. She lives in France.

Kou-Skelowh

This is a Collection of original legends–How Food Was Given, How Names Were Given and How Turtle Set the Animals Free–with time-honored lessons for children about the values of sharing and respect presented in a beautiful full-color format. Told in a strong, rhythmic language, the stories read aloud well and can be used to help children think about the values of sharing, self-sacrifice and reverence for life in all forms. One of the most valuable aspects of the “Kou-Skelowh series is that it was developed with Aboriginal cultural protocol. In 1981 the Okanagan Elders Council was approached and asked if some traditional legends could be used in the project. When the Elders gave permission for three legends to be used they were translated into English. The English versions were then taken back to the Elders Council for examination and edited until they were approved for educational use by Okanagan Children. Theytus was granted permission to publish the stories on the condition that no individual claim ownership of the legends.

Passing the Peace: A Counting Book for Children

This is an exceptional book by an innovative author from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Not only does it guide the young reader through the numbers 1 to 10, it does so in English, French, Inuktitut, and Inuinnaqtun. The numerical progression in the color images, which are of Inuit figures cut from fabric and arranged anew for each number, is further represented by each figure acquiring a bright red heart, reinforcing the overall theme of friendship among people of different languages and races.