TWO BY TWO: February 2018

The books listed below are listed in pairs, summarizing the poetry, picture books, novels, graphic texts I’ve read over the past months.

POETRY

ONE LAST WORD BY Nikki Grimes

In this collection, poet Nikki Grimes finds inspiration of poets from the Harlem Renaissance by using a form called “Golden Shovel”. The idea of this form is to take a short poem in its entirety, or a line from that poem (a striking line) and create a new poem, using the words from the original. Clever, clever, clever, and a remarkable tribute to African American poets as well as contemporary African American artists.

YOU TOOK THE LAST BUS HOME by Brian Bilston

Bilston has been descried as the “Poet Laureate of Twitter’.Thanks to my student, Jake who introduced me to this highly imaginative wordsmith with the staggering poem “Refugees” (check it out online). Every year or so I buy a ‘grown-up’ poetry anthology. I read the Brian Bilston poems chronologically and loved them (most all of them), especially the shorter one’s that appealed to my sense of humour.

Frisbee

Frisbee whizzing

through the air

above our heads,

over the sand,

into the water,

onto the waves,

out to sea.

You cried a lot that day.

Frisbee was a lovely dog.

AUTHOR: Jordan Tannahill

LIMINAL

Biography or novel? Novel or biography? After reading a large chunk of Tannahill’s book, I came to realize that this is mostly fiction (Yes?) I was angry at myself (not the author) for not recognizing this earlier. This is yet another document of Tannahill’s virtuosity, and sharp, philosophical, daring, confounding observations of life, personal and/or otherwise.

DECLARATIONS

Playwright (and wunderkind, often described as a Renaissance Man), Jordan Tannahill learned that his mother had been struck with cancer. On a plane ride home to reunite with his mother, Tannahill wrote and wrote a list of ‘declarations’ (1000?): This is a dirty rag/ This is a ghost town/This is a deck of cards/ This is the ace of spades. Declarations, the play, was recently performed at the Berkeley Street Theatre and I was totally fascinated, and absorbed by,the gestural movement, and solo and choral presentation of each of the ‘declarations’. Mr T, you are a smart smart man.

NOVELS: Middle Years

ME AND MARVIN GARDENS by Amy Sarig King

I totally believed in Obe’s discovery of a strange creature, strange, not only because of his wolf-like, hog-like, aardvark-like appearance but by his unique habit of only eating plastic. The eleven year old boy is extremely environmentally conscious and builds a relationship with this new animal, which he names Marvin Gardens. Obe feels that he needs to keep Marvin a secret but is still eager for others to know about Marvin, who may help to keep the planet clean.

AUMA’S LONG RUN by Eucabeth Odhiambo

Auma is a young adolescent girl living in Kenya who has dreams of becoming a track star, attend high school on scholarship and perhaps one day be a doctor. AIDS is ravaging the community in which Auma lives she is caught between a rock and hard place when faced with the decision decision to support her family or quit school. An emotional story centred on hope and resilience.

CHAPTER BOOKS

HEARTWOOD HOTEL: Better Together by Kallie George, Illus. Stephanie Graegin

Heartwood Hotel is an animal residence in Fernwood Forest. In this third book in the series, the staff attempt to have things run smoothly when Mr. Heartwood heads off on vacation. Such contests as <em>The Cutest Egg, The Tiniest Talent and the Best Blossom</em> provide amusing adventures that help prove that this hotel is the most accommodating and festive place in the animal community.

HALIFAX EXPLODES: Frieda Wishinsky

This title is part of the terrific Canadian Flyer series describing the back- in-time transported adventures of Emily and Matt. In this story, set in 1917, the two children have travelled to Halifax where a terrible explosion has left the city in ruins. One challenge they are faced with is finding the lost sister of a young soldier.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

THE BREADWINNER by Deborah Ellis

adapted from the feature film directed by Nora Twomey, this graphic novel is based on the original novel by Deborah Ellis that tells the story of Parvana who must disguise herself as a boy in order to support her family during the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan.

ESCAPE FROM SYRIA Samya Kullab, Jackie Roche, Mike Freiheit

According to the Government of Canada, 40 000 Syrain refugess had resettled int he country as of January 2017. This graphic story describes the collapse and destruction of Syria and the tragedies facing one family trying to escape the turmoil. A very informative – and heartbreaking – story that helps readers gain some understanding of the refugee crisis.

PICTURE BOOKS

WOLF IN THE SNOW by Matthew Cordell

Don’t think I would have chosen this one if I were on the Caldecott committee, but I wasn’t and this wordless (almost wordless) book one the Medal honour. A story of a young girl in a red coat, and a wolf pup, both lost in the snowstorm. A story of bravery, friendship, trust. William Steig’s Brav

FROM THE HEART OF AFRICA collected by Eric Walters

Hoorah! for Eric Walters who founded and runs Creation of Hope, an organization dedicated to providing caring for orphans in the rural Mbooni district of Kenya. Hoorah! for all the novels you’ve written that have engaged readers young and old. Hoorah! for this fine new picture book where Mr. Walters has collected favourite sayings from various places in Africa and have them matched by illustrations from artists from countries around the world. A beautiful picture book creation. Hoorah!

I pointed out to you the stars, but all you saw was the tip of my finger.(Tanzania)

If you wish to go fast, go alone. If you wish to go far, go together. (Central Africa)

SHOUT OUT

CHANNEL OF PEACE:Stranded in Gander on 9/11

by Kevin Tuerff

Thank you, Kevin for putting this book into my hands. Mr. Tuerff (and his partner) found himself, along with thousands of others, stranded in the small town of Gander Newfoundland after the 9/11 attack. This book is an account of the kindness compassion of the Newfoundlanders who generously opened their arms to the ‘come from aways’. The event has been transformed into an amazing theatre event, Come From Away, currently wowing audiences in New York and Toronto. An important story. A heartwarming book. A must-see musical!

TWO BY TWO: February 2018

Contact Larry

Dr. Larry Recommends

-The books listed below are listed in pairs, summarizing the poetry, picture books, novels, graphic texts I’ve read over the past months.
-POETRY
-ONE LAST WORD BY Nikki Grimes
-In this collection, poet Nikki Grimes finds inspiration of poets from the Harlem Renaissance by using a form called “Golden Shovel”. The idea of this form is to take a short poem in its entirety, or a line from that poem (a striking line) and create a new poem, using the words from the original. Clever, clever, clever, and a remarkable tribute to African American poets as well as contemporary African American artists.
-YOU TOOK THE LAST BUS HOME by Brian Bilston
-Bilston has been descried as the “Poet Laureate of Twitter’.Thanks to my student, Jake who introduced me to this highly imaginative wordsmith with the staggering poem “Refugees” (check it out online). Every year or so I buy a ‘grown-up’ poetry anthology. I read the Brian Bilston poems chronologically and loved them (most all of them), especially the shorter one’s that appealed to my sense of humour.
-Frisbee
-Frisbee whizzing
-through the air
-above our heads,
-over the sand,
-into the water,
-onto the waves,
-out to sea.
-You cried a lot that day.
-Frisbee was a lovely dog.
-AUTHOR: Jordan Tannahill
-LIMINAL
-Biography or novel? Novel or biography? After reading a large chunk of Tannahill’s book, I came to realize that this is mostly fiction (Yes?) I was angry at myself (not the author) for not recognizing this earlier. This is yet another document of Tannahill’s virtuosity, and sharp, philosophical, daring, confounding observations of life, personal and/or otherwise.
-DECLARATIONS
-Playwright (and wunderkind, often described as a Renaissance Man), Jordan Tannahill learned that his mother had been struck with cancer. On a plane ride home to reunite with his mother, Tannahill wrote and wrote a list of ‘declarations’ (1000?): This is a dirty rag/ This is a ghost town/This is a deck of cards/ This is the ace of spades. Declarations, the play, was recently performed at the Berkeley Street Theatre and I was totally fascinated, and absorbed by,the gestural  movement, and solo and choral presentation of each of the ‘declarations’.  Mr T, you are a smart smart man.
-NOVELS: Middle Years
-ME AND MARVIN GARDENS by Amy Sarig King
-I totally believed in Obe’s discovery of a strange creature, strange, not only because of his wolf-like, hog-like, aardvark-like appearance but by his unique habit of only eating plastic. The eleven year old boy is extremely environmentally conscious and builds a relationship with this new animal, which he names Marvin Gardens. Obe feels that he needs to keep Marvin a secret but is still eager for others to know about Marvin, who may help  to keep the planet clean.
-AUMA’S LONG RUN by Eucabeth Odhiambo
-Auma is a young adolescent girl living in Kenya who has dreams of becoming a track star, attend high school on scholarship and perhaps one day be a doctor. AIDS is ravaging the community in which Auma lives  she is caught between a rock and hard place when faced with the decision decision to support her family or quit school.  An emotional story centred on hope and resilience.
-CHAPTER BOOKS
-HEARTWOOD HOTEL: Better Together by Kallie George, Illus. Stephanie Graegin
-Heartwood Hotel is an animal residence in Fernwood Forest. In this third book in the series, the staff attempt to have things run smoothly when Mr. Heartwood heads off on vacation. Such contests as <em>The Cutest Egg, The Tiniest Talent and the Best Blossom</em> provide amusing adventures that help prove that this hotel is the most accommodating and festive place in the animal community.
-HALIFAX EXPLODES: Frieda Wishinsky
This title is part of the terrific Canadian Flyer series describing the back- in-time transported adventures of Emily and Matt. In this story, set in 1917, the two children have travelled to Halifax where a terrible explosion has left the city in ruins.  One challenge they are faced with is finding the lost sister of a young soldier.
 
GRAPHIC NOVELS
THE BREADWINNER by Deborah Ellis
adapted from the feature film directed by Nora Twomey, this graphic novel is based on the original novel by Deborah Ellis that tells the story of Parvana who must disguise herself as a boy in order to support her family during the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan.
ESCAPE FROM SYRIA Samya Kullab, Jackie Roche, Mike Freiheit
According to the Government of Canada, 40 000 Syrain refugess had resettled int he country as of January 2017. This graphic story describes the collapse and destruction of Syria and the tragedies facing one family trying to escape the turmoil. A very informative – and heartbreaking – story that helps readers gain some understanding of the refugee crisis.
 
PICTURE BOOKS 
WOLF IN THE SNOW by Matthew Cordell
Don’t think I would have chosen this one if I were on the Caldecott committee, but I wasn’t and this wordless (almost wordless) book one the Medal honour. A story of a young girl in a red coat, and a wolf pup, both lost in the snowstorm. A story of bravery, friendship, trust. William Steig’s Brav
FROM THE HEART OF AFRICA collected by Eric Walters
Hoorah! for Eric Walters who founded and runs Creation of Hope, an organization dedicated to providing caring for orphans in the rural Mbooni district of Kenya. Hoorah! for all the novels you’ve written that have engaged readers young and old. Hoorah! for this fine new picture book where Mr. Walters has collected favourite sayings from various places in Africa and have them matched by illustrations from artists from countries around the world. A beautiful picture book creation. Hoorah!
I pointed out to you the stars, but all you saw was the tip of my finger.(Tanzania)
If you wish to go fast, go alone. If you wish to go far, go together. (Central Africa)
-SHOUT OUT
-CHANNEL OF PEACE:Stranded in Gander on 9/11
-by Kevin Tuerff
-Thank you, Kevin for putting this book into my hands. Mr. Tuerff (and his partner) found himself, along with thousands of others, stranded  in the small town of Gander Newfoundland after the 9/11 attack. This book is an account of the kindness compassion of the Newfoundlanders who generously opened their arms to the ‘come from aways’.  The event has been transformed into an amazing theatre event, Come From Away, currently wowing audiences in New York and Toronto. An important story. A heartwarming book. A must-see musical!