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Friday, October 30, 2015

More than Ten Books to make your student WONDER

This past week I have been poring over some amazing books that we purchased for our physical commons!  These books, many of them Canadian will invite wonder, encourage imagination and allow your students to start making and creating, and learning more about God's diverse world.  They will also work really well to fit into our new learning outcomes 2016.

Elementary school

An Inuksuk means Welcome by Mary Wallace.  A central image in the Inuit culture is the inuksuk which frames this lovely book in an acrostic.  Readers will learn seven words from the Inuktiat language as they spell out Inuksuk.  The richly textured paintings will have you in awe! K-3


Good Morning Canada by Andrea Lynn Beck.This book invites students to reflect on their beautiful country with gorgeous illustrations and multicultural symbolism. Gr 1-3


Journey by Aaron Becker.  This luminous colourful book brings flights of fancy to any young reader.  As students journey through this book they will encounter their own amazing adventure as the book does not have any text.   Gr K-4.


The Legend of the Beavers Tail by Stephanie Shaw.  This lovely story encompasses the message "pride goeth before the fall" as Beaver learns that bragging does not beget friends. Gr 1-3


The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires.  This beautifully illustrated book is a wonderful story about the art of making, the process of project based learning and how growth mindset is so integral in the early years.  I read this one with my reading buddies and they were all happy to go and MAKE something. Gr 1-5


Rosie Revere Engineer by Andrea Beatty.  This engaging picture book tells the story of Rosie who dreams of being an engineer.  Rosie constructs inventions from odds and ends and afraid of failure hides them away.  But a visit from a great aunt shows Rosie that she does not need to fear failure.  K-4


The Elders are Watching by David Bouchard and Roy Henry Vickers.  This beautiful book created to enhance the natural beauty of our land and waters, brings a plea to respect the natural treasures we have been blessed with in British Columbia.  Gr 5-7 and High school.


Pirate, Viking and Scientist by Jared Chapman.  This inter-disciplinary picture book teaches science concepts in an engaging story as Pirate learns some fun terminology, creates a hypothesis and observes his experiment. Gr K-2.

Middle School

Fatty Legs and sequel A Stranger at Home  by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton.  These chapter books deal sensitively with the topic of residential schools and social justice.  Both of these books inspire great conversation in the classroom, and are based on true life. Gr 4-9.




Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson and David Shannon.  The story of Hiawatha with enclosed CD sharing music by Robbie Robertson.  This journey of Hiawatha as he moves towards peace is brought to life with stunning oil paintings and lots of details.  With Hiawatha and the Peacemaker young people can as Robertson said learn about the real Hiawatha.  And given that Robertson includes the fact the Peacemaker had a speech impediment, I think people within the special needs community will find this book an invaluable addition to their shelves.