All About Turtles by Jim Arnosky

All About Turtles, written and illustrated by Jim Arnosky, has great illustrations and informational text which teaches all kinds of interesting things about turtles, like how to identify the different kinds, what they eat, what their eggs are like, etc.

Anna and I both enjoyed this book.  We both learned lots.

Too Many Books! by Gilles Tibo

In Too Many Books!, written by Gilles Tibo and illustrated by Bruno St-Aubin, Nicholas is tired of having a book passed to him every time he wants to learn how to do something or learn about something.  He knows books are good for that because he's learned lots from them, but he's sick of it.  Then his friend introduces him to books that are just for pleasure.

I think Anna enjoyed this book.  She didn't say too much about it.  I had mixed feelings about it.  It is kind of cute.

Pavlova's Gift by Maxine Trottier

Pavlova's Gift written by Maxine Trottier and illustrated by Victoria Berdichevsky, is a fantasy story about Anna Pavlova, a real life historical person.  In real life Anna was a professional ballerina and in this fantasy story she received a letter from the Czar requesting that she dance for his ill son.  On her way to fulfill the request she first meets a gypsy women who gives her a necklace and then comes upon a group of gypsies when her sleigh needs repairs.  It is with this group of gypsies that her night changes.

Anna loved the story, partly because the main character's name was the same as her's and partly because it was about a ballerina.  I thought it was an interesting fantasy story, not as weird as some fantasy stories can get. I think I will probably read it with Anna again in a year or so and use it as a jump off point to learn more about the actual historical person.

The Teddy Bear by David McPhail

The Teddy Bear, written and illustrated by David McPhail tells the story of a little boy who loses his Teddy Bear in the park, and while he is upset for a few days he soon forgets about it.  Meanwhile the Teddy Bear is found, and loved, by a homeless man. There is a very special ending to this story that I don't want to spoil by telling but it is very touching.

I thought this story was great.  Anna was a little confused by the character of the homeless man because she's never seen one and has no concept of it, so I was glad it gave us the chance to discuss it.

Seal is Lost by Priscilla Galloway

In Seal is Lost, written by Priscilla Galloway with pictures by Karen Patkau, Hugh loses his favorite stuffed toy while at the beach.  While his stuffed toy, Seal, is enjoying himself in Lost Toy Land, Hugh is looking for him but can't find him.  Instead Hugh finds a kitten that nobody claims and eventually the kitten takes Seal's place.

Anna and I thought this book was okay, not great, but okay.

Freddy's Hockey Hero by Susan Chalker Browne

Freddy's Hockey Hero, written by Susan Chalker Browne and illustrated by Hilda Rose, is another is the series of Freddy books.  In this book Freddy is excited to be going to a hockey game and is determined that he is going to get his stick signed by Billy Binkle, the most famous hockey player of all time. Nobody but Freddy is convince that Billy Binkle is even at the game, and Freddy has to go through a number of mazes before he finally does end up being in the spotlight with his hero and getting his stick signed.

To be perfectly honest, I didn't terribly enjoy this book.  To me the story was very contrived and didn't have a flow.  Anna seemed pretty neutral about the book.  This is not the first book that I've featured by this author or this illustrator but information about both are hard to find on the internet.

My Little Golden Book About God by Jane Werner Watson

My Little Golden Book About God, written by Jane Werner Watson and illustrated by Eloise Wilkin, is an old one from our bookshelf. The book starts quite simply with the short sentence "God is Great" but goes on to explain how God is a part of everything that every was and ever will be. Anna and I have read it together a few times.  We both really love the illustrations.