ADDING COMMENTS

1. All bloggers must follow UGDSB's "Social Media Guidelines".
2. Identify yourself by first name and school only (e.g., Michelle @ Aberfoyle).
3. All blog comments must be on topic and respectful. To be accepted your blog comment must include: your rating of the book (1-10) as well as your likes/dislikes. It must be clear to all other bloggers that you've read the book. Feel free to converse with other bloggers about the books - you can comment more than once!!
4. Have fun 😊


NOTE: All blog submissions are moderated by Upper Grand Librarians prior to posting.

Snooze-O-Rama: The Strange Ways That Animals Sleep

Snooze-O-Rama: The Strange Ways That Animals Sleep

Written and Illustrated by Maria Birmingham and Kyle Reed
Published by Owlkids Books

Discover the strange – and sometimes familiar – ways animals settle down for bed.

While you brush your teeth and turn out the light, animals all over the world are getting ready for
bed in their own unique ways. Otters snuggle under seaweed blankets, plump walruses use
their throat pouches as pillows, and just like putting on pajamas, parrotfish cover themselves
with a coat of slime before bed.

Drawing on scientific research, this nonfiction book for young readers playfully compares the
ways humans and animals prepare for a good night’s sleep. On one page, a child dozes during
a car ride or cuddles up to their parents in bed. Flip the page, and readers will delight in discovering how other creatures catch some z’s.

Vibrant collage illustrations bring color and humor to the fascinating facts about animals both
familiar and unusual. With lively descriptions of each animal’s bedtime routine, Snooze-O-Rama
is a playful introduction to STEM—and an invitation to sleep

Duck Days

Duck Days

Written and Illustrated by Sarah Leach and Rebecca Bender

Published by Pajama Press Inc.

Lauren, a third-grade student who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, takes on the challenges of
sharing her best friend and persevering when a classmate mocks her bicycle’s training wheels.

Irma is Lauren’s best friend. Irma knows all the strategies Lauren uses when her Autism Spectrum
Disorder makes it hard to “go with the flow.” Lauren helps Irma learn English words and understand
unfamiliar customs. So why does Irma suddenly want to introduce Lauren to her mountain-biking,
litter-dropping neighbour Jonas? Why is Irma calling Jonas her friend?

As if sharing Irma weren’t bad enough, Lauren also has an alarming new problem at school. Their
teacher has announced a mountain biking day when the students will learn to ride their bikes on an
obstacle course. But Lauren still uses training wheels. She just can’t face the teasing she will get
when her classmates see them. She isn’t brave like Irma. She can’t go with the flow like Dad. How
can she possibly face this challenge?

Hockey Night in Kenya

Hockey Night in Kenya

Written and Illustrated by Danson Mutinda, Eric Walters, Claudia Dávila

Published by Orca Book Publishers

Kenyan orphans, Kitoo and Nigosi, spend their days studying, playing soccer, helping their elders
with chores around the orphanage and reading from the limited selection of books in their library.
When the librarian gives Kitoo a copy of Sports Around the World he becomes fascinated by an
image of the Canadian national men's ice hockey team. Then one day the fates align and Kitoo finds a pair of beat-up old rollerblades, he teaches himself to skate and dreams of one day playing hockey like the men in his book. But you can’t play ice hockey in Kenya, can you?

Mellybean and the Giant Monster

Mellybean and the Giant Monster

Written by Mike White

Published by Razorbill

Melly loves to play games. All her feline friends want to do, though, is take a nap. So when she
doesn’t leave them alone, the cats trick her into burying a shoe in the backyard. But the small
prank turns into a big problem when Melly falls down the hole and it magically transports her to
another world!

Melly lands smack-dab in the middle of a scuffle between a group of knights and a huge
monster. But Melly soon befriends the grumpy giant, learning he isn’t as scary as he seems.
He’s being hunted by a greedy king. One who has also been stealing from his people and
locking them up in the dungeons. So although Melly is desperate to find a way back home to
Mama and Papa (her human owners), she makes it her mission to help her new friend and the
kingdom. But how could someone so tiny defeat such a powerful king? It may just take a game
that only Melly can win.

How I Survived Four Nights on the Ice

Written and Illustrated by Serapio Ittusardjuat and Matthew K. Hoddy

Published by Inhabit Media

After his snowmobile breaks down halfway across the sea ice on a trip back from a fishing

camp, Serapio Ittusardjuat recounts the traditional skills and knowledge he leaned on to stay

alive. This harrowing first-person account of four nights spent on the open sea ice—with few

supplies and no water—shows young readers the determination and strength necessary to

survive in the harsh Arctic climate, even when the worst occurs.

Sadly the author past away this summer before the nominations were announced

Peter Lee’s Notes from the Field

Peter Lee’s Notes from the Field

Written and Illustrated by Angela Ahn and Julie Kwon
Published by Tundra Books

Eleven-year-old Peter Lee has one goal in life: to become a paleontologist. Okay, maybe two: to
get his genius kid-sister, L.B., to leave him alone. But his summer falls apart when his real-life
dinosaur expedition turns out to be a bust, and he watches his dreams go up in a cloud of
asthma-inducing dust.

Even worse, his grandmother, Hammy, is sick, and no one will talk to Peter or L.B. about
it. Perhaps his days as a scientist aren’t quite behind him yet. Armed with notebooks and pens, Peter puts his observation and experimental skills to the test to see what he can do for Hammy.
If only he can get his sister to be quiet for once — he needs time to sketch out a plan.

ParaNorthern: And the Chaos Bunny A-hop-calypse

ParaNorthern: And the Chaos Bunny A-hop-calypse

Written and Illustrated by Stephanie Cooke and Mari Costa
Published by Etch/Clarion Books

It’s fall break in the supernatural town of North Haven, and young witch Abby’s plans include
pitching in at her mom’s magical coffee shop, practicing her potion-making, and playing board
games with her best friends—a pumpkinhead, a wolf-girl, and a ghost. But when Abby finds her
younger sister being picked on by some speed demons, she lets out a burst of magic so strong,
it opens a portal to a realm of chaos bunnies. And while these bunnies may look cute, they’re
about to bring the a-hop-ocalypse (and get Abby in a cauldronful of trouble) unless she figures
out a way to reverse the powerful magic she unwittingly released. What’s a witch to do?

No Vacancy

No Vacancy

Written by Tziporah Cohen
Published by Groundwood Books Ltd

With the help of her Catholic friend, an eleven-year-old Jewish girl creates a provocative local
tourist attraction to save her family’s failing motel.

Buying and moving into the run-down Jewel Motor Inn in upstate New York wasn’t eleven-year-
old Miriam Brockman’s dream, but at least it’s an adventure. Miriam befriends Kate, whose
grandmother owns the diner next door, and finds comfort in the company of Maria, the motel’s
housekeeper, and her Uncle Mordy, who comes to help out for the summer. She spends her
free time helping Kate’s grandmother make her famous grape pies and begins to face her fears
by taking swimming lessons in the motel’s pool.

But when it becomes clear that only a miracle is going to save the Jewel from bankruptcy,
Jewish Miriam and Catholic Kate decide to create their own. Otherwise, the No Vacancy sign
will come down for good, and Miriam will lose the life she’s worked so hard to build.

The Language of Ghosts

The Language of Ghosts

Written by Heather Fawcett
Published by HarperCollins.

Forced into exile on an enchanted, moving island, ex-princess Noa Marchena has two missions: reclaim her family’s stolen throne and ensure that the dark powers her older brother, Julian, possesses don’t go to his head in the process. But between babysitting her annoying little sister, Mite, and keeping an eye on the cake-loving sea monster that guards the moving island, Noa has her hands full.

When the siblings learn that their enemies are searching for a weapon capable of defeating
Julian—whose legendary spell weaving is feared throughout the kingdom—once and for all,
they vow to get to it first. To everyone’s surprise, the key to victory turns out to be a long-lost
magical language—and only Noa can speak it.

But what if by helping her brother, Noa ends up losing him?

Harvey Comes Home

Harvey Holds His Own

Written and Illustrated by Colleen Nelson and Tara Anderson
Published by Pajama Press Inc.

Harvey the West Highland Terrier is back with his beloved Maggie. He is also back at Brayside
retirement home, where he and Maggie now volunteer along with their friend Austin. There
Maggie is drawn to a new resident, Mrs. Fradette, who tells stories of learning to fix cars as a
twelve-year-old during the flood of 1950. Mrs. Fradette, with her bold fashion and love of poker, doesn’t fit in among the beige-cardigan-wearing, bridge-playing ladies of Brayside, but she doesn’t seem to care. Maybe that’s why Maggie likes her so much. Since seventh grade began, Maggie hasn’t been fitting in well with her friends, either.

Harvey has a problem of his own. He can smell an intruder in his yard, and he needs to find it.
He is so intent on the nighttime fiend that he almost doesn’t notice how worried Austin is about his grandfather, who has been Brayside’s custodian for longer than Harvey has been alive. It seems like the retirement home is planning to give the job to a younger man, an injustice that Austin can’t let pass unchallenged.

The Great Bear

The Great Bear

Written by David A. Robertson

Published by Puffin Canada

Back at home after their first adventure in the Barren Grounds, Eli and Morgan each struggle
with personal issues: Eli is being bullied at school, and tries to hide it from Morgan, while
Morgan has to make an important decision about her birth mother. They turn to the place where
they know they can learn the most, and make the journey to Misewa to visit their animal friends.
This time they travel back in time and meet a young fisher that might just be their lost friend. But
they discover that the village is once again in peril, and they must dig deep within themselves to
find the strength to protect their beloved friends. Can they carry this strength back home to face
their own challenges?

The Fabulous Zed Watson!

The Fabulous Zed Watson!

Written and Illustrated by Basil and Kevin Sylvester

Published by HarperCollins

Zed Watson loves a few things: their name (which they chose themself!), their big rambunctious
family, and—oh yeah—monsters. When Zed discovered the mystery surrounding an
unpublished novel called The Monster’s Castle, they were completely hooked. Now Zed is a
member of a small but dedicated legion devoted to finding the long-buried text.

When a breakthrough discovery leads Zed to the route that they are sure will take them to the
treasure, they know it’s time for a road trip. And with the help of their shy, flora-loving neighbour,
Gabe, and his sister, Sam, a geologist who is driving back to college in Arizona, Zed and
company are soon off on a wild adventure following cryptic clues.

But it’s not all fun and games. Gabe doesn’t like Zed’s snacks, Sam is a bossy driver with total
command of the ancient Impreza’s stereo, and Zed is often misgendered. It’s a good thing they
also encounter kind strangers, potato-themed dance-offs and lots and lots of ice cream along
the way. If Zed and Gabe can combine their strengths, survive Sam’s wrath and best the greedy
historian who’s also hot on the book’s trail, they just might find the greatest treasure of all.

Elvis, Me, and the Lemonade Stand Summer

Elvis, Me, and the Lemonade Stand Summer

Written by Leslie Gentile
Published by Cormorant Books

It’s the summer of 1978 and most people think Elvis Presley has been dead for a year. But not
eleven-year-old Truly Bateman – because she knows Elvis is alive and well and living in the
Eagle Shores Trailer Park. Maybe no one ever thought to look for him on an Indigenous reserve
on Vancouver Island.

It’s a busy summer for Truly. Though her mother is less of a mother than she ought to be and
spends her time drinking and smoking and working her way through new boyfriends, Truly is
determined to raise as much money for herself as she can through her lemonade stand … and
to prove that her cool new neighbour is the one and only King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. And when she
can’t find motherly support in her own home, she finds sanctuary with Andy El, the Salish
woman who runs the trailer park.

Deadman’s Castle

Deadman’s Castle

Written by Iain Lawrence

Published by Holiday House

For most of his life, Igor and his family have been on the run. Danger lurks around every corner-
-or so he’s always been told. . . .

When Igor was five, his father witnessed a terrible crime–and ever since, his whole family has
been hunted by a foreboding figure bent on revenge, known only as the Lizard Man. They’ve
lived in so many places, with so many identities, that Igor can’t even remember his real name.

But now he’s twelve years old, and he longs for a normal life. He wants to go to school. Make
friends. Stop worrying about how long it will be before his father hears someone prowling
around their new house and uproots everything yet again. He’s even starting to wonder–what if
the Lizard Man only exists in his father’s frightened mind?

Slowly, Igor starts bending the rules he’s lived by all his life–making friends for the first time,
testing the boundaries of where he’s allowed to go in town. But soon, he begins noticing strange
things around them–is it in his imagination? Or could the Lizard Man be real after all?

The "Real" Deadman's Castle

Alice Fleck’s Recipes for Disaster

Alice Fleck’s Recipes for Disaster

Written by Rachelle Delaney

Published by Puffin Canada

When Alice agreed to appear in a reality cooking show with her father, she had no idea she’d
find herself in the middle of a mystery! Will Alice and her new friends be able to save the show?
A light-hearted and funny middle grade novel for fans of Rebecca Stead and Linda Mulally Hunt.

Alice Fleck’s father is a culinary historian, and for as long as she can remember, she’s been
helping him recreate meals from the past—a hobby she prefers to keep secret from kids her
age. But when her father’s new girlfriend enters them into a cooking competition at a Victorian
festival, Alice finds herself and her hobby thrust into the spotlight.

And that’s just the first of many surprises awaiting her. On arriving at the festival, Alice learns
that she and her father are actually contestants on Culinary Combat, a new reality TV show
hosted by Tom Truffleman, the most famous and fierce judge on TV! And to make matters
worse, she begins to suspect that someone is at work behind the scenes, sabotaging the
competition.

It’s up to Alice, with the help of a few new friends, to find the saboteur before the entire
competition is ruined, all the while tackling some of the hardest cooking challenges of her
life…for the whole world to see.

Wednesday Wilson Gets Down to Business

Wednesday Wilson Gets Down to Business

Written and Illustrated by Bree Galbraith and Morgan Goble
Published by Kids Can Press

The most important thing to know about Wednesday Wilson is that she’s an entrepreneur. She hasn’t started any businesses yet, but she’s pretty sure today is the day. She and her best friend, Charlie (Wednesday’s future Vice President of Operations), with some help from her little brother, Mister, have made a list of potential businesses. But before they get to move forward on one, there’s an unfortunate incident in class with the Emmas (whose last initials happen to spell M.E.A.N.) involving a bearded dragon named Morten and a piece of kale . . . it’s a long story. It figures that Wednesday’s archnemeses would be the ones to mess up her plans! But maybe all is not lost. Maybe this is just the opportunity Wednesday and her friends needed to come up with a brilliant business idea that will save the day and make them millionaires. Or . . . not?