Adventure

Roamin’ Numerals: Missing Math (A Number Mystery)

Friday, July 11, 2008.

Missing Math (A Number Mystery) Author: Loreen Leedy (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Loreen Leedy
Published: 2007 Marshall Cavendish (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0761453857

Shocked expressions, rhyming clamor and high contrast chaos create a dazzling disguise for this sneaky introduction to the importance of numbers.

You can read the interesting history of this book here.

Other books mentioned:

The Looking Book

More math on JOMB:

Be sure to pop over to Under the Covers for today’s full menu of poetry offerings. Poetry Fridays are brought to us by Kelly Herold of Big A, Little A.

Roamin' Numerals: Missing Math (A Number Mystery) [5:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Filed under: Adventure, Ages 4-8, Animal, Digital Artwork, Fun, Fun, Humour, Picture book, Podcast, Poetry, Poetry Friday, Review, Rhyming, Science, Medicine, Math

Bewitching Beginnings: How Chipmunk Got Tiny Feet (Native American Animal Origin Stories)

Saturday, July 5, 2008.

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How Chipmunk Got Tiny Feet Author: Gerald Hausman (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Ashley Wolff (on JOMB)
Published: 2007 Irie Books
ISBN: 0970911262

Earthy, folk art and simple, friendly narrative intrigue and entertain us with seven traditional Coushatta, Tsimshian and Navajo tales of adventure, transformation, conflict and punishment.

Other books mentioned:

Doctor Bird: Three Lookin’ Up Tales From Jamaica

Bewitching Beginnings: How Chipmunk Got Tiny Feet: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Filed under: Adventure, Ages 0-3, Ages 4-8, Animal, Cute, Detailed, Ecology/Nature, Envy/Competition, Fairness / Justice, Fairy tales, folk tales and legends, Friendship, Harmony, Humour, Life Skills, Personalities, Picture book, Realistic, Review, Thinking/Attitude

Loss, Laughs and Loony-Proof Love: My Dad’s A Birdman

Wednesday, June 18, 2008.

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My Dad's A Birdman Author: David Almond (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Polly Dunbar (on JOMB)
Published: 2007 Candlewick Press (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0763636673

Airy illustrations, playful, British dialogue and sprightly dipping, gliding narrative give flight to a zany father-daughter adventure that dances delicately between tenderness, tomfoolery, hope and despair landing lightly in the comfort of allied abandon.

You can read the first three chapters of this book here.

More dreams of flying on JOMB:

Loss, Laughs and Loony-Proof Love: My Dad's A Birdman [6:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Truth, Tyranny and Teamwork: The Mysterious Benedict Society

Wednesday, June 11, 2008.

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The Mysterious Benedict Society Author: Trenton Lee Stewart
Illustrator: Carson Ellis
Published: 2006 Little, Brown and Co. (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0316003956

Creativity, dexterity, integrity and retentivity are raised to the rank of super-power as four stray eleven year olds battle mind-numbing media, personal misgivings and the elaborate scheming of a mind-sweeping megalomaniac in this puzzle-filled, cleverly hilarious page-turner.

You can watch a great little documentary about Carson Ellis’s album art fame here.

Truth, Tyranny and Teamwork: The Mysterious Benedict Society [5:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Continental Confide: Someday When My Cat Can Talk

Friday, June 6, 2008.

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Someday When My Cat Can Talk Author: Caroline Lazo
Illustrator: Kyrsten Brooker
Published: 2008 Random House (on JOMB)
ISBN: 037583754X

Radically textured paint and collage illustrations combine with informative rhyming text as the imagined journeys of a young girl’s cat become an upbeat introduction to the landmarks and traditions of Europe.

Other books mentioned:

Safe and Sound

More cats on JOMB:

Be sure to pop over to Sarah Reinhard’s blog for today’s full menu of poetry offerings. Poetry Fridays are brought to us by Kelly Herold of Big A, Little A.

Continental Confide: Someday When My Cat Can Talk [4:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Filed under: Adventure, Ages 0-3, Ages 4-8, Animal, Beautiful, Canadian, Culture/Traditions, Cute, Fun, Music, Picture book, Podcast, Poetry Friday, Review, Rhyming, Travel/Geography, Visual

Scribes, Shadows and Freedom of Speech: The Story of the Search for the Story

Wednesday, June 4, 2008.

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The Story of the Search for the Story Author: Bjorn Sortland
Illustrator: Lars Elling
Published: 1995 CarolRhoda (on JOMB)
ISBN: 1575053756

A swirling stew of settings, characters and literary greats drift between puzzling nested plots and enticing factual references to make this dramatically illustrated, dreamlike adventure an intriguing exploration of literature, censorship and the importance of storytelling and independent thought.

Other books mentioned:

Pippi Longstocking

Scribes, Shadows and Freedom of Speech: The Story of the Search for the Story [7:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Filed under: Adventure, Ages 4-8, Ages 9-12, Boy, Careers, Classics, Communication, Contributing/Industry, Creativity, Fairness / Justice, Formal, Freedom, Language/Reading/Books, Life Skills, Picture book, Review, Thinking/Attitude, Understanding/Tolerance, Writing

Heartwarming Silliness: Sleepover Larry

Saturday, May 24, 2008.

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Sleepover Larry Author: Daniel Manus Pinkwater (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Jill Pinkwater (on JOMB)
Published: 2007 Marshall Cavendish (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0761453148

Grease your muffin tins and defrost your blueberries, it’s time for another adventure in friendship and frivolity as two thrillingly familiar polar bears let the good times roll at Larry’s first ever sleepover.

Other books mentioned:

Heartwarming Silliness: Sleepover Larry [7:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Filed under: Adventure, Ages 4-8, Animal, Cartoony, Celebration, Community, Family, Formal, Friendship, Fun, Fun, Hilarious, Humour, Personalities, Picture book, Podcast, Review, Review of the Week

Folktale Fusion: Love and Roast Chicken (A Trickster Tale from the Andes Mountains)

Friday, May 23, 2008.

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Love and Roast Chicken: A Trickster Tale from the Andes Mountains Author: Barbara Knutson
Illustrator: Barbara Knutson
Published: 2004 Carolrhoda Books (on JOMB)
ISBN: 1575056577

A spunky free-ranging guinea pig hero, an equally lovable, gullible villain and the happy mash-up of several familiar folk tales make this gorgeously illustrated trickster tale a story worth repeated re-enactment in the schoolyard with friends (really!).

Other books mentioned:

Folktale Fusion: Love and Roast Chicken (A Trickster Tale from the Andes Mountains) [5:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Filed under: Adventure, Ages 0-3, Ages 4-8, Animal, Bullying/Abuse, Creativity, Cute, Fairy tales, folk tales and legends, Formal, Fun, Fun, Harmony, Humour, Life Skills, Mischief, Picture book, Podcast, Review, Spanish

Pleasantly Perplexing: Happy as a Tapir

Wednesday, May 21, 2008.

1 comment

Happy As A Tapir Author: Terry Carbone
Illustrator: Keith DuQuette
Published: 1992 Viking Juvenile (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0670842273

Rich, imaginative illustrations and generous, poetic text present an endearing fantasy that leaves us pondering issues of identity, purpose, contentment, control and choice.

Other books mentioned:

Brave New World

You can peek inside this book, here.

Pleasantly Perplexing: Happy as a Tapir [7:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Oh, Give Me A Home: Buffalo Music

Wednesday, April 23, 2008.

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Buffalo Music Author: Tracey Fern
Illustrator: Lauren Castillo
Published: 2008 Clarion (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0618723412

A feisty, self-aware pioneer woman, the man who knows and loves her and the coddling of a cabin full of beautiful baby bison — what more could a pet-deprived young reader ask for?

Based on the true story of Mary Ann Goodnight’s determination to save the Texas buffalo and told with humour and a Texan twang, this is an inspiring story of hard work and simpler times.

You can read more about Mary Ann and Charles Goodnight here and here.

Wow! Wow! Wow! How did I miss this? Lauren Castillo was the featured illustrator on the fabulous Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast last week. Check out the great spread here.

Oh, Give Me A Home: Buffalo Music [7:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Canine Coastguard: Heroes of Isle aux Morts

Wednesday, April 2, 2008.

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Heroes of Isle aux Morts Author: Alice Walsh
Illustrator: Geoff Butler (on JOMB)
Published: 2001 Tundra Books (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0887765017

Based on a true story and starring a Newfoundland dog, this suspenseful account of a daring maritime rescue is an inspiring reminder of the resourcefulness, generosity and pluck of an era gone by.

You can read more about the Canadian Coast Guard vessel, CGCS Ann Harvey, which was named for one of the young rescuers, here.

Other ships and shipwrecks on JOMB:

More working dogs on JOMB:

You can learn more about Newfoundland Dogs here.

Canine Coastguard: Heroes of Isle aux Morts [9:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Constructing Community: Mattland

Wednesday, March 5, 2008.

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Mattland Author: Hazel Hutchins & Gail Herbert
Illustrator: Dusan Petricic (on JOMB)
Published: 2008 Annick Press (on JOMB)
ISBN: 1554511208

A clever combination of first person illustration and third-person narrative sweep us from the bleak friendlessness of a half-built subdivision to the sunny satisfaction of a job well done in this wordless triumph of teamwork and imagination.

More imagination on JOMB: