Personalities

Frightfully Fascinating: Baba Yaga & Vasilisa the Brave

Friday, October 31, 2008.

Frightfully Fascinating: Baba Yaga & Vasilisa the Brave [8:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave Author: Marianna Mayer (on JOMB)
Illustrator: K. Y. Craft (on JOMB)
Published: 1994 Harper Collins (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0688085008

Dark, detailed and delightfully distasteful, this splendid version of the gruesome Russian Cinderella folktale has thrilled and enthralled our girls for years.

More Hallowe’en and October reading on JOMB:

Have a Happy Hallowe’en!!

HOTLINE VOICES: Thanks to author Valerie Hobbs for telling us about one of her childhood favourites, The Owl and the Pussycat.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave us a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487.

Politics and Poetry: Sandy Mackenzie, Why Look So Glum?

Friday, October 17, 2008.

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Politics and Poetry: Sandy Mackenzie, Why Look So Glum? [7:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sandy Mackenzie, Why Look So Glum? Author: Gordon Henderson
Illustrator: Peter Pickersgill
Published: 1979 Deneau and Greenberg
ISBN: 0888790422

Captivating caricatures, fact-filled rhyme and pithy biographical chasers make this entertaining introduction to the first sixteen Canadian Prime Ministers must-read madness for youngsters and oldsters alike. Eh?

Other books mentioned:

The Book Of Time Outs: A Mostly True History of the World’s Biggest Troublemakers

Pop over to Becky’s Book Reviews for today’s full menu of poetry offerings. Poetry Fridays are brought to us by Kelly Herold of Big A, Little A.

HOTLINE VOICES: An unidentified listener tells us about The Time-for-Bed Angel (by Ronica Stromberg and Kristina Stephenson). Thank you!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave us a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487.

Filed under: Ages 4-8, Ages 9-12, All ages, Canadian, Careers, Cartoony, Fun, Fun, History, Man, Non-Fiction, Out-of-Print, Personalities, Picture book, Podcast, Poetry Friday, Review, Rhyming

Of Flash and Forgiveness: The Worst Best Friend

Wednesday, October 8, 2008.

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Of Flash and Forgiveness: The Worst Best Friend [8:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Worst Best Friend Author: Alexis O’Neill (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Laura Huliska-Beith (on JOMB)
Published: 2008 Scholastic (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0545010233

Sunny school-yard action, frisky text and heaps of humorous details propel us through bliss, boastfulness, betrayal and back again in this spirited tale of friendship lost and found.

Other books mentioned:

The Recess Queen

HOTLINE VOICES: An unidentified JOMB listener/author/illustrator recommends Kiss Good Night (by Amy Hest) and Dig Dig Digging (by Margaret Mayo and Alex Ayliffe).

We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave us a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487.

To those of you celebrating Yom Kippur, G’mar Chatimah Tovah.

A Dog’s Eye View: Stella, Unleashed

Friday, September 19, 2008.

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A Dog's Eye View: Stella, Unleashed [6:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Stella, Unleashed Author: Linda Ashman (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Paul Meisel (on JOMB)
Published: 2008 Sterling Publishing (on JOMB)
ISBN: 1402739877

Unabashed autobiographical poems and hilariously expressive illustrations provide the observations and opinions of a straight-shooting canine in this irresistible pooch-hood memoir.

Other books mentioned:

Oh, Theodore! (Guinea Pig Poems)

More canine poetry on JOMB:

Pop over to author amok for today’s full menu of poetry offerings. Poetry Fridays are brought to us by Kelly Herold of Big A, Little A.

HOTLINE VOICES: Hugh Fraser of the Storynory podcast shares his thoughts on The Barefoot Book of Knights (by John Matthews and Giovanni Manna). Thanks, Hugh!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave us a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487.

Filed under: Ages 0-3, Ages 4-8, Animal, Appreciation, Assertiveness, Busy, Cartoony, Community, Confidence, Cute, Family, Friendship, Fun, Fun, Hilarious, Humour, Mischief, Personalities, Picture book, Podcast, Poetry, Poetry Friday, Review, Rhyming

Sterility is the Smother of Invention: Inventor McGregor

Wednesday, September 10, 2008.

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Sterility is the Smother of Invention: Inventor McGregor [5:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Inventor McGregor Author: Kathleen T. Pelley
Illustrator: Michael Chesworth
Published: 2006 Farrar, Strauss and Giroux (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0374336067

Snappy storytelling and lively illustrations convey how disorder and diversions inspire an oasis of creativity while a sterile environment can be like a desert for an inventive mind.

Other books mentioned:

Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art
Willow
The Clay Ladies
Cat Magic
The Trouble with Tilly Trumble

Filed under: Ages 4-8, Appreciation, Careers, Cartoony, Creativity, Fun, Fun, Man, Personalities, Picture book, Podcast, Resilience, Review, Science, Medicine, Math, Thinking/Attitude, acceptance

Life is Good: Jillian Jiggs

Friday, August 22, 2008.

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Life is Good: Jillian Jiggs [6:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jillian Jiggs Author: Phoebe Gilman
Illustrator: Phoebe Gilman
Published: 1985 Scholastic Books (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0590413406

Good friends, good intentions and an unstoppable stream of creativity: this infectiously upbeat tale of disarray, distraction and blissful disobedience makes us glad we chose the adventure that is family life. We can’t imagine a childhood without it.

Other books mentioned:

Pop over to Read. Imagine. Talk. for today’s full menu of poetry offerings. Poetry Fridays are brought to us by Kelly Herold of Big A, Little A.

Joy is what happens when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things are.

– Marianne Williamson

Filed under: Adventure, Ages 0-3, Ages 4-8, Busy, Canadian, Cartoony, Co-operation/Collaboration, Community, Contributing/Industry, Creativity, Cute, Family, Friendship, Fun, Fun, Girl, Humour, Mischief, Mother/Daughter, Personalities, Picture book, Poetry Friday, Review, Rhyming, Siblings, Thinking/Attitude, Visual

Peeps, Projectiles and Prima Donnas: Thing-Thing

Wednesday, August 20, 2008.

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Peeps, Projectiles and Prima Donnas: Thing-Thing [5:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Thing-Thing Author: Cary Fagan (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Nicolas Debon (on JOMB)
Published: 2008 Tundra Books (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0887768393

Dizzying perspectives, deadpan musings and the small scale dramas of everyday life turn a slo-mo tumble from a sixth storey window into an entertaining peek at excess, ingratitude and the thrill of being loved.

Filed under: Adventure, Ages 4-8, Animal, Appreciation, Boy, Bullying/Abuse, Canadian, Community, Compassion, Cute, Fairness / Justice, Family, Father/Son, Formal, Fun, Fun, Gratitude, Harmony, Humour, Life Skills, Manners, Mother/Son, Other, Personalities, Picture book, Podcast, Respect, Review, Thinking/Attitude, Understanding/Tolerance, acceptance

Idol Ambition: The Fisherman and the Turtle

Wednesday, August 13, 2008.

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Idol Ambition: The Fisherman and the Turtle [5:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Fisherman and the Turtle Author: Eric Kimmel (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Martha Aviles (on JOMB)
Published: 2008 Marshall Cavendish (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0761453873

Cheery, stylized illustrations and friendly, informal narration breath new life into this traditional tale of fish, wishes and contentment.

You can read more about Tenochtitlán and Aztec gods here and here.

More greed on JOMB:

Of Lapdogs and Legends: Biscuits in the Cupboard

Friday, August 1, 2008.

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Of Lapdogs and Legends: Biscuits in the Cupboard [4:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Biscuits in the Cupboard Author: Barbara Nichol (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Philippe Beha
Published: 1997 Fitzhenry & Whiteside (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0773759360

Packed with punchlines, puzzles, spookiness and spunk, these forty fabulous fur-filled poems keep our family scrambling for read-aloud dibs.

Pop over to The Well-Read Child for today’s full menu of poetry offerings. Poetry Fridays are brought to us by Kelly Herold of Big A, Little A.

Filed under: Adventure, Ages 0-3, Ages 4-8, Animal, Canadian, Cartoony, Cute, Fun, Fun, Humour, Mischief, Personalities, Picture book, Poetry, Poetry Friday, Review, Rhyming

Structure, Strengths, Strategies and Stretching: Clementine’s Letter

Friday, July 18, 2008.

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Structure, Strengths, Strategies and Stretching: Clementine's Letter [7:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Clementine's Letter Author: Sara Pennypacker
Illustrator: Marla Frazee (on JOMB)
Published: 2008 Hyperion (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0786838841

In the voice of a creative and easily distracted third grader and brimming with insight and humour, this clever and thoroughly entertaining novel is as touching as it is funny as it is educational.

Other books mentioned:

If you have an interest in ADD, ADHD, dyslexia and other learning differences — or in the fascinating field of learning — check out Whitney Hoffman’s LD Podcast.

Loving Your Label: Patrick the Somnambulist

Wednesday, July 16, 2008.

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Loving Your Label: Patrick the Somnambulist [5:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Patrick the Somnambulist Author: Sarah Ackerley (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Sarah Ackerley
Published: 2008 Blooming Tree Press (on JOMB)
ISBN: 1933831073

Quiet absurdity and understated text relay the hilarious tale of a unique young penguin who swaps stigma for stupendous in this inspiring invitation to embrace our traits.

Podcasts mentioned:

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

Saturday, July 5, 2008.

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

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: