10 Books for Young Children from the Ottawa Public Library

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share more engaging book selections for young kids. This month’s post is by Xiao Feng Xing, Librarian, Youth Collections at the Ottawa Public Library.

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2020 was a difficult and challenging time for everyone, especially for young children. COVID-19 has turned their world upside down. They haven’t been able to go to the library, attend programs, play with their friends, or visit family.  Let’s hope some of these book suggestions will bring a bit of joy to children and help them get through this pandemic. 

1.     LIFT by Minh Lê and Dan Santat

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1227916026

I’m pretty sure that most kids like to push elevator buttons. I remember when my son was young and I took him to the library for a program, he snuck out of the room to play with the elevator buttons, going up and down in the elevator just to have some fun.

The character in this picture book is a little girl and her name is Iris.

Iris loves to push the elevator buttons in her apartment building, but she doesn’t like it when her younger brother presses them instead of her. In an act of rebellion, Iris pushes all the buttons and breaks the elevator. She takes the discarded buttons home and presses them. Magically, the buttons open a magic world, sometimes the jungle, and other times outer space. Iris realizes that sharing this discovery and adventure with her younger brother could be a wonderful experience. Beautiful art enhances this uplifting story that encourages children to share the world of magic with their siblings and friends.

“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it, we go nowhere.”- Carl Segan

2.     The Blue House by Phoebe Wahl

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1227858026

Leo lived with his dad in an old blue house next to a tall fir tree. Even though the house was in very bad condition, at least it was theirs. When they found out that their house was going to be torn down. Leo and his dad were disappointed that they would need to leave a place that both of them loved so much. When they moved into a new house, it felt empty, but they coped with this hardship. They drew a picture of the old blue house on the wall, and little by little, familiar objects began to appear in the new house. With each passing day, the new house was becoming theirs. This is a lovely story of a single father and his son, who hand in hand, go through difficult moments and experience many emotions. This book can help teach children how to cope with difficult times, such as the current pandemic.

3.     Our little kitchen by Jullian Tamaki

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1246127026

Our Little Kitchen is a tiny, small place, just big enough, so squeeze in and make space. In this lively, rousing picture book from Caldecott Honoree Jillian Tamaki, a crew of resourceful neighbours comes together to prepare a meal for their community. One person’s power is small, but as they work together, they change the community and show kindness to the people around them who are struggling due to different reasons. This book will warm the hearts of children by showing what it means to be nice and to help the neediest persons in their community.

4.     My best friend by Julie Fogliano and Jillian Tamaki

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1206799026

New York Times bestselling author Julie Fogliano, and Caldecott Honor winner Jillian Tamaki, come together to tell a delightful story of first friendship. One girl thinks of some sweetly earnest and visually stunning criteria to judge that she has found the best friend. Together, they pretend to be ducks and pickles. They laugh and swing together. There are so many ways that this little narrator knows that she has found the best friend. They draw each other; they play together and laugh together. The sweet and slightly surprising twist at the end of the story, is that they don’t even know each other’s names, or if they will see each other the next day. The art on every page is dynamic and creates a sense of energy throughout in the book.

5.     I Talk Like A River by Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1246086026

“What if words got stuck in the back of our mouth? What if they never came out the way you wanted them to?” Canadian poet Jordan Scott tells a powerful, uplifting, honest, and sincerely personal story, with a very internal voice, about his stuttering problem. “But I can’t stop thinking all day about my bad speech: all those eyes watching. My lips twist and twirl. All those mouths giggling and laughing. I feel a storm in my belly; my eyes fill with rain. My dad sees that I am sad and pulls me close; he points to the river and says “See how that water moves? That’s how you speak.”

This invigorating, gate-fold illustration, with a young boy in the shimmering, cleansing and refreshing water, transforms deep internal change into a light-filled moment. The young character feels less alone and opens his mind to think about his speech in a new way. Beyond the problem of stuttering, this book really encourages children to embrace who they are.

6.     If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1246087026

This book was written by two-time Caldecott medal winner Sophie Blackall. If You Come to Earth is a book about a child writing a letter to a visitor from outer space, explaining our world. If You Come to Earth explains what you need to know:  where our planet sits in the solar system, the fact that it’s made of land and water, mountains and plains, cities and towns; that the people who live here come in all shapes and sizes, that we love each other, that we get cold and hungry; that we are always learning and always busy, and that we are not alone; that we share our planet with creatures in the sea and animals on the land and birds in the sky; that we make music and art, and mistakes; that that we tell stories in many languages. This book reflects the diversity of our world. It is the book that brings us together and encourages us to take care of the planet and each other. Every Monday for six weeks the author sat in a second-grade classroom in Brooklyn with 23 kids who helped her figure out how to explain the world to a visitor from outer space.

7.     I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. (The creators of Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut )

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1246080026

The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. His curiosity, his creativity, his bravery, his kindness, his sense of humor and fun, his ability to get up again when he gets knocked down.

This book will inspire children who may feel marginalized and help them to see all the good things they have in themselves. The positive and supportive text of this book clearly and powerfully demonstrates the knowledge that all Black children are worthy and deserve to be loved for who they are. 

8.     Snail Crossing by Corey R Tabor

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1206675026

A slow and steady snail saw a plump cabbage on the other side of a wide road and was determined to cross the road to get it. The snail was cabbage bound! Nothing could stand in his way – not even a speeding van. But then the kind-hearted snail stops to help a colony of ants from drowning in a heavy storm – he offers them tea and safety inside his shell. Then he’s back on his way, scooting along the road, when a hungry crow wants to eat him. The clever snail uses evasive maneuvers to get away from the cow, but the spinning makes him dizzy and he ends back where he started instead of the other side of the road. Luckily, his new ant friends carry the cabbage from across the street for him. This book is a lovely tale of determination, kindness and friendship. 

9.     I Dream of a Journey, by Akiko Miyakosh

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1206774026

“People from all over the world come and go at the innkeeper's little hotel. He enjoys meeting them, and many even become his friends. Only, sometimes, when he goes to sleep at night, the desire to travel far away himself wells up inside him. He dreams of packing a big bag and journeying wherever he pleases, from one unfamiliar town to another. He imagines stopping to visit friends and having wonderful and unexpected experiences. The innkeeper continues to go about his daily routine at his hotel, but, someday, he is sure, he will explore the world.”

We’re all dreaming of journeys this year. This book starts out black and white and then slowly the colours begin to bloom on the page. The topic will resonate with children, especially this year, with many of them anxious to set off on a journey themselves, once COVID-19 is under control.

10.  The Barnabus Project by Terry Fan

https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1249907026

Barnabus lived in a secret lab. He was half mouse and half elephant. The lab was full of perfect pets and hidden beneath a perfectly ordinary street. In a world of perfect pets, Barnabus is not quite perfect and is marked as a failed project. His pal Pip the cockroach tells him about the outside world: “Green hills and trees all the way to the sky, lit with their own stars”. In fact, they’re just high-rise buildings with lights. Because the Green Rubber Suits (the staff working at the secret lab) recycle all failed projects, Barnabus and all his failed project friends must escape very soon. Nothing is impossible, and his dreams of freedom lead him and his misfit friends on an adventure to find freedom and a place where he and his friends can finally be accepted for who they are. This book will appeal to young children and help them learn to be proud of who they are.

Cross-Country Ski Trails in Ottawa

KITC would like to welcome back, guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel. During the summer, when there isn’t a pandemic, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival.

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Anyone who lives in Ottawa knows that spring, summer and fall are brief houseguests whereas winter is like close family.  To enjoy the season more,  our family loves to cross-country ski.  If you’re looking for a way to get some exercise this winter, here are a few of our favourite cross country ski trails in Ottawa   

Mer Bleue

Since moving to the east end,  Mer Bleue has been my go-to spot.  There are four different parking lots to access the trails.  The scenery is amazing and many Ottawa families know the joys of feeding the chickadees.   

Our son, David learned to cross-country ski on the relatively flat trails of parking lot P23. Some of the trails from the other parking lots offer more ups and downs.     

One highlight at all the trails is the canopy of snow in the trees after a fresh snowfall.   

One cool feature is that if all the trails at Mer Bleue are busy, you will often find few people on the Prescott-Russell rail trail which also  has parking just off of Anderson Road.   

Pine Grove

This is my go-to spot if I just want to get away from everything. I find the trails are generally quieter than Mer Bleue and the trails seem to go on forever. I always imagine encountering a bear or a wolf on the trails as you feel completely in nature. Don’t worry,  I have not heard of any bear or wolf sightings.  Perhaps many chipmunks and the odd skunk or raccoon.  

Ski Heritage East/Ottawa River Trail

This is a relatively new trail for me.  In 2018,  a group of volunteers wanted to expand cross-country skiing to Orleans and started grooming the bike trails along the river.  The trail has since expanded all the way from Trim Road to Blair Road making it 30 km there and back.  

I had the opportunity to ski the trail a few weeks ago and it was an amazing experience.  To have the view of the Ottawa River on one side was incredible.  I saw two huge pieces of ice slowly collide on the river. I felt like I could have been on the movie, Titanic and yelled,  ‘Iceberg, right ahead.’   

The day I visited,  the trail was moderately used and there was space to socially distance.  There are nice flat sections and also small hills.

Rideau Winter Trail

This trail started off as a trial project last winter and has grown in scope this year.  Set along the Rideau River,  this may be my new favourite trail in the city.  The Rideau Winter Trail runs from the Rideau Sports Centre near Donald Street to past the Hurdman light rail station.  It offers up nine kilometres of groomed trail.

The thing I love about this trail besides the fact it is beautiful is that it is accessible to many people.  Located right in the heart of Ottawa,  it is easily accessed by University of Ottawa students or anyone taking the light rail.  The trail is literally almost right in front of the light rail station. There is also plenty of space for social distancing.   

Your local park

The great thing about cross-country skiing is that you can throw on your pair of skis and go almost any place there is adequate snow.  This year,  I have been doing a lot just in my local park just outside my backyard.  

One of my favourite memories was doing a video call with my wife’s family from Mexico while David and I skied down a small hill.   

Skiing during COVID-19

It goes without saying the trails are much busier this year.  There is an increase in skiers and also hikers, snowshoers and fat bikers. Most people have been very respectful about social distancing on the trails. I do find the trails are very busy on weekends. I try to go during the week when the trails are less busy. I found the Rideau Winter Trail had the most space for social distancing.  

A big shoutout must be given to the National Capital Commission and the Urban Winter Trails Alliance.  Working together both groups have greatly expanded the urban trail network in Ottawa. Also, a guy with the nickname of Groomer Dave (Dave Adams)  was instrumental in getting the trail project going.  About five years ago,  working with the NCC,  he had the idea of grooming trails along the Ottawa River in the west end.  This led to the creation of the SJAM.  His vision helped us to arrive to where we are at today.  

West End Ottawa Cross-Country Ski Trails

Don’t worry west-enders, you have plenty of options as well.   As mentioned, the SJAM is a wonderful trail along the Ottawa River.  There is also the Britannia Winter Trail  along with the Ottawa West Winter Trail.

All the trails mentioned above are free of charge but donations are gratefully accepted to many.  It is best to check out their website or Facebook page for conditions and possible donation information.  

Wherever you go, happy skiing!

Skating Through Nature at Countryside Adventures

KITC would like to welcome back, guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel. During the summer, when there isn’t a pandemic, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival.

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What could be more Canadian than skating outdoors on a winter day?! Perhaps skating outdoors through a forest trail and after enjoying a hot chocolate or poutine? That is all possible at Countryside Adventures.  

Countryside Adventures is located about 45 minutes east of Ottawa.  Ahead of time,  our family had concerns as COVID-19 numbers continue to rise, but my fears  were put to rest when we arrived on-site. Before entering the ticket booth area, everyone must wear a mask and it is one family at a time.  Once having passed through the ticket area,  we found there was a lot of space to put on our skates.   

My son, David, and I are used to skating at indoor arenas or venues like Rink of Dreams beside Ottawa City Hall.  In comparison, Countryside Adventures has a three kilometre skating trail that winds through the forest.  The ice surface was quite smooth and was comparable to the Rideau Canal. I am an average skater and decided to use a skating aid.  David is quite a strong skater and opted to go without. 

The trail was nothing short of magical.  It winded and wove between the trees.  I have enjoyed the Rideau Canal and numerous skating rinks but this was my favourite.  

The pathway is wide enough that it can safely accommodate passing another small group of skaters. There are also numerous signs encouraging skaters to stay two metres apart. The trail is also long enough that social distancing is easily maintained.   

David and I did the trail several times.  He even teased me a few times for not keeping up with him. There are numerous spots to stop to take the perfect photo outdoors. There are also many benches along the trail where you can take a break.  

After skating, we decided to relax for a bit by the fire pit. If you’re hungry or need a warm-up, there is a food truck onsite and we grabbed a hot chocolate to complete the experience.   

We are hoping to return later in the season to check out their nighttime skating.  The pathway is illuminated.  You can visit their Instagram page to get a sneak peek at just how beautiful it is.

Countryside Adventures also offers a cross-country ski and snowshoe trail when the conditions are cooperating, as well as a tubing hill when there is enough snow.   

Don’t worry if you do not have skates. They can be rented on-site along with snowshoes.  

Looking ahead to summer,  there are plans to have a stocked pond where you will be able to fish and do water sports like kayaking and paddle boarding.  

For more information and to reserve your visit, take a look at their website at: https://www.countrysideadventures.ca.

Stephen and his family were provided admission to the skating but all views are his own.

Christmas at Saunders Farm - Light & Sound Show (Nightly Drive-Through)

KITC would like to welcome back, guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel. During the summer, when there isn’t a pandemic, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During the winter (when it’s not a pandemic), a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.

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Everyone will be celebrating Christmas in a different manner this year.  Different doesn’t mean a person cannot have fun and create new traditions.   In keeping with this idea,  our family decided to check out the Holiday Light and Sound Drive-Through show at Saunders Farm.  

Like many families,  we have been to Saunders Farm too many times to count.  I was curious to see how they would change the farm into a winter wonderland.   Upon arrival,  I could see they had delivered on all fronts.  The road leading into the farm looked like the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie.   There was a firepit where families could warm up along with a food stand where it was possible to purchase seasonal treats.  

We were there to experience the drive-through show.   That area was also festively decorated.   Perhaps more than the decorations,  I appreciated the short wait time to enter the attraction.  The ticket was a timed entry ensuring that there were not any hour long waits or a snake line of vehicles idling away.   

The drive-through route follows the same route as the Halloween haunted wagon ride.   I will not give anything away but it was fun to see how some of the Halloween scares had been transformed for Christmas. We set our car radio to an FM station that had an endless loop of holiday songs.   Of course,  Mariah Carey was one of the featured artists.    Holiday Light and Sound Drive-Through

We were blown away by all the lights and Christmas set pieces.   The lighting effects were far beyond anything I expected.   There were plenty of lit up reindeer and trees.   My favourite were the snow globes at the end.   

We drove through at ten kilometres an hour and the entire experience lasted about twenty to twenty five minutes.    It was so good I would have been willing to pay again to do the drive a second time.   

As mentioned,  it was an option to stop after and enjoy a treat while warming up by the firepit.   The farm shop also is open selling items like pre-cut Christmas trees and wreaths.  

We did not stay as it had already been a full day but would do so next time.  

While the light show was outstanding perhaps the thing I was most grateful for was just the sense of normalcy even for a short period of time.  We were a family enjoying a family activity and not worrying about the current situation.  

That is not to say there were any shortcuts for health protocols.  All staff were wearing masks and everyone was socially distanced. We felt very safe from the moment we arrived to departure.

Post-COVID,  I hope Saunders Farm will continue the Country Christmas Nighttime Experience. I could see this becoming a  yearly tradition for many families, including ourselves.

Saunders Farm  also offers a daytime experience where you can visit a Christmas market,  enjoy many outdoor attractions like the hedge mazes and buy a pre-cut Christmas tree.  Of course, it is important to follow all COVID-19 protocols and check the Saunders Farm website for any changes.   

For more information, visit www.saundersfarm.com.

Disclaimer: Stephen and his family were provided free entry but all opinions are my own.

Journal-Style Middle School Book Recommendations from the Ottawa Public Library

The Ottawa Public Library is back to share a list books perfect for middle schoolers. This month’s post is by Sarah Godding, CPPSA at the Alta Vista Branch of the Ottawa Public Library. The selection is inspired by the joys of journaling!

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It’s November and after ongoing COVID-19 constraints in Ottawa, many of us are reaching a point of fatigue. SIGH. Yet, with these limits placed on our proximity to others comes an opportunity to increase our proximity to ourselves!

Getting to know oneself is a beautiful pursuit at any age. Keeping a diary, daily log or journal is a wonderful way to grow our understanding, appreciation and acceptance of ourselves. Encouraging the kids in our lives to let it all out onto a page can prove to be a great release. We cannot fix what we do not acknowledge no matter how big or small.

Here are middle school reads which incorporate the diary/journal style of writing and, in doing so, allow the reader to feel closer to the characters.

Just Jaime by Terry Libenson
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1168825026

Just Jaime follows two childhood best friends as they begin to cross the threshold from child to teen. The conflict is delicate as Jamie feels her best friend Maya is pulling away - but why? The chapters alternate narration of the last day of grade 7, with Jamie’s chapters taking a more intimate, handwritten diary approach, and Maya’s chapters laid out in a classic comic book style. This book allows the reader to navigate, along with the two friends, the turbulent dance of growing in and out of friendship and the importance and challenge of expressing hurt feelings. Through Jaime’s handwritten entries we are provided a wonderfully honest snapshot of the middle grade drama.

The Year I Didn’t Eat by Samuel Pollen
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1149054026

We meet 14-year-old Max just before a Christmas dinner feast with his family. Tensions are high for the young bird enthusiast with anorexia. Lately Max feels no one understands him, no one but Ana. Max has been keeping a journal, upon his therapist’s request, and addresses his entries to “Ana”- his eating disorder. Ana is not a kind influence, to say the least. The story alternates between narration and diary entries to Ana. It’s through these entries to Ana that the audience gains insight into tough emotions Max has no other way to express. Max’s battle with anorexia affects his relationships big time! When his brother moves out and his parents get quiet, a new classmate named Evie might just be the gust of fresh air needed to help Max turn his ship around.

Can You See Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1205782026

The next middle school diary style read stars Tally as she begins the sixth grade at a new school. She is really hoping to find her place, to be accepted, and to belong. Unfortunately, she believes that the only way she can make this happen is to hide parts of herself - like the fact that she has autism. We follow Tally through a combination of present-tense, third person writing and short diary entries. It’s through the diary entries, that the audience gains an honest understanding of Tally’s experience as a person with autism. In her entries she explains her exceptionality frankly and even provides the reader with definitions and eye-opening descriptions. This book was coauthored by a young girl with autism and the audience is better for it.

The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1215230026

Imani is another middle schooler whose feelings of being separate and other are weighing her down. She is the only person of colour in her white Baltimore neighbourhood and she’s adopted. Then her great-grandmother dies, and leaves Imani the diary she kept as a 12-year-old fleeing the Nazis in Luxembourg. It’s through reading her journal entries and her own curiosity fuelled research that Imani gets to know her Grandma Anna. Though they may not be connected by blood, they share something some special similarities. A beautiful story of the power of connection!

Isaiah Dunn is my Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1225423026

Our next character with a pension for reflection is the young Isaiah Dunn. He is 10 years old and loves writing poetry. Unfortunately, after his father passes the words stop flowing. The lose leaves Isaiah and his family feeling lost and uprooted. As many humans do when experiencing big feelings, he starts acting out and lands himself in an after-school meditation class with the class bully. Things get worse before they get better as Isaiah's mom’s depression takes a nosedive. The story lifts as the young boy finds journals full of stories about "Isaiah Dunn, superhero" that his dad left. The words on the page are so much more than that for young Isaiah and this connection to his father takes the story to the next level.

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
https://ottawa.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1085600026

Finally, we meet Nisha, a quiet, sensitive half Hindu, half Muslim girl trying to find her place in the world. Finding her place and her voice is complicated by her geography and the time. Nisha is part of the forced migration of the Hindu people from Pakistan to India due to the countries separation in 1947. 12-year-old Nisha turns to her diary every night to help her process her feelings of loss and alienation. In her diary she writes to her mother who passed away when she was a baby. Nisha builds a relationship with the mother she never knew through these entries and uses her words as a tool to bring her complicated thoughts and feelings into focus. It’s a beautiful tale of the challenging experience of forced migration from Pakistan to India, of being caught between two worlds and belief systems and of accepting these hurdles with grace.