Non-Fiction: Worms for breakfast: How to feed a zoo

Book: Worms for breakfast: How to feed a zoo

Author: Helaine Becker
Illustrated: Kathy Boake

http://www.helainebecker.com

Feeding time is one of the most popular events at zoos. It also prompts a smorgasbord of questions: what do different animals eat? How much food do they need to stay healthy? Where do zookeepers get all that chow? And what constitutes a special treat?

Worms for Breakfast: How to Feed a Zoo answers all these questions and more in a cookbook-style primer packed with facts from experts at zoos and aquariums. Covering everything from regular animal nutrition to feeding babies to mimicking how animals hunt and eat in the wild, this book explores the eating habits of carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, and insectivores. Inside, you’ll also find real-life recipes from zoos around the world for meals like eucalyptus-leaf pesto, kelp tank goulash, and mealworm mush. Beware! You probably don’t want to eat any of it yourself.

Written in a plucky, conversational tone with delightfully wacky illustrations, a glossary, and tips for zoo animal care, this book is bound to appeal to picky readers.

Non-Fiction: Water Wow!: an Infographic Exploration

Book: Water Wow! an info graphic exploration
Author: Antonia Banyard and Paula Ayer

Illustrated:Belle Wuthrich

Websites:N/A

A colourful infographic look at the many surprising and fascinating facts about water. Where did water come from—before it got to Earth? Why is the water you drink the same stuff that was around when dinosaurs were alive? If water can't be created or destroyed, how can we run out? Find out the answers to these and many more intriguing questions in this vibrant book, designed to appeal to visual learners.

Dive in and discover: Why water is so important to different religious faiths; Amazing extreme lakes and rivers around the world; The surprising connection between water access and girls’ education worldwide; How climate change affects water, and vice versa—and what you can do about it; …and more.

Filled to the brim with colourful illustrations and diagrams, easy-to-understand infographics, and illuminating photos, Water Wow is a dazzling and fun introduction to the importance of water in our lives.

Non-Fiction: Safety Stars: Players who made the hard hitting game professional hockey safer

                                   

Book: Safety Stars: Players who made the hard hitting game professional hockey safer

Author: Sue Irwin

Websites: N/A

Professional hockey is a fast game, and a dangerous one. Skates slice like razors; a hard-shot puck can take out an eye; and the ice surface is as hard as rock, especially when skulls are slammed against it. Innovations in equipment make the game faster and more exciting -- and have to be countered by measures that keep it safe for players.

From hockey heroes like Jacques Plante, Mario Lemieux, and Sidney Crosby, to an avid 11-year-old player on a mission, there have been players who have campaigned to make hockey a safer game. They have done this often in the face of denials and opposition from league managers, sports writers, fans, and sometimes other players, too. But they've persisted and made the game safer for players of all ages.

This book tells the story of hockey's safety stars, the opposition they faced, and how they persisted and ultimately succeeded in their campaigns.

Non-Fiction:Professor astro cat’s atomic adventure

Book: Professor Astro Cat’s Atomic Adventure

Author: Dominic Walliman illustrated by Ben Newman

Websites: http://dominicwalliman.com

Written by Dr. Dominic Walliman and Ben Newmanand, Illustrated by Ben Newman

Class is in session, and the subject is physics. Your teacher? Why, he’s the smartest cat in the galaxy!

In this brilliant follow up to Professor Astro Cat’s Frontiers of Space, our trusty feline returns to take you on a journey through the incredible world of physics. Learn about energy, power and the building blocks of you, me and the universe in this all new ATOMIC ADVENTURE!

Ben Newman is an award-winning illustrator and Dr. Dominic Walliman has a PhD in Quantum Device Physics. This is their second book together!

Non-Fiction: Everything space

Book: Everything space

Author: Helaine Becker and Brendan Mullan

Websites: http://www.helainebecker.com

Get ready to blast off into space to explore planets, stars, and beyond! This fun book will pull you in like gravity, full of fun facts, reports from explorers, maps and info-graphics, and more than 100 pictures.

Non-Fiction: Haunted Canada 6

Book: Haunted Canada 6

Author: Joel A. Sutherland

Websites: http://www.joelasutherland.com

For his brand-new story collection, author Joel A. Sutherland has scoured the country for more creepy and chilling tales. Get underneath the covers, because between these book covers are stories that include the one about:

A supernatural sea hag that haunts Dobbin's Gardens marsh on Bell Island, Newfoundland and Labrador; a used book from a Barrie, Ontario book shop that conjures up a ghostly figure that accompanies the buyer home; and a little girl, who died on the playground, and continues to haunt St. Ignatius School in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

With moody black-and-white illustrations, and archival photos throughout, this collection is perfect for those who like a frightfully good read!

Non-Fiction: Half-truths and brazen lies

Book: Half-truths and brazen lies
Author: Kira Vermond

Websites: http://www.vermond.ca

Do you believe in telling the truth? Sure you do. But even that’s a lie — because we all lie. Whether to protect a friend, to make someone feel better, or to avoid telling even bigger lies later, lying is actually central to human nature. Usually we’re taught that lying is bad, and that’s that. But in reality, it’s rarely so black and white.

Kira Vermond’s latest book answers questions like: Why do we lie? What types of lies are there? What are the consequences of lying? What methods are used to detect lies? And when is it okay or even good to lie?

From forgeries and hoaxes to plagiarism and placebos, Half-Truths and Brazen Lies offers historical anecdotes, scientific studies, and sociocultural analyses to help unpack the complex world of untruths. Told in a witty, conversational tone with an index and full-color illustrations, the book takes a thorough, nuanced approach to a fascinating aspect of human behavior.

Non-Fiction: Friend Or Foe

Book: Friend or foe The Whole Truth about Animals That People Love to Hate

Author: Etta Kaner and illustrated by David Anderson

Websites: N/A

Rats, mosquitoes, bats, cockroaches, leeches, vultures — it’s easy to fear and despise them. But are they all bad? You probably know that rats destroy food supplies and can cause house fires when they gnaw on electrical wires, but did you know their supersensitive noses can help detect tuberculosis or even land mines?

Are these conventionally icky critters really public enemies, or do they have merits worth appreciating? Friend or Foe takes a close look at what we dislike about each of 10 unpopular animals, and then presents the flip side: these very same animals are often smart, helpful to humans and the environment, or inspiring to scientists.

After each pair of polarizing spreads, readers are asked to decide for themselves if the animal is friend or foe. Fascinating research and anecdotes, fun design inspired by propaganda posters, and playful use of persuasive language and point of view make Friend or Foe an engaging read that will leave readers reconsidering common perceptions.

Non-Fiction: Deep Roots

Book: Deep Roots
Author: Nikki Tate

Websites: http://nikkitate.com

Most of us see trees every day, and too often we take them for granted. Trees provide us with everything from food, fuel and shelter to oxygen and filtered water. Deep Roots celebrates the central role trees play in our lives, no matter where we live. Each chapter in Deep Roots focuses on a basic element—water, air, fire and earth—and explores the many ways in which we need trees to keep our planet healthy and livable. From making rain to producing fruit to feeding fish, trees play an integral role in maintaining vibrant ecosystems all over the world. Facts about trees and hands-on activities throughout help readers discover ways to get to know our giant neighbors better.

Non-Fiction: Animal Hospital

Book: Animal Hospital
Author: Julia Coey


N/A

Our cities are already filled with a huge variety of wildlife. As urban areas expand, they impinge on the natural habitats of animals that would not otherwise find themselves in an urban setting, including birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as rare, threatened and even endangered wildlife.

Animal Hospital describes how injured and orphaned wild animals are rehabilitated and cared for after being rescued from perilous situations. It follows the activities of an urban animal rescue facility and the efforts of the trained professionals that rescue, treat, rehabilitate and release the animals.

Kids will learn about the amazing wild animals that they may encounter in their neighborhoods, even the most recognizable have fascinating traits. They will get tips on how to protect and support urban wildlife, and learn what to do if they encounter an animal that needs help.

There are exciting real-life stories about rescued animals with photographs that give readers an up-close look. While including animals in North America, Animal Hospital also describes international efforts that encourage conservation and awareness. This is a valuable title in the classroom and an exciting and inspiring choice for any youngster.

Fiction: Seven Dead Pirates

Book: Seven Dead Pirates
Author: Linda Bailey

http://www.lindabaileybooks.com/news.html

The hero of Seven Dead Pirates is 11-year-old Lewis Dear born. Lonely, "terminally shy" and fussed over constantly by overprotective parents, he's a bit of a wreck. But when his family inherits a ramshackle old mansion by the sea, Lewis's life changes abruptly. He claims a romantic, isolated tower for his bedroom and moves in, not knowing that the room is already occupied — by seven dead pirates! Not only that, the ghosts expect him to help them recover their ship, now restored in a local museum. Lewis is sure he's the last boy on earth to lead such a mission . . .

Fiction: A Pocket Full Of Murder

  Book: A Pocket Full Of Murder
  Author: R.J Anderson   

 http://www.rj-anderson.com/book/a-pocket-full-of-murder/

   A determined young girl joins forces with an adventure-loving street boy to save her father’s life in this “thoroughly entertaining” (Kirkus Reviews) magical murder mystery.

In the spell-powered city of Tarreton, the wealthy have all the magic they desire while the working class can barely afford a simple spell to heat their homes. Twelve-year-old Isaveth is poor, but she’s also brave, loyal, and zealous in the pursuit of justice—which is lucky, because her father has just been wrongfully arrested for murder. Isaveth is determined to prove his innocence. Quiz, the eccentric, eyepatch-wearing street boy who befriends her, swears he can’t resist a good mystery. Together they set out to solve the magical murder of one of Tarreton’s most influential citizens and save Isaveth’s beloved Papa from execution. But is Quiz truly helping Isaveth out of friendship, or does he have hidden motives of his own?

                                             

Fiction: OCDaniel

  Book: OCDaniel
  Author: Wesley King

http://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/OCDaniel/Wesley-King/9781481455312

From the author of Incredible Space Raiders from Space! comes a brand-new coming-of-age story about a boy whose life revolves around hiding his obsessive compulsive disorder—until he gets a mysterious note that changes everything.

Daniel is the back-up punter for the Erie Hills Elephants. Which really means he’s the water boy. He spends football practice perfectly arranging water cups—and hoping no one notices. Actually, he spends most of his time hoping no one notices his strange habits—he calls them Zaps: avoiding writing the number four, for example, or flipping a light switch on and off dozens of times over. He hopes no one notices that he’s crazy, especially his best friend Max, and Raya, the prettiest girl in school. His life gets weirder when another girl at school, who is unkindly nicknamed Psycho Sara, notices him for the first time. She doesn’t just notice him: she seems to peer through him.

Then Daniel gets a note: “I need your help,” it says, signed, Fellow Star child—whatever that means. And suddenly Daniel, a total no one at school, is swept up in a mystery that might change everything for him.

With great voice and grand adventure, this book is about feeling different and finding those who understand.

       

Fiction: The Nest

   Book: The Nest
   Author: Kenneth Oppel                                 
                                                                     
                                                                http://www.kennethoppel.ca/pages/thenest

Kenneth Oppel’s most haunting story yet . . .

She was very blurry, not at all human looking. There were huge dark eyes, and a kind of mane made of light, and when she spoke, I couldn't see a mouth moving, but I felt her words, like a breeze against my face, and I understood her completely.

"We've come because of the baby," she said. "We've come to help."

In this beautiful, menacing novel, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline, an anxious boy becomes convinced that angels will save his sick baby brother. But these are creatures of a very different kind, and their plan for the baby has a twist. Layer by layer, he unravels the truth about his new friends as the time remaining to save his brother ticks down.

Fiction: The Nameless City

Book: The Nameless City

Author: The Nameless City

www.faitherinhicks.com/

Every nation that invades the City gives it a new name. But before long, new invaders arrive and the City changes hands once again. The natives don't let themselves get caught up in the unending wars. To them, their home is the Nameless City, and those who try to name it are forever outsiders.

Kaidu is one such outsider. He's a Dao born and bred--a member of the latest occupying nation. Rat is a native of the Nameless City. At first, she hates Kai for everything he stands for, but his love of his new home may be the one thing that can bring these two unlikely friends together. Let's hope so, because the fate of the Nameless City rests in their hands.

Fiction: Howard Wallace P.I

Book: Howard Wallace P.I
Author: Casey Lyall

http://www.caseylyall.com/mybooks

“What’s with the get-up? Is that the company uniform or something?”

“This? All P.I.s wear a trench coat.”

“Dude, that’s a brown bathrobe.” I shrugged and straightened out my sleeves.

“First rule of private investigation, Ivy: work with what you’ve got.”

Twelve-year-old Howard Wallace lives by his list of rules of private investigation. He knows more than anyone how to work with what he’s got: a bathrobe for a trench coat, a makeshift office behind the school equipment shed, and not much else—least of all, friends. So when a hot case of blackmail lands on his desk, he’s ready to take it on himself . . . until the new kid, Ivy Mason, convinces him to take her on as a junior partner. As they banter through stakeouts and narrow down their list of suspects, Howard starts to wonder if having Ivy as a sidekick—and a friend—is such a bad thing after all.

Fiction: Heart Of A Champion

Book: Heart Of A Champion
Author: Ellen Schwartz

http://www.ellenschwartz.net/heart-of-a-champion

Ten-year-old Kenji (Kenny) Sakamoto worships his older brother Mitsuo (Mickey), a star on the Vancouver Asahi baseball team. Despite Kenny’s suspected heart condition, he is determined to practice secretly so that he, too, can one day try out for the Asahis. But when Japan attacks Pearl Harbor in 1941, Kenny and his family, along with thousands of other Japanese Canadians, are sent to an internment camp in the interior of British Columbia. There, Kenny struggles to keep his family’s spirits up among the deplorable conditions in the camp. Could baseball play a part in helping Kenny realize his dream?

Fiction: Everyday Hero

 Book: Everyday Hero
 Author: Kathleen Cherry

http://kathleencherry.ca/

Alice doesn't like noise, smells or strangers. She does like rules. Lots of rules. Nobody at her new school knows she has Asperger's, so it doesn't take long for her odd behavior to get her into trouble. When she meets Megan in detention, she doesn't know what to make of her. Megan doesn't smell, she's not terribly noisy, and she's not exactly a stranger, but is she a friend? Megan seems fearless to Alice—but also angry or maybe sad. Alice isn't sure which. When Megan decides to run away, Alice resolves to help her friend, no matter how many rules she has to break or how bad it makes her feel.

Fiction: Awkward

 Book: Awkward
Author: Svetlana Chmakova

http://svetlania.com/

Cardinal rule #1 for surviving school: Don't get noticed by the mean kids.

Cardinal rule #2 for surviving school: Seek out groups with similar interests and join them.

On her first day at her new school, Penelope--Peppi--Torres reminds herself of these basics. But when she trips into a quiet boy in the hall, Jaime Thompson, she's already broken the first rule, and the mean kids start calling her the "nerder girlfriend." How does she handle this crisis? By shoving poor Jaime and running away!

Falling back on rule two and surrounding herself with new friends in the art club, Peppi still can't help feeling ashamed about the way she treated Jaime. Things are already awkward enough between the two, but to make matters worse, he's a member of her own club's archrivals--the science club! And when the two clubs go to war, Peppi realizes that sometimes you have to break the rules to survive middle school!

Fiction: The Blackthorn Key

Book: The Blackthorn Key
Author: Kevin Sands

http://www.kevinsandsbooks.com/

“Tell no one what I’ve given you.”

Until he got that cryptic warning, Christopher Rowe was happy, learning how to solve complex codes and puzzles and creating powerful medicines, potions, and weapons as an apprentice to Master Benedict Blackthorn—with maybe an explosion or two along the way.

But when a mysterious cult begins to prey on London’s apothecaries, the trail of murders grows closer and closer to Blackthorn’s shop. With time running out, Christopher must use every skill he’s learned to discover the key to a terrible secret with the power to tear the world apart.

In his stunning debut novel, Kevin Sands brings readers on a heart-stopping adventure rich with suspense, mystery, and unforgettable characters.