Reading Abounds

Title:  The Family Book Author:  Todd Parr Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 3891 Description:   Represents a variety of families, some big and some small, some with only one parent and some with two moms or dads, some quiet and some noisy, but all alike in some ways and special no matter what. Guided Reading Level:  H Curriculum Links:  Art: Colours Character Education: Respect Kindergarten Reading: Connecting Social Studies: Families Writing: Explanation Equity and Diversity Notes:  Design:  The cover is very bright and attractive and the inside cover looks like a photo from a family album.  It makes it seem like everyone in the book is all part of the same family.  (The human race perhaps!)  It looks like everyone is hanging out in the family tree!  The dedication is also lovely. Content and Illustrations:  The pages and illustrations in this book are boldly coloured with thick lines.  The pages aren't overly illustrated representing one type of fami

Title: The Poet's Dog Author: Patricia MacLachlan Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 127678 Description:   An abandoned dog, able to speak only to poets and children, rescues a pair of young children stranded in the forest. Together, they find a way to overcome their losses. Rubric Rating: Level 4 - Love It Why I Read It: Poetry and Dogs... what more can I say.  Notes: This is one of those novels that I absolutely love.  It is written for a younger audience but there are deeper aspects to the story that are very appealing to an adult reader.   The story is encapsulated within 88 pages, and spells out the story of Teddy, the poet's dog, whose master has passed away, and Flora and Nickel, two children he finds lost in a blizzard.   The children are left in a car by their mother as she goes to look for help after getting stuck in the snow.  The children get scared and leave the vehicle and get lost in the woods where they are found by Teddy who brings them home.  Flo