Books

Grandfather’s House

by Clive Doucet

Reviewed by Peggy Edwards

On January 14, a friendly crowd gathered for a book launch and beer at Irene’s Pub on Bank Street. We were there to hear Clive Doucet read from and talk about his new book, Grandfather’s House. A lively discussion was followed by spontaneous singing of some of the Atlantic songs that Doucet learned as a boy visiting his grandparents in Cape Breton.

Doucet is a poet, writer, former city councillor for Capital Ward, rebel candidate for mayor in the last election and a regular contributor to the Glebe Report. The November issue included his poignant article about grandfathering.

In Grandfather’s House, Doucet muses about a grandfather’s role, with poetry and short stories about his Acadian grandfather, and summer adventures with his own grandchildren in Grand É tang, where he built a house in 2010. He paints a loving portrait of his grandfather’s village and the people, past and present, who make it a vibrant community.

“The book is about my relationship with my grandchildren,” says Doucet. “It is about the history of Canada and the Acadians’ place in our country. It’s about family. And about how to build a more sustainable world. That is a lot to cram into one little book.”

Doucet is generously donating a portion of his book royalties to the Grandmothers Campaign (grandmotherscampaign.org). When he fi rst approached the One World Grannies (1 of 24 groups in the Ottawa area) about this plan, he said he believed there was a “natural fi t” with their campaign.

After I read the book, I understood what he meant. The themes of resilience, rejuvenation and unconditional love permeate the memoir, which is both rooted in nostalgia and fi lled with hope for a more sustainable future. These themes also underlie what we see in the courageous African grandmothers, who are raising millions of children and young people orphaned by AIDS. I highly recommend this book and t h a n k Doucet for supporting the Grandmothers Campaign. Grandfather’s House (Nimbus Publishing, 2018) is available now at Perfect Books on Elgin Street and Octopus bookstore in the Glebe, as well as Amazon.ca.

Peggy Edwards writes about grandparenting and healthy aging. She is an active member of the One World Grannies, 1 of 24 groups in the Ottawa-Gatineau region supporting the Grandmothers Campaign. She lives just over the bridge in Old Ottawa South.

Not your average mystery

By Ildiko Sumegi

There is nothing more intriguing than a good mystery, but we don’t have to travel far out into the world to find one. If we turn our gaze inward, we can find a wealth of mystery and wonder. Here are a few children’s books that, while mysterious, do not necessarily fit into neat categorical boxes. They can all be found at the Ottawa Public Library.

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1984) by Chris Van Allsburg For ages 6–8

A set of 14 black-and-white drawings, each intended to illustrate a different story, are presented to the reader. But the artist, Harris Burdick, has disappeared, and the stories themselves have not been found. Each drawing, however, bears the title of the story it was supposed to illustrate and a short intriguing caption. In one picture, a boy lies asleep in his bed at night while small circles of light float in through the open window. The title of this lost story is “Archie Smith, Boy Wonder.” The caption reads: “A tiny voice asked, ‘Is he the one?’”

Each picture is as curious as the last, and each title and caption simply beg for the missing story to be conceived. These are mysteries for the reader to dive into and explore on their own terms and in their own time. Chris Van Allsburg uses skill and a hint of magic to tap into the reader’s imagination, giving us each the opportunity to be the author of our own mystery – a gift to English teachers everywhere.

Wed Wabbit (Scholastic Inc., 2018) by Lissa Evans For ages 8–11

When Fidge’s four-year-old sister Minnie is hit by a car, Fidge is sent to her cousin Graham’s house while her mother remains with Minnie at the hospital. Fidge’s anger (and guilt) at the situation is further exacerbated by her fairly obnoxious yet psychologically delicate cousin Graham. In a fit of rage, Fidge hurls Minnie’s favourite toy – Wed Wabbit – as well as Graham’s “transitional object” (a plastic carrot on wheels) down the basement stairs. Minnie’s favourite book, The Land of Wimbley Woos, is tossed down with the toys, and when Fidge and Graham attempt to retrieve these items, they are inexplicably thrown into a curious land whose population consists of variously coloured creatures shaped like garbage cans with arms. These, Fidge recognizes at once, are the Wimbley Woos from Minnie’s book! A mysterious and sinister force threatens the land. There are clues to solve and a prophecy to fulfill before Fidge and Graham can return home. Time is of the essence because Minnie is still at the hospital, and when she wakes up, she’s going to need her Wed Wabbit.

Lissa Evans has written a story that is both hilarious and pointed. It is a psychological exploration played out in a ridiculous world of candy-coloured creatures who speak in rhyming verse. As the mysterious circumstances make themselves apparent, friendship, teamwork and a bit of daring combine to save the day. Sometimes the events of life don’t unfold the way we would like. Sometimes “rage soaks up the joy and fun and color out of everyone.” And sometimes the hardest thing to do is to offer someone a hug.

The Goldfish Boy (Scholastic Inc., 2017) by Lisa Thompson For ages 10–12

Matthew Corbin is having trouble leaving his room, and lately things have gotten worse. He has been missing quite a lot of school, but it seems a small price to pay to keep his anxieties at bay. His bedroom is kept meticulously clean, sterile even. But “downstairs” is another world full of potential contamination. With a spray bottle of disinfectant and a secret stash of latex gloves, Matthew spends his days observing his neighbours from his bedroom window. He keeps detailed notes: he knows the routines and habits of all his neighbours, and he sees far more than anyone might expect. When a toddler goes missing, Matthew finds himself venturing downstairs and even, on occasion, outside in order to help solve the mystery of the missing child.

Lisa Thompson has written a gripping story of one boy’s psychological struggle. Readers are given detailed insight into the mind of a boy who grapples on a daily basis with distressing obsessions and compulsions. Thompson makes it easy for readers to see themselves in Matthew and, as he takes his first tentative steps towards human connection, we are all rooting for him. While the mystery of the missing child supplies the overt story arc, it is the mystery of Matthew’s predicament that will keep readers turning the pages.

Ildiko Sumegi is a Glebe resident, mother of two boys, and reviewer for the Canadian Children’s Book News magazine.

Mix it up for March Break at Sunnyside!

By Susan Townley

It feels as if Christmas holidays are just finished but here at Sunnyside Branch library, March Break is just around the corner. We are busy getting ready to welcome you to a busy week of programs and activities. This year’s theme is Mix it up! / Méli-Mélo! This theme connects with so many fun programming possibilities. Mixing can be multiple things from mixing colours to mixing sentences, from mixing up sentences to mixing it up with technology. At Sunnyside Branch, we have some great outside programmers that are coming to entertain us. It will be a week filled with fun, with programs from the Billings Estate, Little Ray’s Reptiles and Radical Science with some crazy chemistry.

To get us in the mood here are a selection of mixed up books to set the stage. Mix It Up is another interactive picture book from the author of Press Here, Hervé Tullet. This time Tullet has created a dynamic and innovative way to teach children about colour, mixing primary to make secondary colours. Tullet’s clean white pages are contrasted with splashes of colour that follow the interactive instructions of the text. Even though the book is aimed at young children, adults will enjoy this simple yet engaging book. The text is spare yet it invites the reader to participate in a game of exploration.

Colour mixing is the theme of Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh. A long-time favourite at Storytime, this classic picture book follows the adventures of three white mice who camouflage themselves on a white piece of paper as protection from a cat. Soon they find three pots of paint to play with, one red, one yellow and one blue. Quickly they are mixing colours and turning themselves green, purple and orange. Feeling sticky, the trio wash themselves off in the cat’s dish and begin painting the paper instead. In the end they cleverly leave some white paper to stay hidden from the cat. This is a charming story to introduce mixing colours to preschoolers. The collage style artwork, again set against a clean white background, clearly captivates young readers.

Arree Chung has created a colour story for a slightly older audience with the picture book Mixed. Beginning with endpapers full of colourful faces in primary hues, Chung presents the issue of discrimination using vivid colours and clear text. In the beginning there are three colours, loud reds, bright yellows and laid-back blues, who live together in harmony. Soon harmony gives way to suspicion and competition about who is the best, and this leads to high walls being built and colours living in isolation. One day a Yellow and a Blue notice each other and realize that they could make each other happy. Their relationship grows and the other colours are not happy. Undeterred, the two mix and create a new colour, green. Green is a little bit of both her parents but also a colour all her own. Soon Reds, Blues and Yellows are rediscovering each other and mixing and transforming their world into a bright, colourful place. This book offers a simple and straightforward exploration of discrimination that offers parents and children openings to discuss a difficult topic.

Masterpiece Mix by Roxie Munro introduces children to fine art, using a search and find game. Still lifes, portraits, landscapes and a cityscape let sharp-eyed readers spot 37 featured paintings, drawings and sculptures. The simple story covers the basics of painting and drawing materials, and touches on art history as well. The detailed illustrations and further information provided in the endpages let this book appeal to a wide age range of readers.

At Sunnyside Branch one of our perennial favourite programs is Lego Block Party and it will be back this year on the Friday of the March Break. Throughout the school year, we put out Lego in our program room on Fridays after school and on PD days we have it out all day. Lego never fails to be a hit with all ages. Lego books are just as popular and we have received a new one that is sure to light up your imagination. Sarah Dees is back with a whole new collection of projects that feature scientific principles that engineers use every day. Genius LEGO® Inventions with Bricks You Already Have: 40 new robots, vehicles, contraptions, gadgets, games and other fun STEM creations is filled with clear step-by-step instructions and photographs. Fun for all ages!

Now we come to The End! Mixing up the standard fairy tale formula, David LaRochelle begins his story at the end. The endpages depict a princess and a knight waving goodbye to a crowd of characters as they leave the castle. The text begins, “And they all lived happily ever after.” The story then proceeds backwards through a not-sotypical chain of events, until on the last page we read, “Once upon a time.” This is a clever read that deserves to be read over and over again.

Hope to see you during the March Break at Sunnyside Branch. All programs by guest performers need registration, which you can do online at BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca. All other children’s programs that week are drop-in programs.

Susan Townley is a children’s program and public service assistant at the Sunnyside branch of the Ottawa Public Library.