Atkinson, Sam and others. What’s the Point of Philosophy? New York: DK Publishing, 2022.
What is real? What do I know for certain? How can I tell right from wrong? Should we make things fair? Can a machine think? What makes a good argument? These questions and forty more are presented in this compendium published by a company known for its outstanding nonfiction books for kids. Each question is addressed in small segments across two to four illustrated pages. Supplemented by a timeline of philosophers, a glossary, and an index, this 127-page overview is recommended for readers 11 years old and up. A wonderful resource for thoughtful readers and for teachers who enjoy discussing philosophical topics with their students.
Idea for teachers: let each of your students choose one question, prepare a presentation using the information in the book, and then lead a class discussion.
The Outsmarters
Ellis, Deborah. The Outsmarters. Toronto: Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, 2024.
Twelve-year-old Kate lives with her grumpy grandmother on a dumpy piece of property. She can’t even remember the mother who dropped her off so long ago, but she decides to earn some money so that when her mother does return, they will be able to take off and begin a new life together. She opens a philosophy booth – “Get answers to life’s big and little questions – $2 a question” – next to her grandmother’s junk shop and discovers the answers to some big questions of her own. This emotionally compelling novel by an accomplished Canadian writer is highly recommended for readers nine to twelve years old.
Orris and Timble
DiCamillo, Kate. Orris and Timble: The Beginning. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2024.
What a delightful little novel! Orris the rat is happily nested with his treasures – a red velvet slipper, a yellow marble, and a sardine can – in a hole in the wall. All is peaceful until he hears a call for help. An owl is caught in a mousetrap right outside Orris’s hiding spot. What would be the good and noble choice? In nine short chapters, Orris makes a brave decision and a friendship is formed.
This could have been a rather obvious retelling of the well-known fable of the lion and the mouse, but because Orris himself recalls it in the story, readers are humorously yet subtly shown how literature can guide our conduct in life. DiCamillo’s writing flows so smoothly that only skillful readers will notice the figurative language, foreshadowing, and other literary techniques including a quiet allusion to a raven and wolf myth. Only older readers will notice that the pronoun for Timble the owl changes from ‘it’ at the beginning to ‘he’ at the end.
Evocative illustrations by Carmen Mok help to tell this 76-page story most highly recommended for children up to nine years of age. A perfect choice for primary teachers looking for a novel study and a useful resource for middle school literature teachers. Definitely a book to buy for readers of any age who admire outstanding writing!
More stories by Kate DeCamillo
Because Barbara
Mackenzie, Sarah. Because Barbara. Spokane, WA: Waxwing Books, 2024.
Barbara Cooney, winner of two Caldecott Medals, illustrated more than 100 books in her lifetime including Chanticleer and the Fox, Ox-Cart Man, and Miss Rumphius. This picture book summary of her life is full of five-senses details and would be useful as a read-aloud for children 6 to 9 years old. The softly whimsical illustrations by Eileen Ryan Ewen wonderfully suit the style set by Cooney’s own books. The notes at the end of the story provide additional details that will interest readers who already love Barbara Cooney’s work. But for those not yet acquainted with her books, I’m afraid the writing in this biography is a bit awkward, a bit stilted, a bit too carefully crafted to stand alone as a wonderful picture book. Nevertheless, if you already appreciate Cooney’s books, you’ll appreciate reading this book. Borrow it from a library.
More biographies of artists
Remembering Residential Schools
Winters, Nellie. Reflections from Them Days: A Residential School Memoir from Nunatsiavut. Iqaluit, Nunavut: Qinuisaarniq, an imprint of Inhabit Education Books Inc., 2020.
In 1949, when Nellie was eleven years old, she was sent to boarding school in Nain, Labrador on the east coast of Canada. In this 51-page autobiography, transcribed and edited by Erica Oberndorfer, she matter-of-factly shares her memories – both sad and happy, heart-breaking and humorous – in a voice truly her own. In the forward, she explains that we are all on earth to help each other and make our world “more wonderful.” This true story – illustrated by the author – will help readers see another life, another perspective, from a time not so long ago in Canada’s history. Highly recommended for readers 10 years old and up.
Spathelfer, Teoni. White Raven. Victoria: Heritage, 2021.
Little Wolf moves with her husband and three daughters to a peaceful island home where they enjoy living by the seashore and exploring in the forest. When Little Wolf’s mother, White Raven, comes to visit, the girls learn about their grandmother’s childhood in a residential school. Based on the author’s own mother’s early experiences at a residential school in Alert Bay, B.C., this picture book is one of the most detailed in its depiction of life for indigenous children. It focuses on facts: children had their heads shaved and covered with DDT; the food given to them was often mouldy and bug-ridden; sausages were served raw; toilet paper was sometimes eaten to appease the constant hunger; nights were filled with the sounds of children crying; if they spoke their own language, their mouths were washed out with soap; they were always called by number. However, the story also mentions the kindness of one of the teachers, Mrs. Oak, who cared for White Raven when she was ill and sewed her a new dress.
The format of this book – brightly coloured illustrations and a relatively large font with widely spaced lines of print – makes it ideal for reading aloud. The sentence structure is straight-forward and well-suited for readers eight to ten years old. The factual details make it excellent as a research resource for students nine to twelve years old. Therefore, while discretion should be used in presenting this picture book to very young readers, it is highly recommended for both elementary and middle school libraries.
Gray Smith, Monique. Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation. Victoria, BC: Orca, 2017.
A Canadian book about reconciliation with chapters focusing on honesty, love, kindness, and reciprocity. Stories of indigenous people, explanations of current political negotiations, and historical information combine to create a highly readable life-affirming book recommended for all ages. Supplemented by a glossary, online and print bibliography, list of residential schools in Canada, and an index. Most highly recommended for both individual and school libraries.
Books Make Good Friends
Mount, Jane. Books Make Good Friends. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2023.
Lotti loves books. She may have difficulty making friends at school, but she has no trouble at all finding friends in books. Slowly, though, she starts to overcome her shyness and enjoy spending time with people. I’m not usually fond of books that have a main story line in large print and then additional details in a smaller font, but this picture book is an exception. Every page contains little comments and descriptions, and illustrations of book spines. Dozens and dozens of book spines: My Side of the Mountain, Inkheart, A Wrinkle in Time, Holes, Bridge to Terabithia, Goodnight Moon, Beezus and Ramona, Starfish, Raymie Nightingale, Liar & Spy, Skunk and Badger, Amos & Boris, The Little Prince, The Saturdays, Abel’s Island, Lionboy… This brilliantly conceived picture book is recommended as a read-aloud for children five to nine years old. But it is even more recommended for older readers who have their own memories of happy times with books. Jane Mount invites readers to a party where they get to meet people they love but maybe haven’t seen in a long time. They get to smile, laugh, and maybe even discover a great new friend!
More books about reading and libraries
Starting a School Year
It’s a new school year here in Canada,…
If you’re a student, here are some pages that can help you be successful:
If you’re a teacher, here are some ideas you can use: