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English Awards

		SILVER BIRCH AWARD (ONTARIO LIBRARY ASSOCIATION) FOR THE BEST CANADIAN CHILDREN'S BOOK, AS CHOSEN BY ONTARIO STUDENTS, GRADES 4 TO 6 NON-FICTION AWARD ASK ME ANYTHING!: STRANGE BUT TRUE ANSWERS TO 99 WACKY QUESTIONS MARG MEIKLE ILLUSTRATIONS: TINA HOLDCROFT TORONTO: SCHOLASTIC CANADA, 2004. 150 P. ISBN 0439989094 AGES 9 AND UP
Ask Me Anything!: Strange But True Answers to 99 Wacky Questions Source

Thumbs up to Marg Meikle and her latest volume of "99 wacky questions." Once you read them, you will be glad to have her fun and well-researched answers. For instance, if you are curious about the origin of the thumbs-up symbol, refer to question No. 28 in the book. The contents of the book are divided into several categories: animals, the human body, customs, food, holidays, inventions, superstitions, useful information, words and phrases, and the natural world.

In her brief biography at the end of the book, Meikle says that her favourite people are librarians and kids who ask good questions. This is apparent throughout the book as many of the questions are good and some require research at the library or on the Internet.

Meikle's tone is friendly, humorous and conversational, which makes reading the book a pleasure. For example, in response to the question: "How long ago were potato chips eaten?" the author begins her answer with: "By me? Yesterday. But for everyone else -- it all started not long ago at all, just about 150 years." Like potato chips, once you take a nibble of "The Answer Lady's" book, you will not want to stop.

-MR