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English Titles

TCHAIKOVSKY DISCOVERS AMERICA
ESTHER KALMAN
ILLUSTRATIONS: LAURA FERNANDEZ AND RICK JACOBSON
TORONTO: LESTER PUBLISHING, 1994, 40 P.
ISBN 1895555825
AGES 8 AND UP

The book begins with a young girl "pressing her memories" into her diary. The accompanying picture perfectly captures her pensive retrospection of events since her 11th birthday, two weeks before.

Jenny is of Russian descent. When Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the famous Russian composer visited America in 1891, Jenny attended a performance. It was glorious! A few days later, Jenny saw Mr. Tchaikovsky in the dining car of her father's train en route to Niagara Falls. Even though he was busy writing, Jenny was bold enough to speak to him. She began in English, but switched to Russian after he asked "Are you Russian?" Jenny hoped that he was composing music, but no, he was writing in his diary. The people at home in Russia could read and marvel at all he had seen and experienced in America.

The next day Jenny's family saw Mr. Tchaikovsky at Niagara Falls listening to the roar of the waters -like an enormous orchestra performing a majestic symphony. Later, Jenny spoke about purchasing a memento. But Mr. Tchaikovsky had no need, the words in his diary would help him remember the sights, sounds and smells of America. Jenny bought a beautiful leather-bound blank book to use as a diary. She wrote of Mr. Tchaikovsky. Would he have written of her in his diary?

The pictures suit the story exquisitely. The clothing, steam trains and horse carriages set the time period. The detail on the faces and the expressions are telling in their feeling, and add to the enjoyment of the story.

© Fitzhenry & Whiteside Ltd.

THERE IS MUSIC IN A PUSSYCAT RICHARD THOMPSON ILLUSTRATIONS: BARBARA HARTMANN TORONTO: FITZHENRY & WHITESIDE, 1999, 37 P. (A FIRST FLIGHT LEVEL ONE READER. FIRST FLIGHT READER) ISBN 1550415115 (BOUND) ISBN 1550415131 (PAPERBACK) AGES 3 TO 5

Written in simple verse, this book introduces children to the concept of rhythm using everyday experiences and sounds. Pre-readers will enjoy the lyrical rhyme scheme, and beginner readers, the repetitive text. Rhythmical sound effects, articulated by the use of varied fonts, accompany the text at the bottom of each page. Reading these sound effects themselves is not only a fun game, but also an excellent musical exercise to teach simple rhythm patterns to young children. Teachers, parents and children can continue to expand the story with examples they create themselves. Barbara Hartmann's colourful, playful illustrations complete the fun experience of this book.

© CDG Books Canada Inc.

THE VIOLIN-MAKER'S GIFT DONN KUSHNER TORONTO: MACMILLAN OF CANADA, 1980, 74 P. ISBN 0770518664 AGES 10 AND UP

Imagine a bird that can speak, tell the future and answer questions! Gaspard, the violin maker rescued such a bird from certain death. The bird was young, small and dusty looking, except for a few gold flecks among its feathers. Gaspard, even though he was taken with the bird, decided to give it to the toll-keeper Matthias, who had a way with animals. Matthias had been fair and not charged Gaspard any tax for passage across the bridge with his cart of violins that he would sell at the market.

As luck would have it, the bird turned out to be very special indeed! It had beautiful feathers and the magical power of telling the future. Matthias uses the bird for his own gain, and Gaspard can't bear to see the bird treated that way. Black-and-white sketches accompany this delightful story of the violin maker and his relationship with the bird from afar.

© Beach Holme Publishing

WEEKEND AT THE RITZ FRANK O'KEEFFE VICTORIA, B.C.: BEACH HOLME, 1993, 178 P. ISBN 0888783426 AGES 14 AND UP AVAILABLE IN FRENCH UNDER THE TITLE: UNE FIN DE SEMAINE AU RITZ (SAINT-LAURENT, QUÉBEC: ÉDITIONS P. TISSEYRE, 1996)

What does it really feel like to be a rock superstar? Bobby Spezzactena, "Spazz" to his friends, bears a striking resemblance to his idol, the famous rock star Billy T. Banko. To divert the press and screaming groupies, Spazz is hired to be Billy's double for a weekend. Spazz and his best friend Kevin imagine luxurious meals in the posh Ritz Hotel, and plenty of relaxation. Boy, are they wrong!

In this action-packed novel, Spazz and Kevin, and their schoolmates Lauren (posing as a maid at the Ritz to get closer to her idol, the same Billy Banko) and Debbie, who is celebrating her birthday, are thrown into an unimaginably harrowing situation.They are kidnapped by three down-on-their-luck musicians who have no cash to record the requisite demo tapes. Without Spazz and his schoolmates, the musicians have no chance of fulfilling their dream of breaking into the music business.

Filled with humour, crazy antics and believable dialogue, Weekend at the Ritz introduces the reader to the ups (and downs) of superstardom and the music industry. Young adults will enjoy the insights and excitement in this engrossing novel.

© Owl Books/Greey de Pencier Books

WHITEOUT JAMES HOUSTON TORONTO: GREEY DE PENCIER BOOKS, 1988, 175 P. ISBN 0920775284 AGES 12 AND UP AVAILABLE IN FRENCH UNDER THE TITLE: LE GRAND DÉSERT BLANC (SAINT-LAURENT, QUÉBEC: ÉDITIONS P. TISSEYRE, 1994)

The judge orders Jonathan Aird to do one year of community service. Jonathan, a teenager in trouble with the law, completes his year of service in Nanuvik, an isolated Arctic settlement on Baffin Island. His uncle is in charge of the store, and Jonathan is sent to live with him. Jonathan has a gift for music and playing the piano, and as a require-ment of his service, he is responsible for developing a music program at the Nanuvik School.

Life in Nanuvik is unlike anything that Jonathan has ever experienced before, and he finds the transition very difficult. The music helps him to know and understand the Inuit people, which in turn helps Jonathan understand himself. One can get a sense of life in the North, the traditions and music of the Inuit from the predicaments that Jonathan experiences. The action moves quickly and peaks with Jonathan and his friends caught in a dangerous brush with the forces of nature. Jonathan has to reach deep inside himself to discover his capabilities. An intriguing novel with wonderful descriptions of the North and the life there.

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