Tag Archives: children’s books

A Miscellany of Black History in Canada

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Cover-image-for-Children's-book-Amazing-Women-in-Canada-Jean-Augustine

Black History Month is upon us once more. I thought it would be fitting to explore the origins of the annual celebration of Black achievement, as well as the original reason for its creation. It started as Negro History Week in 1926 with Carter G. Woodson — an American historian and creator of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History — at the helm. Woodson saw how important it was to promote all the amazing things Black folks have accomplished throughout history, becoming an early leader for the celebratory cause. What started as a week grew into a month, but of course a month isn’t really enough time to devote to the topic. Woodson’s decision to choose February for the original week-long affair is an interesting one. There are two monumental birthdays he wanted to encompass with the choice — Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. While the latter is a name most people recognize instantly, the former’s contribution to the abolishment of slavery was significant. These birthdays (although Douglass was born into slavery so the day of his birth isn’t certain) were already occasions for many communities of Black people in the US, which increased the odds that his idea would catch on. Once it did, he imagined that the festivities devoted to these two men could be extended to the race as a whole, and thus, the concept of Black History Month (BHM) was born. Of course, the fight for equality and equity was the context for Woodson’s endeavour. Myself, I certainly appreciate the opportunity to create reader’s advisory content for BHM. Discovering figures and historical snippets from Canada’s past is incredibly valuable. I think it’s important to spread awareness of Canada’s dark past, including slavery and other civil rights violations that have been obscured by its associations with ‘The Promised Land’ and freedom. However, it’s also important to celebrate the contributions and successes Black people have had throughout our history. What follows is a hodgepodge of writings on various figures who have had a real impact on our world, from the days of the Underground Railroad up to contemporary times.

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Poetry Salad for Busy Library Workers

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I was working on a display for our Adult Reading Challenge the other day, and I came across a poetry collection called Life of the Party by Olivia Gatwood. The cover immediately caught my attention. You can probably see why. The smear of paint covering a woman’s face immediately draws you in, calling to mind notions of erasure and dehumanization perhaps. As something of a true crime aficionado, I was also intrigued by Gatwood’s exploration of the controversial topic. The true crime genre is ripe for discussion, moral or otherwise. The author’s note details a period of her life when she experienced insomnia because of a specific fear that she would become a victim herself, the subject of a true crime story. She interrogates the intentions or agenda of the genre, questioning why certain stories are told instead of others. The complex relationship a lot of women have with true crime, as avid viewers and readers, is briefly yet powerfully illuminated. The poems in the collection continue that theme. Concise stanzas of powerful imagery and analogy, revealing formative experiences in her childhood that have had an impact on who Gatwood is today. I wanted to write about poetry for this blog entry because I believe it’s an efficient way to absorb a lot of meaning from a small amount of text. So, if you find yourself a busy library worker like myself, you can pick up and put down a poetry collection whenever you have a free moment. Finishing a poem feels like a small amount of closure each time, and closure is nothing to scoff at. Here are some of the other exciting collections I’ve come across in our catalogue. To be honest, I am in the process of reading several of them. I have assembled a salad — if you will — of different poetic ingredients, and I am grazing to my heart’s content. Here’s hoping there’s one that strikes your fancy. Like a juicy heirloom tomato in the summer.

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Explore Vaughan with StoryWalks!

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It’s almost officially summertime, and StoryWalks are back! In partnership with the City of Vaughan’s Department of Parks, Forestry and Horticulture and five Canadian publishers to bring a selection of picture books to local Vaughan trails, where park visitors will be able to piece together stories one page at a time as they make their way along the trails. It’s a great way to explore the great outdoors while fostering a love of reading. You’ll find one picture book in each of Vaughan’s five wards, plus a sixth book at the Kortright Centre!  Read on for a taste of what to expect this year at our local parks. 

Ward 1: Mackenzie Glen District Park 

Little readers can follow the friendship journey of Emma and Frank at the Mackenzie Glen District Park, where we’ll be reading Friends for Real by Ted Staunton and illustrator Ruth Ohi (IG: @ruthohi / Twitter: @Ruth_Ohi). Mackenzie Glen is the perfect place to meet a new friend, whether it be on the soccer field, at the splash pad or playground, or maybe at one of the many concerts and events that take place on the park grounds (see The Caverners: Tribute to the Beatles on July 26!). This relatively flat parkland means it’s easy and accessible for families with little ones, and a parking lot and onsite public washrooms make picnicking a breeze. As part of the Bartley Smith Greenway (a 15 km trail running from Steeles Ave all the way up to Teston Rd) the park also has easy trails situated conveniently within a subdivision. 

Friends for Real is provided by Scholastic.

Ward 2: Nort Johnson District Park 

In Sometimes I Feel Like a River by Danielle Daniel (IG: @danielledaniel) and illustrator Josée Bisaillon (IG: @joseebisaillon), readers can follow short poems about nature that invite mindfulness as they stroll through the park. Young readers are encouraged to use all their senses to fully experience the world around them and connect with nature. With the poems spread throughout Nort Johnson District Park, travel the easy 1.5 km trail along the Humber River and focus your attention on the rushing water, the trees, the sunshine, and the birdsong as you make your way through the book. Located near the Woodbridge Pool & Memorial Arena, pop by Nort Johnson District Park after a swim for a picnic, or hit up the Woodbridge Village Farmers Market throughout the summer! Parking is available at the arena.  

Sometimes I Feel Like a River is provided by Groundwood Books.

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