Literacy Resources | Children's Museum (Winnipeg, MB) - Part 2

Oct 21, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, mini mondays, Reading Resources

MINI MONDAYS READING LIST

It’s time for another Mini Mondays reading list. Listed below are titles tailored to our little VIPS (children under 4 years old). We hope they bring laughter, curiosity and fun while sparking creative learning.

Bookscape: We Love Books!
Arrhenius, Ingela P.

Discover a world of books and stories and learn first words with this adorable Bookscape Board Book!

Explore a cozy bookstore, visit a library, and learn all about books in this sweet board book by celebrated illustrator Ingela P Arrhenius. Each uniquely shaped page overlaps with the next to create a complete landscape when closed–and an immersive world to explore with each turn of the page when open.

Simple text and jubilant illustrations introduce babies and toddlers to a word of books and usher in an early appreciation for reading! Delightfully petite, Bookscape Board Books’ chunkiness and unique layers give them a tactile, toylike quality that begs to be picked up–making each book in the series a memorable and irresistible gift.

Snore Like A Bear
LaRue, Nicole

Make believe you’re a big brown bear dozing in your den. Cuddle with your sleeping cubs until it’s spring again.

This adorable board book encourages toddlers to mimic the bedtime behaviors of animals both familiar and exotic. Little ones are encouraged to be drowsy meerkats, tired koalas, and weary walruses. These simple, engaging prompts help children relieve bedtime stress and develop a mind-body connection.

A Kit Story
Farrell, Alison and Tracy, Kristen

I am a fox. Do you see me?

See the world through a fox kit’s eyes in a charming book about finding your place in the world. Over the course of four seasons, Kit comes of age in the forest. In spring, she gambols. In autumn, she races. In summer, she sneaks and slinks. But with her mama, she will always be a little kit.

This is the second in a series of board books that pairs Kristen Tracy’s enchanting, playful text with Alison Farrell’s sweet, endearing art for an adorable treatment of everyone’s favorite topic: baby animals!

E Is For Earth
Paprocki, Greg

Learn with your toddler all about our amazing planet, Earth, and the things we can do to make it more healthy, sustainable, and even more beautiful.

An engaging collection of illustrations teaching children all about the amazing planet we live on and the things we can do to make Earth more healthy, sustainable, and even more beautiful. Have fun reading with your child as you come across letters such as these: A for activist, C for compost, E for energy, and O for oxygen.

Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

explore more:

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of October 24, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Sensory Wiggle Caterpillar Price: $6.99 each This Sensory Wiggle Caterpillar is perfect for fidgeting hands! Kids of all ages will enjoy shaking this rainbow-coloured caterpillar back and…

Oct 24, 2022 • ATV, caterpillar, feature 5, Fishing game, games, shop, Toys, Train

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is ENGINEERING and we're learning how to make our very own catapult! For this activity, your child will learn about how a catapult is built and by checking various angles they can see if it affects how far something (we used toy bug) will fly! You’ll need: 8 Popsicle sticks…

Oct 26, 2022 • At-home Learning Resources, catapults, engineering, M’s Blog, spiders

HALLOWEEN READING LIST

Tomorrow, we celebrate Halloween Howl, but let’s start the fangtastic family entertainment today with these spooky and fun titles. Leila The Perfect Witch Drago, Flavia Leila Wayward is a little witch who excels at everything she does. She's the fastest flier, the most cunning conjuror, and the most superb shape-shifter. She has won trophies…

Oct 28, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, halloween, Halloween Howl, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources

Oct 14, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources, Thanksgiving

THANKSGIVING READING LIST

We’re closing out Thanksgiving week with some fun book recommendations. There’s so much to be thankful for but some of the characters in these stories have lots to get done before they start giving thanks. Whether baking pies, making sure to remember everyone to thank and honouring family traditions. Let’s dive in to see how these characters celebrated Thanksgiving.

Thanks For Nothing
Higgins, Ryan

It’s autumn in Soggy Hollow, and the mice have a lot to be thankful for. But Bruce the bear is not so thankful for all the thanking.

This bite-sized Little Bruce Book is perfect for fans of the Mother Bruce board books.

The Thank You Book (An Elephant and Piggie Book)
Willems, Mo

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.

Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.

Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.

In The Thank You Book!, Piggie wants to thank EVERYONE. But Gerald is worried Piggie will forget someone . . . someone important.

Our Table
Reynolds, Peter H

Violet longs for the time when her family was connected: before life, distractions, and technology pulled them all away from each other. They used to gather at the table, with food and love, to make memories, share their lives, and revel in time spent together. But now her family has been drifting apart, and with nobody to gather around it, the table grows smaller and smaller.

Can Violet remind her family of the warmth of time spent together, and gather around the table once more?

An ode to traditions that unite families, Our Table brings readers together with a universal message of gratitude.

Franklin’s Thanksgiving
Bourgeois, Paulette and Clark, Brenda

In this Franklin Classic Storybook, our young hero likes everything about Thanksgiving, from eating pumpkin-fly pie to making cornucopias. But what he likes best is having his Grandma and Grandpa share the holiday with him and his family. This year, however, his grandparents are traveling abroad. Thanksgiving just won’t be the same without guests around the table, so Franklin decides to invite some friends for dinner. What a nice surprise it will be for his parents. Only Franklin’s mother and father have the same idea, and on Thanksgiving Day all their friends show up for the festivities! With no more room in the house, where will the holiday meal take place?

Pookie’s Thanksgiving
Boynton, Sandra

Pookie and Mom get ready to welcome the whole family for Thanksgiving in this gentle and captivating board book from the beloved and bestselling Sandra Boynton.

It’s Thanksgiving! Join Mom and her little Pookie as they prepare for the yummiest of holidays. Told and illustrated with Sandra Boynton’s celebrated charm, Pookie’s Thanksgiving is filled with a cornucopia of family, gratitude, and pie!

Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

explore more:

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of October 17, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Duck Duck Dance! Game Price: $30.99 Get moving and grooving with this fun dancing game for toddlers! Duck Duck Dance! is simple and sweet, with 4 large…

Oct 17, 2022 • board games, feature 5, games, shop, Toys

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

It’s time to create some shadow puppets and make a video with this week’s theme of TECHNOLOGY. With this activity, your child will learn how to create a video and using stop-motion technology. You'll need: video recording device paper or cardstock skewers flashlight scissors printable puppet template here Print out the shadow puppet template or…

Oct 19, 2022 • STEAM, STEAM resources, technology

MINI MONDAYS READING LIST

It's time for another Mini Mondays reading list. Listed below are titles tailored to our little VIPS (children under 4 years old). We hope they bring laughter, curiosity and fun while sparking creative learning. Bookscape: We Love Books! Arrhenius, Ingela P. Discover a world of books and stories and learn first words with this…

Oct 21, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, mini mondays, Reading Resources

Oct 07, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, mini mondays, Reading Resources

MINI MONDAYS READING LIST

It’s time for another Mini Mondays reading list. Listed below are titles tailored to our little VIPS (children under 4 years old). We hope they bring laughter, curiosity and fun while sparking creative learning.

You’re All Kinds of Wonderful
Tillman, Nancy

We’re not all the same. Thank goodness we’re not.

Life would be boring, and I mean… a lot.

And so, when we’re born, we’re supplied at the start

with our own bells and whistles to set us apart.

Think of your bells as the things you do best

things tucked away in your own treasure chest.

Part of growing up is discovering–and embracing–what makes us unique. From different abilities to different personalities, we are all wonderfully made with our own bells and whistles.

This Is Not My Hat
Klassen, Jon

When a tiny fish shoots into view wearing a round blue topper (which happens to fit him perfectly), trouble could be following close behind. So it’s a good thing that enormous fish won’t wake up. And even if he does, it’s not like he’ll ever know what happened…

Visual humor swims to the fore as the best-selling Jon Klassen follows his breakout debut with another deadpan-funny tale.

I’m The Boss
Gravel, Elise and Simard, Charles

Readers of all ages (but mostly the little ones) will understand how this tiny monster feels. For once in their life, this small beast wants to get everything it wants, right here, RIGHT NOW! While the grown-up monster can’t give them a plane they can fly or a cake with lots of candy on top, they can give them a really big hug when they feel upset. This delightful board book will make the little tyrants in your life giggle at the ridiculousness of the demands. And the text’s repetition of “A big one! Right now!” will have toddlers hollering along with glee. Orca apologizes in advance for any autocratic tendencies this book may inspire.

Prairie 123s
Asnong, Jocey

Jocey Asnong’s whimsical illustrations celebrate the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in this unique board book. Graze with bison in Grasslands National Park, cheer on two Stampede stars in Calgary, sing country songs with meadowlarks in Minnedosa, Manitoba, and play hide and seek among the hay bales before a thunderstorm rolls in. This early concept board book helps young children develop number recognition and counting skills, while learning the basics about the Canadian prairies.

Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

explore more:

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of October 10, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Dino Robot Hand Price: $7.99 each Measuring approximately 14” long, this Dino Robot Hand is made of durable plastic - simply pull the handle and watch as…

Oct 10, 2022 • dinosaur, dry erase, feature 5, Nursery Rhymes, Scribble Scrubbie, shop, Shop Feature 5, Toys

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is SCIENCE, and in the spirit of spooky season, we’re making a witches’ potion! In this experiment, your child will learn about density, why some substances do not mix, and they'll enjoy a chemical reaction right before their eyes! You’ll need: Alka seltzer tablets Oil A glass jar Water Food…

Oct 12, 2022 • At-home Learning Resources, chemical reaction, Halloween craft, M’s Blog, science

THANKSGIVING READING LIST

We're closing out Thanksgiving week with some fun book recommendations. There's so much to be thankful for but some of the characters in these stories have lots to get done before they start giving thanks. Whether baking pies, making sure to remember everyone to thank and honouring family traditions. Let's dive in to see how…

Oct 14, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources, Thanksgiving

Sep 30, 2022 • back to school, Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, National Day For Truth And Reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day, Reading Resources

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Reading List

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools – the impacts of which are still being felt in communities across Canada. The books outlined in this list will help us to dig deeper and present a starting point for the conversation we may have with little ones.

When We Were Alone
Robertson, David, A and Flett, Julie

When a young girl helps tend to her grandmother’s garden, she begins to notice things that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long, braided hair and beautifully colored clothing? Why does she speak another language and spend so much time with her family? As she asks her grandmother about these things, she is told about life in a residential school a long time ago, where all of these things were taken away. When We Were Alone is a story about a difficult time in history, and, ultimately, one of empowerment and strength.

Also available in a bilingual Swampy Cree/English edition.

Phyllis’s Orange Shirt
Webstad, Phyllis; Nicol, Brock and Parker, Allison

When Phyllis was a little girl she was excited to go to residential school for the first time. Her Granny bought her a bright orange shirt that she loved and she wore it to school for her first day. When she arrived at school her bright orange shirt was taken away. This is both Phyllis Webstad’s true story and the story behind Orange Shirt Day which is a day for us all to reflect upon the treatment of First Nations people and the message that ‘Every Child Matters’.

Stolen Words
Florence, Melanie and Grimard, Gabrielle

The story of the beautiful relationship between a little girl and her grandfather. When she asks her grandfather how to say something in his language – Cree – he admits that his language was stolen from him when he was a boy. The little girl then sets out to help her grandfather find his language again. This sensitive and warmly illustrated picture book explores the intergenerational impact of the residential school system that separated young Indigenous children from their families. The story recognizes the pain of those whose culture and language were taken from them, how that pain is passed down, and how healing can also be shared.

When I Was Eight
Jordan-Fenton, Christy; Pokiak-Fenton, Margaret and Grimard, Gabrielle

Olemaun is eight and knows a lot of things. But she does not know how to read. She must travel to the outsiders’ school to learn, ignoring her father’s warning of what will happen there. The nuns at the school take her Inuit name and call her Margaret. They cut off her long hair and force her to do chores. She has only one thing left — a book about a girl named Alice, who falls down a rabbit hole. Margaret’s tenacious character draws the attention of a black-cloaked nun who tries to break her spirit at every turn. But she is more determined than ever to read. By the end, Margaret knows that, like Alice, she has traveled to a faraway land and stood against a tyrant, proving herself to be brave and clever.

Based on the true story of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, and complemented by stunning illustrations, When I Was Eight makes the bestselling Fatty Legs accessible to young children. Now they, too, can meet this remarkable girl who reminds us what power we hold when we can read.

With Our Orange Hearts
Webstad, Phyllis and Kewageshig, Emily

As a young child, your little world can be full of big emotions. In this book, I, Phyllis Webstad, founder of Orange Shirt Day, show that sharing my story with the world helped me to process my feelings. My true orange shirt story encourages young children to open their hearts and listen as others share their feelings, and to be more comfortable sharing their own feelings too. Listening is a first step towards reconciliation. It’s never too early to start.

Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

explore more:

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of October 3, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Seashell Splash Price: $24.99 each Give your amazing sea creatures the perfect place to catch a wave with the Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Seashell Splash…

Oct 03, 2022 • Crayola, feature 5, Scribble Scrubbie, seashell, shop, Shop Feature 5, Toys

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Here is a game that will help to teach your child about counting and making predictions. Before we start, which colour apple do you think will win the race? You’ll need: Apple Race printout Paper Clip Fastener Pom Poms or play dough (yellow, green and red). These will be your apples. Instructions: Once you have…

Oct 05, 2022 • addition, art, At-home Learning Resources, counting, games, M’s Blog, math, mathematics, new school year, race

MINI MONDAYS READING LIST

It's time for another Mini Mondays reading list. Listed below are titles tailored to our little VIPS (children under 4 years old). We hope they bring laughter, curiosity and fun while sparking creative learning. You're All Kinds of Wonderful Tillman, Nancy We're not all the same. Thank goodness we're not. Life would be boring, and…

Oct 07, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, mini mondays, Reading Resources

Sep 27, 2022 • back to school, Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources, science, Science Literacy Week 2022

SCIENCE LITERACY WEEK READING LIST

This year Science Literacy Week was focused on Mathematics! As we bring the week to a close, here are a few books focused on science and other areas in our life where we can embrace it.

One Tiny Bubble
The Story of Our Last Universal Common Ancestor
Krossing, Karen and Lo, Dawn

Meet LUCA–our Last Universal Common Ancestor, the itty-bitty organism that every unique life-form on Earth can be traced back to. This sprinkle-sized blob was formed from the dust of exploded stars, water, and a lot of heat. LUCA was a single cell that split into two, and these cells multiplied into more organisms that grew and changed. Over the billions of years that followed, the descendants of LUCA evolved into bacteria, mushrooms, sharks, fir trees, lions–and humans! All the extraordinary life on Earth began with LUCA, through a miraculous process that could also occur on other planets.

This vibrant and poetic informational picture book breaks down scientific concepts using simple, engaging language. Striking illustrations bring LUCA to life and reveal how readers are connected to one another, and every life-form on our planet, through one tiny bubble.

Over And Under The Waves
Messner, Kate and Neal, Christopher

Over the waves, the sea lions bark and seagulls wheel and call. The bay is smooth and bright in the sun. But under the waves, there’s a whole hidden forest, full of whales and wolf eels, sardines and sea bass, leopard sharks and luminous jellies, as well as the waving kelp that shelters them all. Discover the magical depths of the kelp forest, and all the fascinating creatures living just a paddle’s length away–over and under the waves.

Turn the pages to enjoy a journey with many fascinating facts, a gorgeous underwater world with strong curriculum connections all done by a favorite author-Illustrator team.

The Animal Toolkit
How Animals Use Tools
Jenkins, Steve and Page, Robin

Did you know animals can use tools? In this fascinating book by award-winning pair Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, we learn all about what makes a tool a tool and the remarkable ways animals can use them to find food, protect their young, and more.

Readers learn all about what makes a tool a tool–and the remarkable ways animals use them to interact with our world. From the tailorbird, which repurposes spider silk to stitch a leaf into its nest, to the gorilla, which uses sticks to test water depth and build bridges, these animals are intelligent, innovative, and creative.

Steve Jenkins offers readers a closer look at these animals, their habitats, and their behaviors. In turn jaw-dropping, funny, and inspiring, The Animal Toolkit will fascinate animal enthusiasts and aspiring inventors everywhere.

Foldout Anatomy
An Interactive Look Inside Humans And Animals
Albrechto, Jana; Piro, Radka and Larina, Lida

Uncover the secrets inside animals and humans with 14 full-length foldouts, over 50 animals, and over 160 color illustrations!

Humans and animals: are we similar? Different? Do we all have blood? Do we all smell and taste and think? How is it that birds can fly, fish can breathe underwater, but humans can’t do either? Explore the amazing diversity of the animal kingdom and compare the body systems of over fifty animal species with those inside of you! Fourteen tall, page-length foldouts open to reveal animal inner workings and provide extra details about these fascinating curiosities of the animal kingdom.

The book includes dozens of illustrated explanations of the human skeletal, muscular, digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous, and reproductive systems. It then explores those same systems in animals like the great white shark, the hooded crow, the bottlenose dolphin, the snail, the goldfish, and dozens more with over 100 more color illustrations!

Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

explore more:

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

It’s a new school year, which means a new school photo! Have your child paint and decorate this adorable school bus picture frame made from popsicle sticks to display their picture in. You’ll need: Tacky glue Popsicle sticks Paints (yellow, grey, black) Paintbrush Buttons or gems Paper Instructions Start by gluing two popsicle sticks together…

Sep 28, 2022 • art, At-home Learning Resources, M’s Blog, new school year, picture frame, school photo, science

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Reading List

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is an opportunity to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools – the impacts of which are still being felt in communities across Canada. The books outlined in this list will help us to dig deeper and present a starting point for the conversation we may have with…

Sep 30, 2022 • back to school, Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, National Day For Truth And Reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day, Reading Resources

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of October 3, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Seashell Splash Price: $24.99 each Give your amazing sea creatures the perfect place to catch a wave with the Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Seashell Splash…

Oct 03, 2022 • Crayola, feature 5, Scribble Scrubbie, seashell, shop, Shop Feature 5, Toys

Sep 09, 2022 • back to school, Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources

BACK TO SCHOOL READING LIST

It’s time to head back to school! This week we look at books focused on going back to school and some for those just starting in kindergarten.

School’s First Day of School
Rex, Adam and Robinson, Christian

When we think about back to school, often our minds are on the students. But what about the school?

It’s the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone’s just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself. What will the children do once they come? Will they like the school? Will they be nice to him? The school has a rough start, but as the day goes on, he soon recovers when he sees that he’s not the only one going through first-day jitters.

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
Willems, Mo

It’s time for Pigeon to go to school but why does he have to go to school when he already knows everything? And what if he doesn’t like it? What if the teacher doesn’t like him? What if he learns TOO MUCH!?!

Pigeon gets all the answers to his questions about going to school in this fun read.

Anne’s School Days
Inspired by Anne of Green Gables
George, Kallie and Halpin, Abigail

Anne loves autumn in Avonlea, and she’s been enjoying her first three weeks of school. It helps that she walks to school with and sits next to her kindred spirit, Diana Barry. However, one day, Gilbert Blythe joins the class. According to Diana, he’s very handsome, and smart too. However, Gilbert immediately gets on Anne’s nerves. When he pulls on Anne’s braid and calls her “Carrots” because of her red hair, enough is enough. How can Anne enjoy school when Gilbert is ruining everything?

This is the third book in an early-reader series inspired by Anne of Green Gables, starring the spirited Anne Shirley as she navigates her first days of school and the incorrigible Gilbert Blythe.

Leo + Lea
Wesolowska, Monica and Pak, Kenard

One boy loves numbers. Everywhere he looks he sees things to count. His classmates don’t understand counting as he does. A new girl loves patterns. Could she be a friend for Leo? This beautiful friendship story, inspired by the Fibonacci sequence and cleverly constructed using its mathematical pattern, celebrates our differences, as well as how math connects us to one another.

Young readers will love counting the number of words per page and discovering how they echo the Fibonacci Sequence, a mathematical series in which each number is the sum of the previous two: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, and so on to infinity!

Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

explore more:

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of September 12, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Palm Pals Flick Pukwudgie Price: $13.99 each Designed to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand, Aurora Palm Pals are plush toys in an adorable size,…

Sep 12, 2022 • feature 5, fluffy, palm pals, Plush, shop, Shop Feature 5, Toys

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

Here's a quick activity for all those pencils you may have purchased for kids going back to school; pencil towers! It's fun and an EnGINEERING challenge too. All you need are pencils. This challenge may seem simple, but it involves some steady hands and a creative mind. The goal is to stack your pencils as…

Sep 14, 2022 • building, contruction, Creative learning, engineering, pencils, STEAM, STEAM resources

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of September 19, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Palm Pals Betsy Chick Price: $13.99 each Designed to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand, Aurora Palm Pals are plush toys in an adorable…

Sep 19, 2022 • feature 5, fluffy, palm pals, Plush, shop, Shop Feature 5, Toys

Aug 26, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Mellow Marsh, Reading Resources, summer reading, TD Summer Reading Club, Usborne Children’s Books

SUMMER READING: MELLOW MARSH

In Mellow Marsh, sounds and textures come to life. Take the sensory experience home with these fun books exploring the world around us and what it has to teach us.

Outside You Notice
Alladin, Erin and Blinick, Andrea

Time spent in the outdoors stirs a child’s imagination. Nature sparks wonder, wonder leads to curiosity, and curiosity brings about a greater knowledge of the world and one’s self. In Outside, You Notice, a meditative thread of child-like observations (How after the rain / Everything smells greener) is paired with facts about the habits and habitats of animals, insects, birds, and plants (A tree’s roots reach as wide as its branches).

Over And Under The Pond
Silas Neal, Christopher and Messner, Kate

In this book, readers will discover the plants and animals that make up the rich, interconnected ecosystem of a mountain pond. Over the pond, the water is a mirror, reflecting the sky. But under the water is a hidden world of minnows darting, beavers diving, and tadpoles growing. These secrets and many others are waiting to be discovered over and under the pond.

Who’s Looking? How Animals See The World
Matas, Carol and Li, Cornelia

How do animals see the world? It turns out very differently.

In this nonfiction picture book, a young girl and her baby sister’s outdoor adventure (hiking through the forest, picnicking in the grass and swimming in the ocean) is overseen by the local fauna. The way those animals view the girls is very different from how the girls see each other. Through clever illustrations and scientific prose, we are reminded that while we may see things differently, we all share this life together on planet Earth.

Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

explore more:

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of August 29, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Palm Pals Airy Avocado Price: $13.99 each Designed to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand, Aurora Palm Pals are plush toys in an adorable size,…

Aug 29, 2022 • feature 5, fluffy, palm pals, Plush, shop, Shop Feature 5, Toys

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of September 5, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Palm Pals Cinnamon Moose Price: $13.99 each Designed to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand, Aurora Palm Pals are plush toys in an adorable size,…

Sep 05, 2022 • feature 5, fluffy, palm pals, Plush, shop, Shop Feature 5, Toys

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is TECHNOLOGY, and we’re learning how to code with Legos. In this activity, children get to learn about how coding works and come up with their own secret messages to decode. You’ll need: Lego’s Lego board Coding template you can find here First, you need to decide which two colours…

Sep 07, 2022 • art, coding, Creative learning, hidden message, Lego, STEAM, STEAM resources, technology

Aug 19, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, milk machine, Reading Resources, summer reading, TD Summer Reading Club, Usborne Children’s Books

SUMMER READING: MILK MACHINE

Our summer reading fun continues with an animal focus tailored around our Milk Machine gallery. This week we look at stories about animals, farms, funny barnyard dancing and a chicken who has magic powers. Or does she?

Petal The Angry Cow
Fergus, Maureen and Demidova, Olga

Meet Petal, a cow with a very bad temper. When her temper might cause her the chance to go to the water park with all the other animals, Petal turns to a swan for help on behaving. This laugh-out-loud story will tickle even the surliest reader, and Petal’s outsized tantrums will feel very familiar to parents and kids alike. But like Petal, this story also has a heart of gold and a core of pure warmth.

Farm Block
Franceschelli, Christopher and Peski Studio

It’s time to plant some crops, harvest the veggies, and make jam to take to the farmer’s market! Explore life on a farm in this addition to the bestselling Block Book series! Like the previous titles, Farm Block explores a concept–in this case, seasons. From a rooster crowing at the crack of dawn to picking pumpkins for Halloween, there is so much to do all year-round!

Barnyard Dance!
Boynton, Sandra

Sandra Boynton has a knack for creating baby books with bounce. Her Barnyard Dance! Is a true romp of a board book, with cartoon farm animals that are wacky enough to make you laugh out loud, and rhymes clever enough to sustain those nearly infinite re-readings: “Stand with the donkey /Slide with the sheep / Scramble with the little chicks – cheep cheep cheep!”

Gladys The Magic Chicken
Rubin, Adam and Rex, Adam

Gladys the chicken must be magic. After all, for everyone who encounters her, a wish is granted. The Shepherd Boy wishes to be beautiful, the Brave Swordsman wishes to join the Royal Guard, the Purple Pooh-bah wishes for his only daughter to be happy, and the Learned Princess wishes to escape the palace. And one by one, each of these wishes comes true. But . . . is Gladys really magic? Or is everyone making their own fortune? Either way, it adds up to one heck of an adventure for a chicken named Gladys.

Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

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Request For Proposal

PROJECT: OWNERSHIP LINKAGE Download Request For Proposal (PDF) A. Background The Children’s Museum exists to spark kids’ creative learning. As a registered non-profit charitable organization, we believe in the potential of all children and provide an interactive learning environment that nurtures the power of imagination and spirit of self-discovery. For over 35 years, we have…

Aug 19, 2022 • board of directors, request for proposal, RFP

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of August 22, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Shoulderkins Sam Sloth Price: $16.99 each Shoulderkins are magnetic friends that rest securely on your shoulder and accompany you wherever you go! A magnet sits at the…

Aug 22, 2022 • balancing bird, feature 5, light box, shop, Shop Feature 5, shoulderkins, Toys

SUMMER READING: MELLOW MARSH

In Mellow Marsh, sounds and textures come to life. Take the sensory experience home with these fun books exploring the world around us and what it has to teach us. Outside You Notice Alladin, Erin and Blinick, Andrea Time spent in the outdoors stirs a child's imagination. Nature sparks wonder, wonder leads to curiosity, and…

Aug 26, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Mellow Marsh, Reading Resources, summer reading, TD Summer Reading Club, Usborne Children’s Books

Aug 12, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources, summer reading, TD Summer Reading Club, Usborne Children’s Books

SUMMER READING: LASAGNA LOOKOUT

Our Lasagna Lookout gallery is all about food and, more importantly, playing in it. If this is one of your favourite spots to visit in the museum, you’ll enjoy these books about food, how it’s produced, recipes to try, and how enjoying food with others makes the experience better.

Every Night Is Pizza Night
Lopez-Alt, J Kenji and Ruggiero, Gianna

Pipo thinks that pizza is the best. No, Pipo knows that pizza is the best. It is scientific fact. But when she sets out on a neighborhood-spanning quest to prove it, she discovers that “best” might not mean what she thought it meant. Join Pipo as she cooks new foods with her friends Eugene, Farah, Dakota, and Ronnie and Donnie. Each eating experiment delights and stuns her taste buds.

Warm and funny, with bright, whimsical illustrations by Gianna Ruggiero, Every Night Is Pizza Night is a story about open-mindedness, community, and family. With a bonus pizza recipe for young readers to cook with their parents, Every Night Is Pizza Night will make even the pickiest eaters hungry for something new.

What’s Cooking in Flowerville?
Sala, Felicita and Recipes from Garden, Balcony or Window Box

Young cooks will learn about the edible gifts that each season brings in this warm and inviting collection of recipes from the author of What’s Cooking at 10 Garden Street. In lush double-page spreads featuring Sala’s gorgeous watercolor illustrations, we visit the yards, balconies, and rooftops where the citizens of Flowerville grow their vegetables. Each month features a different member of the town and a delicious recipe inspired by a fruit or vegetable.

Kids will learn not only how to incorporate fruits and vegetables into meals but also how they grow and when they ripen. The book also includes charmingly illustrated tips and tools for growing your own food. A celebration of gardening, cooking, and community, this unique and beautiful cookbook is certain to become a perennial favorite in family kitchens.

Dragons Love Tacos
Rubin, Adam and Salmieri, Daniel

Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. You’re in red-hot trouble.

Our Little Kitchen
Tamaki, Jillian

In this lively, rousing picture book from Caldecott Honoree Jillian Tamaki, a crew of resourceful neighbours come together to prepare a meal for their community. With a garden full of produce, a joyfully chaotic kitchen and a friendly meal shared at the table, Our Little Kitchen is a celebration of full bellies and people looking out for one another.

Includes two recipes and an author’s note about the volunteering experience that inspired the book.

Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

explore more:

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of August 15, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Building Blocks - Dinosaurs Price: 3.99 each Blind box-style plastic egg containing assorted plastic building blocks to create one complete Dinosaur measuring 3”! Contents vary. Each…

Aug 15, 2022 • blocks, building blocks, dinosaurs, feature 5, puzzle, shop, Shop Feature 5, slime, Toys, Train

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week’s area of focus is SCIENCE, and we’re making water balloons. In this experiment, your child will learn about liquid density and why some balloons float or sink. You will need: Balloons Sugary drink Diet sugary drink Large container Once you have your materials, fill your balloons and label them. Then, fill your large…

Aug 17, 2022 • art, Creative learning, engineering, pulley system, STEAM, STEAM resources

Request For Proposal

PROJECT: OWNERSHIP LINKAGE Download Request For Proposal (PDF) A. Background The Children’s Museum exists to spark kids’ creative learning. As a registered non-profit charitable organization, we believe in the potential of all children and provide an interactive learning environment that nurtures the power of imagination and spirit of self-discovery. For over 35 years, we have…

Aug 19, 2022 • board of directors, request for proposal, RFP

Aug 05, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources, summer reading, TD Summer Reading Club, Usborne Children’s Books

SUMMER READING: TUMBLE ZONE

Our summer reading fun continues with a Tumble Zone theme. If your little one enjoys building with blocks and operating the crane at Tumble Zone then they’ll love these stories focused on building, smashing, crashing and construction.

Build!
Red Nose Studio

Bulldozers, dump trucks, and cranes are just a few of the vehicles working together in these pages to build something incredible. The payloader makes the hole for the foundation, the semi-loader brings in the huge blocks, and the crane lifts them up. But is this a real construction site, or a boy’s backyard? And after the structure is done, what happens next? Yes, the inevitable: he makes it all tumble down and is ready to start all over again!

Road Crew, Coming Through
Rinker, Sherri Duskey and Ford, AG

The construction team is taking on their biggest challenge yet–building a brand-new superhighway! With the help of new rough-and-tough road-building machines, the crew gears up for an action-packed day of rolling, building, paving, painting, and all the jobs that go into making a strong new road that will get everyone home safe in time for bed!

What’s up, Construction Truck?
Reinhardt, Matthew and Leigh, Toby

Follow construction workers through a busy day on the job. Lift the flaps to open the bulldozer’s doors and peek inside; help a crew member put on his helmet; and lift up the shovel to help the driver prepare a new bike trail for paving. When the story is over, follow simple instructions to transform the pages of the book into a three-dimensional bulldozer! There’s so much to discover in this stunning interactive board book from Matthew Reinhart.

Our recommended reading is made possible by our partnership with McNally Robinson Booksellers. Visit your nearest McNally Robinson Bookstore in person or online to secure a copy of the titles listed above.

explore more:

SHOP FEATURE 5

(For the week of August 8, 2022) Check out this week’s Feature 5 – a list of top-selling products from Shop, the Children’s Museum’s gift store! Read More… Basketball Game Price: $5.99 each Develop your skills and have fun at the same time with this classic tabletop Basketball Game. Improve your hand-eye coordination and launch…

Aug 08, 2022 • basketball, construction, dinosaur, feature 5, shop, Shop Feature 5, Toys, Train

ALL ABOARD: WE’RE GATHERING STEAM

This week's area of focus is ENGINEERING, and we're making a pulley system. Even though pulleys look simple, they are powerful, ingenious machines that are used in everyday life to help make jobs easier. Your kids will love learning about this simple machine. You will need: An old ribbon spool Dowels/chopsticks String A container Once…

Aug 10, 2022 • art, Creative learning, engineering, pulley system, STEAM, STEAM resources

SUMMER READING: LASAGNA LOOKOUT

Our Lasagna Lookout gallery is all about food and, more importantly, playing in it. If this is one of your favourite spots to visit in the museum, you'll enjoy these books about food, how it's produced, recipes to try, and how enjoying food with others makes the experience better. Every Night Is Pizza Night Lopez-Alt,…

Aug 12, 2022 • Children’s Bookshelf, Literacy Resources, Reading Resources, summer reading, TD Summer Reading Club, Usborne Children’s Books