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Winnipeg Free Press

Kitten's crayon chomping charming

What's a crayon good for other than drawing? Eating, of course. In writer and illustrator Marcus Cutler's latest picture book, The Crayon Stub (Putnam, 40 pages, hardcover, $25), a big cat finds all the crayons in the box gone, save one red stub. It doesn't notice the family kitten has crayon colours all over its whiskers. After a few moments of angst and a burst of hunger, creativity triumphs, and a 'totally spectacular' picture joins other drawings on the fridge. Cutler's subtle drawings add to his simple narrative. Children aged 2-5, many of whom may like to nibble on crayons, will also like this book. Buy on ● ● ● Wild rice was an abundant food source for Indigenous people before industries and governments began to control waterways by building dams. The loss of this nutritious grain contributed to the ruination of many communities. In Our Ancestors' Kitchen (Annick Press, 36 pages, hardcover, $24), Métis storyteller Willie Poll shows a modern-day girl learning about traditional foods in her grandmother's kitchen. Artist Shaikara David transports her back in time through colourful imaginings of her relatives as they gather rice in their canoes, looking 'happy, strong and well fed.' While she and her grandmother cook, the little girl is drawn further into the story of her ancestors and her rich heritage. Poll encourages parents and teachers to use this book as a starting point for all children to explore and celebrate their own cultures. Appropriate for children aged 4-7. Buy on ● ● ● Four characters — a goldfish, two plants and a spider — overcome their rivalries and personal issues to thwart a major robbery in Beth Ferr's Growing Home (Simon & Shuster, 272 pages, hardcover, $24). They put their heads (or rather, their wits) together in this clever adventure novel for children ages 8-11. An omniscient narrator explains the goings-on at Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, peppering the text with sophisticated, eloquent words that are precisely decoded. The story has delightful humour, valuable life lessons and, critically, kids will learn one of the most important four-letter words. With their trademark skill, Toronto's Fan brothers capture the unique setting and ironic humour of the dialogue. And, yes, there is a typewriter. Buy on ● ● ● Every child needs a pet to overcome trauma, right? In Marie Etchell's Saving Obaachan (Red Deer, 284 pages, softcover, $15), Charlie's parents have split, he's moved to Victoria and in a new school. He becomes friends with Miyu, a girl of Japanese descent, and they discover they've each been graced by the company of Buster, a chocolate lab who mysteriously turns up where and when he's needed. When Miyu's grandmother suddenly refuses to speak or eat, Buster's magical abilities help Charlie and Miyu uncover the story of New Denver, a concentration camp for Japanese Canadians in the Second World War, shocking the children's perception of Canadian history, democracy and justice. This story about friendship and finding one's way after trauma will pull at the heartstrings of readers aged 9-12. Buy on ● ● ● Teddy Fitzroy is the contemporary version of The Hardy Boys, but this young sleuth tracks down missing animals in Stuart Gibbs' All Ears (Simon & Schuster, 320 pages, hardcover $24). In this, the ninth novel in the Fun Jungle series, Teddy is on the trail of Tansy, a missing elephant that's in great danger. But after his best friend is accused of vandalism to protect a lizard habitat, Teddy must decide where his priorities lie. Along the way, he uses deductive reasoning and instinct to unmask the bad actors and bring them to justice. Gibbs seamlessly works oodles of science and information about animals into the narrative for readers aged 9-12. Buy on Harriet Zaidman is an award-winning children's writer and reviewer. Her novel, What Friends Are For, will be released in the fall.