Finding Winnie: the true story of the world's most famous bear

Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick and illustrated by Sophie Blackall is the HDSB Reads selection for 2016.  Last week, during the week of Remembrance Day, our Grade 1 to 6 students had the chance to hear this very timely story.  Finding Winnie is essentially two stories in one. The first is the story of Captain Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Harry enlists in the army to look after horses that are fighting in World War One.  On his was to the front, Harry’s train stops in White River, Ontario where he meets and purchases an adorable bear cub whom he subsequently names Winnie.  Winnie becomes the mascot for the Second Canadian Infantry Brigade. Eventually Harry realizes that the trenches are no place for Winnie and the London Zoo becomes Winnie’s adoptive home. The second story is the story of Christopher Robin Milne.  He meets Winnie for the first time at the London Zoo.  Christopher and Winnie develop a special relationship and it’s this relationship that is the inspiration for Christopher's father (A. A. Milne) to go on and write the Winnie the Pooh books. One of the most amazing parts of Finding Winnie is the photo album at the end of the story.  Pictures include Captain Harry Colebourn and his fellow soldiers, the Winnipeg statue of Harry and Winnie and even Christopher Robin in Winnie’s enclosure at the London Zoo feeding and hanging out with Winnie. Finding Winnie is the truly amazing true story behind Winnie the Pooh and is sure to be a favourite with young and old readers alike.

FM SUMMER READING TOP TEN 2016

The summer is just around the corner.  Keeping your brain in shape is just as important as going outside and enjoying the outdoors.  Here is our yearly roundup of reading ideas to help get you through the summer so that you are ready for a new school year in September.  Enjoy!

10. Visit your local library where you vacation this summer.  Whether it's Bayfield, Ontario or Charlottetown, PEI, be sure to visit a new library this summer.  It's a great way to spend some time especially if the weather is less than optimal.

9. Join a Summer Reading Program.  The Burlington Public Library's theme for this year's Summer Reading Club is "Go Wild" and it runs from July 2nd to August 27th.  All of the details can be found on page 19 of the BPL's Summer Guide.  Check it out!

8. Visit the Find a Book section of the FM Library website in the Library Links section.  There is lots of great online content to be found here.

7. Checkout an ebook or audiobook through Overdrive.  Overdrive is running a Summer Reading Program that will allow simultaneous checkouts!

6. Check out a garage sale, flea market, or used book store.  These places can be treasure troves for inexpensive, current books.

5. Check out Hoopla on your favourite device. Use your Burlington Library card to sign out music, books, and even movies.

4.  Get together with your BFF (Best Friend Forever) and trade a book with them.  Who knows, you might find out an author you never know before!

3.  Check out HDSB Library Services Summer Reading List.  This list is treasure trove of fantastic titles for younger students.

2.  Use the FM Library catalogue to find an award winning book.  Just click the "Search the FM Library">"Award Winners".  Forest of Reading, Newbery and the CLA Book of the Year for Children winners can be found here.

1.  Start a new book series to keep you going all summer long.  Did you know there are well over 100 Rainbow Magic Fairy books?  The "Time Warp Trio" series of book is a perennial favourite for boys.

I hope that everyone has a safe, fun, and adventure filled summer and remember KEEP READING :)

"Gon" by Masashi Tanaka

If you like adventure, if you like animals, well this book is perfect for you.  This book is about adventure and trust me you will laugh a lot.  The main character in the story is a small dinosaur named Gon.  He's pretty much indestructible and that makes it funny.  Gon meets a lot of new friends like wolfs, elephants, apes, big birds and a lot more.  He makes all his friends into the bravest, strongest, most fearless animals in the jungle.  There's 7 books of Gon in the FM Library and I think you will love them all.

By Logan H.

Fairy Idol Kanon: Volumes 1 - 4

The Fairy Idol Kanon books are great for girls who love to sing. These books are all about three girls named Marika, Kodama, and Kanon. They love to sing and dance. Then a magical fairy named Princess Alto meets Kanon and decides to help start their singing career. Personally I think these books are for girls 7 and up and girls will really love these books. I was reading these books and I could not stop reading them. They were so good!

By, Abigial

Bookflix is the Best!

Over the last few years we have enjoyed many fantastic stories online through Bookflix.  With the advent of winter, two stories that stand out are:  Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin and The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Snowflake Bentley is the amazing story of a man who becomes a self taught snowflake expert and learns how to photograph individual snowflakes to share with the world.  Narrator Sean Astin, the actor who plays Samwise from Lord of the Rings, does a fantastic job of bringing the story to life.  Do you want to know the best part of Bookflix?  Bookflix is free for all HDSB Students to use.  To find these great titles click on Elementary Internet Tools and click on the Bookflix icon at the bottom left. Use your HDSB student login and you are good to go. Want to search for a great title like Snowflake Bentley? Click on the apple on the top right and you will now have access to search.  So cuddle up with your tablet or phone this winter and enjoy a fantastic story thanks to Bookflix.

The Snow Day

There really is nothing better than a good winter storm.  If we are lucky enough, here in Burlington, once a winter something magical happens. So much snow falls that buses stop running and schools are closed.  Our Kindergarten and Grade One students had fun last week discussing the fun of snowstorms and Snow Days. We read "The Snow Day" by Komako Sakai. In this story a young bunny discovers school buses are not running and schools are closed.  Bunny is so excited to play in the snow but must wait until the snow stops falling. Paired with beautiful illustrations, this story captures the magic of winter and the wonder of youth.  Don’t forget, when a snowstorm approaches, to wear your PJs inside out, place a spoon under your pillow and put an ice cube in your toilet (check with your parents first). If we try hard enough we might get a Snow Day this year :)