Short Chapters, Perfect Pacing and Lots of Action...

I was so delighted to return from Fireworks School (more on THAT in a later post) to find the Canadian Children's Book Centre's BookNews in my mailbox, with a review of Trouble in the Hills in it. I was even more delighted by the review. It says, in part:

"Filled with non-stop action, the story moves at breakneck speed as Cam faces numereous perilous situations...Short chapters, perfect pacing and lots of action make Helaine Becker's debut YA novel a perfect choice for reluctant boy readers, and once they pick it up, they'll find it impossible to put down until the end."

Thanks CCBC!

CSWA Best Science Books for 2011 Announced

The CSWA has announced the winners of this year's book awards. The general audience book winner is Cascadia’s Fault by Jerry Thompson. The youth book winner is 50 Poisonous Questions by Tanya Lloyd Kyi.






Entries were judged on the basis of initiative, originality, scientific accuracy, clarity of interpretation and value in promoting a better understanding of science by the public.





Both of this year’s books appealed to the judges because they created a sense of mystery and discovery. Commenting on Cascadia’s Fault one judge said, “The writing was masterful and it read almost like a novel. I never felt bogged down in details, and yet the science about earthquakes was all there along with the controversies, descriptions of the sources, and stories about the people.”





The youth judges were equally enthusiastic about 50 Poisonous Questions, “There were very interesting facts that I didn’t know about and the explanations were easy to understand.” “It was a book I didn’t want to put down until I finished the whole book.” “It was a really fun book.”





The book awards will be presented at the CSWA annual conference in Windsor, Ontario on June 2, 2012.

Parents' Choice Award for Planet Echo!

For the last few years, I've been writing the Dr. Greenie's Mad Lab segments for the TV show, Planet Echo. I just learned today that the show received a Parents' Choice Award for season 1.

From the Parents' Choice website:

"The program is recommended for kids aged 8 to 12, and though some of the skits are a little corny, the factoids are fascinating and there's a nice blend of hard science and light-hearted humor to keep kids' attention. The program includes frequent tags directing viewers to the companion website for more activities and information, and many show segments are available for viewing on demand.
For a universal message about doing your part to help save the planet, and an interesting glimpse into Aboriginal history and culture in Canada, Planet Echo is an earnest half-hour offering up positive suggestions kids can understand and put into practice in their own lives."

All I can say is wait til the folks at Parents' Choice see seasons 2 and 3!

Giant List of Science and Nature Books for Children

To celebrate the publication of my new book, The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea, coming soon from Kids Can Press, I decided to compile this list of top notch resources for science and nature from Canadian publishers.  All titles were published in 2011. I got a lot of help with this list from the incredible Meghan Howe of the Canadian Children's Book Centre. Thanks, Meghan!

Books on this list cover the gamut from board books, picture books, chapter books and YA fiction, as well as interesting and provocative nonfiction. All the titles are readily available from booksellers in the U.S. and Canada.

50 Poisonous Questions: A Book with Bite, by Tanya Lloyd Kyi (Annick Press) Kid-friendly question and answer format make for an entertaining look at toxic substances in nature, medicine and industry.


Africans Thought of It: Amazing Innovations by Bathseba Opini (Annick Press) From aloe vera to the xylophone, great inventions that hail from Africa.

Alligator, Bear, Crab: A Baby's ABC by Lesley Wynne Pechter (Orca) Board book introduces the shapes and sounds of the alphabet alongside colourful, original paintings of critters and animals.

Amazing Animals: The Remarkable Things That Creatures Do, by Margriet Ruurs (Tundra) A compendium of astounding facts.

Ankylosaur Attack, by Daniel Loxton (Kids Can Press) Movie-quality images and a suspenseful story will enthrall young fans of dinosaur life. By Lane Anderson Science Writing for Children Award Winner.

Arctic Land, by Vladyana Krykorka; Arctic Sea by Vladyana Krykorka; Arctic Sky by Vladyana Krykorka (Annick Press) Each of these three board books focuses on a particular aspect of Arctic wildlife and pairs delicate watercolour paintings with simple language. Suited to toddlers and pre-schoolers.

Ben the Inventor by Robin Stevenson (Orca) Historical fiction.

Biomimicry: Inventions Inspired by Nature by Dora Lee (Kids Can Press) A fascinating homage to Mother Nature's genius, anchored by solid science and a strong environmental message.

Busy Beaver, The by Nicholas Oldland (Kids Can Press) Picture book.

Caillou: Every Drop Counts! by Sarah Margaret Johanson (Chouette) Caillou learns about water conservation at daycare. Picture book.

Caillou: The Magic of Compost by Sarah Margaret Johanson (Chouette) Grandma shows Caillou a great magic trick - turning scraps of leftovers, grass clippings and apple cores into plant food. Picture book.

Can Hens Give Milk? By Joan Betty Stuchner (Orca) A wacky tale teaches the difference between birds and mammals.

Canada's Trees by Elizabeth McLeod (Scholastic Canada) Explore all of Canada's famous native trees and learn how they affect us and the environment, and how we in turn affect them.

Case Files: 40 Murders and Mysteries Solved by Science, by Larry Verstraete (Scholastic Canada) Learn how investigators use different fields of science to solve ancient and recent mysteries, catch murderers, and even help prove innocence.

Charlie and Kiwi: An Evolutionary Adventure by Eileen Campbell (Simon &Schuster Canada) How can such an unlucky bird survive in the wild? Produced in conjunction with a project and traveling exhibit developed by the New York Hall of Science.

Dear Baobab by Cheryl Foggo (Second Story Press) Maiko has moved to North American from Africa to live with his aunt and uncle. Homesick, he misses the giant Baobab tree in this old village, and forms a bond with the little spruce tree out front of his new home.

Dinosaur Discovery: Everything You Need to Be a Paleontologist by Chris McGowan (Simon &Schuster Canada) What do dinosaurs look like from the inside out? Take a journey with renowned paleontologist Chris McGowan as he examines species from Allosaurus to T. Rex!

E is for Environment: by James Corlett (Simon &Schuster Canada) An interactive family book featuring 26 original stories for parents to read to their child to help them learn how to appreciate our planet.

Farmed Out by Glenda Goerzen (Orca) Young adult fiction.

Good Night, World by Willa Perlman, (Simon &Schuster Canada) Takes children on a magical round-the-world journey to big good night to the world's natural wonders, from plants and animals, to mountains, oceans and wide desert plains.

Honeybee Man, The by Lela Nargi (Random House Canada) A story about bees, beekeeping and honey.

If the World Were a Village: A Book About the World's People by David J. Smith (Kids Can Press) This bestseller is newly revised with updated statistics, completely new material on food security, energy and health.

In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps It Up by Monica Kulling (Tundra) Mattie devoted her life to inventing, and is best known for the clever practical, paper bag.

Justine McKeen, Queen of Green by Simon Brouwer (Orca) Justine and her friends are all about being green and helping the planet, on fun-filled environmental project at a time.

Look at That Building! A First Book of Structures by Scot Ritchie, Kids Can Press An engaging introduction to buildings deftly mixes non-fiction and fiction elements.

Loon by Susan R. Vande Griek (Groundwood) This beautifully illustrated chapter book follows the life cycle of two loon chicks.

Luz Sees the Light by Claudia Davila (Kids Can Press) A smart and provocative novel about sustainable living, by brilliant illustrator Claudia Davila. Who illustrated many of my own books, btw.

Maple Leaf in Space: Canada's Astronauts by John Melady (Dundurn) Canadians who have ventured off our planet.

Mathemagic! Number Tricks by Lynda Colgan (Kids Can Press) Learn mathematical secrets of the ancients and much more.

Migrant, by Maxine Trottier (Groundwood) Each spring Anna leaves her home in Mexico and travels north with her family where they will work on farms harvesting fruit and vegetables. Sometimes she feels like a bird, flying north in the spring and south in the fall.

Motion, Magnets and More: The Big Book of Primary Physical Science, by Adrienne Mason (Kids Can Perss) A one-step sourcebook to answer kids' tricky questions about the physical sciences. By longtime editor of science magazines YES and Know.

My Achy Body by Liza Fromer (Tundra) What is happening to us when we feel pain, and how does out body repair itself when we are hurt?

My Messy Body by Liza Fromer (Tundra) Why are vomit, puss and snot sometimes good for us? And yes, pee and poo are also featured.

My Noisy Body by Liza Fromer (Tundra) Deals with the digestive system and the many noises it creates, from burps to stomach growls to farts. Why do we hiccup? Sneeze? Snore?

My Stretchy Body by Liza Fromer (Tundra) Learn about growth spurts, growing pains, growing hair, fingernails, and much more.

Nowhere Else on Earth: Standing Tall for the Great Bear Rainforest by Caitlyn Vernon (Orca) A hands-on guide to the magic and majesty of British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest.

Picture a Tree, by Barbara Reid (Scholastic Canada) The best picture book of the year! Use your imagination, and you will see how trees help us open our minds to new things and look at the world differently.

Snowy Science: 25 Cool Experiments by Shar Levine (Scholastic Canada) Simple experiments to brighten up a cold winter day! Learn how to make ice cream, create an indoor avalanche, and more! Illustrated brilliantly by respected cartoonist Patricia Storms.

Source of Light, The by David Richards (Thistledown Press) Two teenage boys uncover nefarrious schemes set against a backdrop of the synchrotron, the world's most powerful microscope. A novel dedicated to the pure fun of dazzling light science and the adventure of private investigation.

Space Tourism by Peter McMahon (Kids Can Press) A book about commercial space travel that will fuel the imagination, by top science writer.

STAR Academy: Dark Secrets by Edward Kay (Doubleday Canada) A charming, funny middle-grade novel that combines action, adventure, science, and a big dose of satire.

Totally Human: Why We Look and Act the Way We Do, by Cynthia Pratt Nicolson (Kids Can Press) A fascinating introduction to the scientific fields of evolutionary biology and psychology.

Uumajut, Volume Two: Learn About Arctic Wildlife! By Simon Awa(Inhabit Media) Picking up where "Uumajut: Learn About Arctic Wildlife!" left off, this volume will introduce the youngest readers to the diets and habitats of more arctic species including the Siksik, Ermine, Wolf, Muskox, Eider Duck, Ringed Seal, Harp Seal, and Walrus.

Walk on the Tundra, A by Rebecca Hainnu, (Inhabit Media) Inuujaq soon learns that the tundra's colourful flowers, mosses, shrubs, and lichens are much more important to the Inuit than she originally believed. Includes a field guide with photographs and scientific information about a wide array of plants found throughout the Arctic ecosystem.

Watch Me Grow! A Down-to-Earth Look at Growing Food in the City by Deborah Hodge, Kids Can Press The companion to "Up We Grow" is another informative and inspiring book about small-scale, local farming. This time the focus is on raising food in cities.

Water Hazard by Helene Boudreau (Nimbus) The second in the Red Dune Adventure series, is an exciting and action-packed chapter book for young readers with an environmental theme.

What is the Theory of Plate Tectonics? by Craig Saunders (Crabtree). How the earth’s plates shift on molten magma to reconfigure the globe’s surface.

You Asked? Over 300 Great Questions and Astounding Answers, Editors of Owl and ChickaDEE Magazine (Owlkids) Giant collection of over 300 of the best questions submitted by years of OWL readers.

You Just Can't Help It! Your Guide to the Wild and Wacky World of Human Behavior by Jeff Szpirglas (Owlkids) Part Desmond Morris's "The Naked Ape," part "MAD Magazine," and 100% Jeff Szpirglas, provides a cultural, historical, and socio-biological perspective on human behaviour, synthesizing several branches of science - from anthropology to zoology - along the way.

Alligator Why?

I recently came across a blogpost, which I can no longer find, about children's books that were inspired by other children's books.

I didn't write a whole book inspired by another, but I did once write a poem - a riposte to Dennis Lee's Alligator Pie.

Here it is, for your amusement:

Alligator Why?


A Riposte to Dennis Lee

By Helaine Becker

World Premiere:

ALOUD: Harbourfront International Children’s Festival

June 25, 2005







I cannot for the life of me

Think why you crave so desperately

Those rude, repulsive, yucky tarts

Made from mushed up reptile parts



Give me apple crumble, give me ham on rye,

But keep to yourself that Alligator Pie!



As if you hadn’t had enough

You still want more - some stewed up stuff

Boiled crocodilian grin

Reduced to flapping teeth and skin



Give me chicken paprikash, give me ratatouille

But keep to yourself your swampy-phooey-stewy!



Soup, you say, let’s have some soup

For crocks of croc, I will not stoop!

Potage d’Everglade is one

Dish from which I’ll always run



Give me bouillabaise or mushroom barley soup

But keep to yourself your gross-out gator goop!

Review Round Up

This was a banner week for reviews for my books.

The first review for The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea appeared in Booklist. You can see that review here.

There were two reviews for Juba This, Juba That. Read the CM Magazine review here, and the Canadian Children's Book Centre review here.

And Trouble in the Hills received its first review, from CM Magazine. You can read that one here.

Nature Study is For the Birds

I'm reposting an article here from http://www.sci-why.blogspot.com/, where I group-blog along with 15 other science and nature children's writers, because its an important one. It highlights very clearly the importance of having scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills when evaluating research and other information (even more so when creating research!). These are topics dear to my heart, and ones that I think have an impact on every kid out there.

Here's the article. I hope you find it interesting!
Originally Posted by the Writers of Sci-Why

The Huffington Post recently ran a story entitled, “Children's Books Lack Nature References, Study Suggests.” The study it referred to, which was published in the journal Sociological Inquiry, concluded that “today’s generation of children are [sic] not being socialized, at least through this source, toward an understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the place of humans within it.” (You can read the complete study here)

Here at Sci-Why, where we are both children’s writers/illustrators AND scientist/environmentalist types, we were naturally intrigued by this study. So we took a closer look at it.

As suspected, the study did not pass the scientific sniff test.

The study looked at 296 children’s books, published between 1938 and 2008, and which won the prestigious Caldecott Medal. The medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, “to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.” From an examination of these books, the study authors drew conclusions about children’s books overall, and their effect on children.

In short, the conclusions the authors reach are not supportable by the facts, and the study’s design is flawed.


To begin with, the study examined books that are award-winners for artistic merit. These books, by definition, are not reflective of books overall.

Nor, as the authors claim, are Caldecott winners necessarily “the books that young children are most likely to encounter.” Quoting a 15-year-old study, the authors say the Caldecott winners “are important both because the award leads to strong sales and they are featured in schools and libraries and influence tastes for children’s literature more generally.” While it may be true that Caldecott winners influence tastes in children’s literature, those tastes would be in artistic style, not in subject matter.

Furthermore, Caldecott winners are not necessarily the books children tend to encounter most. A better designed study would have looked at best-selling books, and books actually on school and library shelves. Caldecott winners are a tiny minority of these, and not reflective of them over all.

The choice of the sample, therefore, is seriously flawed. But an even greater flaw is the severely restricted size of the sample. The study examined just 296 books. Contrast this to the number of children’s books published in 2009, as reported by The Library and Book Trade Almanac (“Book Title Output and Average Prices: 2006-2009):” 21,878.

According to the American Library Association, that staggering figure is actually part of a downward trend in the number of published children’s books that began in 2008.

While we do not have access to the data describing the number of books published for children overall since 1938, considering the 2009 figure alone demonstrates the problem with this study. 296 books are simply too small a sample to reflect the nature of children’s books over all; in 2009, the Caldecott winner was just one title out of more than 20,000 books published for children in the U.S. One of of twenty-thousand yields a statistical correlation of exactly zero.

Furthermore, the authors' statistical analysis of trends over time is noted in three graphs. The data, the authors says, show statistical significance with a p-value of about .05. This is not a strong p-value. Something where p=.01 or less are stronger data.

Scientifically, then, the study fails to convince. A non-scientific, common-sense approach to the study reveals even further flaws.

A quick eyeballing of the most popular picture books from the first “golden age of publishing” – a period loosely covering the 1950s and 1960s, features bestsellers such as Babar, Curious George, and books by Dr. Seuss and Richard Scarry. The Little Engine that Could. Madeline. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. Goodnight Moon. Where the Wild Things Are.

Looking back even further, to the first illustrated children’s books in the 19th century, every single book features built environments, tamed nature and artificially civilized animals – think of Beatrix Potter’s Peter in his little blue coat.

None of these books is “natural” in focus or illustration, yet they remain, perhaps, the most influential children’s books of all time.

In contrast, look at some notable books for 2012 from the Association for Library Service to Children (http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb). Nine out of 32 picture books on the list have natural themes and settings.

Interestingly, students of literature know that in the fairly short history of children’s literature, nature has rarely been presented as benevolent or even benign, making the current crop of books with pro-nature themes an anomaly. In traditional children’s stories, both oral and written, the wilderness is universally presented as a place of evil and danger. Consider Little Red Riding Hood or Hansel and Gretel as prime examples of the classic form.

There are still other issues with the study overall. For example, the authors use dated material, and also cite references that do not, in fact, support their claims. For example, consider this sentence: “the final decades of the twentieth century and the early years of the twenty-first saw a conservative backlash (Kline 2000; K. Gottfried, personal communication).” Unless the authors engaged in time travel, it would be impossible to draw conclusions about “the early years of the twenty-first century” from a document dated 2000.

Similarly, the authors of the study use data from 1996 to draw conclusions about the content of children’s science textbooks and continuing trends today. This data, 16 years out of date, does not reflect either the content of children’s texts today, nor the changing nature and usage of textbooks overall. To draw conclusions about books and their impact without consideration for the revolution in publishing we have been undergoing in the last decade is simply nonsensical.

The authors, we believe, suffer from a common problem among scientists and researchers of all stripes: confirmation bias. The researchers set out to confirm a hypothesis in which they already believed. Consider this quotation from one of the sources used in the study: ‘‘I believe one of the greatest causes of the ecological crisis is the state of personal alienation from nature in which many people live.’’ This is not a scientific observation; it is an unsubstantiated opinion.

As writers and illustrators involved in science and nature, we, of course, have our own biases. We know, however, exactly how much our own work, and the work of our peers, is inspired by and infused by the natural world. We see firsthand the work that is most influential, the work that is most often read by children and promoted by teachers and librarians.

Is it less “natural” than previous generations? We think not.

The Huffington Post should be more careful about the studies on which they choose to report. And for information about science or nature in children’s books, they should perhaps look to those who know something about the field: authors or librarians, not environmentalist-sociologists.