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Noteworthy Books on the Family
English Titles - continued
 Denotes that the book is either a
translation or is available in translation.
The Doll
Cora Taylor
Saskatoon: Western Producer Prairie Books, 1987
125 p. ISBN 0888332319
 Ages 9 to 14.
Ten-year-old Meg makes her real acquaintance with Jessie, the
"Invalid Doll", during the days she spends at her grandmother's
recuperating from rheumatic fever. Meg finds something both
fascinating and repulsive about this doll that has passed from
generation to generation in the Shearer family. In addition to
combatting the physical exhaustion that is part of her illness,
Meg is also struggling to fathom the tension between her parents.
Are they planning to separate?
Meg's grandmother is the obvious and immediate source of warmth,
caring and stability. However, Jessie begins to adopt this role
as well and in many ways offers access to solace far more
attractive than the present time. Jessie is the talisman that
permits Meg's journeys to the pioneer days of her own family.
Drifting Snow: An Arctic Search
James Houston
Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1992
150 p. ISBN 0771042833
Ages 12 and up.
After a summer of adventures living in the traditional way with
an Inuit group on the coast of Baffin Island, Elizapee discovers
her true family. She had been separated from them since babyhood
when she received medical treatment in the south for her
tuberculosis.
Easy Avenue
Brian Doyle
Toronto/Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre/A Groundwood Book, 1988
119 p. ISBN 0888990650
Ages 11 to 15.
In the housing shortage after the war, Hulbert O'Driscoll, known
as Hubbo, moves from Lowertown to Ottawa's Uplands Emergency
Shelter, a temporary haven for the poor, along with the guardian
he considers"Mother" and fondly calls Mrs. O'Driscoll. Hubbo
attends Glebe Collegiate Institute where coincidently his
guardian is a cleaning lady; only at the close of the novel does
he publicly acknowledge their relationship. Throughout Easy
Avenue the young protagonist struggles with the tension
between gaining ground with those he perceives as the "in" crowd
and revealing his true background and friends.
Easy Avenue Copyright © 1988 by Brian Doyle. Cover art by Paul Zwolak. Douglas & McIntyre/A Groundwood Book.
Fox Song
Joseph Bruchac
Illustrations: Paul Morin
Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1993
30 p. ISBN 0195410009
Ages 6 to 11.
Although the sun peeks into Jamie's window early in the morning,
she doesn't dare open her eyes. Grama Bowman, her great-grandmother, has died and she feels sad and alone. She remembers
the nice times they had together, the stories she was told, the
explanations of Abenaki customs and the fox song. It is this
song that marks the passage between life and death in the mind of
the little girl. When the sun reaches her face, Jamie gets up
and runs to the tree where her great-grandmother used to sit and
she starts to sing the fox song.
In a note at the end of the story, the author explains that this
story was derived from various childhood memories. Paul Morin's
illustrations are always outstanding and their textured look
complements the text perfectly.
Reproduced with the permission of Stoddart Publishing Co. Limited, Don Mills, Ont. M3B 2T6
Frank and Zelda
Maryann Kovalski
Illustrations: Maryann Kovalski
Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1990
32 p. ISBN 0921103980
Ages 5 to 8.
Frank and Zelda own a pizzeria that thrives until the
neighbouring hat factory closes. After days of quarrelling, then
of silence, they are startled to see an unassuming man sitting at
one of their tables, waiting for service. He pays for his pizza
with wishes. What follows is an overwhelming stream of customers
and waiters -- indeed a magnificent new pizza emporium! While at
first thrilled by the ever-expanding business, Frank and Zelda
soon begin to long for the "good old days". With the help of the
little man, the wish giver, they realize just that and make plans
that keep them happy for a long time. One feels that this
couple, though childless, is nonetheless a real family -- one who
lives, works, and in the end, relaxes together.
The lively colourful illustrations mirror the drama that is
unfolding in the text. There is also a sure sense of fun, time
and place in Kovalski's style.
Frank and Zelda written and illustrated by Maryann Kovalski. Copyright © 1990 by Maryann Kovalski.
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