Club Amick - Book Themes

The selection of books for each of the four annual distributions is based on a theme. Themes are broadly interpreted to allow as much variety as possible when selecting books.

The Friendship theme included books about unusually friendships, friends behaving badly, friends on adventures together, and the value of a good friend. We included a few classics like the Lion and the Mouse and new popular characters like Franklin and Scaredy Squirrel.

There were lots of great books to choose from for this theme. The selection of books for younger children included stories about dancing farm animals and dinosaur, and bands with pigs, cats and frogs playing instruments. The selection for older children included a number of aboriginal books, including Secret of the Dance, The Drum Calls Softly and the Ghost Dance.

The magazine format with its short articles and lots of photographs is very appealing to children. Magazines published in both Canada and the US were selected. Some titles included short stories, activities and information and other focused on specific topics including sports, geography, animals and history.

This selection of adventure stories includes classics like Where the Wild Things Are and Frog and Toad Together as well as new adventures such as Scaredy Squirrel, Olivia and Eliot Jones Midnight Super Hero. For older readers the selection includes the “adventure” of Sam McGee, Despereaux, Karana from the Island of the Blue Dolphins and Brian Robeson from Hatchet. Dogs, bears, mice, pigeons, penguins, koalas, boys and girls all find adventure.

From sea monsters, to fish, to ocean adventures, these books are all wet. Included are several first nations books such as Wave of the Sea Wolf, Morning on the Lake and Crossing Bok Chitto.

Books about food range from the always funny Green Eggs and Ham to the little know story told in the Long March about how the Choctaw’s provided help during the famine in Ireland. This selection of books includes story about what happens when there is too much food and the struggle to find enough to eat. Non-fiction titles explore what animals eat and what happens in our bodies when we eat.

This selection includes books about both tales of mystery and stories about the mysteries of nature. Of course there are the traditional “who done it?” stories and those where the hero or heroine solves the case. There are several aboriginal tales including those that explain why animals have certain characteristics.

The laugh out loud theme is about stories that are funny because the characters or situations are absurd, ridiculous, free spirited or perhaps just way out there. This distribution includes books about how to take of your pet monster, trouble makers in history and two mischievous Ojibwa brothers. Many of these books find humour in considering what happens when animals take on the activities of people, like wearing clothing, cows that types and bears that solve crimes.

This theme includes books about planets, galaxies, stars and aliens. Other worlds are also explored in books about dinosaurs, magical characters, giants and fantasy worlds. There’s always the question of what’s real and what’s not.

Book List for late Spring 2008

Spring 2008 - Cats and Dogs

This theme celebrates some of our furry friends, including pets, wild animals, and memorable characters like the Cat in the Hat, with exciting, adventurous lives. In this issue we also introduce the poetry of renowned Canadian poet Sheree Fitch.

Book List for Spring 2008

For a different reading experience magazines fit the bill. Magazines published in both Canada and the US were selected. Some titles included short stories, activities and information and other focused on specific topics including sports, geography, animals and history.

Magazine List for Winter 2007

The books selected for this theme include stories about the weird and wonderful places we live in and share with others including animals. There are books about living in space and living in homes from the past. Of course we also include fiction and non fiction stories about animals and their homes.

Books in this distribution touch on the theme of the natural environment. Where else could you include books on dinosaur’s poop, dirt and mud? We also included books on the weather, water, volcanoes, rocks and tsunamis.

The books in this theme have main characters with personality plus; fictional characters with character and real life achievers; stories of tricksters, trouble makers and tender folks. The books of Thomas King were profiled in this selection.

This theme was an obvious choice and included winter stories of adventure, sports, snowmen and wildlife. The books by Marc Tetro were profiled in this selection.

This theme focused on stories about how people and animals are connected to each other through families. Helping, sharing, cherishing and appreciating our Moms, Dads, sisters, brothers and grandparents are featured in these stories. Three books by Robert Munsch were profiled in this selection.