If You Could Wear My Sneakers! by Sheree Fitch

 

Title: If You Could Wear My Sneakers

Author: Sheree Fitch

Illustrator: Darcia Labrosse

Publish Date: September 1998

Publisher: Firefly Books, Limited

Pages: 32pp

ISBN: 1552092593

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Children’s Rights/Poerty

Annotation: A collection of poems aimed at children (for children’s rights) in support of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.  Told through humorous verses and using animals to present each intricate and significant idea. 

Plot Summary: A collection of poems that interpret fifteen articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.  Each poem (article) uses a variety of animals and plenty of humor to help present each important idea. Additionally, in the back of the book is a guide, showcasing each poem and matching it with the article it represents.  

Personal Response: I am starting to see this Canadian theme of children’s rights as Fitch creatively constructs a poem for each right (fifteen of them to be precise) in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in a language that is fitting for a child. In addition, the colorful images by Darcia Labrosse not only compliment Fitch’s verses but add to the playfulness and humor. From freedom of speech to having the right to health care, Ms. Fitch get’s her important message across.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Children’s rights, based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Age Range: 4 to 8

Subjects:  Children’s Rights, Humorous, Poetry, Animals,

Similar Titles:

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choli

Annie and the Old One by Miska Miles

There Were Monkeys In My Kitchen by Shree Fitch

Angel Square by Brian Doyle

Title: Angel Square

Author: Brian Doyle

Publish Date: September 2004

Publisher: Groundwood Books

Pages: 144pp

ISBN: 0888996098

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction/Realistic Fiction

Annotation: It’s 1945 in Ottawa. Tommy, AKA the Shadow, and a couple of his friends, Killer Bodnoff and CoCo Laframboise, are trying to figure out who attacked their friend, Sammy’s father who is Jewish.

Plot Summary: The year is 1945 and in Ottawa’s Lowertown, religion matters. Tommy, “the Shadow,” is best friends with Sammy, a Jewish boy. When Sammy’s father is assaulted, he is sent to Toronto to be hospitalized, taking Sammy with him till he recovers. This sets Tommy into detective mode to find out who assaulted Sammy’s father. To help the investigation, Tommy relies on two friends Killer Bodnoff and CoCo Laframboise. Tommy feels that if he finds the assailant, Sammy’s father will heal, thus bringing Sammy back to Ottawa. This also give’s Tommy a chance to impress Margot Lane, the girl of his dreams.

Personal Response: A heartbreaking story told with humor and intrigue. I felt the violence of the religious warfare (set back in the 1940s) to be somewhat realistic and the message of tolerance to be apparent. Tommy is the books hero and is very likable, and to some extent relatable. Overall, I felt the story to be a sweet tale.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Tolerance

Age Range: 9 through 13

Subjects: Mystery, Jewish, Bigotry, Friendship, Christmas, Prejudice, Detective, Mentally Handicap, Humorous, Relationships, Family Relationships, Hate Crime, Love, Victims, Religion, Catholic, Protestant, Tolerance, Historical

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Smith by Leon Garfield

Bad Boy by Diana Wieler

Jacob Two Two Meets the Hooded Fang by Mordecai Richler