Service Alert
Website maintenance April 24 10pm ET
On Wednesday April 24 at 10pm ET the CELA website will be unavailable for about 15 minutes for planned maintenance.
On Wednesday April 24 at 10pm ET the CELA website will be unavailable for about 15 minutes for planned maintenance.
Showing 1 - 20 of 84 items
By Linda Granfield. 2009
"In Flanders Fields the poppies blow..."Every Canadian student, teacher and parent can recite these powerful words. But behind every poem…
is a poet, who lived, breathed, and in this case, led an extraordinary life. Despite John McCrae reaching Canadian icon status, his life has been largely unknown. This books is a beautiful tribute to this man. Some descriptions of violence. Grades 4-7. 2009.During WWI, the battle for the tiny Belgium town of Passchendaele was one of the most significant tests of Canadian…
courage and expertise. General Haig ordered a headlong attack into the heavily fortified German entrenchments, to capture the town and drive toward the coast to destroy German submarine bases. General Currie's Canadian Corps, known as unstoppable 'storm troopers', was called to the front. For junior high and older readers. 2008.By Hugh Brewster. 2014
All was not quiet on the Western Front during the last years of WWI. Soldiers faced mud, trench foot, bombardments,…
barbed wire, snipers, and poison gas. Despite dreadful odds, the Canadian Corps moved forward, reaching deep inside enemy-occupied Belgium. The war cost Canada 60,661 of its finest citizens and thousands more who were wounded in body and mind. After their hard-won victory at Vimy Ridge, Canadians earned the admiration of the world — and a reputation as soldiers who could get the job done. From that moment in 1917, Canadian soldiers proved themselves again and again on the bloody battlefields of Europe. Grades 3-6. 2014.By Jen Sookfong Lee. 2017
From its beginnings as a farming celebration marking the end of winter to its current role as a global party…
featuring good food, lots of gifts and public parades, 'Chinese New Year' is a snapshot of Chinese culture. Award-winning author and broadcaster Jen Sookfong Lee recalls her childhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, and weaves family stories into the history, traditions and evolution of Chinese New Year. Grades 3-6. 2017.By Hugh Brewster. 2006
April 9, 2007 marks the 90th anniversary of the pivotal World War I battle - one that many historians view…
as the battle that defined Canada as a nation. Canadian soldiers achieved what more experienced soldiers From Britain and France could not - taking the strategic position of Vimy Ridge from the Germans. Includes a bibliography of books and websites, an index, and a glossary. Grades 4-7. Some descriptions of violence. 2006.By John Wilson. 2017
Russell Rabjohn was just eighteen years old when he joined up to fight in the First World War. In his…
three years of soldiering, he experienced the highs and lows of army life, from a carefree leave in Paris to the anguish of seeing friends die around him. Private Rabjohn was also a trained artist, and drew everything he saw, including a captured pilot of a downed German biplane; the horrific Flanders mud; a German observation balloon exploding in midair; and the jubilant mood in the streets of Belgium when the Armistice is finally signed. With no surviving veterans of the First World War, Rabjohn's drawings are an unmatched visual record of a lost time. Grades 4-7. 2017.By Stephanie Innes, Harry Endrulat. 2008
In 1916, at the height of the First World War, a Canadian teddy bear travelled all the way to France…
in a care package for Lawrence Rogers - a gift from his daughter Aileen. When Teddy returned from the front lines, he did so alone: Lieutenant Rogers, along with many other Canadian soldiers, died at the battle of Passchendaele. Here is Teddy's story - from his life in East Farnham, Quebec, to France, home, and eventually to the Canadian War Museum. Grades 2-4. 2008.By Linda Granfield. 2001
When World War I began in August 1914, no one knew that millions of people would die over the next…
4 agonizing years. No one imagined the effect it would have on family life, or that whole villages would disappear, or that entire nations would be changed forever. This history of the war is told through letters, prayers, and other pieces of history. Grades 3-6. 2001.By Nikki Tate. 2018
Christmas is a popular holiday celebrated by people all over the world. Learn about the games played, foods eaten, music…
played and favourite ways of decorating in different parts of the world. With lots of fun facts (about everything from frumenty to the jolly old man in red himself) and recipes, there's plenty in this volume to satisfy anyone with an interest in the festive season. Grades 4-7. 2018.By Alison Matthews-David, Serah-Marie McMahon. 2019
The clothes we wear every day keep us comfortable, protect us from the elements, and express our unique style—but could…
fashion also be fatal? As it turns out, history is full of fashions that have harmed or even killed people. From silhouette-cinching corsets and combustible combs to lethal hair dyes and flammable flannel, this nonfiction book looks back at the times people have suffered pain, injury, and worse, all in the name of style. Historical examples like the tragic “Radium Girl” watchmakers and mercury-poisoned “Mad Hatters,” along with more recent factory accidents, raise discussion of unsafe workplaces—where those who make the clothes are often fashion’s first victims. Co-authored by a scholar in the history of textiles and dress with the founder of WORN Fashion Journal, this book is equal parts fab and frightening: a stylishly illustrated mash-up of STEAM content, historical anecdotes, and chilling stories. Nonfiction features including sidebars, sources, an index, and a list of further reading will support critical literacy skills and digging deeper with research on this topic. Winner of the 2020 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction.By Katy Halford. 2019
It's time to celebrate! From Christmas and Thanksgiving, to Diwali and Halloween, kids won't want to miss out on all…
the festivities. Embark on an exciting journey through the most interesting and important festivals, celebrations, and holidays enjoyed by people around the world. Stunning original illustrations and fascinating facts will inspire and inform children about cultures and religions from the countries of the world.Witness a camel marathon in a celebration of the Sahara Desert, and devour some delicious dumplings to celebrate Chinese New Year. Discover why skeletons dance at the Day of the Dead in Mexico, and get messy at Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors.Children will love poring over artist Katy Halford's beautiful illustrations, which showcase every celebration in absorbing detail. Engaging factual writing introduce young readers to the most interesting aspects of each celebration, from the costumes worn to the food eaten, and encourage an understanding of other cultures and religions.By Kira Vermond, Clayton Hanmer. 2020
Fads and trends: How do they start? Why do they spread? And how deep can their impact be? Although trends…
might seem trivial, if you dig deeper, you’ll find that our desire to chase the next big thing can have an even bigger impact than expected. Established middle-grade author Kira Vermond and cartoonist Clayton Hanmer team up in this fun and accessible nonfiction look at fads. In four short chapters, the book explores what a fad is, how the latest crazes catch on, and what makes us jump on the bandwagon. Finally, it looks at the fascinating and even frightening effects of fads both modern and historic. Who knew the beaver pelt craze in 17th century Europe would change ecosystems, start wars, and disrupt life as people knew it? Comic-strip illustrations, an upbeat tone, and reader-friendly text make this a fun and timely tool for young readers who are building critical-thinking skills in the age of fake news and a world gone viral.By Sarah L. Schuette. 2020
What kind of games will you play at your birthday party? From musical chairs to sack racing, games make birthdays…
fun. Learn about indoor and outdoor games to play on your special dayBy Kerrie Logan Hollihan. 2019
Uncovers the mysteries behind unearthed human mummies from around the globe, from mutilated bodies preserved in Irish bogs to sacrificed…
children entombed in an Incan burial site on a mountaintop. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2019By Edward Keenan, Julie McLaughlin. 2015
An introduction to politics and why we need it. Includes topics such as why we form societies, the basic types…
of governments, the power of public opinion, types of rhetoric, and more. Provides several case studies and a glossary. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2015By Maria Birmingham, Josh Holinaty. 2015
Chronicles humanity's attempts to cheat death through elixirs or other magical substances. Highlights key individuals who were believed to be…
immortal and the mysteries surrounding their actual age, including fourteenth-century French scholar Nicolas Flamel, who is said to have created the mythical philosopher's stone. For grades 3-6. 2015By Martin Jenkins, Satoshi Kitamura. 2014
Chronicles the evolution of money, from a time when it didn't exist to the creation of a bartering system to…
modern forms of currency. Includes interesting tidbits, such as the first IOU borrowing system, rulers taxing their subjects, and the Roman invention of inflation. For grades 4-7. 2014By Jill Rubalcaba, Peter Robertshaw. 2010
Discusses the scientific knowledge derived from four human ancestors: Africa's Turkana Boy, Portugal's Lapedo Child, Washington state's Kennewick Man, and…
an Italian glacier's Iceman. Covers these fossil skeleton discoveries and examines both deductions based on advanced laboratory-technology findings and ongoing archaeological debates. For grades 6-9 and older readers. 2010By Jim Murphy. 2009
Examines the events that brought European countries into battle in the First World War. Describes one particular day, Christmas Eve…
1914, when all along the Western Front German soldiers exchanged hymns with their British and French enemies and a fragile peace temporarily prevailed. For grades 4-7. 2009By Susan Milord. 1999
Combines information on Mexican history and traditions with hands-on projects. Activities include stringing a toy button snake (the national symbol…
is a snake-eating eagle), preparing salsa and hot chocolate, constructing a birthday piñata, and carving an Olmec-style head from plaster of Paris. For grades 3-6. 1999