Turtles’ roles in ecosystem crucial

Sea turtles are an integral part of the ocean and shoreline ecosystem. Taking Turns with Turtles — A Rescue Story by Shari Becker (Groundwood, 36 pages, hardcover, $22) is an interesting, educational science picture book for children ages 3-6 about turtles that become cold-stunned when chilly fall weather hits too quickly along the east coast of the U.S.

Becker reminds us of the contributions turtles make to the ecosystem — they eat jellyfish, which protects fish populations, and their eggshells and waste fertilize beach plants, which prevents sand erosion. She also writes about the important role that dedicated volunteers play, nursing stranded turtles as they recover from their trauma and later returning them to the sea.

Brittany Lane’s pretty pastel watercolours show both detail and imagined underwater scenes.

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There’s nothing like a selfie to prove to skeptical parents that the dinosaurs you invited to your party really did show up, as proven in The Great Dinosaur Sleepover (Tundra, 44 pages, hardcover, $25) a picture book for children ages 3-7 by respected writer Linda Bailey.

Jake’s wish comes true when his favourite reptiles show up in the middle of the night to make his birthday special. It turns out dinosaurs love cake, games and mayhem, as kids do. But, surprisingly, they clean up after themselves, leaving no trace to prove their presence the next morning.

Luckily, there are selfies and the exceptional art by Joe Bluhm, who makes the party come alive.

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The life cycle of the monarch butterfly is told in vivid rhyming couplets by Kristen Hall in The Monarch (Atheneum, 48 pages, hardcover, $25). “Soaring like kites/ in the sky on long strings./Zipping through towns on paper-thin wings” captures the urgency in a monarch’s life, as Isabelle Arsenault’s breezy illustrations show these elegant insects following their instincts — laying eggs, the newborn caterpillars fattening themselves on milkweed, pupating and then spreading their own wings.

Parents and teachers can get ready for this summer’s influx and teach children ages 4-8 about these gorgeous insects. Monarchs are an opportunity to write poems, too — what could be more fun?

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Mina chafes at her parents’ rules and takes off on her bike for the mall in Malice at the Mall by Pierrette Dubé (Orca, 128 pages, softcover, $13).

When Mina’s trapped at the mall after the doors are locked for the night, she discovers the plastic mannequins in the stores come alive. Ever wonder how plastic mannequins multiply?

In this imaginative horror story, part of the Shivers series, Mina is hunted by plastic people who intend to capture her and make her one of their own. Through her spine-tingling adventure and narrow escape, she realizes her family’s rules were meant for her own good. It’s a cautionary tale for any rebellious 9-12 year-olds!

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Winnipeg-based Sonya Ballantyne recalls her life and the cruelties of the residential school system in her graphic novel The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne (Highwater Press, 64 pages, softcover, $23). It’s a memoir with mature and sometimes arresting content, but readers ages 13-15 have heard these words and will recognize the issues she raises.

Ballantyne says she grew up in a close-knit family, only to be forced into the wider world to deal with racism and misogyny. She developed a superhero persona to push through.

The episodic narrative culminates in Sonya beating the odds and becoming the first person in her family to graduate from high school and attend university. It’s an inspirational book for those kids who feel unrepresented. The bright, expressive illustrations by Rhael McGregor reflect Sonya’s emotional journey.

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Harriet Zaidman is a writer for young people. Her latest novel, What Friends Are For, is set during the abortion debate of the 1980s, when Dr. Henry Morgentaler set up an abortion clinic in Winnipeg.