Our Children's Librarian columnist, Julie Booker, brings us a new view from the stacks every month.

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Historical Canadian events are the thread that binds these texts but the curriculum objectives might include reading a variety of texts and identifying the elements of nonfiction (i.e., captions, sidebars, timelines, photos, diary accounts.)

Gold Rush Fever, by Barbara Greenwood, illustrated by Heather Collins, reads like a novel, with added nonfiction features, such diary entries, and explanations of key concepts. The story follows brothers Tim and Roy and their dog through the long harrowing journey to Dawson. They face the realities of mountain trekking, staking a claim, a harsh winter, gambling culture and the death of fellow miners. There are a few profiles of well-known figures: a female entrepreneur who opened the biggest hotel in Dawson; a photographer who captured important images of the time; the mounted police who played an important role in maintaining order. Also included are some “how-to’s”—a sourdough starter recipe, and instructions for a game of solitaire. Upon his return with a successful claim, Tim ends up earning himself a job as journalist, handing in the stories we’ve just read to a local newspaper. (Grades 3 to 6)

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The picture book Africville, by Shauntay Grant, illustrated by Eva Campbell, is a portrait of reunion day at the site of Africville. It depicts families returning to “where home smells like sweet apple pie and blueberry duff.” This book shows a community playing football, catching codfish, singing and gathering around a bonfire, a sense of “family” at the core of everything. A page at the back gives a brief overview of Africville’s history to share with young readers. (Kindergarten to Grade 3)

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For the older reader, The Children of Africville, by Christine Welldon, covers the beginnings of Africville, the expulsion of families from the site and the re-claiming of the community. Despite the impoverishment, the lack of governmental support, acts of racism and anti-black sentiment, the residents’ sense of community comes through. For instance, the government put a toxic waste site, a jail and a slaughterhouse in Africville without consultation. Residents felt helpless in the face of the government’s relocation plan and couldn’t win the fight to keep their homes, but they have made up for it by getting the former place of Africville named a National Historic site. Accompanied by photos, this is an easy read for junior grades. (Grades 3 to 6)

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Do you have books about war? That’s a question often asked in the library. Hugh Brewster’s books satisfy some of these requests. On Juno Beach: Canada’s D-Day Heroes exposes kids to June 6, 1944, the day Canada, Great Britain and America helped liberate France during World War II, a year before the end of the war. This book offers first-hand accounts of soldiers, photographs, posters and maps, revealing the master plan of one of the greatest battles in history. Beginning with the failed attempt at Dieppe, and ending with V-E day, it chronicles the collaborative, concerted efforts of allies, including all their losses. Also by Brewster, Dieppe: Canada’s Darkest Day of World War II, and From Vimy to Victory: Canada’s Fight to the Finish in World War I. (Grades 4 to 6)

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The Hilarious History of Hockey, by Helaine Becker, illustrated by Bill Dickson, is full of fascinating facts for the hockey enthusiast. It touches on the origins of the Stanley Cup, how the NHL came to be, and how equipment evolved. It explains hat tricks, the lucky loonie under centre ice, the Olympics and much more. Memorable games and famous fights are mentioned along with profiles of Rocket Richard, Bobby Orr and Tim Horton. There’s some fun quizzes and lots of cool trivia to share with friends. (Grades 3 to 6)

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The RCMP Musical Ride, by Maxwell Newhouse, showcases this unique touring company of officers on horseback which began in 1887. The paintings here portray the officers on horseback in various formations, parading in stadiums across Canada, from the parliament buildings to the Rockies. The text gives a brief overview of the training practices, the spit-and-polish equipment and care of the horses, which are groomed for the job from birth. This offers a glimpse into this unique and perhaps little-known Canadian ceremony performed around the world. (Grades 1 to 3)

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A Bloom of Friendship: The Story of the Canadian Tulip Festival, by Anne Renaud, illustrated by Ashley Spires, begins in the 1930s with a kid-friendly explanation of the Nazis. This book chronicles Dutch Canadian relations throughout the war, punctuated with photos, facts and a timeline. Every spring, Ottawa hosts the largest tulip festival in the world at the government buildings. The bulbs, as this book tells us, were a gift from Dutch Princess Juliana who lived safely in Canada during WWII before returning home to become Queen of Holland. (Grades 3 to 6)

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On her first day as teacher-librarian, Julie Booker was asked by a five-year-old if that was her real name. She's felt at home in libraries since her inaugural job as a Page in the Toronto Public Library. She is the author of Up Up Up, a book of short stories published by House of Anansi Press.