National Network for Equitable Library Service

“The Grim Hill series gets another satisfying go-round with this fantasy/mystery romp…Another appealing mix of realism, whimsy, and legend.”—Booklist The third installment of the Grim Hill series unfolds during the season of romance, when an easterly fairy wind blows through town. For months, Cat Peters has been wishing to live the normal life of a thirteen-year-old, and finally things seem to be going her way. She has once again helped her town escape the evil clutches of Fairy, and now she can’t wait to turn her attention from magic to the upcoming dance.

In the fourth installment of the Grim Hill series, Cat, Clive, Jasper, and the rest of the crew are back, and everyone is buzzing about Darkmont High’s student exchange to Sweden. For Cat, it means hanging out with her friends in a foreign country, travelling without parents, and not having to keep an eye on her clingy kid sister. Even though Sookie’s magical meddling seems to be in check, Cat has been wishing for a break from the constant worry of living near Grim Hill. After all she’s been through, Cat has learned to be careful what she wishes for.

This fourth collection of short stories written by Robert James (Jim) Challenger combines the timeless appeal of Aesop's fables with the oral storytelling traditions of First Nations and other cultures. Each story stimulates conversation about the moral woven within. Go along on Salmon's journey. Learn how Hermit Crab found a new home. Discover why Halibut always looks up. Find out why we should be kind to Snake. Eagle's Spirit shows us how our life's energy lives on forever.

The new kid at Darkmont High, Cat Peters is already desperate to get out. So when she hears that Grimoire, the private school nearby, is offering scholarships to the winners of a Halloween soccer match, Cat jumps at the chance to apply, despite her sister Sookie’s warnings that there’s something creepy about the old school on the hill. Sookie’s worries are confirmed when they uncover a mystery about an entire soccer team that disappeared many years ago.

Shortlisted for Ontario Silver Birch Award 2010. Selected, Canadian Children's Book Centre's "Best Books for Kids & Teens" (Starred selection, 2009). Since Halloween, things are getting back to normal for Cat Peters. Now the big drama in her life isn’t a battle against diabolical fairies, but a battle of the sexes on the soccer field. Meanwhile, ever since Cat’s little sister, Sookie, was imprisoned on Grim Hill, she has only been interested in one thing: magic. When the aspiring conjurer takes her discoveries too far, it is up to Cat to set things straight.

This collection of west-coast fables combines the approach of Aesop with the oral tradition of First Nations storytellers. Woodpecker shows how to be a true friend. Beaver demonstrates how to achieve dreams through hard work. Rainbow Trout finds that all things in nature have a purpose. Parents, grandparents and teachers will embrace Robert James Challenger's stories, which, like all fables, promote cultural values and respect among generations.

This collection of short stories is based on traditional values important to us all—respect, cooperation and kindness. Robert James Challenger's illustrations and tales reveal a world of magical birds, fish and other wildlife, who teach readers lessons about life and the world. Seal shows us why we should not let fear of failing stop us from trying new things. Hummingbird helps us appreciate the beauty in our world. Kingfisher teaches us how to believe in ourselves. Coho learns the rewards of not giving up.

The year is 1936, and seven children (aged eight to sixteen) are sprung from their boarding schools in England to the coast of British Columbia to embark on a summer sailing adventure like no other. On the way, they discover the true story of Brother XII, a shadowy figure recently disappeared from his island compound, who is rumoured to have buried treasure on one of the coastal islands the children will be passing through. As their vacation quickly turns into a treasure hunt, the kids encounter a crazy cast of West Coast characters, until a cataclysmic event brings their search to an end.

In her third book inspired by First Nations’ stories, children’s author and illustrator Caroll Simpson explains the significance of community values. She introduces readers to a world of creatures like Sea Lion, Killer Whale, Dogfish and Kingfisher. Her dramatic tale of young twins and their transformation shows how working together keeps a community healthy.When new twins are born in a mythical Pacific Coast village, everyone celebrates because the birth of twins is a rare occasion; twins are the children of the salmon.

Today, many of the historic coal-mining communities of the Rocky Mountains are uninhabited ghost towns. Yet behind the crumbled ruins are tales of perseverance, danger and romance. A devastating mine explosion on Halloween shatters the lives of mining families in Nordegg. The miners of Mountain Park build a hockey rink still celebrated in local lore. A young immigrant couple in Mercoal establishes a successful business only to have their love story sadly cut short. These 11 dramatic and poignant ghost-town tales are sure to fascinate all who love pioneer history.