The lazy days of summer are upon us, and as you are heading off on vacation loaded with cottage country reading material, you might want to include this uplifting little novel full of humour and natural inspiration that could be taken straight out of the pages of Thoreau. Cassie Shaw has always felt dumb. Her teachers told her so, so she gave up on school. Her cheating-swindling husband told her so, and she believes him (but he gets what he deserves.) Cassie finds that the employment force has no room for a broke, uneducated widow; desperate, she lies on her resume and promptly lands a job as an assistant to a professor of animal behaviour. Always drawn to animals and nature, for the first time in her life Cassie finds that she wants to learn more. She begins to audit classes, discovers the true reason for her previous ‘dumbness’, and develops close relationships. But the secret of her false resume weighs heavily on her, and the more lies Cassie creates to conceal the truth, the closer the truth gets to the surface, threatening to destroy all that she has learned to love. Although it might sound it, A Version of the Truth is not your typical chick-lit novel, but should appeal to any fan of the genre.
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Meet Josey Cirrini, only daughter of Marco Cirrini, who rebuilt and brought prosperity to the North Carolinian town of Bald Slope. Being a quasi-royal has never fit Josey though – she quietly looks after her dominating, widowed mother and escapes by hiding in a secret closet, eating sweets and reveling in travel magazines or romance novels. To her dismay however, her private paradise is invaded by the brash Della Lee Baker, a woman as far removed from the society of the Cirrini’s as chocolate is from cheese. Hiding from a secret of her own, Della takes up residence in Josey’s closet, forcing her out into the world she dreams of but in which she never lives. In the real world Josey discovers Chloe Finley who makes the world’s best sandwiches, and is in dire need of a good friend. Through Chloe she also meets her not-so-secret crush Adam, the mailman and ex-extreme sporting participant. While Della pushes her to get closer to Adam, Josey tries to push Della away – or at least out of her closet. But Della’s presence harbingers a far greater mystery than any of them can at first intuit. From the author of Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen is a magical gem of a novel for a balmy summer evening.
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It is hard to fathom a more insidious disease than Alzheimer’s. A disease that slowly erodes memory and personality, it can be challenging, frightening, frustrating and heartbreaking for both victims and caregivers. Many people who develop Alzheimer’s prefer the familiar surroundings of their homes, and with ever-growing waiting lists to get into long-term care facilities, many patients rely on their loved-ones for care – which can be emotionally grueling for everyone concerned. The Comfort of Home for Alzheimer’s is well-named – it is a reassuring source that describes the development and effects of the disease. In addition, it helps one to prepare the home, to plan financial, medical and legal aspects for the patient, and to know when the time is right for choosing a home care worker. Part two provides plans for daily activities and special occasions, shows how to help move the patient and prevent falls, and of utmost importance, it gives detailed information about how to communicate with the patient at every stage of the disease. With helpful tips, notes and illustrations throughout, and a glossary and index in the back, this American series of caregiver’s guides gets extra points for listing contacts for Canadian support organizations. Written in a thoroughly compassionate manner, this book should be of use to anyone who knows someone suffering from Alzheimer’s. "

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The sign above the doughnuts in the bakery read, “Buy a Dozen Get a Dinosaur”. A dinosaur? A toy, perhaps? But no – the little boy (and his unhappy mother) were presented with a real triceratops after buying a dozen doughnuts! Next, at the doctor’s office, they were given a stegosaurus. And at the barbershop, the little boy received a flying pterosaur. “Yessss!” said the boy. “Noooo!” groaned his mother, as the newly acquired dinos followed them down the street. Suddenly, there seemed to be dinosaurs everywhere on the sidewalk, accompanying happy children and glaring moms, while signs on every business advertised even more Jurassic giveaways. What was going on?
When Dinosaurs Came With Everything is a clever story that is certain to delight young children. Elise Broach is a Connecticut author.
The art in this picture book is a perfect fit for the story. Illustrator David Small, from Michigan, has received both a Caldecott Medal and a Caldecott Honor for his artwork in previous children’s books. (He says that he would like to receive an Apatosaurus with his next coffee purchase….)
** Recommended for ages 4 to 7 years of age.
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Humphrey the Hamster is a popular pet in Mrs. Brisbane’s classroom, Room 26. However, Humphrey has a secret! Unknown to the students and their teacher, he can escape from his cage whenever he pleases. One night, his escape is noticed, setting off a series of unfortunate consequences. How can one little hamster cause so much trouble? Humphrey, who actually loves helping the students of Room 26, is appalled, and has no idea of how to fix the problems he’s unintentionally brought about. What can he do to make things better? Will Room 26 ever return to “normal”?
Trouble According to Humphrey is a lively, entertaining chapter book and Humphrey fans will be happy to know that the library owns two more titles about this intrepid hamster: The World According to Humphrey and Friendship According to Humphrey. Betty Birney is the author of many more children’s books.
** Recommended for ages 8 to 10 years.

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!”
Griffin Maxwell is a quiet student who hates, above all else at school, class speeches. This year he is determined not to give a speech at all. With his best friend, Bryan, he comes up with a plan to fool his teacher – one that seems fail-proof, at first. It’s a plan that will indeed make Griffin, “speechless”!
However, events don’t play out as anticipated, and Griffin’s “fail-proof” plan results in a bizarre set of hilarious events. Long before the end of this book, young readers will also be speechless - with laughter!
Readers will easily identify with the likeable, realistic characters of Griffin and Bryan in this enjoyable, light-hearted story. Author Valerie Sherrard, from New Brunswick, has also written Kate, Sam’s Light and the Shelby Belgarden Mysteries.
** Recommended for ages 9 to 12 years.

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