Zoe mostly has it good. Her parents are nice, her brother isn‰Ûªt half bad, and her dog Ella is amazing. But Zoe thinks her life is boring ‰ÛÒ nothing ever changes. She‰Ûªs stuck in her wheelchair and her parents never let her do anything fun. And it really bugs her that some of the kids think she‰Ûªs not smart just because her body doesn‰Ûªt always do what she wants. Then in the midst of the holiday season, Zoe learns about the diverse cultures of her friends at school, and realizes she‰Ûªs not the only different one in class. While celebrating the traditions of Christmas, Hanukkanh, Kwanzaa, Divali and Eid, she realizes that excitement can arrive in weird and challenging ways. Will Zoe succeed when she needs to take charge for the first time? Or, is having adventures really not as great as she thought?

Academic study of children's literature has explored various aspects of diversity; however, little research has examined Canadian books that portray characters with disabilities. This relevant and timely text addresses the significant dearth of research by exploring the treatment of disability in Canadian literature for young people. Engaging and highly accessible, this text will assist teachers, teacher educators, and teacher candidates in finding and using books about characters where disability is a part of their characterization, supporting the development of curricula that reflect critical literacy and social justice issues. Stories for Every Classroom explores the historical patterns and trends, theoretical frameworks, and critical literacy methods used to understand and teach children's literature and its portrayal of characters with disabilities. It provides educators with curriculum ideas and enriches the body of resources shared with children in K-12 settings for the purposes of developing imagination, empathy, and understanding of self and others. Featuring author portraits, comprehensive annotated bibliographies of contemporary Canadian children's books that depict characters with disabilities, and read-on bibliographies that provide connections with other books in the field, this unique text will be an invaluable resource for educators.

Living with a chronic illness can have a significant psychological impact on a child and his or her family, and it is essential that this aspect of their care is not overlooked. This book provides a comprehensive guide to promoting the psychological well-being of children with chronic illnesses and medical conditions, covering support within health, social services and education. It discusses issues such as the impact of diagnosis and the experiences of children and their families in managing their medical condition and treatment. Strategies to support children and help them to cope with medical conditions are demonstrated, including cognitive behavioural and systemic approaches, and techniques such as relaxation and motivational interviewing. Case examples from clinical practice are given to illustrate the application of psychological ideas and frameworks to a variety of medical conditions and psychological difficulties. The book also includes a comprehensive resources section of where to look for further information. This will be an essential book for all professionals working with children with medical conditions, including psychologists, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, counsellors, social workers, speech and language therapists, dieticians and play therapists.

Naomi Demas is seventeen, and her relationship with her mother is conflicted. Irene is obsessive and strange. She has never gotten over Naomi’s disability, or her twin’s infant death. When Naomi was eight, Irene left with Naomi’s older sister. Naomi is sustained by her faith, her connection with her deceased twin, and her commitment to her remaining family. She also finds purpose in her connection with her valued friends -- whose struggles include alcoholism, foster care, and learning disabilities. There is excitement in Naomi’s romance with her boyfriend Matt, focus in her love of school, and comfort through her trusted horse. But she is unsettled... Naomi’s surviving sister, Jo, has reached out to her as their mother deteriorates in new ways, and as it is becoming clear that Matt is not who Naomi thought he was. She must find yet more strength when an emergency throws her half-brother into serious danger and tests everyone’s loyalties. Burning the Boats tells the story of a young woman, the ones she loves, and the value of her disability. It is a story about commitment, integrity, choices, consequences and convictions. Here is a world of loss, betrayal, love, trust, and healing when least expected.

Key Selling Points New, enhanced features (dyslexia-friendly font, cream paper, larger trim size) to increase reading accessibility for dyslexic and other striving readers.

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is celebrated with firecrackers, sweet treats, and exciting tales of a prince and princess. Readers will learn about the customs involved in celebrating this joyful holiday, and they can prepare a delicious mango lassi and construct a fun Diwali game to play on the big day.

Daisy is looking forward to Christmas and getting everyone the perfect gift, but when her family gets bad news and her class loses the Winter Wonderland door-decorating contest, Daisy needs help regaining her enthusiasm.