Indigenous History Month

Hi Readers,

June is Indigenous History Month in Canada and June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day. It’s the perfect time to learn more about the histories and culture of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples.

A great way to learn about history is by listening to the stories of Indigenous Peoples and by reading books like Spirit Bear: Fishing for Knowledge, Catching Dreams. This book taught me so much!

Another fun way to learn about Indigenous culture is to attend a powwow, where you can watch traditional dances, see handmade regalia, arts and crafts, and try all kinds of different foods. On June 21, be sure to check out this virtual powwow put on by the Winnipeg Art Gallery!

See you at the powwow!

— Jackie, chirp@owlkids.com

Book Review and Contest: Nibi is Water

Hi everyone,

Did you like the story Spring’s Gift in the April issue of Chirp magazine? If so, then you will love Canadian author-illustrator Joanne Robertson’s new book, Nibi is Water.

Nibi means water in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) and this board book is all about how important it is to protect and respect the water of the Earth. You can read along with Joanne’s cute and colourful illustrations of Nibi as she splashes and drips around.

For a chance to WIN a copy of Ibi is Water, comment on this post or email us with your first name, age, and one thing you do to appreciate or protect water.

Good luck!

Contest deadline: May 1, 2020

PLEASE NOTE: Due to Covid-19 restrictions, prizes may be delayed.

See full contest rules and regs here.

Chirp’s Aye-Aye Gets Lucky Contest

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Hey readers,

If you love stories about animals, I highly recommend Aye-Aye Gets Lucky, written by Terri Tatchell and illustrated by Ivan Sulima. This book is about a mischievous aye-aye who loves pulling pranks and spooking the people of  Madagascar! His behaviour and creepy claws earn him a bad reputation, and people start believing he’s bad luck! Then one day, a flying fox gives the aye-aye a taste of his own medicine. The aye-aye learns it’s not so fun to feel scared and realizes he must earn back the people’s trust. I enjoyed how this story is told through rhyming verses and is about an endangered animal native to Madagascar. The additional fun facts about the aye-aye and flying fox and drawing tutorials in the back of the book were pretty neat, too!

To learn more about the aye-aye, read on below!

Aye -Aye Facts

• Aye-ayes live in Madagascar, Africa.
• Aye-ayes are primates and are related to humans.
• Aye-ayes and all lemurs are considered the world’s most endangered mammals.

For a chance to WIN an Aye-Aye Gets Lucky prize pack or a copy of the book, click HERE to fill out your entry.

Contest deadline: January 6, 2019 @11:59 p.m.

Prize courtesy of Endangered and Misunderstood.

For full contest rules and regulations click here.

Good luck, everyone!

-Jenna, chirpblog@owlkids.com

Book Review + Giveaway: The Story of Gigantosaurus

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Hey readers,

Based off the Disney Channel and Disney Junior TV series, The Story of Gigantosaurus is about four dinosaur friends who set off on a Gigantosaurus hunt! They’re in for a wild adventure as they search far and wide, meeting all kinds of dinosaurs along the way.

We asked Abbott, 7, to tell us what he thought about this book. Check out his review below!

“This book was good. I liked when they were inside the giant dinosaur’s mouth. My favourite part was how they kept on running into different dinos. If other kids didn’t know about dinosaurs they might not like this book but if they know how to pronounce dinosaur names they will like it. There is a TV show, too.”

Thanks for the review, Abbott!

For a chance to WIN 1 of 4 prize packs including The Story of Gigantosaurus, Gigantosaurus: The Lost Egg, and Gigantosaurus: Don’t Cave In, comment below your age, name, and favourite dinosuar!

Contest deadline: December 4 @ 11:59 p.m.

Prizes courtesy of Candlewick Press.

For full contest rules and regulations click here.

Good luck, everyone!

-Jenna, chirpblog@owlkids.com 

Book Giveaway: Where Are You Now?

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Hey readers,

Where Are You Now? is a beautiful picture book written and illustrated by Tyler Clark Burke. Told in simple and poetic verse, this story explores what happens to things that have vanished from our lives, be it the setting sun, melting snowflakes, or an eaten apple. The story encourages kids to look for what has disappeared in other places. For instance, sunlight is reflected on the moon, snowflakes turn into water, and seeds from an apple core can grow into a tree. The book also opens the door to conversations about loss and difficult times of change.

For a chance to WIN 1 of 2 signed copies of this book, tell us your name and age in the comments below.

Contest deadline: November 13 @ 11:59 p.m.

Prizes courtesy of Owlkids.

For full contest rules and regulations click here.

-Jenna, chirpblog@owlkids.com