Books published by publisher Ronsdale Pr

The story of the 100,000 British children who came to Canada as child immigrants between 1870 and 1938 is not well known. Yet the descendants of these "Home Children" number over four million people in Canada today. The author is one of them. Charlie was her father. Charlie is a compelling account of a poor English boy who works his way out of poverty to eventually become a high-ranking member of the RCMP. Charlie's story, like many others, is an inspiring part of our Canadian heritage, and will fascinate adults as well as children.

A Man, a Can, a Plan: 50 Tasty Meals You Can Nuke in No Time by David Joachim and the Editors of Men's Health offers step-by-step recipes, including: '50s-Style Creamed Chicken How to make it: Cook the onion in the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, until tender. Dump in the chicken and stir. Cook for 1 minute. Stir in the soup and mushrooms. Simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the sour cream over low heat. Heat through and serve over the cooked noodles. Makes 6 servings. Per serving: 354 calories, 5 g fat (12% of calories), 1 g saturated fat, 22 g protein, 54 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 599 mg sodium. When it's not just you and the TV ... top with chopped fresh parsley. 10-oz can chunk chicken breast, drained and flaked 11-oz can reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup 6-oz can sliced mushrooms, drained 12-oz bag "no yolk" egg noodles, cooked according to the package directions Also: 1/2 cup chopped onion, 2 tsp olive oil, 1 cup fat-free sour cream Book FactsServing Size: 50 recipes Main ingredients per recipe: About 5 Avg. prep time per recipe: 30 min. Breakfasts: 4 Sandwiches: 8 Munchies: 9 Dinners: 25 Desserts: 4 Special cooking and nutrition tips: 15 Easy-to-clean pages: 43

Fiction. Children's Literature. Illustrated by Andrea Torrey Balsara. MOUSE PET is the third tale in the endearing new picture book series, "Happy the Pocket Mouse." When Happy declares he wants a pet – to pat and feed and take for walks – his friend John says that it's too much responsibility, that a pet needs lots of care and special attention. Not a mouse to give up easily, Happy insists that his pet will be no more trouble than Mrs. Farrell's canary. But when Happy's choice of pet turns out to have long furry legs, hooves and horns, John explains that you can't keep that kind of animal in the city. Happy insists that they can just hide it under a blanket. Offering a compromise, John suggests a "teddy- pet," to which, after some reflection, Happy agrees. After bringing his new pet home and settling in happily for the night, Happy suddenly declares that his pet requires a pet of her own. What sort of pet? John asks. Just a small one, Happy assures him, with shiny black fur and a pretty white stripe.

This gripping novel for young readers begins in 1805, when fifteen-year-old Duncan Scott and his sister Libby lose their parents in a Glasgow cotton mill fire. Their tragedy is compounded when, through one reckless act of grief, the Scott children become fugitives as well as orphans, and must flee Scotland. Across the border in England, Duncan and Libby are betrayed by their travelling companion. In a desperate attempt to save Duncan from the gallows, Libby sacrifices her freedom for her brother’s — a selfless act of courage on the Liverpool docks that sends her to prison and propels Duncan over the storm-swept waters of the Atlantic to Canada. After a year in Montreal, Duncan is enlisted to travel by canoe across the continent to New Caledonia, carrying secret orders for the trader,Simon Fraser. Before he can go home and find Libby, Duncan must join Fraser on a dangerous voyage of discovery to the sea, a journey down what Fraser assumes is the Columbia River but which turns out to be what later will be called the Fraser. Along the way, Duncan faces death, danger and treason, and must somehow find the courage to save his companions, the expedition, and himself.

Fiction. Young Adult. THE OLD BROWN SUITCASE, an award winning book that has sold extraordinarily well both around the globe, now appears in a new edition by Ronsdale Press. The novel narrates the absorbing story of a young girl who survived the Holocaust against all odds. Slava, a fourteen-year-old teen, comes to Canada with her parents and sister and a suitcase filled with memories of a lost childhood, memories that now haunt her new life. She cannot forget the hunger, stench and disease in the Warsaw Ghetto, nor the fear and humiliation of being incarcerated behind a high brick wall. She cannot forget her extraordinary escape from the Ghetto, leaving behind her beloved parents and sister. Nor can she forget being swallowed up in a strange and unknown place to survive under a hidden identity. The story juxtaposes heart-wrenching scenes from a child's life in war-torn Poland with the life of a teenager trying to adjust to a new country in time of peace. In Canada, it is not easy for Slava to build a bridge between two cultures; nor is it easy to live with the turmoil of her immediate past. At the same time she must face the new challenges involved in being an immigrant, a Jew and a teenage girl. Historical notes on the Warsaw Ghetto and a bibliography for future reading have been appended for those who wish further insights.

Fiction. Children's Literature. Illustrated by Andrea Torrey Balsara. JELLYBEAN MOUSE is the second tale in the exciting picture book series, "Happy the Pocket Mouse." When a boring trip to the laundromat frustrates Happy's insatiable appetite for adventure, Happy arrives at the laundromat in a funk, only to come face-to-face with his first jellybean machine. Thrilled with the discovery, Happy is confounded for a second time when John explains that he has only enough quarters for the wash. Refusing to give up, Happy makes a careful reconnaissance beneath the washing machines until he finds a quarter of his own. But the stingy machine conspires against the treasure-seeking mouse, steals his quarter, and refuses to release its jellybeans. Unwilling to accept defeat, Happy convinces John to tilt the machine until its sweet treasure spills out in abundance. No adventure is too small for a mouse with a prodigious appetite.

Submarine Outlaw takes YA readers on a unique journey when Alfred, a young boy who wants to be an explorer -- not a fisherman -- teams up with a junkyard genius to build a submarine that he sails around the Maritimes. The book takes the reader through the detailed hands-on process of submarine construction into the world of real ocean navigation, replete with a high-seas chase, daring rescue, and treasure hunting. Children will identify with Alfred's desire for an adventurous life and the sense of empowerment that comes with building his own submarine and operating it independently. They will also love the unusual crew -- a rescued dog and a quirky seagull. The First Prize Winner of the Atlantic Writers Competition, Submarine Outlaw shows how any great goal in life takes a good deal of patience, determination and hard work. But hard work on one's dream becomes an act of joy. Another important theme developed is the importance of good judgment. The main character learns first hand that he is equally able to make good and bad choices, and must quickly identify the difference. The theme of choosing a career of one's own in the face of familial or societal opposition is also well developed. There is an element of mystery and intrigue intrinsic to submarines that makes for compelling reading. When the main character is mistaken for a Russian spy sub and chased by the Canadian coastguard, the plot takes many exciting twists, making the book difficult to put down. Children will identify with the main character because he is an average young teen filled with desire and enthusiasm, and driven to follow his dreams. Step by step they will see how a typical, average young teen comes to live a very extraordinary experience.