Gage Cornerstones 6: Canadian Language Arts
Games of Ancient Rome
Gathering Blue
Gender Issues
Getting Near to Baby
Ghost Hotel
Girls' Own: An Anthology of Canadian Fiction for Young Readers
The Giver
The Global Shakespeare Series.
The Globe Reader’s Collection Series
The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles
The Goose Girl
Great Scenes and Monologues for Children Ages 7-14
The Greek Gods
Greek Mythology for Students Series
Greek Myths
The Greenies. 1st ed.
Grind
Guided Comprehension in Action: Lessons for Grades 3-8

Gage Cornerstones 6: Canadian Language Arts (Print-Anthology). Gage Learning Corporation (NEL), 1999. Order numbers follow.

Components in this program include the following:

(CAN, WNCP) This set of resources provides a framework upon which to build flexible language arts programming. It consists of a teacher’s guide and two student anthologies, each containing four thematic units. The resources allow for extension and individualization, and they provide support for differentiating instruction. The extension activities encourage critical and creative thinking, while allowing students to demonstrate knowledge in a variety of ways, both independently and in groups.

The anthologies promote links to other literature and media, to other curriculum areas, to technology, and to the home. They feature abundant Canadian content, combined with a global focus, and they contain texts from a wide range of genres, including personal accounts, poetry, biographies, interviews, and folktales.

The teacher’s guide supports both student anthologies, providing interdisciplinary linkages, a thematic framework, classroom management information, professional reading lists, and novel study activities. For each anthology selection, the guide includes author profiles, language arts learning outcomes, links to prior experience, activities for each of the language arts, and suggestions for differentiating instruction.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Language Resource; Multigenre

Games of Ancient Rome (Print-Non-Fiction). Please refer to the “Currently Out of Print but Still Useful Learning Resources” section.

Gathering Blue (Print-Fiction). Lowry, Lois. Houghton Mifflin Company (ALL/ULS), 2000. 215 p.
ISBN 0-618-05581-9 ($23.95 hdc.). (ULS) - ISBN 0-440-22949-9 ($9.99 pbk.).

As in Lois Lowry’s The Giver and Messenger (also annotated in this bibliography), the young protagonist in this novel is chosen by powerful adults to carry out an important task. Set in a futuristic society that emerges after great destruction on planet Earth, Kira is left homeless after her mother dies mysteriously. Kira is threatened with death because she has a deformed leg, and her society sees no purpose for those who cannot do hard labour. Kira is saved because, like her mother, she is able to dye threads. The Council of Guardians gives her the job of repairing and restoring the robe of the Singer, the oral historian who presides at the annual harvest time Gathering celebration. Through her work, Kira discovers that she has real talent for creating new and beautiful patterns. She also discovers, however, that her temporary privileged status will eventually bring her doom. This novel is a compelling examination of a future society that will challenge readers to think about community, creativity, and the values they have learned to accept.

Gathering Blue would be a good choice for literature circles and for discussions around the theme of the future.
Suggested Use: Grade 9; Environmental and Technological Context; Imaginative and Literary Context

Gender Issues (Print-Anthology). Please refer to the “Currently Out of Print but Still Useful Learning Resources” section.

Getting Near to Baby (Print-Fiction). Couloumbis, Audrey. Putnam Publishing (CDS), 1999. 211 p. ISBN 0-399-23389-X ($25.99 hdc.). ISBN 0-698-11892-8 ($8.99 pbk.).

When their baby sister dies and their mother slips into a depression, 12-year-old Willa Jo and Little Sister are taken to live with their Aunt Patty. As the story opens, the two girls are sitting on the roof of their aunt’s home ignoring Aunt Patty’s pleas to come down. Over the course of the day, Willa Jo, from her perch on the roof, mulls over the events of the past few weeks: her mother’s depression, Little Sister’s refusal to talk, and her aunt’s bossiness. The potential for a crisis is averted when Uncle Hob’s understanding and Aunt Patty’s genuine concern unite them all. The characters and the changes that occur are credible.

This 1999 Newbery Honour book offers meaningful insights on some universal truths about grief and healing.
Suggested Use: Grade 7; Personal and Philosophical Context

Ghost Hotel (Print-Fiction). Slade, Arthur. (Canadian Chills Series). Coteau Books (FHW), 2004. 138 p. ISBN 1-55050-306-5 ($7.95 pbk.).

(SK) Walter Biggar Bronson and his sidekick Cindy fall into a mystery that provides work for their newly formed detective agency. This fast-paced adventure that at times seems incredible will attract readers because of the writer’s skillful inclusion of Saskatchewan landmarks. The hotel in the title is none other than the famous Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon. Slade has written a very entertaining story about a ghost that lurked in the hotel.

Ghost Hotel was nominated for a Saskatchewan Book Award in 2004.

Teachers should note that because of this book’s focus on a ghost, it may not be suitable for all communities.
Suggested Use: Grade 7; Imaginative and Literary Context

Girls' Own: An Anthology of Canadian Fiction for Young Readers (Print-Anthology). Ellis, Sarah, ed. Puffin Books (CDS), 2001. 348 p. ISBN 0-14-130993-8 ($18.00 pbk.).

(CAN) This collection of short stories contains a variety of themes and genres that will appeal to both genders. Many of the 13 short stories are from novels such as The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis, The Belonging Place by Jean Little, and Julie by Cora Taylor. Ellis has included other notable Canadian writers such as Joan Clark, Julie Johnson, and Jan Hudson.

This book would be interesting to read aloud to foster students’ listening skills.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Grade 9; Social, Cultural, and Historical Context; Short Stories

The Giver (Print-Fiction). Lowry, Lois. Dell Publishing Co., Inc. (ULS), 1993. 180 p. ISBN 0-395-64566-2 ($25.95 hdc.). ISBN 0-440-23768-8 ($9.99 pbk.).

This Newbery Medal winner describes a fictitious community in which contentment comes at the price of individual human rights. When 12-year-old Jonas begins his life training as the Receiver, the repository of all community memory, he learns that the fullness of life demands acknowledgement of differences and the memory of painful experiences. He also sees that deeper emotions, such as love or real pleasure, require the knowledge of pain. This is a unique resource that will encourage students to discuss and think critically about issues that could impact their lives (e.g., family relationships, euthanasia, conformity versus individuality).

With tactful teacher guidance, The Giver has potential to provide valuable curriculum support for Middle Level English language arts programs.

Teachers should note that because of the sensitive issues which are addressed, a careful preview of this resource is recommended before using it in the classroom.

See also: The Gathering and Messenger (both of these sequels are annotated elsewhere in this bibliography).
Suggested Use: Grade 8; Social, Cultural, and Historical Context

The Global Shakespeare Series. Please refer to the titles: Introducing Shakespeare (Print); Introducing Shakespeare (CD-ROM); A Midsummer Night’s Dream With Related Readings, and The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet With Related Readings.

The Globe Reader’s Collection Series (Print-Anthology). Please refer to the titles: Eight Science Fiction Plays and Stories of Adventure and Survival.

The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles (Print-Fiction). Colum, Padraic. Aladdin Books (SHU), 2004. 316 p. ISBN 0-689-86884-7 ($14.50 pbk.).

The Golden Fleece is a retelling of Jason and the Argonauts’ journey and quest. Students will enjoy reading about the adventures of Jason and the other Greek heroes, gods, and goddesses. Colum has interwoven the tales of Jason and the Argonauts with the classic Greek narratives to celebrate the feats of the classic Greek heroes and their lives.

Originally published in 1922, this book was designated as a Newbery Honour Book in 1976.
Suggested Use: Grade 8; Imaginative and Literary Context

The Goose Girl (Print-Fiction). Hale, Shannon. Bloomsbury (RAI), 2003. 383 p. ISBN 1-58234-843-X ($24.95 hdc.). ISBN 1-58234-990-8 ($11.95 pbk.).

Hale has written an original magical tale similar to the Grimm’s Fairy Tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become queen. Anodori, Crown Princess of Kildenree (a.k.a. Ani), spends her first years under her aunt’s guidance learning to communicate with animals, but she is never comfortable speaking with people. When her silver-tongued lady-in-waiting leads a mutiny during Ani’s journey to be married in a foreign land, Ani is helpless and cannot persuade anyone to assist her. Becoming a goose girl for the king, Ani eventually uses her own special, nearly magical powers to find her way to her true destiny. Ani is a girl who must find her own unusual talents before she becomes queen of the people she has made her own.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Imaginative and Literary Context

Great Scenes and Monologues for Children Ages 7-14 (Print-Anthology). Slaight, Craig and Sharrar, Jack, eds. (The Young Actors Series). Smith & Kraus Publishers, Inc. (SMK), 1993. 175 p.
ISBN 1-880399-15-6 ($12.95 U.S. pbk.).

The wide variety of short play scenes and monologues in this resource make it a useful collection for developing students’ speaking abilities. The selections address a number of topics, including racism, friendship, loneliness, and relationships with parents. This anthology includes original scenes and versions from well-known novels.
Suggested Use: Grade 9; Personal and Philosophical Context; Social, Cultural, and Historical Context; Plays

The Greek Gods (Print-Anthology). Evslin, Bernard, Evslin, Dorothy and Hoopes, Ned. Scholastic Canada Ltd. (SCH), 1966. 116 p. ISBN 0-590-44110-8 ($8.99 pbk.).

This anthology contains 20 Greek myths about the gods and their relationship with nature. Included are a table of contents, an afterword, and information about words originating in mythology.
Suggested Use: Grade 8; Imaginative and Literary Context; Short Stories

Greek Mythology for Students Series (Video). Library Video Company/Schlessinger Media (VEC), 2004. 23 min. VHS/DVD - Order numbers follow. ($43.99).

Recommended titles in this series include the following:

These clear, colourful animated versions of the Greek myths provide an easily accessible resource for learners at many levels. They can be used selectively for an overview of the gods and goddesses or to focus on a specific story. They make the stories very simple and easy to understand.

A teacher’s guide accompanies each program and includes a summary of the contents of the program, vocabulary, activities, and a reference list.

The program Constellation Myths could be used for Grade 6 – Tales of Heroes.
Suggested Use: Grade 8; Imaginative and Literary Context

Greek Myths (Print-Anthology). Please refer to the “Currently Out of Print but Still Useful Learning Resources” section.

The Greenies. 1st ed. (Print-Fiction). Paperny, Myra. HarperCollins Canada Ltd. (HCP), 2005. 250 p.
ISBN 0-00-639355-1 ($15.99 pbk.).

(CAN) At the end of the Second World War about 1,000 teenage Jewish orphans came to Canada and settled in 38 different communities in Canada. This real-life event in Canadian history is told through the fictional stories of Danny, Lilli, and Marilyn.

Danny survived the Buchenwald concentration camp but lost his entire family. Lilli is an Auschwitz survivor who saw her mother and younger sister sent to their death, and was separated from her other sister by the refugee process. She hopes for a new life in Canada, but has bad experiences with foster families. Marilyn is a Canadian girl, who goes to school with the newcomers and gradually comes to understand the adversities that have shaped their lives and influenced their reactions to Canadian life.

The story is told against a background of the Holocaust and the German concentration camps. Readers learn about the horrors of the camps, the atrocities that took place there, and the way that prisoners survived. The year is 1947, and readers also learn about the clothing, slang, family life, and community expectations of the time. There is information about attitudes toward immigrants and the way that immigrants were treated during this period in Canada’s history.
Suggested Use: Grade 9; Personal and Philosophical Context; Social, Cultural, and Historical Context
Initiative: Multicultural Content and Perspectives

Grind (Print-Fiction). Walters, Eric. (Orca Soundings Series). Orca Book Publishers Ltd. (ORC), 2004. 100 p. ISBN 1-55143-317-6 ($9.95 pbk.).

(CAN) Phillip is a fearless skateboarder. He is always eager to try a new move, even if it means a fall and a trip to the hospital. Phillip, his skateboarding friends Lisa and Wally, and computer whiz Nevin set up a website showing their skateboarding moves. It attracts a sponsor who is willing to pay one cent for every hit on the site. It seems like an easy way to attain fortune and fame, but the group wants more. When Wally is badly hurt trying a move he has almost mastered, Phillip decides it is time to re-evaluate what matters most in life.

Even as they are skateboarding and setting up their website, the main characters are dealing with typical teenage concerns – minor squabbles with parents and the break-up of Phillip and Lisa’s romance, for example.

The simple language and straightforward plot in this novel will appeal to reluctant readers. All readers will learn a lot about skateboarding and the Internet.
Suggested Use: Grade 7; Personal and Philosophical Context

Guided Comprehension in Action: Lessons for Grades 3-8 (Print-Non-Fiction). Allen, Mary Beth and McLaughlin, Maureen. International Reading Association (OLA), 2002. 186 p. ISBN 0-87207-343-2 ($30.29 pbk.).

Designed to complement Guided Comprehension: A Teaching Model for Grades 3-8, this resource provides an array of instructional strategies to actively develop students’ reading comprehension. Each of the contextual-based chapters features an instructional overview, strategy-based lesson plans, samples of student work, and related resources. Multiple modes of response, critical analysis of materials, and a variety of texts are embedded within the suggested themes. Teaching ideas and blackline masters that support strategy applications are appended.
Suggested Use: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Teacher Reference