LPL

Storytime (March 2 to April 8) - It's a Small World

Canadians come from all over the world and the variety of languages and cultures adds to the richness of Canadian life.

This spring at Storytime we'll be traveling the world and learning about a lot of different countries.

Join us on our world-wide journey. No passport is required!

Storytime runs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning at 10:30am from March 2 to April 8.

For more information or to register, please call Programs at 780-875-0850 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

March 9-11

The Land Down Under (Australia)

Like Canada and the United States, Australia is a powerful, industrialized nation with a high standard of living. But although the three countries are similar in many ways, Australia's unique geography and unusual history have made it very different from its North American counterparts. Australia is the only nation to occupy an entire continent, although it is the smallest of the world's 7 continents. Surrounded by the South Pacific and Indian oceans, Australia is also an island. This island-continent abounds in animals and plants that exist nowhere else. Kangaroos, koalas, duck-billed platypuses, eucalyptus trees and emus live in Australia. It is also the flattest and driest inhabited continent on earth. Our craft this week, the boomerang, is a curved weapon used by the Aborigines for hunting; some types, when thrown, will return to the thrower.

March 16-18

Tour de France (France)

France is one of the world's oldest nations, with an independent history that dates back to the fifth century. Over the centuries, the French have developed a culture of remarkable richness and continuity. France is situated in the heart of Europe and is sometimes called “the hexagon” because of its shape. It is the largest country in Western Europe, and four different seas lap the French coastline. The capital of France is Paris, in the north of the country, on the banks of the Seine River. Sometimes called the “city of light”, Paris has been admired and loved by millions for centuries and has inspired writers and artists alike. The French flag is called the Tricolor because it has three vertical bands of color: blue, white and red. The design was in use before the French Revolution. The Blue and red are the colors of the city of Paris and the white was a symbol of royalty.

March23-25

Where the snow leopards roam (India)

India is a diamond-shaped country that lies on the bottom of the continent of Asia. India has a long coastline, with the Arabian Sea to the west, the Bay of Bengal to the east, and the Indian Ocean to the south. It is made up of 28 states and 7 territories. The Northern part of India is covered with a mountain range called the Himalayas. The tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest, is in the Himalayas. India has the second largest population in the world – more than 1 billion people. With so many people, cities are very crowded. Half of India's people are still farmers. Lots of different languages are spoken in India, included Hindi, Urdu and English. And in certain parts of India it is customary to wear a necklace of fresh flowers at Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, held in late October or early November.

March 30-April 1

Islands Born from the Sea (Japan)

Japan's string of more than 3,900 islands gently curves around northeast Asia's mainland for about 1,930 km. Added together, the islands cover almost as much land as California in the United States. The four main islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. They make up more than 95% of Japan's land area. Japan's landscape is rugged and wild, with jagged mountains and steep, forested hills. Because Japan sits at the meeting place of four tectonic plates, or shifting sections of the Earth's crust, earthquakes, volcanoes and tidal waves ravage the country every year. Japan's economy is the second largest in the world, after the United States. The cost of living in Japan is the highest in the world. Gardens adorn Japanese homes, temples and public places. Stones, water and plants are arranged in harmonious and thought-provoking ways.

April 6-8

The New World (Central and South America)

Central America – Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and parts of southern Mexico – is distinctly apart from its bigger, more well-known American neighbours. Tiny on a map, Central America packs in more diversity than any similar-sized area on the planet. Spanish haciendas line the cobblestone streets of 16th-century colonial towns under the ominous gaze of lava-gurgling volcanoes. The resplendent quetzal is an aptly named bird that many consider among the world's most beautiful. These vibrantly colored animals live in the mountainous, tropical forests of Central America where they eat fruit, insects, lizards, and other small creatures. During mating season, male quetzals grow twin tail feathers that form an amazing train up to three feet (one meter) long. Unfortunately, these striking birds are threatened in Guatemala and elsewhere throughout their range. They are sometimes trapped for captivity or killed, but their primary threat is the disappearance of their tropical forest homes. In some areas, most notably Costa Rica's cloud forests, protected lands preserve habitat for the birds and provide opportunities for ecotourists and eager bird watchers from around the globe.