Sheryl McFarlane's Book Blog

My new site is up

2011-07-06T09:20:00.001-07:00

I've been busy building myself a new site which includes a wordpress blog and website rolled into one. I'm gradually transferring content. This is where all new posts will be located.

New site coming soon...

2011-06-28T17:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts, but I'm in the midst of a website/blog move...I hope to have the new site up in a few weeks so watch for announcements.

National Aboriginal Day and Summer Solstice Today

2011-06-21T13:05:00.000-07:00

Today is the summer solstice, but also National Aboriginal Day. I'm hoping to get to a few of the activities to celebrate with my First Nations and Metis friends. Just about right now, a Salish Welcome Totem is being raised at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. I'll be there in spirit, and will try to get down soon to take a picture of it for you.

Tall Tale Books

2011-06-20T10:45:00.001-07:00

Image by pattie74_99 via Flickr

Although Victoria, BC is not a particularly large city, we are lucky enough to have our very own children's book store, Tall Tale Books. Unfortunately, this fabulous little bookstore, like many other independents, is having a tough time these days. The owners aren't willing to give up though. Here's their plan...they've created a "Hero Society" which is open to any patron who agrees to pay a mere $10 a month in return for children's books of their choice. The idea is basically to give the store a guaranteed income so that it can keep going. Anyone can join, and even if you don't make it to Victoria regularly, you can save your store credits and cash them in any time.

Getting Started

2011-06-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

Like most other professional writers with a focus on books for kids and teens, I'm frequently asked by family and friends to look at their stories and/or help them get published. But, writing a cute story simply isn't enough. Most amateurs aren't aware of just how much time, effort, and work goes into getting published, especially these days. Even very short manuscripts can require a dozen rewrites, and of course you have to find a publisher interested enough to take a chance on your work. Writing for kids is not something you can do just because you've got a little retirement time on your hands. It takes knowledge about the industry and a commitment to the craft of writing. Even if you decide to opt for the self-published route, you still need to follow the previous steps, but in addition, you will also need to find the services of a professional editor, designer, and illustrator or photographer for your book's cover (and, if necessary, interiors), possibly a computer expert (if you are going the e-book route) and you'll still need someone to handle promotion and sales.

If all this is sounding a little overwhelming, you may want to check out Harold Underdown's "Getting Started" pages. Underdown, is a former editor, and the author of The Complet Idiot's Guide to Children's Publishing.

His advice is solid gold.

Canadian Children's BookCentre announces 2011 award short-lists

2011-06-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is pleased to announce the finalists for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People and the inaugural John Spray Mystery Award.

The books on these shortlists exemplify some of the best work by Canadian authors and illustrators. The Canadian Children’s Book Centre is proud to share these titles with you.

TD CANADIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AWARD ($25,000)Sponsored by TD Bank Group

Burn
Written by Alma Fullerton (Midland, ON)
Dancing Cat Books

Canadian Railroad Trilogy
Written by Gordon Lightfoot (Toronto, ON)
Illustrated by Ian Wallace (Brookline, MA)

The Glory WindWritten by Valerie Sherrard (Miramichi, NB)
Fitzhenry & Whiteside

I Know Here
Written by Laurel Croza (Markham, ON)
Illustrated by Matt James (Toronto, ON)
Groundwood Books

Plain KateWritten by Erin Bow (Kitchener, ON)
Scholastic Canada

PRIX TD DE LITTÉRATURE CANADIENNE POUR L’ENFANCE ET LA JEUNESSE ($25,000)

Sponsored by TD Bank Group

Le chasseur de loups-marins
Written by Claire Vigneau (Sherbrooke, QC)
Illustrated by Bruce Roberts (Westmount, QC)
Éditions Les 400 coups

Devant ma maisonWritten and illustrated by Marianne Dubuc (Montreal, QC)
Éditions La courte échelle

La fille d'en faceWritten by Linda Amyot (St-Charles-Boromée, QC)
Éditions Leméac

Oh ! la vache !Written by Alain M. Bergeron (Victoriaville, QC), Édith Bourget (Saint-Jacques, NB),Colombe Labonté (Saint-Lambert, QC) and Guy Marchamps (Trois-Rivières, QC)
Illustrated by Caroline Merola (Montreal, QC)
Soulières éditeur

Xavier-la-luneWritten by Martine Audet (Montreal, QC)
Illustrated by Luc Melanson (Laval, QC)
Éditions Dominique et compagnie

MARILYN BAILLIE PICTURE BOOK AWARD ($20,000)Sponsored by A. Charles Baillie

I Know Here
Written by Laurel Croza (Markham, ON)
Illustrated by Matt James (Toronto, ON)
Groundwood Books

In Front of My HouseWritten and illustrated by Marianne Dubuc (Montreal, QC)
Translated by Yvette Ghione (Toronto, ON)
Kids Can Press

Singing Away the DarkWritten by Caroline Woodward (Victoria, BC)
Illustrated by Julie Morstad (Vancouver, BC)
Simply Read Books

SporkWritten by Kyo Maclear (Toronto, ON)
Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (Montreal, QC)
Kids Can Press

Stanley’s Little SisterWritten by Linda Bailey (Vancouver, BC)
Illustrated by Bill Slavin (Millbrook, ON)
Kids Can Press

NORMA FLECK AWARD FOR CANADIAN CHILDREN’S NON-FICTION ($10,000)

Sponsored by the Fleck Family Foundation

Case Closed! Nine Mysteries Unlocked by Modern Science Written by Susan Hughes (Toronto, ON)

Illustrated by Michael Wandelmaier (Toronto, ON)
Kids Can Press

Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to BeWritten and illustrated by Daniel Loxton (Victoria, BC)
Kids Can Press

Not Your Typical Book About the EnvironmentWritten by Elin Kelsey (Pacific Grove, CA)
Illustrated by Clayton Hanmer (Toronto, ON)
Owlkids

Viola Desmond Won't Be BudgedWritten by Jody Nyasha Warner (Toronto, ON)
Illustrated by Richard Rudnicki (Halifax, NS)
Groundwood Books

Watch This Space: Designing, Defending and Sharing Public Spaces
Written by Hadley Dyer (Toronto, ON)
Illustrated by Marc Ngui (Cambridge, ON)
Kids Can Press

GEOFFREY BILSON AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ($5,000)

Sponsored by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Bilson Endowment Fund

Exiles from the War: The War Guests Diary of Charlotte Mary Twiss
(Dear Canada)
Written by Jean Little (Guelph, ON)
Scholastic Canada

FollyWritten by Marthe Jocelyn (Stratford, ON)
Tundra Books

The Glory WindWritten by Valerie Sherrard (Miramichi, NB)
Fitzhenry & Whiteside

Queen of Hearts
Written by Martha Brooks (Winnipeg, MB)
Groundwood Books

Wild GeeseWritten by Caroline Pignat (Kanata, ON)
Red Deer Press

JOHN SPRAY MYSTERY AWARD ($5,000)

Sponsored by John Spray

Borderline

Written by Allan Stratton (Toronto, ON)

HarperTrophyCanada

Dead Bird Through the Cat Door
(Megabyte Mystery)

Written by Jan Markley (Calgary, AB)

Gumboot Books

The Mystery of the Cyber Bully
(Marty Chan Mystery)

Written by Marty Chan (Edmonton, AB)

Thistledown Press

A Spy in the House

(The Agency)

Written by Y.S. Lee (Kingston, ON)

Candlewick Press

Victim Rights
(Ryan Dooley Mystery)

Written by Norah McClintock (Toronto, ON)

Red Deer Press

Guardian's Top non-fiction picks

2011-06-14T10:48:00.001-07:00

The Guardian posted their 100 top picks for non-fiction. Sadly, there were quite a few of the titles that I hadn't read, but then I do tend more toward fiction, so I suppose I can be forgiven. Here are a few that I read, although I confess that when it came to Hawkings' A Brief History of Time, it was more of a "tried to read" kind of thing.

It makes me wonder if anyone has put a similar list together for kid's non-fiction?

2011 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards for Children.

2011-06-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

The Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards for Children's Books are:

Fiction

Blink & Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones (Candlewick)

Nonfiction
The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism, & Treachery by Steve Sheinkin (Flash Point/Roaring Brook)

Picture Book
Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes by Salley Mavor (Houghton)

Honor Books are:

Fiction

Chime by Franny Billingsley (Dial)
Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke (Kane Miller)

Nonfiction
Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea, and Air by Stewart Ross, illustrated by Stephen Biesty (Candlewick)
Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Vicky White (Candlewick)

Picture Book
Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen (Houghton)
Pecan Pie Baby by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Sophie Blackall (Putnam)

Simple writing exercise helps break vicious cycle that holds back black students

2011-06-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

One of my colleagues mentioned this article in a list serve I belong to. It involves having students write for 15 minutes about something they believe is important. It could be good grades, a skill or talent or having good friends. The exercise was originally done with grade 7 students in a class that was a mix of white and black students and was intended to boost self-esteem. And guess what, it works. So, if your a teacher, check this out. Simple writing exercise helps break vicious cycle that holds back black students.

It's the content that matters

2011-06-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Cover of Margaret Atwood

It's always refreshing when you read a pragmatic piece about books. There's so much hype about platform that we sometimes for get that it's the content that's important...and as Margaret Atwood points out in a Globe & Mail piece published in March that I somehow missed, there's no content without authors!

Greg Pincus, "IT's June (and I'm Still in School)"

2011-06-10T16:55:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

I love Greg Pincus. He's just so enthusiastic as well as being a great poet. Check out his poem "It's June (and I'm Still in School)"

Enjoy!

the dark YA literature controversy

2011-06-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

There has been such a flurry over dark YA literature this past week. I've added my two cents worth on my teenreads blog. Check it out.

ABC's of Team BC Legacy Project: connecting kids with books

2011-06-07T19:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a very cool project that connects kids with books. Check it out, and if you can, participate. If BC is too far away, consider starting up a similar project in your home town. Share books and you will be sharing opportunities to grow, read, and learn.

ABC’s of TEAM BC LEGACY PROJECT

Athletes Believing in Communities Western Canada Summer Games August 5-14, 2011

The ABC’s of Team BC Legacy Project is an initiative of the 2011 Western Canada Summer Games Team BC program. Team BC, in partnership with Literacy in Kamloops (LinK), will launch the “Bright Red Bookshelf” project in Kamloops. The ABC’s Legacy Project (Athletes Believing in Communities) teams up with LinK to fill custom built bright red bookshelves placed in designated locations in Kamloops with new and gently used children’s books. Children can enjoy these books at the sites and take home free books.

Team BC Mission Staff will lead the collection of books, designated for children from birth to 12 years old, from Team BC athletes, coaches, managers, parents, partners and MLAs and deliver them to LinK who will deliver them to bookshelf location sites (Food Bank, homeless shelters, inner city schools, medical walk-in clinics, etc.).

The initiative demonstrates the social responsibility and mobilizes the goodwill that Team BC members feel as participants in a multi-sport Games event and recognizes the needs in their home communities across the province.

In exchange for a donation, a Team BC sun pin will be provided to the donor.

Books can be given to a member of Team BC to provide to one of the Mission staff and can also be dropped off at PacificSport Regional Centres and Canadian Sport Centre Pacific Centres throughout BC (Nanaimo, Victoria, Whistler, Vancouver, Abbotsford, Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, and Fort St. John).

The 2011 Western Canada Summer Games take place Aug. 5-14 in Kamloops and will bring together approximately 2,300 athletes competing in 18 sports, along with coaches, managers and officials from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territory.

Team BC will send 356 athletes aged 12 to 22 and 69 coaches to the 2011 Western Canada Summer Games. BC has won the Western Canada Summer Games Cup every year since the Games’ inception in 1975.

For more information contact legacy@teambc.org.BACKGROUNDER PacificSport/ Canadian Sport Centre Pacific Addresses:

PacificSport Fraser Valley

2499 McMillan Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7R3

PacificSport Interior BC

Tournament Capital Centre 910 McGill Road Kamloops, BC V2C 6N6

Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre PacificSport Northern BC 3333 University Way Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9

Pomeroy Sport Centre PacificSport Northern BC 9324 – 96 Street Fort St. John, BC

V1J 0H6

(book drop-off locations)

PacificSport Okanagan

645 Dodd Road Kelowna, BC V1X 5H1

PacificSport Vancouver Island

900 Fifth Street (Bldg. 100) Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5

Canadian Sport Centre Pacific (Victoria Campus) Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence 4371 Interurban Road

Victoria, BC V9E 2C5

High Performance Training Centre @ Whistler Athletes' Centre 1090 Legacy Way Whistler, BC

V0N 1B1

CSC Pacific Vancouver Campus

1 Athletes Way

Vancouver, BC

V5Y 0B1

New British Children's Laureate appointed

2011-06-07T16:47:00.000-07:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Good news for England. Julia Donaldson has been named as the Children's Laureate for 2011-2013. With more than a hundred titles to her name, including The Gruffalo, The Snail and The Whale, What the Ladybird Heard, The Princess Mirror-Belle books, and Running on the Cracks. Donadson has written musicals, plays, poems and songs, and is a well known performer. The queen of rhyme is a welcome change, especially given her popularity with younger children. The Guardian reports that "To have a children's laureate whose skill lies in appealing to pre-school children who, once hooked by what books offer, are more likely to enjoy reading and become readers for life, is an invaluable asset in the UK's efforts to improve national standards of literacy."

Donaldson celebrated the honor by including all seven previous children's laureates in an original rhyming poem!

So Canada, when will you be stepping up to the plate and appointing a Canadian Children's Laureate?

2011 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Book Awards

2011-06-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

The Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Book Awards have been announced.

Here are this year's winners.

	CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK AWARD *Chester’s Masterpiece*By Mélanie Watt (Laval, QC) Published by Kids Can Press
	YOUNG ADULT / MIDDLE READER AWARD Half Brother By Kenneth Oppel (Toronto, ON) Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

To find out more about this Ontario Arts Council Award, check out their site.

The 2011 Chocolate Lily Book Award Winners

2011-06-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

PICTURE BOOK

Winner - Fred and Pete at the Beach by Cynthia Nugent

2nd Place - Stanley's Beauty Pageant by Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin

CHAPTER BOOK

Winner - Zach and Zoe Bully and the Beagle by Kristin Butcher

2nd Place - Goldfish Don't Take Bubble Baths by Trina Wiebe

NOVEL

Winner - The Giant Slayer by Iain Lawrence
2nd Place - Bank Job by James Heneghan and Norma Charles

It's June (and I'm Still in School

2011-06-03T20:28:00.000-07:00

I love Greg Pincus. He's so full of enthusiasm and he's a great poet and poetry advocate. Check out his "It's June (And I'm Still in School)" poem. If you're a teacher and are looking for something to entice kids given all the craziness of year end going on, have them write their own "June" poem.

How to Host a Skype Author Visit

2011-06-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

Image via CrunchBase

Author school visits are a wonderful way to turn kids onto books. But, with tight budgets, a lot of schools simply can't afford the expense; unless they get creative. Author Skype visits are a less expensive alternative, and it's easier than you think. Most schools already have the equipment necessary and Margriet Ruurs has written an easy "how to" host an author Skype visit in Canadian Teacher Magazine. While you're there, check out a few of the other wonderful articles.

The Cat's out of the Bag: Pajama Press

2011-06-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

My former publisher, Gail Winskill has started a new press. I'm super excited. They are starting out with three fabulous authors, who have all been edited by Ann Featherstone, my long-time editor. I just know that this new publishing house for children's titles will be great.

Getting Books into the hands of kids

2011-05-21T11:36:00.000-07:00

One of the regular occurrences of being an author is the request for books. Most people aren't aware that we authors have to buy our own books and pay for shipping. Sadly, that means that most of us creators simply can't afford to support every charity request that comes our way. My colleague and friend Margriet Ruurs has come up with a clever solution. She's come up with a service called Bookmatcher. The idea is to match books with groups that are trying to get books into the hands of children, no matter where they are in the world. So, if you are in need of books to support children and reading, or if you have books to donate, this site is for you. Here it all is in Margriet's own words.

Matching books to readers

Are you in need of books?
If you run a program to get books into the hands of children, anywhere in the world, this is the place to come! As a service learning site, schools, libraries, organizations and individuals can find programs to support.

To have your project approved, send details, including where, how and why you bring books to children. Once approved, your project will be shared online.

If you are an educator, parent, librarian or any person wanting to help bring books and children together, check this blog, select the project of your choice, then contact that project directly to send books, school supplies or money.

If you have any questions, you can reach Margriet Ruurs at margrietruurs@hotmail.com

If you run a service program to get books into the hands of children, anywhere in the world, this is the place to come! Please scroll to 1st post for details.

Help Slave Lake, AB rebuild their fire-devestated library

2011-05-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

My son-in-law has been up fighting the fire in Slave Lake Alberta. In a phone conversation to us he spoke about how terrible the destruction was. What a nightmare for the people of that fire-devestated town. My heart goes out to them. One of their losses has been their new public library. I'm so happy to see that support from other libraries, publishers and book lovers has been pouring in. Please consider helping with:
1) cash donations which can be made through www.slavelakelibrary.ab.ca on their "Make a Donation" link, or
2) donating new or nearly new books (they are asking for books no older than 2 years, probably to avoid musty cast-offs). These can be shipped to the Peace Library system headquarters for cataloguing and storage until a temporary library can be opened in Slave Lake.

ATTN: Books for Slave Lake Library
Peace Library System
8301 -- 110 Street
Grande Prairie, AB T8W 6T2

Support for libraries is linked to increased reading scores

2011-05-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

Guess what?

Support for libraries is important to learning. What we all knew intuitively turns out to be true. A group of American and Canadian researchers have found that when support for school libraries goes up, so do reading scores as well as learning measured in other ways. "School Library Research Summarized" can be found at the link below. It has also been turned into a booklet and a website. Both can be found here:http://library.mansfield.edu/impact.asp. Thanks to my colleague Brenda Kearns from the Canadian Society of Authors Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP for the heads up).

Rules by Cynthia Lord

2011-05-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

One of the problems with loving books is trying to keep up with reading everything that comes through the door! This is made worse by living in a tiny house with limited bookshelves requiring me to double the rows of books. I’ve had Rules by Cynthia Lord since it came out, but only recently rediscovered it in the back book row when I was doing a little book weeding.

Once I started Rules, I couldn’t put it down. It’s an absolutely wonderful book, with insights into the lives of families coping with the challenges of autism that we can all learn from. The story is narrated by Catherine whose younger brother David is autistic. Catherine is a loving, but frustrated sister who is frequently responsible for looking after her brother while her mom works from her home office. The novel’s title comes from the rules Catherine makes for herself and those she makes for her brother. Rules like “When things get confusing, make a joke,” help her to cope with making new friends including Jason, the quadriplegic boy she meets at her brother’s physiotherapist’s office. More basic rules like “Keep your pants on! Unless Mom, Dad or the doctor tells you to take them off,” help her brother survive in the sometimes frightening and incomprehensible world around him. But, neither Catherine nor her brother can rely entirely on rules. When rules don’t work, Catherine has art to fall back on. When rules don’t work for David, he takes comfort in the words of Arnold Lobel. But sometimes something more is needed; sometimes, tolerance and love and humor are what gets you through the day. This is a book about all of those things…rules, art, language, love and tolerance and humor. This is a book you’ll want to read,

Oops. I missed my 5 year blogging anniversary

2011-04-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

Life is crazy busy right now, so I've decided to cut myself a little slack. I'm taking a blogging vacation until things settle down a little. Feel free to peruse the past five years of posts (I actually missed my five year blog anniversary!). I'll still be tweeting and facebooking on occasion so I won't be disappearing entirely. Happy spring.

Canadian Children's Book Week is here!

2011-04-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

Don't forget that the TD Canadian Children's Book Week runs from April 30th-May 7th 2011. The theme this year is "Changing the World, One Child at a Time." Check out the theme guide for some great book recommendations. And watch for touring authors, illustrators and storytellers in your area.

And, if you or someone close to you has always wanted to become a writer, check out this year's story contest winners and the judges comments. They'll be posted at www.bookweek.ca on May 4th.

Little Chicken's Big Day by Katie Davis

2011-04-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about blogging is discovering other bloggers. One that I follow regularly is Katie Davis who also happens to be an author. Katie is especially known for her great Brain Burps podcasts which have some really great interviews. Katie has a new book just coming out, and the booktrailer is one of the cutest I've seen. In fact, I totally love it.

My friend Margaret

2011-04-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I visited my dear elderly friend Margaret in the hospital. She's had a stroke, and is making pretty good progress. But Margaret is a fish out of water in the hospital. She misses her books, even though she is still too weak to hold them. A smattering of magazines and a few soft covered picture books are not enough to feed Margaret's lively curiosity and active mind. She's one of those people who has read at least a book a day since forever. She can discuss Virginia Wolf, the latest Margaret Atwood, or the appropriateness of the ending of Lane Smith's It's a Book, with equal ease. Unfortunately, talking books don't work for Margaret as she is a little deaf and is in a room with several others.

Every Thursday since Margaret has been housebound (several years now) she has held a "salon" day where friends dropped by toting books and ideas. Lively discussions, wonderful snacks, and exotic teas have always been part of those Thursdays which I have missed since Margaret's illness. Still, Margaret is tenacious, and although she desperately wants to be home, with her books, and the lovely garden that her husband Ernst has created, Margaret is still with us. For that I am grateful. There aren't many people in this world as generous, kind, loving and cracker-jack smart as Margaret. Today after work, I will bring along my Kobo, and my boyfriend's iPad to see if either work for Margaret. I have my fingers crossed that one of them will do the trick.

Celebrate Teen Lit Day with Rock the Drop

2011-04-14T11:25:00.001-07:00

Yep, it's Teen Lit Day today, and there is no shortage of ways to celebrate. For ideas on how to make this day rock, check out YALSA (Young Adult Library Services).

Meanwhile, readergirlz, one of my favorite blogs, have come up with a pretty cool way to get the word out. It's called Rock the Drop! Here's what you do.

1. Visit their site (the link is above)

2. Download the same bookplate I've snagged below

3. Print it

4. Paste it into your favorite YA novel

5. Drop the book in a public place (bus stop, coffee shop, etc.

6. Snap a photo

7. Send it on over to readergirz AT gmail Dot com

8. check out their site to see the YA love

9. Thank the cool ladies at readergirlz

10. spread the word

Here's my contribution. I left it in the lobby of my local rec. centre and it was gone when I finished my workout an hour later. I know that whoever has it will enjoy Miss Smithers by Susan Juby.

TVO Parents Book Club

2011-04-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

TVO Parents Book Club is a great way to find out about wonderful books for your kids or classroom. Here are the Book Pics of the three esteemed panelists below, but be sure to visit TVO Parents Book Club for updates, great new title recommendations, and to add your suggestions for favorite books for others to share.

Our Panelists:

Suzanne Muir is the Equity and Inclusive Education Coordinator for the Halton District School Board and a children’s book author of over 15 books.

Gillian O’Reilly has been the (freelance) Editor of Canadian Children’s Book News for 15 years. She is also the author of two non-fiction books for young people:Slangalicious: Where We Got That Crazy Lingo (2004) and The Great Number Rumble: A Story of Math in Surprising Places (co-written with Cora Lee, 2007).

Sheila Barry is the Editor-in-Chief at Kids Can Press. In this role, she edits non-fiction, picture books and fiction, and is also involved in identifying topics for theCitizenKid collection. To see more on this collection, watch the CitizenKid book trailers.

Panelist Book Picks:

Suzanne's Picks:

Why Are All The Taxi Drivers.... by Chris D'Souza published by Diverse City Strategies	On My Walk by Kari- Lynn Winters published by Tradewinds Books Ages: 4-8
Allah Made The World app by Suzanne Muir (soon to be on iTunes) Gillians's Picks:

Lily and the Paper Man written by Rebecca Upjohn illustrated by Renne Benoit Second Story Press, Ages: 4-8	Keep Out! (Red Dune Adventures) written by Helene Boudreau illustrated by Diane Lucas Nimbus Publishing Ages: 7-10
Speechless written by Valerie Sherrard Dundurn Press Ages: Over 10 Sheila's Picks:

How to Build Your Own Country written by Valerie Wyatt illustrated by Fred Rix published by Kids Can Press Ages 8-11 Children Around the World illustrated by Donata Montanari published by Kids Can Press Ages 4-7 The TD Canadian Children's Book Week runs from April 30th-May 7th 2011. The theme this year is "Changing the World, One Child at a Time." Check out the theme guide for some great recommendations.	One Hen written by Katie Smith Milway illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes published by Kids Can Press Over

JACOB WONDERBAR Book Trailer

2011-04-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of Nathan Bransford's blog. Nathan is a former agent, a kid's book writer, and a very generous guy when it comes to the writing business. If you haven't met the guy (virtually speaking of course) and you have an interest in writing books for kids, you must must must hurry on over to his site. On the other hand, if you're a reader, Nathan's got something for you too. Here's the trailer for his new book which will be released in a few short weeks with Dial Books for Young Readers. JACOB WONDERBAR AND THE COSMIC SPACE KAPOW, is a middle grade novel about three kids who blast off into space, break the universe, and have to find their way back home.

Monkey & Croc an iPhone app for kids

2011-04-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I downloaded my first picture book app for an iPhone. I haven't exactly jumped on the band wagon sooner, partly because I don't have any little ones at home any more. Besides, I tend to love the feel of picture books. The app I downloaded was Monkey & Croc by Will Terry. I totally loved it. It's a simple, but engaging story that would amuse if you were, say at the grocery store checkout with an ansty toddler, or stuck in traffic with a whiny preschooler in need of a snack. The art is clean, bright, and punchy enough to be appeal. The story line is pretty simple, but hey, it works well on a small screen. You can choose to read it yourself, or have it read. Each word lights up as it's read. And, there aren't a lot of bells and whistles of the sort that can be off-putting. The only thing I didn't like was that if you choose the voice feature, the enunciation of individual words tends to impede the story's flow. Still, for $2.99 you can hardly go wrong...and it's available as a PDF, through Amazon (for Kindle), Barnes & Noble (for Nook) and as an app for an iPad or iPhone through iTunes. Below is the trailer that Will says, "I had way too much fun making."

When work is good...

2011-04-07T13:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I started playing around with a new picture book manuscript over lunch but had to leave it to get back to what I'd been working on earlier. Last night I dreamed about poka dot pajamas and this morning I got up and the words to the yesterday's picture book flowed through my fingers onto the screen. Magic I tell you...pure magic. Of course, tomorrow when I look at it again, I'll see all the little flaws that will require painstaking and finicky editing, but for now, I'm thrilled.

Canadian Children's Book Week is coming

2011-04-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

Saturday, April 16th at 2pm...Celebrate Local Authors with a Bon Voyage Bash at Tall Tale Books

This Spring, no fewer than FOUR Victoria authors have been selected for the TD Canadian Children's Book Week tour that begins on April 30th. Tall Tales Books invites you to a special event to meet this talented group as we bid them farewell and good luck on their tours.

Authors Julie Lawson, Penny Draper, Michelle Mulder and Robin Stevenson will talk about their new books and what it's like to be chosen to participate in Canada's most important children's book event. Refreshments will be served and there will be time to meet the authors and have books signed.

Julie Lawson (Scholastic) is the author of more than twenty books for young people a winner of the Sheila A Egoff Award. In Ghosts of the Titanic, Kevin finds himself caught up in a century-old mystery when his haunting dreams of the doomed luxury liner become all too real.

Professional storyteller Penny Draper (Coteau Books) has shared tales at schools, libraries, festivals, on television, in a harem, and from inside a bear's belly! In Ice Storm, the 6th in the Disaster Strikes! series, two 12-year-old cousins battle the dramatic 1998 ice storm that brought Montreal to its knees.

Michelle Mulder (Orca Book Publishers) enjoys writing about kids who seize life's opportunities. In Out of the Box, Ellie is more than happy to do just that, in a tale of family ties, political intrigue, and a unique musical instrument. Michelle is a world traveller and author of several books for young readers.

Robin Stevenson's (Orca Book Publishers) experiences travelling in Australia were the inspiration behind her new book Outback, in which Jayden finds himself fighting for survival in a hostile climate. Robin, a full-time author and creative writing teacher, was shortlisted for the 2009 Governor General's Literary Award.

TD Canadian Children's Book Week is the single most important national event celebrating Canadian children's books and reading. Close to 35,000 children, teens and adults participate in activities held in every province and territory. Hundreds of schools, public libraries, bookstores and community centres host events as part of this major festival.

Be sure to join Tall Tale Books in celebrating our local authors!

Tall Tales Books
795 Fort Street
Victoria BC V8W 1G9
250-590-3032
www.talltalesbooks.ca

Professional development is better with muffins

2011-04-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

What a great morning. It started out at 5am. I was on Galiano Island visiting friends, but had to rush back to meet up with fellow author Julie Lawson for a little private professional development, and of course food; muffins and tea in this case. What fun. Be sure to catch Julie at the Victoria Children's Literature Roundtable on Monday, and watch for her new book, Ghosts of the Titanic.

The importance of success in the learning continuum

2011-04-04T05:03:00.000-07:00

I'm often in the class teaching writing workshops to students and doing professional inservice for educators. As a teacher and a writer I learned some time ago that some students are built for ballet, and some just aren't. Some students can shoot a ball through a basketball hoop from any position while others have a hard time making a basket from under the hoop. Some of the students I've taught may become great writers while others have a hard time stringing more than a few sentences together. While I expect my students to work to the best of their ability, my goals for individual students will be different. Success for one student might be a polished story. Success for another might be what I call the talking points for a story (similar to a simplified outline). Classroom teachers can usually help students to improve their writing skills, but let's face it, not everyone is going to be a great writer. My goals for teaching writing are pretty much the same as my goals for teaching anything...move my students along the learning continuum from where they are to a new place, while celebrating their strengths. The child in this ballet video isn't all that likely to move onto other positions if she fails so miserably in the first. The same goes for writing.

An affordable way to get arts into schools

2011-04-02T02:59:00.000-07:00

Greg Pinkus has come up with a really great way to kick off Poetry Month. You can help fund his project of getting poetry in the schools by making a donation as small as $1 through Kickstarter which is a very cool new way to fund and follow creative arts projects. Of course, you can, and I hope do, help Greg and his poetry in schools project out with a bigger contribution. Hey, you can even pitch your own project there. The transactions are handled by Amazon, so it's totally safe. Arts at the grass roots level is what it's all about.

Celebrating a month of Poetry...

2011-04-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

"Perhaps You'D Like To Buy A Flower?"

By Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

Perhaps you'd like to buy a flower?
But I could never sell.
If you would like to borrow
Until the daffodil

Unties her yellow bonnet
Beneath the village door,
Until the bees, from clover rows
Their hock and sherry draw,

Why, I will lend until just then,
But not an hour more!

Poetry Month and Kidlitosphere Central

2011-03-31T21:18:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

April is an exciting month. Spring is in the air. The publishing world is aflutter with fabulous new books, and the entire month is a celebration of poetry. There are poets and poetry out there to inspire pretty much anyone and everyone. At Kidlitosphere Central, more than a dozen Kid's Lit and YA Lit bloggers have stepped up to share all things poetry; from a Poetry Potluck to a Poetry Party...from EduHaiku to Teen Poetry, you'll want to check out the links.

A new picture book by Maurice Sendak

2011-03-31T12:13:00.000-07:00

Looks like Maurice Sendak reads Dylan Thomas since he has no plans to go gentle into that good night. At 83, Sendak, who heralded a new age in children's books with Where the Wild Things Are, is about to publish the first book he's written and illustrated since 1981. His hotly anticipated new picture book, Bumble-Ardy, features a mischievous year-old pig who hasn't had the pleasure of a birthday party in all his nine-years. The pig puts matters to right by inviting all his friends to a masquerade party that gets out of hand. It isn't due out until September with HarperCollins, but I can't wait to see it. It's reported to contain the same childhood exuberance and unshakable love between parent and child that won him both Caldecott and Hans Christian Anderson Medals.

Don't Miss BC Book Prizes Soirée 2011

2011-03-28T14:35:00.001-07:00

BC Book Prizes Soirée 2011

Event Date(s)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Location

The Listel Hotel, Impressionist Gallery
1300 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC
7:00 - 9:00 pm | free

Event Description

The West Coast Book Prize Society invites you to the 8th annual BC Book Prizes Soirée on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at The Listel Hotel.

It’s a great opportunity to mix and mingle with nominated authors and BC’s vibrant literary community while supporting the BC Book Prizes On Tour program.

Enter to win great door prizes and bid for weekend getaways, prize-winning books and many other treats in a fabulous Silent Auction while enjoying light refreshments from The Listel Hotel.

Finalist authors will sign copies of their books at the People’s Co-op Bookstore table.

The BC Book Prizes Soirée 2011 is made possible by the following sponsors:

The Listel Hotel
People’s Co-op Bookstore
Please contact us if you’re interested in sponsoring the Soirée

Diana Wynne Jones

2011-03-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Bluemle posted a great tribute on Shelftalker this morning.

Sad news in the YA world...fantasy writer, Diana Wynne Jones has passed away. Best known for the Chrestomanci series, she started populating her books with witches, sorcerers, ghosts and goons when J.K. Rowling was still playing in the sandbox. One of the things that I particularly enjoyed about her books is her wonderful sense of humor. She could be both funny and scary, which is quite a rare mix. It's hard to believe that we'll soon be seeing the last of her phenomenal books. What a great loss. As far as I know, and surprisingly, only one of her books was turned into a movie, Howl's moving Castle, which is probably why a lot of North American readers aren't as familiar with her as they could be. I've heard that her very last book will be published by Greenwillow Books early next year. Fortunately, she leaves a huge body of work. I know I'll be downloading a few of my favorite titles on my Kobo to reread. Elizabeth Bluemle posted a great tribute on Shelftalker this morning.

Cover of Howl's Moving Castle

AppCheese review site for iPads

2011-03-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

With eReaders and iPad readers making such a splash these days, I'm sure many of you are looking for ways to sift the wheat from the chaff. While books that are being published in the eReader format are getting reviews, this hasn't been the case with books in the iPad format...until now. AppCheese is a new site that offers unbiased reviews of iPad book apps. The site is run by a collective of artists, writers and developers, so they are well equipped to take the task on. Since they're just getting started, they've only got about a dozen reviews up, but so far they have reviewed both picture books (original and retellings) and novels. Their review criteria is comprehensive and includes: production quality, quality of original story or retelling, quality of graphics and sounds, the balance between illustration and text, innovation, appropriateness to the targeted audience and replay factor. The reviewers make use of video demonstration so you can see what they are talking about. If you're considering a book app for children, and you don't want to pay for cheesy apps that are a waste of time, this is the place to go.

How to make your editor happy

2011-03-24T17:50:00.000-07:00

Alison Janssen has written a fabulous post called "8 Fiddly Things You Can Do To Your Manuscript To Make Your Editor's Day". I am so rereading this before I submit another manuscript. Thank you thank thank you Alison.

Hey, There's a Dead Guy in the Living Room is a very cool blog about mystery writing with a different blogger posting every day. So many of the posts relate to all sorts of writing even if they aren't, they're just plain fantastic and worth checking out.

A sad anniversary

2011-03-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

Although this has nothing to do with books, I want to recognize a terribly sad anniversary of the sort that we all hope we'll never have to the occasion to mark. Today it's the 20th anniversary of the abduction of Michael Dunahee, a 4 year old boy who disappeared from a park in Victoria, BC. His parents appealed for information about their son again on this most difficult day. They still have no idea if he is alive or dead. I can't even imagine their anguish. My heart goes out to them and to the families of all children to have disappeared. Here is a site where you'll find a few links if you want to support them

Julie Lawson at the VCLR April 11

2011-03-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Julie Lawson

Monday Apr. 11^th, 7:30 pm

at the Victoria Children’s Literature Roundtable

Award-winning author Julie Lawson will speak on “Fact or Fiction: How to Write a Gripping Tale While Staying True to the Facts”and read from her new book, Ghosts of the Titanic. Julie has published over thirty books for young people including White Jade Tiger, which won the prestigious Shelia Egoff Award, historical novels about the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Klondike Gold Rush, and numerous picture books.

The VCLR is open to the public. Members free ($25/year), drop-ins $5, students $4. Meetings are held at the Nellie McClung Branch Library, 3950 Cedar Hill Road in Victoria, BC. Come early and browse Tall Tales Books' table, and bringa friend! Doors open at 7 pm.

Lee Bennett Hopkins

2011-03-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

Hurray! Poet Lee Bennett Hopkins now has his own website. Visit his site for the perfect way to celebrate World Poetry Day. Thanks to Gregory K. over at GottaBook for the heads up. You can check out Hopkins' new picture book anthology, I am the Book, in which 13 children's poets celebrate the power of poetry, language and books.

World Poetry Day

2011-03-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

Happy World Poetry Day. Celebrate by reading, writing and sharing poems. Here's one I like...

After English Class
By Jean Little

I used to like "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening."
I liked the coming darkness,
The jingle of harness bells, breaking--and adding to
--the stillness,
The gentle drift of snow. . . .
But today, the teacher told us what everything stood for.
The woods, the horse, the miles to go, the sleep--
They all have "hidden meanings."
It's grown so complicated now that,
Next time I drive by,
I don't think I'll bother to stop.

(Little, J. (1986). Hey world, here I am! Toronto: Kids Can Press.)

Yesterday

2011-03-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

Here's a pic from my sunset run along Dallas Road yesterday. Notice that it isn't dark even though it was almost 7pm. Later some friends and I walked down to Dallas Road again to check out the super moon (when the moon is closest to the earth). It was pretty awesome, but sadly didn't get the moon over water shot I was after.

One difference between computers and typewriters

2011-03-18T12:47:00.000-07:00

For those of you old enough to remember typewriters, you'll find this hysterical. The younger crowd may have to have it explained.

Women's History Month in Canada

2011-03-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

Colleague and friend Adrienne Mason has reminded me that my posts re: Women's History Month is short on Canadian titles. Adrienne has given a great run down on some excellent Canadian contributions on her blog, so check her out. While you're at it, you may want to check out some of Adrienne's books too.
Thanks Adrienne.

Women's History Month & St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T22:58:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day, and Happy Women's History Month.

Kaboose is one place to check out for St. Patrick's Day kid's books, and there is no shortage of great books for kids that clebrate women and our history.

The following are four sites that feature books for families & educators looking for books that shine a light on women's history.

Kidlit has a great selection of books to celebrate WHM.

Another site to check out is ON-LION for Kids

A third great site to peruse is Reading Rockets

Last but not least is The Fourth Musketeer

Share the links and the books, and if you come across a good site, pass it on.

April is National Poetry Month

2011-03-16T19:39:00.000-07:00

Gregory from GottaBook will be featuring 30 Poets in 30 Days to celebrate National Poetry Month in April. Some of the poets he'll be hosting are: Arnold Adoff whom I saw many years ago and whose poetry I still adore, Vancouver's own Avis Harley, multicultural poet extraordinaire, Janet Wong, and the amazingly versatile Jane Yolen to name just a few. Do be sure to check it out his blog, and to make it easier, you can even subscribe!

Changing the World, One Child at a Time

2011-03-16T13:48:00.001-07:00

Image by Tatters:) via Flickr

Took a break to eat absolutely yummy fresh mango. Still reading story entries for the Canadian Children's Book Centre writing contest, "Changing the World, One Child at a Time". Hope to get out to do a few hours of yard work because everything is leaping out of the ground faster than you can say spring!

Canadian authors speak up: Is this country good to its writers?

2011-03-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

An interesting Globe and Mail post this morning about working as a writer in Canada. Well worth reading, even though they didn't feature any kid's book writers.

Icelandic children's writer to present at UVIC

2011-03-14T16:33:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Yrsa Sigur›ardóttir is an Icelandic children's writer and civil engineer involved in large scale hydro electric projects. She'll will be speaking at the University of Victoria on Monday, 4 April, 7:30 pm at the Clearihue Building, Room A311

With characters like the Little Mermaid, Pippi and the Moomins, Scandinavian literature has a secure place in the hearts of children. But what of other Scandinavian writers for the young? Yrsa may not be well-known among English speakers, but that's all the more reason not to miss this chance to explore the literature of another culture, especially the work of one of it's award-winning authors.

Canadian Children's Book Centre Story Writing Contest

2011-03-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

Off to pick up the package of stories sent by the Canadian Children's Book Centre. I wonder how many there'll be this year. Last year I had about 200! This year I'll be judging the grade four stories and poems guided by the theme of Changing the World One Child at a Time. Check out the Canadian Children's Book Centre website for more info on Book Week and how you can be a part of it. Can't wait to dig in to those stories!

The Reinvention of Teaching by Ross Laird

2011-03-12T20:08:00.000-08:00

I was fortunate enough to hear Ross Laird speak at a Writers' Union of Canada symposium yesterday. The topic was "Securing a Footing in the Changing Literary Landscape" and boy was this guy good. He was upbeat, encouraging and full of advice and resources to help writers equip themselves for the revolution that publishing is undergoing. In fact, he's a goldmine of information on all sorts of topics, from running, to refinishing antique mahogany to how to become more web savvy.

If you are an educator, parent, or forward thinker, you won't want to miss his fabulous article on "The Reinvention of Teaching." It's provocative as well as informative. It was refreshingly concrete and not steeping in double speak!

2011 BC Book Prize short-lists announced

2011-03-10T13:19:00.000-08:00

The BC Book Prize short-lists have been announced. To find out more about these and short-listed books in other categories as well as upcoming events, check out BC Book Prize

Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize

Supported by the BC Library Association

Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom
by Susin Nielsen
Publisher: Tundra Books

Violet’s TV-director dad has traded a job in Vancouver for one in LA, their house for a home complete with a pool, and, worst of all, Violet’s mother for a “trophy” wife. Violet’s younger sister reacts by bed-wetting, and her mother ping-pongs from one loser to another and Violet gets angry in ways that are infuriating, shocking, and hilarious. When her mother takes up with (the unfortunately named) Dudley Wiener, Violet and her friend Phoebe decide that they need to take control. If Violet’s mom can’t pick a decent man herself, they will help her snag George Clooney. Gemini Award-winner Susin Nielsen got her start with Degrassi Junior High, writing sixteen episodes and four of the books. She also adapted author Susan Juby’s books into a TV series. This is her fifth book for children.

Fatty Legs
by Christy Jordon-Fenton, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Illustrated by Liz Amini-Holmes
Publisher: Annick Press

Eight-year-old Margaret Pokiak wants to learn to read, even though it means leaving her village and family. Her father finally agrees to let her attend school, but he warns Margaret of the terrors of residential schools. At school, the Raven, a black-cloaked nun, immediately dislikes the strong-willed young Margaret. In the face of cruelty, mocking and humility, Margaret refuses to be intimidated and gives the Raven a lesson in the power of human dignity.Fatty Legs is complemented by artwork by Liz Amini-Holmes and archival photos. Christy Jordon-Fenton lives with her family in Fort St. John, BC and co-wrote the book with her mother-in-law, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, who attended a residential school in Inuvialuit.

Free as a Bird
by Gina McMurchy-Barber
Publisher: Dundurn Press

Born with Down syndrome, Ruby Jean Sharp comes from a time when being a developmentally disabled person could mean growing up behind locked doors and barred windows, being called names like “retard” and “moron.” When Ruby Jean’s caregiver and loving grandmother dies, her mother takes her to Woodlands School in New Westminster and rarely visits. It’s here, in an institution that opened in 1878 and was originally called the Provincial Lunatic Asylum, that Ruby Jean learns to survive isolation, boredom, and abuse—she learns a lesson about patience and perseverance. Gina McMurchy-Barber was the recipient of the 2004 Governor General’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History. Her first novel, Reading the Bones, was nominated for the Silver Birch Award and the Langley Book of the year Award.

Hunger Journeys
by Maggie de Vries
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada

During WWII in Amsterdam, 19-year-old Lena leaves her starving family to travel by train with her friend, Sofie, to Almelo, a town close to the German border. It’s a risky plan. They have false papers and are quickly pulled off the train by German soldiers. Only with the help of Albert, one of the soldiers, do they make it back on the train. Lena soon fears her new friendship with the helpful Albert may lead her into more danger as Sofie befriends a soldier too, resulting in a relationship that quickly turns serious and has unforeseen consequences for both girls. Maggie de Vries is a writer, editor, teacher, and the award-winning author of several children’s books.

Northward to the Moon
by Polly Horvath
Publisher: Groundwood Books

Featuring the characters from My One Hundred Adventures, Northward to the Moon can be read as a sequel or as a stand alone book. When her stepfather, Ned, is fired from his job as a high school French teacher, the family packs up and Jane embarks on a series of new adventures. Setting off by car, they wind up spending the summer with Ned’s eccentric mother on her ranch out west. As Jane lives through it all—developing a crush on a ranch hand, reevaluating her relationship with Ned, watching her sister Maya’s painful growing up—she sees her world, which used to be so safe and secure, shift in strange and inconvenient ways. Polly Horvath has written many award-winning books for children and lives in Metchosin, BC. Top

Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize

Supported by Kate Walker and Company

The Cowboy Fisherman
by Seiji Hiroe

The Cowboy Fisherman is a story of friendship between Slim and Tomizou during the Great Depression. Slim was a man trying his hand at fishing to support his family, and Tomizou was a seasoned Japanese fisherman who took Slim under his wing. Find out how Slim uses his cowboy skills to save his and his son’s life when they find themselves in dangerous water and the rock anchor disappears into the ocean.

Fraser Bear: A Cub’s Life
by Maggie de Vries
Illustrated by Renné Benoit
Publisher: Greystone Books

Fraser Bear: A Cub’s Life is a moving, beautifully illustrated story follows a black bear cub’s life in the Pacific Northwest from his birth to his first salmon catch, uniting the cycles of bear and fish. A map and further information about bears and salmon are included. The book is based on a top-selling plush toy named Fraser Bear, created by the Pacific Salmon Foundation and Rocky Mountaineer Vacations. This toy, holding a salmon in his mouth, is sold on Rocky Mountaineer trains and through their souvenir catalogue, with sales benefiting the Pacific Salmon Foundation. Maggie de Vries is a writer, editor, teacher, and the award-winning author of several children’s books. Renné Benoit is an award-winning artist who has illustrated many books for children.

Owls See Clearly at Night (Lii Yiiboo Nayaapiwak lii Swer): A Michif Alphabet / L’alfabet di Michi
by Julie Flett
Publisher: Simply Read Books

Languages are precious; they capture the very essence of a culture. Once spoken by hundreds of thousands across the Canadian Prairies and the northern United States, Michif, the language of the Métis people, is now endangered. Métis elders in scattered parts of North America may still speak the language, but the young are largely monolingual English speakers. From Atayookee! to Lii Zyeu: this simply, elegantly illustrated picture book introduces young and old alike to the unique Michif language. Julie Flett is a Vancouver-based Metis artist and illustrator who incorporates photography, drawing, and painting into her practice.

The Salmon Bears: Giants of the Great Bear Rainforest
by Ian McAllister, Nicholas Read
Illustrated by Ian McAllister
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Great bears need a great rainforest to survive. Extensively illustrated with Ian McAllister’s magnificent photographs, The Salmon Bears explores the delicate balance that exists between the grizzly, black and spirit bears and their natural environment, the last great wilderness along the central coast of BC. Key to this relationship are the salmon that are born in the rivers each spring, who then go out to sea as juveniles and return as adults to spawn and die, completing a cycle of life that ensures the survival of not only their own species but also virtually every other plant and animal in the rainforest. Ian McAllister, a founding director of both the Raincoast Conservation Society and Pacific Wild, is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker. Nicholas Read, a lifelong lover of animals, has written on animal issues for the Vancouver Sun and works with Animal Aid in the UK.

Up We Grow! A Year in the Life of a Small, Local Farm
by Deborah Hodge
Illustrated by Brian Harris
Publisher: Kids Can Press

Up We Grow! highlights the importance of small, local farms with photos that invite children into the world of a small, co-operative farm over four seasons. Readers will get to know the hardworking farmers who plow, plant, compost, mulch, harvest and market fruits and vegetables, and care for animals. Discover people of all ages and abilities working together to grow and share food, while protecting and respecting the land and animals we depend upon for our sustenance. Deborah Hodge is the award-winning author of more than 20 books for children. Award-winning photographer Brian Harris uses his images to help charitable organizations raise awareness and create a better world to live in.

Happy International Women's Day, celebrating 100 years

2011-03-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy International Women's Day. Although we didn't really start celebrating IWD here in North America until the 1970's, this is the 100th year celebration. Join with women across the world to celebrate the strides we have made since 1911.

Image via Wikipedia

Happy birthday Dr. Seuss

2011-03-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today's the day to wish Dr. Seuss a happy birthday. He published 44 children's books, with off-the-wall c characters and dynamo rhyme. We all know his books, Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat, an How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but my fav. has always been One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. His birthday has been adopted as the annual date for National Read Across America Day, an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association so happy birthday Read Across America Day too.

Vacation

2011-02-27T21:04:00.000-08:00

Oscars tonight, Hawaii tomorrow. Life is not bad. I have a few posts scheduled while I'm away, but otherwise, see you when I return in two weeks.

Sheryl

Let It Be Flash Mob for United Girls of the World

2011-02-25T21:14:00.000-08:00

This video was created to raise awareness for United Girls of the World, a non-profit group out of Vancouver that assists in the area of critical issues affecting girls and women around the world, empowering them by providing the tools they need to develop positive self-esteem. Among other things, they have a scholarship program. Help raise a healthy world by empowering and educating the girls and women around the world. Thanks to Margriet Ruurs for the heads up.

Resource Links Best Books of 2010 is out

2011-02-25T15:30:00.000-08:00

Resource Links has their list of best books for 2010 out. Scroll down to see the list to see the book list for grades 7-12. Some great books to explore here, as well as professional resources, audio-visual resources, and French language titles.

March 9th is World Read Aloud Day

2011-02-25T12:43:00.000-08:00

March 9th is World Read Aloud Day. Celebrate by reading your favorite book aloud to someone you love. Being read aloud to is a pleasure at any age. All you have to do is find a good book, and someone you love (or like!) to share it with. For more ideas, visit Lit World

Sid Fleischman Award for humor announced

2011-02-25T10:57:00.001-08:00

Sid Fleischman Award for humor goes to:

Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze
by Alan Silberberg
Aladdin

SCBWI Golden Kite Awards announced

2011-02-25T10:52:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the Golden Kite Award Winners

FICTION:
Turtle in Paradise
by Jennifer Holm
Random House Books for Young Readers

NONFICTION:
The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie
by Tanya Lee Stone
Viking Juvenile

PICTURE BOOK TEXT:
Big Red Lollipop
by Rukhsana Khan
Viking Juvenile

Golden Kite Honor Recipients

	FICTION: Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine Puffin
	NONFICTION: Fort Mose by Glennette Tilley Turner Abrams
	PICTURE BOOK TEXT: Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein Candlewick
	PICTURE BOOK ILLUSTRATION: Bunny Days by Tao Nyeu Dial

PICTURE BOOK ILLUSTRATION:
A Pocket Full of Posies
by Salley Mavor

Resources for young writers

2011-02-25T08:36:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I posted a couple of good sites for YA writers on my teenreads blog. Here's a fantastic page of links to markets for younger writers put together by "Teaching Authors". The site is run by six authors who teach writing, and it's a fantastic resource for both teachers and young writers, so check it out.

Snowy day

2011-02-23T10:45:00.000-08:00

Oh my. This is what I woke up to. I've shoveled, because there was so much snow that Ruby disappeared when I let her out to pee. Just to clarify, she didn't run away. The snow was over her head! She was quite freaked out... It's still snowing though and is supposed to keep going through tomorrow! Yikes.

Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

2011-02-22T11:56:00.000-08:00

Further to my Freedom to Read post, fellow author Cheryl Rainfield has just discovered that her book Scars is being challenged in KY. Talk about timing! Here's a link with Cheryl's take on the whole situation. You can help by blogging about the book or buying the book for yourself or a teen who has self-esteem issues. Literature can be the key that unlocks the door to a young person's personal hell. Why take that opportunity away, especially when it can be so helpful? Banning or challenging books isn't new, but we don't have to lie down and accept it. We all have the right to choose what we want to read, and what we don't. If you have difficulty with a book, close it. It's as easy as that.

Celebrate Freedom to Read Week

2011-02-22T11:28:00.000-08:00

It's Freedom to Read Week so get involved. Get your students to make bookmarks using banned book titles, host a public reading of banned books, read a challenged book and leave it on a bus for a stranger to find, ask your local librarian for a list of classics that have been banned or a list of current literature being challenged, and share it with colleagues. For more ideas, check out the Freedom to Read Website above.

Google alerts

2011-02-20T09:39:00.000-08:00

I love Google alerts. This review of What's That Sound? In the City at Publisher Weekly just popped up.

Picture Perfect: Curricular Connections, summary & book list

2011-02-17T14:15:00.000-08:00

The following is a summary of why picture books are perfect for all ages in classrooms. The list of books that follows are picture books I referred to at my Picture Perfect: Curricular Connections workshop at the Calgary City Teachers' Conference.

Picture Perfect: Curricular Connections

Picture Books I referred to at the 2011 Calgary City Teacher’s Conference

Waiting for the Whales by Sheryl McFarlane, illustrated by Ron Lightburn

Moonsnail Song by Sheryl McFarlane, illustrated by Sheena Lott

The True Story of The Three Little Pigs by A Wolf as told to Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith

Science Verse by Jon Scieszka , illustrated by Lane Smith

Jessie’s Island by Shery McFarlane, illustrated by Sheena Lott

Tides of Change by Sheryl McFarlane, illustrated by Ken Campbell

Eagle Dreams by Sheryl McFarlane, illustrated by Ron Lightburn

Canadian Railroad Trilogy by Gordon Lightfoot, illustrated by Ian Wallace

Tales from Gold Mountain by Paul Yee, illustrated by Simon Ng

In Flanders Fields : The Story of the Poem by John McCrae by Linda Granfield , illustrated by Janet Wilson

Secret of the Dance by Andrea Spalding, illustrated by Darlene Gait

My Librarian is a Camel by Margriet Ruurs

The Wall : Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sis

of Thee I Sing: A letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama, illustrated by Loren Long

Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki, illustrated by Dom Lee

A Telling Time by Irene Watts, illustrated by Kathryn Shoemaker

Math Curse by Jon Schiezska, illustrated by Lane Smith

The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base

The Water Hole by Graeme Base

Welcome to the World of Whales by Diane Swanson,

A Bear in War by Harry Endulat & Stephanie Innes, Illustrated by Brian Deines

This is the Dog by Sheryl McFarlane, illustrated by Chrissie Wysotski

Going to the Fair by Sheryl McFarlane, illustrated by Sheena Lott

A Pod of Orcas by Sheryl McFarlane, illustrated by Kirsti Waklin

Monkey Business by Wallace Edwards

Did You Say Pears by Arlene Alda

What’s That Sound? series by Sheryl McFarlane, illustrated by Kim LaFave

Wendel and The Great One by Mike Leonetti, illustrated by Greg Banning

The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKeans

Hoops by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Stephen T. Johnson

What’s the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About Horses by Richard Van Camp, illustrated by George Littlechild

Some of the Advantages of Using Picture Books in the Classroom Include:

•Picture books just might be the most affordable, versatile resource available to teachers

•They are short enough to be easily integrated into tight schedules

•They can be part of a theme, introduce a new concept, reinforce a topic, provide a challenge, or to bring closure

•They provide opportunities for challenged students to succeed and capable students to excel

Take advantage of opportunities to incorporated picture books into curriculum areas. They can be a breathe of fresh air for any educational program

Writing Rules: Tips for Teaching Writing

2011-02-17T12:30:00.000-08:00

The following is a snippet from a workshop I offered today at the Calgary City Teachers Conference.
Writing Rules: Tips for Teaching

Play with words

Follow a pattern

Fracture a fairy tale

Cook up a poem

Use visuals & ask "What if" questions"

Mix up the point of view

Make a list

Play the lying game

Web an idea

•Good writers are readers, so give ‘em plenty, including read-alouds in various genera.

•

•Don’t just teach it, model it. If it’s not important to you, why should it be to kids?

•

•Take advantage of opportunities to incorporated writing into other curriculum areas!

•

•Writing comes in many forms, including comics, jokes, scripts, and yes… email & text messaging.

•

Writing is a skill set that we all need; ultimately writing is about communicating.

2011-02-15T13:04:00.000-08:00

Image by Stuck in Customs via Flickr

There's been a blogging storm recently over Martin Amis' famous dismissal of children's literature on the program Faulks on Fiction.

Here's what Amis said. "People ask me if I ever thought of writing a children's book." "If I had a serious brain injury I might well write a children's book, but otherwise the idea of being conscious of who you're directing the story to is anathema to me, because, in my view, fiction is freedom and any restraints on that are intolerable."

"I would never write about someone that forced me to write at a lower register than what I can write," he added.

Check out Patricia Storms' completely unique...and hilarious take on the whole subject. She definitely lives up to her name!

Goodbye Margaret

2011-02-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

Margaret McElderry has died at 98. It's hard to say goodbye to one of the greats in children's book publishing. She's the first children's editor to named for an imprint, a tradition that we continue to see today. She's also published one of my all time favorite series...Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising. She was one fine lady, and although she stepped out of publishing at 86, she continued to be a strong presence in children's books until the day of her death. She will be missed.

"When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back,
Three from the circle, three from the track;
Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone;
Five will return, and one go alone."

I still get shivers when I read these words.

Canadian Writers Speak Out on Copyright

2011-02-15T09:30:00.000-08:00

A Happy Picture Book Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T22:53:00.000-08:00

For a happy valentine's day picture book style, visit A Fuse #8 Production. I swear it will make you happy.

And to Betsy's list, let me add My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohnann and Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey, a book I have always had a soft spot for.

Of course there are many others, including the more recent Bird and Giraffe, which I also dearly love.

Young Writers Contest Deadline Contest Deadline is Feb. 18, 2011

2011-02-14T16:16:00.000-08:00

Home

Canadian Children's Book Centre

Book Week 2011 Writing Contest

Calling all young writers and poets!

Book Week 2011 WRITING CONTEST for Kids and Teens

Do you have a story or a poem about someone that is changing the world?
Are you in Grade 4 to 12? If so, enter the Book Week 2011 Writing Contest!

This year Book Week celebrates global citizenship. The theme Changing the World, One Child at a Time will focus on stories that highlight children and teens who are doing things to make the world a better place in their community, country, or abroad.
The stories may be fiction or non-fiction.

One winner from each grade will receive a $250 gift certificate to the bookstore of his or her choice.

Winning entries will be posted on the Book Week website – www.bookweek.ca.

Entries must be postmarked by February 18, 2011.
The story or poem must be written during the current school year.
Entrants must be in Grades 4 to 12 at the time of the contest deadline.
Entries must be written in English and must not exceed 1,500 words.
All entries must include a fully complete ENTRY FORM*

No faxed or emailed entries will be accepted.

Due to the large volume of entries, we cannot acknowledge receipt of entry.

Contest open to residents of Canada only.

Winners will be announced on May 4, 2011.

*Please note that entries not accompanied by an ENTRY FORM will not be considered.

MAIL ENTRIES TO:

Writing Contest
c/o The Canadian Children's Book Centre
Suite 101, 40 Orchard View Blvd
Toronto, Ontario
M4R 1B9

For more information about the Book Week 2011 Writing Contest, please contact Carolyn Code at 416.975.0010 ext. 227 or carolyn@bookcentre.ca.

The Book Week 2011 Writing Contest is generously sponsored by:

2010 CYBILS announced

2011-02-14T13:31:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

On the good news front the 2010 CYBILS were announced today. These are grass roots awards that grew out of the community of Kid lit and YA lit bloggers who wanted to celebrate the best in books for young people. Check out the winners, and don't forget that a lot of great books are to be found on the short-lists too. Spread the word about great reading for kids and young adults, and while your at it, make a donation to keep the awards going...the folks who sit on these committees, read truckloads of books until they find the best, all do this on their own time. It's Valentines Day so show them a little love.

The Book Business

2011-02-14T10:27:00.001-08:00

So it's happened...after months and months of teetering on the edge; Borders has gone under. They declared bankruptcy today. Some of you might be shrugging your shoulders. "Big deal," I can hear you saying. Well, just so you know, it is a big deal. Things are in lock down mode. Staff aren't being paid, and debts, including those to publishers & distributors aren't getting paid either. That means that vulnerable publishers don't have money to pay royalties or go ahead with printing spring and maybe even fall lists. I already know of a few writers who've had books cancelled, and the list serves are abuzz with talk about what all this means. Don't forget, this event isn't in isolation. Last week HB Fenn (a publisher and one of Canada's largest distributors) went down, and the week before Key Porter Books closed show...and Key Porter books have published some of the biggest names in books in Canada, including Margaret Atwood! It's so discouraging to be involved in books right now. Senior writers are worried if they'll have enough money to pay their bills, and so many of us had gone back to part-time work to keep the wolf from the door.

I know there will always be readers, and books will always be published in one form or another. But with it being less lucrative to publish, will only a few houses and on-line book giants control what is available? Will vibrant young writers bursting with ideas and talent want to be involved in a business that can't support them? It's all so worrisome...and I can only hope that there are still a few out there who will want to take chances, who will want to bring out books that are just safe but push creative and intellectual boundaries. I look forward things settling down in the book business soon. But I hope we don't end up with a mediocre model. I know it's hard to be creative when financial worries keep knocking at your door, but I also know that books change lives.

All of you out there who've been touched by this have my every sympathy.

Gaiman on Copyright Piracy and the Web

2011-02-13T21:13:00.000-08:00

One of my fav, authors, Neil Gaiman's very interesting take on pirating...

365 Days of Children's Books

2011-02-11T19:21:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across a new Kid's book blog...365 Days of Children's Books. Aren't Google Alerts wonderful! Today they did a sweet little write-up about my picture book, This is the Dog. They feature a different children's book every day of the year and make "a special effort to feature at least one book a week by a Newfoundland author and at least one book a week by a Canadian author..." By my calculation that could mean two Canadian books since Newfoundland is in Canada.

Oops

2011-02-10T19:48:00.000-08:00

Oops. I was really tired last night. That last post was NOT supposed to go on my book blog...sigh.

Kidlit...is it a dirty word?

2011-02-09T15:28:00.000-08:00

I love the term "kidlit" and I use it both in my blog and as a hashtag for twitter. The whole question of the term "kidlit" versus "children's literature" has been raging amongst bloggers since Betsy Bird mentioned on her birthday blog post that some find the term derogatory. Very interesting discussion. Check out Katie Davis' podcast on the topic as she not only sums up the discussion, but does so using quotes from several of the bloggers who've been part of the discussion. It's podcast #30.

CBC 's YA Best Book Poll

2011-02-08T12:52:00.001-08:00

CBC's Best YA Book Poll: Make sure you vote.
Here are the five titles and let me tell you that you'll have a tough time making a decision because they are all seriously good books.

Best Young Adult Novel

The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom by Susin Nielsen

The Secret Fiend by Shane Peacock

Plain Kate by Erin Bow

Vote

Harper Canada has a new children's executive editor

2011-02-08T10:35:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Hadley Dyer, Harper Canada's new Executive Editor of Children's Books. Dyer, is both a children's editor and the YA author of one of my fav. books, Johnny Kellock Died Today. She's worked as a bookseller, at the Canadian Children's Book Centre, and as a freelance editor at James Lorimer & Company, Groundwood Books. Things are looking up at Harper Canada in the kids and YA departments. A little good news instead of the usual publishing doom and gloom.

Betsy Bird's Blog Birthday

2011-02-07T16:26:00.000-08:00

Besty Bird has been one of my favorite bloggers for years. Her posts are eclectic, informative, and sometimes a lot of fun to read. It turns out that today she celebrates her 5th year as a blogger. The fact that her "kid lit" remark set off a flurry of posts and tweets about whether or not to use the term speaks to how many followers she has. Happy birthday A Fuse # 8 Production. You're posts are always interesting and it seems occasionally provocative.

I know that some dismiss "kid lit" as a term, but I must admit that I'm pretty comfortable with it. I know others disagree, but it sure fits better into limited character tweets than children's literature, and I seriously doubt whether those who don't take "kid lit" seriously are any more likely to do so if we refer to it as "children's literature."

13 Words by Lemony Snicket book trailer

2011-02-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

This book trailer for 13 Words by Lemony Snicket is hilarious. Actually, I have to admit that I like it even more than the book. Of course I'd love the book if I could get Mr. Snicket to come to my house and read it to me!

Dear George Clooney Please Marry My Mom by Susin Nielsen

2011-02-06T09:56:00.000-08:00

It may be Super Bowl Sunday, but I'm more about Dear George Clooney Please Marry My Mom by Susin Nielsen than I am about football. I'm reading it on my Kobo, and enjoying it immensely. Nielsen is just so funny...

2011 OLA's Canadian Materials Annual List

2011-02-05T12:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Marsha Skrypuch for passing along this:

The OLA's Canadian Materials Committee, which is under the umbrella of
the OPLA Child and Youth Services Committee, picks this annual list.

Books are selected on the basis of their literary/artistic merit as well
as their appeal for children.

Text and illustrations are of equal importance in picture books and
information books.

PICTURE BOOKS

Bailey, Linda. Stanley's Little Sister.
Illustrated by Bill Slavin. Kids Can Press
Stanley's world is turned upside down with the arrival of "Fluffy" the
cat. Chaos and hilarity ensue with Stanley catching all the blame. But
just when Stanley is about to give up, he realizes that having a little
sister isn't so bad after all.

Becker, Helaine. A Porcupine in a Pine Tree: a Canadian 12 Days of
Christmas.
Illustrated by Werner Zimmerman. North Winds Press *
A porcupine, caribou, beavers, moose, squirrels, Mounties, Stanley Cups
and more rollick through the familiar carol. With tongue-in-cheek humour
and bright illustrations, this distinctively Canadian version is a delight.

Edwards, Wallace. The Cat's Pajamas.
Kids Can Press.
Wallace Edwards makes understanding idioms fun and entertaining. His
extraordinary illustrations are visual clues to 26 idioms. Readers are
challenged to decipher each one. Edwards seems to be telling us "Use
Your Noodle"! and It's a "Piece of Cake'!". Check out the hidden cat on
each page. Readers of all ages will find this book "more fun than a
barrel of monkeys"!

Horrocks, Anita. Silas' Seven Grandparents.
Illustrated by Helen Flook. Orca Book Publishers
Modern family dynamics have left Silas with more than the usual quota of
doting caregivers when his parents go away on a business trip. As one
after another invites him to stay, Silas is in a quandary. How can he
choose to stay with only one when all seven want him? Clever Silas finds
a solution that pleases everyone. Colourful, lively illustrations make
this book a special treat for readers, too.

Leonetti, Mike. The Mighty Tim Horton;
Illustrated by Greg Banning. North Winds Press*
Hockey fans and history buffs alike will enjoy this endearing story of a
boy and his encounter with a hockey legend, the mighty Tim Horton. The
thrill and excitement of the 1962 NHL playoffs is captured nicely as we
join Tim Horton and the Toronto Maple Leafs on their successful quest to
win the Stanley Cup.

Luxbacher, Irene. Mattoo, Let's Play!
Kids Can Press
Ruby LOVES to play with her pet cat, Mattoo. But why is Mattoo being
such a sour puss? A delightful, beautifully illustrated story about
considering the feelings of others and playing nicely.

Munsch, Robert. Put Me in a Book!
Ilustrated by Michael Martchenko. North Winds Press*
An author sitting on a park bench tells Mrs. O'Dell's class that he
can't complete his picture book until he finds a kid to be in it. Hailey
enthusiastically volunteers and is shocked when she is suddenly folded
into the book. Once she discovers that she can't escape, the other kids
try to help with hilarious results. Kids will buy into the absurdity of
Hailey's problem and will love the concluding twist.

Tsiang, Sarah. A Flock of Shoes.
Illustrated by Qin Leng. Annick.
Abby's sandals are pink and brown with lime green trim. They are perfect
for running and jumping and making tracks in the sand. But when summer
is over Mum says they are worn out and it's time for them to go. Abby
disagrees but the sandals take matters into their own hands, flying away
to the south like birds. Soon unhappy Abby learns to love her blue and
white boots with purple trim. Until, one sunny spring day.... Young
readers will delight in this nonsensical story about Abby and her
faithful footwear.

Ward, David. One Hockey Night.
Illustrated by Brian Deines, Scholastic.
Owen and Holly have moved to Saskatchewan from Nova Scotia and miss
playing hockey on a lake. However their father has a big surprise for
them on Christmas Eve. Gorgeous artwork and a charming story celebrate
one of Canada's favourite pastimes.

Wishinsky, Frieda. The Queen's Secret.
Illustrated by Loufane. North Winds Press*
There's a secret that both the Queen and Kay share -- and it's up to the
reader to find out! Delightfully teasing (the answer is at the end)
this is also a rhyming book with bright, colourful illustrations.
.
*Note that North Winds Press is part of Scholastic Canada.

FICTION

Brewster, Hugh Prisoner Of Dieppe: World War II, Alistair Morrison,
Occupied France, 1942 (I am Canada). Scholastic
Alistair Morrison is talked into joining the war effort by his best
friend, the slightly older "Mackie". After basic training they are sent
overseas and end up being captured after the disastrous battle of
Dieppe. This new series is promoted as being for ages 9-12 but the
honest way in which Brewster treats the lives of the soldiers during
WWII makes it suitable for older readers as well. Exciting and well
written, this is a story that will engage boys in particular.

Charles, Rie. No More Dragons. Napoleon Publishing.
Alex keeps a diary in the form of letters to a friend. As we read each
entry something disturbing is revealed. Thirteen year old Alex is not
only lonely and insecure, he is also being abused. Nevertheless, his
letters are filled with humour and hope, especially when he talks about
trying out for the school play. We see his world slowly crumbling
until he reaches a point where he knows he must stand up to his father.
A believable and touching story.

Mack, Winnie. After All, You're Callie Boone. Scholastic.
12 year old Callie has been dumped by her best friend and has just belly
flopped off the diving board at the pool. On top of that her Uncle has
moved in with his ferrets and her grandma is cranky. Things change when
a boy named Hoot moves to her neighbourhood. A great first novel about
friendship.

MacLean, Jill. The Present Tense of Prinny Murphy.
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
This shining novel reintroduces Grade 5 to 8 readers to characters from
The Nine Lives of Travis Keating. Her mother's alcoholism, bullying
classmates, and struggles with reading are making Prinny's life in her
small Newfoundland town a misery until a sympathetic teacher gives her a
book which helps her find the strength and resilience to grow past her
troubles.

Milway, Katie Smith. The Good Garden: How One Family Went from Hunger to
Having Enough.
Illustrated by Sylvie Daigneault. Kids Can Press
Impoverished soil and greedy "coyotes" have driven Maria's Honduran
family to desperation. A new teacher defies tradition and introduces
practices which enable Maria's family to rehabilitate their land and
become successful, independent farmers. A thoughtful introduction to the
issue of global food shortages. For Grades 4 to 8 but Daigneault's
charming illustrations will attract younger readers, too.

Nielsen, Susin. Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom. Tundra.
According to Violet, divorce sucks. Her mother dates losers and
always seems depressed, while her father is never around since he has
remarried and moved. When she and her sister are invited to visit her
TV-director dad in Los Angeles, Violet hatches a plan involving George
Clooney to save her Mom and make her father crazy with jealousy. A
hilarious look at the ups and downs of family life.

Peterson, Lois. The Ballad of Knuckles McGraw
Orca Book Publishers
When Kevin Mason is abandoned by his mother, he decides to escape by
becoming Knuckles McGraw, a tough and brave cowboy. But with the
support of his new foster family, and the reunion with his grandparents,
Kevin re-finds not only himself, but the courage to face his future with
new optimism. A touching story.

Sherrard, Valerie. Tumbleweed Skies.
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
Ellie is sent to live with her embittered and unwelcoming grandmother
for the summer. While a sympathetic uncle and a wounded magpie help her
cope, it is Ellie's maturity and inner strength which guide her growing
understanding. This historical novel captures Ellie's thoughts and
emotions with compassion and insight. The hopeful ending avoids a
sentimental solution.

Skrypuch, Marsha Stolen Child
Scholastic
After World War II, twelve year old Nadia is adjusting to life in Canada
after years in a Displaced Persons camp in Europe. But her memories and
her dreams are confused and contradictory. Gradually she comes to
realize that as a young child she was stolen from her Ukrainian parents
and raised to be a good Nazi German. This aspect of the war is not
covered in children's books and this gives an added interest to an
"adjusting to a new life in Canada "story.

Stevenson, Robin. Liars and Fools.
Orca Book Publishers.
In the wake of her mother's tragic disappearance, Fiona's rational
minded science teacher father falls for a new age spirit medium.
Smelling a rat, Fiona and her overachieving friend Anna decide to expose
"psychic phenomena" for their next science project.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Fergus, Maureen -- Ortega -- Kids Can
Kerz, Anna -- Gnome's Eye -- Orca
Peacock, Shane -- Secret Fiend -- Tundra
Sylvester, Kevin -- Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders -- H.B. Fenn

NON-FICTION

Becker, Helaine. Magic Up Your Sleeve: Amazing Illusions, Tricks, and
Science Facts You'll Never Believe;
Illustrated by Claudia Dávila. Owlkids Books Inc.
Magic and science unite with wondrous results in this clever and
informative book about magic tricks. The easy to follow step by step
instructions, and eye catching illustrations are sure to astound and
amaze the curious minds of budding magicians!

Ellis, Deborah. We Want You to Know: Kids Talk About Bullying. Coteau Books.
Deborah Ellis' latest book is meaningful not only to kids who have been
bullied, but also to educators and parents. The interviews are poignant
and thoughtful and the kids have their own ideas, advice and solutions
to share. A section called "What Do You Think" has great topics for
further discussion. The "Resources" section provides helpful websites
and addresses.

Kelsey, Elin.
Not Your Typical Book About the Environment.
Illustrated by Clayton Hanmer. Owlkids
Catchy titles and fun illustrations offering empowering advice without
preaching or sentimentalizing make this book a winner. The book is
packed with interesting information and readers are encouraged to
connect with the environment proactively. The author's sincerity,
thoughtfulness and ability to connect with kids shines through in this
highly- readable book.

Kyi, Tanya Lloyd.
50 Burning Question: a Sizzling History of Fire. Illustrated by Ross
Kinnaird. Annick Press
Entertaining headings ("Who was the first hairy potter?") and
brightly-coloured pages with wacky illustrations introduce the reader to
the subject of fire. Well-researched (there's a bibliography) with a
wealth of interesting detail, this book is fun and informative.
Chapters include both scientific and social aspects of fire in a
question and answer format.

McAllister, Ian & Read, Nicholas. Sea Wolves- Living Wild in the Great
Bear Rainforest. Orca Book Publishers.
Beautifully illustrated with almost 100 photos by McAllister, this
stunning book covers the lives and habits of these creatures who are
genetically different from other wolves. Details on how they differ
(they fish!) and how they are similar to other wolves is contrasted with
how similarly they live to the First Nations who share the same space.

McAllister, Ian & Read, Nicholas. Salmon Bears: Giants of the Great
Bear Rainforest.. Orca Book Publishers.
This is another amazing book by this author and photographer. We hope
they continue with this series. Incredible photos and informative text
make this a must for any collection. Both titles by this author and
photographer deserve to be on the Best Bets list

Patterson, Heather. Canada From Above: A Photo Journey.
Scholastic Canada
This photographic book features breathtaking images of 30 Canadian
natural and man-made landmarks, all shot from above. Each picture
covers a two page spread with interesting information about the location
included. Subject matter ranges from the Alberta Pond Hockey
championships, to a beluga migration in Nunavut, to salmon farms on the
East coast, to an old-growth forest in B.C.

Read, Tracy E. Exploring the World of Eagles
Firefly Books
Get up close and personal with some of nature's most fascinating
creatures. Beautiful colour photographs coupled with interesting facts
and trivia make this and the other books in the Exploring the World
of... series a must see!

Webb, Jonathan. Canada's Wars: An illustrated History. Scholastic Canada
A thorough and up to date, richly illustrated book covering Canada's
official and unofficial involvement in conflicts around the globe.
Starting with the Boer War and covering a surprising range of lesser
known material, this book closes with Canada's role in Afghanistan.
Includes maps and an index.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Coulter, Laurie -- Kings and Carpenters: One Hundred Bible Land Jobs You
Might Have Praised or Panned - Annick
Goldner, John-- Hockey Talk -- Fitzhenry & Whiteside
Lightfoot, Gordon -- Canadian Railroad Trilogy -- Groundwood (for the
illustrations by Ian Wallace).
Weaver, Janice -- Hudson. Tundra

OLA'S CANADIAN MATERIALS COMMITTEE

We are a long standing committee with a strong voice in promoting
Canadian literature for children and young adults. Our goal is to
highlight excellence in literature for children and young adults for the
OLA membership and others with an interest.

The OLA's annual Best Bets evolved from a list put out by the Canadian
Material's Committee of the Children's Services Guild. This Canadian
Materials Committee is now under the wing of the OPLA Children and Youth
Committee.

The OLA's Canadian Materials Committee selects books on the basis of
their literary/artistic merit as well as their appeal for children and
young adults. Text and illustrations are of equal importance in picture
books and information books.

The Committee thanks S & B Books, www.sbbooks.com, for their ongoing
support with providing a place to meet and copies of books to review.

Meetings are held a minimum of four times a year at S & B Books (3086
Universal Dr., Mississauga). Members discuss and evaluate recent
publications by Canadian authors and illustrators. The books evaluated
are suitable for children and young adults from birth to nineteen years
old. From these discussions, the Committee produces "Best Bets" lists,
annual annotated lists of recommended titles. These lists are released
each year at the OLA Super Conference.

OLA's Canadian Materials Committee Members:

Carrie Dawber, Richmond Hill Public Library

Dinah Gough, Retiree from Oshawa Public Library

Patrick Gracey, Toronto Public Library

Sandy Laird, Mississauga Public Library

Sheilah O'Connor, Toronto Public Library

Cecily Reid, Richmond Hill Public Library

Jane Salmon, Barrie Public Library

Jennifer Stephen, Vaughan Public Libraries

For further information, please contact

Jane Salmon at the Barrie Public Library

jsalmon@barrie.ca

Ontario Library Association

50 Wellington St. East, Suite 201,

Toronto, ON M5E 1C8

Tel 416-941-9581 or 866-873-9867

FAX 416-941-9581 or 800-387-1181

www.accessola.com

info@accessola.com

More sad news in Canadian publishing

2011-02-05T12:43:00.001-08:00

According to Publishers Crystal Stranaghan & Jared Hunt, Gumboot Books of Vancouver, BC will no longer be in
operation after March 1st, 2011. The reasons given ack of improvement in the economic climate, and
some unexpected health issues. Such sad news.

Sheryl McFarlane's Book Blog

My new site is up

New site coming soon...

National Aboriginal Day and Summer Solstice Today

Tall Tale Books

Getting Started

Canadian Children's BookCentre announces 2011 award short-lists

Guardian's Top non-fiction picks

2011 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards for Children.

Simple writing exercise helps break vicious cycle that holds back black students

It's the content that matters

Greg Pincus, "IT's June (and I'm Still in School)"

the dark YA literature controversy

ABC's of Team BC Legacy Project: connecting kids with books

New British Children's Laureate appointed

2011 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Book Awards

CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK AWARD

YOUNG ADULT / MIDDLE READER AWARD

The 2011 Chocolate Lily Book Award Winners

It's June (and I'm Still in School

How to Host a Skype Author Visit

The Cat's out of the Bag: Pajama Press

Getting Books into the hands of kids

Help Slave Lake, AB rebuild their fire-devestated library

Support for libraries is linked to increased reading scores

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Oops. I missed my 5 year blogging anniversary

Canadian Children's Book Week is here!

Little Chicken's Big Day by Katie Davis

My friend Margaret

Celebrate Teen Lit Day with Rock the Drop

TVO Parents Book Club

JACOB WONDERBAR Book Trailer

Monkey & Croc an iPhone app for kids

When work is good...

Canadian Children's Book Week is coming

Professional development is better with muffins

The importance of success in the learning continuum

An affordable way to get arts into schools

Celebrating a month of Poetry...

Poetry Month and Kidlitosphere Central

A new picture book by Maurice Sendak

Don't Miss BC Book Prizes Soirée 2011

BC Book Prizes Soirée 2011

The BC Book Prizes Soirée 2011 is made possible by the following sponsors:

Diana Wynne Jones

AppCheese review site for iPads

How to make your editor happy

A sad anniversary

Julie Lawson at the VCLR April 11

Lee Bennett Hopkins

World Poetry Day

Yesterday

One difference between computers and typewriters

Women's History Month in Canada

Women's History Month & St. Patrick's Day

April is National Poetry Month

Changing the World, One Child at a Time

Canadian authors speak up: Is this country good to its writers?

Icelandic children's writer to present at UVIC

Canadian Children's Book Centre Story Writing Contest

The Reinvention of Teaching by Ross Laird

2011 BC Book Prize short-lists announced

The BC Book Prize short-lists have been announced. To find out more about these and short-listed books in other categories as well as upcoming events, check out BC Book Prize

Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize

Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Momby Susin NielsenPublisher: Tundra Books

Fatty Legsby Christy Jordon-Fenton, Margaret Pokiak-FentonIllustrated by Liz Amini-HolmesPublisher: Annick Press

Free as a Birdby Gina McMurchy-BarberPublisher: Dundurn Press

Hunger Journeysby Maggie de VriesPublisher: HarperCollins Canada

Northward to the Moonby Polly HorvathPublisher: Groundwood Books

Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize

Supported by Kate Walker and Company

The Cowboy Fishermanby Seiji Hiroe

Fraser Bear: A Cub’s Lifeby Maggie de VriesIllustrated by Renné BenoitPublisher: Greystone Books

Owls See Clearly at Night (Lii Yiiboo Nayaapiwak lii Swer): A Michif Alphabet / L’alfabet di Michiby Julie FlettPublisher: Simply Read Books

The Salmon Bears: Giants of the Great Bear Rainforestby Ian McAllister, Nicholas ReadIllustrated by Ian McAllisterPublisher: Orca Book Publishers

Up We Grow! A Year in the Life of a Small, Local Farmby Deborah HodgeIllustrated by Brian HarrisPublisher: Kids Can Press

Happy International Women's Day, celebrating 100 years

Happy birthday Dr. Seuss

Vacation

Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom
by Susin Nielsen
Publisher: Tundra Books

Fatty Legs
by Christy Jordon-Fenton, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Illustrated by Liz Amini-Holmes
Publisher: Annick Press

Free as a Bird
by Gina McMurchy-Barber
Publisher: Dundurn Press

Hunger Journeys
by Maggie de Vries
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada

Northward to the Moon
by Polly Horvath
Publisher: Groundwood Books

The Cowboy Fisherman
by Seiji Hiroe

Fraser Bear: A Cub’s Life
by Maggie de Vries
Illustrated by Renné Benoit
Publisher: Greystone Books

Owls See Clearly at Night (Lii Yiiboo Nayaapiwak lii Swer): A Michif Alphabet / L’alfabet di Michi
by Julie Flett
Publisher: Simply Read Books

The Salmon Bears: Giants of the Great Bear Rainforest
by Ian McAllister, Nicholas Read
Illustrated by Ian McAllister
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Up We Grow! A Year in the Life of a Small, Local Farm
by Deborah Hodge
Illustrated by Brian Harris
Publisher: Kids Can Press