Category: author

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World Animal Day


October 4th is World Animal Day! Celebrate by spreading the word, volunteering, or learning about the relationships between humans and animals:

Harness Horses, Bucking Broncos & Pit Ponies
A History of Horse Breeds
By Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson
Hardcover | 72 Pages | All Ages
ISBN: 978-0-88776-986-3
Thousands of years ago people living on the steppes of central Asia realized that horses could transport them long distances, help them fight their wars, pull their plows, and provide them with sport and companionship. Ever since, horses and human history have been intertwined.

Little Lions, Bull Baiters & Hunting Hounds
A History of Dog Breeds
By Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson
Hardcover | 72 Pages | All Ages
ISBN: 978-0-88776-815-6
Since prehistoric times, humans and dogs have shared a unique bond and both have served each other well. Early people discarded food and as a result, wild wolves cast fear and caution aside, following and approaching their two-legged neighbors until they became less wary of each other. As humans hunted, fished, herded, and hauled, they found ways to benefit from the presence and talents of these animals. Over time, both learned to work together, rely on, and like each other.

Talking Tails
The Incredible Connection Between People and Their Pets
By Ann Love and Jane Drake
Illustrated by Bill Slavin
Hardcover | 80 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-0-88776-884-2
From our earliest beginnings, we have shared our lives with animals. Jane Drake and Ann Love explore the ties that humans and their pets have formed. With fun and fascinating facts, they address Dog People and Cat People. (Why does a cat wind around her owner’s legs? She’s rubbing her owner with glands on her face to say “you’re mine.”) They also introduce us to more unusual pets. There’s Polly the parrot, who lived through the Klondike Gold Rush to be 126 years old by belting back whiskey, swearing, and biting gold miners. And, of course, there are fish and reptiles, rodents and horses, all of whom can be beloved pets.

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Guest Post: Jan Andrews

We’ve got another Word on the Street guest post for you! We love how our authors from all across Canada participated and are reporting back! Jan Andrews was at the Kitchener Radio Group’s Department of Canadian Heritage Reading Rocks Tent.

Jan Andrews: Rock we did, all of us, a wondrously varied assortment of authors and illustrators from the world of Canadian children’s book. Kids came to listen with their faces painted or wearing the party hats they had made in celebration of the fact that this was Kitchener’s 10th Annual WOTS. There was even cake. Children’s entertainer, Erick Chaplin, not only welcomed us, he raised his guitar and played us in. And, oh, those children’s librarians from the Kitchener Public Library, ensuring that everything went smoothly, telling us so clearly how much they care. So, another WOTS is over; another opportunity to reach out to one and all with joy and with delight is done. Whoever came up with this idea deserves much in the way of applause for an event I hope will go on…and on…and on.

To hear Jan tell stories, visit http://jansstorytellingclub.wordpress.com/.

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The Word on the Street: Toronto

Sunday, September 25th was The Word on the Street held coast to coast in Vancouver, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Kitchener, Toronto, and Halifax.

In Toronto, Tundra had eight authors participating, which included Helaine Becker, Cary Fagan, Nan Forler, Liza Fromer, Francine Gerstein, Monica Kulling, Shane Peacock and Heather Hartt-Sussman. We also had a booth on Kidstreet, which was well stocked with backlist titles for sale. Hardcovers were $10 and paperbacks were $5. It was a gorgeous day (sorry, Vancouver) and thousands of Torontonians flocked to Queen’s Park for this ever-growing festival.

Here are some of the highlights of the day:

First up, Shane Peacock participated in a Mastering the Mystery panel with Norah McClintock and Evan Munday, and moderated by Toronto Life’s Nathan Whitlock at the This Is Not The Shakespeare Stage.

At the Children’s Activity Tent, Nan Forler demonstrated a quilting craft then signed copies of her new book, Winterberries and Apple Blossoms: Reflections and Flavors of a Mennonite Year.

Heather Hartt-Sussman signs Noni Says No. Check out this CTV clip of her reading in the Children’s Reading Tent!

Liza Fromer and Francine Gerstein MD answer kids’ medical questions, interestingly many were about farts and burps, and then sign copies of their series, Body Works.

Shane Peacock reads from the 5th book in The Boy Sherlock Holmes series, The Dragon Turn, at the Bestsellers of Tomorrow event with authors Brian Francis and Ian Hamilton. The event was hosted by Mary Ito.

Monica Kulling reads from Merci Mister Dash! in the Children’s Reading Tent and signs book for her fans.

Helaine Becker reads from Juba This, Juba That. She also led the audience in a spirited hand-clapping routine.

Many thanks to our authors who participated and to the staff and volunteers of The Word on the Street. A special thanks goes to Festival Director, Nicola Dufficy for working so tirelessly on programming a fantastic day and for her incredible support of our authors and illustrators!

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Telling Tales: A Festival of Stories

On Sunday, September 18th the third annual Telling Tales Festival took place in Westfield Heritage Village in Rockton, Ontario. Hundreds attended and there was no shortage of things to do in this replica of a 19th century village which was also a filming location for the popular Anne of Green Gables film series. Many authors including Tim Beiser, Jo Ellen Bogart, and Robin Muller read from their books and the staff of the Village demonstrated crafts and trades that were common for the time.

On behalf of everyone at Tundra Books, a huge thanks to the organizers, staff and volunteers of the Telling Tales Festival and of Westfield Heritage Village for a fantastic day!

Author and artist, Robin Muller presents original sketches of his stunning picture book, The Nightwood, outside the One Room School House.

Author and Storyteller, Itah Sadu performs to a rapt audience at the Bandstand.

The general store was well stocked with candy and other treats!

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Guest Post: Pam Withers

We hope you were able to check out the Word on the Street yesterday! While we were blessed with beautiful weather in Toronto, author Pam Withers had a different story in Vancouver:

Pam Withers: Word on the Street is a lively readers’ and writers’ festival that takes place every year in a series of tented stages hugging the perimeter of the downtown Vancouver Public Library.

Imagine tentfuls of festival-goers listening raptly to words of all kinds: preschoolers giggling through children’s author readings, poetry lovers listening raptly to the cadence of poets reading, and book lovers of all ages and backgrounds getting to ask questions of, or collect autographs from, a favorite author. Never mind the tables upon tables of writing organizations, publishers and booksellers.

I’ve been going to this event for many, many years, and I thought I’d experienced it in every manner of weather: lashing rain, brilliant sunshine, bone-chilling cold and late-summer warmth. But ho, was I wrong!

I showed up at 1 p.m. yesterday to introduce my new Tundra book, First Descent – a teen novel about a river kayaker who goes on an international expedition and gets kidnapped. And wow, did it ever feel like a wet, windblown expedition where tents – quite literally – got kidnapped!

An entire street of volunteers and visitors found themselves clinging desperately to tent poles as gusts of wind smacked into them. Pieces of tent siding went flying like kites, and the crash/bang/boom of collapsing structures sent dozens of exhibitors packing.

I was lucky enough to be presenting on the east side of the library, where wind gusts merely spattered authors and their books with rain as audience members in sensible rain-gear filled folding chairs to listen. You know what? When you’re introducing a novel about adventurers chasing down a river amidst white-capped waves, boulder-choked rapids, whirlpools and a waterfall… what better setting, right? When you’re describing characters dealing with warring factions of soldiers, riverbank landmines, jealousy, abandonment and betrayal — you have… a book summary that makes this year’s Word on the Street feel cozy and safe!

Anyway, I had a laminated, poster-size version of First Descent‘s awesome cover to hold up as I spoke, so I cheated the rain of spoiling one book that afternoon. Had to tuck my notes under a chair leg to keep them from blowing away.

I have to give major points to the valiant volunteers to kept things running, and all the dedicated book-lovers who milled about and listened and bought books. What better testimony to the fact that the printed word remains alive, well and alluring?

I was blown away and flooded with delight. Thanks, Tundra, for setting up my Word on the Street adventure!

Tundra Book Group