Category: author

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Words Worth Eating

You’re invited to:

WORDS WORTH EATING with Nan Forler and Peter Etril Snyder
Winterberries and Apple Blossoms: Reflections and Flavors of a Mennonite Year

Nan Forler and Peter Etril Snyder have created a beautiful tribute to a traditional Mennonite girl’s year. Follow her through the seasons with poems, recipes, and of course stunning illustrations.

When: Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Where: Nick and Nat’s UPTOWN 21, 21 King Street North, Waterloo, ON (Map)
Details: $80 for a single ticket or $125 for a couple. Tickets include a copy of Winterberries and Apple Blossoms and a four course meal. Beverages, taxes, and gratuities are additional. Doors open at 6:00pm, meal served at 6:30pm.
RSVP: Please call the restaurant to reserve your seat – (519) 883-1100.

UPDATE!
Due to enthusiastic ticket sales for the October event, Nick and Nat’s UPTOWN 21 will host a second evening of Words Worth Eating on Wednesday, November 23 from 6:00pm-9:30pm.  Call (519) 883-1100 for tickets, your ticket includes a 4-course meal inspired by the story and a copy of the book.

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The Mona Lisa Caper

On this day in 1911, Vincenzo Perugia shocked the world by stealing the most famous of the many treasures in the Louvre, the Mona Lisa. Rick Jacobson and Laura Fernandez take a playful look at the possibilities behind the facts in this delightful tale of a famous missing treasures.

The Mona Lisa Caper
Written by Rick Jacobson
Illustrated by Laura Fernandez and Rick Jacobson
Hardcover | 24 Pages | Ages 5-7
ISBN: 978-0-88776-726-5
Throughout Rick Jacobson’s lively text, Mona Lisa herself narrates the story of her trip back to the city of her creation. The playful art Rick has painted along with his wife, Laura Fernandez, heightens the fun. Not only is it Keystone-Cops funny, it is a sound introduction to the painting that continues to delight, amaze, and mystify hundreds of years after Leonardo da Vinci’s death.

PRAISE FOR The Mona Lisa Caper:

“…the writing is sprightly, and the watercolor artwork, superior – realistic, but with touches of whimsy.” – Booklist

“[The book] has a sweet whimsy, and lovely paintings of the great lady.” – The Globe and Mail

“The watercolour illustrations … include lively action scenes and beautifully atmospheric landscapes and cityscapes … the book has a lot of charm and a vivid sense of period. It will doubtless encourage readers to see the painting and decide for themselves about her smile.” – Quill & Quire

“[Jacobson and Fernandez’s] soft-edge paintings and decorative cameos are atmospheric and appealing….” – School Library Journal

“…Jacobson’s dense text brims with suspenseful details, and he humorously imagines how a painting might feel … Jacobson and Fernandez’s beautifully drafted watercolors convey a sense of excitement while capturing many details of the era. Jacobson wisely resists the temptation to teach or preach in his unusual tale; he merely delights in the events, and readers will, too.’ – Publishers Weekly

“Author Rick Jacobson paints the fascinating, often hilarious details of this oddball art heist through the eyes of Mona Lisa herself. Additional humour is added by the outstanding realistic artwork. This is a history book that reads like an action adventure story.” – Canadian Family Magazine

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Lawrence of Arabia

On this day in 1888, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, was born.

Medina Hill
By Trilby Kent
Hardcover | 176 Pages | Ages 10-14
ISBN: 978-0-88776-888-0
In the grimy London of 1935, eleven-year-old Dominic Walker has lost his voice. His mother is sick and his father’s unemployed. Rescue comes in the form of his Uncle Roo, who arrives to take him and his young sister, Marlo, to Cornwall. There, in a boarding house populated by eccentric residents, Marlo, who keeps a death grip on her copy of The New Art of Cooking, and Dominic, armed with Incredible Adventures for Boys: Colonel Lawrence and the Revolt in the Desert, find a way of life unlike any they have known. Dominic’s passion for Lawrence of Arabia is tested when he finds himself embroiled in a village uprising against a band of travelers who face expulsion. In defending the vulnerable, Dominic learns what it truly means to have a voice.

PRAISE FOR Medina Hill:

“… Kent’s highly original debut.” – Starred Review, Booklist

“…[Medina Hill] offers vivid descriptions of the setting, lively characters, and a satisfying ending.” – School Library Journal

“…the voice of the narrator and the motley cast of characters are brilliantly realized. Kent’s language is both poetic and insightful…. Definitely a writer to watch.” – Quill & Quire

If you haven’t already, take a look at what readers were saying during the Medina Hill blog tour.

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The 2012 Chocolate Lily Short-list

The short-list for the 2012  Chocolate Lily Book Award has been announced. Tundra has two nominated titles under the Novel category:

No Moon
By Irene N. Watts
Trade Paperback | 240 Pages | Ages 10+
ISBN: 978-0-88776-971-9
eBook: 978-0-88776-972-6
“…Watts provides a fascinating account of what the great unsinkable ship was like. The catastrophe is rendered in a heartbreakingly graceful style, and Lou performs heroically in shepherding her two little girls to safety on a lifeboat in this uniquely engaging and satisfying coming-of-age historical adventure tale.” – Starred Review, Booklist

Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom
By Susin Nielsen
Hardcover | 240 Pages | Ages 11-14
ISBN: 978-0-88776-977-1
eBook: 978-0-88776-978-8
“Nielsen (Word Nerd) has created a narrator as sassy and candid as this memorable novel’s title…. Nielsen skillfully balances her story’s keen humor…with poignancy. Especially affecting are Violet’s struggles to accept her father’s new family….” – Starred Review, Publishers Weekly

The Chocolate Lily Award encourages grade school students to read some of the best fiction by British Columbia’s children’s authors and illustrators. There are three categories: Best Picture Book, as voted by students in kindergarten through grade 3, Best Chapter Book, as voted by students in grades 2 through 5, and Best Novel as voted by students in grades 4 through 8.

Congratulations to Irene N. Watts and Susin Nielsen!

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Tuesdays with Tundra 12

Tuesdays with Tundra is a monthly post on our new releases. The following books are available today in stores and online!

Ella May and the Wishing Stone
By Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Geneviève Côté
Hardcover | Ages 4-7
ISBN 978-1-77049-225-7
“…soft, summery, pastel watercolors. The story includes several understated lessons for youngsters, such as getting along, being considerate, and using your imagination.” – School Library Journal

Except the Color Grey
By Arlene Alda
Hardcover | Ages 2-5
ISBN 978-1-77049-284-4
“…The rhythmic pace carries readers along as the author shares her day’s journey, giving them focus for a walk that they might take themselves…with camera in hand.” – Sal’s Fiction Addiction

Nini
By François Thisdale
Hardcover | Ages 3-6
ISBN 978-1-77049-270-7
“…the story of a family coming together is told with lyrical elegance…. As is typical of Thisdale’s work, breathtaking, multi-layered visuals form a magnificent, detail-rich backdrop to the narrative and contribute heavily to its emotional impact…. There is wonderful interplay between text and image…. Highly recommended.” – Starred Review, Quill & Quire

Wishes and Worries: Coping with a Parent Who Drinks Too Much Alcohol
By the Centre For Addiction And Mental Health
Illustrated by Lars Rudebjer
Hardcover | Ages 5-8
ISBN 978-1-77049-238-7
Children of parents who drink too much alcohol are affected in many ways. They may experience anger, fear, confusion, and guilt. This reassuring book, written by professionals, offers information in the form of a story about one family’s struggle. Wishes and Worries is an excellent way to open a discussion between adult and child.

New in Paperback!

Bradley McGogg, The Very Fine Frog
By Tim Beiser
Illustrated by Rachel Berman
Paperback | Ages 2-5
ISBN 978-1-77049-276-9
“… This is a very fine book about a very fine frog, so fine in fact that he has -shall we say-refined tastes…. Now the story is great but the rhyming text is so fun to read and so different than any other book that it makes this worth the read and purchase. I can’t imagine any child getting sick of this book or any parent for that matter. Berman’s illustrations match the fresh and unique text. Her depictions of the Brad McGogg the finicky frog in his sandals, jaunty bow tie and striped overalls are magnificent (who could not love a frog in sandals?!) … This book is truly an exploration in epicurean delights that would please any aficionado! Not just a perfect classroom addition to teaching about differences, judgment and understanding those with particular tastes, I think wee readers with foodies for folks may find themselves being read this story time and time again to much delight (both parents and kids!)” – Word of Mouse Book Reviews

Did You Say Pears?
By Arlene Alda
Paperback | Ages 3-8
ISBN 978-1-77049-278-3
“A marvelously imaginative pairing…of homonyms…and homophones wrapped up in a rhyme of amazingly few words and terrific offbeat photographs.” – Booklist

Pub Date Giveaway: Welcome to the beginning of our fall season readers! Which book would you love to read? Leave us a comment below and one lucky reader will receive a copy of their requested book! One request per person and please review our rules. This giveaway ends at midnight on Thursday, August 11, 2011!

A winner will be chosen at random and announced on this post.

UPDATE: A winner has been chosen. Congratulations to Erin Walker, the new owner of Ella May and the Wishing Stone.

Tundra Book Group