New York, New York

We know that a lot of you will be in New York for BookExpo America this coming week. And who doesn’t love the Big Apple, especially when there are new books involved? If you’re around on Sunday, we would like to invite you to a party! A book party! Here are the details:

When: Sunday, May 22, 2011
Time: From 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Where: Shoofly (Shoofly has been a teeny star in NYC since 1987, the first to showcase European footwear for children. They carry shoes from newborn to big kids, prewalkers to stiltwalkers, walkers to hikers.)
Address: 42 Hudson Street, New York City, NY 10013
Phone: 212-406-3270
Who will be there: Co-creators of Ones and Twos, the mother-and-daughter team of Marthe Jocelyn and Nell Jocelyn! Marthe has created over 25 books. Ones and Twos is Nell’s first!

Please come for refreshments and fun to help us celebrate this beautiful picture book, created by one mother, one daughter, two artists…

Then, there’s BEA of course! If you aren’t able to party with us on Sunday, you can meet our authors and illustrators during their signings at the Autographing Area.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Janet Willen
From 11:00 to 11:30am at Table 19
Five Thousand Years of Slavery provides the suspense and emotional engagement of a great novel. It is an excellent resource with its comprehensive historical narrative, firsthand accounts, maps, archival photos, paintings and posters, an index, and suggestions for further reading. Much more than a reference work, it is a brilliant exploration of the worst – and the best – in human society.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Marthe Jocelyn and Nell Jocelyn
From 2:00 to 2:30pm at Table 19
Marthe Jocelyn’s ability to present important-to-learn concepts to the very young has garnered accolades from around the world. Ones and Twos is her first book collaboration with her nineteen-year-old art student daughter, Nell, and, together, they explore numeracy, sorting, and pairing. Each brightly illustrated page invites children to identify familiar objects ranging from kites to socks, from one nest to the two birds sitting in it. Ones and Twos gives little toddlers and their caregivers much to discuss and to enjoy together, and it introduces an exciting new creative team.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Marthe Jocelyn
From 3:00 to 3:30pm at Table 24
In 1855, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote to his publisher, complaining about the irritating fad of “scribbling women.” Whether they were written by professionals, by women who simply wanted to connect with others, or by those who wanted to leave a record of their lives, those “scribbles” are fascinating, informative, and instructive.
Many of the women in “Scribbling Women” had eventful lives. They became friends with cannibals, delivered babies, stole horses, and sailed on whaling ships. Others lived quietly, close to home. But each of them has illuminated the world through her words.

Don’t forget to stop by Tundra Books at booth #4431. Alison and Pamela will be there to answer any questions and to tell you about our new and upcoming books.

May Pub Date Giveaway Winner

Thank you to everyone who entered our fifth Pub Date Giveaway of the year! We used trusty random.org to generate the winning number:

13 for Friday the 13th? Well, it’s a lucky day for:

Congratulations to Lesley Morrison! You will be receiving Ludmila Zeman’s Sindbad, Sindbad in the Land of Giants, and Sindbad’s Secret.  Please check your inbox for an e-mail from us.

Thank you to everyone who entered. Our next Pub Date Giveaway will be on August 9, 2011 – the start of the fall season! Stay tuned for our new releases!

Festival of Trees 2011


The Ontario Library Association hosted another successful Forest of Reading Festival of Trees at the Harbourfront Centre on May 11 and 12th. It is always one of our highlights of the year to see hundreds of readers cheer for their favourite books.


As usual, the yellow school buses line up along Queens Quay West after delivering students from all over Ontario to the festival.


Tundra went in with four nominated titles this year. In the Blue Spruce category, we have Jane Barclay and Renné Benoit’s Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion. Can you spot Jane Barclay on stage? She’s the author taking a photograph of the audience.

Congratulations to Dave Whamond, My Think-A-Ma-Jink was named the winner of the Blue Spruce Award.


Another rewarding parts of the festival are the author and illustrator signings. Just look at the number of readers lining up!


We found Monica Kulling signing autograph sheets and copies of It’s a Snap! George Eastman’s First Photo, illustrated by Bill Slavin. Bill wasn’t able to attend, but he and Esperança Melo lent Monica their Brownie camera (made by George Eastman) to show all the kids.

Congratulations to Ashley Spires, Binky the Space Cat won the Silver Birch Award – Express category!


Ann Love and Jane Drake were there to sign Talking Tails: The Incredible Connection Between People and Their Pets. Their book was nominated for the Silver Birch Award – Nonfiction.

Congratulations to Valerie Wyatt and Fred Rix, their book How to Build Your Own Country was named the winner!


S&B Books also had a tent to sell all the nominated titles. They are the official sponsor and wholesaler for the Forest of Reading program.


We also noticed that the children could leave little notes and messages for their favourite authors and illustrators. Very cool idea!


Thank you to all the organizers, volunteers, authors, illustrators, teachers, and students for all their work! Again, congratulations to all the authors and illustrators! Until next year!

Tuesdays with Tundra 11

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

Ones and Twos
By Marthe Jocelyn and Nell Jocelyn
Hardcover | Ages 2-5
ISBN 978-1-77049-220-2
“This delightful concept book brings visual literacy to the forefront, supported by a minimal text…. The simple descriptive verses … are spot-on to reinforce images of numeracy, sorting, paring, common-object recognition, and the daily lives of young children. Each page or spread is illustrated with creative, engaging collages on paper, textured fabrics, and items … extending the opportunity for learning and discussion…. The charming collages are the stars of the show and will inspire curiosity” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

Capturing Joy: The Story of Maud Lewis
By Jo Ellen Bogart
Illustrated by Mark Lang
Paperback | Ages 8-12
ISBN 978-1-77049-262-2
“More than an account of a fascinating life, Bogart’s introduction to this Canadian painter is a lesson in self-determination…. A lovely and inspiring book.” – School Library Journal

Picasso: Soul on Fire
By Rick Jacobson
Illustrated by Laura Fernandez and Rick Jacobson
Paperback | Ages 10+
ISBN 978-1-77049-263-9
“Jacobson is to be congratulated for taking a little-known figure to children and making him – and modern art – accessible. Though aimed at ages 10 and up, the book’s compelling story, beautiful illustration and reproduced paintings of Picasso will appeal to anyone who loves art.” – Today’s Parent

The Adventures of Cosmo the Dodo Bird
By Patrice Racine
Paperback | Ages 6-9
A Friendship Begins ISBN 978-1-77049-246-2
The Great Illusion ISBN 978-1-77049-248-6
In Search of the Jewel ISBN 978-1-77049-245-5
The Mysterious Substance ISBN 978-1-77049-247-9

Cosmo is a dodo who was born on the island of Mauritius. But the fearless, flightless birds were no match for humans and their guns, and about three hundred years ago, dodos became extinct. Cosmo is the last of his kind, and since he knows firsthand the toll that people can take on Earth’s species, he becomes a champion of the environment.

The Adventures of Cosmo the Dodo Bird
By Patrice Racine
Paperback | Ages 8-11
The Quest for the Last Dodo Bird ISBN 978-1-77049-241-7
The Traveling Planet ISBN 978-1-77049-242-4
The Climate Masters ISBN 978-1-77049-243-1
The Chain Reaction ISBN 978-1-77049-244-8

In fast-paced text and eye-catching art, the Adventures of Cosmo the Dodo Bird encourages children to learn about their environment and the reason why it is important for them to protect it.

Sindbad: From the Tales of the Thousand and One Nights
Retold by Ludmila Zeman
Paperback | Ages 6+
ISBN 978-1-77049-264-6
“…Ludmila Zeman has retold and illustrated episodes from Arabian Nights, drawing the reader into the adventure as skillfully as Scheherazade enthralled King Shahriyat with her marvelous storytelling…Zeman’s meticulously researched illustrations recreate the elaborate carpet borders and richly detailed artwork of Persian miniature paintings.” – The Globe & Mail

Sindbad in the Land of Giants: From the Tales of the Thousand and One Nights
Retold by Ludmila Zeman
Paperback | Ages 6+
ISBN 9781770492660
“Engagingly written, the story is fleshed out by Zeman’s illustrations. Richly detailed, with intricate borders, the pictures are strongly reminiscent of Near Eastern miniatures, thus evoking the culture from which the story springs…. [F]or those who like adventure stories with gorgeous artwork, this title is a sound addition to folklore collections.” – School Library Journal

Sindbad’s Secret: From the Tales of the Thousand and One Nights
Retold by Ludmila Zeman
Paperback | Ages 6+
ISBN 9781770492653
“Zeman…preserve[s] much of the exoticism and excitement of the original [Sindbad stories]. Glowing pencil and watercolor illustrations are done in the style of ancient Persian miniatures.” – The Washington Post

Pub Date Giveaway: Which book would you love to read? Leave us a comment below and one lucky reader will receive a copy of their requested book, courtesy of Tundra! One request per person and please review our rules. The Adventures of Cosmo the Dodo Bird will be given away as a set of four. Please specify if you want the picture book set or the chapter book set.  The Sindbad books will also be given away as a set of three. This giveaway ends at midnight on Thursday, May 12, 2011!

Giveaway Hop Winners

Spring Blog Carnival


The lucky winner of our carny books is ikkinlala! Congratulations and please check your in-box for a message from us. I love funnel cake and beaver tail, but I haven’t tried elephant ears before!

Many thanks to Angela from Reading Angel, Candace from Candace’s Book Blog, Lori from Pure Imagination, and Mary from The Book Swarm for hosting this blog hop!


1st Annual Children’s Book Week Spotlight

The lucky winner of our children’s book prize pack is an e-mail subscriber! Congratulations to Heather, please check your in-box for a message from us.

Thank you to Ella at Mymcbooks’s Blog and co-host Tina at Family Literacy and You  for hosting this blog hop!

Finally, thank you to everyone who visited our blog and entered our giveaway. Stay tuned for more!

Tundra Book Group