author – Page 280 – Tundra Book Group

June 1, 2009May 7, 2025

Launch of: Watching Jimmy

Nancy Hartry celebrated the launch of Watching Jimmy, her first novel on Sunday, May 31, 2009. Watching Jimmy grew from her short story “Thunderbird Swing,” which was published in Secrets. Set in 1958, Watching Jimmy is a brilliant portrait of a time past, a family of strong women, and a resourceful young girl who exudes character, resilience, and most of all, love.

The launch was held at Swansea Town Hall, near many locations mentioned in the novel.

Nancy Hartry signing books for families and friends.

A Watching Jimmy cake!

Listening to Nancy Hartry read a passage from her novel. She also talked about the writing process and how some elements from the book came to be.

Nancy Hartry invited her friends from CANSCAIP and writing workshops to her launch.

Video of Nancy Hartry reading an excerpt from her novel:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_7MYx9gMs4]

Video of Nancy Hartry’s son and his friend performing The White Cliffs of Dover:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uetTXu4D8E]

May 26, 2009May 7, 2025

A TINARS Weekend

On Saturday, it was “Look Again Day” at This Is Not A Reading Series for Tots, presented by Pages Books & Magazines, Bunch, Gladstone Hotel, and the Little Paper. Marla Stewart Konrad presented her two books, Getting There and Mom and Me:

Also at TINARS for Tots that day was Rebecca Upjohn presenting Lily And The Paper Man and there was a tribute to Tomi Ungerer of The Three Robbers & Moon Man.

Then on Sunday, it was the TINARS Literary Arcade! TINARS set up listening stations in the ballroom of the Gladstone Hotel as part of Doors Open Toronto. Featured authors and illustrators included: Joanne Schwartz, Laura Beingessner, Claudia Dey, Lisa Foad, Stacey May Fowles, Hilary Leung & David Bruins, Ibi Kaslik, Damian Rogers, Zoe Whitall, and Nathan Whitlock.

May 22, 2009May 7, 2025

Window Display and Weekend Events

Check out the window display at Pages Books & Magazines, located at 256 Queen Street West, Toronto, M5V 1Z8. Photos courtesy of Pages Books & Magazine.

This is going to be a busy weekend for Toronto!

From 10:00-1:00pm on Saturday May 23, Pages Books will be hosting “Look Again Day” for TINARS for Tots at the Gladstone Hotel. Doors open at 9:30am, so get there early for a good seat! Marla Stewart Konrad will be presenting Getting There and Mom and Me.

Then, as part of Lit City and Doors Open Toronto, two of our authors will be reading at Canada’s National Ballet School. On Sunday May 24, at 11:00am, we have Linda Maybarduk (former Soloist with The National Ballet of Canada) reading James the Dancing Dog. Right after at 11:30am, Cary Fagan will be reading Beyond the Dance (co-authored with The National Ballet of Canada Principal Dancer, Chan Hon Goh). At 12:30pm Veronica Tennant reads from On Stage Please.

Another event hosted by Pages Books is the TINARS Literary Arcade this weekend! This will also be part of Doors Open Toronto on May 24 from 12:00 to 4:00pm at the Gladstone Hotel. Joanne Schwartz and Laura Beingessner of Our Corner Grocery Store fame will be in attendance!

May 14, 2009May 7, 2025

Day 2: Festival of Trees 2009

Here is the second day of the 2009 Festival of Trees! You can read about Day 1 here. On day 2, the Silver Birch Awards were announced.

Silver Birch Award: Ages 7-11, Grades 3-6

Fiction Winner: The Third Eye by Mahtab Narsimhan
Fiction Honour books: Eye of the Crow – The Boy Sherlock Holmes by Shane Peacock and Swindle by Gordon Korman

Non-Fiction Winner: Gold Medal for Weird by Kevin Sylvester
Non-Fiction Honour books: Everything But the Kitchen Sink: Weird Stuff You Didn’t
Know About Food by Frieda Wishinsky and Elizabeth MacLeod and Brave Deeds: How One Family Saved Many by Ann Alma

Express Winner: Dear Sylvia by Alan Cumyn
Express Honour books: Feather Brain by Maureen Bush and Boy in Motion – The Rick Hansen Story by Ainslie Manson

Shane Peacock signing Eye of the Crow.

Just look at the line-ups for autographs!

More games and activities for the students.

Once again, congratulations to the authors and illustrations and a big thank you to everyone made the event such a success! Until next year!

May 13, 2009May 7, 2025

Day 1: Festival of Trees 2009

The Ontario Library Association hosts the Forest of Reading Programs where readers vote for their favourite books. There are 7 different reading programs, categorized by grade level and age. The winner for each award were announced at the Festival of Trees at the Harbourfront Centre on May 13 and 14th. Honour books, books that also received a high number of votes, were also announced. Over 250,000 students in Ontario voted! More than 70 authors and illustrators attended, along with over 6,000 young readers in the audience. These kids know how to make their favourite authors and illustrators feel like a rockstar!

The Blue Spruce Award: Ages 4-7, Kindergarten to Grade 2
Winner: Chester by Melanie Watts
Honour books: Such a Prince by Dan Bar-El and Stanley at Sea by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Bill Slavin

The Red Maple Award: Ages 11-15, Grades 7-8
Fiction Winner: Out of the Cold by Norah McClintock
Fiction Honour books: Egghead by Caroline Pignat and Frost by Nicole Luiken
Non-Fiction Winner: Elizabeth MacLeod’s Royal Murder: The Deadly Intrigue of the Ten Sovereigns
Non-Fiction Honour books: Ed Butts for SOS: Stories of Survival and Fire on the Water by Wendy Lewis

The White Pine Award: Grades 9-12
Winner: Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Honour books: After River by Donna Milner and Gravity Journal by Gail Sidonie Sobat

Cary Fagan and DuÅ¡an PetriÄiÄ‡‘s My New Shirt was nominated for the Blue Spruce Award.

Congratulations to Ed Butts for SOS: Stories of Survival being named an Honour book! Student volunteers held signs and gave a small introduction before the authors and illustrators came up.

After the award ceremonies, students and teachers can meet the authors and illustrators, have their books signed, do arts and crafts, play games, and participate in various activities. Basically a literary fairground!

That is one giant Jenga!

The Hockey Hall of Fame had the Stanley Cup on display!

Congratulations to all the authors and illustrators! Thank you to all the organizers, volunteers, authors, illustrators, teachers, and students for all their work!