2016 Telling Tales: A Festival of Stories

tellingtalesIt’s another busy fall, but the great thing is you have many options for literary festivals and events. For instance, the 8th annual Telling Tales is happening on Sunday, September 18, 2016 in Rockton, Ontario.

The Dark Missions of Edgar BrimThe Dark Missions of Edgar Brim
By Shane Peacock
Not for the faint of heart. Listen to author Shane Peacock discuss his first Gothic horror novel The Dark Missions of Edgar Brim.
For ages 9 and up
12:00 PM – Teen Zone (Summer Stage)
2:15 PM – Bandstand

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srOFsmf9ipk]

If I Had a GryphonIf I Had a Gryphon
By Vikki VanSickle
Illustrated by Cale Atkinson
Vikki VanSickle is an award-winning author of novels and picture books for children. If I Had a Gryphon is a laugh-out-loud pet story with a twist, featuring magical creatures in realistic situations. Vikki will have her magical pet care kit, with clues to some of the creatures in the book. Children are invited to play pet detective before delving into the story. Vikki is also the marketing and publicity manager at Penguin Random House Canada and will moderate our “Meet the Publishers” talk for ages 12 and up.
12:30 PM – Cathcart School House (for ages 3 to 7)
2:45 PM – Mountsberg Church (for ages 12 and up)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9vikZBG8kY]

who-broke-the-teapotWho Broke the Teapot?!
By Bill Slavin
If you love illustration, don’t miss Bill Slavin. Bill has illustrated over 100 books for kids, including the award-winning Stanley series, graphic novel trilogy Elephants Never Forget, and best-selling Transformed: How Everyday Things are Made. Join Bill for a fun session that includes a collaborative reading of his new picture book Who Broke the Teapot?!, plus a drawing demo where one lucky child will take home an original drawing!
2:15 PM – Telling Tales: Jerseyville Railway Station

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhBLhHPqwfU]

StoryMob Secret Location Revealed!

storymob

StoryMob Title
If I Had a GryphonIf I Had a Gryphon
Written by Vikki VanSickle
Illustrated by Cale Atkinson
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 9781770498099
“VanSickle’s rhymes are unflaggingly exuberant as the girl puts up with noisy harpies, biting chupacabras, and mischievous fairies, and Atkinson fills the pages with visual comedy. In one of the funniest scenes, a dopey-looking kraken grins innocently as its tentacles snag an ocean liner and a rather perturbed whale.” – Publishers Weekly

Secret Location Details
For tomorrow’s StoryMob, the meeting place is at The Children’s Book Bank on 350 Berkeley Street. Participants will be in the Book Bank courtyard until 1:30 pm, then parade north up Berkeley Street to Cartlon Street to our StoryMob location, in the heart of the kids area of the Cabbagetown Festival!!!

Sign up for a reader’s part by clicking here and check out costume and prop ideas here.

Schedule:
12:00pm – Volunteers, photographers, and keeners who need extra time to organize their props and costumes will meet at The Children’s Book Bank, 350 Berkeley Street
12:30pm (sharp!) – Official Mustering (we meet, greet, and practice for the StoryMob).
1:30pm – Parade – we will parade from the Book Bank with call and response play to our StoryMob location at Berkeley and Carlton.
1:45pm (approx) – StoryMob performance (lasts 15 minutes).
2:00pm – StoryMob disperses. Participants can enjoy all the Cabbagetown Festival has to offer!

Please call or text if you are delayed or need our help. It is especially important that we hear from Readers and Volunteers if you are not able to make it, as we will need to make quick alternative arrangements … plus, we’ll worry about you if you don’t show up! Roxanne: 416-670-6074

candy-corn
Go early, we can’t have Vikki eating all the candy corn!

You’re Invited to the Launch of Once, in a Town Called Moth

MothLaunchPlease join Trilby Kent in celebrating the launch of Once, in a Town Called Moth. Please RSVP to rsvpcanada@penguinrandomhouse.com.

When: Friday, September 16, 2016
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Type Books
Address: 883 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON

Once in a Town Called MothOnce, in a Town Called Moth
Written by Trilby Kent
Publication Date: September 6, 2016
Hardcover | 224 Pages | Ages 12 and up
ISBN 978-1-10191-811-1

“Kent writes with refreshing emotional sophistication…. As literary as it is smart, Kent’s novel reflects life beautifully in its rigorous denial of pat, easy answers.” – Starred Review, Quill & Quire

“Lyrical writing imbues simple scenes with complex emotional undercurrents…. The motions feel almost casually violent, slyly suggesting untrustworthiness. It’s these descriptions that truly develop the novel’s mystery-laden tension. Truly outstanding literary moments distinguish this quiet search for identity…” – Kirkus Reviews

Western Canada Jewish Book Award Winner

Winners of the first-ever Western Canada Jewish Book Awards were announced on June 19, 2016. This initiative is designed to celebrate excellence in writing on Jewish themes / subject and showcase the achievements of authors who reside in Western Canada. The Awards aim to recognize the contribution to Jewish culture by these writers. Tundra would like to congratulate Glenda Leznoff for winning the Children & Youth category – the Jonathan & Heather Berkowitz Prize!

Heartache and Other Natural ShocksHeartache and Other Natural Shocks
Written by Glenda Leznoff
Hardcover | 384 Pages | Ages 14+
ISBN 978-1-77049-836-5
eBook 978-1-77049-837-2
“Full of unexpected twists and turns, Heartache and Other Natural Shocks is a unique exploration of teen rivalry, marking an important new voice in young-adult fiction.” – Western Canada Jewish Book Awards Jury

Glenda attended the ceremony and sent us a few photos too!

We would like to thank the 2016 Western Canada Jewish Book Awards jury for all their hard work.

2016 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award Winner

We are very happy to announce that one of our titles has won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards! Congratulations to Susin Nielsen (who is also made of awesome molecules)!

Young Adult / Middle Reader Award Category

We Are All Made of MoleculesWe Are All Made of Molecules
Written by Susin Nielsen
Hardcover | 256 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-779-5
eBook: 978-1-77049-781-8
“This book is funny, powerful and inspirational… The characters dealt with a lot of complicated issues in a believable way that we could relate to…. I can imagine myself reading this book a million more times. It has the best ending ever!” – Student jurors in grades 7 and 8

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Schwartz Children’s Book Awards – the only Canadian literary award where student juries work together to choose the winning books. The Ontario Arts Council and Ontario Arts Foundation took a look back at 40 years of winners with this online countdown.

This year’s winners were chosen by student juries from Toronto’s Scarborough Village Alternative Public School. Each student read the books individually and then worked together with their group to reach consensus and decide on a winner. The announcement took place during a school assembly on Wednesday, June 22.

Tundra Book Group