Category: Canada

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CLA’s 2015 Book of the Year for Children Award Shortlist

The Canadian Library Association is pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2015 Book of the Year for Children Award. This respected award honours a book published in Canada in 2014 by a Canadian author that appeals to readers aged 12 and younger. The award is generously sponsored by Library Services Centre. Congratulations to Charis Cotter!

2015 Book of the Year for Children Award Shortlist

The SwallowThe Swallow
A Ghost Story
Written by Charis Cotter
Hardcover | 320 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-591-3
eBook: 978-1-77049-593-7
“The novel alternates between Polly’s and Rose’s first-person points of view, and Cotter ably creates their two distinct voices, each of which is appealing in its own way. This is a novel about loneliness and friendship, feeling invisible, finding your voice, and long-buried secrets. But The Swallow is never heavy-handed, and, best of all, it’s genuinely spooky. Cotter builds suspense without artificially withholding information from the reader. And for bibliophiles, the author’s subtle hat tips to favourite books are a joy. Like all the best ghost stories, The Swallow tells us more about the living than the dead. It is a fantastic addition to Toronto literature, with all the makings of a classic.” – Starred Review, Quill & Quire

Congratulations to the other shortlisted authors!

  • Boundless by Kenneth Oppel
  • The Night Gardner by Jonathan Auxier
  • Walking Home by Eric Walters
  • The End of the Line by Sharon McKay
  • Lord and Lady Bunny Almost Royalty by Polly Horvath
  • Circus Dogs of Prague by Rachelle Delaney
  • It’s Catching: The Infectious World of Germs and Microbes by Jennifer Gardey
  • The Elevator Ghost by Glen Huser
  • Rain Shadow by Valerie Sherrard

Thank you to the jury members for their dedication and hard work! The winner of the award will be announced during the week of April 20th, 2015. The award will be presented during the CLA National Conference and Trade Show at the Shaw Conference Centre, Ottawa on Thursday, June 4th 2015 at the Book Awards Reception.

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CLA’s 2015 Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award Shortlist

The Canadian Library Association is pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2015 Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award. This award is generously sponsored by Library Services Centre and recognizes an illustrator of a noteworthy Canadian book, published in 2014. The Amelia Frances Howard‐Gibbon Illustrator’s Award was established in 1971 and is presented annually to the illustrator of an outstanding children’s book published during the previous calendar year. Tundra would like to congratulate Geneviève Côté, Julie Morstad, Kyo Maclear, and Cybèle Young!

2015 Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award Shortlist

Bob's Hungry GhostBob’s Hungry Ghost
Written by Geneviève Côté
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 978-1-77049-713-9
“Côté sets the tone right from the beginning of her tongue-in-cheek story…. The varied use of page layouts, text placement, and white space render page turns pleasantly unpredictable, and the artist’s signature use of crayon line with full palette watercolor adds to the ghostly yet playful atmosphere. Don’t mistake this for a Halloween story. Kids will want to revisit Bob and Fluffy all year long.” – School Library Journal

Julia ChildJulia, Child
Written by Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
Hardcover | 32 Pages | All Ages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-449-7
“Julia, Child is not only a book about the joy of cooking, but the wonder of childhood, and, like the best cooking, is meant to be savored. Maclear, who began her career writing for adults, has turned in to one of the country’s best children’s authors, but it’s Morstad’s stellar illustrations that are the main course. I guarantee it’ll leave you hungry.” – The National Post

Nancy KnowsNancy Knows
Written by Cybèle Young
Hardcover | 40 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 978-1-77049-482-4
“Nancy Knows is a great example of the power and charm of simple storytelling. Young’s prose is clear; each brief sentence is composed of carefully chosen words that inspire readers to take their time and savour the story (a fitting approach for a book about memory). But it is Young’s artwork that elevates the narrative to extraordinary heights…. Young once again works her magic, combining intricately detailed miniature paper sculptures (which represent memories) with soft, pencil-sketched outlines of Nancy and her surroundings. The effect is utterly mesmerizing.” – Starred Review, Quill & Quire

Congratulations to the other shortlisted authors and illustrators!

  • Any Questions? written and illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
  • Dolphin SOS illustrated by Julie Flett and written by Roy Miki & Slavia Miki
  • Gustave illustrated by Pierre Pratt and written by Rémy Simard
  • If… illustrated by Steve Adams and written by David J. Smith
  • The Most Magnificent Thing written and illustrated Ashley Spires
  • Pirates of the Silver Coast written and illustrated by Scott Chantler
  • The Tweedles Go Electric illustrated by Marie Lafrance and written by Monica Kulling

Thank you to the jury members for their dedication and hard work! The winner of the award will be announced during the week of April 20th, 2015. The award will be presented during the CLA National Conference and Trade Show at the Shaw Conference Centre, Ottawa on Thursday, June 4th 2015 at the Book Awards Reception.

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CLA’s 2015 Young Adult Book Award Shortlist

The Canadian Library Association is pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2015 Young Adult Book Award. The award is generously sponsored by Library Services Centre and recognizes an author of an outstanding English-language Canadian work of fiction (novel, collection of short stories or graphic novel), published in 2014 that appeals to young adults. Tundra would like to congratulate S.J. Laidlaw and Marthe Jocelyn!

2015 Young Adult Book Award Shortlist

The Voice Inside My HeadThe Voice inside My Head
Written by S.J. Laidlaw
Hardcover | 256 Pages | Ages 14+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-565-4
eBook: 978-1-77049-566-1
“With so much choice available on the Young Adult market, it’s refreshing to come across an engaging, authentic, and compelling first-person protagonist-and a male one at that. S.J. Laidlaw lays out a crisp, enticing, and realistic fictional piece of work with a grippingly vivid, unexpected ending. The beauty of the story here is one of the unfaltering friendship that can be found in siblings … the believable dialogue and dialect shines in The Voice inside My Head. This is quite simply a page-turner, and one that will leave voices inside your head for days after. Add it to your summer reading list, Central American island optional.” – Children’s Book Review

What We HideWhat We Hide
Written by Marthe Jocelyn
Hardcover | 288 Pages | Ages 14+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-642-2
eBook: 978-1-77049-644-6
“Jocelyn moves from one character’s voice to the next, each with its own sharp perspective, style, and emergent self- (and often sexual) knowledge. Warm-hearted, clever, funny and moving, this keeps readers thinking all the way to its end. Immensely satisfying for its interwoven stories and fully realized characters.” – The Toronto Star

Congratulations to the other shortlisted authors!

  • The Art of Getting Stared At by Laura Langston
  • The Death of Us by Alice Kuipers
  • The Gospel Truth by Caroline Pignat
  • Moon at Nine by Deborah Ellis
  • Rabbit Ears by Maggie DeVries
  • This One Summer by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki
  • Twisted by Lisa Harrington
  • Unspeakable by Caroline Pignat

Thank you to the jury members for their dedication and hard work! The winner of the award, and the Honour Books, will be announced during the week of April 20th. The award will be presented during the CLA National Conference and Trade Show at the Shaw Centre, Ottawa on June 4th, 2015 at the Book Awards reception.

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2015 OLA Super Conference

It’s that time of year again! The OLA Super Conference takes place at the end of this week!

TundraOLASC

From Thursday to Friday, you can find us at booth #716-724, talking about our new and upcoming books. We’ll also have a few author signings over the two days! With each author signing, we’ll hand out complimentary copies of the title on a first come, first serve basis. Make sure you get there early – there will only be a limited number of signed books to give away!

Frank Viva signing on Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.

9781101917688-450Outstanding in the Rain
Written by Frank Viva
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN 9781101917688
eBook 9781101917701
An outstanding story of word and picture play from an award-winning author/illustrator, that will amaze and delight kids, English language enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates great design and arty children’s books.

Charis Cotter signing on Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.

9781770495913-450The Swallow: A Ghost Story
Written by Charis Cotter
Hardcover | 320 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN 9781770495913
eBook 9781770495937
“Spooky tension, friendship and compassion permeate this exquisitely plotted middle-grade ghost story … readers will seesaw between chills and snorts of laughter. When Cotter delivers the final twist, it is a denouement that becomes a springboard for greater revelations that lead to even greater reader satisfaction. Middle-grade storytelling at its very best-extraordinary.” – Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
“Cotter builds suspense without artificially withholding information from the reader. And for bibliophiles, the author’s subtle hat tips to favourite books are a joy. Like all the best ghost stories, The Swallow tells us more about the living than the dead. It is a fantastic addition to Toronto literature, with all the makings of a classic.” – Starred Review, Quill & Quire

Eric Walters signing on Friday, January 30, 2015 at 9:30 a.m.

9781770495302-450Hope Springs
Written by Eric Walters
Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 6-9
ISBN 9781770495302
eBook 9781770495319
“Based on actual events, this story is one of strength and kindness in the face of fear…. With the addition of the author’s ‘Story Behind the Story,’ the facts of the origin of Hope Springs allow a retelling of the story through a personal narrative with the aid of photography, a map, and additional explanation.” – School Library Journal

Sylvia McNicoll signing on Friday, January 30, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.

9781770497108-450Best Friends through Eternity
Written by Sylvia McNicoll
Hardcover | 192 Pages | Ages 12 and up
ISBN 9781770497108
eBook 9781770497122
A fast-paced novel about a Chinese teen who “dies” in a tragic accident and is reunited with her former best friend. Will she have to stay away for the rest of her days, or is there a way back?

Follow @TundraBooks, @VIVAandCO, @CharisCotter, @EricRWalters and @SylviaMcNicoll on Twitter! You can also follow #OLASC15 for the latest news and updates!

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National Post: 2014’s Best Books for Kids

NationalPost
We’re feeling warm and fuzzy with all the love for our books this year! Here’s two more recommended titles from the National Post:

Nancy KnowsNancy Knows
Written by Cybèle Young
Hardcover | 40 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 978-1-77049-482-4
“Hours can be spent poring over the illustrations for Cybèle Young’s Nancy Knows, a gorgeous little story in which a forgetful elephant racks her memory, trying to remember what it is she was supposed to do. Nancy’s memories are expressed through dozens of miniature, elaborate paper sculptures, each one handcrafted by Young herself. New details spring up on the page with each repeat reading, making it a book parents won’t quickly tire of during story time.” – Anna Fitzpatrick, National Post

The Hockey Sweater_30th AnniversaryThe Hockey Sweater, 30th Anniversary Edition
Written by Roch Carrier
Illustrated by Sheldon Cohen
Translated by Sheila Fischman
Hardcover | 48 Pages | All Ages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-762-7
“2014 was also a notable year for anniversaries and re-releases. Roch Carrier’s Canadian classic The Hockey Sweater turned 30, which Tundra celebrated with a hardcover special edition.” – Anna Fitzpatrick, National Post

Tundra Book Group