Category: Canada

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The 2013 Vancouver Writers Fest

VWF

The Vancouver Writers Fest turns reading into a community experience, bringing people together to share thoughts, explore ideas, and witness brilliant conversations.

Eric Walters‘ young adult novels have won numerous awards, including the Silver Birch, Blue Heron, Red Maple, Snow Willow and Ruth Schwartz Awards, and have received honours from UNESCO’s international award for literature in the service of tolerance. His most recent book is My Name is Blessing.

Stories in Good Company
My Name Is BlessingWednesday, October 23, 2013 – 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Waterfront Theatre
$17 / $8.50 for school groups
Suitable for grades K-3

Veteran children’s author Eric Walters has written more than 80 books that have won more than 100 awards, so you’re in for an afternoon of great storytelling and creative genius. Walters’ newest story, My Name Is Blessing, follows a young Kenyan boy whose disability turns out to be a blessing. He teams up with two other Canadian children’s authors, Dan Bar-el and Ashely Spires, who will entertain with stories about Binky the cat, who plots an escape from the vet, and Crispin, the scaly dragon who can’t even light his own birthday candles. Come and enjoy an hour in the company of good stories for the young.

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The 2014 OLA Forest of Reading® Nominees


Today, the Ontario Library Association revealed the nominated titles for the 2014 Forest of Reading® program. Tundra would like to congratulate the nominated authors and illustrators!

Blue Spruceâ„¢ Nominee:
Mr Zingers HatMr. Zinger’s Hat
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Hardcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-253-0
“Every child needs a Mr. Zinger – and his hat! – in his or her life…. Petričić’s illustrations change from loose, soft watercolors to sharply defined cartoon drawings when the two enter the realm of their shared fiction…. This book oh-so-softly brings across a sweet multigenerational message about sharing the power of imagination.” – Booklist

Silver Birch® Express Nominees:
When I Get OlderWhen I Get Older
The Story behind “Wavin’ Flag”
Written by K’NAAN and Sol Guy
Illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
Hardcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-302-5
“Somali-Canadian musician K’naan’s first children’s book tells the inspirational story of his immigration to Canada to escape the Somali War. K’naan uses accessible yet poetic language to draw in young readers, exploring his adjustment to Canada and how music kept him connected to his family. Gutierrez’s artwork powerfully conveys a new immigrant’s sense of alienation.” – Parents Canada

Red Mapleâ„¢ Fiction Nominees
The Reluctant Journal of Henry K LarsenThe Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen
Written by Susin Nielsen
Hardcover | 256 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-372-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-373-5
“…With fully developed adult and child characters and a solid sense of middle school humor, the author has crafted an insightful and nuanced novel about bullying and suicide, and familial love and resilience.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

The Toronto Festival of Treesâ„¢ will be taking place on May 14-15, 2014 at the Harbourfront Centre. We will be there to cheer on our authors and illustrators!

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In Conversation: Robbie Robertson

01_In ConversationOn Tuesday, October 8, co-authors Robbie Robertson (Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and guitarist for The Band) and Jim Guerinot came out to Indigo Bay and Bloor at Manulife Centre for a special event!

02_Robbie signing Legends Icons RebelsWe arrived extra early. You can see here that the publicity team is helping Robbie Robertson get through the stack of books and CDs that needed to be signed.

03_On stage with Alan CrossOn stage, Canadian broadcaster and music writer Alan Cross interviewed Robbie Robertson and Jim Guerinot about Legends, Icons & Rebels.

04_Line upA book signing followed, look at that line up!

05_Brian HoangOne of the talented illustrators, Brian Hoang, also came out to the event and got his book signed!

06_SignedWe’d like to echo Jim Guerinot’s sentiments, Brian Hoang’s art is spectacular! And we agree with Robbie Robertson, Brian nailed it!

Louis JordanYou’d have to see it for yourself. Here’s Brian Hoang’s artwork for Louis Jordan and Stevie Wonder.
Stevie Wonder

Thank you to everyone who came out to the event and thank you to the team at Indigo! We loved seeing these photos from bookverveca; indigogreenroom (2 and 3); pitre88; and thewalrus3030!

We’ve been hearing some great feedback from American Songwriter; Classic Rock Magazine; CTM Edge; Grammy.com; Huffington Post; IndieWire; JamBands; Kirkus Reviews; Metro News; MSN.com; Publishers Weekly; Shelf Awareness; The Telegraph; and Ultimate Classic Rock. Plus, you can listen in to the interview on CBC Radio’s Q with Jian Ghomeshi. Or, watch this segment on Global News!

It’s no wonder the book has been an Editors’ Pick for the month of October on Amazon, as well as a bestseller in the Composer & Musician Biographies, Children’s Music Books, and Children’s Musical Biographies categories!

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WordFest 2013

WordFestWordFest hosts year-round literary events in Calgary, Banff and Bow Valley featuring the world’s best writers. WordFest’s main event is a literary festival that features upwards of 70 writers from the local, national and international stage. The Festival has approximately 60 separate events and attracts an audience of over 14,000.

Monica Kulling has published over thirty-five books for children, including In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps It Up, selected by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the Ten Great Science Books for Kids. Her other two books in the series, It’s a Snap! George Eastman’s First Photograph and All Aboard! Elijah McCoy’s Steam Engine, both illustrated by Bill Slavin, were nominated for several awards. Kulling is also the author of the hilarious Merci Mister Dash! She presents Mister Dash and the Cupcake Calamity (Grade K-2) and Making Contact!, the latest of her biography series (Grade 1 – 3).

Monica Kulling Events

Mister Dash and the Cupcake CalamityMaking ContactOctober 16, 10:00 am – 11:30 am with Barbara Reid (Grade K – 2) – Buy Tickets
CPL – John Dutton Theatre,  616 Macleod Trail SE Calgary

October 17, 10:00 am – 11:30 am with Eric Walters (Grades 1 – 3) – Buy Tickets
Glenbow Museum – ConocoPhillips Theatre, 130 9 Ave SE Calgary

October 19, 11:00 am – Noon A Morning with Monica Kulling – Family Event – FREE
Banff Public Library, 101 Bear street

For more information about WordFest, you can visit their website, facebook page, twitter, and blog.

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Launch of: Whimsy’s Heavy Things

What a lovely launch for Whimsy’s Heavy Things! The event was held on Wednesday, October 3 at Modern Baby with Mabel’s Fables on hand to sell books. A fantastic turnout of friends, families, and fans came to congratulate Julie Kraulis on her first picture book publication. Here are some photos from the reception:

01WhimsyLaunch
Modern Baby is all spruced up and ready to welcome guests!

02WhimsyLaunch
Who’s already exhausted from all the fun? Snack break!

03WhimsyLaunch
Julie Kraulis’s original art on display.

04WhimsyLaunch
Each piece is a spread from Whimsy’s Heavy Things.

05WhimsyLaunch
Making the way to the back, everyone is in line to have their book(s) signed.

06WhimsyLaunch
No snack break for Julie Kraulis, the line to meet her doesn’t end!

07WhimsyLaunch
Gorgeous prints of the art from the book are available for sale.

08WhimsyLaunch
Editor Samantha Swenson saying a few words about working with Julie Kraulis on Whimsy’s Heavy Things.

09WhimsyLaunch
All smiles for Julie Kraulis! Congratulations on creating such a beautiful first book!

10WhimsyLaunch
By audience request, Julie Kraulis gave an impromptu reading of Whimsy’s Heavy Things.

Thank you to those who came out on the splendid Wednesday evening and many thanks to the team at Modern Baby and Mabel’s Fables.

Tundra Book Group