ALA Midwinter 2012


Will you be attending the 2012 ALA Midwinter Meeting? The conference will be taking place from January 20-24 in the Dallas Convention Center.

Tundra’s very own, Alison Morgan and Tara Walker, will be at booth #1629 to tell you about our new and upcoming books. You can also come by to pick up catalogs, posters, postcards, and bookmarks.

We will also have author signings, be sure to line-up early, the books will be available on a first come, first serve basis.

Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 11:00AM
First Descent
Written by Pam Withers
Hardcover | 272 pages | Ages 12+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-257-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-274-5
“…From the first page, when Rex hears a crack of river ice, sees an eight-year-old in peril, and enacts a dramatic rescue in which he must out-paddle an advancing mountain of ice, Withers flings the reader from one perilous adventure to another….” – Booklist

Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 11:00AM
Harness Horses, Bucking Broncos & Pit Ponies: A History of Horse Breeds
Written by Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson
Illustrated by Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson
Hardcover | 72 pages | All ages
ISBN: 978-0-88776-986-3
“…The concise and interesting information on each of the 43 breeds…. The excellent painterly pictures clearly capture the unique life of each horse, including dramatic scenes of the war horses, the excitement of circus performers, the hard work of those sent into the mines, and the compelling life of feral horses. A solid resource.” – School Library Journal

Launch of: Harness Horses, Bucking Broncos & Pit Ponies


Harness Horses, Bucking Broncos & Pit Ponies: A History of Horse Breeds by husband and wife team, Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson! The both of them threw an a-neigh-zing book launch, an art show, and even a fundraiser for Minis and Friends!


A few shelves were cleared to display the original illustrations at Bethany Hegedus‘s beautiful Writing Barn.


Check out the dessert table: candied apples, pumpkin cupcakes, and s’mores whoopie pies! Yes, there were some regular food too… but just look at those sweets!


Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson busy signing books.


They also had posters, stickers, coloring pages, bookmarks, and horse sticks for kids to take home.


What beautiful weather! We find that one colors best when there are horses milling around. For a print-out of the coloring page, please click here.


Minis and Friends, a charitable organization that trains minis to be therapy animals and takes them to visit with special needs people, brought in the miniature horses.


For more information about the book launch, please visit Shelley Ann Jackson and Jeff Crosby‘s blogs! Or, read an interview between the creators and Donna Bowman Bratton.

Launch of: Winterberries and Apple Blossoms


Last weekend, the amazing creators of Winterberries and Apple Blossoms: Reflections and Flavors of a Mennonite Year, Peter Etril Snyder and Nan Forler, launched their book at Conrad Grebel University College.


Along the stage, the original artwork by Peter Etril Snyder was on display.


Words Worth Books was on hand to help! Thank you so much for your constant support of our local authors and illustrators!


Nan Forler had activity stations for all the kids that attended. Here, you could make your own quilt square.


Amish paper dolls and Mennonite colouring sheets.


Perhaps the favourite among all the guests, the whoopie pie station! You could fill it with frosting and dip the edges with sprinkles. To find out how to make your own, click here.


Nan Forler did a reading from the book – with the help of her family!


Just look at all the guests that came out to support Nan and Peter! For more photos from this book launch, please click here.

Launch of: The Case of the Missing Deed

What a perfect place to launch a mystery with recipes – Barbara Jo’s Books to Cooks, a warm, welcoming cookbook store with a complete demonstration kitchen! About 40 people gathered there on October 13 to celebrate the launch of the first title in Ellen Schwartz’s Teaspoon Detectives series, The Case of the Missing Deed.

Ellen and her daughter, Merri Schwartz, a professional pastry chef, who had created the recipes that form an integral part of the story, had prepared Grandma’s Famous Pesto, Brown Sugar Spice Cake, and Chocolate Cinnamon Sparkle Cookies, all featured in the book, as snacks.

After Merri did a cooking demonstration on how to make the Sparkle Cookies, Ellen read a short scene in which two characters attempt to make the Spice Cake – only to have it explode in the oven.

Ellen signed lots of books, and guests commented on how much fun it was to have a cooking element as part of the book launch. Bon appetit!

Words Worth Eating with Nan Forler and Peter Etril Snyder


Last week, on October 12, Words Worth Books and Uptown 21 hosted Words Worth Eating with Peter Etril Snyder and Nan Forler. This was in celebration of Winterberries and Apple Blossoms, a newly released book filled with poems and recipes.

Here’s a look at the wonderful dinner Uptown 21 prepared:


The first course was an apple, cauliflower, and pickled bean salad in a maple mustard vinaigrette and extra old cheddar.


For the mid course, a roasted pumpkin soup with “off the shelf” relish and caraway oil.


Just look at that main course! Smoked and slow braised pork shanks over a warm sour cream potato salad and Nick’s famous sauerkraut.


For dessert, a strawberry-rhubarb custard crisp and Dutch apple pie. The recipe for this dish is in the book!


Mandy from Words Worth Books takes the mic!


Uptown 21 owners, Nick and Nat. Compliments to the Head Chef, Nick, the food was fabulous!

Missed it? Wished you were there? You’re in luck! Words Worth Books and Nick and Nat’s UPTOWN 21 will be hosting a second evening of Words Worth Eating on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 from 6:00pm-9:30pm.

Please call 519-883-1100 to reserve your seat, your ticket includes a 4-course meal inspired by the story and a copy of Winterberries and Apple Blossoms. $80 for a single ticket or $125 for a couple. Tickets do not include beverages, taxes, or gratuities.

For more photos from this event, please visit our facebook album.

Tundra Book Group