Category: event

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OLA Best Bets 2010

Each year the OLA Best Bets Committee selects the top 10 Canadian picture books, fiction and non fiction for children and fiction for teens. The list will be featured at OLA Superconference at the Child and Youth Expo session on Friday, February 4 at 2:10 pm. Here are the Tundra titles that made the 2010 lists:

Junior Fiction:
Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom by Susin Nielsen
Honourable Mention to The Secret Fiend by Shane Peacock

Junior Non Fiction:
Honourable Mention to Hudson by Janice Weaver, illustrated by David Craig

Young Adult Fiction:
Folly by Marthe Jocelyn
Honourable Mention to Winter Shadows by Margaret Buffie

Tundra will also be hosting author signings at our booth: #720

Thursday, February 3, 2011:

  • 11:00 am Marthe Jocelyn will be signing chapbooks of “Scribbling Women” and F&Gs of Ones and Twos.
  • 12:00 pm Susin Nielsen will be signing Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom.
  • 12:45 pm Heather Hartt-Sussman will be signing F&Gs of Noni Says No.
  • 1:30 pm Cyndi Sand-Eveland will be signing Dear Toni.
  • 3:30 pm  Rina Singh and Farida Zaman will be signing Nearly Nonsense.

Friday, February 4, 2011:

  • 10:00 am Monica Kulling will be signing F&Gs of Merci Mister Dash!
  • 12:00 pm Ed Butts will be signing Shipwrecks, Monsters, and Mysteries of the Great Lakes.
  • 1:00 pm Christopher Moore will be signing From Then to Now.

Signing times are subject to change. We are giving away a limited number of F&Gs, chapbooks, and books, it would be best to arrive on time to line-up! See you there!

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Launch of: Counting on Snow

On January 15, 2011, Maxwell Newhouse hosted the launch of Counting on Snow, his latest picture book for ages 2-5. The event was held at the Chilliwack Art Gallery in the Chilliwack Cultural Centre. Here are some of the photos from the reception, courtesy of Maxwell Newhouse.


Maxwell invited local schools to attend and provided lots of healthy snacks and refreshments.


Maxwell had all the original paintings displayed from Counting on Snow for attendees to see.


He also showcased original artwork from The Weber Street Wonder Work Crew.


As well as The House That Max Built.


Here comes the rush of signings books and posters!


If you were not able to attend the launch, Maxwell Newhouse’s art installation will be on display until February 17, 2011. We recommend that you stop by to check them out!

Counting on Snow Giveaway:

As a bonus, enjoy the snow in the comfort of your own home. To enter, leave us a friendly comment below telling us what comforts you during snowy weather – is it a cup of hot chocolate, a roaring fireplace, or snuggling under the covers?

A winner will be chosen at random and will receive a copy of Maxwell Newhouse’s Counting on Snow and a set of the illustration miniatures. Please review our rules and this giveaway ends at midnight on Thursday, January 27, 2011 . Thank you for entering!


The miniatures would look lovely framed and hung in a library, classroom, or child’s bedroom!

What readers are saying about Counting on Snow:

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Canadian Children’s Literature Awards Celebration

Last night, Tundra came out to support our finalists in the Canadian Children’s Literature Awards. It was a beautiful night of fine dining, cocktails, and children books!

Charming Garvia Bailey, host of CBC’s Big City, Small World was our Master of Ceremony. The first award to be announced was the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People. We have a short clip that you can watch by clicking here.

Drumroll please, the winner of the Geoffrey Bilson for Historical Fiction for Young People goes to…

Vanishing Girl: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His 3rd Case
Written by Shane Peacock
Hardcover | 320 Pages
ISBN 978-0-88776-852-1
For ages 9 and up
“Peacock delves into the young mind of one of the best-known characters in literature, creating a story that is well-plotted, with plenty of action, adventure and plot twists… Beautifully written and fast-paced… Peacock’s writing has a distinctive voice and tone that is perfectly suited to the story being told.” – Jury Comments

Congratulations to Shane Peacock! The first two books in the Boy Sherlock Holmes series, Eye of the Crow and Death in the Air are all finalists of the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award.

The Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction was next! Tundra’s A Thousand Years of Pirates by William Gilkerson was nominated. The award went to the much deserving team of Priscilla Galloway and Dawn Hunter for Adventures on the Ancient Silk Road. They received a standing ovation after Priscilla’s thank you speech.

Next up, the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award! We had two finalists in this category (Our Corner Grocery Store by Joanne Schwartz, illustrated by Laura Beingessner), but only one could win…

Timmerman Was Here
Written by Colleen Sydor, illustrated by Nicolas Debon
Hardcover | 32 Pages
ISBN 978-0-88776-890-3
For ages 4 – 8
“This is a sublimely humanistic and memorable story about the way we discover the difference between truth and appearances… Dramatic pictures equally involve the reader, while the artistic use of dark and light further affect our emotional response… This intriguing tale with a twist delves exceptionally well into values and perceptions, the rational and the irrational, achieving a conclusion that is profoundly self-affirming for the child… This emotionally rich and suspenseful story is capped by an uplifting ending that will stir hearts from 8 to 80… A perfect pairing of text and illustration.” – Jury Comments

Congratulations to Colleen Sydor and Nicolas Debon for their work on Timmerman Was Here!

Lastly, the big award we were all waiting for, the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. Tundra has two finalists in the running!

And the winner is…

Arthur Slade for The Hunchback Assignments! Congratulations! Everyone got a copy in their gift bag and we can’t wait to read it!

A huge thank you goes out to the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, TD Bank Financial Group, the jurors, sponsors, and staff for all your work and for the amazing celebration!

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Launch of: Humpty Dumpty and Friends

Last night, we celebrated the launch of Oleg Lipchenko’s Humpty Dumpty and Friends at Nicholas Hoare Books in Toronto.

The event also included a presentation of the 2009 Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award to Oleg Lipchenko for his illustrations in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The annual IBBY Canada Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award, honours outstanding artistic talent in Canadian picture books.

IBBY Canada president, Patricia Ocampo presented Oleg Lipchenko with the award.

This is what the jury had to say:
“Oleg Lipchenko has turned this classic story into a rich experience for readers greeting Alice for the first time, as well as for those who know the original…Lipchenko’s illustrations are more than images on a page; they are an homage to the surreal quality and humor of Lewis Carroll’s text.”

Oleg Lipchenko signing copies of his books and posters.

Throughout the evening, guests were invited to look through Oleg Lipchenko’s portfolio containing the original artworks for the books.

Many thanks to everyone at Nicholas Hoare Books, IBBY Canada, to the family, and friends who came out to show their support for Oleg Lipchenko!

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CBC TD Kids Bookclub Contest

CBC Radio is partnered with the TD Bank Financial Group and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre to run a contest for middle school students across Canada – Greater Vancouver, the Edmonton area, the Calgary area, Manitoba, Toronto, the Montreal area, and Mainland Nova Scotia.

It’s an opportunity for young readers to win a visit from one of the five nominated authors for a book club discussion, plus copies of the book. CBC Radio will even record the event for broadcast, so readers will be heard on the radio!

We have two TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award nominees this year who are participating in the contest:

A Thousand Years of Pirates
Written and illustrated by William Gilkerson
Hardcover | 96 Pages
ISBN 978-0-88776-924-5
For ages 10 – 14
“A beautifully illustrated treasure trove of information… Chronicles the history of piracy from the time of the Vikings to the present day… This clear and compelling cross-over (history) for all ages includes not only biographical and dramatic narratives, but also the rarely-told sordid and sad details of piracy.” – Jury Comments

Watching Jimmy
Written by Nancy Hartry
Hardcover | 160 Pages
ISBN 978-0-88776-871-2
For ages 12 and up
“Watching Jimmy is a masterful exploration of the impact a young girl’s voice can have when she is supported by adult allies… A suspenseful novel of loyalty, determination and compassion… Hartry creates a memorable portrayal of the secret subculture of childhood… A profound and powerful story.” – Jury Comments

The other nominees are Janet McNaughton (Dragon Seer), Sharon Jennings (Home Free), and Arthur Slade (The Hunchback Assignments)! All great authors and books!

To Enter:
Individual classes must submit an original short story, poem or song convincing CBC Radio to bring the TD Kids Book Club to their school. Entrants must tell CBC why their class is so special when it comes to books and reading. Please visit www.cbc.ca/kidsbookclub for more information related to your location.

Contest Entry Deadline:
Friday, October 15, 2010. Please help spread the word, the entry deadline is approaching fast!

Tundra Book Group