Category: Fall 2009

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Celebrating the Year’s Best

In the December 2009 issue (Volume 15, Number 2) of Resource Links, they included their annual The Year’s Best. These titles have been designated as Excellent by their reviewers.  Here are the Tundra titles that made the 2009 list, organized by author’s last names in their categories:

PICTURE BOOKS

Bird Child
By Nan Forler
Illustrated by François Thisdale
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-894-1
“… As a thematic book dealing with the issue of bullying, this story excels. It is not preachy or didactic…. illustrations are also a standout…. A final word of praise has to go out to the author for the use of language in this story. Word choices approach the finely tuned standard of poetry…. Highly recommended.” – Resource Links

A Wizard in Love
By Mireille Levert
Illustrated by Marie Lafrance
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-901-6
“Although we don’t see it happen, I am positive Hector’s heart grows in this book… The colours used in the book A Wizard in Love reflect Hector’s shifting moods… Marie Lafrance’s illustrations are not typical of your average love story, but this is not your average love story!” – Resource Links

Timmerman Was Here
By Colleen Sydor
Illustrated by Nicolas Debon
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-890-3
“… Nicolas Debon’s gouache and wax pencil illustrations are dark and mysterious…. The atmosphere is nostalgic, from the 1940s setting to the reflective nature of the narrator. This is a quiet gem for all school and public libraries.” – Resource Links

FICTION: GRADES 3-6

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
By Lewis Carroll
Illustrated by Oleg Lipchenko
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-932-0
“… a beautiful book that stands up to careful scrutiny in appreciating the playful complexity of his unique interpretation and rich imagination…. Lipchenko’s sophisticated version is obviously driven by a commitment to faithfully represent his personal joy in a story that continues to enchant, amuse, and provoke delight and discussion among readers of all ages.” – Resource Links

Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas
By Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-895-8
“A delightful, imaginative tale…. a wonderfully silly, child-like adventure of ridiculous characters…. This story is a great yarn and hooks the child-like imagination in every reader….” – Resource Links

Jacob Two-Two and the Dinosaur
By Mordecai Richler
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-926-9
“This book would be a great addition to a unit on dinosaurs. Highly recommended for public and school libraries.” – Resource Links

Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang
By Mordecai Richler
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-925-2
“… DuÅ¡an Petričić’s new illustrations complement the tone of the story and bring Richler’s characters to life, especially the Hooded Fang. This book would be a fabulous read aloud.” – Resource Links

Jacob Two-Two’s First Spy Case
By Mordecai Richler
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-927-6
“…kids will delight in the hilarious downfall of adults who take advantage of their authority…. The story’s suspense is fun…. Highly recommended….” – Resource Links

NON-FICTION: GRADES K-6

Brigadier: Gentle Hero
By Judy Andrekson
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-904-7
“… fascinating detail of the rigorous training and wide variety of skills these animals must master, while keeping the plot moving at a quick pace…. Andrekson excels at vividly recreating the lives of horses she writes about for her readers…. This book is highly recommended.” – Resource Links

Wild Animals!
By Eduardo Bustos
Illustrated by Lucho Rodriguez
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-946-7
“… the animals seem to burst off the page…. encourage independent thinking and interaction with the storyteller. …a great non-fiction picture book for toddlers and preschoolers. Dramatic colours, attention-grabbing use of graphics and shapes and short interactive passages will keep young readers interested…” – Resource Links

Getting There
By Marla Stewart Konrad
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-867-5
“…stunning photographic essays …a book about various and sundry forms of transportations. … Konrad’s interest and concern for children is evident in both these books. I hope to see many more books from her, and additional titles in this series that is ideal for schools and libraries, wherever diversity is celebrated.” – Resource Links

Mom and Me
By Marla Stewart Konrad
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-866-8
“… small children will be fascinated by the scenes and people revealed by Konrad’s pictures. And older ones may begin to learn empathy for children who on the surface might seem quite different from them, but who all share a common humanity….” – Resource Links

It’s a Snap!
George Eastman’s First Photograph
By Monica Kulling
Illustrated by Bill Slavin
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-881-1
“…accessible picture book biography… The strong narrative is peppered with snappy dialogue. Bill Slavin’s pen, ink and watercolour illustrations are equally engaging. …This first book in the Great Idea Series is a picture-perfect introduction to biographies for beginning readers.” – Resource Links

What Came First?
By Sandro Natalini
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-901-8
“… This book presents the theory of evolution in language that is easily accessible to young readers…. Natalini skillfully touches the important points in current evolutionary theory…. highly recommend….” – Resource Links

FICTION: GRADES 7-12

Tyranny
By Lesley Fairfield
Paperback
ISBN 978-0-88776-903-0
“… The illustrations also show the reader the devastation to her body that Anna cannot see. Fairfield aptly shows the insidious nature of eating disorders as well as the control of the disorder…. Clearly portrays how difficult recovery can be…. Highly recommended.” – Resource Links

Brothers
By Michael Mazo
Illustrated by Michael Soloviov
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-922-1
“…a visually appealing book – Soloviov’s illustrations are humorous and lively, and one cannot help but laugh at the situations in which the two dogs find themselves….” – Resource Links

Puppet
By Eva Wiseman
Hardcover
ISBN 978-0-88776-828-6
“…a tale of shocking prejudice and a kind of petty corruption that chills one to the bone… Wiseman’s unflinching descriptions of the conducts of officials, the trial itself, and subtext of Julie’s life mixed with her reactions to and participation in the events around her are compelling and believable….” – Resource Links

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2010 Midwinter Meeting in Boston


Will you be attending the 2010 Midwinter Meeting? The conference will be taking place on January 15-19, 2010 in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

Tundra’s very own, Alison and Pamela, will be at booth #1442 to tell you about our new and upcoming books! You can also come by to pick up posters, postcards, and bookmarks.

We will also have author signings on Sunday, January 17, 2010 at our booth.  Starting at 10:00am, Marthe Jocelyn will be signing copies of Which Way?. Later at 3:00pm, Theo Caldwell will be signing copies of Finn the half-Great. Be sure to line-up early, there is a limited amount of books for you to take home and read!

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The Boy Sherlock Holmes

Guy Ritchie’s adaptation of Sherlock Holmes hits theatres next week! Robert Downey Jr. plays the witty Sherlock Holmes, Rachel McAdams as the beautiful Irene Adler, and Jude Law as Dr. John Watson. But, before you watch the movie, we challenge you to read the Boy Sherlock Holmes series!

Eye of the Crow PaperbackEye of the CrowEye of the Crow
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His 1st Case
Written by Shane Peacock
ISBN 978-0-88776-850-7 (Hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-88776-919-1 (Paperback)

“In Eye of the Crow, Shane Peacock has created a cleverly inventive background story for Sherlock Holmes that explains the adult character’s reluctance to talk about his family life. He’s also managed to create a thrilling, impeccably paced murder mystery. Peacock reveals the budding detective’s very real fears and insecurities, providing just enough detail about the young Sherlock’s methods to make him an entirely believable teenage precursor to the master detective. Peacock also neatly creates a sense of the bustle of Victorian London, making the squalid grunginess of the East End almost waft off the pages.” – Starred Review, Quill & Quire

“The details of the plot are plausible, the pacing well timed, and the historical setting vividly depicted…The titular crow comes fascinatingly into play…On balance, the characters enrich the book and help give Holmes’s storied abilities credence.” – Starred review, School Library Journal

“…the first intriguing volume in an ambitious new series….a shadowy, vividly described London….Creative references to Doyle’s characters abound…and Sherlock himself is cleverly interpreted….[made] both fascinating and complex….plenty of readers will like the smart, young detective they find here, and find themselves irresistibly drawn into his thrilling adventures.” – Starred review, Booklist

Awards and Honours:

  • Winner of the 2008 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Juvenile Book, presented by the Crime Writers of Canada
  • Winner of the 2008 IODE Violet Downey Book Award
  • Gold Medal Winner of the 2008 ForeWord Magazine‘s Book of the Year Award – Young Adult Fiction category
  • Gold Medalist for the 2008 Moonbeam Awards – Intermediate/Middle Grade category
  • Short-listed for the 2009 Rocky Mountain Children’s Book Award
  • Short-listed for the 2009 Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award – presented by MYRCA
  • Nominated for the 2009 Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choise Award (SYRCA) – Snow Willow Award category
  • Nominated for the 2008-2009 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award
  • Finalist for the 2008 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction
  • Finalist for the 2008 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award
  • Honour Book for the Canadian Library Association’s Book of the Year for Children Award
  • Chosen as Booklist’s “Top Ten in Youth Mysteries” in 2008
  • Chosen as an Honor Book for the 2009 Silver Birch Award for Fiction – presented by the Ontario Library Association
  • Selected for the 2009 TD Summer Reading List

Death in the Air PaperbackDeath in the AirDeath in the Air
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His 2nd Case
Written by Shane Peacock
ISBN 978-0-88776-851-4 (Hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-88776-928-3 (Paperback)

“In the first novel, we see many of the characteristics of the adult detective being formed through his first exciting adventure. In Death in the Air, this development continues and we get to know young Sherlock even better….This novel is written for the young adult, but adult readers will also find it satisfying. Peacock places demand on the reader, expecting intelligence and curiosity. The fast-paced adventure is a treat.” – The Globe and Mail

“Shane Peacock’s second novel of the young Sherlock is no less exciting or authentic than the first, Eye of the Crow…. Again Peacock has remained true to the original spirit of the Holmes series. Sherlock’s pervasive melancholy and his flirtatious relationship with the underworld of London create yet another authentic mystery. Peacock has honored the essence of the original Holmes stories while contributing his own intuitive, exhilarating touches.” – Highly Recommended, CM Magazine: Canadian Review of Materials

Awards and Honours:

  • Finalist for the 2009 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award
  • Short-listed for the 2008 IODE (National Chapter) Violet Downey Book Award
  • Finalist for the 2009 Canadian Library Association’s Young Adult Book Award
  • Selected for the Best Book for Kids and Teens 2009 list
  • Chosen as a 2008 Best Bets by the Ontario Library Association

Vanishing GirlVanishing Girl
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His 3rd Case
Written by Shane Peacock
ISBN 978-0-88776-852-1 (Hardcover)

“The first two books in this splendid series have won a shelf-full of awards. Peacock’s adolescent Sherlock is complex, intuitive and fascinating. As much as a Bildungsroman as a detective yarn, Sherlock tracks down an aristocratic young woman gone missing twice, driven by passion and pride, in the belief this may be the case that will make his reputation.” – The National Post

“… The richly descriptive prose offers a vivid sense of both Victorian life and the diverse characters, especially complex, intriguing, and sympathetic Sherlock” – Booklist

The Secret FiendThe Secret Fiend
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His 4th Case
Written by Shane Peacock
ISBN 978-0-88776-853-8 (Hardcover)
Available on May 11 2010!

It is 1868, the week that Benjamin Disraeli becomes Prime Minister of the Empire. Sherlock’s beautiful but poor admirer, Beatrice, the hatter’s daughter, appears at the door late at night. She is terrified, claiming that she and her friend have just been attacked by the Spring Heeled Jack on Westminister Bridge and the fiend has made off with her friend. At first Sherlock things Beatrice simply wants his attention, and he is reluctant to go back to detective work. He also believes that the Jack everyone fears is a fictional figure. But soon he is suspicious of various individuals, several of them close friends.

Set in a time when many in England were in a state of fear because a Jew was running the country, Shane Peacock presents a compelling story filled with an atmosphere of paranoia and secrets and surprises played out on late-night London streets. Sherlock gets drawn deeper and deeper into the pursuit of the Spring Heeled Jack, whose attacks grow in number until it seems that there are Jacks everywhere.

The Secret Fiend is the fourth book in Shane Peacock’s award-winning Boy Sherlock Holmes series, combining brilliant storytelling with fascinating historical detail and a mystery worthy of one of the greatest sleuths in English literature.

Please visit Shane Peacock’s website at www.shanepeacock.ca and www.theboysherlockholmes.com

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Holiday List of Lists

There are a lot of lists circulating out there. Best-of lists, gift ideas, and reading suggestions for the holidays. Why don’t we make it easier for you? We compiled some of our books that were featured in lists this year!

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
By Lewis Carroll
Illustrated by Oleg Lipchenko
ISBN 978-0-88776-932-0
All Ages
112 Pages
Hardcover
Listed in: Books for Winter Break (Bookslut); Kids books with a ‘wow’ factor (The Chronicle Herald); Books for children to go under the tree (The Record)

A Big City Alphabet
By Allan Moak
ISBN 978-0-88776-939-9
Ages 4+
32 Pages
Trade Paperback
Listed in: WHERE Magazine’s Holiday Gift Guide (Where Toronto)

Brothers
By Michael Mazo
Illustrated by Michael Soloviov
ISBN 978-0-88776-822-1
All Ages
32 Pages
Hardcover
Listed in: Holiday gift guide: A survey of some of the hottest adult and children’s books, just in time for your holiday shopping (Kelowna)

Finn the half-Great
By Theo Caldwell
ISBN 978-0-88776-931-3
Ages 11+
392 Pages
Hardcover
Listed in: Holiday Reads: Deirdre Baker’s Fantasy Books for Kids (The Toronto Star)

Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas
By Cary Fagan
Illustrated by DuÅ¡an Petričić
ISBN 978-0-88776-895-8
Ages 8-11
112 Pages
Hardcover
Listed in: Books of the Year 2009: The 15 Books That Mattered (Quill & Quire); Holiday Gift Guide (EYE WEEKLY)

A Mountain Alphabet
By Margriet Ruurs
Illustrated by Andrew Kiss
ISBN 978-0-88776-940-5
Ages 4+
32 Pages
Trade Paperback
Listed in: Brief reviews of books for kids for Christmas (Kelowna)

A Thousand Years of Pirates
By William Gilkerson
ISBN 978-0-88776-924-5
Ages 10+
96 Pages
Hardcover
Listed in: Kids books with a ‘wow’ factor (The Chronicle Herald); Books for children to go under the tree (The Record); Books Quarterly: Lit for little ones (The National Post)

Vanishing Girl: The Boy Sherlock Holmes – His Third Case
By Shane Peacock
ISBN 978-0-88776-852-1
Ages 10-14
320 Pages
Hardcover
Listed in: Books Quarterly: Lit for little ones (The National Post)

Are these critic’s picks on your list? Tell us which books you are recommending this holiday season!

Tundra Book Group