Category: Fall 2011

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2012 Book of the Year for Children Award Shortlist

The Canadian Library Association has announced the shortlist for the 2012 Book of the Year for Children Award. This award recognizes a Canadian author of an outstanding book published in Canada in 2011, which appeals to children up to and including age 12.

This year, the committee was presented with 218 books, of which 32 were ultimately long‐listed for a thorough reading and review!

Tundra would like to congratulate the authors and illustrator for being on the 2012 CLA Book of the Year for Children Award shortlist:

From Then to Now
A Short History of the World
Written by Christopher Moore
Illustrated by Andrej Krystoforski
Hardcover | 192 pages | Ages 10+
ISBN: 978-0-88776-540-7
eBook: 978-1-77049-120-5
“Capably told and uniquely illustrated, From Then to Now explains how imaginative human cultures have produced an intellectually and socially dynamic world…. Far from a history of conquerors, this exceptional history of humanity is a breath of fresh air” – School Library Journal

The Dragon Turn
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Fifth Case
Written by Shane Peacock
Hardcover | 240 pages | Ages 10-14
ISBN: 978-1-77049-231-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-273-8
“…Shane Peacock delivers another intriguing novel exploring the boy detective…. His Sherlock is a penniless but resourceful young man living with an eccentric apothecary who encourages his curiosity and his powers of observation. In The Dragon Turn, he attempts to unravel the mystery of a magician’s illusion, which has apparently caused the death of a rival magician … the Canadian-made Sherlock has a real feeling for Victorian London.” – Winnipeg Free Press

The winners of the 2012 Book of the Year for Children Award and Honour Books will be announced prior to the Canadian Library Association National Conference. The award will be presented at the CLA National Conference and Trade Show at the Ottawa Convention Centre in Ottawa, Ontario on 31 May 2012.

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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

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The Boy Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows hits theatres in three week! Once again, Robert Downey Jr. plays the ever resourceful Sherlock Holmes with Jude Law as Dr. John Watson.

However, before you watch the movie, why not read about the Boy Sherlock Holmes first?

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)
ISBN 978-1-77049-078-9 (eBook)

“…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. ” – Starred Review, Quill & Quire

“The details of the plot are plausible, the pacing well timed, and the historical setting vividly depicted… 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…. 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

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)
ISBN 978-1-77049-080-2 (eBook)

“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

Vanishing GirlVanishing Girl
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His 3rd Case
Written by Shane Peacock
ISBN 978-0-88776-852-1 (Hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-77049-234-9 (Paperback)
ISBN 978-1-77049-081-9 (eBook)

“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 Secret FiendThe Secret Fiend
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His 4th Case
Written by Shane Peacock
ISBN 978-0-88776-853-8 (Hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-77049-213-4 (eBook)

“…Peacock has added another brilliant installation to an already amazing series. Sherlock is beautifully drawn, true to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and infused with the freshness of a youthful perspective. It is a delight to watch as the young detective develops, and it is a thrill to see how the various elements of his adult persona come together. This book is more than an origin story of the famous detective…. The mystery has a solid, fast-paced plot; the characters are carefully constructed and fully fleshed out with dynamic, complex relationships; Victorian England itself is a character, and Peacock does a wonderful job of describing the streets, the political unrest and the changing modes that mark the era. This is a truly wonderful book and belongs in any library.” – VOYA

The Dragon Turn
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His 5th Case
Written by Shane Peacock
ISBN 978-1-77049-231-8 (Hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-77049-273-8 (eBook)

Summer 1869, and Sherlock Holmes and his friend Irene celebrate her sixteenth birthday by attending the theater to watch a celebrated magician make a real dragon appear on stage. It is the London sensation. Sherlock and Irene meet the magician, Alistair Hemsworth – just as he is arrested for the murder of his rival, The Wizard of Nottingham. Is Hemsworth guilty? Sherlock has his doubts, and soon, so does the reader.

GIVEAWAY CONTEST!
Win a set of the Boy Sherlock Holmes in hardcover! We’ll throw in a lovely green book bag for you to carry the series in! That’s not all, we’ll even send you the books that are available in paperback so that you can give them to a friend (it’s almost gift-giving season). Review our contest rules here and leave a comment below responding to this question:

It has been said that Sherlock Holmes was the first superhero. Do you agree? (You can compare him to other superheroes in comic books, movies, graphic novels, etc.)

We’ll pick a winner and announce it here on December 8, 2011.

UPDATE: Congratulations to Sean Pynaert!

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Tuesdays with Tundra 15

Tuesdays with Tundra is a monthly post on our new releases. The following books are available today in stores and online!

Cube Book
Six Board Books | Ages 4-7
ISBN 978-1-77049-325-4
The six board books are die cut puzzle shapes that fit together to form a sturdy, decorative cube. The books also fit together to form a flat panel montage of the creatures in their environments. A total of thirty-six beautiful portraits from the giant panda to the colorful clown fish take us to the rain forests, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, oceans, and polar regions of the planet.

Hockey 123: My First NHL® Book
By Christopher Jordan
Board Book | Ages 2-4
CAN ISBN 978-1-77049-320-9
US ISBN 978-1-77049-347-6
Sticks, nets, pucks, and players – all are here and waiting to be counted! In Hockey 123: My First NHL® Book, children will discover numbers and be introduced to hockey in a fun and memorable way.

Hockey ABC: My First NHL® Book
By Christopher Jordan
Board Book | Ages 2-4
CAN ISBN 978-1-77049-319-3
US ISBN 978-1-77049-346-9
A is for arena, B is for banner, and C is for Captain Sidney Crosby. In Hockey ABC: My First NHL® Book, children will discover the alphabet while being introduced to hockey in a fun and memorable way.

Hockey Animals: My First NHL® Book
By Christopher Jordan
Board Book | Ages 2-4
CAN ISBN 978-1-77049-317-9
US ISBN 978-1-77049-344-5
A shark, a panther, a whale, a bear – and even a saber-tooth tiger! In Hockey Animals: My First NHL® Book, children will discover a variety of amazing animals while being introduced to hockey in a fun and memorable way.

Hockey Colours: My First NHL® Book
By Christopher Jordan
Board Book | Ages 2-4
CAN ISBN 978-1-77049-322-3
US ISBN 978-1-77049-349-0 (spelled Hockey Colors)
Blue and red jerseys, the silver Stanley Cup®, and tasty pink cotton candy! In Hockey Colours: My First NHL® Book, children will discover a rainbow of shades while being introduced to hockey in a fun and memorable way.

Hockey Opposites: My First NHL® Book
By Christopher Jordan
Board Book | Ages 2-4
CAN ISBN 978-1-77049-318-6
US ISBN 978-1-77049-345-2
Big and small, left and right, over and under, long and short! In Hockey Opposites: My First NHL® Book, children will discover a diverse range of opposites while being introduced to hockey in a fun and memorable way.

Hockey Shapes: My First NHL® Book
By Christopher Jordan
Board Book | Ages 2-4
CAN ISBN 978-1-77049-321-6
US ISBN 978-1-77049-348-3
A puck is a circle, a scoreboard a square, a goalie mask an oval. In Hockey Shapes: My First NHL® Book, children will discover a full range of shapes while being introduced to hockey in a fun and memorable way.

Puckster’s First Hockey Sweater
By Lorna Schultz Nicholson
Illustrated by Kelly Findley
Paperback | Ages 4-8
ISBN 978-1-77049-315-5
Introducing Puckster, Hockey Canada’s lovable new mascot and hero! There are hundreds of young children enrolled in organized hockey associations all across Canada and the United States, and nothing more exciting for these kids than getting that first hockey sweater.

Puckster’s First Hockey Game
By Lorna Schultz Nicholson
Illustrated by Kelly Findley
Paperback | Ages 4-8
ISBN 978-1-77049-316-2
Puckster and his friends now have team sweaters and are going to play their first hockey game! With loads of exciting hockey actions, great illustrations, and an entertaining story, young hockey fans everywhere will love to read – or be read – Puckster’s hockey adventures again and again.

Pub Date Giveaway: Tell us which new releases you would love to read in the comments below and one lucky reader will receive their requested books!

My First NHL® Book series count as 1 entry (6 books in total), the Puckster series count as 1 entry (2 books in total). To clarify, you will be entering to win: Cube Book, My First NHL® Book, or Puckster. For the NHL® Books, please let us know if you want the CAN or US editions.

One request per person and please review our rules. This giveaway ends at midnight on Thursday, November 24, 2011!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Darlene! As requested, you will be getting the Cube Book. Please check your inbox for an e-mail from us. =) Thank you to everyone who entered, our next PubDate Giveaway will be on January 10, 2012.

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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.

Tundra Book Group