Category: On this day

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World Animal Day


October 4th is World Animal Day! Celebrate by spreading the word, volunteering, or learning about the relationships between humans and animals:

Harness Horses, Bucking Broncos & Pit Ponies
A History of Horse Breeds
By Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson
Hardcover | 72 Pages | All Ages
ISBN: 978-0-88776-986-3
Thousands of years ago people living on the steppes of central Asia realized that horses could transport them long distances, help them fight their wars, pull their plows, and provide them with sport and companionship. Ever since, horses and human history have been intertwined.

Little Lions, Bull Baiters & Hunting Hounds
A History of Dog Breeds
By Jeff Crosby and Shelley Ann Jackson
Hardcover | 72 Pages | All Ages
ISBN: 978-0-88776-815-6
Since prehistoric times, humans and dogs have shared a unique bond and both have served each other well. Early people discarded food and as a result, wild wolves cast fear and caution aside, following and approaching their two-legged neighbors until they became less wary of each other. As humans hunted, fished, herded, and hauled, they found ways to benefit from the presence and talents of these animals. Over time, both learned to work together, rely on, and like each other.

Talking Tails
The Incredible Connection Between People and Their Pets
By Ann Love and Jane Drake
Illustrated by Bill Slavin
Hardcover | 80 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-0-88776-884-2
From our earliest beginnings, we have shared our lives with animals. Jane Drake and Ann Love explore the ties that humans and their pets have formed. With fun and fascinating facts, they address Dog People and Cat People. (Why does a cat wind around her owner’s legs? She’s rubbing her owner with glands on her face to say “you’re mine.”) They also introduce us to more unusual pets. There’s Polly the parrot, who lived through the Klondike Gold Rush to be 126 years old by belting back whiskey, swearing, and biting gold miners. And, of course, there are fish and reptiles, rodents and horses, all of whom can be beloved pets.

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The Mona Lisa Caper

On this day in 1911, Vincenzo Perugia shocked the world by stealing the most famous of the many treasures in the Louvre, the Mona Lisa. Rick Jacobson and Laura Fernandez take a playful look at the possibilities behind the facts in this delightful tale of a famous missing treasures.

The Mona Lisa Caper
Written by Rick Jacobson
Illustrated by Laura Fernandez and Rick Jacobson
Hardcover | 24 Pages | Ages 5-7
ISBN: 978-0-88776-726-5
Throughout Rick Jacobson’s lively text, Mona Lisa herself narrates the story of her trip back to the city of her creation. The playful art Rick has painted along with his wife, Laura Fernandez, heightens the fun. Not only is it Keystone-Cops funny, it is a sound introduction to the painting that continues to delight, amaze, and mystify hundreds of years after Leonardo da Vinci’s death.

PRAISE FOR The Mona Lisa Caper:

“…the writing is sprightly, and the watercolor artwork, superior – realistic, but with touches of whimsy.” – Booklist

“[The book] has a sweet whimsy, and lovely paintings of the great lady.” – The Globe and Mail

“The watercolour illustrations … include lively action scenes and beautifully atmospheric landscapes and cityscapes … the book has a lot of charm and a vivid sense of period. It will doubtless encourage readers to see the painting and decide for themselves about her smile.” – Quill & Quire

“[Jacobson and Fernandez’s] soft-edge paintings and decorative cameos are atmospheric and appealing….” – School Library Journal

“…Jacobson’s dense text brims with suspenseful details, and he humorously imagines how a painting might feel … Jacobson and Fernandez’s beautifully drafted watercolors convey a sense of excitement while capturing many details of the era. Jacobson wisely resists the temptation to teach or preach in his unusual tale; he merely delights in the events, and readers will, too.’ – Publishers Weekly

“Author Rick Jacobson paints the fascinating, often hilarious details of this oddball art heist through the eyes of Mona Lisa herself. Additional humour is added by the outstanding realistic artwork. This is a history book that reads like an action adventure story.” – Canadian Family Magazine

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Lawrence of Arabia

On this day in 1888, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, was born.

Medina Hill
By Trilby Kent
Hardcover | 176 Pages | Ages 10-14
ISBN: 978-0-88776-888-0
In the grimy London of 1935, eleven-year-old Dominic Walker has lost his voice. His mother is sick and his father’s unemployed. Rescue comes in the form of his Uncle Roo, who arrives to take him and his young sister, Marlo, to Cornwall. There, in a boarding house populated by eccentric residents, Marlo, who keeps a death grip on her copy of The New Art of Cooking, and Dominic, armed with Incredible Adventures for Boys: Colonel Lawrence and the Revolt in the Desert, find a way of life unlike any they have known. Dominic’s passion for Lawrence of Arabia is tested when he finds himself embroiled in a village uprising against a band of travelers who face expulsion. In defending the vulnerable, Dominic learns what it truly means to have a voice.

PRAISE FOR Medina Hill:

“… Kent’s highly original debut.” – Starred Review, Booklist

“…[Medina Hill] offers vivid descriptions of the setting, lively characters, and a satisfying ending.” – School Library Journal

“…the voice of the narrator and the motley cast of characters are brilliantly realized. Kent’s language is both poetic and insightful…. Definitely a writer to watch.” – Quill & Quire

If you haven’t already, take a look at what readers were saying during the Medina Hill blog tour.

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The 100th International Women’s Day

March 8, 2011 is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day! Let’s celebrate by learning more about these amazing women:

“Scribbling Women”
True Tales from Astonishing Lives
Written by Marthe Jocelyn
Hardcover | 208 pages
Ages 14+
ISBN 978-0-88776-952-8
eBook 978-1-77049-230-1
In 1855, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote to his publisher, complaining about the irritating fad of “scribbling women.” Whether they were written by professionals, by women who simply wanted to connect with others, or by those who wanted to leave a record of their lives, those “scribbles” are fascinating, informative, and instructive.

The Matchless Six
The Story of Canada’s First Women’s Olympic Team
Written by Ron Hotchkiss
Paperback | 200 Pages
Ages 11+
ISBN 978-0-88776-738-8
“…the book provides a fresh slant on the history of the Olympics and on women’s athletics in the early twentieth century.” – Booklist

Silent in an Evil Time
The Brave War of Edith Cavell
Written by Jack Batten
Paperback | 144 Pages
Ages 10+
ISBN 978-0-88776-737-1
eBook 978-1-77049-005-5
“This exceptional biography reads like an adventure novel…. The woman’s life is laid out logically and succinctly in this revealing work. The author does not glorify her; he shows her as a real person and not just as a mythologized heroine. The historical facts are well explained and Cavell is placed clearly in context. Her legacy is portrayed objectively and her impact is well documented.” – School Library Journal

Laura Secord
A story of Courage
Written by Janet Lunn
Illustrated by Maxwell Newhouse
Hardcover | 32 Pages
Ages 8+
ISBN 978-0-88776-538-4
“A round of applause for the latest Laura … which gives readers an excellent story and the broadest appreciation for the time period…. A fitting tribute to a determined woman, this book inspires readers to hope that each of us, if called upon, could be so noble.” – Quill & Quire

Heart and Soul
The Story of Florence Nightingale
Written by Gena K. Gorrell
Paperback | 152 Pages
Ages 10+
ISBN 978-0-88776-703-6
“This fascinating book is filled with little-known facts, photographs and drawings of Nightingale’s personal life, and descriptions of her era’s social mores and medical profession, all of which make her achievements more astounding.” – VOYA

Emily Carr
At the Edge of the World
Written by Jo Ellen Bogart
Illustrated by Maxwell Newhouse
Hardcover | 40 Pages
Ages 10+
ISBN 978-0-88776-640-4
“This beautiful biography … will interest a wide variety of readers … high quality full colour reproductions of the artist’s paintings appear on the right hand page, and the text and black and white illustrations detailing the artist’s life are on the verso…. The finely detailed line drawings … by folk artist Maxwell Newhouse capture the very essence of Emily’s appearance, her charming pets and her vigorous creativity. The text is thoughtful, sensitive and respectful…. Jo Ellen Bogart is able to give the reader a glimpse into the creative heart of an artist and let readers know about the person in a very accessible and readable book….” – Highly Recommended, CM Magazine

Capturing Joy
The Story of Maud Lewis
Written by Jo Ellen Bogart
Illustrated by Mark Lang
Trade Paperback | 32 Pages
Ages 8-12
ISBN 978-0-88776-568-1
“Bogart handles the story of Lewis’s difficult and impoverished life with great tact. Her declarative style says more than the mere words ever could … a lovely picture book… [that] will inspire curiosity about and admiration for this remarkable woman.” – The Telegram

She Dared
True Stories of Heroines, Scoundrels, and Renegades
Written by Ed Butts
Illustrated by Heather Collins
Trade Paperback | 128 pages
Ages 11-14
ISBN 978-0-88776-718-0
eBook 978-1-77049-008-6
“She Dared introduces young readers aged 10 to 14 to these famous – and infamous – women and to what women with will and wherewithal can accomplish.” – Today’s Parent

Tell No One Who You Are
The Hidden Childhood of Regine Miller
Written by Walter Buchignani
Trade Paperback | 192 pages
Ages 9+
ISBN 978-0-88776-817-0
“Tell No One Who You Are is an extraordinary and moving book…. This is a story that will make readers want to know more, and the afterword, appendices and bibliography do an admirable job of providing a context for Régine’s story. Highly Recommended” – CM Archive

In the Bag!
Margaret Knight Wraps It Up
Written by Monica Kulling
Illustrated by David Parkins
Hardcover | 32 pages
Ages 5-8
ISBN 978-1-77049-239-4
Margaret Knight devoted her life to inventing, and is best known for the clever, practical, paper bag. When she died in 1914, she had ninety inventions to her name and over twenty patents, astounding accomplishments for a woman of her day.

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Picasso

On this day in 1881, Pablo Picasso was born! Learn more about this artist:

Picasso: Soul on Fire
Written by Rick Jacobson
Illustrated by Laura Fernandez and Rick Jacobson
ISBN 978-0-88776-599-5
Ages 10+ | Hardcover | 32 pages

Modern art has a language, and when it is learned it opens the door to treasure. In Picasso: Soul on Fire, Rick Jacobson and Laura Fernandez present more than the story of the painter’s life. They provide young readers with the tools with which to understand his work.

Picasso was an expert draftsman – his rendering of pigeons’ feet by the time he was eleven was so detailed that his artist father recognized the boy’s genius and stopped painting. But he took art much further, using emotions to redefine the way we see. His sense of joy infused his Rose Period. His sadness over the loss of a friend is reflected in his famous Blue Period. His viewing of an African mask made him reexamine his ideas of shape.

This beautifully illustrated homage is a splendid introduction to modern art.

Praise for Picasso:

  • “Written in simple, clear language, it effortlessly leads readers through the life of the artist, exploring his influences, selected works, and his creative processes. The softly radiant oil paintings are mostly full page and enhance the enjoyment of the book…. A timeline fleshes out some of the facts imparted in the text. This eloquent tribute will serve as an introduction to Picasso and to an artist’s inspirations.” – School Library Journal
  • “Fernandez and Jacobson reveal Picasso to young readers through beautiful images from the painter’s life and reproductions of some of Picasso’s works. An excellent introduction to modern art for young readers.” – BC Parent
  • “Jacobsen is to be congratulated for taking a little-known figure to children and making him – and modern art – accessible. Though aimed at ages 10 and up, the book’s compelling story, beautiful illustration and reproduced paintings of Picasso will appeal to anyone who loves art.” – Today’s Parent
  • “…with its unusual portraits and basic introduction to cubism and Picasso’s life, this will be an intriguing addition to the surprisingly slender offerings about the artist for this age group.” – Booklist
  • “…powerful, full-page oil paintings of Picasso at various stages of his life.” – The Globe and Mail
  • Finalist for the 2005/2006 Hackmatack Award
  • Shortlist for the Amelia Francis Howard-Gibbon Book Award
  • Finalist in the Nautilus 2005 Book Awards

Available in paperback on May 10, 2011.

Tundra Book Group