Tundra Book Group

July 25, 2024May 7, 2025

Creator Spotlight: Chris Baker

At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our authors as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will introduce you to the people behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Chris Baker!

About the Author:

CHRIS BAKER is an author, professional mushroom lover, and founder of Chicory Naturalist, a nature shop and community space rooted in Kingston, New York. Baker is also a certified forager and enthusiastic guide to the realm of fungi, leading forays in the Hudson Valley bioregion. Running through all of Baker’s professional endeavors is a passion for reconnecting broken chains of generational knowledge about the natural world. She lives a few blocks from the Hudson River with her spouse, child and two calico cats.

Fast Five with Chris Baker:

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

I would rather live here in the Hudson Valley than anywhere in the world. I’m in a deep, committed love with this ecosystem and community and plan to live here for the rest of my life. That said, if my family could house swap with someone in France or Italy, I wouldn’t mind spending a year hunting ceps . . .

What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?

Paying attention to nature always does the trick. Of course going for a walk in the woods is wonderful, but even just taking five minutes to listen to the birds chit-chat and watch leaves dance can really turn my mood around.

Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Dinner is my favorite meal because it’s when I get to reconnect with loved ones at the end of the day. In the summertime, we try to eat dinner outside as much as we can, which makes even boring meals feel special.

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?

Patti Smith’s 25th anniversary tour for Horses was a pretty transcendent concert experience! But honestly, the best shows were probably the ones I got to see in bars and little venues when I lived in New Orleans. Little Freddie King, Hurray for the Riff Raff, and King Khan come to mind.

What is your favorite mushroom?

So hard to pick just one! But the first mushroom I really imprinted on was the golden chanterelle. I don’t think there’s a better smell in the world, and my heart always seizes up with excitement when I find them.

Books by Chris Baker:

On a Mushroom Day
Written by Chris Baker
Illustrated by Alexandra Finkeldey
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774882580 | Tundra Books
A mushroom day is a day of exploring together and discovering some of the most incredible lifeforms on earth: fungi. In this lyrical, informational picture book structured around a walk through a summertime wood, a child and their caregiver share the sights, sounds and smells of the forest as they observe and identify different varieties of mushrooms. On a Mushroom Day encourages curiosity and a love of fungi in young children and normalizes safe, chaperoned joyful exploration of the fungal queendom all around us. Filled with fun, fascinating fungi facts and a visual catalogue of mushroom species so that kids can enjoy their very own mushroom day in the pages of this book!

July 18, 2024May 7, 2025

Creator Spotlight: Deke Moulton

About the Author:

DEKE MOULTON is a writer currently living in the US Pacific Northwest. They are a former US Army drill sergeant and trained as an Arabic linguist during their time in service.

Fast Five with Deke Moulton:

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

I would give anything to live on a kibbutz again! This is how I lived up until I was 6, and I just loved the closeness of everyone and the way that everyone contributes. And maybe that’s why both of my books are actually about collaborative living? In Don’t Want To Be Your Monster, we have two moms who operate what’s essentially a half-way house for young vampires trying to leave bad situations and start a new life, and in Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf, we’ve got a werewolf extended family living together on a wolf sanctuary / kibbutz!

What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?

Sitting down in a comfy chair, wrapped up in a blanket, a warm drink in one hand (coffee in the morning, green tea in the afternoon) and a great book in the other, with my dog curled up in my lap. Oh my gosh, it’s small and simple but it’s just pure contentment.

Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

I actually don’t eat breakfast but I do drink a big cup of coffee (on an empty stomach, ugh, I know it’s bad!). So between lunch and dinner, I honestly love lunch so much more! It’s usually my biggest meal of the day, and I get really creative with it because often it’s the one meal I only make for myself! I love vegetarian cooking, so I will do lots of rice / bean / lentil type meals. I try out new recipes. I make up my own. It’s just a wonderful meal!

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?

I would say my very first punk show was probably the best one I’d ever been to. It was in 1997, I think, Anti-Flag at the Metro in Chicago. The show was sold out and I just walked up to the security guard and asked if we could come in anyways. I guess my chutzpah paid off because he let me and my friends in! I loved it. I’d been listening to punk for a while just at home on CDs so being in a big venue with so many other people, all screaming along to the songs and moshing – it will always hold a special place in my heart!

Who would win in a fight: vampires or werewolves?

Okay, I am so sorry to all my werewolf fans, but I am definitely going with vampires here! Unless the werewolf calls for a fight at high noon (but then that would be a forfeit on the vampire’s part so not really winning the fight). Werewolves are awesome and I think if I had to choose which one I would be, it would be a werewolf, but vampires have super-healing powers and are pretty much immortal (just avoid the sun, wooden-stakes-to-the-heart and really dedicated vampire hunters). So if it came down to physical battles, vampires are going to win. At the very least, if things got close, our vampire could jump up into a tree or something and taunt their werewolf opponent!

Books by Deke Moulton:

Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf
By Deke Moulton
304 Pages | Ages 10-14 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774880524 | Tundra Books
Benji Zeb has a lot going on. He has a lot of studying to do, not only for school but also for his upcoming bar mitzvah. He’s nervous about Mr. Rutherford, the aggressive local rancher who hates Benji’s family’s kibbutz and wolf sanctuary. And he hasn’t figured out what to do about Caleb, Mr. Rutherford’s stepson, who has been bullying Benji pretty hard at school, despite Benji wanting to be friends (and maybe something more). And all of this is made more complicated by the fact that, secretly, Benji and his entire family are werewolves who are using the wolf sanctuary as cover for their true identities! Things come to a head when Caleb shows up at the kibbutz one night . . . in wolf form! He’s a werewolf too, unable to control his shifting, and he needs Benji’s help. Can anxious Benji juggle all of these things along with his growing feelings toward Caleb?

Don’t Want to Be Your Monster
By Deke Moulton
304 Pages | Ages 10-14 | Paperback
ISBN 9781774880517 | Tundra Books
Adam and Victor are brothers who have the usual fights over the remote, which movie to watch and whether or not it’s morally acceptable to eat people. Well, not so much eat . . . just drink a little blood. They’re vampires, hiding in plain sight with their eclectic yet loving family. Ten-year-old Adam knows he has a better purpose in his life (well, immortal life) than just drinking blood, but fourteen-year-old Victor wants to accept his own self-image of vampirism. Everything changes when bodies start to appear all over town, and it becomes clear that a vampire hunter may be on the lookout for the family. Can Adam and Victor reconcile their differences and work together to stop the killer before it’s too late?

July 16, 2024May 7, 2025

Tuesdays with Tundra

Tuesdays with Tundra is an ongoing series featuring our new releases. These titles are now available in stores and online!

The Island Before No
Written by Christina Uss
Illustrated by Hudson Christie
56 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735272415 | Tundra Books
When you’re a walrus living on an island where the answer to every question is YES, life is pretty simple, especially when that’s all you’ve ever known. It’s great when you want a slice of birthday cake for breakfast . . . and not so great when someone asks you to wear an itchy shirt. But one day, a kid shows up, brandishing an entirely new word: NO. NO is heavy like a bookcase, solid as a boulder. It’s not shaped like YES, but somehow, it’s still an answer. The kid calls his friends to come visit the island too, and it’s not long before they’ve eaten up all of the yummiest food without sharing. What’s worse, none of them bring their own toothbrushes . . . It becomes clear that what the walruses all need is to find their own NO . . . not only to hold back the rampaging horde of children – but for their own sakes as well. The Island Before No is a hilarious new picture book that blends its zany fun with an important message about respecting and setting boundaries.

There Are No Ants in This Book
Written by Rosemary Mosco
Illustrated by Anna Pirolli
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774881163 | Tundra Books
Nothing can ruin a picnic faster than a bunch of ants. It’s a good thing there are no ants in this book . . . well, maybe there’s only one. Or two. . . . Or ten?? Maybe it’s not so bad. Ants are kind of cool, after all – especially the ones with amazing butts, like the Acrobat Ant that waves its back end around to scare off enemies. Or the Slender Leaf Ant that can glide through the air. Or the Dinosaur Ant, which is the biggest ant in the world! Okay, so a picnic with ants is actually lots of fun! But what if an anteater also wants to join the picnic?

We can’t wait to see you reading these titles! If you share these books online, remember to use #ReadTundra in your hashtags so that we can re-post.

July 11, 2024May 7, 2025

Creator Spotlight: Julie Kim

At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our creators as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will introduce you to the people behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Julie Kim!

About the Author:

JULIE KIM is an author and illustrator living in Seattle, USA. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, her illustrations have been featured in several children’s books, including My Special Space and Mysterious Spinners. Her authorial debut, Where’s Halmoni?, has received several starred reviews. Its sequel Where’s Joon? was published in October 2023.

Fast Five with Julie Kim:

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

If I could live anywhere . . . I would still live in Seattle! I love the mild climate here, despite the cloudy skies. Hot and humid places basically turn me into mush. And I love seeing the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade range as I drive around the city. I especially love how green and lush everything is in spring and summer. Nature can still feel wild here in the Pacific Northwest.

What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?

I love to sit at my table next to a bright window and sip on spicy chai! And with every sip I go “Hahhhh!” to cool my mouth. I do this until I run out of chai. What a treat!

Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

My favorite meal of the day is brunch! It doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with what I eat, but it is more about the time of the day. Everything still feels fresh and bright, while by evening, I am tired and trying to wrap up the day.

What’s your “dance like nobody’s watching” song?

Though I don’t have a particular song that comes to mind, I will dance to “techno” music. Does anyone know what that is nowadays? Anyway, sometimes I don’t even need music to dance. I just need to move out of my chair.

What’s your favorite thing to draw?

For the longest time, I loved drawing people the best. Now I really enjoy drawing and painting crooked trees. Something about them is very satisfying. And though you didn’t ask, my least favorite thing to draw are cars and trucks. It’s very painful!

Books by Julie Kim:

Swimming into Trouble: Julia on the Go! #1
Written by Angela Ahn
Illustrated by Julie Kim
176 Pages | Ages 7-10 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774881880 | Tundra Books
As a member of the Vipers Swim Team, Julia Nam’s always in the pool. Mountainview Community Center is like her second home, not only because swimming at the aquatic center is her favorite thing in the world, but also because her parents run the center’s sushi café. Julia would much rather be in the pool than sitting behind the counter of Sushi on the Go! watching other people swim. She’s the youngest swimmer on the team, but definitely not the slowest. Julia can’t wait for Personal Best Day – the most important day for all of the swimmers. If their times are good enough, they can enter a big regional swim meet. But then the worst thing happens. A sharp pain in Julia’s ear reveals an infection and she’s forbidden to swim for ten days. How can she get timed during Personal Best Day when she’s not allowed in the water? Julia is desperate to get back in the pool, even if it means having to go behind her parents’ backs in order to do so. But Julia’s solution lands her in a sticky situation, and it’s going to require the entire community center to come together to help her out of it!

The Big Splash: Julia on the Go! #2
Written by Angela Ahn
Illustrated by Julie Kim
176 Pages | Ages 7-10 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774882078 | Tundra Books
Release Date: February 11, 2025
Julia is dismayed to learn that Coach Marissa has to leave the Vipers swim team for an urgent family matter. Coach Nathan, their new temporary coach, is strict and humorless. He doesn’t even let them have Splash Time! And it’s not just Julia who’s upset – two of her teammates have even quit the team. So it’s no surprise that the team is not enthusiastic when Coach Nathan asks them to put together a car wash fundraiser for the team. But then they learn that there’s going to be a big increase in pool rental fees, which means the Vipers may lose practice days, or worse, not be able to swim at all. Julia takes the lead and gets the Vipers organized. Along the way, she learns more about her nemesis, teammate Olivia, and even Coach Nathan. Maybe first impressions aren’t always the most accurate.

July 8, 2024May 7, 2025

Creator Spotlight: Antonio Michael Downing

About the Author:

ANTONIO MICHAEL DOWNING grew up in southern Trinidad, northern Ontario, Scarborough, and Kitchener. He is an author, musician, and public speaker based in Toronto. His 2010 novella, Molasses (Blaurock Press), was published to critical acclaim. In 2017, he was named by the RBC Taylor Prize as one of Canada’s top Emerging Authors for non-fiction. He composes and performs music as John Orpheus.

Fast Five with Antonio Michael Downing:

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

A house on a hill on the beach by the Caribbean Sea.

What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?

Singing a song and playing my guitar – it cures everything!

Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

For breakfast – Trinidadian doubles. Lunch – A mango smoothie. Dinner – Roast chicken and fingerling potatoes.

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?

Ha! I’ve seen a LOT of concerts so this is HAAARD. I’ll say Sade at the ACC.

How do you deal with your big feelings?

I meditate, read, journal and run every morning which helps me to see them coming when they hit I text my friends and we laugh and laugh and laugh.

Books by Antonio Michael:

Stars in My Crown
Written by Antonio Michael Downing
Illustrated by Richy SÃ¡nchez Ayala
48 Pages | Ages 4-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735271128 | Tundra Books
Little Tony is full of love for his grandmother, his home in Trinidad and delicious pholourie. But he’s also full of other big feelings, including anger. His grandmother tries to teach him to be patient – patience is a star in his crown, she says – but it’s hard. He tries to keep his anger in, but when he loses at ping-pong to his brother or he has to come in from playing . . . Yaaarrgh! When Little Tony and his brother move away from their beloved Trinidad, there’s even more for him to be upset about. His new home is cold, full of new people, and there’s no pholourie anywhere! Yaaarrgh! But then he remembers his grandmother’s lessons, and a surprising thing happens . . . A charming and heartwarming story based on the author’s own childhood, Stars In My Crown is an ode to big feelings but even bigger triumphs.

Saga Boy
By Antonio Michael Downing
352 Pages | Paperback
ISBN 9780735237322 | Penguin Canada
Raised by his indomitable grandmother in the lush rainforest of southern Trinidad, Antonio Michael Downing, at age 11, is uprooted to Canada when she dies. He and his older brother are sent to live with his stern, evangelical Aunt Joan, in a tiny northern Ontario community where they are the only Black children in the town. In this wilderness, after a disappointing reunion with his birth parents, he begins his journey as an immigrant minority, using music and performance to dramatically transform himself. He tries to flee his messy family life by morphing into a series of extravagant musical personalities: “Mic Dainjah,” a punk rock rapper, “Molasses,” a soul music crooner and finally “John Orpheus,” a gold chained, sequin- and leather-clad pop star. Yet, like his father and grandfather, he has become a “Saga Boy,” a Trinidadian playboy, addicted to escapism, attention, and sex. When the inevitable crash happens, he finds himself in a cold, stone jail cell, having become everything he was trying to escape. At the heart of his odyssey is the longing for a home. Richly evocative,â€¯Saga Boy is a heart-wrenching but uplifting story of a lonely immigrant boy who overcomes adversity and abandonment to reclaim his Black identity and embrace a rich heritage.