Tundra Book Group

May 14, 2015May 7, 2025

Today’s Parent 100 Best Canadian Kids’ Books of All Time

Today’s Parent surveyed experts from coast to coast to create this awesome list of titles. Here are their Tundra favourites:

Anne of Green Gables
Written by L. M. Montgomery
Trade Paperback
384 Pages | Ages 8-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-731-3
eBook: 978-1-77049-860-0
“Melodramatic and relatable Anne-with-an-E is an 11-year-old orphan who finds love, loss and belongingin picturesque Prince Edward Island.” – Today’s Parent

The Hockey Sweater, 30th Anniversary Edition
Written by Roch Carrier
Illustrated by Sheldon Cohen
Translated by Sheila Fischman
Hardcover
48 Pages | All Ages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-762-7
“In a small Quebec town, life revolves around playing hockey and the Montreal Canadiens, but trouble brews when Roch outgrows his Habs sweater and receives a Toronto Maple Leafs one as a replacement.” – Today’s Parent

Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang
Written by Mordecai Richler
Illustrated by DuÅ¡an PetriÄiÄ‡
Hardcover
96 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-0-88776-925-2
“Misunderstood Jacob Two-Two finds himself at the mercy of the mean Hooded Fang after insulting a grown-up.” – Today’s Parent

A Child in Prison Camp
Written by Shizuye Takashima
Trade Paperback
104 Pages | Ages 10+
ISBN: 978-0-88776-241-3
“The author reflects on how her family and thousands of other Japanese Canadians were forced to live in internment camps during the Second World War.”- Today’s Parent

Emily of New Moon
Written by L.M. Montgomery
Hardcover
448 Pages | Ages 8-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-746-7
“Emily Starr’s world is shattered with the death of her father. Now she’ll have to start fresh in a new place with her stern aunt and cruel classmates.” – Today’s Parent

The Olden Days Coat
Written by Margaret Laurence
Illustrated by Muriel Wood
Trade Paperback
32 Pages | Ages 7-10
ISBN: 978-0-88776-704-3
“While visiting her grandmother at Christmas, 10-year-old Sal is transported to the past when she tries on a coat she finds in a weathered trunk.” – Today’s Parent

Mr. Zinger’s Hat
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by DuÅ¡an PetriÄiÄ‡
Hardcover
32 Pages |Ages 4-6
ISBN: 978-1-77049-253-0
“A little boy knocks the town storyteller’s hat off his head, but together they come up with a new story to tell.” – Today’s Parent

Dippers
Written by Barbara Nichol
Illustrated by Barry Moser
Trade Paperback
32 Pages | Ages 7-9
ISBN: 978-0-88776-549-0
“Based on a letter written by a girl named Margaret and discovered in the Toronto archives, this book is her fantastical account of some strange happenings during the summer of 1912.” – Today’s Parent

The Night They Stole the Stanley Cup
Written by Roy MacGregor
Trade Paperback
176 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-414-5
“Hockey’s greatest trophy is in danger. Will the Screech Owls hockey team be able to save it?” – Today’s Parent

Julia, Child
Written by Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
Hardcover
32 Pages | All Ages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-449-7
“Simca and Julia are best friends who love to cook. This delightful tale is based loosely on the relationship between real-life friends chef Julia Child and Simone (Simca) Beck.” – Today’s Parent

The Nose from Jupiter
Written by Richard Scrimger
Trade Paperback
160 Pages | Ages 8-12
ISBN: 978-0-88776-428-8
“Alan is bullied at school, until an alien from Jupiter lands in his nose and teaches him how to stick up for himself.” – Today’s Parent

Check out the full list of titles here on the Today’s Parent website! Thank you to the esteemed panelists for all their work. You can also enter to win all 100 books here (contest closes June 12, 2015).

May 12, 2015May 7, 2025

Tuesdays with Tundra 48

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

This Is Sadie
Written by Sara O’Leary
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 978-1-77049-532-6
“This award-winning duo beautifully convey the magic that is to be found in reading or listening to a story…. With its leisurely pace and verdant illustrations, this book is a delight for bedtime as well as an excellent story time choice…. A wonderful purchase for all collections.” – STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

“Sara O’Leary and Julie Morstad … celebrate the joy of creativity and the beautiful chaos of imaginative play … [they] invite kids to see beyond what’s presented on the page – to see past the box, the tree, and their own physical limitations and join Sadie on her adventures…. With something new to discover upon each encounter, This Is Sadie is sure to become a favourite bedtime read.” – STARRED REVIEW, Quill & Quire

We Are All Made of Molecules
Written by Susin Nielsen
Hardcover | 256 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-779-5
eBook: 978-1-77049-781-8
“The psychodrama is narrated by the two kids in alternating chapters, leavened with constant, wry humor that should keep readers chuckling even as the story grapples with serious emotional issues. Stewart comes across as absolutely adorable. He knows he’s a complete geek with imperfect social skills. His disarming honesty about his intelligence and especially about his weaknesses holds the entire book together, allowing readers to take self-absorbed Ashley with a grain of salt as she goes through what her mother terms the ‘demon seed’ stage. This savvy, insightful take on the modern family makes for nearly nonstop laughs.” – STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

Pub Date Giveaway: In the comments below, please tell us which new May 2015 release of Tundra’s you would love to read and one lucky reader will receive their requested book (Canada only for We Are All Made of Molecules)! One request per person and please review our rules. This giveaway ends at midnight on Monday, May 18, 2015!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Nicole, winner of We Are All Made of Molecules.

May 9, 2015May 7, 2025

TCAF 2015

TCAF is the Toronto Comic Arts Festival. It is a week long celebration of comics and graphic novels and their creators, which culminates in a two-day exhibition and vendor fair featuring hundreds of comics creators from around the world. Other Festival events include readings, interviews, panels, workshops, gallery shows, art installations, and much more!

Saturday, May 9th, 2015 from 9 am to 5 pm
Sunday, May 10th, 2015 from 11 am to 5 pm
Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON
Free admission! Follow TCAF on Twitter.

Sunday, May 10, 2015:
What’s happening at the Toronto Reference Library’s Browsery (on the main floor)

WORKSHOPS
11:30 am – Draw along with Matt James, illustrator of The Pirate’s Bed by Nicola Winstanley
12:00 pm – Draw along with Frank Viva, creator of Outstanding in the Rain

SIGNING AT BOOTH 167/168
1:30 pm – Frank Viva will be signing Outstanding in the Rain at the Penguin Random House table

May 8, 2015May 7, 2025

Fashion Friday: Edie and Andrew

Hi everyone!

Sam here, one last time.

It’s been a while since we did a Fashion Friday post, but since this is my last hurrah as a Tundra intern, I thought it would be fun to go out with a stylish bang.

One of the first books I saw when I started my internship in November was the fabulous Edie’s Ensembles by Ashley Spires. A true fashion animal, Edie’s outrageous outfits are fascinating, but I also liked her more casual style. Here are some of my favourite looks.

This real-life dress isn’t as feathery as Edie’s, but the colour is gorgeous and I secretly want an elaborate hat (even though I don’t have anywhere to wear it!).

Purple and yellow is my favourite colour combination and you can never go wrong with a good denim jacket, especially in the fall!

This is one of Edie’s ensembles right before she lets her creative side loose, and I think she looks adorable. I’m pretty sure I have a similar outfit in my own closet.

We can’t ignore Andrew, Edie’s best friend! He shares Edie’s love for fashion, but he has a sassy style that’s all his own.

Make sure you check out Ashley’s own website, Drawn Out Wardrobe, for even more fashion fun! And look out for a new picture book starring the adorable Andrew next spring!

Edie’s Ensembles
Written by Ashley Spires
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 4-8
ISBN: 978-1-77049-490-9
eBook: 978-1-77049-491-6
“A budding fashion maven learns the hard way what defines personal style. Taking the metaphor of a fashion animal rather literally, Spires here concocts the tale of zany rodent-like Edie and her bird best friend, Andrew…. The more attention Edie’s ensembles earn, the more driven she becomes to outdo herself, much to the detriment of her friendship with Andrew and-quite unbeknownst to Edie-her reputation…. A heartwarming tale of self-discovery and friendship.” – Kirkus Reviews

May 7, 2015May 7, 2025

If you like Sherlock, you’ll love Ellie Marney’s Every Breath!

Hi everyone!

Sam the intern here. I took over the blog again so that I could talk to you about two of my current obsessions: BBC’s Sherlock and Ellie Marney’s Every series. Conveniently enough, they complement each other perfectly.

For those of you who haven’t heard of Sherlock, it’s a modern retelling of some of Holmes’ famous cases, set in contemporary London. It stars:

Benedict Cumberbatch as the famous detective;

Martin Freeman (aka Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit!) as the faithful Dr. John Watson;

Mark Gatiss as Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s older brother;

Una Stubbs as Mrs. Hudson, the landlady;

and an excellent Andrew Scott as Sherlock’s arch-nemesis, Moriarty.

If you haven’t already watched it, I highly recommend you give it a chance.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a Sherlock Holmes-esque book, then look no further than Every Breath, the first book in Ellie Marney’s Every series.

When James Mycroft drags Rachel Watts off on a night mission to the Melbourne Zoo, the last thing she expects to find is the mutilated body of Homeless Dave, one of Mycroft’s numerous eccentric friends. But Mycroft’s passion for forensics leads him to realize that something about the scene isn’t right–and he wants Watts to help him investigate the murder.

While Watts battles her attraction to bad-boy Mycroft, he’s busy getting himself expelled and clashing with the police, becoming murder suspect number one. When Watts and Mycroft unknowingly reveal too much to the cold-blooded killer, they find themselves in the lion’s den–literally. A trip to the zoo will never have quite the same meaning to Rachel Watts again…

I picked this book up shortly after finishing the last episode of Sherlock, in an effort to tide me over until the next season (in 2016!). I finished it in a day. I was so hooked, I barely moved during the last quarter.

Like Sherlock, Marney’s novel is fast-paced and wonderfully detailed. The main mystery surrounding Homeless Dave is neatly wrapped up with no loose ends or random plot points thrown in at the last second. But there’s still enough of a mystery surrounding Mycroft himself that makes you – li Every Word ke Rachel – want to know more.

Also like Sherlock, the characters are so well rounded, you almost believe they’re real (I, for one, wish I knew Mycroft in real life). You get into their heads and slowly start to see what makes them tick and that journey is almost as fascinating as the mystery itself. Plus, the chemistry between Mycroft and Watts – aka”Wattscroft” – is palpable.

Trust me when I say their relationship gets even more explosive in the sequel, Every Word (out September 2015) and I can’t wait to find out what happens to them next! If you’re going to BEA this year, make sure you pick up an ARC – this is a series you don’t want to miss!

#Wattscroft forever!