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2016 Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award Nomination

Nominations are in for the Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award and we’re pleased to announce that If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur is on the 2015-2016 list! Congratulations to Linda Bailey and Colin Jack!

If You Happen to Have a DinosaurIf You Happen to Have a Dinosaur
Written by Linda Bailey
Illustrated by Colin Jack
Hardcover | 40 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 978-1-77049-568-5
“This playful picture book encourages children to contemplate the ‘oddles of things you can do with a dinosaur’ through a subtly ironic narrative that speaks directly to them. Two-page spreads capture the many hilarious scenarios…. Buried in all the rambunctious fun, the story leaves young ones with a message that can be applied to real-life situations: if you take the time to think critically and creatively, you can make effective and logical choices.” – Booklist

The Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award (WCCPBA) is sponsored by the Washington Library Media Association (WLMA) in association with Washington Library Association (WLA). This coming school year 2015-2016, Washington state students in grades kindergarten through third grade will be voting on the 2016 award for their favorite picture book out of the nominated 20 books listed.

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2015/2016 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Awards Nominations

Hackmatack

The nominations are in for the 2015/2016 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Awards and we are happy to say that we have a shortlisted book in the English Fiction category! Congratulations to Charis Cotter!

The SwallowThe Swallow
A Ghost Story
Written by Charis Cotter
Hardcover | 320 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-591-3
“Spooky tension, friendship and compassion permeate this exquisitely plotted middle-grade ghost story … the story structure weaves its way in and out-riveting and tumbling with tension but never obvious, leaving the readers wondering if anything is really as it seems. …readers will seesaw between chills and snorts of laughter. When Cotter delivers the final twist, it is a denouement that becomes a springboard for greater revelations that lead to even greater reader satisfaction. Middle-grade storytelling at its very best-extraordinary.” – Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews

The Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award is an Atlantic Canadian book award which allows children to choose their favourite Canadian and Atlantic Canadian books. The children will read from a selection of forty books divided in four categories: English Fiction, English Non-fiction, French Fiction, and French Non-fiction, chosen for their literary, cultural and enjoyment factors.

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Tundra Reading Club: April 2015

Hi everyone!

I hope you’re ready for this month’s book!

Just to remind you of our reading club rules:

Each month, we’ll post a book and a sign-up form for bloggers. Then we’ll randomly choose the lucky five who will receive a copy (in some cases, an advance copy) in exchange for a review on their blog!

Of course, everyone is free to participate via tweets (@TundraBooks) or in the comment section on the monthly post.

To make it easy to work into your busy schedules, we’ve chosen picture books so it shouldn’t take you too long to read the book of the month (or like me, you might pore over it for hours and be distracted by the illustrations).

TundraReadingClub

Our April pick is Outstanding in the Rain by Frank Viva. As soon as we saw it, we were reminded of the old saying, “April showers bring May flowers.” This book is absolutely gorgeous and full of oronyms. Don’t know what an oronym is? This book will teach you all about them!

Step right up! Step right up to the amusing amusement park! It’s a whole story, and the pages have holes! Watch the holes make pictures! Turn an umbrella into a cake, and balloons into ice cream! See the holes make words. Whole words! Change an ice man into an nice man! See fork handles turn into four candles! Realize the magic with your real eyes! Frank Viva’s tale of a boy spending his birthday at the amusement park will amaze readers big and small with astounding die-cuts that transform both words and pictures in delightful ways.

 

Outstanding in the Rain will be released on Tuesday April 14 and you can visit your local library or bookstore to get reading! If you’re interested, fill in the form below and we’ll randomly select five bloggers to read and review a copy of Outstanding in the Rain and join our discussion. You have until Monday April 13 at 3 pm EST to sign up, so don’t delay! Our only stipulation this month is that we can only send the book to those with Canadian mailing addresses. This title is also available in the USA by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

SIGN-UP FORM CLOSED!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Carrie, Carole, Bonnie, Suzanne and Cindy! We look forward to your reviews! Thanks to everyone who entered!

Check back in on Monday, April 27, 2015 for our reading club discussion of Outstanding in the Rain!

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Tundra Reading Club: The Highest Number in the World Reviews

Hi everyone!

It’s time to share the Reading Club reviews for The Highest Number in the World!

TundraReadingClub

The Highest Number in the World

The Highest Number in the World
Written by Roy MacGregor | Illustrated by Geneviève Després
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 6-9
ISBN: 978-1-77049-5753

“MacGregor’s writing packs an emotional punch without relying on sentimentality…Expressive pencil drawings, brightened with color washes, perfectly capture the characters’ feelings…A memorable, intergenerational picture book perfect for sharing.”- Starred Review, Booklist

  • Adrienne at BooksandBassets likes that it’s about “girl power and historical context.”
  • Lee-Ann at Goodreads thinks the book does “a wonderful job at showing how if you look at disappointment a different way it is possible to see it as an opportunity to discover something else and just as thrilling.”
  • Mary-Esther at Sister’s Library calls it a “sweet story that warms the heart.”
  • Stephanie at The Nomadic Reader felt the story “resonated with [her] as a Canadian and of course as a lover of hockey.”
  • Ann Marie at a dainty dish calls it a “hat-trick – in its story, words and images!”

If you read the book as well, please let us know what you thought about it in the comments below! Are there any other inspirational hockey stories you love?

I’m also very excited to announce our April reading club book: Outstanding in the Rain by Frank Viva! Make sure you check back here next Monday to sign up for your chance to win a review copy.

Thanks for participating and see you next week!

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You’re Invited to the Launch of The Pirate’s Bed

ThePiratesBed-Evite

Set sail with us and author Nicola Winstanley and illustrator Matt James at the launch of The Pirate’s Bed!

Date: Sunday, March 29th, 2015
Time: 2:00pm-4:oopm
Place: Another Story Book Shop
Address: 315 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, ON
Telephone: 416-462-1104

Praise for The Pirate’s Bed:

“What sets The Pirate’s Bed apart from other tales of its ilk is the main character – the bed itself…Winstanley crafts the mood of this bed-time story through careful word choice. At times she evokes the feeling of being lulled to sleep – prominent ‘l’ sounds resonate and the rhythm of verbs..mimic the rocking boat…Matt James’s acrylic paint and India ink illustrations playfully and artfully reflect Winstanley’s text…James also has an impressive ability to convey the emotional journey of the secret-laden bed, especially through its bedpost eyes. This unique viewpoint, both in narrative and art, makes The Pirate’s Bed charming and memorable.” – Quill & Quire

Tundra Book Group