Launch of: Grease Town

You are invited to celebrate the launch of Ann Towell’s latest novel, Grease Town.

Launch of Grease Town
Date: Saturday, March 6th, 2010
Time: 1:00pm
Place: Oil Museum of Canada
Address: 2423 Kelly Road
Oil Springs, ON N0N 1P0 (map)
Telephone: 519-834-2840

Do you want to know more about the book? Here are some recent interviews with Ann Towell:

Guest Post: Heather Hartt-Sussman

Last Saturday, Heather Hartt-Sussman presented Nana’s Getting Married at Indigo Yorkdale. Children, parents, and grandparents attended the special story time and Heather signed books after her reading. If you weren’t able to make it to the event, Indigo Yorkdale has a few signed copies left – first come, first serve!

Heather Hartt-Sussman even brought in the original artwork by Georgia Graham!

We also have a guest post today, please welcome Heather Hartt-Sussman!

HH-S: I wrote Nana’s Getting Married when my then 5-year-old son asked me why in the world we were at my mother’s wedding. He was confused because it contradicted the order of things. You attend your children’s and grandchildren’s weddings; not the other way around. He knew this to be true, at 5, but I had to explain to him that my mom had been divorced from my father since I was 8, and she had finally, thirty years later, fallen in love again.

It lead me to think about how confused I was when my parents started dating again after their divorce. I, like my son, was upset that this wasn’t the way it was “supposed” to be. I have since learned, and I have tried to impress upon my two sons as well, that you only get upset when you bank on “normal.” If you modify your expectations and stop dictating the way you think things should be, you can have a lot more freedom to enjoy the way things just are.

Further, with the baby boom population getting older, you can be pretty sure there will be a LOT more grandchildren attending their grandparents second and even third weddings, as people are living longer, and benefiting from more vibrant health.

Freedom to Read Week

February 21-27, 2010
Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed them under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Also, click on the cover of You Can’t Read This for discussion, activities, and further reading lists:

You Can’t Read This: Forbidden Books, Lost Writing, Mistranslations, and Codes
By Val Ross
Hardcover
152 Pages
ISBN 978-0-88776-732-6

You Can’t Read This: Forbidden Books, Lost Writings, Mistranslations & Codes is a history of reading with a provocative twist to intrigue curious readers — it’s a series of stories, based on historical events, about forbidden texts, books, codes, and languages. It celebrates the people who had to fight for the precious ability to read these texts and understand their meaning.

PRAISE:

“I loved this book even before I opened it … You Can’t Read This is more than just a history of banned literature. It is a glimpse into the wide panorama of the restrictions and expansions of the written word, and how it has been used as a tool to liberate and to oppress … This is no dry textbook. It is a primer for anyone wanting to act with courage and needing to know that those acts will come with a price … Beautifully illustrated and well documented, You Can’t Read This is sure to fly off any library or bookstore shelf where it is allowed to appear.” – The Globe and Mail

“This excellent book is about the history of writing, the power of words … An intriguing book. You’ll appreciate how writing has helped society grow and develop though the ages.” – The Toronto Star

Reading for the Love of It Wrap Up

At Reading for the Love of It, teachers descend past these escalators to visit the exhibits and learn about new books and products for their classroom:

A glimpse at the Lower Concourse in the Sheraton Centre. Notice the red and white booths!

Nan Forler signing copies of Bird Child for the teachers in line.

Nan Forler is all smiles!

We also had J. Torres (Alison Dare, The Heart of the Maiden), Monica Kulling (It’s a Snap!), and Theo Caldwell (Finn the half-Great) signing at our booth. If you were not able to attend, the three of them will be signing at OLA Super Conference next week! Please visit us at booth #720 and we will see you there!

In Person: Heather Hartt-Sussman

Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 12:00 noon
Join us for a special story time at noon! Heather Hartt-Sussman will be reading from her picture book, Nana’s Getting Married, and signing copies afterwards.

Indigo – Yorkdale Shopping Centre
3401 Dufferin Street
Toronto, ON M6A 2T9
Tel: (416) 781-6660

Heather Hartt-Sussman
Born in Montreal, graduated from Brandeis University and attended the Sorbonne. She has been a copywriter for BCP in Montreal, a reporter for the Hollywood Reporter, editor-in-chief of international news for TV Guide in French Canada, columnist of the popular “Heather Hartt in Hollywood,” and host of E! Entertainment Television’s The Gossip Show. Nana’s Getting Married is her first book. Heather Hartt-Sussman lives in Toronto with her husband, sons Scotty and Jack, and the family dog.

Praise for Nana’s Getting Married:
“…brassy chalk-pastel illustrations feature caricatures with comedic particulars…. [the] message about open-mindedness and acceptance hits its mark.” – Publishers Weekly

“…guarantees delight and amusement to readers of all ages…. It is a pleasure to find a picture book whose strong message is matched with a light touch…. Highly Recommended.” – CM Magazine

“…This story is a two-sided winner. It has a solid ‘purpose’ to it – helping children to understand and accept change. As a bonus it is a delightful read aloud…. The illustrations are wonderfully whimsical.… Recommended.” – Resource Links