2010 Silver Birch Express Nominee

We have another video clip today. Dear Toni is nominated for the Silver Birch Express Award!

Cyndi Sand-Eveland created a video clip – watch her sketch and read from Dear Toni:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEFs_2PgwcE]

The winner of the Silver Birch Express Award will be announced at the Festival of Trees, taking place on May 12-13, 2010 at the Harbourfront Centre. For more information, visit the Forest of Reading website. Vote for Dear Toni!

Dear ToniDear Toni
By Cyndi Sand-Eveland
ISBN 978-88776-876-7
Hardcover
136 Pages
Ages 8-11

2010 Blue Spruce Award Nominee

Bradley McGogg, the Very Fine Frog is nominated for the Blue Spruce Award!

Tim Beiser created a video clip reading, watch and listen:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q6FGUo0BgM]

The winner of the Blue Spruce Award will be announced at the Festival of Trees, taking place on May 12-13, 2010 at the Harbourfront Centre. For more information, visit the Forest of Reading website. Vote for Bradley McGogg, The Very Fine Frog!

Bradley McGoggBradley McGogg
The Very Fine Frog

By Tim Beiser
Illustrated by Rachel Berman
ISBN 978-88776-864-4
Hardcover
24 Pages
Ages 2-5

CBA Libris Awards 2010 Shortlist

The Canadian Booksellers Association (CBA) announced the 2010 CBA Libris Awards shortlist. The great news is that Bradley McGogg, The Very Fine Frog and Vanishing Girl have both been nominated for an award. Congratulations to Tim Beiser, Rachel Berman, and Shane Peacock! What a very fine birthday present this must be for Tim Beiser!

CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR

Bradley McGogg, The Very Fine Frog
Written by Tim Beiser
Illustrated by Rachel Berman

Tim Beiser was born on April Fools’ Day in Los Angeles, California. Tim has had many day jobs: a pastry chef, an architectural draftsman, a college teacher, a waiter, a nightclub performer, a computer repairman, and, lastly, an emergency medical technician for the Fire Department of New York, driving an ambulance. His work has appeared in such publications as National Post Business, Toronto Life, Elm Street, Reader’s Digest, and Saturday Night, Tim has been nominated for four National Magazine Awards. Bradley McGogg, the Very Fine Frog is his first book for children. Tim Beiser is the proud dad of twins Rowan and Daniel, and he and his family split their time between Toronto, Canada and Grignan, France.

Rachel Berman is a self-educated painter who has lived and worked in Canada, the United States, and Ireland. Born in New Orleans, Rachel has worked as a professional artist for over thirty years. Her paintings have been likened to the poems of Leonard Cohen. The mysterious figures and hidden stories glimpsed in her paintings are a reflection of the mysteries Berman has unraveled in her own life. Once known as Susan King, she discovered her original birth name, birth date, and the names of her biological parents only ten years ago. This experience led her to reclaim her long-lost name. Rachel Berman lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Also nominated in this category:
Perfect Snow by Barbara Reid
When Stella Was Very, Very Small by Marie-Louise Gay

YOUNG READERS’ BOOK OF THE YEAR

Vanishing Girl
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Third Case

Written by Shane Peacock

Shane Peacock was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and grew up in Kapuskasing. A biographer, journalist, and screenwriter, he is also the author of several novels and plays. He has received many honors for his writing, including the prestigious Arthur Ellis Award for Eye of the Crow, the first of his Boy Sherlock Holmes series. Shane Peacock lives with his wife and three children near Cobourg, Ontario.

Also nominated in this category:
The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
The Uninvited by Tim Wynne-Jones

The Winners will be announced at the CBA’s Libris Awards Ceremony on May 29, 2010. Good luck to all the nominees!

Keep Toronto Reading 2010

Keep Toronto Reading starts tomorrow! You can view the full schedule of  programs on the Toronto Public Library’s website. Here are some events featuring Tundra authors and illustrators:

Media and Graphic Techniques in Children’s Books

North York Central Library
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Learn how to make illustrated books. Artist Dušan Petričić will teach you to look at picture books in a new way. Classes will be invited. Ages 9-12. Drop in.

Meet Shane Peacock

Highland Creek
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Shane Peacock, the author of the popular Boy Sherlock Holmes series, shares his love for the sleuth.

Books We Love with Dave Bidini

Bloor/Gladstone
Thursday, April 22, 2010
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Author and musician Dave Bidini reads from his favourite books. A founding member of the acclaimed band The Rheostatics, Bidini has published several books about sports and music for adults and youth.

We Love Detectives

Lillian H. Smith
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
10:00 am – 11:30 am

Meet Shane Peacock, the author of the popular Boy Sherlock Holmes series. Followed by a tour of the Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books.

Meet Joanne Schwartz

Davenport
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Local Davenport author Joanne Schwartz talks about her latest children’s book, Our Corner Grocery Store, which is based on a real grocery store in the area.

Each One Remembered – On se souvient de chacun

Award-winning author Linda Granfield, has been very involved in a school poppy program, Each One RememberedOn se souvient de chacun, for Vimy Ridge Day. On Friday, April 9, Canadians are invited to make poppies to pay tribute to all of those who served in the First World War. To participate in this program and for more information, please click on the links for English and French.

We applaud Linda Granfield for her heroic efforts on acknowledging our beloved veterans!

Teachers, librarians, and parents may also want share these books:

Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion
By Jane Barclay
Illustrated by Renné Benoit
ISBN 978-0-88776-951-1
Ages 4-7

“…beautifully modulated picture book about war and remembrance…. Renné Benoit’s subtle gouache and watercolour illustrations are perfectly attuned to Jane Barclay’s story.” – The Globe and Mail

The War to End All Wars: The Story of World War I
By Jack Batten
ISBN 978-0-88776-879-8
Ages 10+

“…Batten’s account is a model of lucidity, a good place for a young reader to start. Batten’s clean, intelligent prose makes this highly readable and comprehensible….” – The Toronto Star

Tundra Book Group