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A Roundup of Ten Questions with…

Open Book Toronto logoOnce again, the wonderful team at Open Book: Toronto interviewed some of our Fall 2009 authors and illustrators. Many thanks to Clelia and Amy for their hard work! Click on the links below to read Open Book: Toronto’s Ten Questions with:

You can take a look at the Spring 2009 Ten Question interviews here. Stay tuned for interviews from our Spring 2010 authors and illustrators!

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Guest Post: Nan Forler

Here is a guest post from Nan Forler, author of Bird Child, about her reading at Elmira Library! Photos courtesy of Nan Forler and Kevin Coates.

Nan Forler: Recently, I had the unique pleasure of doing a reading of Bird Child in my hometown of Elmira, with the students of the elementary school I attended so many years ago.  Bette Cummings, the Children’s Librarian at the Elmira Library has passed on her love of books to hundreds of children over the years.  I used to drive my own children up to Elmira for storytime with “Miss Bette,” as they lovingly referred to her, to enjoy her patient and gentle manner.  Bette has followed the path of Bird Child and was eager to have me come in for a reading. 

Bette had everyone and everything well-prepared for the reading.  The display case at the entrance was decked out with a Bird Child scene, complete with snowy roads, tiny houses, a school bus, and a raven perched on a fence.

The children not only had uniquely hometown comments such as, “I know your sister,” and “Do you know my parents?” but also insightful thoughts on how to be a bystander who challenges the power of a bully.  Rather than ideas for taking revenge, responses such as “How would you feel if someone did that to you?” showed a deep understanding of how to take an active and positive role as a bystander.

The children were amazingly attentive and demonstrated a strong sense of empathy in our role-playing.  Empathy, along with the ability to respond with courage and compassion, are learned behaviours that I hope we can all pass on to the children in our lives.

At the end of the reading, Bette presented me with a beautiful, festive wreath she had created, decorated with items from the story of Bird Child, including a school bus, fence, paintbrush, and music, and invited us to a reception of Christmas cookies and juice.  I left feeling that we all need more “Miss Bettes” in this world.

Read Nan Forler’s previous guest post about her first bookstore reading!

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Waiting On Wednesday 2

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This event spotlights upcoming releases that we are anticipating. In our case, we are eagerly waiting for the advance copies of next season’s titles to arrive!

This week’s pre-publication “can’t-wait-to-hold-and-read” selections are:

Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures
Alison Dare, The Heart of the Maiden
By J. Torres
Illustrated by J. Bone
Publication Date: May 11, 2010

Alison Dare is not your typical twelve-year-old. She’s the daughter of an archaeologist/adventurer and the masked hero known as the Blue Scarab. To top it off, she’s also the niece of an international super-spy; it’s no surprise that a craving for danger is in her blood! Unfortunately, her parents have locked her away at the prestigious St. Joan’s Academy for Girls, hoping that this would lead to a more “normal” life for their daughter.

But despite all the strict rules at the school, Alison and her best pals – Wendy and Dot – somehow manage to find themselves involved in adventures that rival those of Alison’s globetrotting, planet-saving relatives. Whether it’s magic genies, super-powered bank robbers, or a dastardly baron bent on world domination, Alison Dare delivers the best thrills since Indiana Jones and more action than Lara Croft!

Want to participate? Grab the logo from Breaking the Spine, post your own WoW entry on your blog, and leave a link in the comments section on Jill’s blog!

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Season’s Readings

Season’s Greetings from Tundra Books! Here are some gift ideas for the book lovers on your list:

A Thousand Years of Pirates
Written and illustrated by William Gilkerson
ISBN 978-0-88776-924-5
Ages 10+
Hardcover
“Gilkerson captures the adventure of the high seas in his illustrations … a testament to his devotion to authenticity. His depictions make the ships and seadogs come to life, creating a richer experience for the reader … a great example of how history can be made interesting to young readers … The popularity of pirates will initially attract readers, but the combination of interesting stories and Gilkerson’s illustrations will keep 9-13 year olds reading the book till the very end, and hopefully beyond that.” – ForeWord Magazine

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Written by Lewis Carroll
Illustrated by Oleg Lipchenko
ISBN 978-0-88776-932-0
All Ages
Hardcover
“… There is something very surreal about the illustrations in this one… If you have an older Alice fan, this would be a great gift book for them … [they] will definitely appreciate the intricate drawings and beautiful faces the illustrator creates.” – A Patchwork of Books

A Star for Christmas
Written and illustrated by Trisha Romance
ISBN 978-0-88776-836-1
All Ages
Hardcover
“A Star for Christmas … has family favourite written all over it – the kind of book that will be reread year after year as part of a family family’s Christmas traditions … children are bound to be captivated by the warm, cozy images.” – The Montreal Gazette

The Nutcracker
Written by Karen Kain
Illustrated by Rajka Kupesic
ISBN 978-0-88776-696-1
All Ages
Hardcover
“One of Canada’s great ballerina’s brings the verve, grace and sensibility she brought to ballet to her retelling of Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker.’ An added bonus are artist Rajka Kupesic’s very Russian, definitely pre-Bolshevik era paintings: rich and wondrous they are, with onion-domed churches, horse-drawn sleighs, and a velvet-coated uncle – all this before we even set eyes upon sugar plum fairies and their ilk.” – The Globe and Mail

The Little Toy Shop
Written and illustrated by Frances Wolfe
ISBN 978-0-88776-865-1
Ages 3-6
Hardcover
“… Wolfe has crafted an exquisite and wondrous tale that will warm the hearts of readers of every age. The rich and luminous illustrations perfectly capture the feel of an old-fashioned toy shop at Christmas, transporting readers effortlessly into the heart of one anxious toy bunny and the old man who knows just where the bunny ought to be. Each sumptuous spread tells its own story of love, a little bit of luck and dreams come true….” – Atlantic Books Today

One Hundred Shining Candles
Written by Janet Lunn
Illustrated by Lindsay Grater
ISBN 978-0-88776-889-7
Ages 5-8
Hardcover
“This touching story is about creating a beautiful memory out of very limited supplies, a story of giving from deep within the heart. The language is poetic and deeply textured, the characters real and engaging. In addition, the dialogue is authentic and nuanced, drawing the reader easily into the world…” – Excellent from Resource Links

The Hockey Sweater
Written by Roch Carrier
Illustrated by Sheldon Cohen
Translated by Sheila Fischman
ISBN 978-0-88776-174-4
Ages 8+
Paperback
“….not only sweet and funny, but a wise parable about Quebec and English Canada.” – The Toronto Star

Tales from Outer Suburbia
Written and illustrated by Shaun Tan
ISBN 978-0-7710-8402-7
All Ages
Hardcover
“For those who loved Tan’s surreal and evocative The Arrival, the Austrailian author follows up with a brilliant collection of illustrated vignettes. …this book is a small treasure, or, rather, a collection of treasures.” – Starred Review from School Library Journal

Tundra wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

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In My Mailbox 1

In My Mailbox explores the contents of our mailbox on a weekly basis. This meme is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, and the idea was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. While we don’t have an actual “box” (more like the whole floor is used), we are constantly getting advances, so we thought we could share them with you. Most of the participants in this meme share the books that they recieved for review. Well, here is what arrived at our doorstep to be sent out to reviewers! =)

Top to bottom:
Me & Death by Richard Scrimger
Mrs. Kaputnik’s Pool Hall and Matzo Ball Emporium by Rona Arato
Same Same by Marthe Jocelyn, illustrated by Tom Slaughter
Eats by Marthe Jocelyn, illustrated by Tom Slaughter
Off We Go! by Beverley Abramson
Which Way? by Marthe Jocelyn, illustrated by Tom Slaughter
Sail Away with Me by Jane Collins-Philippe, illustrated by Laura Beingessner
Nana’s Getting Married by Heather Hartt-Sussman, illustrated by Georgia Graham
The Weber Street Wonder Work Crew by Maxwell Newhouse
Topsy-Turvy Town by Luc Melanson

This book arrived after the top bunch:
Talking Tails: The Incredible Connection Between People and Their Pets by Ann Love and Jane Drake, illustrated by Bill Slavin

Want to participate? For more information on starting your own “In My Mailbox” post, visit The Story Siren!

Tundra Book Group