Tag: Adam de Souza

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Our Stars of 2024

At Tundra Book Group, we think all our books are brilliant, and it’s nice when others think so too! Congratulations to our authors and illustrators; these are our starred books of 2024!

FIVE STARS:

We Are Definitely Human
By X. Fang
48 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774882023 | Tundra Books
“What starts out as a fish-out-of-water comedy becomes a close encounter of straightforward acceptance.” – Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
“DEFINITELY a good book.” – Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
“Laugh-out-loud lovely.” – Starred Review, Booklist
“A fabulously illustrated, rib-tickling, and affecting picture book in which Mr. Li and his neighbors demonstrate the potential of kindness and cooperative spirit.” – Starred Review, Shelf Awareness
“This warm and giggle-worthy tale will please young readers – whether human or definitely human.” – Starred Review, BookPage

THREE STARS:

Barnaby Unboxed!
By The Fan Brothers
80 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774882436 | Tundra Books
“In this delightful take on the classic toys-come-to-life story, the text and art – and Barnaby – will surely charm while conveying a reassuring message of the value of being appreciated for who you are.” – Starred Review, Booklist
“A heartfelt and emotional commentary on love and the limits of the human attention span.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal
“The story is a poignant delight that seamlessly incorporates striking lessons about pets, responsibility, and furever commitment.” – Starred Review, Shelf Awareness

Boy vs. Shark
By Paul Gilligan
240 Pages | Ages 10+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774880449 | Tundra Books
“An authentic and funny look at masculinity and growing pains that resonates across the decades.” – Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
“Gilligan powerfully explores shifting middle-grade friendship, exquisitely illustrating feelings of fear, anxiety, and joy in simple but expressive cartoon artwork.” – Starred Review, Booklist
“This hilarious look into life as a kid in the summer of 1975 is a must-have for any and all middle grade libraries.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

I’m From
Written by Gary R. Gray, Jr.
Illustrated by Oge Mora
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774886168 | Puffin Canada
“Poet Gray, making a picture book debut, models the process of, and the power in, learning that “I come from/ somewhere.” – Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
“A beautiful, simple look into one child’s typical experience that all readers can learn from and relate to.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal
“This beautifully rendered picture book serves as a reminder of the importance of familial and cultural identity and the grounding that it offers in the wider world.” – Starred Review, The Horn Book

Tove and the Island with No Address
By Lauren Soloy
48 Pages | Ages 4-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774883150 | Tundra Books
“The adventure channels the darkly mischievous tone for which Jansson’s works are beloved and re-creates the strange, wild atmosphere of the island in this windblown tribute to the creator’s artistry and sensibility.” – Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
“The best part of art is how and what it makes us feel, and a picture book about an artist that skips past the facts of biography and manages to successfully cultivate the feeling of experiencing that artist’s work is a bit of magic worth treasuring.” – Starred Review, Booklist
“This pairing of a strange escapade in the wild with a warm and a cozy welcome home epitomizes the appeal of Jansson’s Moomin books; Moomin fans of all ages will especially enjoy this tale.” – Starred Review, The Horn Book

Viewfinder
By Christine D.U. Chung and Salwa Majoka
144 Pages | Ages 6-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735268753 | Tundra Books
“Beautiful and precisely depicted, a gentle, generous reflection on civilization and community life.” – Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
“Striking a balance between whimsical adventure and wistful contemplation, this title underscores the beauty and fragility of life on our planet. A first purchase for youth graphic novel collections.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal
“A gorgeous, digitally sketched and painted picture book debut that welcomes the deeply curious to piece together a surprising and touching tale of what it means to find home.” – Starred Review, Shelf Awareness

TWO STARS:

Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf
By Deke Moulton
304 Pages | Ages 10-14 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774880524 | Tundra Books
“Moulton explores relevant issues surrounding anxiety, faith, prejudice, sexuality, and prioritizing others’ safety over personal comfort in this allegorical creature feature.” – Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
“Highly recommended for readers looking for a unique take on the werewolf trope. Readers will root for the gentle and introspective protagonist.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

Boy Here, Boy There
By Chuck Groenink
56 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774881064 | Tundra Books
“A contemplative telling that seeds rich conversations about connection across species and time, and about what it means to make art.” – Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
“A lyrical and beautifully imagined prehistoric encounter.” – Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews

Frostfire
By Elly MacKay
44 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735266988 | Tundra Books
“This tale is magical anytime, but it’s a top choice when seeking a winter story that doesn’t center on a holiday.” – Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
“An enchanting outing that will have readers longing to wander a winter wonderland.” – Starred Review, Booklist

Lockjaw
By Matteo L. Cerilli
328 Pages | Ages 14+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774882306 | Tundra Books
“Cerilli delivers a stunning debut in this gripping paranormal horror novel about queer teens growing up in a community that doesn’t accept them and the insidious danger of apathy.” – Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
“A horrifyingly honest tale with a hopeful ending, this engrossing novel is sure to get hearts racing and leave readers reflecting upon their own place in their communities.” – Starred Review, BookPage

Métis Like Me
Written by Tasha Hilderman
Illustrated by Risa Hugo
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774881125 | Tundra Books
“A joyful story that encourages empathy and affirms identity.” – Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
“Despite the specificity implied in the title, this is a book for everyone. A first purchase for libraries looking to expand Indigenous representation in collections.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

The Lightning Circle
Written by Vikki VanSickle
Illustrated by Laura K. Watson
224 Pages | Ages 12+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774882498 | Tundra Books
“This journal-like free-verse novel expertly conjures the essence of the summer camp experience while exploring self-identity and highlighting the importance of friendships.” – Starred Review, Shelf Awareness
“A richly imagined and deeply felt story that speaks to the power of female friendship, the gift of reinvention, and the perspective-shifting joy of being outdoors.” – Starred Review, Quill & Quire

Tig
By Heather Smith
160 Pages | Ages 10+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735267497 | Tundra Books
“A devastatingly honest novel about foster care, neurodivergence, family, and resilience.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal
“In the complex, unforgettable Tig, Heather Smith explores the stunning (and sometimes self-sabotaging) resourcefulness children can muster in the face of adversity.” – Starred Review, Shelf Awareness

Whalesong: The True Story of the Musician Who Talked to Orcas
By Zachariah OHora
48 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774883945 | Tundra Books
“Sweet-tempered illustrations soften difficult moments in this memorable ode to the power of music and the possibilities of communication – a work that also casts quiet doubt on keeping animals in captivity.” – Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
“As conservation books for kids go, Whalesong may be the grooviest.” – Starred Review, Shelf Awareness

ONE STAR:

A Garden Called Home
Written by Jessica J. Lee
Illustrated by Elaine Chen
48 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774880470 | Tundra Books
“This heartfelt story beautifully depicts the sorrow that can be felt during the cold winter months, especially when one has come from a completely different environment.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

An Anishinaabe Christmas
Written by Wab Kinew
Illustrated by Erin Hill
48 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774883570 | Tundra Books
“A heartwarming and beautifully crafted book that shares the joy of Christmas through the lens of Anishinaabe culture.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

Honk Honk, Beep Beep, Putter Putt!
Written by Rukhsana Khan
Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774882641 | Tundra Books
“The pairing of the rhythmic text and the vibrant pictures is sure to intrigue readers of all ages to explore a culture and way of life that they may not be as familiar with, or revisit a place where they or relatives have lived.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

I Am Wind
Written by Rachel Poliquin
Illustrated by Rachel Wada
80 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735272187 | Tundra Books
“While the soft yet dynamic and detailed illustrations are the stars of this book, the lyrical writing combined with solid scientific information make it a must-have for upper elementary and middle school library collections” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

I’m Afraid, Said the Leaf
Written by Danielle Daniel
Illustrated by Matt James
64 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774880708 | Tundra Books
“Every worry is addressed and every need is met in this eloquent portrait of the interconnectedness of the living world.” – Starred Review, Publishers Weekly

Into the Goblin Market
Written by Vikki VanSickle
Illustrated by Jensine Eckwall
48 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
“In this bravura picture book – a mischief-rich, rhyming fairy tale with modern touches – a girl contends with enchanted adversaries and something almost as fearsome: her sister’s terrible judgment.” – Starred Review, Shelf Awareness

Once Upon a Sari
Written by Zenia Wadhwani
Illustrated by Avani Dwivedi
48 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
“Wadhwani shows the young, and reminds the older reader that saris are heirlooms of memory and stories are not just found in books, but also within the walls of our wardrobes.” – Starred Review, Quill & Quire

Rebel Skies
By Ann Sei Lin
360 Pages | Ages 12+ | Paperback
ISBN 9781774884003 | Tundra Books
“This debut, the first in a trilogy, creates a fascinating world based on Japanese mythology and has a unique magic system . . . The uniqueness of the world created in the story makes this a book adventure fantasy lovers will enjoy.” – Starred Review, Booklist

Shine
By Bruno Valasse
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774884287 | Tundra Books
“A gentle look at fear, darkness, strength, and light . . . The work’s apt title encompasses both the moth’s journey of self-discovery and the luminous art.” – Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews

The Green Baby Swing
Written by Thomas King
Illustrated by Yong Ling Kang
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735269361 | Tundra Books
“An affecting, supportive portrayal of navigating loss and the ways love and family connection endure.” – Starred Review, Booklist

The Gulf
By Adam de Souza
240 Pages | Ages 14+ | Paperback
ISBN 9781774880753 | Tundra Books
“An evocative tale reminiscent of Jillian and Mariko Tamaki’s This One Summer, this book is a great match for teens searching for community, purpose, and the possibility of existing just for the sake of it.” – Starred Review, Booklist

The Island Before No
Written by Christina Uss
Illustrated by Hudson Christie
56 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735272415 | Tundra Books
“A super fun read, a visual treat and an excellent conversation starter all in one . . . A quirky gem of a tale that’s sure to elicit giggles even as it inspires confidence.” – Starred Review, BookPage

Towed by Toad
By Jashar Awan
48 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774883488 | Tundra Books
“A pitch-perfect picture book with broad appeal, ideal for both truck-obsessed toddlers and emerging readers.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

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Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2024

Hello graphic novel lovers! The Young Readers team at Penguin Random House Canada is headed to downtown Toronto for TCAF 2024, happening on May 11th and 12th at the Toronto Reference Library. We’ll be showcasing many of our wonderful graphic novels at tables 144/145!

Saturday, May 11th

At 1:00pm in the Novella Room, join creator Adam de Souza for the Coast to Coast to Coast discussion. Moderated by Sal Sawler.

At 2:00pm in the Kidz Zone, join creators Christine D.U. Chung and Salwa Majoka as they discuss their book, Viewfinder.

At 3:00pm in the Learning Centre, join creator Eunnie for a panel on Queer Kisses: Love, Romance and Identity.

Saturday, May 11th

At 1:00pm in the Learning Centre, join creator Adam de Souza for a discussion on Teen Titans: Empowering Stories for Young Folks. Moderated by Cole Pauls.

At 3:00pm in the Learning Centre, join creators Christine D.U. Chung and Salwa Majoka for a discussion on Back Pack: Creating Stories for Middle-Graders. Moderated by Sid Sharp.

We will also be hosting signings on both days at tables 144/145! Books will be available for purchase courtesy of The Beguiling.

And don’t forget to follow us online @tundrabooks and @penguinteenca as we post live from the show floors!

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Tuesdays with Tundra

Tuesdays with Tundra is an ongoing series featuring our new releases. These titles are now available in stores and online!

I’m From
Written by Gary R. Gray, Jr.
Illustrated by Oge Mora
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774886168 | Puffin Canada
Early morning wake-ups and homemade pancakes, 
Raucous bus rides and schoolyard games, 
Family games and bedtime rituals . . . These are the small moments that shape a child’s day. I’m From is an invitation into the vivid world of one small boy, a poetic account of all the people and places and things that shape who he is and define where he is from.

The Good Little Mermaid’s Guide to Bedtime
Written by Eija Sumner
Illustrated by Nici Gregory
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735267893 | Tundra Books
Once upon an evening, a good little mermaid begins to get ready for bed. Once upon? No. Not once upon. I know what that means. And I’m NOT a good little mermaid. I am a PREDATOR! Thus begins our story of a little mermaid who is anything but good. Sleep? Sleep is for guppies! This little mermaid is a TERROR of the DEEP. Cleaning up and putting toys away? This little mermaid doesn’t need TOYS. The ocean is her playground, and everything in it is afraid of HER. Brushing her teeth and flossing? Never! Well . . . maybe a little bit so they gleam like RAZOR-SHARP BLADES. Cleverly told through a back and forth between The Good Little Mermaid’s Guide to Bedtime and a mermaid who is resisting bedtime at every turn, this story will delight readers with its hilarious illustrations and adorable but VERY SCARY main character. Will she ever go to sleep? Read on to find out.

The Gulf
By Adam de Souza
240 Pages | Ages 14+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774880739 | Tundra Books
Ever since Oli found a pamphlet for a remote island commune as a kid, it’s all she can think about. Now that she’s nearing the end of high school, feeling frustrated with the mounting pressure to choose a career and follow a path she has no interest in, the desire to escape it all has been steadily increasing. Everything comes to a head when Oli’s relationship with her best friend goes south and she claps back at a school bully with more than just words. Oli flees to find the commune on a Gulf Island off the coast of Vancouver, taking with her Milo, who can’t help but hide his feelings behind the safety of a video camera, and Alvin, a shy teen who sees more than he lets on. Behind them trails Liam, Oli’s ex-best-friend and sometimes love interest, who wants to apologize for the way things went down. All four are grappling with a world that cannot be changed . . . and simply trying to find their place in it. This YA anti-coming-of-age road trip adventure, by talented up-and-coming comic artist Adam de Souza, captures at once the angst and humor of being a teen during a time of great transition.

The Gulf is also available today in paperback!

Unstoppable Us, Volume 2: Why the World Isn’t Fair
Written by Yuval Noah Harari
Illustrated by Ricard Zaplana Ruiz
208 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774884874 | Puffin Canada
Humans may have taken over the world, but what happened next? How did our hunter-gatherer ancestors become village farmers? Why were kingdoms and laws established? How did we go from being the rulers of Earth to the rulers of each other? And why isn’t the world fair? The answer to all of that is one of the strangest tales you’ll ever hear. And it’s a true story. From cultivating land and sharing resources to building pyramids and paying taxes, prepare to discover how humans created civilization – and suffered the consequences for it. Acclaimed author Yuval Noah Harari is back with another expertly crafted story of how humans became “unstoppable,” complete with maps, a timeline, and full-color illustrations that bring his dynamic unputdownable writing to life.

New in Paperback:

Bug in a Vacuum
By Mélanie Watt
96 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Tundra Books
ISBN 9781770496460 | Paperback
A bug flies through an open door into a house, through a bathroom, across a kitchen and bedroom and into a living room . . . where its entire life changes with the switch of a button. Sucked into the void of a vacuum bag, this one little bug moves through denial, bargaining, anger, despair and eventually acceptance – the five stages of grief – as it comes to terms with its fate. Will there be a light at the end of the tunnel?

Unstoppable Us, Volume 1: How Humans Took Over the World
Written by Yuval Noah Harari
Illustrated by Ricard Zaplana Ruiz
224 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Paperback
ISBN 9781774882238 | Puffin Canada
Even though we’ll never outrun a hungry lion or outswim an angry shark, humans are pretty impressive – and the most dominant species on the planet. So, how did we become “unstoppable”? The answer to that is one of the strangest tales you’ll ever hear. And it’s a true story. From learning to make fire and using the stars as guides to cooking meals in microwaves and landing on the moon, prepare to uncover the secrets and superpowers of how we evolved from our first appearances millions of years ago. Acclaimed author Yuval Noah Harari has expertly crafted an extraordinary story of how humans learned to not only survive but also thrive on Earth, complete with maps, a timeline, and full-color illustrations that bring his dynamic, unputdownable writing to life.

We can’t wait to see you reading these titles! If you share these books online, remember to use #ReadTundra in your hashtags so that we can re-post.

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Cover Reveal: The Gulf

Tundra is very excited to be publishing The Gulf on March 5, 2024! Written and illustrated by Adam de Souza, The Gulf is a graphic novel for YA readers that follows a group of friends in their final days of high school who run away from home in order to join a commune.

Scroll down for the full cover plus a Q&A with Adam de Souza!

Cover Art: Adam de Souza
Cover Design: John Martz

The Gulf
By Adam de Souza
240 Pages | Ages 14+ | Hardcover and Paperback
ISBN 9781774880739 | Tundra Books
Release Date: March 5, 2024
Ever since Oli found a pamphlet for a remote island commune as a kid, it’s all she can think about. Now that she’s nearing the end of high school, feeling frustrated with the mounting pressure to choose a career and follow a path she has no interest in, the desire to escape it all has been steadily increasing.

Everything comes to a head when Oli’s relationship with her best friend goes south and she claps back at a school bully with more than just words. Oli flees to find the commune on a Gulf Island off the coast of Vancouver, taking with her Milo, who can’t help but hide his feelings behind the safety of a video camera, and Alvin, a shy teen who sees more than he lets on. Behind them trails Liam, Oli’s ex-best-friend and sometimes love interest, who wants to apologize for the way things went down. All four are grappling with a world that cannot be changed . . . and simply trying to find their place in it.

This YA anti-coming-of-age road trip adventure, by talented up-and-coming comic artist Adam de Souza, captures at once the angst and humor of being a teen during a time of great transition.

Q&A with Adam de Souza

Where did the initial inspiration for The Gulf come from?

The story came from reflecting on my own aimlessness during the final years of high school, as well as my interest in alternative lifestyles. A decade removed from high school while writing this story, I felt I could finally put a name to what that aimless feeling was a symptom of, and that’s what I was inspired to write about.

Why did you choose the Gulf Islands as the main setting for this story?

I have spent a lot of time exploring the various Gulf Islands on the Salish Sea throughout my life and they’re among my favorite places to spend idle days. They’re wild in this unique and distinctly West Coast way and I hoped to capture that visually. Their seclusive nature seems to attract people that make a living in the precarious cracks of what we deem normal; the islands are places where I find it easy to imagine a different way of living.

What is one thing that makes Oli’s “coming-of-age” story unique?

I wanted to write a story about a character who reflected the experience I had when I “came-of-age.” You expect some grand epiphany or that the things that don’t make sense will snap into some understandable order, but that moment never came. Oli’s story is meant to be an anti-coming-of-age story that rallies against the notion that “it will all make sense when you’re older” because it’s okay if it doesn’t – and it frankly makes sense that it won’t – but at least we can try and untangle it together into something more equitable.

You are both the writer and illustrator; how did you go about creating the book? Does art or dialog come first to you?

The whole story of The Gulf came from a specific wordless sequence at the climax of the book. There were a few other scenes that I drew out after that, but generally it’s a bit of a push and pull between visuals and writing. After I draw out a key sequence, there’s a lot of scaffolding outward that has to happen via writing. While scripting, I try to make sure that I am writing around an absent image instead of leaning directly into prose.

Were you influenced/inspired by other media such as movies, books, art, etc.?

Most of my inspiration for writing comes from reading books and watching movies. Knowing how to express a lot of what The Gulf is on a thematic level came from reading about communes and what those societies were grounded in philosophically and politically.

How many cover drafts did you do before this one was finalized?

I submitted around ten different designs for the cover alongside what became the final design. Picturing the book sitting on a bookshelf in a store made it hard for me to choose so I was happy to defer to the team at Tundra.

How did you create the cover? What tools or programs do you use?

The covers started as small “thumbnails” in my sketchbook. I scan those drawings onto my computer and then I do a more solid sketch on my iPad in color. After a cover is chosen, I ink it on paper with a pen and I color most of my work digitally in Clip Studio, Procreate, or Photoshop.

How is working on this book different from your other projects, like your comic strip “Blind Alley”?

There’s a sort of laissez-faire quality to writing a comic strip that comes from the four-panel form; you can’t rush anything as you have only the smallest little bites of story. I have a plan for my comic strips, but there’s nothing formalized and no maximum page count. For better or worse, the weekly structure allows me to follow any whims that catch my fancy. I am definitely a writer who loves to chase down a tangent and I find those character, setting, or “vibe” building moments incredibly important.

Writing The Gulf was almost the opposite in terms of process. The story was outlined, scripted, and then drawn out before being committed to ink. It involved a lot of collaboration and was a rewarding process. By the time I actually started to ink the book, I felt like I knew the story and characters inside and out, which made me feel more confident in my decisions. The process of working this way has encouraged me not to shy away from actually spending time scripting.

What books have you been reading lately?

I have been reading The Half-Life by Jonathan Raymond as well as The Social Instinct by Nicola Raihani. I’ve also slowly been reading through the Moomin comics, which are delightful and always make me feel like drawing.

Tundra Book Group