C.J. Taylor Archives - Tundra Book Group

February 11, 2014February 18, 2014

Tuesdays with Tundra 35

Tuesdays with Tundra is a monthly post on our new releases. The following books are available today in stores and online!

The Highest Number in the World
Written by Roy MacGregor
Illustrated by Geneviève Després
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 6-9
ISBN: 978-1-77049-575-3
“MacGregor’s writing packs an emotional punch…. Expressive pencil drawings, brightened with color washes, perfectly capture the characters’ feelings. From the moment Grandma begins to share her past and her passion for hockey, the story’s context becomes broader, more complex, and more meaningful. A memorable, intergenerational picture book perfect for sharing.” – Starred Review, Booklist

The Mystery of the Russian Ransom
Written by Roy MacGregor
Trade Paperback | 176 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-420-6
The Screech Owls have never had such a wonderful surprise. A famous Russian billionaire has offered to pay and fly the whole team to his country. He wants the Owls to visit his homeland so the Russians can learn from the Screech Owls’ style of play. The team will play in a tournament while they are there, but even before their first practice on Russian ice, Sarah is taken off the snowy streets. Her kidnappers want ten million rubles in exchange for her safe release! The billionaire wants to pay for Sarah’s safe return, but Travis and his teammates decide to take matters into their own hands.

First Descent
Written by Pam Withers
Trade Paperback | 272 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-412-1
“…From the first page, when Rex hears a crack of river ice, sees an eight-year-old in peril, and enacts a dramatic rescue in which he must out-paddle an advancing mountain of ice, Withers flings the reader from one perilous adventure to another….” – Booklist

Ella May and the Wishing Stone
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Geneviève Côté
Trade Paperback | 32 Pages | Ages 4-6
ISBN: 978-1-77049-410-7
“Côté’s…illustrations drive the story along with light and expressive outlines and wash effects… children won’t have any difficulty following the action, and they’ll recognize Ella’s conflicting impulses.” — Publishers Weekly

Peace Walker
The Legend of Hiawatha and Tekanawita
Written by C.J. Taylor
Trade Paperback | 48 Pages | Ages 7-9
ISBN: 978-1-77049-778-8
“In a style reminiscent of oral storytelling, the author weaves the legend of the Confederacy of the Five Nations.” – The Horn Book Guide

Baseball Animals
Written by Christopher Jordan
Hardcover | 24 Pages | Ages 3-7
Fenn / Tundra
ISBN: 978-1-77049-474-9
In MLB Animals, children will learn about the various animals specific to professional baseball and discover why each team selected the particular animal when naming their club.

Baseball Opposites
Written by Christopher Jordan
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 3-7
Fenn / Tundra
ISBN: 978-1-77049-518-0
In MLB Opposites, children will be introduced to an array of familiar opposites clearly defined through bright and colorful photographs from the world of Major League Baseball.

Pub Date Giveaway: In the comments below, please tell us which new February release of Tundra’s you would love to read and one lucky reader will receive their requested book! One request per person and please review our rules. This giveaway ends at midnight on Monday, February 17, 2014!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Joy, winner of First Descent by Pam Withers.

June 13, 2012June 13, 2012

TD Summer Reading Club 2012

Imagine
TD Bank Financial Group, the Toronto Public Library, and Library and Archives Canada are proud to support literacy in Canada by offering the TD Summer Reading Club to Canadian children across the nation in both English and French. This is a great program for parents, librarians, and teachers across the country!

Imagining is creating! What a wonderful introduction to Imagine, the theme of the TD Summer Reading Club 2012. As its name suggests, this theme will familiarize young readers with literature of the fantastic. Readers will be charmed by fantasy stories and novels and they will be enthralled by tales of wonder. They will discover the Gothic and steam-punk worlds where unusual creatures and strange machines can be found in mysterious locales.

Here is a list of our books that are on the TD Summer Reading Club’s various English book lists:

Legends, Folklore, Myths:
Spirits, Fairies, and Merpeople
Native Stories of Other Worlds
Written by C.J. Taylor
Hardcover | Ages 9-12 | Nonfiction
ISBN: 978-0-88776-872-9
C. J. Taylor draws from those stories and from her own Mohawk heritage in this collection of haunting tales about some of the powerful spirits who touch the lives of human folk. The spirits of heaven and earth from the Ute help bring an understanding of the stars in the sky. Illustrated with her own powerful oil paintings, this is a collection to read and an excellent story-teller’s resource.

Sindbad
From the Tales of the Thousand and One Nights
Retold by Ludmila Zeman
Trade Paperback | Ages 7-11 | Nonfiction
ISBN: 978-1-77049-264-6
Perhaps the best known of the Tales of the Thousand and One Nights are those about Sindbad the Sailor. For centuries, people have been fascinated by the stories of a simple, sometimes confused, sailor who mistakes a giant whale for a lovely island and the egg of the Roc (a bird so huge that she can carry an elephant in her talons) for a mountain. Sindbad encounters many dangers, but he prevails in this irresistible trilogy, thanks to nothing but his own wits.

Magic:
Daughter of the Great Zandini
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Cybèle Young
Hardcover | Ages 8-10 | Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-88776-534-6
Tradition is important to the Great Zandini, the great magician of Paris. His grandfather was a magician, his father was a magician, and his son will be a magician too. Unfortunately, his son Theodore does not feel the same way. Zandini won’t hear of opposition. Besides, his arch nemesis, newspaper reporter A. S. Besette, has begun a smear campaign, suggesting the old master is washed up. Zandini creates a new magic show to introduce Theodore as his successor. There’s only one problem: Theodore is a hopeless magician.

Mythical Creatures:
Monsterology
Fabulous Lives of the Creepy, the Revolting, and the Undead
Written by Arthur Slade
Illustrated by Derek Mah
Trade Paperback | Ages 11-12 | Nonfiction
ISBN: 978-0-88776-714-2
Monsterology: Fabulous Lives of the Creepy, the Revolting, and the Undead is the most fun anyone can have with some of the nastiest creatures ever imagined! Who can resist morsels like the fact that “Drakul” means “son of the dragon” in Romanian, that the first Golem may have been Enkidu, who appeared in the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh, and that Frankenstein’s Monster was first inspired by Mary Shelley’s nightmare?

Scary Stories:
Don’t Go In There!
Written by Veronika Martenova Charles
Illustrated by David Parkins
Trade Paperback | Ages 5-7 | Easy Readers
ISBN: 978-0-88776-781-4
Ghostly tales of strange things lurking in forbidden places tie these three stories together. The boys have been warned not to go into a certain room while they are pet-sitting for the neighbor, but, of course, their bravado leads to a session of one-upmanship and the distinct possibility that the cats they are looking after may not be cats at all. Stories from Russia, the United States, and the West Indies are highlighted.

Don’t Talk to Strangers!
Written by Veronika Martenova Charles
Illustrated by David Parkins
Trade Paperback | Ages 6-8 | Easy Readers
ISBN: 978-0-88776-847-7
This time a lost dog sparks the theme of strangers and the wisdom in avoiding them. And what a collection of strangers they are! Headless trolls, people with pointy ears and huge eyes, and long-lost “aunties,” who enjoy eating their guests. Stories from Scandinavia, Sierra Leone, and Iraq are highlighted in this universal warning.

The Fortress of Kaspar Snit
Written by Cary Fagan
Trade Paperback | Ages 8-10 | Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-88776-665-7
Kaspar Snit is a villainous villain who is determined to steal all the fountains in the world. Why? Fountains are beautiful and give people pleasure, two things he can’t abide. Can a family of four who love fountains rescue them from the hands of this dastardly scoundrel? Especially when that family is made up of the four most eccentric individuals you’d care to meet?

Time Travel:
The Battle for Duncragglin
Written by Andrew H. Vanderwal
Hardcover | Ages 11+ | Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-88776-886-6
Set in the time of William Wallace, this is historical fiction at its bloody best! One of history’s most turbulent times comes to vivid life in this thrilling novel. Twelve-year-old Alex has been raised by his uncle since his parents disappeared on a trip to Scotland many years ago. He’s resigned to spending the summer in Scotland with yet another relative and finds himself on a farm near the ruined remnants of an ancient castle that is rumored to be haunted. Could it have a connection to his parents’ disappearance?

The TD Summer Reading Club is sponsored by TD Bank Group in co-operation with the Toronto Public Library and Library and Archives Canada. A team of children’s librarians from the public libraries of Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal developed the theme and the materials for the program. The participating regions are: Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Please click here for more information about Dušan Petričić, the illustrator who created the artwork for this year’s Reading Club!

Past TD Summer Reading Clubs: 2010 and 2011

June 24, 2011August 11, 2011

TD Summer Reading Club 2011

Splash! Celebrate Summer
Once again, TD Bank Financial Group, the Toronto Public Library and Library and Archives Canada are proud to support literacy in Canada by offering the TD Summer Reading Club to Canadian children across the nation in both English and French.

The TD Summer Reading Club has been successful in inspiring children to spend more time reading books and visiting their local libraries. During the summer of 2010, more than half a million children participated in programs offered at their local libraries and read more than 2 million books!

Here is a list of our books that are on the TD Summer Reading Club’s English book list:

Easy Readers
Don’t Go Near the Water!
By Veronika Martenova Charles
Illustrated by David Parkins
Trade Paperback | 56 pages
Ages 5-8 years
ISBN 978-0-88776-780-7
eBook 978-1-77049-055-0
“Having been warned to stay away from the high waters of the local creek, three friends’ imaginations run as swiftly as the stream. Before they know it, they have scared themselves silly with stories from Britain, Hawaii and Central Europe.” – Canadian Children’s Book Centre

Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas
By Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Hardcover | 112 pages
Ages 8-11 years
ISBN 978-0-88776-895-8
eBook 978-1-77049-071-0
“Fagan has produced a lively tale of pirates, transatlantic voyages, and the usual heedless parents…” – Books for Young People: Books of the Year, Quill & Quire

Fiction 9-12 Years Old
Into the Ravine
By Richard Scrimger
Trade Paperback | 264 pages
Ages 11+
ISBN 978-0-88776-822-4
“Scrimger is a deft and funny storyteller who understands early adolescent boys, their dreams, and their realities…. A funny, scary, exciting, and spot-on adventure.” – Booklist

Noses are Red
By Richard Scrimger
Trade Paperback | 208 pages
Ages 8-12 years
ISBN 978-0-88776-590-2
eBook 978-1-77049-044-4
“As with its predecessors, this book is hilarious, with a wonderful blend of slapstick humor and dry wit. It will appeal to anyone who hates summer camp or who enjoys a refreshingly comic look at everyday life.” – VOYA

Folk Tales
Spirits, Fairies, and Merpeople: Native Stories of Other Worlds
By C.J. Taylor
Hardcover | 40 pages
Ages 8+
ISBN 978-0-88776-872-9
“Taylor’s retellings are crisp and lend themselves well to reading aloud. Each story is accompanied by a lushly hued, surrealistic painting. The powerful images featuring fearsome creatures and tiny human figures balance the taut economy of the text … this well-crafted collection is an accessible and thoughtful supplement to Native American culture studies.” – School Library Journal

Sindbad in the Land of Giants
By Ludmila Zeman
Hardcover | 32 pages
Ages 6+
HC ISBN 978-0-88776-461-5
TR ISBN 978-1-77049-266-0
“Engagingly written, the story is fleshed out by Zeman’s illustrations. Richly detailed, with intricate borders, the pictures are strongly reminiscent of Near Eastern miniatures, thus evoking the culture from which the story springs … for those who like adventure stories with gorgeous artwork, this title is a sound addition to folklore collections.” – School Library Journal

Lord of the Sky
By Linda Zeman-Spaleny
Illustrated by Ludmila Zeman
Hardcover | 32 pages
Ages 8+
ISBN 978-0-88776-896-5
“Zeman-Spaleny does a solid job with this classic, making the early ravens obnoxious but loveable whereas the thunderbird is both powerful and terrifying…. Illustrator Ludmila Zeman’s illustrations portray the strength of the story and its characters, with a palette of blacks, browns and autumn tones that captures the setting perfectly…. A glossy rendering of a classic; this is excellent mythology and delightful story-telling.” – Eclectica Magazine

Non-fiction
Sail Away with Me: Old and New Poems
By Jane Collins-Philippe
Illustrated by Laura Beingessner
Hardcover | 32 pages
Ages 3-6 years
ISBN 978-0-88776-842-2
“…The lively watercolor illustrations extend the images in the words, with pictures of ships on the ocean with patchwork sails and whimsical animal crews…. Ranging in theme from adventure to nonsense, these poems will be fun for reading aloud.” – Booklist

A Thousand Years of Pirates
By William Gilkerson
Hardcover | 96 pages
Ages 10+
ISBN 978-0-88776-924-5
eBook 978-1-77049-082-6
“The combination of strong storytelling and beautiful artwork and design make this an appealing book for children of all ages… Unparalleled in the presentation of pirate history… Gilkerson successfully weaves together fascinating tales to bring life and context to these adventurers of the high seas.” – Jury Comments, Finalist: Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction

Advanced Picture Books
A Seaside Alphabet
By Donna Grassby
Illustrated by Susan Tooke
Trade Paperback | 32 pages
Ages 6+
ISBN 978-0-88776-938-2
“…Each of Tooke’s 26 realistic paintings is a watercolor artwork in itself, capturing seaside scenes full of action, excitement, enjoyment, and wonder.” – National Center for the Study of Children’s Literature

Where I Live
By Frances Wolfe
Hardcover | 32 pages
Ages 3-6 years
ISBN 978-0-88776-529-2
“…words and images together take readers to a lovely, serene seascape and result in a lovely picture book.” – School Library Journal

Teen Books
Would You
By Marthe Jocelyn
Hardcover | 176 pages
Ages 9-12 years
HC ISBN 978-0-88776-816-3
TR ISBN 978-1-77049-223-3
eBook 978-1-77049-022-2
“The opening chapters give little hints of the intensity of Jocelyn’s…exquisitely honed novel…. Although the plot line sounds like that of a standard weeper, the author resists the urge to magnify emotions. Natalie reacts honestly, neither beautifully nor nobly…. The light touch with which Jocelyn handles her difficult material is best seen when Claire is declared brain-dead and taken off life support: the humanity in the author’s treatment affords the readers a sense both of grief and of peace.” – Starred Review, Publishers Weekly

Click here to see last year’s theme and book list.

British Columbia artist Kim LaFave, a recipient of the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, has created the artwork for the program.

And… if you’re free tomorrow:

TD Summer Reading Club Launch – Splash Fair!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
York Woods
Join the Toronto Public Library for fun Splash-themed activities to kick start the beginning of TD Summer Reading Club. Face painting, surprise guests, arts & crafts and much, much, more! No registration required. This program will be held in the Children’s Department and Outside Parking Lot area.

June 28, 2010June 1, 2010

TD Summer Reading Club 2010

Get ready to travel to exotic and exciting places and discover nature’s wonders right on the shelves of your local library! The theme for this year’s program is:

Here is a list of our books that are on the TD Summer Reading Club’s English Booklist:

Easy Readers:
Don’t Go into the Forest! (Easy-to-Read Spooky Tales)
Written by Veronika Martenova Charles
Illustrated by David Parkins
Paperback | 56 pages
Ages 5-8
ISBN 978-0-88776-778-4
“… Teacher’s will no doubt welcome this pedagogical device as a good motivator for narrative writing. They’ll also appreciate the fact that the series contains a balance of male and female protagonists, some of whom outwit the villain.” – Quill & Quire

Fiction 9-12 Years Old:
Afrika
Written by Colleen Craig
Paperback | 240 pages
Ages 12+
ISBN 978-0-88776-807-1
“The riveting revelations of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) are at the heart of this powerful novel….” – Starred Review, Booklist
“The realities of the society are carefully and skillfully portrayed…. The author does not sugarcoat the realities of South Africa…. Not just another multicultural title, by any means, this novel will really grab readers who appreciate realistic fiction about young people searching for their place in the world.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

Folk Tales:
How We Saw the World: Nine Native Stories of the Way Things Began
Written and illustrated by C.J. Taylor
Paperback | 32 pages
Ages 8+
ISBN 978-0-88776-373-1
All peoples have their own stories of how the Earth was created, what separated the land from the seas, and how the many animals, fish, and other creatures came to have their particular characteristics. The native tribes of North America are no different: they too have stories about the “way things began.” A fascinating collection of tales that explain the origins of tornadoes, forest fires, butterflies, horses, Niagara Falls, why dogs are our best friends, and even a very funny story of why owls and rabbits look the way they do.

Non-fiction:
In the Land of the Jaguar: South America and Its People
Written by Gena K. Gorrell
Illustrated by Andrej Krystoforski
Hardcover | 160 pages
Ages 9+
ISBN 978-0-88776-756-2
“…every chapter is packed with highlights, descriptions, and poetry in the narrative, in boxes, and in captions. The engaging prose includes descriptions of the unique animals and plants of each country and – coupled with Krystoforski’s vividly colored, jaunty maps and pen-and-ink drawings of everything from sailing ships to tango dancers – encourages readers to peruse every page.” – School Library Journal

Picture Books, Advanced:
The Birdman
Written by Veronika Martenova Charles
Illustrated by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko and Stéphan Daigle
Hardcover | 32 pages
Ages 5-8
ISBN 978-0-88776-740-1
“The first thing that must be said about The Birdman is that the illustrations… are gorgeous. With intricate Gustav Klimt-style patterns filling every brilliantly coloured area, the book’s illustrations are also reminiscent of Chagall… The paintings are still wholly individual and suited to the text. The story is simple, very touching, and elegantly told, evoking Calcutta’s colour, heat, and its citizens’ difficult lives. And – let me say it again – the illustrations are exquisite.” – Starred Review, Quill & Quire

Preschool:
Eats
Written by Marthe Jocelyn
Illustrated by Tom Slaughter
Hardcover | 24 pages
Ages 2-5
ISBN 978-0-88776-820-0
“The word ‘eat’ never appears in the very minimal text accompanying Eats’ eye-catching cut-paper visuals….Top marks here for concept and execution.” – The Globe and Mail

Teen Books:
Swimming In the Monsoon Sea
Written by Shyam Selvadurai
Paperback | 280 pages
Ages 13+
ISBN 978-0-88776-834-7
“As lush and languid as its Sri Lanka setting…What captures readers is the way the story rolls in waves, mimicking how Amrith looks at himself, then looks away. The luxuriant language with details of architecture and verdant gardens doesn’t call attention to itself, but refreshes like a breeze. Selvadurai, who wrote so gracefully for adults…now does the same for teens.” – Starred Review, Booklist

June 20, 2010June 21, 2010

National Aboriginal Day

Monday, June 21, 2010 is National Aboriginal Day.

“Established in 1996, National Aboriginal Day encourages Canadians to recognize the diverse cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and highlights their contributions to the development of Canada.” – Government of Canada

Share in the celebration by checking out these books:

Spirits, Fairies, and Merpeople: Native Stories of Other Worlds
Written by C.J. Taylor
Hardcover | 40 pages
Ages 8+
ISBN 978-0-88776-872-9
“Taylor’s retellings are crisp and lend themselves well to reading aloud. Each story is accompanied by a lushly hued, surrealistic painting. The powerful images featuring fearsome creatures and tiny human figures balance the taut economy of the text. …this well-crafted collection is an accessible and thoughtful supplement to Native American culture studies.” – School Library Journal

Lord of the Sky
Written by Linda Zeman-Spaleny
Illustrated by Ludmila Zeman
Hardcover | 32 pages
Ages 8+
ISBN 978-0-88776-896-5
“This story is based on an animated film of the same name … and is purportedly derived from the folklore of the North Pacific Coast…. The artwork, done by one of the original filmmakers, attempts to convey a movie in book form.… The award-winning film was done in puppet animation and may be well worth adding to library collections. The book version gropes for a beginning but includes some blood and thunder that might grab fans of graphic novels.” – School Library Journal

Stones, Bones, and Stitches: Storytelling through Inuit Art
Written by Shelley Falconer and Shawna White
Hardcover | 48 pages
All Ages
ISBN 978-0-88776-854-5
“This handsome introduction to Inuit art…. A Canadian map, onto which the art is superimposed, is a helpful device for orienting non-Native audiences…. the current title’s approach of contextualizing the images within a biographical and social framework sets it apart and adds value for researchers.” – School Library Journal

The Man Who Ran Faster Than Everyone: The Story of Tom Longboat
Written by Jack Batten
Paperback | 112 pages
Ages 10+
ISBN 978-0-88776-507-0
Winner of the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction
“[T]his book is a superb narrative – and a revelatory one – about a largely unknown if not quite unsung Canadian icon.” – The Globe and Mail

All the Stars in the Sky: Native Stories from the Heavens
Written by C.J. Taylor
Hardcover | 40 pages
Ages 8+
ISBN 978-0-88776-759-3
“C.J. Taylor is, of course, an artist as well as a storyteller, and the complex, brilliantly coloured paintings that accompany each story help to unify the book.” – Quill & Quire

Peace Walker: The Legends of Hiawatha and Tekanawita
Written by C.J. Taylor
Hardcover | 48 pages
Ages 8+
ISBN 978-0-88776-547-6
“In a style reminiscent of oral storytelling, the author weaves the legend of the Confederacy of the Five Nations.” – The Horn Book Guide

A Northern Alphabet
Written and illustrated by Ted Harrison
Paperback | 32 pages
Ages 6+
ISBN: 978-0-88776-960-3
“Harrison’s long association in the Yukon makes him an excellent choice to represent this region. …use of bright colours, fluid shapes and the simplicity of the central figures are evocative of the art of this region…. Harrison’s beautiful paintings are reason alone to purchase this book.… The simplicity of the art and text allows A Northern Alphabet to be accessible to the young reader as a read-a-loud primer.… Further, the art and region specific content will make this a ‘must have’ book for the upper elementary grades studying the North. Finally, this book provides an inexpensive example of Ted Harrison’s work for art programs with a focus on Canadian artists. … It is definitely a “keeper” in my library. Highly Recommended” – CM Magazine