The 2010 OLA Forest of Reading® Nominees

Yesterday, the Ontario Library Association revealed the short-listed nominated titles for the 2010 Forest of Reading®. All nominated titles have been posted to the Reading Program page of the OLA website, which you can visit at http://www.accessola.com/reading.

Tundra would like to congratulate Tim Beiser, Rachel Berman, Cyndi Sand-Eveland, Cary Fagan, Shane Peacock, Jane Drake, Ann Love, Mark Thurman, and Susin Nielsen!

Blue Spruce Award (JK-Grade 2)
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
“… The rhyming verse is so fresh and the illustrations so full of personality and emotion that we quickly forget the slight premise and simply enjoy Brad’s neighbourhood kitchen crawl…. Tim Beiser does a bang-up job…. Rachel Berman locates this moveable feast in a gentle setting, rural and mildly Edwardian…. The slight contrast between words and pictures creates a delicious tension and a welcoming world for all diners and sojourners.” – Feature Review, Quill & Quire

Silver Birch Award – Express (Grades 2-4)
Dear ToniDear Toni
By Cyndi Sand-Eveland
ISBN 978-88776-876-7
Hardcover | 136 Pages
Ages 8-11
“The novel is written in diary format and peppered with often-humorous sketches depicting the various activities, thoughts, pets, and people that make up Gene’s life. Girls, especially, will relate to the protagonist and feel as if they are reading personal notes from a close friend.” – School Library Journal

Ten Lesson for Kaspar SnitTen Lessons for Kaspar Snit
By Cary Fagan
ISBN 978-88776-835-4
Paperback | 192 Pages
Ages 8-12
“Ten Lessons for Kaspar Snit is full of clever dialogue and comic situations, but it is also an action-packed, inventive, page-turner with several surprises. Much of the humour can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, and the supportive, caring family dynamic of the Galinski-Blande family is pleasing…. The tone of the book is always light, with wisecracks being made even when the action heats up…” – Highly Recommended, CM Magazine

Silver Birch Award – Fiction (Grades 4-6)
Death in the AirDeath in the Air
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Second Case
By Shane Peacock
ISBN 978-88776-851-4
Hardcover | 264 Pages
Ages 10-14
“In the first novel, we see many of the characteristics of the adult detective being formed through his first exciting adventure. In Death in the Air, this development continues and we get to know young Sherlock even better….This novel is written for the young adult, but adult readers will also find it satisfying. Peacock places demand on the reader, expecting intelligence and curiosity. The fast-paced adventure is a treat.” – The Globe and Mail

Silver Birch Award – Nonfiction (Grades 4-6)
Alien InvadersAlien Invaders
Species that Threaten Our World

By Jane Drake and Ann Love
Illustrated by Mark Thurman
ISBN 978-88776-798-2
Hardcover | 56 Pages
Ages 9-12
“In a clear, informal text, illustrated with handsome color paintings, this intriguing science book discusses particular plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses that humans have, deliberately or accidentally, introduced to a new habitat.” – Booklist

Red Maple Award (Grades 7-8) and Golden Oak Award (Adult Learners)
Word NerdWord Nerd
By Susin Nielsen
ISBN 978-88776-875-0
Hardcover | 256 Pages
Ages 9+
“This is a tender, often funny story with some really interesting characters. It will appeal to word nerds, but even more to anyone who has ever longed for acceptance or had to fight unreasonable parental restrictions.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

The Festival of Treesâ„¢ will be taking place on May 12-13, 2010 at the Harbourfront Centre.

CBC presents the TD Kids Bookclub

Tundra would like to thank all the elementary schools in the Greater Vancouver area, the Edmonton area, the Calgary area, Manitoba, the Montreal area and Mainland Nova Scotia for submitting their cheers to CBC.

Congratulations to the winning schools for their TD Kids Book Club cheers:

  • Shawne Chastko’s class from 12th Avenue Elementary School in Burnaby!
  • Adrienne Glover’s grade 3 class from Morley School in Morley, Alberta!
  • The Grade 6 class at Oliver School!
  • Karen Tole-Henderson’s grade 5 class at Shamrock School!
  • Holly Kusiewicz’s grade 5/6 class at Parkdale Elementary in St. Laurent!
  • Ms. Paulette O’Connor’s grade 5/6 class at St. Joseph’s/A. MacKay School!

Stay tuned for details on the TD Kids Book club broadcast in November. Susin Nielsen, author of Word Nerd, will be going to Burnaby and Edmonton for a special broadcast from the winning schools. Shane Peacock, author of Death in the Air, will be going to Halifax for a special broadcast from the winning school.

Word Nerd Thing-Thing Death in the Air

YoungIFOA presents the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award Finalists:

  • Saturday, October 24, 11:00am| Studio Theatre
    A YoungIFOA event for the whole family to enjoy. New this year at IFOA: finalists for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award read from their nominated books. Charlotte Teeple hosts.
  • Saturday, October 24, 1:00pm| Studio Theatre
    TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award nominees Alma Fullerton, Susin Nielsen and Shane Peacock read from their nominated books in this YoungIFOA event for the whole family.
  • Saturday, October 24, 4:00pm| Studio Theatre
    In partnership with the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award YoungIFOA presents a round table event for the young at heart. TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award nominees Nicola Campbell, Alma Fullerton, Cary Fagan, Kim LaFave, Susin Nielsen and Shane Peacock talk about children’s literature in the 21st century.

The Word on the Street 2009

Sunday, September 27, 2009 was the Word on the Street‘s 20th year! The weather held up and the festival was quite the success! Here are a few of our photos from the day:

Tundra booth - Kathy and HoriaTundra was at booth #245 this year with lots of great book deals and giveaways!

Laura Beingessner and Joanne SchwartzLaura Beingessner and Joanne Schwartz reading from Our Corner Grocery Store at the Children’s Reading Tent. After, Laura drew a broccoli for the kids!

Cary FaganCary Fagan reading from Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas. (You can see Laura Beingessner’s broccoli drawing on the left!)

From Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas, Cary Fagan teaches the audience the chorus of the Pirate Song: “It’s the pirate life for us, hey ho! The pirate life for us! Aaarrrgh!”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9L6LAGjg3s]

Kent Price and Theo HerasAt 1:30pm in the Little Readers Tent, Theo Heras sang songs from What Will We Do with the Baby-O? Click here to watch the video.

Lesley Fairfield2:00pm at the Comics and Graphic Novels Tent was Graphic Memoirs: Three New Works. Tundra’s Lesley Fairfield (Tyranny) presented with Canadian graphic memoirists, Tory Woolcott (Mirror Mind) and Adam Bourret (I’m Crazy). Thank you to Christopher Butcher and Peter Birkemoe from The Beguiling for organizing this program.

Tim BeiserTim Beiser read from Bradley McGogg The Very Fine Frog at the Children’s Reading Tent.

In the Word On The Street in Kitchener, Shane Peacock and Marla Stewart Konrad read from their latest books!

Thank you to the Word on the Street team and all the volunteers! We look forward to the next festival on Sunday, September 26, 2010.

Telling Tales – A Family Festival of Stories

Sunday, September 20, 2009 was the first annual Telling Tales Festival. The festival was held in the beautiful Westfield Heritage Village in Rockton, Ontario. Tundra authors and illustrators that presented were Cary Fagan, Janet Wilson, Ken Setterington, Richard Scrimger, and Shane Peacock. Here are some of our photos from the day, courtesy of Lauren from Tundra!

Richard ScrimgerQ&As with Richard Scrimger!

Janet Wilson and Richard ScrimgerJanet Wilson and Richard Scrimger.

Into the RavineA fan of Into the Ravine by Richard Scimger.

Shane Peacock readingShane Peacock reading at the Jerseyville Railway.

Eye of the CrowFans of Eye of the Crow: The Boy Sherlock Holmes by Shane Peacock.

Thank you to everyone who attended and to the team of organizers. A big, huge round of applause to Susan Jasper for all her hard work! Next year’s Festival will be held on Sunday, September 19, 2010!

Eden Mills Writers’ Festival 2009

Eden Mills Writers’ Festival is now in its 21st year! This year it was held on Sunday, September 20, 2009 – noon ’til 6:00pm. Here are a few photos from the day:

Driving into Eden Mills, we knew we were going the right way!
EMWF 2009

This painting on a building near the South Gate Entrance:
Eden Mills

Publishers’ Way: The Bookshelf had books for sale by author reading at the Festival. Author signings were in the booth next to the Bookshelf. Other Publishers also had booths on this street.
Publishers' Way

The Food Court: lots of delicious foods from samosas to organic ice cream!
Food Court

Curtis Parkinson reading from The Castle on Deadman’s Island at the Common during the Young Adult Authors set at 1:30pm.
Curtis Parkinson

Also reading was Cary Fagan at the Children’s Area at 1:30pm and Edo van Belkom at the Children’s Area at 4:30pm. Please visit our page on facebook for more photos.

We would like the thank all the hardworking volunteers for making the festival such a success!  The next EMWF‘s big day of readings will be on Sunday, September 19, 2010.

Tundra Book Group