Cary Fagan – Page 8 – Tundra Book Group

August 2, 2014May 7, 2025

TD Summer Reading Club 2014

The TD Summer Reading Club is an inclusive, bilingual program that strives to engage all children in the joy of reading during the summer months. This program is a joint initiative between TD Bank Group, Toronto Public Library, and Library and Archives Canada. Every year a theme is selected from suggestions made across the country. This year’s theme is EUREKA!

Children who register for the TD Summer Reading Club at their local library receive a free promotional reading kit and are encouraged to earn nine collectible stickers by reading books over the summer. They are also invited to participate in programs organized at their local library and share their love of reading with children across the country through the TD Summer Reading club website.

Here are some of the Tundra titles that are being featured in the reading lists this year, make sure you check them out at your local library!

Ella May and the Wishing Stone
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by GeneviÃ¨ve CÃ´té
Trade Paperback | 32 Pages | Ages 4-6
ISBN: 978-1-77049-410-7
“…Fagan believably captures the delicate balance of friendship in the very young and lets the story play out with welcome complexity. CÃ´té’s illustrations are simple without being cartoonish, demonstrating the same warm understanding of childhood. Thoughtful and Touching” – Kirkus Reviews

I Like to Play
World Vision Early Readers
Written by Marla Stewart Konrad
Hardcover | 24 Pages | Ages
ISBN 978-0-88776-998-6
“…full of gorgeous photographs and simple text…. The pictures are thought provoking and will prompt many questions from young readers…. There is so much joy and focus in these pictures… highly recommended….” – Excellent, Resource Links

In the Bag!
Margaret Knight Wraps It Up
Written by Monica Kulling
Illustrated by David Parkins
Trade Paperback | 32 Pages | Ages 5-8
ISBN: 978-1-77049-515-9
“…a delightful picture book biography of a little known inspiring woman…. I love stories about smart and determined young women and Kulling’s lively text tells an inspiring story about this determined woman who ‘never gave up without a fight.’ David Parkins’ charming illustrations are filled with carefully drawn period details and engaging humor…. Don’t miss this really excellent book that opens the door to a multitude of curricular uses.” – Bookends, a Booklist Blog

Mr. Zinger’s Hat
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by DuÅ¡an PetriÄiÄ‡
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 4-6
ISBN: 978-1-77049-253-0
“A charming, marvelous tale surrounding the art of creating and telling stories, Mr. Zinger’s Hat celebrates the budding friendship between an elderly writer and a young boy who discovers a storyteller within … Fagan’s writing is beautifully crafted … PetriÄiÄ‡’s engaging artwork deftly juxtaposes two distinct styles which portray a real-life setting and an imaginary world … The illustrations vividly depict the storyteller’s wry humour and the boy’s wide-eyed innocence.” – Jury Members (Winner of the 2013 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award)

Sweet!
The Delicious Story of Candy
Written by Ann Love and Jane Drake
Illustrated by Claudia DÃ¡vila
Trade Paperback | 64 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN 978-0-88776-962-7
“…reading their new book is a little like dipping into a grab bag from the candy store: the experience is fun, varied, and relatively cheap, considering the pleasure it gives. The difference is that you can take in the whole book at a single sitting and feel the better for it. Underneath its whimsical exterior – the humorous cartoon illustrations, the fun bits of trivia – there’s a centre of solid research. The writing is clear and engaging…. This thoughtfully constructed book is a treat to read.” – Starred review, Quill & Quire

What Am I?
Written by Linda Granfield
Illustrated by Jennifer Herbert
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 2-5
ISBN: 978-0-88776-812-5
“Little ones will be kept on their toes as they guess which item is being described by a series of clues. Straightforward descriptions and bright, simple illustrations help kids figure out the right answers.” – Today’s Parent

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

February 11, 2014May 7, 2025

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 GeneviÃ¨ve 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 GeneviÃ¨ve CÃ´té
Trade Paperback | 32 Pages | Ages 4-6
ISBN: 978-1-77049-410-7
“CÃ´té’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.

October 25, 2013May 7, 2025

2013 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award

The winners were announced on Tuesday night for the 2013 Canadian Children’s Literature Awards. Tundra is extremely happy to tell you that we took home the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, an award that honours excellence in the illustrated picture book format, for children aged 3 to 8. Congratulations to Cary Fagan and DuÅ¡an PetriÄiÄ‡!

Mr. Zinger’s Hat
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by DuÅ¡an PetriÄiÄ‡
“A charming, marvelous tale surrounding the art of creating and telling stories, Mr. Zinger’s Hat celebrates the budding friendship between an elderly writer and a young boy who discovers a storyteller within … Fagan’s writing is beautifully crafted. The exchanges between his protagonists are so vivid that one feels as if one is eavesdropping in on a real conversation … PetriÄiÄ‡’s engaging artwork deftly juxtaposes two distinct styles which portray a real-life setting and an imaginary world … The illustrations vividly depict the storyteller’s wry humour and the boy’s wide-eyed innocence.”

Many thanks to the jury memebers: Lorraine Filyer, former Literature Officer, Ontario Arts Council; Todd Kyle, CEO, Newmarket Public Library and President, Board of Directors, Canadian Children’s Book Centre; and Senta Ross, children’s book reviewer and former elementary teacher and teacher-librarian.

This year, TD Bank Group, sponsor of the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, partnered with CBC Books to present the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Fan Choice Award. Young readers were asked to pick their favourite book from the shortlisted TD Award titles in an online poll. Annaka Leib of Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, was in attendance to present the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Fan Choice Award to Polly Horvath for her novel, One Year in Coal Harbour. The other winners were:

TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award
One Year in Coal Harbour written by Polly Horvath

Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction
Kids of Kabul: Living Bravely Through a Never-Ending War written by Deborah Ellis

Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People
The Lynching of Louie Sam written by Elizbeth Stewart

John Spray Mystery Award
The Lynching of Louie Sam written by Elizbeth Stewart

Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy
Seraphina written by Rachel Hartman

Congratulations to all the authors and we have photos from the ceremony on Instagram!

October 15, 2013May 7, 2025

The 2014 OLA Forest of ReadingÂ® Nominees

Today, the Ontario Library Association revealed the nominated titles for the 2014 Forest of Reading® program. Tundra would like to congratulate the nominated authors and illustrators!

Blue Spruceâ„¢ Nominee:
Mr. Zinger’s Hat
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by DuÅ¡an PetriÄiÄ‡
Hardcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-253-0
“Every child needs a Mr. Zinger – and his hat! – in his or her life…. PetriÄiÄ‡’s illustrations change from loose, soft watercolors to sharply defined cartoon drawings when the two enter the realm of their shared fiction…. This book oh-so-softly brings across a sweet multigenerational message about sharing the power of imagination.” – Booklist

Silver Birch® Express Nominees:
When I Get Older
The Story behind “Wavin’ Flag”
Written by K’NAAN and Sol Guy
Illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
Hardcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-302-5
“Somali-Canadian musician K’naan’s first children’s book tells the inspirational story of his immigration to Canada to escape the Somali War. K’naan uses accessible yet poetic language to draw in young readers, exploring his adjustment to Canada and how music kept him connected to his family. Gutierrez’s artwork powerfully conveys a new immigrant’s sense of alienation.” – Parents Canada

Red Mapleâ„¢ Fiction Nominees
The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen
Written by Susin Nielsen
Hardcover | 256 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-372-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-373-5
“…With fully developed adult and child characters and a solid sense of middle school humor, the author has crafted an insightful and nuanced novel about bullying and suicide, and familial love and resilience.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

The Toronto Festival of Treesâ„¢ will be taking place on May 14-15, 2014 at the Harbourfront Centre. We will be there to cheer on our authors and illustrators!

September 6, 2013May 7, 2025

Finalists for the 2013 Canadian Children’s Book Centre Awards

The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) has announced the finalists for its seven major children’s book awards – the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, John Spray Mystery Award, and the Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy.

The nominated books exemplify some of the best work by Canadian authors and illustrators. The following Tundra titles have been shortlisted:

TD CANADIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AWARD

The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen
Written by Susin Nielsen
Hardcover | 256 Pages | Ages 10 and up
ISBN: 978-1-77049-372-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-373-5
“The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen provides an impressively nuanced portrayal of family dynamics in the aftermath of an unpredictable and nearly unspeakable tragedy… This powerful novel is infused with humour, while not turning away from the hard reality of grief… With this book, Nielsen secures her place as one of Canada’s most powerful writers for young people, and she delivers what they need most: an appropriate, satisfying, realistic measure of hope.” – Jury’s Comments

Congratulations to the other finalists in this category: Kids of Kabul: Living Bravely Through a Never-Ending War written by Deborah Ellis; One Year in Coal Harbour written by Polly Horvath; The Stamp Collector written by Jennifer Lanthier, illustrated by FranÃ§ois Thisdale; and Virginia Wolf written by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault.

MARILYN BAILLIE PICTURE BOOK AWARD

Mr. Zinger’s Hat
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by DuÅ¡an PetriÄiÄ‡
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 4-6
ISBN: 978-1-77049-253-0
“A charming, marvelous tale surrounding the art of creating and telling stories, Mr. Zinger’s Hat celebrates the budding friendship between an elderly writer and a young boy who discovers a storyteller within… Fagan’s writing is beautifully crafted… PetriÄiÄ‡’s engaging artwork deftly juxtaposes two distinct styles which portray a real-life setting and an imaginary world.” – Jury’s Comments

Congratulations to the other finalists in this category: Mr. King’s Things written and illustrated by GeneviÃ¨ve CÃ´té; The Stamp Collector written by Jennifer Lanthier, illustrated by FranÃ§ois Thisdale; Uncle Wally’s Old Brown Shoe written and illustrated by Wallace Edwards; and Virginia Wolf written by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault.

NORMA FLECK AWARD FOR CANADIAN CHILDREN’S NON-FICTION

Going Up!
Elisha Otis’s Trip to the Top
Written by Monica Kulling
Illustrated by David Parkins
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 5-8
ISBN: 978-1-77049-240-0
“The story of Elisha Otis, the inventor of the passenger elevator, is one of creativity, vision and ultimately, perseverance… Kulling’s exuberant account of this remarkable invention has all the lift of its subject and Parkins’s illustrations effectively blend realism with whimsy… It reads like a picture book but leaves us with a clear picture of the science behind the concept.” – Jury’s Comments

Rescuing the Children
The Story of the Kindertransport
Written by Deborah Hodge
Hardcover | 64 Pages | Ages 10 and up
ISBN: 978-1-77049-256-1
eBook: 978-1-77049-366-7
“Hodge presents an unforgettable account of how ten thousand Jewish children escaped from Nazi Germany before the war… The timelines, artifacts, survivor interviews and artwork blend harmoniously to create a brave tableau of both the children and adults involved in this astonishing historical enterprise… The individual stories enrich the larger story with an insider’s knowledge of the anguish of leaving home, perhaps forever.” – Jury’s Comments

Congratulations to the other finalists in this category: Kate & Pippin: An Unlikely Love Story written by Martin Springett, photographs by Isobel Springett; Kids of Kabul: Living Bravely Through a Never-Ending War written by Deborah Ellis; and Real Justice: Fourteen and Sentenced to Death – The Story of Steven Truscott written by Bill Swan.

JOHN SPRAY MYSTERY AWARD

Becoming Holmes
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Final Case
Written by Shane Peacock
Hardcover | 264 Pages | Ages 10 and up
ISBN: 978-1-77049-232-5
eBook: 978-1-77049-291-2
“Becoming Holmes pulls off a remarkable feat: being at once an exceptionally satisfying conclusion to the Boy Sherlock Holmes books and a gripping entry point for a first-time reader of the series… With vivid writing, complex characters and dark plotting, Peacock proves himself to be a master of the genre.” – Jury’s Comments

Congratulations to the other finalists in this category: Breakaway written by Michael Betcherman; Devil’s Pass written by Sigmund Brouwer; The Lynching of Louie Sam written by Elizabeth Stewart; and Neil Flambé and the Tokyo Treasure written and illustrated by Kevin Sylvester.

For the first time ever, TD is partnering with CBC Books to present the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Fan Choice Award. Young readers will be asked to pick their favourite book from the shortlisted TD Award titles in an online poll starting on Monday, September 9. The book with the most votes will win, and one lucky entrant will win a trip to Toronto to present the award at the gala ceremony. The event will be hosted by Shelagh Rogers, host of The Next Chapter on CBC Radio One.

Look for all the details regarding the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Fan Choice Award and enter the contest starting Monday, September 9 at CBC Books.

Congratulations to our authors, illustrators, and to our hardworking publishing team! The winners will be announced at the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards on Tuesday, October 22, 2013.