At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our authors as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will introduce you to the people behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Tasha Hilderman!
About the Author:
TASHA HILDERMAN graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Saskatchewan. A member of SCBWI and co-owner of a home retail store and garden café in Lloydminster, Tasha has been a panelist and featured speaker at numerous business-industry events, including the 2019 Facebook Communities Summit at Facebook’s Menlo, California headquarters. She is of Métis descent through her mother’s side and a registered member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, and lives with her husband and three children in Alberta.
Fast Five with Tasha Hilderman:
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
I haven’t found the perfect place yet. I’m looking for somewhere sunny (we get over 300 days of sunshine on the Canadian prairies) with the charm and comforts of a European town, lush natural beauty with lots of trees and flowers, all 4 seasons (but winter is only 3 months long), kind and happy residents and a pleasant average temperature of 25°C with a gentle breeze. If you’ve found this wonder, please let me know.
What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?
Tea! I love iced tea and hot tea. I love the smell. I love the color. We actually had a pet alpaca we named “Pekoe” after the color of Orange Pekoe tea. One of my favorite childhood memories is my Baba brewing a pot of Red Rose in her clear Pyrex teapot.
Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
My favorite meal is not a meal, it’s a snack. We have a print in our house that says “Snacktime is kind of a big deal around here.” Snack is fun to say and fun to eat and you can do it whenever you want. But if I had to pick a meal my favorite would be “midnight lunch.” If there is a wedding or a party and they are serving a midnight lunch, I am a happy girl. Midnight lunch is a snack in disguise.
What’s your “dance like nobody’s watching” song?
I don’t have a “dance like no one’s watching” song but I am fond of “singing like no one is listening!” I don’t have a genre, it could be something from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or an 80’s commercial jingle or a country song. And, if my children happen to be not listening to me, they will likely receive the request via song, typically something like “please pick up your socks! [uptempo] I have asked you a thousand times [operatic baritone]. Just do it, do it, do it, do it, do it [youth improv theatre style] pick.. up.. your SOCKS!” [crescendo]. [Fin].
What do you look for in a friendship?
Thoughtfulness, a shared sense of humor, wit, a good listener and a good storyteller, someone I can be my true self with, someone that helps me see the world in a different way.
Books by Tasha:
Métis Like Me Written by Tasha Hilderman Illustrated by Risa Hugo 40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover ISBN 9781774881125 | Tundra Books Are you Métis like me? A group of children of Métis descent share and explore all the ways they celebrate and experience their heritage – enjoying traditional foods like bannock bread and Saskatoon berries; crafting with beads; sharing stories, dance, music and songs. Each child shares a different way they enjoy honoring their backgrounds and weaving parts of the rich tapestry that makes up Métis culture. One child, though, has grown up disconnected from their history, and can’t join in with the others in the same way. But they soon see it’s never too late to learn, celebrate or become a part of a community in which Métis and non-Métis alike can discover the richness of an often-overlooked culture. This rhythmic, jubilant book will encourage young readers of all backgrounds to celebrate their own heritage and learn more about Métis history, and contains back matter including an author’s note, recipe and dictionary to further inspire.
At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our authors as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will introduce you to the people behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Shannon McNeill!
About the Author:
SHANNON MCNEILL is a Canadian author-illustrator living in San Diego, California. She is a passionate advocate for children’s art education and volunteers in her community as an art teacher. She enjoys taco shops, reading aloud, weird plants, drawing in her car and spending time with her family in Southern California.
Fast Five with Shannon McNeill:
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
I wouldn’t mind trying out one of those secret NY Public Library apartments.
What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?
Sunshine.
Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Late, long breakfast on a lazy Sunday.
What’s your “dance like nobody’s watching” song?
“Ãguas de Março” by Antonio Carlos Jobim & Elis Regina is a really good “sing like nobody’s listening” song. I mumble the Portuguese and it’s so beautiful I could listen to it 100 times in a row.
What do you look for in a friendship?
The ability to spend long hours browsing used books after a long lazy breakfast.
Books by Shannon:
Sparkles, No Sparkles By Shannon McNeill 32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover ISBN 9780735270398 | Tundra Books A frog has no sparkle. A poodle has no sparkle. A pigeon has no sparkle. Not to worry! A cape has sparkle, a crown has sparkle and boots have sparkle. Some wily animals decide to hit the stage, leaving the actors without costumes. After the animals get their moment in the spotlight, chaos ensues . . . but luckily there are some chicks with sparkle to save the day.
Wheels, No Wheels By Shannon McNeill 32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover ISBN 9780735270374 | Tundra Books A llama has no wheels. A turtle has no wheels. A cat has no wheels. Not to worry! A skateboard has wheels, a tractor has wheels and a bike has wheels. Some wily farm animals decide to go for a ride, leaving the farmer without her wheels. After the animals go and go and go and go, chaos ensues . . . but luckily there are some truck driving chicks to save the day.
At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our authors as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will introduce you to the people behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Lourdes Heuer!
About the Author:
LOURDES HEUER is a children’s book author and poet. She was born in Spain to Cuban immigrant parents, then moved to the United States in 1984. She holds an MFA in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is an Associate Professor of English at Broward College. She lives in South Florida with her husband, son and three dogs.
Q&A with Lourdes:
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Washington, D.C. Living in a brownstone in D.C: that’s the dream.
What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?
My son.
Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Do you remember any of your birthday wishes from when you were a child?
I do remember one, but I can’t tell you what it was: it hasn’t come true, YET.
Books by Lourdes:
Esme’s Birthday Conga Line By Lourdes Heuer Illustrated by Marissa Valdez 76 Pages | Ages 6-9 | Paperback ISBN 9780735269453 | Tundra Books Esme lives with her grandparents on the uppermost floor of the topmost best building. It’s her birthday. Mimi and Pipo gave her a beautiful guitar. But they didn’t plan a birthday party. Esme thinks this is the way with grandparents. They don’t know about parties or piñatas or birthday cake. No problem! Esme is great at problem solving. With the help of her cat, El Toro, and a LOT of help from her neighbors in the topmost best building, the irrepressible Esme gets the birthday party of her dreams.
Keep an eye out for Troop Esme coming August 2024!
On This Airplane By Lourdes Heuer Illustrated by Sara Palacios 32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover ISBN 9780735268609 | Tundra Books Someone travels solo, two travel as one, three return, and four set out. In this simple and moving book, a young family takes a plane to their new home. While onboard, they encounter all the people you meet on a plane: a bookworm, a businessperson, tourists, crying babies and daydreamers . . . all with their own stories and all heading somewhere special.
At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our authors as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will introduce you to the people behind some of your favorite titles…this week, say hello to Kyo Maclear!
About the Author:
KYO MACLEAR is an award-winning writer whose books for children and adults have been translated into eighteen languages and published in over twenty countries. She lives in Toronto.
Q&A with Kyo:
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Probably Mallorca, on the Mediterranean near my uncle and his garden.
What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?
My cats, sons, books, birds, music, long walks and a plate of pasta. (Sorry! More than one thing.)
Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Pasta. Or: Japanese breakfast. (The meal not the indie band.)
What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to? or What’s your “dance like nobody’s watching” song?
Laughter. And the ability to spin through every emotion together.
What has been your favorite thing to plant?
Shiso (or “perilla”) from seed. The frilly green leaves are delicious with sushi.
Books by Kyo:
Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli By Kyo Maclear Illustrated by Julie Morstad 40 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover ISBN 9781101918562 | Tundra Books Here is the life of iconic fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, who as a little girl in Rome, was told by her own mamma that she was brutta. Ugly. So she decided to seek out beauty around her, and found it everywhere. What is beauty? Elsa wondered. She looked everywhere for beauty until something inside of Elsa blossomed, and she became an artist with an incredible imagination. Defining beauty on her own creative terms, Schiaparelli worked hard to develop her designs, and eventually bloomed into an extraordinary talent who dreamed up the most wonderful dresses, hats, shoes and jewelry. Why not a shoe for a hat? Why not a dress with drawers? And she invented a color: shocking pink! Her adventurous mind was the key to her happiness and success – and is still seen today in her legacy of wild imagination. Daring and different, Elsa Schiaparelli used art to make fashion, and it was quite marvelous.
It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way By Kyo Maclear Illustrated by Julie Morstad 48 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover ISBN 9781101918593 | Tundra Books Gyo Fujikawa’s iconic children’s books are beloved all over the world. Now it’s time for Gyo’s story to be told – a story of artistic talent that refused to be constrained by rules or expectations. Growing up quiet and lonely at the beginning of the twentieth century, Gyo learned from her relatives the ways in which both women and Japanese people lacked opportunity. Her teachers and family believed in her and sent her to art school and later Japan, where her talent flourished. While Gyo’s career grew and led her to work for Walt Disney Studios, World War II began, and with it, her family’s internment. But Gyo never stopped fighting – for herself, her vision, her family and her readers – and later wrote and illustrated the first children’s book to feature children of different races interacting together.
Julia, Child By Kyo Maclear Illustrated by Julie Morstad 32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Paperback ISBN 9780735264014 | Tundra Books Julia and Simca are two young friends who agree that you can never use too much butter – and that it is best to be a child forever. Sharing a love of cooking and having no wish to turn into big, busy people who worry too much and dawdle too little, they decide to create a feast for growing and staying young. A playful, scrumptious celebration of the joy of eating, the importance of never completely growing up and mastering the art of having a good time, Julia, Child is a fictional tale loosely inspired by the life and spirit of the very real Julia Child – a story that should be taken with a grain of salt and a generous pat of butter.
Kumo: The Bashful Cloud By Kyo Maclear Illustrated by Nathalie Dion 64 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover ISBN 9780735267282 | Tundra Books Kumo is a cloud whose only wish is to float unseen. When she’s assigned cloud duty for the day, she feels overwhelmed by self-doubt and her fear of being noticed. But after learning that closing your eyes isn’t a good solution to your troubles, Kumo pulls her fluff together and does her duties – drifting, releasing rain and providing shelter – meeting some new friends along the way and inspiring the imagination (and capturing the heart) of a small daydreamer like her. Kyo Maclear’s sweetly humorous and lyrical parable about shyness, vividly brought to life by Nathalie Dion’s ethereal illustrations, is an affirmation of the pleasures of community and the confidence that can arise from friendship and visibility.
Story Boat By Kyo Maclear Illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh 40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover ISBN 9780735263598 | Tundra Books When a little girl and her younger brother are forced along with their family to flee the home they’ve always known, they must learn to make a new home for themselves – wherever they are. And sometimes the smallest things – a cup, a blanket, a lamp, a flower, a story – can become a port of hope in a terrible storm. As the refugees travel onward toward an uncertain future, they are buoyed up by their hopes, dreams and the stories they tell – a story that will carry them perpetually forward.
The Big Bath House By Kyo Maclear Illustrated by Gracey Zhang 40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover ISBN 9780593181959 | Random House Studio In this celebration of Japanese culture and family and naked bodies of all shapes and sizes, join a little girl – along with her aunties and grandmother – at a traditional bath house. Once there, the rituals leading up to the baths begin: hair washing, back scrubbing, and, finally, the wood barrel drumroll. Until, at last, it’s time, and they ease their bodies – their creased bodies, newly sprouting bodies, saggy, jiggly bodies – into the bath. Ahhhhhh! With a lyrical text and gorgeous illustrations, this picture book is based on Kyo Maclear’s loving memories of childhood visits to Japan, and is an ode to the ties that bind generations of women together.
The Fog By Kyo Maclear Illustrated by Kenard Pak 48 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover ISBN 9781770494923 | Tundra Books Warble is a small yellow warbler who lives on the beautiful island of Icyland, where he pursues his hobby of human watching. But on a warm day, a deep fog rolls in and obscures his view. The rest of the birds don’t seem to notice the fog or the other changes Warble observes on the island. The more the fog is ignored, the more it spreads. When a Red-hooded Spectacled Female (Juvenile) appears, Warble discovers that he’s not the only one who notices the fog. Will they be able to find others who can see it too? And is the fog here to stay? Kyo Maclear’s witty story, brought to life with the delicate, misty artwork of Kenard Pak, is a poignant yet humorous reminder of the importance of environmental awareness.
The Good Little Book Written by Kyo Maclear Illustrated by Marion Arbona 40 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover ISBN 9781770494510 | Tundra Books While banished to a dusty study one day “to think things over”, a boy pulls a book off a shelf and with great reluctance begins to read. As the afternoon passes, the story nabs him and carries him away. Before long, this good little book becomes his loyal companion, accompanying him everywhere … until, one day, the book is lost. Will this bad little boy get back his good little book? Will the good little book survive on its own without a proper jacket? A quirky, enchanting tale of literary love and loss – and love found again – that will win the heart of even the most reluctant reader.
The Liszts Written by Kyo Maclear Illustrated by Julia Sarda 40 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover ISBN 9781770494961 | Tundra Books The Liszts make lists. They make lists most usual and lists most unusual. They make lists in winter, spring, summer and fall. They make lists every day except Sundays, which are listless. Mama Liszt, Papa Liszt, Winifred, Edward, Frederick and Grandpa make lists all day long. So does their cat. Then one day a visitor arrives. He’s not on anyone’s list. Will the Liszts be able to make room on their lists for this new visitor? How will they handle something unexpected arising? Kyo Maclear’s quirky, whimsical story, perfectly brought to life with the witty, stylish illustrations of Júlia Sardà , is a humorous and poignant celebration of spontaneity.
Yak and Dove Written by Kyo Maclear Illustrated by Esmé Shapiro 56 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover ISBN 9781770494947 | Tundra Books Friends Yak and Dove are complete opposites. Yak is large and Dove is small. Yak has fur and Dove has feathers. Yak is polite. Dove is ill-mannered. Yak likes quiet. Dove likes noise. One day as Yak and Dove list their differences they come to the conclusion that maybe they aren’t meant to be friends. In the hope of finding a new best friend, Yak holds auditions. But when a small feathered contestant sings Yak’s favorite song, the two begin to think that maybe they are alike after all . . .
