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 LarsenThe 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 François Thisdale; and Virginia Wolf written by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault.

MARILYN BAILLIE PICTURE BOOK AWARD

Mr Zingers HatMr. Zinger’s Hat
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
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… Petričić’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 Geneviève Côté; The Stamp Collector written by Jennifer Lanthier, illustrated by François 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 Trip to the TopGoing 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 ChildrenRescuing 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 HolmesBecoming 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.

Tuesdays with Tundra 31

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

The Pocket MommyThe Pocket Mommy
Written by Rachel Eugster
Illustrated by Tom Goldsmith
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 4-6
ISBN: 978-1-77049-300-1
Saying goodbye to Mom at the kindergarten door can be tough. Samuel hates it and wishes he could have a tiny, pocket-sized mommy to carry around with him all day. His mom slips a pretend mommy into his pocket, and when she comes to life, Samuel is delighted . . . at first. But he soon discovers that having a mom along in kindergarten isn’t as much fun as he thought it would be. Sure, she helps him remember the words to songs and keeps him company. But she also rearranges the bookshelf, corrects his artwork, and tries to clean out the guinea pig cage—all with disastrous (and comic) results. An energetic romp with a sweet core, The Pocket Mommy follows one little boy as he navigates the age-old conflict between the comfort of the familiar and the joy of letting go.

Pandemic SurvivalPandemic Survival: It’s Why You’re Alive
Written by Ann Love and Jane Drake
Illustrated by Bill Slavin
Hardcover | 128 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-268-4
eBook: 978-1-77049-499-2
The Black Death. Yellow Fever. Smallpox. History is full of gruesome pandemics, and surviving those pandemics has shaped our society and way of life. Every person today is alive because of an ancestor who survived—and surviving our current and future pandemics, like SARS, AIDS, bird flu or a new and unknown disease, will determine our future. Pandemic Survival presents in-depth information about past and current illnesses; the evolution of medicine and its pioneers; cures and treatments; strange rituals and superstitions; and what we’re doing to prevent future pandemics. Full of delightfully gross details about symptoms and fascinating facts about bizarre superstitious behaviors, Pandemic Survival is sure to interest even the most squeamish of readers.

HijackedHijacked: How Your Brain Is Fooled by Food
Written by David A. Kessler, MD
Hardcover | 192 Pages | Ages 10+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-503-6
eBook: 978-1-77049-505-0
Ever wonder why you love fast food so much? Or why you can’t just eat a single cookie? Well guess what—it’s not just because it tastes good! The food industry is using three things to keep you eating: sugar, fat, and salt. When you eat stimulating combinations of these key ingredients, your brain is hijacked into craving more—and you are hijacked into overeating.
What is really in a hamburger, a candy bar, or even applesauce? How much money are companies making when you supersize your portion? What is the science behind the perfect cinnamon roll? How are restaurants conditioning your eating habits?
The food industry knows how to capture your attention by designing and manufacturing food targeted at you. They want to get you hooked and they want a share of your stomach. In Hijacked: How Your Brain is Fooled by Food, Dr. David Kessler reveals the secrets behind food production and offers new insights and helpful solutions on identifying misleading food labels in order to break this endless cycle of overeating.

NOW IN PAPERBACK

It's a Snap!It’s a Snap! George Eastman’s First Photograph
Written by Monica Kulling
Illustrated by Bill Slavin
Trade Paperback | 32 Pages | Ages 5-8
ISBN: 978-1-77049-513-5
George Eastman had a new hobby: photography. The year was 1877, and photography was not as easy as you might think. It cost a lot and the equipment was bulky, but George was about to change all that. What he lacked in formal education, George more than made up for in ingenuity: he invented dry plates, film, and the Brownie camera! The rest is history.

All Aboard!All Aboard! Elijah McCoy’s Steam Engine
Written by Monica Kulling
Illustrated by Bill Slavin
Trade Paperback | 32 Pages | Ages 5-8
ISBN: 978-1-77049-514-2
There were few opportunities for the son of slaves, but Elijah McCoy’s dreams led him to study mechanical engineering in Scotland. He learned everything there was to know about engines—how to design them and how to build them. But when he returned to the United States to look for work at the Michigan Central Railroad, the only job Elijah could get was shoveling coal into a train’s firebox. Undaunted, he went on to invent a means of oiling the engine while the train was running, changing the face of travel around the world.

In the Bag!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
Known as Mattie, she was different from most American girls living in 1850. She loved to make things with wood and made the best kites and sleds in town. Her father died when she was only three and by the time she was twelve she was working at the local cotton mill, alongside her two older brothers. One day she saw a worker get injured by a shuttle which had come loose from the giant loom, and the accident inspired her to invent a stop-motion device. It was to be the first of her many inventions. Margaret devoted her life to inventing, and is best known for the clever, practical, paper bag. When she died in 1914 she had ninety inventions to her name and over twenty patents, astounding accomplishments for a woman of her day.

Alien InvadersAlien Invaders: Species That Threaten Our World
Written by Jane Drake and Ann Love
Illustrated by Mark Thurman
Trade Paperback | 56 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-512-8
From killer toads, feral felines, and brown tree snakes to multiple invaders in the Great Lakes and Lake Victoria, Alien Invaders explores the impact on our ecosystems of the wave after wave of invaders and why they have become a worldwide concern. Environmentalists Jane Drake and Ann Love take us on a journey from the days of sailing ships and shipboard rats to the fungus that sparked the Irish potato famine to the beautiful but deadly purple loosestrife strangling native wetlands, while presenting the concepts of biodiversity and endangered species. Learn where the invaders originate, how they travel, what they displace, why the invaded natural system is vulnerable, and what can be done. Discover if you are an invader or a saver and how you can help.

Pub Date Giveaway: In the comments below, please tell us which new August 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, August 12, 2013!

UPDATE: A winner has been chosen!

2013/2014 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Awards Nominations

Hackmatack
The nominations are in for the 2013/2014 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Awards and we are happy to say that Tundra has two nominated books! They are:

Going Up - Elisha Otis Trip to the TopGoing 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
A short, fully illustrated biography in the award-winning Great Idea Series, about the man who invented the elevator – Elisha Otis – the man who enabled the high-rise and other feats of modern architecture.

Rescuing the ChildrenRescuing the Children
The Story of the Kindertransport

Written by Deborah Hodge
Hardcover | 64 Pages | Ages 10+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-256-1
This important book tells the story of how ten thousand Jewish children were rescued out of Nazi Europe just before the outbreak of World War 2. They were saved by the Kindertransport — a rescue mission that transported the children (or Kinder) from Nazi-ruled countries to safety in Britain.

The Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award is an Atlantic Canadian book award which allows children to choose their favourite Canadian and Atlantic Canadian books. The children will read from a selection of forty books divided in four categories: English Fiction, English Non-fiction, French Fiction, and French Non-fiction, chosen for their literary, cultural and enjoyment factors.

Information Book Award

Six of Tundra’s titles have made it onto the Preliminary List for the 2013 Information Book Award! Congratulations to our authors and illustrators!

Going Up - Elisha Otis Trip to the TopGoing 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
eBook: 978-1-77049-367-4
“…Kulling gives lesser-known inventor Elisha Otis a lift in this latest entry into the Great Idea series…. [T]his picture-book biography gives a lively account of Otis’ world-changing invention. Caricatured expressions set against detailed backdrops add playfulness to the informative text.” — Booklist

Who Needs a Jungle? Who Needs a Swamp? Who Needs an Iceberg
Ecosystem Series
Written by Karen Patkau
Hardcover | 32 Pages Each | Ages 7-10
Who Needs a Jungle? ISBN: 978-0-88776-992-4
Who Needs a Swamp? ISBN: 978-0-88776-991-7
Who Needs an Iceberg? ISBN: 978-0-88776-993-1

Oscar PetersonOscar Peterson
The Man and His Jazz

Written by Jack Batten
Hardcover | 192 Pages | Ages 10+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-269-1
eBook: 978-1-77049-362-9
“If you are looking for a solid biography for middle schoolers of the man who was arguably the top jazz pianist for over twenty years and among the best for the rest of his life, then look no further than this book…. Batten makes the reader unfamiliar with songs run to the web to listen for the first time….” – VOYA Magazine

Rescuing the ChildrenRescuing the Children
The Story of the Kindertransport

Written by Deborah Hodge
Hardcover | 64 Pages | Ages 10+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-256-1
eBook: 978-1-77049-366-7
“…Neither melodramatic nor sentimental, the simple, accessible prose reveals the historical realities of how ‘non-Jewish children [were] taught to love Hitler and to hate Jews,’ along with the heartbreak of saying good-bye and the fact that most of the rescued would never see their parents again…. Even with all the books out there about the Kindertransport, readers will grab this exemplary title for historical research and for personal reading.” — Starred Review, Booklist

The Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award is given to a book that arouses interest, stimulates curiosity, captures the imagination, and fosters concern for the world around us. The award’s aim is to recognize excellence in Canadian publishing of non-fiction for children. The criteria include accuracy, clarity, imaginative approach, appropriateness of organization and format, and sensitivity to ethnocentric and gender biases.