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.

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.

Tuesdays with Tundra 23

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

Becoming Holmes
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Final Case

Written by Shane Peacock
Hardcover | 264 Pages
Ages 10-14
ISBN: 978-1-77049-232-5
“And so the end comes to the beginning of the story of the world’s most beloved detective in Shane Peacock’s Becoming Holmes, the last of his boyhood Holmes mysteries. I have thoroughly enjoyed the world of Victorian England from this first person, close up and tangible version of Holmes. The series has courageously woven together famous people, popular myths and the street-level views of London. The mysteries, themselves, contain the illusive clues so reminiscent of Doyle’s work. In this last installment and, dare I say, his final bow, Peacock sets the scene for the man Sherlock Holmes. The story is ripe with premonitions…. Readers who have been captivated by “The Boy Sherlock Holmes” series will find this a satisfactory and hang-on-to-your-seat read. It was sad to know this is the final installment.” – Highly Recommended, CM Magazine

The Bridge
Written by Jane Higgins
Hardcover | 352 Pages
Ages 12+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-437-4
“…the gritty, painfully tense passages describing the ways in which war affects children – teens in particular – are compelling and deftly written.” – The Horn Book
“This grim first novel, set on a not-so-distant future Earth … packs a significant emotional wallop…. Higgins works hard to expose the religious and racial bigotry lurking behind so many military conflicts, and she is adept at showing that, frequently, neither side is without blame.” – Publishers Weekly

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
“… In his realistic, fine-lined illustrations, Parkins both enhances the sense of period and supplies the only hints of how Otis’ invention actually worked. He captures the narrative’s broad, high-energy tone in images of the inventor with eyes bulging, mouth wide open and arms flung out wildly during various Eureka! moments….” – Kirkus Reviews

The Hunting of the Snark
An Agony in Eight Fits

Written by Lewis Carroll
Illustrated by Oleg Lipchenko
Hardcover | 48 Pages
All Ages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-407-7
One of the most well-known creations by world-famous master of nonsense, Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the Snark is a poem whose meaning has proved as elusive as the mysterious titular monster itself. Even Carroll confessed to not knowing who the Snark is or what the poem is about. But one thing about this much-scrutinized work of literature is perfectly clear: this is a tale of high adventure and great wit sure to delight readers of all ages.

Miss Mousie’s Blind Date
Written by Tim Beiser
Illustrated by Rachel Berman
Hardcover | 24 Pages
Ages 3-6
ISBN: 978-1-77049-251-6
“Spring fever strikes even the rodents. And who knows where the heart leads? … Beiser’s sprightly text has warmth, heart, and a valuable lesson. Berman’s pictures, in watercolor and gouache on rag, suggest Beatrix Potter, ably matching the crisp elegance of the story. Wonderful.” – Starred Review from Kirkus Reviews

Rescuing the Children
The Story of the Kindertransport
Written by Deborah Hodge
Hardcover | 64 Pages
Ages 10+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-256-1
“Fitting neatly into primary-classroom units about World War II and the Holocaust, … Hodge’s account … sketches in Germany’s history from Hitler’s rise to Kristallnacht, noting the reluctance of other national governments to take German refugees, particularly Jewish ones…. Then-and-now portraits of her eight survivors, with a mix of period photos and paintings by Kind artist Hans Jackson, provide plenty of visual witness to those dangerous times and the children caught in them. A quick but systematic overview, well-endowed with both visual and documentary supporting material….” – Kirkus Reviews

Pub Date Giveaway: In the comments below, tell us which new October 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, October 15, 2012!

Update: Congratulations to Connie who has won a copy of The Bridge by Jane Higgins.