The Toronto Festival of Trees took place on May 14-15, 2014 at the Harbourfront Centre. We were there to cheer on our nominated authors and illustrators! The Ontario Library Association revealed the winning titles and honour books for the 2014 Forest of Reading program and Tundra would like to congratulate our winning author, Susin Nielsen!
The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen
Written by Susin Nielsen
256 pages
Hardcover: 978-1-77049-372-8
Trade Paperback: 978-1-77049-654-5
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
Here’s a short clip of Susin accepting her Red Maple award on stage:
As usual, the yellow school buses line up along Queens Quay West after delivering students from all over Ontario to the festival.
Tundra went in with four nominated titles this year. In the Blue Spruce category, we have Jane Barclay and Renné Benoit’s Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion. Can you spot Jane Barclay on stage? She’s the author taking a photograph of the audience.
Congratulations to Dave Whamond, My Think-A-Ma-Jink was named the winner of the Blue Spruce Award.
Another rewarding parts of the festival are the author and illustrator signings. Just look at the number of readers lining up!
Congratulations to Valerie Wyatt and Fred Rix, their book How to Build Your Own Country was named the winner!
S&B Books also had a tent to sell all the nominated titles. They are the official sponsor and wholesaler for the Forest of Reading program.
We also noticed that the children could leave little notes and messages for their favourite authors and illustrators. Very cool idea!
Thank you to all the organizers, volunteers, authors, illustrators, teachers, and students for all their work! Again, congratulations to all the authors and illustrators! Until next year!
Here we are at day 2 (click here for Day 1) of the Forest of Reading’s Festival of Trees! Today we attended all three Silver Birch Award ceremonies to cheer for our authors and illustrators.
The day starts off with the Silver Birch Award’s Nonfiction category. Mark Thurman is busy watching the presenters talk about the authors. *Waving to the creators of Alien Invaders* Jane Drake spots us in the first photo and then Ann Love does!
Alien Invaders didn’t win, but congratulations to Larry Verstraete, his book At the Edge did!
Next up, Shane Peacock’s Death in the Air was nominated in the Silver Birch Award’s Fiction category.
Death in the Air didn’t win, but congratulations to Robert Paul Weston, his book Zorgamazoo did!
The last ceremony of the day, we had two nominees for the Silver Birch Award’s Express category. Cary Fagan with Ten Lessons for Kaspar Snit and Cyndi Sand-Eveland’s Dear Toni. Will we win anything?
Drumrolls and the finalists are announced, both of our authors are in it! Congratulations to Cary Fagan, Ten Lessons for Kaspar Snit was named a Silver Birch Express Honour Book! Listen to the scream, cheers, and chants!
Wait for it… Cyndi Sand-Eveland’s Dear Toni is the winner of the Silver Birch Express Award!!!
Doesn’t the award look great?
The instant stardom!
Congratulations to all our authors and illustrators, thank you to each and every one of you for coming out to the festival and the award ceremony! Most of all, thank you to all the readers who voted!
The Ontario Library Association hosts the Forest of Reading Programs where readers vote for their favourite books! There are 7 different reading programs, categorized by grade level and age. The 2010 winner for each award is announced at the Festival of Trees at the Harbourfront Centre on May 12 and 13th. Despite the cold weather, the students came to the award ceremony to support their favourite books.
First up was the Red Maple Award! Just look at the audience:
Let’s zoom in to see the authors:
DRUMROLL please! Here’s a video on the announcement of the Finalists and the Winner:
Congratulations to Susin Nielsen, Word Nerd is the winner of the 2010 Red Maple Award! Here she is giving her acceptance speech:
Coming off the stage, readers ask to have their photos taken with Susin:
Readers crowding around Susin to get her autograph! She’s feeling like a total ROCK STAR!!!
Lovely isn’t it? Where will Susin hang this?
Next up was the Blue Spruce Award ceremony, the sign holders were adorable:
Tim Beiser and Rachel Berman, creators of Bradley McGogg, the Very Fine Frog sitting beside Jeremy Tankard (in the blue jacket):
Congratulations to Jeremy Tankard, his book Boo Hoo Bird won the Blue Spruce Award!
Thank you to all the organizers, volunteers, authors, illustrators, teachers, and students for all their work! Congratulations to all the authors and illustrators!
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Trees™ will be taking place on May 12-13, 2010 at the Harbourfront Centre.
The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen
Bradley McGogg
Dear Toni
Ten Lessons for Kaspar Snit
Death in the Air
Alien Invaders
Word Nerd