The Word on the Street

Don’t forget, the Word on the Street starts this weekend on Sunday, September 23! Here’s a quick glance at the schedules in:

TORONTO – September 23, 2012

Children’s Activity Tent

11:15 – 11:45 AM
My Itchy Body and My Healthy Body
Liza Fromer and Francine Gerstein MD
Activity suitability: All ages
In their Body Works series Liza Fromer and Dr. Francine Gerstein have taken it upon themselves to think up every question a child could have about their body and answer them in an educational and amusing manner. Each title in the series is divided up by topic and focus on giving all the information a child could want to feel safe and secure in their own skin. Join Liza Fromer and Dr. Francine Gerstein for a fast-paced Body Works Quiz – and test your knowledge about the human body!

1:00 – 1:45 PM
Checkers and Dot and Checkers and Dot at the Zoo
J. Torres and J. Lum
Activity suitability: Ages 3-7
Welcome to the wonderfully patterned world of Checkers and Dot, a sweet and striking series of board books with high-contrast, patterned art for developing eyes, simple but memorable rhyming text for reading aloud, and cute-as-a-button characters! Join J. Lum and J. Torres for a felt puppet decorating and a hat making activity.

Children’s Reading Tent

3:40 – 4:00 PM
Mr. Zinger’s Hat
Cary Fagan is the award-winning author of several young adult novels and picture books. This wonderful new story is about stories, and story-telling, and is sure to enchant and instruct children at home and at school for years to come. This is the tale of a bored little boy, who meets a thoughtful man, and together they build a story. This story within a story is charming and changes both their lives… and quite possibly the readers as well.

4:30 – 4:50 PM
Miss Mousie’s Blind Date
As soon as Miss Mousie’s eyes alight on handsome Matt LaBatt, the water rat, she can think of nothing but how to catch his attention. Should she try to speak, bat her eyelashes, drop her hankie? In front of Mole, the deli-owner, the water rat breaks the spell by insulting Miss Mousie, who retreats to her burrow and hides in shame. When Mousie receives an anonymous dinner invitation, she decides to accept it. But how to dress so her mystery date will like what he sees? In this charming timeless tale, author Tim Beiser shows the reader that love truly lies in the eye of the beholder. And check out Sienna’s review on the WOTS blog!

This is Not the Shakespeare Stage

4:15 – 4:45 PM
Becoming Holmes
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Final Case
Shane Peacock is an award-winning novelist, playwright, journalist and television screenwriter. His bestselling series for young adults, The Boy Sherlock Holmes, has been published in ten countries in twelve languages and has found its way onto more than forty shortlists. He enjoys reading, spending time with his kids, playing and coaching hockey, and visiting schools, conferences and festivals across North America to speak about reading and writing. Shane lives in the countryside north of Cobourg, Ontario. For more information, visit www.shanepeacock.ca.

LETHBRIDGE – September 23, 2012

Teen Zone via Skype

3:30 – 4:30 PM
Becoming Holmes
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Final Case
Shane Peacock is an author, playwright, television screenwriter, and journalist. He likes to write about extraordinary people and create unusual characters. His first book was a biography of The Great Farini, about perhaps the most amazing man in Canadian history, who walked over Niagara Falls in 1860 and invented the human cannonball act in the circus. His novels for young adults have won many accolades. His best-selling Boy Sherlock Holmes series has won and been nominated for 50 awards on their own and been published in 10 countries in 12 languages. His final Boy Sherlock, Becoming Holmes, appears this fall from Tundra Books!

VANCOUVER – September 30, 2012

Kids Tent

4:00 PM
The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen
Canadian Screenwriter and Gemini Award-winning author Susin Nielsen got her start writing for the hit television show Degrassi Junior High. Her novel Word Nerd was a finalist for the TD Canadian Children’s Book Award and won the Red Maple, Rocky Mountain, Willow, and Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Awards. Her novel Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom has received rave reviews and has already been translated into French, Portuguese and German. Susin lives in Vancouver.

For more information about the Word on the Street, you can visit their website, facebook page, twitter, and blog.

Spring Blog Carnival

Hello and welcome to Talking with Tundra! We are so excited to be participating in the Spring Blog Carnival. We must thank our lovely hostesses, Angela from Reading Angel, Candace from Candace’s Book Blog, Lori from Pure Imagination, and Mary from The Book Swarm for deciding to throw this big blog party!

Aside from the giveaway hop, there are different booths for this carnival. Be sure to check them out for activities, challenges, and giveaways! At our carnival stand, you can enter to win the following humorous books:

What do you have to do to enter? Leave a comment below telling us your favourite carnival ride, midway game, or food. Our e-mail subscribers are automatically entered to win. If you haven’t subscribed yet, do so for one extra entry. Simply enter and verify your e-mail using the Subscribe widget at the top, right corner of this blog.

Details: This giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the U.S.A. only. Please read our rules for more information.

Dates: This giveaway starts on Sunday, May 1, 2011 and ends on Sunday, May 8, 2011 at midnight. One winner will be selected and announced on Monday, May 9, 2011 to receive the prize pack.

After you enter our giveaway, hop onto another blog via Reading AngelCandace’s Book BlogPure Imagination, and The Book Swarm!

Read Comics in Public Day!

Saturday, August 28, is the first annual celebration of International Read Comics in Public Day. So pick your favourite comic or graphic novel, go outside, and read! Need suggestions? We recommend:

Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures
Written by J. Torres
Illustrated by J. Bone
Trade Paperback | 96 pages
Ages 8-11 years
ISBN 978-0-88776-934-4
“…Bone’s open art is a wonderful counterpart to these funny tales of derring-do that don’t quite go as expected. His figures are simple and compact, suggesting unexpected power and ability…. Torres’ writing is playful, with occasional pop culture references…. It’s his humor that gives Alison Dare its unique twist. Many kids dream of magical adventures, and Alison’s experiences fill that desire nicely.” – Comics Worth Reading

Alison Dare, The Heart of the Maiden
Written by J. Torres
Illustrated by J. Bone
Trade Paperback | 104 pages
Ages 8-11 years
ISBN 978-0-88776-935-1
“…are packed with action and wit, and I recommend them to kids and adults alike….” – Bildungsroman

Tyranny
Written by Lesley Fairfield
Trade Paperback | 120 pages
Ages 11 UP
ISBN 978-0-88776-903-0
“… This is one of the most moving and important graphic novels to come along in years…. The simple yet powerful black-and-white drawings do wonders in bringing the book’s message to its readers. Tyranny is so important that both younger and older teens will benefit from reading it. Every public and school library should own at least one copy of this amazing book. – Starred Review, School Library Journal

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Adapted by Alan Grant
Illustrated by Cam Kennedy
Trade Paperback | 48 pages
Ages 10 UP
ISBN 978-0-88776-882-8
“This classic has tremendous modern appeal. A complex detective story for the most part, this adaptation depicts the gaslight era of London in all its gloomy grandeur…. Public libraries with an eye to keeping a varied teen fiction shelf should consider this title.” – School Library Journal

Kidnapped
Adapted by Alan Grant
Illustrated by Cam Kennedy
Trade Paperback | 64 pages
Ages 10 UP
ISBN 978-0-88776-843-9
“Grant’s words are clean and gracefully streamline Stevenson’s, while unobtrusively preserving the sense of time and place through colloquialisms and accent. Kennedy’s characters are distinct and dramatic, and his settings, using his trademark greens and blues, are atmospheric and eerie…. This is an adaptation done absolutely right.” – Booklist

Good-bye Marianne: A Story of Growing Up in Nazi Germany
Written by Irene N.Watts
Illustrated by Kathryn E. Shoemaker
Trade Paperback | 128 pages
Ages 8-11 years
ISBN 978-0-88776-830-9
“…one of the most powerful books is a black and white graphic novel. Good-bye Marianne is the retelling of the award-winning novel…. Moody pencil drawings capture the dark despair of that time, of the mother’s desperate, unselfish gamble to save her daughter’s life.” – The Chronicle Herald

Alison Dare Contest Winners

Thank you to everyone who voted for the Alison Dare photo contest! As promised, we are ready to announce the winners today, starting with the entry that received the most votes!

Congratulations to Rosie (who took the photo with her Fisher-Price camera)! Alison Dare Fights Killer Bat was the fan favourite:

Next up, J. Torres was on the fence between Zombies and Cyber World. Since we made him pick, his decision came to Alison Dare in the Cyber World, so congratulations to Lindsay!

Another tough decision as Jason Bone was torn between the two dog submissions, but eventually decided on the Dawgs. Congratulations to Carla!

The winners will be receiving the Alison Dare prize pack: signed copies of Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures, Alison Dare, The Heart of the Maiden, an Alison Dare bookmark, pin, sticker, and a membership card of the exclusive Double Dog Darer’s Society!

Thank you again for all the great entries and to all our readers for voting! We hope you continue to help Alison travel the world!

Vote for Alison Dare

Here are the contest entries to win the fabulous Alison Dare prize pack (signed copies of Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures, Alison Dare, The Heart of the Maiden, plus an Alison Dare bookmark, pin, sticker, and a membership card of the exclusive Double Dog Darer’s Society)! All were welcomed to snap as many photos of Alison Dare as they wanted and to submit it with a fun caption:

1. Alison Dare in the Cyber World
Photo by Lindsay

2. Alison Dare and the Dastardly Doggie Duo: Alison Dare searches the Arch grounds for signs of the Doggie Duo.
Photo by Jan

3. Alison Dare and the Dastardly Doggie Duo: When Alison gets word that the Doggies Duo plans to kidnap the Anheuser Busch Clydesdales she rushes over to help protect them. Luckily, she gets there just in time.
Photo by Jan

4. Alison Dare and the Dastardly Doggie Duo: Finally, she finds the dastardly doggie duo and swings into action.
Hank begs for mercy knowing that he has met his match, after all look what Alison did to his brother in crime, Taylor!
Photo by Jan

5. Alison Dare and the Dastardly Doggie Duo: Alison Dare’s strong left hook has Taylor down for the count.
Photo by Jan

6. Alison Dare and the Dastardly Doggie Duo: Once again the streets of St Louis are safe. Thank you Alison!
Photo by Jan

7. Alison meets the Zombie
Photo by Velvet

8. Alison Dare Saves Cuddlies Trapped in Killer Bat’s Secret Headquarters
Killer Bat has captured cuddlies in jungle, and put them in his secret headquarters. Alison Dare will save them!
Photo by Rosie

9. Alison Dare Fights Killer Bat (w. monkey in background)
After freeing cuddlies, Alison Dare fights Killer Bat.
Photo by Rosie

10. Alison Dare… intrepid, intelligent and itching to solve a new mystery!
Photo by Lorraine

11. Alison… straightening out the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
Photo by Suzanne

12. Alison Dare and the Suspicious Steetlight of London!
Photo by Kelly

13. Alison Dare and the Suspicious Steetlight of London!
Photo by Kelly

14. Alison Dare and the Suspicious Steetlight of London!
Photo by Kelly

15. Let’s Work Together Dawg!
Photo by Carla

16. Bring It On Dawg!
Photo by Carla

17. Up Close With the Big Dawg!
Photo by Carla

To vote, simply leave a comment below telling us which one is your favourite. Voting ends Monday, July 26, 2010!

There will be 3 winners chosen by J. Torres, Jason Bone, and the photo with the most votes (you)! It is quite possible that a lucky voter will win something too! The 3 winners will be announced and notified by e-mail on Tuesday, July 27, 2010. Good luck!

After you vote, you might want to check out these adventurous links:

  • Alison Dare went on a blog tour!
  • The Alison Dare photo album from the blog tour is on our facebook page!
  • There’s also a group on flickr for you to upload your photos! =)
  • The creators of Alison Dare, J. Torres and J. Bone!

Thank you!

Tundra Book Group