TD Canadian Children’s Book Week


TD Canadian Children’s Book Week will take place from Saturday, May 5 to Saturday, May 12, 2012. Twenty-nine English-speaking authors, illustrators and storytellers will be visiting schools, libraries, bookstores, and community centres in every province and territory across the country.

We are so happy to have the following authors touring, here are some of the public readings our authors will be appearing at:

ALBERTA
Rina Singh, author

  • Monday, May 7 from 1:30pm – 2:30pm at the Airdrie Public Library
    111 – 304 Main Street, Airdrie, AB T4B 3C3
  • Wednesday, May 9 from 4:00pm – 5:00pm at the Fort McMurray Public Library
    151 MacDonald Drive, Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5C5
  • Friday, May 11 from 9:00am – 10:00am at the Hinton Municipal Library
    803 Switzer Drive, Hinton, AB T7V 1V1
  • Friday, May 11 from 10:30am – 11:30am at the Hinton Municipal Library
    803 Switzer Drive, Hinton, AB T7V 1V1

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Jan Andrews, storyteller & author

  • Thursday, May 10 from 1:15pm – 2:15pm at the Barriere Branch (TNRD Library)
    4511 Barriere Town Rd, Box 100, Barriere, BC V0E 1E0
  • Friday, May 11 from 11:00am – 12:00pm at the Chase Library (TNRD Library)
    614 Shuswap Ave, Box 590, Chase, BC V0E 1M0
  • Thursday, May 10 from 10:45am – 11:45am at the North Shore Branch (TNRD Library)
    795 Tranquille Road, Kamloops, BC
  • Friday, May 11 from 1:15pm – 2:15pm at the Art Gallery (TNRD Library)
    100 – 465 Victoria Street, Kamloops, BC

MANITOBA
Vivien Bowers, author

  • Thursday, May 10 from 1:30pm – 2:30pm at the Springfield Public Library
    60024 Provincial Hwy. #206, Box 340, Dugald, MB R0E 0K0
  • Tuesday, May 8 from 2:15pm – 3:15pm at the Eriksdale Public Library
    c/o Eriksdale School, 1 School Road, Eriksdale, MB
  • Thursday, May 10 from 1:30pm – 2:30pm at the Valley Regional Library
    141 Main Street S. Morris, MB R0G 1K0
  • Wednesday, May 9 from 7:00pm – 8:00pm at the Pinawa Public Library
    Vanier Avenue, Pinawa, MB R0E 1L0
  • Friday, May 11 from 1:30pm – 2:30pm at the Red River North Library
    303 Main Street, Selkirk, MB R1A 1S7
  • Monday, May 7 from 10:10am – 11:10am at the Transcona Library
    111 Victoria Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R2C 1S6

NOVA SCOTIA
Karen Patkau, author & illustrator

  • Tuesday, May 8 from 9:30am – 10:30am at the Cape Breton Regional Library
    562 Chebucto Street, Baddeck, NS B0E 1B0
  • Wednesday, May 9 from 10:00am – 11:00am at the Halifax Public Library
    60 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4P8
  • Tuesday, May 8 from 1:30pm – 2:30pm at the Eastern Counties Regional Libraries
    390 Murray Street, Mulgrave, NS B0E 2G0
  • Tuesday, May 8 from 2:30pm – 3:30pm at the Eastern Counties Regional Libraries
    390 Murray Street, Mulgrave, NS B0E 2G0

Please come out to support our authors! Details may change, please check the TD Canadian Children’s Book Week website for updates and for a full list of public events.

Guest Post: Jan Andrews

We’ve got another Word on the Street guest post for you! We love how our authors from all across Canada participated and are reporting back! Jan Andrews was at the Kitchener Radio Group’s Department of Canadian Heritage Reading Rocks Tent.

Jan Andrews: Rock we did, all of us, a wondrously varied assortment of authors and illustrators from the world of Canadian children’s book. Kids came to listen with their faces painted or wearing the party hats they had made in celebration of the fact that this was Kitchener’s 10th Annual WOTS. There was even cake. Children’s entertainer, Erick Chaplin, not only welcomed us, he raised his guitar and played us in. And, oh, those children’s librarians from the Kitchener Public Library, ensuring that everything went smoothly, telling us so clearly how much they care. So, another WOTS is over; another opportunity to reach out to one and all with joy and with delight is done. Whoever came up with this idea deserves much in the way of applause for an event I hope will go on…and on…and on.

To hear Jan tell stories, visit http://jansstorytellingclub.wordpress.com/.

The Word on the Street


Have you started planning out your schedule for Sunday, September 25th, 2011? Everyone is excited about the author events, presentations, workshops, and marketplace. We hope to see you at the Word on the Street festival from 11am to 6pm at Queen’s Park!

Here’s a quick glance at our schedule:

TORONTO

Children’s Activity Tent:
12:15pm-1:00pm – Join Nan Forler, author of Winterberries and Apple Blossoms, for a craft activity, make a quilt-inspired square, and take home your own mini wall-hanging! Ages 6 & up.

Children’s Reading Tent:
12:10pm-12:30pm – Ella May and the Wishing Stone by Cary Fagan
1:00pm-1:20pm – Noni Says No by Heather Hartt-Sussmann
1:20pm-1:40pm – Body Works series by Liza Fromer and Francine Gerstein MD
4:30pm-4:50pm – Merci Mister Dash! by Monica Kulling
5:10pm-5:30pm – Juba This, Juba That by Helaine Becker

This is Not Shakespeare Stage:
12:00pm-12:45pm – Mastering the Mystery – How to Keep Readers Guessing
How do mystery authors ensure that their book is a page-turner? How do they keeping us guessing, without compromising the integrity of their characters and the depth of the plot? What are the elements of a great mystery? Join authors Norah McClintock, Evan Munday, and Shane Peacock for a discussion of these topics and more!

Scotiabank Giller Prize Bestsellers Stage
2:00pm-3:15pm – Bestsellers of Tomorrow
The Dragon Turn: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Fifth Case by Shane Peacock
Summer 1869, Sherlock Holmes and his friend Irene celebrate her sixteenth birthday by attending the theater to watch a celebrated magician make a real dragon appear on stage. Sherlock and Irene meet the magician, Alistair Hemsworth – just as he is arrested for the murder of his rival, The Wizard of Nottingham. It seems that traces of the missing Wizard’s blood and his spectacles were found in Hemsworth’s secret studio. But is Hemsworth guilty? Sherlock has his doubts, and soon, so does the reader. The Dragon Turn is full of humor and plot twists as dizzying as a narrow London lane! Author Shane Peacock invites his readers along on another exciting adventure with one of literature’s all-time favorite characters.

VANCOUVER

Authors Tent
1:20pm – First Descent by Pam Withers
Montana-born Rex loves nothing more than to take his kayak out on a river, the faster and more powerful the better. When he gets the opportunity to tackle the well-named El Furioso in southwest Colombia, he is thrilled. He anticipates the river’s challenges, but finds himself in a situation where the real danger is human.

Kids Tent on Literacy Lane (Hamilton Street)
4:40pm – The Case of the Missing Deed by Ellen Schwartz
Five cousins are looking forward to their annual vacation at their grandmother’s cottage, but this may be their last summer there as a mining company has set its sights on the land. Grandma must produce the deed to prove that the property legally belongs to the family, but she can’t find it. The cousins suspect there may be clues hidden in the family’s cherished trove of recipes—but can they solve the mystery in time? Ellen Schwartz grew up in New Jersey before moving to Canada. She has written several books for children, including Avalanche Dance and Stealing Home. Ages 8–11

HALIFAX

Juba This, Juba That illustrated by Ron Lightburn

KITCHENER

Children’s Reading Tent:
12:00pm – Mrs Kaputnik’s Pool Hall and Matzo Ball Emporium by Rona Arato
1:30pm – Rude Stories by Jan Andrews
2:00pm – Sail Away with Me and Our Corner Grocery Store illustrated by Laura Beingessner

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!

A roundup of features with…

Open Book Toronto logoIf you haven’t visited Open Book: Toronto yet, we recommend that you do! They have a great team working on bringing you the latest books news. Last season, they featured some of our Fall 2010 authors and illustrators. Many thanks to Clelia, Amy, Erin, and Nadika for their hard work.

Please click on the links below to read Open Book: Toronto’s features with:

You can take a look at previous interviews here and here. Keep an eye out for interviews from our Spring 2011 authors and illustrators on Open Book: Toronto!