The Heroine of 1812

Two hundred years ago, the War of 1812 began…

Laura Secord: A Story of Courage
Written by Janet Lunn
Illustrated by Maxwell Newhouse
Trade Paperback | Ages 8+ | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-384-1

The war between Great Britain and the United States was a bitter one. For two years, from the summer of 1812 to the winter of 1814, fierce and bloody battles were fought.

Laura Secord never thought of herself as brave. She was gentle, shy, and soft-spoken. But she was brave. When American officers took over her home, demanding food, she heard them boasting about a plan that would give them an easy victory over the British troops. Laura’s husband, James, would have gladly warned the British, but he had been badly injured. It fell to Laura to make the grueling trip.

Janet Lunn, one of the country’s finest writers of historical fiction, recounts the tale of Laura’s dreadful journey with fresh detail and masterly prose. Her writing is perfectly complemented by Maxwell Newhouse’s astounding paintings.

For more information about the history, please visit the Official War of 1812 website.

March is Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month! Learn about these amazing women:

The Matchless Six
The Story of Canada’s First Women’s Olympic Team
Written by Ron Hotchkiss
ISBN 978-0-88776-738-8
Paperback
200 Pages
Ages 11+

  • Chosen by Quill & Quire as one of the 2006 Best Children’s Books of the Year
  • Selected as one of the best books of 2006 by CANSCAIP

Silent in an Evil Time
The Brave War of Edith Cavell
Written by Jack Batten
ISBN 978-0-88776-737-1
Paperback
144 Pages
Ages 10+

  • Included in the 2008 Amelia Bloomer Project list for recommended reading

Laura Secord
A story of Courage
Written by Janet Lunn
Illustrated by Maxwell Newhouse
ISBN 978-0-88776-538-4
32 Pages
Ages 8+

  • Selected for the Children’s Literature Choice List 2002
  • Selected for the Our Choice 2002 List by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre

Heart and Soul
The Story of Florence Nightingale

Written by Gena K. Gorrell
ISBN 978-0-88776-703-6
Paperback
152 Pages
Ages 10+

  • Winner of the 2001 Norma Fleck Award
  • Nominated for the 2002 Torgi Literary Award

Emily Carr
At the Edge of the World

Written by Jo Ellen Bogart
Illustrated by Maxwell Newhouse
ISBN 978-0-88776-640-4
40 Pages
Ages 10+

  • Nominated for the 2006-2007 Red Cedar Book Awards
  • 2004 Honor Book by the Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award

Capturing Joy
The Story of Maud Lewis

Written by Jo Ellen Bogart
Illustrated by Mark Lang
ISBN 978-0-88776-568-1
32 Pages
Ages 8-12

  • Shortlisted for the 2004 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award
  • Finalist for the 2003 Information Book Award – Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada

Season’s Readings

Season’s Greetings from Tundra Books! Here are some gift ideas for the book lovers on your list:

A Thousand Years of Pirates
Written and illustrated by William Gilkerson
ISBN 978-0-88776-924-5
Ages 10+
Hardcover
“Gilkerson captures the adventure of the high seas in his illustrations … a testament to his devotion to authenticity. His depictions make the ships and seadogs come to life, creating a richer experience for the reader … a great example of how history can be made interesting to young readers … The popularity of pirates will initially attract readers, but the combination of interesting stories and Gilkerson’s illustrations will keep 9-13 year olds reading the book till the very end, and hopefully beyond that.” – ForeWord Magazine

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Written by Lewis Carroll
Illustrated by Oleg Lipchenko
ISBN 978-0-88776-932-0
All Ages
Hardcover
“… There is something very surreal about the illustrations in this one… If you have an older Alice fan, this would be a great gift book for them … [they] will definitely appreciate the intricate drawings and beautiful faces the illustrator creates.” – A Patchwork of Books

A Star for Christmas
Written and illustrated by Trisha Romance
ISBN 978-0-88776-836-1
All Ages
Hardcover
A Star for Christmas … has family favourite written all over it – the kind of book that will be reread year after year as part of a family family’s Christmas traditions … children are bound to be captivated by the warm, cozy images.” – The Montreal Gazette

The Nutcracker
Written by Karen Kain
Illustrated by Rajka Kupesic
ISBN 978-0-88776-696-1
All Ages
Hardcover
“One of Canada’s great ballerina’s brings the verve, grace and sensibility she brought to ballet to her retelling of Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker.’ An added bonus are artist Rajka Kupesic’s very Russian, definitely pre-Bolshevik era paintings: rich and wondrous they are, with onion-domed churches, horse-drawn sleighs, and a velvet-coated uncle – all this before we even set eyes upon sugar plum fairies and their ilk.” – The Globe and Mail

The Little Toy Shop
Written and illustrated by Frances Wolfe
ISBN 978-0-88776-865-1
Ages 3-6
Hardcover
“… Wolfe has crafted an exquisite and wondrous tale that will warm the hearts of readers of every age. The rich and luminous illustrations perfectly capture the feel of an old-fashioned toy shop at Christmas, transporting readers effortlessly into the heart of one anxious toy bunny and the old man who knows just where the bunny ought to be. Each sumptuous spread tells its own story of love, a little bit of luck and dreams come true….” – Atlantic Books Today

One Hundred Shining Candles
Written by Janet Lunn
Illustrated by Lindsay Grater
ISBN 978-0-88776-889-7
Ages 5-8
Hardcover
“This touching story is about creating a beautiful memory out of very limited supplies, a story of giving from deep within the heart. The language is poetic and deeply textured, the characters real and engaging. In addition, the dialogue is authentic and nuanced, drawing the reader easily into the world…” – Excellent from Resource Links

The Hockey Sweater
Written by Roch Carrier
Illustrated by Sheldon Cohen
Translated by Sheila Fischman
ISBN 978-0-88776-174-4
Ages 8+
Paperback
“….not only sweet and funny, but a wise parable about Quebec and English Canada.” – The Toronto Star

Tales from Outer Suburbia
Written and illustrated by Shaun Tan
ISBN 978-0-7710-8402-7
All Ages
Hardcover
“For those who loved Tan’s surreal and evocative The Arrival, the Austrailian author follows up with a brilliant collection of illustrated vignettes. …this book is a small treasure, or, rather, a collection of treasures.” – Starred Review from School Library Journal

Tundra wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Tundra Book Group