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With Christmas fast approaching, some of you may be scrambling for last minute gifts. Have no fear, we’ve got something for everyone on your list – even if you don’t celebrate Christmas!
The Museum of Illustration at the Society of Illustrators is proud to present The Original Art, an annual exhibit celebrating the fine art of children’s book illustration, on display from November 1 through December 30, 2017.
The Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held at the Society of Illustrators (128 East 63rd Street, NYC) at 6:00 pm on Thursday, November 2. Tickets are on sale via their website.
Tundra Books would like to congratulate our illustrators who have been selected for The Original Art Show:
Can You Find My Robot’s Arm?
By Chihiro Takeuchi
Hardcover | Ages 2 to 5
ISBN 9781101919033
“Young readers … will pore over the intricately detailed black-on-cream cut-paper illustrations…. Striking geometric silhouetted images invite long, happy perusal (gears and wind-up keys abound)…. Chihiro Takeuchi is a well-known cut-paper artist in Osaka, Japan. Can You Find My Robot’s Arm? is her debut English-language picture book, although she has written and illustrated several books in Japanese. Readers will surely be asking librarians, ‘Can you find more books by Chihiro Takeuchi?'”
– Starred Review, Shelf Awareness
Yak and Dove
By Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by Esme Shapiro
Hardcover | Ages 4 to 8
ISBN 9781770494947
“Odd-couple friendships are nothing new in children’s literature, but seldom is one portrayed with the grace and sly humor Maclear and Shapiro bring to this story…. Maclear (The Liszts) divides the story into three chapters, all told in spare but emotionally rich dialogue…. Shapiro (Ooko) fills her watercolor, gouache, and pencil illustrations with subtle comedy … and excels at depicting the quiet pleasures of being simpatico, when a look between friends says it all.”
– Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
The Fog
By Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by Kenard Pak
Hardcover | Ages 4 to 8
ISBN 9781770494923
“Pak’s digitally worked pencil-and-watercolor illustrations support and enhance this simple parable…. Humor is to be found in the extensive human identifications that grace the endpapers and early pages of Warble’s story, a nod to the habits of bird-watchers like the author…. Reaching out lifts both fog and spirits; it brightens days and nights. A song about sharing that’s sure to lift readers’ spirits as well.”
– Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
Little Blue Chair
By Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Madeline Kloepper
Hardcover | Ages 3 to 7
ISBN 9781770497559
“Illustrator Madeline Kloepper works in a soothing, muted palette and her tender ink-and-pencil style is part Ruth Krauss and part Julie Morstad, with a vintage tinge. But Kloepper also infuses her style with several modern touches: there are diverse characters and families, everything is suspended in clean, crisp white space, and adult Boo sports a hipster beard and baseball tee. The result is a very sweet little marriage between old and new, with magic officiating the ceremony.”
– Quill & Quire
How to Make Friends with a Ghost
By Rebecca Green
Hardcover | Ages 4 to 8
ISBN 9781101919019
“With rosy cheeks, wide eyes, and childlike interests, this ghost is not just not-scary but utterly endearing. A cozy, muted autumnal palette; plenty of visual humor; and relaxed hand-lettering further lighten the punny text, making for a tongue-in-cheek but strangely sweet picture book about enduring friendship.”
– The Horn Book Magazine
‘Tis the season to be merry and bright, so please join Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers in celebrating those who draw and write. Here are the details of our festive night:
When: Monday, November 14, 2016
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Type Books
Address: 883 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
Authors and Illustrators attending:
Solutions for Cold Feet and Other Little Problems
Written and illustrated by Carey Sookocheff
Hardcover | 48 Pages | Ages 4-8
ISBN: 9781770498730
“Solutions for Cold Feet is a rich, engaging book. It will appeal to teachers, as the assignment is evident: students can name their own problems and propose solutions. With many easy entry points for discussion, it’s also excellent for one-on-one reading.” – Starred review, Quill & Quire
The Darkest Dark
Illustrated by Terry Fan and Eric Fan
Hardcover | 40 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 9781101918623
“The Darkest Dark soars as an inspiration for children trying to overcome a fear as well as dreamers wondering if they will triumph. Of course, the lesson here is ageless. The book is beautifully and thoughtfully illustrated by brothers Terry and Eric Fan….” – London Free Press
Hurry Up, Henry
Written by Jennifer Lanthier
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 9780670068371
“Author Lanthier’s quiet text sets a patient tone for this familiar situation that frustrates many young families. The repetition of clock motifs, fanciful flora and fauna, and changes in scale add a touch of magical realism that furthers the book’s emotional themes. This empathetic tale ends with a question all would do well to contemplate: ‘Can we do this again tomorrow?'” – Starred review, Kirkus Reviews
The Liszts
Written by Kyo Maclear
Hardcover | 40 Pages | Ages 5-9
ISBN: 9781770494961
“A family of list aficionados gets an unexpected guest in this offbeat tale…. Reminiscent of the best nonsense children’s books, Maclear’s wry tale oozes pure whimsy. The text revels in offbeat sincerity, wringing chuckles out of juxtapositions and amusing dialogue…. Simply enchanting in all its quirks.” – Kirkus Reviews
Great
Written by Lauri Holomis
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 4-8
ISBN: 9780670069903
“If you have a hankering for hockey, when the Gretzky family weighs in, sit up and listen. This is a sports story about attitude, which can rarely be emphasized enough, because it rarely sinks in deep enough to leave its lasting mark…. Fun and effort trump commercialization and competitiveness every time in sports, and this book tells a plain truth that Gretzky learned early.” – Kirkus Reviews
Yitzi and the Giant Menorah
Written and illustrated by Richard Ungar
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 5-9
ISBN: 9781770498129
“The text, written in a buoyant and playful manner, reflects a whimsical, folktale quality that reveals some of the actual traditions associated with the holiday of Chanukkah. The writing is vivid and engaging. This talented author is also the illustrator of the tale, and the bold, lively colours used add drama, texture and vibrancy to the story but also reflect a time and place long ago.” – Highly Recommended, CM Magazine
Once, in a Town Called Moth
Written by Trilby Kent
Hardcover | 224 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN: 9781101918111
“Kent writes with refreshing emotional sophistication…. As literary as it is smart, Kent’s novel reflects life beautifully in its rigorous denial of pat, easy answers.” – Starred review, Quill & Quire
Please RSVP to rsvpcanada@penguinrandomhouse.com.
Today, the Ontario Library Association revealed the nominated titles for the 2017 Forest of Reading® program. Tundra Books would like to congratulate our nominated authors and illustrators!
2017 Blue Spruce Awardâ„¢ Nominated Titles
The Good Little Book
Written by Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by Marion Arbona
Hardcover | 40 Pages | Ages 5-9
ISBN 9781770494510
While banished to a dusty study one day “to think things over”, a boy pulls a book off a shelf and with great reluctance begins to read. As the afternoon passes, the story nabs him and carries him away. Before long, this good little book becomes his loyal companion, accompanying him everywhere . . . until, one day, the book is lost. Will this bad little boy get back his good little book?
If I Had a Gryphon
Written by Vikki Vansickle
Illustrated by Cale Atkinson
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN 9781770498099
Sam just got a hamster for a pet. But the hamster is kind of boring . . . he just eats and sleeps and gets his shavings wet. Inspired by her book of mythological creatures, Sam longs for a more exciting pet. But she soon realizes that taking care of these magical beasts might not be as wonderful as she thought. Sasquatches are messy, unicorns are shy, gryphons scare the dogs at the dog-park, and having a fire extinguisher handy at all times makes dragons seem like an awful lot of work. In the end, Sam realizes that her hamster is a pretty sweet and safe pet . . . or is he? If I Had a Gryphon is a raucous rhyming read-aloud about fantastical beasts in everyday situations – and the increasingly beleaguered heroine who has to deal with them.
InvisiBill
Written by Maureen Fergus
Illustrated by DuÅ¡an PetriÄić
Hardcover | 40 Pages | Ages 5-9
ISBN 9781770496132
Bill just wanted someone to pass him the potatoes. Unfortunately, no one even noticed – not his mother (a very busy woman with an important job), not his father (a very important man with a busy job), not his very intelligent older brother, not even his very athletic little sister. If someone had noticed, the wonderful, terrible thing that happened might never have happened. But it did. InvisiBill is the hilariously absurd, tongue-in-cheek story of an ordinary middle child who feels so overlooked by his busy, distracted family that he becomes invisible . . . or InvisiBill!
2017 Silver Birch Fiction Award® Nominated Titles
Heart of a Champion
Written by Ellen Schwartz
Hardcover | 272 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN 9781770498808
eBook 9781770498822
Ten-year-old Kenny (Kenji in Japanese) worships his older brother, Mickey (Mitsuo), a baseball hero whose outstanding performance on the Asahi baseball team has given him fame and popularity. Despite Kenny’s suspected heart condition, he is determined to practice secretly with Mickey so he, too, can one day try out for the Asahi.
But world events soon overtake life in this quiet community. When Japan attacks Pearl Harbor in 1941, everything for Kenny and his family spirals out of control: schools are closed, businesses are confiscated, fathers are arrested and sent to work camps in the BC interior and mothers and children are relocated to internment camps. When Mickey is arrested for a small act of violence, Kenny manages to keep his family’s spirits up, despite the deplorable conditions in camp.
Coming across a “vacant” field covered with scrap wood, broken shakes and torn tar paper, Kenny gets permission to clear it and convert it into a baseball field. One by one, the boys in the camp pitch in, and the work gives purpose to their long days. Kenny’s persistence, hard work and big dreams shape the teen he is to become in this story of happiness found despite all odds.
Seven Dead Pirates
Written by Linda Bailey
Hardcover | 304 Pages | Ages 8-12
ISBN 9781770498150
eBook 9781770498174
Lewis Dearborn is a lonely, anxious, “terminally shy” boy of eleven when his great-grandfather passes away and leaves Lewis’s family with his decaying seaside mansion.
Lewis is initially delighted with his new bedroom, a secluded tower in a remote part of the house. Then he discovers that it’s already occupied – by the ghosts of seven dead pirates. Worse, the ghosts expect him to help them re-take their ship, now restored and on display in a local museum, so they can make their way to Libertalia, a legendary pirate utopia. The only problem is that this motley crew hasn’t left the house in almost two hundred years and is terrified of going outside.
As Lewis warily sets out to assist his new roommates – a raucous, unruly bunch who exhibit a strange delight in thrift-store fashions and a thirst for storybooks – he begins to open himself to the possibilities of friendship, passion and joie de vivre and finds the courage to speak up.
2017 Red Maple Fiction Awardâ„¢ Nominated Titles
Sea Change
Written and Illustrated by Frank Viva
Hardcover | 120 Pages | Ages 10+
ISBN 9781101918524
One summer can change your whole life. As soon as school lets out, Eliot’s parents send him to the very edge of the world: a fishing village in a remote part of Nova Scotia. And what does the small town of Point Aconi have to offer? Maggots, bullies, and grumpy old men. But along the way, Eliot discovers much more – a hidden library, starry nights, and a mysterious girl named Mary Beth.
Critically acclaimed author and artist Frank Viva (Along a Long Road) brings us this warm, funny, and innovatively designed coming-of-age story. See Point Aconi through Eliot’s eyes, as he finds that this place he never wanted to visit is becoming a home he doesn’t want to leave.
2017 White Pine Awardâ„¢ Nominated Titles
Fifteen Lanes
Written by S.J. Laidlaw
Hardcover | 304 Pages | Ages 14+
ISBN 9781101917800
eBook 9781101917824
Noor has lived all of her fourteen years in the fifteen lanes of Mumbai’s red light district. Born into a brothel, she is destined for the same fate as her mother: a desperate life trapped in the city’s sex trade. She must act soon to have any chance of escaping this grim future.
Across the sprawling city, fifteen-year-old Grace enjoys a life of privilege. Her father, the CEO of one of India’s largest international banks, has brought his family to Mumbai where they live in unparalleled luxury. But Grace’s seemingly perfect life is shattered when she becomes a victim of a cruel online attack.
When their paths intersect, Noor and Grace will be changed forever. Can two girls living in vastly different worlds find a common path?
Award-winning author S.J. Laidlaw masterfully weaves together their stories in a way that resonates across class and culture. Fifteen Lanes boldly explores the ties that bind us to places and people, and shows us that the strongest of bonds can be forged when hope is all but lost.
We can’t wait to cheer on our authors and illustrators at The Festival of Treesâ„¢ next year!
Indigo shared their best books of 2015 for kids and teens on the weekend and we are thrilled to see our titles on these lists. Congratulations to our talented and hardworking authors and illustrators!
Best Kids’ Books of 2015 | Ages 3 to 5
This Is Sadie
Written by Sara O’Leary
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 978-1-77049-532-6
Sadie is a little girl with a big imagination. She has been a girl who lived under the sea and a boy raised by wolves. She has had adventures in wonderland and visited the world of fairytales. But more than anything Sadie likes stories, because you can make them from nothing at all. For Sadie, the world is so full of wonderful possibilities … This is Sadie, and this is her story
The Good Little Book
Written by Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by Marion Arbona
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 5-9
ISBN: 978-1-77049-451-0
While banished to a dusty study one day “to think things over”, a boy pulls a book off a shelf and with great reluctance begins to read. As the afternoon passes, the story nabs him and carries him away. Before long, this good little book becomes his loyal companion, accompanying him everywhere … until, one day, the book is lost. Will this bad little boy get back his good little book?
Bug in a Vacuum
Written by Mélanie Watt
Hardcover | 96 Pages | Ages 5-9
ISBN: 978-1-77049-645-3
A bug flies through an open door into a house, through a bathroom, across a kitchen and bedroom and into a living room … where its entire life changes with the switch of a button. Sucked into the void of a vacuum bag, this one little bug moves through denial, bargaining, anger, despair and eventually acceptance – the five stages of grief – as it comes to terms with its fate. Will there be a light at the end of the tunnel?
Outstanding in the Rain
Written by Frank Viva
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 978-1-101-91768-8
Step right up! Step right up to the amusing amusement park! It’s a whole story, and the pages have holes! Watch the holes make pictures! Frank Viva’s tale of a boy spending his birthday at the amusement park will amaze readers big and small with astounding die-cuts that transform both words and pictures in delightful ways.
InvisiBill
Written by Maureen Fergus
Illustrated by DuÅ¡an PetriÄić
Hardcover | 40 Pages | Ages 5-9
ISBN: 978-1-77049-613-2
InvisiBill is the hilariously absurd, tongue-in-cheek story of an ordinary middle child who feels so overlooked by his busy, distracted family that he becomes invisible … or InvisiBill!
Snow White and the 77 Dwarfs
Written by Davide Cali
Illustrated by Raphaëlle Barbanègre
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 978-1-77049-763-4
Snow White is on the run from an evil witch when she comes across some dwarfs in the forest. They agree to take her in and keep her safe if she will help them with their chores. She soon realizes she’s taking on a lot more than she bargained for. 77 breakfasts to make, 77 lunches to pack (don’t forget the juice boxes!), 77 pairs of pants to mend and a whole lot of dishes. This is a hilarious retelling of the classic tale, with bright, energetic illustrations featuring busy dwarfs, and the even busier Snow White.
Best Kids’ Books of 2015 | Ages 6 to 8
The Adventures of Miss Petitfour
Written by Anne Michaels
Illustrated by Emma Block
Hardcover | 144 Pages | Ages 6-9
ISBN: 978-1-77049-500-5
Miss Petitfour enjoys having adventures that are “just the right size – fitting into a single, magical day.” She is an expert at baking and eating fancy iced cakes, and her favorite mode of travel is par avion. Join Miss Petitfour and her equally eccentric felines on five magical outings – a search for marmalade, to a spring jumble sale, on a quest for “birthday cheddar”, the retrieval of a lost rare stamp and as they compete in the village’s annual Festooning Festival. A whimsical, beautifully illustrated collection of tales that celebrates language, storytelling and small pleasures, especially the edible kind!
Best Kids’ Books of 2015 | Ages 9 to 12
Seven Dead Pirates
Written by Linda Bailey
Hardcover | 304 Pages | Ages 8-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-815-0
Lewis Dearborn is a lonely, anxious, “terminally shy” boy of eleven when his great-grandfather passes away and leaves Lewis’s family with his decaying seaside mansion. Lewis is initially delighted with his new bedroom, a secluded tower in a remote part of the house. Then he discovers that it’s already occupied – by the ghosts of seven dead pirates. Worse, the ghosts expect him to help them re-take their ship, now restored and on display in a local museum, so they can make their way to Libertalia, a legendary pirate utopia. The only problem is that this motley crew hasn’t left the house in almost two hundred years and is terrified of going outside. As Lewis warily sets out to assist his new roommates – a raucous, unruly bunch who exhibit a strange delight in thrift-store fashions and a thirst for storybooks – he begins to open himself to the possibilities of friendship, passion and joie de vivre and finds the courage to speak up.