In My Mailbox 1

In My Mailbox explores the contents of our mailbox on a weekly basis. This meme is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren, and the idea was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. While we don’t have an actual “box” (more like the whole floor is used), we are constantly getting advances, so we thought we could share them with you. Most of the participants in this meme share the books that they recieved for review. Well, here is what arrived at our doorstep to be sent out to reviewers! =)

Top to bottom:
Me & Death by Richard Scrimger
Mrs. Kaputnik’s Pool Hall and Matzo Ball Emporium by Rona Arato
Same Same by Marthe Jocelyn, illustrated by Tom Slaughter
Eats by Marthe Jocelyn, illustrated by Tom Slaughter
Off We Go! by Beverley Abramson
Which Way? by Marthe Jocelyn, illustrated by Tom Slaughter
Sail Away with Me by Jane Collins-Philippe, illustrated by Laura Beingessner
Nana’s Getting Married by Heather Hartt-Sussman, illustrated by Georgia Graham
The Weber Street Wonder Work Crew by Maxwell Newhouse
Topsy-Turvy Town by Luc Melanson

This book arrived after the top bunch:
Talking Tails: The Incredible Connection Between People and Their Pets by Ann Love and Jane Drake, illustrated by Bill Slavin

Want to participate? For more information on starting your own “In My Mailbox” post, visit The Story Siren!

9th Annual Writers’ Trust Awards

Last night, the 9th Annual Writers’ Trust Awards was held at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto. The following award winners were announced:

  • Writers’ Trust of Canada/McClelland & Stewart Journey Prize
  • Vicky Metcalf Award for Children’s Literature
  • Writers’ Trust Notable Author Award
  • Writers’ Trust Award for Distinguished Contribution
  • Writers’ Trust Non-Fiction Prize
  • Rogers’ Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize

Congratulations to Marthe Jocelyn on being this year’s recipient of the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children’s Literature. This award honours a Canadian author of children’s literature whose body of work is judged to demonstrate the highest literary standards.

In her more than twenty books for preschoolers, elementary school children and young adults, Jocelyn demonstrates a rich versatility with genre, medium and style. She has published compelling narratives in a wide range of genres, including young adult realism, historical fiction, biography/memoir, fantasy and picture books. The emotional range of tone in her work is as broad and deep as her exploration of genre: she writes with equal conviction in the voice of satire, comedy and tragedy. Inventiveness, humour, and a sharp understanding of human nature underlie her work for all ages.

She is a visual artist as well as a verbal one, as her numerous picture books show. Her collage art glories in the beauty and grace of the child’s domain, rich in artefacts, objects of play and contemplation. Her subtle use of endpapers and framing, textured materials, fabrics and found objects – her use of real “kid things” – creates a visual world of identity, interest and choice, showing the creative possibilities and thoughtfulness in the child’s world.

– 2009 Vicky Metcalf Award for Children’s Literature Jury
Deirdre Baker, Julie Johnston and Judith Saltman

Congratulations to all the winners this year! Jian Ghomeshi, of Q on CBC Radio One, hosted the ceremony. He did a great job and kept the event on schedule. From left to right: Jian Ghomeshi, Annabel Lyon, David Bergen, Yasuko Thanh, Brian Brett, Marthe Jocelyn, and Politics & the Pen.

We would like to thank the jurors – Deirdre Baker, Julie Johnston, and Judith Saltman – for all their work. Thank you to everyone who attended the event and cheered for Marthe Jocelyn and gave a round of applause to Publisher, Kathy Lowinger. Finally, thank you to the Sponsors, Board of Directors, Authors’ Committee, and the staff at Writers’ Trust of Canada.

World Animal Day

October 4th is World Animal Day! Celebrate by spreading the word, volunteering, or by teaching a little one about the importance of animals. Please click on the following link to learn more about World Animal Day.

Wild AnimalsWild Animals!
Written by Eduardo Bustos
Illustrated by Lucho Rodriguez
ISBN 978-0-88776-946-7
Ages 2-5 | 24 Pages | Hardcover

Meet some of the most exotic, colorful creatures in the world. From Australia’s koala to South America’s spectacled bear and Africa’s lion. Illustrated in brilliant colors, each image evokes the power of these wonderful animals, and brief informative text will capture the imagination of young children.

Brigadier Gentle HeroBrigadier: Gentle Hero
Written by Judy Andrekson
Illustrated by David Parkins
ISBN 978-0-88776-904-7
Ages 8-11 | 96 Pages | Paperback

The true story of a gentle hero who won hearts and affection for his commitment to “serve and protect.” Brig was a Belgian draft cross, or grade horse, with just the right temperament to earn his place on the Mounted Unit of the Toronto Police Department. Brigadier was a golden chestnut with four white socks, and his size alone was imposing. But that wasn’t why Sergeant Graham Acott chose this horse above all the others with such certainty. The animal’s large, intelligent, and gentle eyes were what struck him. This was a horse, and a partner, perfectly suited to the job for which he’d been bred.

La PrimeraLa Primera: The Story of Wild Mustangs
Written by Ian Tyson
Illustrated by Adeline Halvorson
ISBN 978-0-88776-863-7
Ages 7-10 | 32 Pages | Hardcover

The story of the wild mustang in North America is the subject of “La Primera,” a song written and performed by Canadian folk singer and horse afficionado, Ian Tyson. And it is the subject of this handsome picture book with paintings by equine artist Adeline Halvorson. The rugged wild mustangs still exist, and their bloodlines are traceable all the way back to those first horses and the careful records the Spaniards kept. That the animals have survived for five hundred years, while the world around them changed, is a tribute to their endurance and fiery spirit.

EatsEats
Written by Marthe Jocelyn
Illustrated by Tom Slaughter
ISBN 978-0-88776-820-0
Ages 2-5 | 24 Pages | Hardcover

With a fresh cast of animal characters – and what they eat – the creative team of Marthe Jocelyn and Tom Slaughter has produced another work in their award-winning series for very young book and art lovers. Marthe Jocelyn’s simple concept of matching creatures – familiar and unusual – with their favorite foods is brought to life by the sparkling colors and masterfully cut paper shapes of Tom Slaughter’s illustrations; a first taste of modern art. And the surprise final picture makes a satisfying dessert.

The BirdmanThe Birdman
Written by Veronika Martenova Charles
Illustrated by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko and Stéphan Daigle
ISBN 978-0-88776-740-1
Ages 5-8 | 32 Pages | Hardcover

Author Veronika Martenova Charles read a short newspaper article about the “Birdman” of Calcutta and her imagination took flight. She traveled to India, found Noor Nobi, and witnessed the freeing of the birds for herself. The Birdman is a touching, true story, tenderly illustrated by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko and Stéphan Daigle. It is accompanied by an afterword, diary entries, and photographs of the author’s experience.

Creatures Great and SmallCreatures Great and Small
Written and illustrated by Karen Patkau
ISBN 978-0-88776-754-8
Ages 6-9 | 32 Pages | Hardcover

Join Toronto author and illustrator Karen Patkau as she explores the world of insects, mammals, sea jellies, reptiles, amphibians, birds, crustaceans, arachnids, and mollusks. From extremely large creatures, such as the blue whale, Chinese giant salamander, and goliath tarantula, to extremely small ones, such as the bumblebee bat, dwarf gecko, and fairy shrimp, embark on this informative, beautifully illustrated voyage of discovery. Even the simple fact-filled text is enchantingly presented in the voices of the animals themselves.

In My BackyardIn My Backyard
Written by Margriet Ruurs
Illustrated by Ron Broda
ISBN 978-0-88776-775-3
Ages 4-8 | 32 Pages | Hardcover

Find the ladybug in each illustration, along with a hidden animal, which becomes featured on the next page. A detailed legend and helpful hints on how to turn your own backyard into an inviting place for animals to live make this book a must-have for wildlife and nature lovers alike.

As Long As There Are WhalesAs Long as There Are Whales
Written by Evelyne Daigle
Illustrated by Daniel Grenier
Translated by Geneviève Wright
ISBN 978-0-88776-692-3
Ages 9+ | 48 Pages | Hardcover

Did you know?

  • Whales descend from a hairy doglike land mammal?
  • More than a dozen different species of whale migrate to the St. Lawrence each year?
  • In the early 1900s, there were over 5,000 beluga whales in the St. Lawrence? Today they number between 700 and 1,200 and are on the endangered species list.

The World of PenguinsThe World of Penguins
Written by Evelyne Daigle
Illustrated by Daniel Grenier
Translated by Geneviève Wright
ISBN 978-0-88776-799-9
Ages 9+ | 48 Pages | Hardcover

Did you know?

  • A penguin colony becomes a source of heat in cold weather
  • The colony provides protection from predators
  • The young in a penguin colony form a nursery, or crèches, leaving both parents free to fish together

Have a Happy Mother’s Day!

Don’t forget that Mother’s day is May 10th this year. Tundra celebrates Mother’s Day with these great books:

Mom and Me
Mom and Me
By Marla Stewart Konrad
ISBN 978-0-88776-866-8

All royalties from the sale of these books go to support World Vision’s work with children.

Mom and Me is a collaboration with World Vision that looks at how moms and children from around the world interact with each other, and emphasizes the special bond they share. The overall message for children is: Mom is always there for me and ‘she loves me like nobody else.’

– Editor’s Pick, Canadian Living

Mama Robot
Mama Robot
By Davide Cali, illustrated by AnnaLaura Cantone
Translated by Marcel Danesi
ISBN 978-0-88776-873-6

Mama Robot is a testament to mothers around the world as a young boy discovers what motherhood is really about, and what makes his mama so special.

…this humorous story captures the conflicted feelings kids have towards their parents…. Mama Robot is a perfect melding of text and illustration….

– Starred Review, Quill & Quire

How it Happened in Peach Hill
How It Happened in Peach Hill
By Marthe Jocelyn
ISBN 978-0-88776-907-8

How it Happened in Peach Hill is by turns funny, suspenseful, and heartbreaking as it explores the world of those who peddle hope and comfort for profit.

…a rollicking coming-of-age story that ends with dreams realized in unexpected ways….Readers will not soon forget this unconventional mother-and-daughter team.

– Starred Review, School Library Journal

It’s Illustrators Night

Everyone is welcome to this very popular event… everyone!

Here is your chance to hear about the work of three of our talented members. Come and enjoy Marthe Jocelyn, Ruth Ohi and Alice Priestley as they discuss their recent work. Tables will be set up around the room so that illustrators and aspiring illustrators both can share their portfolios during the coffee hour. This meeting is open to the public so bring a friend!

April 8, 2009 at 7:30pm
CANSCAIP meetings are held at:
The Northern District Library-Second Floor
40 Orchard View Blvd. Toronto, Ontario

Tundra Book Group