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“Poppa,” I whisper, “why are you crying?”
“I am remembering,” he says. “A war is something you never forget.”
“Elephants never forget,” I tell him.
“Then let’s be elephants,” he says.
A soft rain falls as a bugler trumpets his notes up into the cold, gray sky. We link our hands and bow our heads.
The Ontario Library Association hosted another successful Forest of Reading Festival of Trees at the Harbourfront Centre on May 11 and 12th. It is always one of our highlights of the year to see hundreds of readers cheer for their favourite books.
As usual, the yellow school buses line up along Queens Quay West after delivering students from all over Ontario to the festival.
Tundra went in with four nominated titles this year. In the Blue Spruce category, we have Jane Barclay and Renné Benoit’s Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion. Can you spot Jane Barclay on stage? She’s the author taking a photograph of the audience.
Congratulations to Dave Whamond, My Think-A-Ma-Jink was named the winner of the Blue Spruce Award.
Another rewarding parts of the festival are the author and illustrator signings. Just look at the number of readers lining up!
We found Monica Kulling signing autograph sheets and copies of It’s a Snap! George Eastman’s First Photo, illustrated by Bill Slavin. Bill wasn’t able to attend, but he and Esperança Melo lent Monica their Brownie camera (made by George Eastman) to show all the kids.
Congratulations to Ashley Spires, Binky the Space Cat won the Silver Birch Award – Express category!
Ann Love and Jane Drake were there to sign Talking Tails: The Incredible Connection Between People and Their Pets. Their book was nominated for the Silver Birch Award – Nonfiction.
Congratulations to Valerie Wyatt and Fred Rix, their book How to Build Your Own Country was named the winner!
S&B Books also had a tent to sell all the nominated titles. They are the official sponsor and wholesaler for the Forest of Reading program.
We also noticed that the children could leave little notes and messages for their favourite authors and illustrators. Very cool idea!
Thank you to all the organizers, volunteers, authors, illustrators, teachers, and students for all their work! Again, congratulations to all the authors and illustrators! Until next year!
Yesterday, the Ontario Library Association revealed the short-listed nominated titles for the 2011 Forest of Reading®. All nominated titles have been posted on the Reading Program page of the OLA website, which you can visit at http://www.accessola.com/reading.
Tundra would like to congratulate Jane Barclay, Renné Benoit, Monica Kulling, Bill Slavin, Ann Love, Jane Drake, and Nancy Hartry!
Blue Spruce Award (JK-Grade 2)
Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion
By Jane Barclay
Illustrated by Renné Benoit
ISBN 978-88776-951-1
Hardcover
24 Pages
“…Barcaly has taken on an important topic in an effective and touching way…. The text is complemented beautifully with Benoit’s artwork rendered in watercolours and gouache. The gentle wash of colours is soft and expressive, with the red poppies making an impression….” – CM Magazine
Silver Birch Award – Express (Grades 2-4)
It’s a Snap! George Eastman’s First Photograph
By Monica Kulling
Illustrated by Bill Slavin
ISBN 978-88776-881-1
Hardcover
32 Pages
“…Love the story, the history and the illustrations. We had a great time reading it together and talking about how much cameras have changed. It’s great to look at our past to see how far we’ve come….” – The Book Broads
Silver Birch Award – Nonfiction (Grades 4-6)
Talking Tails: The Incredible Connection Between People and Their Pets
By Ann Love and Jane Drake
Illustrated by Bill Slavin
ISBN 978-88776-884-2
Hardcover
80 Pages
“…Written in what might be described as an infectiously friendly fashion, with an ample array of narrative … and plentifully illustrated with witty watercolours by the irrepressible Bill Slavin, Talking Tails will appeal to those who are contemplating having a pet in their lives, or those who just want affirmation of the rightness of their choice of pet – and perhaps more information about the cat, dog or leopard gecko they dote on.” – The Globe and Mail
Golden Oak Award (Adult Learners)
Watching Jimmy
By Nancy Hartry
ISBN 978-88776-871-2
Hardcover
160 Pages
“…Nancy Hartry’s observant, smart, and iconoclastic narrator floats the story over the surface of a despair which often threatens to engulf the characters, but somehow never does….” – Canadian Literature
The Festival of Trees™ will be taking place on May 11-12, 2011 at the Harbourfront Centre. We’ll be there to cheer on our authors and illustrators!
The winners of the 2010 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award were announced today. As usual, we were all invited to attend the ceremony at the school. The winners were selected by two juries: students in grades 3 and 4 chose the children’s picture book winner and students in grades 7 and 8 picked the young adult/middle reader award winner.
Congratulations to our authors and illustrator!
Winner of the Children’s Picture Book Award Category
Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion
Written by Jane Barclay
Illustrated by Renné Benoit
Winner of the Young Adult/Middle Reader Book Award Category
Vanishing Girl: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His 3rd Case
Written by Shane Peacock
Renné Benoit and Jane Barclay get their pictures taken with the grade 3 and 4 students and the awards committee:
Shane Peacock with the grade 7 and 8 student jurors:
Renné, Jane, and Shane stayed to sign books for the students:
Not to break tradition, there were cupcake treats at the end of the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award!
Thank you to the Ontario Arts Foundation, the Ontario Arts Council, the Awards Committee, the Canadian Booksellers Association, the students, librarians, teachers, and school principal!
Award-winning author Linda Granfield, has been very involved in a school poppy program, Each One Remembered – On se souvient de chacun, for Vimy Ridge Day. On Friday, April 9, Canadians are invited to make poppies to pay tribute to all of those who served in the First World War. To participate in this program and for more information, please click on the links for English and French.
We applaud Linda Granfield for her heroic efforts on acknowledging our beloved veterans!
Teachers, librarians, and parents may also want share these books:
Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion
By Jane Barclay
Illustrated by Renné Benoit
ISBN 978-0-88776-951-1
Ages 4-7
“…beautifully modulated picture book about war and remembrance…. Renné Benoit’s subtle gouache and watercolour illustrations are perfectly attuned to Jane Barclay’s story.” – The Globe and Mail
The War to End All Wars: The Story of World War I
By Jack Batten
ISBN 978-0-88776-879-8
Ages 10+
“…Batten’s account is a model of lucidity, a good place for a young reader to start. Batten’s clean, intelligent prose makes this highly readable and comprehensible….” – The Toronto Star