The 2016 BC Book Prizes Finalists

The West Coast Book Prize Society is thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2016 BC Book Prizes. Congratulations to our finalists: Linda Bailey, Susin Nielsen, Sara O’Leary, and Julie Morstad! Winners will be announced on Saturday, April 30, 2016.

Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize

Seven Dead PiratesSeven Dead Pirates
Written by Linda Bailey
Hardcover | 304 Pages | Ages 8-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-815-0
Lewis is initially delighted with his new bedroom, a secluded tower in a remote part of a decaying seaside mansion. 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. 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, he begins to open himself to the possibilities of friendship, passion, and joie de vivre and finds the courage to speak up. Linda Bailey has won awards across North America, including the California Young Readers’ Medal, the Georgia Storybook Award, the Ontario Blue Spruce and Silver Birch Awards, and the Oregon SMART Award.

We Are All Made of MoleculesWe Are All Made of Molecules
Written by Susin Nielsen
Hardcover | 256 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-779-5
eBook: 978-1-77049-781-8
Stewart Inkster is academically brilliant but “ungifted” socially. Ashley Anderson is the undisputed “It” girl of grade nine, but her marks stink. Their worlds are about to collide when Stewart and his dad move in with Ashley and her mom. Stewart is trying to be 89.9% happy about it, but Ashley is 110% horrified. She already has to hide the truth behind her parents’ divorce; “Spewart” could further threaten her position at the top of the social ladder. They are complete opposites. And yet, no matter their differences, they share one thing in common: they are all made of molecules. Susin Nielsen has received two Canadian Screenwriter Awards and a Gemini Award. She is the author of award-winning novels Word NerdDear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom; and The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen.

Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize

This Is SadieThis 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. She whispers to the dresses in her closet and talks to birds in the treetops. She has wings that take her anywhere she wants to go, but that always bring her home again. She likes to make things-boats out of boxes and castles out of cushions. But more than anything Sadie likes stories, because you can make them from nothing at all. Sara O’Leary is the author of the award-winning series of Henry books: When You Were Small, Where You Came From, and When I Was Small. Julie Morstad’s book How To was a 2013 Governor General’s Award finalist.

Indigo’s Best Books of 2015 for Kids and Teens

IndigoBestKidsBooks
IndigoLights
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 SadieThis 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 BookThe 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 VacuumBug 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 RainOutstanding 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.

InvisiBillInvisiBill
Written by Maureen Fergus
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
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 DwarfsSnow 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.

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Best Kids’ Books of 2015 | Ages 6 to 8

The Adventures of Miss PetitfourThe 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!

IndigoLights

Best Kids’ Books of 2015 | Ages 9 to 12

Seven Dead PiratesSeven 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.

Tuesdays with Tundra 48

Tuesdays with Tundra is a monthly post on our new releases. The following books are available today in stores and online!

This Is SadieThis Is Sadie
Written by Sara O’Leary
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 978-1-77049-532-6
“This award-winning duo beautifully convey the magic that is to be found in reading or listening to a story…. With its leisurely pace and verdant illustrations, this book is a delight for bedtime as well as an excellent story time choice…. A wonderful purchase for all collections.” – STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

“Sara O’Leary and Julie Morstad … celebrate the joy of creativity and the beautiful chaos of imaginative play … [they] invite kids to see beyond what’s presented on the page – to see past the box, the tree, and their own physical limitations and join Sadie on her adventures…. With something new to discover upon each encounter, This Is Sadie is sure to become a favourite bedtime read.” – STARRED REVIEW, Quill & Quire

We Are All Made of MoleculesWe Are All Made of Molecules
Written by Susin Nielsen
Hardcover | 256 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-779-5
eBook: 978-1-77049-781-8
“The psychodrama is narrated by the two kids in alternating chapters, leavened with constant, wry humor that should keep readers chuckling even as the story grapples with serious emotional issues. Stewart comes across as absolutely adorable. He knows he’s a complete geek with imperfect social skills. His disarming honesty about his intelligence and especially about his weaknesses holds the entire book together, allowing readers to take self-absorbed Ashley with a grain of salt as she goes through what her mother terms the ‘demon seed’ stage. This savvy, insightful take on the modern family makes for nearly nonstop laughs.” – STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews

Pub Date Giveaway: In the comments below, please tell us which new May 2015 release of Tundra’s you would love to read and one lucky reader will receive their requested book (Canada only for We Are All Made of Molecules)! One request per person and please review our rules. This giveaway ends at midnight on Monday, May 18, 2015!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Nicole, winner of We Are All Made of Molecules.

This Is Sadie – In Real Life

: One of the books I’m most excited for is Sara O’Leary and Julie Morstad’s latest collaboration, This Is Sadie. It comes out next week, and it’s one of the sweetest stories I’ve ever read.

Sadie is a little girl with a big imagination. We thought it would be nice to see if we could find real-life counterparts to scenes from Sadie’s adventures.

As an Alice in Wonderland fan, my favourite spread is when Sadie throws a Mad Hatter-worthy tea party. This girl is very Sadie-like with her pretty dress and, of course, the bunting in the background (we at Tundra love bunting!).

tea party collageCredit: Genevieve McKeiver

There’s no basket on this shiny red bike yet, but the resourceful Sadie would definitely be able to come up with a solution!

bikes
Credit: PublicDomainPictures (pixabay)

Sadie’s room is whimsically decorated with a mushroom lamp, bunting, and her plush fox family. Who wouldn’t want to curl up with a book in a room like this?sadie bedroom

Credit: piperandpoppies (bedroom); milkmagazine.net (table/lamp – click through the photos); Red Red Completely Red (blanket photo) and Elizabeth Hartman (blanket pattern); Stuffed Safari (fox)

Sadie also builds herself a blanket tent where she can hang out with her foxes and plan some more adventures. This little guy already has the tent and animal pals covered!

tents

Credit: Karen (artmarble)

So cute! I think it might be time to makeover my own bedroom.

If you’d like to see more real-life Sadies, please check out thisissadiebook.tumblr.com or the Sadie pinterest page. And if you have a Sadie in your life, please feel free to email a photo to ThisIsSadieBook@yahoo.com so that you can be added to the website!

Tundra Book Group