Tag: “Scribbling Women”

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Finalists for the 2012 Canadian Children’s Book Centre Awards

The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) has announced the finalists for its seven major children’s book awards – the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, John Spray Mystery Award, and the inaugural Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy.

The nominated books exemplify some of the best work by Canadian authors and illustrators. The following Tundra titles have been shortlisted:

TD CANADIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AWARD

The Dragon Turn
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Fifth Case
Written by Shane Peacock
Hardcover | Ages 10-14 | 240 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-231-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-273-8
“With a trail of clues, a cast of shady characters, and even a hint of romance, The Dragon Turn has more twists and turns than a carnival ride and will keep readers guessing until its satisfying conclusion… Peacock is a master storyteller, and his richly imagined details of murder, revenge, betrayal, theatre, magic and exotic dragons combine to create an absolute page-turner of a book.” – Jury Comments

Stones for My Father
Written by Trilby Kent
Hardcover | Ages 11+ | 176 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-252-3
eBook: 978-1-77049-260-8
“In her powerful and compelling novel set during the Boer War, Kent explores friendship, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit… Corlie Roux is a fascinating, complex heroine, and Kent’s willingness to present her and her situation unblinkingly is a gift to us all… At times raw, but always gripping, this novel packs an emotional punch.” – Jury Comments

Congratulations to the other finalists in this category: Deborah Ellis (No Ordinary Day); Susan Hughes (Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World); and Andrea Spalding and Pascal Milelli (Seal Song).

NORMA FLECK AWARD FOR CANADIAN CHILDREN’S NON-FICTION

“Scribbling Women”
True Tales from Astonishing Lives
Written by Marthe Jocelyn
Hardcover | Ages 14+ | 208 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-88776-952-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-230-1
“This beautifully written text evokes women’s private lives down through history as revealed in their own, often astonishing, words… Well researched, informative and engaging… Jocelyn engages the reader’s imagination through her accessible language, attention to historical detail, creative description and narrative skill.” – Jury Comments

Congratulations to the other finalists in this category: Rafal Gerszak, Dawn Hunter, and Rafal Gerszak (Beyond Bullets: A Photo Journal of Afghanistan); Dora Lee and Margot Thompson (Biomimicry: Inventions Inspired by Nature); Susan Vande Griek and Karen Reczuch (Loon); and Susan Hughes (Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World).

JOHN SPRAY MYSTERY AWARD

The Case of the Missing Deed
Written by Ellen Schwartz
Hardcover | Ages 8-11 | 200 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-88776-959-7
eBook: 978-1-77049-267-7
“A delightful mystery for children ten and up… Schwartz mixes tricky codes, ciphers with facts and interesting characters… The theme of environmental protection is well explained and the clues to the mystery are ingeniously sprinkled throughout a packet of recipes… Good dialogue, well-differentiated characters and a wholesome setting complete this old-fashioned mystery.” – Jury Comments

The Dragon Turn
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Fifth Case
Written by Shane Peacock
Hardcover | Ages 10-14 | 240 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-231-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-273-8
“Peacock flawlessly recreates the London of the Victorian era… Readers feel as if they are walking along with the young Sherlock Holmes as he begins to awaken to his prodigious skills and fights to figure out how a magician can make a dragon appear… and disappear… Beautifully written with whip-smart dialogue.” – Jury Comments

Congratulations to the other finalists in this category: Rob Mills (Charlie’s Key); Edeet Ravel (Held); and Deborah Ellis (True Blue).

Congratulations to our authors and to our hardworking publishing team! The winners will be announced at The TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards later this fall, see you then!

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2012 Nautilus Award Winners

We are happy to announce that the following Tundra titles have won a 2012 Nautilus Award:

Gold Winner in Mid-Grade/Teen Fiction
Stones for My Father
Written by Trilby Kent
Hardcover | Ages 11+ | 176 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-252-3
eBook: 978-1-77049-260-8
“This meticulously researched novel about a white Afrikaner girl caught up in the Boer War at the turn of the 19th century brings to light a hitherto overlooked aspect of South African history.” – School Library Journal

Gold Winner in Mid-Grade/Teen Non-Fiction
Five Thousand Years of Slavery
Written by Marjorie Gann and Janet Willen
Hardcover | Ages 11+ | 176 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-88776-914-6
eBook: 978-1-77049-151-9
“Five Thousand Years of Slavery is a balanced masterpiece of information and motivational text. This in-dept text is rich yet reads like a story…. The authors are to be complimented both for their attention to detail and tone. This book handles the controversial topic of slavery with honesty … this text is an invaluable resource. Designed to inform, it provides accurate and balanced information allowing the reader to both understand and identify the issue. This text would be well-suited for any project in the Social Sciences and History curriculum.” – Resource Links

Silver Winner in Children’s Illustration
The White Ballets
Retold by Rajka Kupesic
Illustrated by Rajka Kupesic
Hardcover | All Ages | 40 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-88776-923-8
“In The White Ballets, Rajka Kupesic retells the stories of the best-loved of all ballets – Giselle, La Bayadère, and Swan Lake. Known as the White Ballets, they each tell stories of ethereal maidens costumed in floating white, who seem to be lovely creatures suspended somewhere between heaven and earth….” – The Calgary Sun

Silver Winner in Children’s Illustration
Winterberries and Apple Blossoms: Reflections and Flavors of a Mennonite Year
Written by Nan Forler
Illustrated by Peter Ertil Snyder
Hardcover | All Ages | 40 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-254-7
“The rhythms of the Old Order Mennonite way of life are inextricably tied to faith, the land and the changing seasons. You don’t have to drive too far beyond the outskirts of Waterloo to see it in practice. This ‘simple’ country life is what author Nan Forler and artist Peter Etril Snyder, both of Waterloo, capture so well in this book…. Together, Forler and Snyder offer readers of all ages a glimpse into Naomi’s world — by way of a poem and painting for each month of the calendar year…” – The Waterloo Region Record

Silver Winner in Mid-Grade/Teen Fiction
First Descent
Written by Pam Withers
Hardcover | Ages 12+ | 272 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-257-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-274-5
Paperback: 978-1-77049-412-1
“…From the first page, when Rex hears a crack of river ice, sees an eight-year-old in peril, and enacts a dramatic rescue in which he must out-paddle an advancing mountain of ice, Withers flings the reader from one perilous adventure to another….” – Booklist

Silver Winner in Mid-Grade/Teen Fiction
The Dragon Turn: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Fifth Case
Written by Shane Peacock
Hardcover | Ages 10-14 | 240 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-231-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-273-8
Paperback: 978-1-77049-411-4
“…Shane Peacock delivers another intriguing novel exploring the boy detective…. In The Dragon Turn, he attempts to unravel the mystery of a magician’s illusion, which has apparently caused the death of a rival magician … the Canadian-made Sherlock has a real feeling for Victorian London.” – Winnipeg Free Press

Silver Winner in Mid-Grade/Teen Non-Fiction
“Scribbling Women”
True Tales from Astonishing Lives
Written by Marthe Jocelyn
Hardcover | Ages 14+ | 208 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-88776-952-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-230-1
“…eye-opening work…. Jocelyn does a masterful job of putting each writer in context and uses excerpts from their writing to carry the pieces… it is the words that resonate here.” – Booklist

The Nautilus Awards recognizes Books and Audio Books with distinguished literary and heartfelt contributions to spiritual growth, conscious living, high-level wellness, green values, responsible leadership, and positive social change as well as to the worlds of art, creativity, and inspirational reading for children, teens and young adults. For more information, please visit http://www.nautilusbookawards.com/.

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Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards Nominations

Congratulations to Marthe Jocelyn, “Scribbling Women” has been short listed for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards in the Young Adult / Middle Reader category!

“Scribbling Women”
True Tales from Astonishing Lives
Written by Marthe Jocelyn
Hardcover | 208 Pages
Ages: 14+
ISBN: 978-0-88776-952-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-230-1

If you want to read what others thought about “Scribbling Women,” check out all the links from the blog tour.

Toronto-born MARTHE JOCELYN is the award-winning author and illustrator of over twenty books. Her picture book Hannah’s Collections was short-listed for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Illustration. Her novel Mable Riley won the inaugural TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. Marthe Jocelyn is the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Vicky Metcalf Award for her body of work.

About the Award
The award, made possible by the Ruth Schwartz Foundation, is presented annually to the authors/illustrators of two outstanding works of Canadian children’s literature – a picture book and a young-adult/middle-reader title.

Ruth Schwartz was a respected Toronto bookseller who ran a bookstore in the Park Plaza Hotel. She made a special effort to promote Canadian-authored children’s books. In 1976, after Ruth Schwartz’s death, her sister, Sylvia, established an award in her name. In honour of the late Sylvia Schwartz, the family recently added her name to the award. The award is administered jointly – the Ontario Arts Council oversees the jury process and publicizes the award and the Ontario Arts Foundation publicizes the award.

The 2012 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards will be judged by a panel of students from a school from the Parkdale area who are representative of the general school population and have demonstrated a strong interest in reading.

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2011 Finalists for the Book of the Year Award

ForeWord Reviews‘ Book of the Year Awards were established to bring increased attention to librarians and booksellers of the literary and graphic achievements of independent publishers and their authors.

Here is a list of the 2011 Tundra Finalists in their respective categories:

Young Adult Nonfiction Category:
“Scribbling Women” True Tales from Astonishing Lives
by Marthe Jocelyn
Hardcover | 208 pages
ISBN: 978-0-88776-952-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-230-1
“…a wonderful example of a book that will break down any negative stereotypes about biographies. [Jocelyn]… creates lively, sometimes humorous pieces that blend straight biographic detail and anecdotal accounts about some lesser known women writers in history…. Not only does Jocelyn share extraordinary stories about these women, but her piece also celebrates writers of all kinds, inspiring young adults, particularly girls, to value their own voices and experiences by writing through whatever means they choose….” – ForeWord Reviews

Young Adult Fiction Category:
First Descent
by Pam Withers
Hardcover | 272 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-257-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-274-5
“…From the first page, when Rex hears a crack of river ice, sees an eight-year-old in peril, and enacts a dramatic rescue in which he must out-paddle an advancing mountain of ice, Withers flings the reader from one perilous adventure to another….” – Booklist

Young Adult Nonfiction Category:
Five Thousand Years of Slavery
by Marjorie Gann and Janet Willen
Hardcover | 176 pages
ISBN: 978-0-88776-914-6
eBook: 978-1-77049-151-9
“This well-researched global survey introduces readers to slavery practices, customs, suffering, uprisings, and revolts as well as antislavery efforts from ancient Greece and Rome to today’s world…. The authors promote global awareness and issue a call to action…. Informative documentary photos and factually rich sidebars enhance the text…. This groundbreaking title brings the disturbing subject into historical and contemporary focus.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

Juvenile Nonfiction Category:
In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps It Up
by Monica Kulling and illustrated by David Parkins in the
Hardcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-239-4
“Third in the Great Idea series, this concise introduction to trailblazing American inventor … reveals a woman committed to living life on her own terms, unafraid to fight for her successes. In clean, straightforward prose, Kulling explains how Knight’s interest in and knack for machines was present even at a young age…. Paired with Parkins’s detailed and handsome pen-and-ink illustrations, the book focuses on Knight’s invention of a paper bag–manufacturing machine and her legal fight to protect her creation after her idea was stolen.” – Publishers Weekly

Juvenile Fiction Category:
Stones for My Father
by Trilby Kent
Hardcover | 176 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-252-3
eBook: 978-1-77049-260-8
“This meticulously researched novel about a white Afrikaner girl caught up in the Boer War at the turn of the 19th century brings to light a hitherto overlooked aspect of South African history.” – School Library Journal

Young Adult Fiction Category:
The Dragon Turn: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Fifth Case
by Shane Peacock
Hardcover | 240 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-231-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-273-8
“…Shane Peacock has done his research well. His character makes a very believable younger version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Shane has also accurately portrayed London of the 1860’s. True to the style of the original master, this novel is filled with excellent deductions by the young Holmes, numerous twists and turns and an exciting climax that kept me reading at the edge of my seat.” – Jewish Book World

Winners in each category will be announced at the American Library Association annual conference and on the award website in June of 2012.

Congratulations to our authors and illustrators!

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Kidlit Celebrates Women’s History Month


For the second year in a row, librarian/bloggers Lisa Taylor of Shelf-Employed and Margo Tanenbaum of The Fourth Musketeer are organizing Kidlit Celebrates Women’s History Month. This blog brings together children’s book authors, librarians, and book bloggers from across the “kidlitosphere” in order to highlight some of the outstanding books for young people dealing with women’s history. The site is nonprofit and contains no advertising. Each day in March features a guest post with a new essay, commentary, or review by a different author or blogger. Authors contributing this year include Monica Kulling, Donna Jo Napoli, Jeannette Winter, Marc Aronson, Andrea Pinkney, Margarita Engle, and Karen Blumenthal. Participating bloggers include Betsy Bird of Fuse #8 and Jules Danielson of Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. Interested readers can sign up to “follow” their blog or receive it through their e-mail – don’t miss a single post during March!

Last year, Marthe Jocelyn, the author of “Scribbling Women” participated. Click here to read her post. This year, Monica Kulling will be contributing to their blog. We can’t wait to see what she wrote!