Tag: “Scribbling Women”

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OLA Best Bets 2011

Each year the OLA Best Bets Committee selects the top 10 Canadian picture books, fiction and non fiction for children and fiction for teens. The lists were announced at OLA Superconference today. Here are the Tundra titles that made the 2011 lists:

Non Fiction:

  • In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps it Up by Monica Kulling, illustrated by David Parkins
  • Honourable mention goes to the Body Works series by Liza Fromer and Francine Gerstein MD, illustrated by Joe Weissmann

Young Adult:

  • Honourable mention goes to First Descent by Pam Withers
  • Honourable mention goes to “Scribbling Women” by Marthe Jocelyn is a noteworthy title (there’s isn’t a nonfiction category)

Picture Book:

  • Honourable mention goes to Noni Says No by Heather Hartt-Sussman, illustrated by Geneviève Côté

Junior Fiction:

  • Honourable mention goes to Stones for My Father by Trilby Kent

Congratulations to our authors and illustrators!

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OLA’s Super Conference 2012

The Ontario Library Association’s Super Conference starts next week! Librarians will be gathering at the Metro Toronto Convention Center and visiting the exhibits from February 2nd to the 3rd.

Tundra Books will be at booth #720 to tell you about our new and upcoming books. You can come by to pick up catalogs, posters, and bookmarks!

We will also have author signings! Be sure to line-up early, the complimentary books will be available on a first come, first serve basis.

Author signings on Thursday, February 2:

Michael Bedard will be signing ARCs of The Green Man at 10:30 AM
Hardcover | 320 page | Ages 10-14
ISBN: 978-1-77049-285-1
eBook: 978-1-77049-293-6
Teenaged O – never call her Ophelia – is about to spend the summer with her aunt Emily. Emily is a poet and the owner of an antiquarian book store, The Green Man. At once an exploration of poetry, a story of family relationships, and an intriguing mystery, The Green Man is Michael Bedard at his finest.

Nan Forler will be signing Winterberries and Apple Blossoms at 12:30 PM
Illustrated by Peter Etril Snyder
Hardcover | 40 pages | All ages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-254-7
The poems and recipes are perfectly complemented by Peter Etril Snyder’s lovely paintings. Winterberries and Apple Blossoms is a beautifully produced book, perfect for gift-giving, or sharing with anyone who appreciates simple, enduring values.

Heather Hartt-Sussman will be signing Here Comes Hortense! at 1:45 PM

Illustrated by Georgia Graham
Hardcover | 32 pages | Ages 4-7
ISBN: 978-1-77049-221-9
The feisty, irrepressible Nana we met in Nana’s Getting Married is back. And what could be more fun for a six-year-old than having your nana and her new husband take you to a theme park? But the fun is spoiled when Nana and Bob announce that they’ve planned a surprise: they are going to be joined by Bob’s granddaughter, Hortense. A perceptive and hilarious exploration of rivalry, there’s a gentle lesson for readers, young and old.

Karen Patkau will be signing Who Needs a Jungle?, Who Needs a Swamp?, and Who Needs an Iceberg? at 2:45 PM
Hardcover | 32 pages | Ages 7-10
ISBN: 978-0-88776-992-4
In Who Needs a Jungle? we learn about its vital role in providing us with oxygen, food, medicinal ingredients, and raw materials we use every day. Who Needs a Swamp? explores wetlands and their importance in the food chain and in preserving our soil and clean water. Who Needs an Iceberg? talks about the shrinking Arctic Ice Cap.

Author signings on Friday, February 3:

Pam Withers will be signing First Descent at 10:30 AM
Hardcover | 272 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-257-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-274-5
Montana-born Rex loves nothing more than to take his kayak out on a river, the faster and more powerful the better. When he gets the opportunity to tackle the well-named El Furioso in southwest Colombia, he is thrilled. He anticipates the river’s challenges, but finds himself in a situation where the real danger is human.

Curtis Parkinson will be signing Man Overboard! at 11:30 AM
Paperback | 160 pages | Ages 10-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-298-1
eBook: 978-1-77049-299-8
During World War II, a German agent landed in Canada from a U-boat. Curtis Parkinson has used this true historical event to tell a fast-paced, exciting story. Sixteen-year-old Scott and his friend Adam find summer jobs as deckhands on the Rapids Prince, a ship that plies the waters between the town of Prescott, on the St. Lawrence River, and Montreal. Scott overhears convincing information that a German agent is actually on board the boat!

Marthe Jocelyn will be signing “Scribbling Women” at 12:30 PM
Hardcover | 208 Pages | Ages 14+
ISBN: 978-0-88776-952-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-230-1
In 1855, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote to his publisher, complaining about the irritating fad of “scribbling women.” Whether they were written by professionals, by women who simply wanted to connect with others, or by those who wanted to leave a record of their lives, those “scribbles” are fascinating, informative, and instructive.

Follow the tag #SC12 on twitter! We’ll be sending out reminders for our author signings. See you there!

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BlogFest 2011

Welcome and thank you for joining us for BlogFest 2011!  We had so much fun last year that we decided to do it again. For those of you who are participating for the first time, here’s some background info from our host and organizer, A Journey of Books:

What is BlogFest?
BlogFest is a blog run of sorts. A list of participating blogs will be provided on July 15, each offering a fantastic giveaway for readers to enter. Each blog will link to another, pulling readers through the fantastic party we’ll have set up for them!

How do I enter to win?
Each blog has their own giveaway and their own rules. The giveaways will start at midnight EST on the morning of July 15th and run through 11:59pm on the night of the 17th. That’s a whole 72 hours where you get to visit as many blogs as you want and enter their amazing giveaways.

This year, you could win the following prize pack (5 books) from Tundra Books:

Stones for My Father
By Trilby Kent
Ages 11+ | 176 Pages
HC ISBN 9781770492523
“The more prominent review media seem to have completely missed this gem from a Canadian-Brit. In quickly evocative prose, Kent creates an immediate and scintillating story of young Corlie Roux, a Boer girl in South Africa during the Anglo-Boer War at the turn of the last century…. Kent has a keen craft and understands her audience, and the U.S. children’s literature world would do well to start paying her more attention.” – BayViews, The Association of Children’s Librarians of Northern California

The Case of the Missing Deed
By Ellen Schwartz
Ages 8-11 | 200 Pages
HC ISBN 9780887769597
“…The Case of the Missing Deed is fast-paced, and full of cryptic clues, secret codes, and red herrings…. Schwartz beautifully captures the agony, ecstasy, and exquisite self-centredness of a 13-year-old girl on a family vacation…. The Case of the Missing Deed is a great summer read for kids who love a good, meaty mystery as much as they love a delicious homemade dessert.” – Quill & Quire

First Descent
By Pam Withers
Ages 12+ | 272 Pages
HC ISBN 9781770492578
“…Myriam is one of the best heroines I’ve found in a YA novel! She has so many layers and depth and she’s strong without being impossible…. Myriam and her family weren’t tropes or stereotypes; they were fully fleshed-out characters who were just living their lives as best they could. The changes Rex went through were really organic – because he spent time with Myriam’s people but also because he finally got away from his grandfather’s poisonous influence…. Willingness to both listen and to alter your worldview when needed are two important things I think a lot of kids need to learn about, and First Descent tells them that in such a way that it never felt like preaching. Which is great, don’t you think?” – Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog

“Scribbling Women” True Tales from Astonishing Women
By Marthe Jocelyn
Ages 14+ | 208 Pages
HC ISBN 9780887769528
“…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

Yes You Can! Your Guide to Becoming an Activist
By Jane Drake and Ann Love
Ages 11+ | 144 Pages
TR ISBN 9780887769429
“…The style is conversational and the tone offers realistic encouragement to teens looking to solve problems. Teachers will approve of the focus on the importance of developing writing and speaking skills, being mindful of one’s online reputation, and learning how to evaluate project efforts … a useful historical perspective of activism.” – School Library Journal

To enter our BlogFest Giveaway:

  • Please leave a comment sharing your favourite book blog! The blog’s name or URL please! One entry per person.
  • Also let us know if you do the extra entries in your entry comment. It is optional! If you’re already a subscriber, follower, fan, and friend – just let us know. You don’t have to re-do it.
  • The giveaway closes on July 17, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST. Entries after this date and time will not be considered.
  • The winner will be chosen by random draw and notified by e-mail. Please read our rules here.

Optional extra entries:

  • +2: Subscribe to our blog using the widget on the top right-side column.
  • +2: Tweet this: I entered the #BlogFest2011 #giveaway at @TundraBooks http://wp.me/priCH-Wn =)
  • +1: Follow us on twitter.
  • +1: Like our page on facebook.
  • +1: Be our friend on goodreads.

Now hop on over to:
165. Tall Tales from a Small Town
166. Taming the Bookshelf
167. Teens Read and Write
168. The Book Garden
169. The Book Nympho

Giveaway Closed! Congratulations to Aik!

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New York, New York

We know that a lot of you will be in New York for BookExpo America this coming week. And who doesn’t love the Big Apple, especially when there are new books involved? If you’re around on Sunday, we would like to invite you to a party! A book party! Here are the details:

When: Sunday, May 22, 2011
Time: From 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Where: Shoofly (Shoofly has been a teeny star in NYC since 1987, the first to showcase European footwear for children. They carry shoes from newborn to big kids, prewalkers to stiltwalkers, walkers to hikers.)
Address: 42 Hudson Street, New York City, NY 10013
Phone: 212-406-3270
Who will be there: Co-creators of Ones and Twos, the mother-and-daughter team of Marthe Jocelyn and Nell Jocelyn! Marthe has created over 25 books. Ones and Twos is Nell’s first!

Please come for refreshments and fun to help us celebrate this beautiful picture book, created by one mother, one daughter, two artists…

Then, there’s BEA of course! If you aren’t able to party with us on Sunday, you can meet our authors and illustrators during their signings at the Autographing Area.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Janet Willen
From 11:00 to 11:30am at Table 19
Five Thousand Years of Slavery provides the suspense and emotional engagement of a great novel. It is an excellent resource with its comprehensive historical narrative, firsthand accounts, maps, archival photos, paintings and posters, an index, and suggestions for further reading. Much more than a reference work, it is a brilliant exploration of the worst – and the best – in human society.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Marthe Jocelyn and Nell Jocelyn
From 2:00 to 2:30pm at Table 19
Marthe Jocelyn’s ability to present important-to-learn concepts to the very young has garnered accolades from around the world. Ones and Twos is her first book collaboration with her nineteen-year-old art student daughter, Nell, and, together, they explore numeracy, sorting, and pairing. Each brightly illustrated page invites children to identify familiar objects ranging from kites to socks, from one nest to the two birds sitting in it. Ones and Twos gives little toddlers and their caregivers much to discuss and to enjoy together, and it introduces an exciting new creative team.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Marthe Jocelyn
From 3:00 to 3:30pm at Table 24
In 1855, Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote to his publisher, complaining about the irritating fad of “scribbling women.” Whether they were written by professionals, by women who simply wanted to connect with others, or by those who wanted to leave a record of their lives, those “scribbles” are fascinating, informative, and instructive.
Many of the women in “Scribbling Women” had eventful lives. They became friends with cannibals, delivered babies, stole horses, and sailed on whaling ships. Others lived quietly, close to home. But each of them has illuminated the world through her words.

Don’t forget to stop by Tundra Books at booth #4431. Alison and Pamela will be there to answer any questions and to tell you about our new and upcoming books.

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Tuesdays with Tundra 10

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

“Scribbling Women” True Tales from Astonishing Lives
By Marthe Jocelyn
Hardcover | Ages 14 and up
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….  Each of these remarkable women shed light on a place, time and experience that would have otherwise been lost. 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. Although many of the women in Scribbling Women led extraordinary lives, the everyday is often filled with exciting, humorous tales….” – ForeWord Reviews

From Then to Now: A Short History of the World
By Christopher Moore
Illustrated by Andrej Krystoforski
Hardcover | Ages 10 and up
ISBN 978-0-88776-540-7
“Moore does an admirable job not only getting so much history in, but displaying how it can be cyclical, a constant succession of societies rising and falling. That premise will prompt much discussion among curious young minds.” – Quill & Quire

Stones for My Father
By Trilby Kent
Hardcover | Ages 11 and up
ISBN 978-1-77049-252-3
eBook 978-1-77049-260-8
Corlie Roux’s farm life in South Africa is not easy: the Transvaal is beautiful, but it is also a harsh place where the heat can be so intense that the very raindrops sizzle. When her beloved father dies, she is left with a mother who is as devoted to her sons as she is cruel to her daughter. Despite this, Corlie finds solace in her friend, Sipho, and in Africa itself and in the stories she conjures for her brothers.

But Corlie’s world is about to vanish: the British are invading and driving Boer families like hers from their farms. Some escape into the bush to fight the enemy. The unlucky ones are rounded up and sent to internment camps.

Will Corlie’s resilience and devotion to her country sustain her through the suffering and squalor she finds in the camp at Kroonstad? That may depend on a soldier from faraway Canada and on inner resources Corlie never dreamed she had….

Merci Mister Dash!
By Monica Kulling
Illustrated by Esperanca Melo
Hardcover | Ages 3-6
ISBN 978-0-88776-964-1
“…Brightly colored acrylic paintings show Mr. Dash at his best…. Generously sprinkled with easily understood French phrases, this well-paced portrait of patience and toleration ends with a satisfying nap by the fire and the promise of a quiet, Daphne-free day. Children will empathize with Daphne and Mr. Dash and perhaps gain an understanding of both positions. A good choice to generate discussion, this will appeal to energetic youngsters and dog lovers alike.” – Kirkus Reviews

Pub Date Giveaway: Start your spring with a new book! Which book would you love to read? Leave us a comment below and one lucky reader will receive a copy of their requested book, courtesy of Tundra! One request per person and please review our rules. This offer ends at midnight on Thursday, April 14, 2011!

Tundra Book Group