Sharon Hampson and Randi Hampson, authors of Sharon, Lois and Bram’s Skinnamarink, will be reading their picture book on Mastermind Toy’s Instagram Live at 10:00 am EST.
Virtual Story Times and Singalongs
Important information for teachers, librarians and booksellers: Penguin Random House Open License Online Story Time and Classroom Read-Aloud Videos and Live Events
If you’re a Tundra, Puffin Canada, or Penguin Teen Canada author or illustrator, and you want to get involved during this time, please reach out to your publicist (Evan or Sam).
In times of need, you can always depend on the KidLit community to band together and help out. Many authors and illustrators are doing live events on social media for kids to tune into from home! We will be compiling a list of our authors and illustrators who are pitching in with virtual events for families to enjoy:
Monday, March 16, 2020 – ongoing
- Emily Arrow, the author of Studio, will be doing singalongs on her YouTube channel at 1:00 pm EST (10:00 am PST).
- Tara Lazar, author of Your First Day of Circus School, will be doing daily Instagram live streams starting at 12:00 pm EST (9:00 am PST).
Monday, March 16, 2020
- Esme Shapiro, the author-illustrator of Alma and the Beast, will be reading her picture book on Instagram Live at 5:00 pm EST (2:00 pm PST).
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
- Vikki VanSickle, the author of Teddy Bear of the Year, will be reading her picture book on Tundra’s Facebook Live at 10:30 am EST (7:30 am PST).
- Ben Clanton, the author-illustrator of the Narwhal and Jelly graphic novel series, will be doing Facebook Live author visits at 2:00 pm EST (11:00 am PST).
Thursday, March 19, 2020
- Sharon Hampson and Randi Hampson, two of the authors of Sharon, Lois and Bram’s Skinnamarink, will be doing a singalong on Facebook Live at 3:00 pm EST (12:00 pm PST).
- Esme Shapiro, the author-illustrator of Ooko and Alma and the Beast, will be reading her picture books on Shop Mercimilo‘s Instagram Live at 5:00 pm EST (2:00 pm PST).
Friday, March 20, 2020
- Ben Clanton, the author-illustrator of the Narwhal and Jelly graphic novel series, will be doing Facebook Live author visits at 5:00 pm EST (2:00 pm PST).
Monday, March 23, 2020 – ongoing
- Ben Clanton, the author of the Narwhal and Jelly series, will be doing Miximal Mondays on his Instagram live at 12:30 pm EST (9:30 am PST).
- Susin Nielsen, the author of No Fixed Address, will be reading a chapter a day on her Twitter live at 1:00 pm EST (10:00 am PST).
- David A. Robertson, the author of The Barren Grounds, will be reading a chapter a day on his Twitter live at 1:30 pm EST (10:30 am PST).
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
- Elly MacKay, the author-illustrator of Red Sky at Night, will be reading her picture book and demonstrating a craft on Tundra’s Instagram Live at 2:00 pm EST (11:00 am PST).
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
- Vikki VanSickle, the author of If I Had a Gryphon, will be reading her picture book on Tundra’s Facebook Live at 10:30 am EST (7:30 am PST).
- Jeff Zentner, the author of The Serpent King, will be reading his novel on his Instagram Live at 8:00 pm EST (5:00 pm PST).
Thursday, March 26, 2020
- Kallie George, the author of Goodnight, Anne, will be reading her picture book on Tundra’s Instagram Live at 2:00 pm EST (11:00 am PST).
Monday, March 30, 2020 – ongoing
- Dan Bar-el, the author of Audrey (cow), will be reading a portion a day of his middle grade novel on his Facebook Live at 2:00 pm EST (11:00 am PST). Download the Character List to follow which of the thirty-three narrators are speaking!
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
- Vikki VanSickle, the author of Teddy Bear of the Year, will be reading her picture book on Mastermind Toy’s Instagram Live at 10:00 am EST (7:00 am PST)
- Kass Reich, the illustrator of Carson Crosses Canada, will be reading her picture book on her Instagram Live at 2:00 pm EST (11:00 am PST).
- Sharon Hampson and Randi Hampson, authors of Sharon, Lois and Bram’s Skinnamarink, will be celebrating Sharon’s birthday on Facebook at 2:00 pm EST (11:00 am PST).
- Sharon Hampson, one of the authors of Sharon, Lois and Bram’s Skinnamarink, will be reading her picture book on Bedtime Stories with‘s Facebook at 8:00 pm EST (5:00 pm PST).
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
- Lorna Schultz Nicholson, author of Puckster’s New Hockey Teammate, will be reading her picture book on Hockey Canada’s Instagram Live at 11:30 am EST (8:30 am PST).
Friday, April 3, 2020
- Sharon Hampson and Randi Hampson, authors of Sharon, Lois and Bram’s Skinnamarink, will be reading their picture book on Mastermind Toy’s Instagram Live at 10:00 am EST (7:00 am PST).
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
- Print: A Bookstore will be reading Story Boat by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh on their Instagram Live at 10:00 am EST.
- Sharon and Randi Hampson, authors of Sharon, Lois and Bram’s Skinnamarink, perform as part of the National Arts Centre’s #CanadaPerforms series at 11:00 am EST (8:00 am PST) on their Facebook Live.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
- Kevin Sylvester, the illustrator of Great, will be reading his picture book on Hockey Canada’s Instagram Live at 11:30 am EST (8:30 am PST).
Thursday, April 9, 2020
- Kyo Maclear and Esme Shapiro, the creatures of Yak and Dove, will be reading their picture book on Esme Shapiro’s Instagram Live at 3:00 pm EST.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
- Vikki VanSickle, the author of Teddy Bear of the Year, will be reading her picture book on Penguin Random House Canada’s Instagram Live at 10:00 am EST as part of their Shelf-Care Saturday.
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
- We are hosting a Zoom lunch at 12:30 pm EST with Anna Humphrey and Kass Reich to celebrate the Megabat series. RSVP here to get the Zoom link!
Please refer to THIS PAGE for the most up-to-date event information.
Last updated on: Monday, April 13, 2020 at 10:27 am EST.
CBC Books: The Best Canadian Picture Books of 2019
Back in December, CBC released their list of best Canadian picture books of 2019 and we’re thrilled to see some of our titles were included! Congratulations to our creators!
Albert’s Quiet Quest
By Isabelle Arsenault
ISBN 9781101917626 | Hardcover
Ages 4-8 | Tundra Books
Albert just wants to read his book in peace . . . why won’t his friends give him some quiet? A delightful picture book about finding alone time from an internationally acclaimed illustrator.
Alis the Aviator
By Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail
Illustrated by Kalpna Patel
ISBN 9781101919057 | Hardcover
Ages 3-7 | Tundra Books
Come along on an aviation journey with Alis! This spunky female guide will take you through an ABC of planes featuring gorgeous cut-paper art.
Skinnamarink
By Sharon Hampson, Lois Lilienstein, and Bram Morrison, with Randi Hampson
Illustrated by Qin Leng
ISBN 9780735264069 | Hardcover
Ages 3-7 | Tundra Books
Based on the classic folk song made famous by a beloved trio of children’s entertainers, this picture book is best sung aloud! “Skinnamarink” is a timeless anthem of love and inclusion.
The Globe 100: Books That Shaped 2019
Every year, the reviewers and editors at the Globe and Mail put together their list of notable books called The Globe 100 and we’re so happy to see some of our titles were included! Congratulations to our creators!
Albert’s Quiet Quest
By Isabelle Arsenault
ISBN 9781101917626 | Hardcover
Ages 4-8 | Tundra Books
Albert just wants to read his book in peace . . . why won’t his friends give him some quiet? A delightful picture book about finding alone time from an internationally acclaimed illustrator.
Broken Strings
By Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer
ISBN 9780735266247 | Hardcover
Ages 10-14 | Puffin Canada
It’s 2002. In the aftermath of the twin towers – and the death of her beloved grandmother – Shirli Berman is intent on moving forward. A violin and a middle-school musical unleash a dark family secret in this moving story by an award-winning author duo.
It Began With a Page
By Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
ISBN 9781101918593 | Hardcover
Ages 5-9 | Tundra Books
Gyo Fujikawa’s iconic children’s books are beloved all over the world. Now it’s time for Gyo’s story to be told – a story of artistic talent that refused to be constrained by rules or expectations.
Skinnamarink
By Sharon Hampson, Lois Lilienstein, and Bram Morrison, with Randi Hampson
Illustrated by Qin Leng
ISBN 9780735264069 | Hardcover
Ages 3-7 | Tundra Books
Based on the classic folk song made famous by a beloved trio of children’s entertainers, this picture book is best sung aloud! “Skinnamarink” is a timeless anthem of love and inclusion.
The Collected Works of Gretchen Oyster
By Cary Fagan
ISBN | Hardcover
Ages 10-14 | Tundra Books
Hartley Staples, near-graduate of middle school, is grappling with the fact that his older brother has run away from home, when he finds a handmade postcard that fascinates him. And soon he spots another. Who is G.O. and why are they scattering cards about the town?
Huffington Post Canada Gift Guide 2019
Huffington Post Canada released their gift guide at the end of October and we were thrilled to see Skinnamarink as one of the only books on the list!
Sharon, Lois & Bram’s Skinnamarink
By Sharon Hampson, Lois Lilienstein, Bram Morrison, and Randi Hamson
Illustrated by Qin Leng
ISBN 9780735264069 | Hardcover
Ages 3-7 | Tundra Books
Based on the classic folk song made famous by a beloved trio of children’s entertainers, this picture book is best sung aloud! “Skinnamarink” is a timeless anthem of love and inclusion.