Tag: Susin Nielsen

Posted on

The 2010 OLA Forest of Reading® Nominees

Yesterday, the Ontario Library Association revealed the short-listed nominated titles for the 2010 Forest of Reading®. All nominated titles have been posted to the Reading Program page of the OLA website, which you can visit at http://www.accessola.com/reading.

Tundra would like to congratulate Tim Beiser, Rachel Berman, Cyndi Sand-Eveland, Cary Fagan, Shane Peacock, Jane Drake, Ann Love, Mark Thurman, and Susin Nielsen!

Blue Spruce Award (JK-Grade 2)
Bradley McGoggBradley McGogg
The Very Fine Frog
By Tim Beiser
Illustrated by Rachel Berman
ISBN 978-88776-864-4
Hardcover | 24 Pages
Ages 2-5
“… The rhyming verse is so fresh and the illustrations so full of personality and emotion that we quickly forget the slight premise and simply enjoy Brad’s neighbourhood kitchen crawl…. Tim Beiser does a bang-up job…. Rachel Berman locates this moveable feast in a gentle setting, rural and mildly Edwardian…. The slight contrast between words and pictures creates a delicious tension and a welcoming world for all diners and sojourners.” – Feature Review, Quill & Quire

Silver Birch Award – Express (Grades 2-4)
Dear ToniDear Toni
By Cyndi Sand-Eveland
ISBN 978-88776-876-7
Hardcover | 136 Pages
Ages 8-11
“The novel is written in diary format and peppered with often-humorous sketches depicting the various activities, thoughts, pets, and people that make up Gene’s life. Girls, especially, will relate to the protagonist and feel as if they are reading personal notes from a close friend.” – School Library Journal

Ten Lesson for Kaspar SnitTen Lessons for Kaspar Snit
By Cary Fagan
ISBN 978-88776-835-4
Paperback | 192 Pages
Ages 8-12
“Ten Lessons for Kaspar Snit is full of clever dialogue and comic situations, but it is also an action-packed, inventive, page-turner with several surprises. Much of the humour can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, and the supportive, caring family dynamic of the Galinski-Blande family is pleasing…. The tone of the book is always light, with wisecracks being made even when the action heats up…” – Highly Recommended, CM Magazine

Silver Birch Award – Fiction (Grades 4-6)
Death in the AirDeath in the Air
The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Second Case
By Shane Peacock
ISBN 978-88776-851-4
Hardcover | 264 Pages
Ages 10-14
“In the first novel, we see many of the characteristics of the adult detective being formed through his first exciting adventure. In Death in the Air, this development continues and we get to know young Sherlock even better….This novel is written for the young adult, but adult readers will also find it satisfying. Peacock places demand on the reader, expecting intelligence and curiosity. The fast-paced adventure is a treat.” – The Globe and Mail

Silver Birch Award – Nonfiction (Grades 4-6)
Alien InvadersAlien Invaders
Species that Threaten Our World
By Jane Drake and Ann Love
Illustrated by Mark Thurman
ISBN 978-88776-798-2
Hardcover | 56 Pages
Ages 9-12
“In a clear, informal text, illustrated with handsome color paintings, this intriguing science book discusses particular plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses that humans have, deliberately or accidentally, introduced to a new habitat.” – Booklist

Red Maple Award (Grades 7-8) and Golden Oak Award (Adult Learners)
Word NerdWord Nerd
By Susin Nielsen
ISBN 978-88776-875-0
Hardcover | 256 Pages
Ages 9+
“This is a tender, often funny story with some really interesting characters. It will appeal to word nerds, but even more to anyone who has ever longed for acceptance or had to fight unreasonable parental restrictions.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

The Festival of Treesâ„¢ will be taking place on May 12-13, 2010 at the Harbourfront Centre.

Posted on

CBC presents the TD Kids Bookclub

Tundra would like to thank all the elementary schools in the Greater Vancouver area, the Edmonton area, the Calgary area, Manitoba, the Montreal area and Mainland Nova Scotia for submitting their cheers to CBC.

Congratulations to the winning schools for their TD Kids Book Club cheers:

  • Shawne Chastko’s class from 12th Avenue Elementary School in Burnaby!
  • Adrienne Glover’s grade 3 class from Morley School in Morley, Alberta!
  • The Grade 6 class at Oliver School!
  • Karen Tole-Henderson’s grade 5 class at Shamrock School!
  • Holly Kusiewicz’s grade 5/6 class at Parkdale Elementary in St. Laurent!
  • Ms. Paulette O’Connor’s grade 5/6 class at St. Joseph’s/A. MacKay School!

Stay tuned for details on the TD Kids Book club broadcast in November. Susin Nielsen, author of Word Nerd, will be going to Burnaby and Edmonton for a special broadcast from the winning schools. Shane Peacock, author of Death in the Air, will be going to Halifax for a special broadcast from the winning school.

Word Nerd Thing-Thing Death in the Air

YoungIFOA presents the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award Finalists:

  • Saturday, October 24, 11:00am| Studio Theatre
    A YoungIFOA event for the whole family to enjoy. New this year at IFOA: finalists for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award read from their nominated books. Charlotte Teeple hosts.
  • Saturday, October 24, 1:00pm| Studio Theatre
    TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award nominees Alma Fullerton, Susin Nielsen and Shane Peacock read from their nominated books in this YoungIFOA event for the whole family.
  • Saturday, October 24, 4:00pm| Studio Theatre
    In partnership with the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award YoungIFOA presents a round table event for the young at heart. TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award nominees Nicola Campbell, Alma Fullerton, Cary Fagan, Kim LaFave, Susin Nielsen and Shane Peacock talk about children’s literature in the 21st century.
Posted on

2009 Canadian Children’s Book Centre Awards

The finalists for the 2009 Canadian Children’s Book Centre Awards has been announced. Congratulations to Nicolas Debon, Cary Fagan, Jack Mitchell, Susin Nielsen, and Shane Peacock! The winners will be announced on November 3, 2009.

SHORT-LISTED FOR THE TD CANADIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AWARD:

Death in the AirDeath in the Air: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Second Case
Written by Shane Peacock
ISBN 978-0-88776-851-4
Ages 10-14

“This second installment of ‘The Boy Sherlock Holmes’ series maintains tension from beginning to end… Pacing is superb, great character development, breath-taking from beginning to end.” – The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC)

Thing-ThingThing-Thing
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Nicolas Debon
ISBN 978-0-88776-839-2
Ages 4-7

“A fresh and charming book about a spoiled child and an unloved toy thrown out the window… The quirky gouache and collage illustrations offer a sense of speed and uncanny stories on each floor… A book to fall for.” – The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC)

Word NerdWord Nerd
Written by Susin Nielsen
ISBN 978-0-88776-875-0
Ages 9+

“A humourous and cleverly written novel with likeable, unusual characters from the wrong side of the tracks… An original novel about regaining self confidence and trust.” – The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC)

SHORT-LISTED FOR THE MARILYN BAILLIE PICTURE BOOK AWARD:

Thing-ThingThing-Thing
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Nicolas Debon
ISBN 978-0-88776-839-2
Ages 4-7

“This unique story of Thing-Thing’s fall from the sixth floor of the Excelsior Hotel becomes a slow-motion vehicle for a touching and funny contemplation of life and love from a host of characters inspired by his fleeting image.” – The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC)

SHORT-LISTED FOR THE GEOFFREY BILSON AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE:

The Ancient Ocean BluesThe Ancient Ocean Blues
Written by Jack Mitchell
ISBN 978-0-88776-832-3
Ages 10-13

“A fast-paced spoof on Greek tales… Laugh-out-loud funny with great characters… A new take on the old classics… This book is original, delightful and engaging.” – The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC)

Posted on

Author Lunch: Susin Nielsen

Susin Nielsen happened to be in town, so we invited her in for lunch on April 21, 2009. We really wanted to celebrate the success of Susin’s young adult novel, Word Nerd. Inspired from Word Nerd, the main character, Ambrose is always invited to eat with his Greek landlords – so we decided to have delicious Greek food!

Chicken SouvlakiNo Peanut signs!

Left: Ambrose is a very good Scrabble player (he attends the West Side Scrabble Club), so we made food labels using Scrabble tiles!
Right: The wonderful cover of Word Nerd features a “no peanut sign” because Ambrose is severely allergic to peanuts. We kept with the design and had “no peanut” signs displayed in our food trays.

Susin's CakeSusin Nielsen
For dessert, we had this delicious chocolate truffle cake. Congratulations Susin! Word Nerd is nominated for the Canadian Library Association’s 2009 Book of the Year Award for Children!

Word NerdWord Nerd centerpiece!

Most Promising Newcomer TrophyThe “Most Promising Newcomer” trophy! Inspired again from Word Nerd, Ambrose wins this trophy from the Scrabble Club. You can download the file for the trophy here. Simply print and cut!

Susin NielsenSusin Nielsen signing copies of Word Nerd for our guests. Thank you Susin for coming in and sharing your wonderful (and funny) stories with us!

Tundra Book Group