Season’s Readings

Season’s Greetings from Tundra Books! Here are some gift ideas for the book lovers on your list:

A Thousand Years of Pirates
Written and illustrated by William Gilkerson
ISBN 978-0-88776-924-5
Ages 10+
Hardcover
“Gilkerson captures the adventure of the high seas in his illustrations … a testament to his devotion to authenticity. His depictions make the ships and seadogs come to life, creating a richer experience for the reader … a great example of how history can be made interesting to young readers … The popularity of pirates will initially attract readers, but the combination of interesting stories and Gilkerson’s illustrations will keep 9-13 year olds reading the book till the very end, and hopefully beyond that.” – ForeWord Magazine

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Written by Lewis Carroll
Illustrated by Oleg Lipchenko
ISBN 978-0-88776-932-0
All Ages
Hardcover
“… There is something very surreal about the illustrations in this one… If you have an older Alice fan, this would be a great gift book for them … [they] will definitely appreciate the intricate drawings and beautiful faces the illustrator creates.” – A Patchwork of Books

A Star for Christmas
Written and illustrated by Trisha Romance
ISBN 978-0-88776-836-1
All Ages
Hardcover
A Star for Christmas … has family favourite written all over it – the kind of book that will be reread year after year as part of a family family’s Christmas traditions … children are bound to be captivated by the warm, cozy images.” – The Montreal Gazette

The Nutcracker
Written by Karen Kain
Illustrated by Rajka Kupesic
ISBN 978-0-88776-696-1
All Ages
Hardcover
“One of Canada’s great ballerina’s brings the verve, grace and sensibility she brought to ballet to her retelling of Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker.’ An added bonus are artist Rajka Kupesic’s very Russian, definitely pre-Bolshevik era paintings: rich and wondrous they are, with onion-domed churches, horse-drawn sleighs, and a velvet-coated uncle – all this before we even set eyes upon sugar plum fairies and their ilk.” – The Globe and Mail

The Little Toy Shop
Written and illustrated by Frances Wolfe
ISBN 978-0-88776-865-1
Ages 3-6
Hardcover
“… Wolfe has crafted an exquisite and wondrous tale that will warm the hearts of readers of every age. The rich and luminous illustrations perfectly capture the feel of an old-fashioned toy shop at Christmas, transporting readers effortlessly into the heart of one anxious toy bunny and the old man who knows just where the bunny ought to be. Each sumptuous spread tells its own story of love, a little bit of luck and dreams come true….” – Atlantic Books Today

One Hundred Shining Candles
Written by Janet Lunn
Illustrated by Lindsay Grater
ISBN 978-0-88776-889-7
Ages 5-8
Hardcover
“This touching story is about creating a beautiful memory out of very limited supplies, a story of giving from deep within the heart. The language is poetic and deeply textured, the characters real and engaging. In addition, the dialogue is authentic and nuanced, drawing the reader easily into the world…” – Excellent from Resource Links

The Hockey Sweater
Written by Roch Carrier
Illustrated by Sheldon Cohen
Translated by Sheila Fischman
ISBN 978-0-88776-174-4
Ages 8+
Paperback
“….not only sweet and funny, but a wise parable about Quebec and English Canada.” – The Toronto Star

Tales from Outer Suburbia
Written and illustrated by Shaun Tan
ISBN 978-0-7710-8402-7
All Ages
Hardcover
“For those who loved Tan’s surreal and evocative The Arrival, the Austrailian author follows up with a brilliant collection of illustrated vignettes. …this book is a small treasure, or, rather, a collection of treasures.” – Starred Review from School Library Journal

Tundra wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Top 10 Great Books For Children 2010

Congratulations to our authors and illustrators! Here are the top books picked for 2010 as chosen by the Canadian Toy Testing Council:

Bradley McGoggBradley McGogg, The Very Fine Frog
Written by Tim Beiser
Illustrated by Rachel Berman
ISBN 978-0-88776-864-4
Ages 2-5
“This book presents a fun story told in rhyme about Bradley McGogg, who lives in a bog, where there are plenty of bugs for a frog like Bradley to eat. When Bradley runs low on food, he visits his neighbours, and soon discovers that rabbits, cows and bears east some ‘pretty strange things.’ Children enjoy the clever rhymes and the engaging full-colour illustrations in this lively book.” – The Canadian Toy Testing Council

The Little Toy ShopThe Little Toy Shop
Written and illustrated by Frances Wolfe
ISBN 978-0-88776-865-1
Ages 3-6
“At Kringle’s Toy Shop, the owner helps every customer find just the right toy. When a box arrives at the shop with a stuffed bunny inside, Mr. Kringle determines to find him a home. Bunny soon makes fast friends with Teddy, a toy bear. Children enjoy this lovingly illustrated, sweet story about friendship and a little girl whose heart is big enough to cherish both toys.” – The Canadian Toy Testing Council

Good-bye MarianneGood-Bye Marianne
Written by Irene N. Watts
Illustrated by Kathryn E. Shoemaker
ISBN 978-0-88776-830-9
Ages 8-11
“This 124-page graphic novel tells the quiet but moving tale of 11-year-old Marianne, a Jewish girl living in Germany in 1938. She finds herself barred from school because of her religion, and the story follows her necessary flight from Berlin to England. The black-and-white pencil drawings in this book capture the both the desperate times and the spark of hope as Marianne flees pre-War Nazi Germany.” – The Canadian Toy Testing Council

The other books on this year’s list are:

  • Dance Baby Dance by Andrea Spalding
  • Saffy by Paola Opal
  • Chicken, Pig, Cow by Ruth Ohi
  • Tulipe: Mon pyjama à moi by Lucie Papineau, illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch
  • A Royal Little Pest by Anita Reynolds MacArthur, illustrated by Karen Roy
  • Savais-tu? Les serpents by Alain M. Bergeron, Michel Quintin and Sampar, illustrated by Sampar
  • Inside Hockey! The Legends, Facts and Feats That Made The Game by Keltie Thomas
Tundra Book Group