Tag: Toronto Public Library

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TD Summer Reading Club 2014

EurekaThe TD Summer Reading Club is an inclusive, bilingual program that strives to engage all children in the joy of reading during the summer months. This program is a joint initiative between TD Bank Group, Toronto Public Library, and Library and Archives Canada. Every year a theme is selected from suggestions made across the country. This year’s theme is EUREKA!

Children who register for the TD Summer Reading Club at their local library receive a free promotional reading kit and are encouraged to earn nine collectible stickers by reading books over the summer. They are also invited to participate in programs organized at their local library and share their love of reading with children across the country through the TD Summer Reading club website.

Here are some of the Tundra titles that are being featured in the reading lists this year, make sure you check them out at your local library!

Ella May and the Wishing StoneElla May and the Wishing Stone
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Geneviève Côté
Trade Paperback | 32 Pages | Ages 4-6
ISBN: 978-1-77049-410-7
“…Fagan believably captures the delicate balance of friendship in the very young and lets the story play out with welcome complexity. Côté’s illustrations are simple without being cartoonish, demonstrating the same warm understanding of childhood. Thoughtful and Touching” – Kirkus Reviews

I Like To PlayI Like to Play
World Vision Early Readers
Written by Marla Stewart Konrad
Hardcover | 24 Pages | Ages
ISBN 978-0-88776-998-6
“…full of gorgeous photographs and simple text…. The pictures are thought provoking and will prompt many questions from young readers…. There is so much joy and focus in these pictures… highly recommended….” – Excellent, Resource Links

In the BagIn the Bag!
Margaret Knight Wraps It Up
Written by Monica Kulling
Illustrated by David Parkins
Trade Paperback | 32 Pages | Ages 5-8
ISBN: 978-1-77049-515-9
“…a delightful picture book biography of a little known inspiring woman…. I love stories about smart and determined young women and Kulling’s lively text tells an inspiring story about this determined woman who ‘never gave up without a fight.’ David Parkins’ charming illustrations are filled with carefully drawn period details and engaging humor…. Don’t miss this really excellent book that opens the door to a multitude of curricular uses.” – Bookends, a Booklist Blog

Mr Zingers HatMr. Zinger’s Hat
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 4-6
ISBN: 978-1-77049-253-0
“A charming, marvelous tale surrounding the art of creating and telling stories, Mr. Zinger’s Hat celebrates the budding friendship between an elderly writer and a young boy who discovers a storyteller within … Fagan’s writing is beautifully crafted … Petričić’s engaging artwork deftly juxtaposes two distinct styles which portray a real-life setting and an imaginary world … The illustrations vividly depict the storyteller’s wry humour and the boy’s wide-eyed innocence.” – Jury Members (Winner of the 2013 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award)

Sweet!Sweet!
The Delicious Story of Candy
Written by Ann Love and Jane Drake
Illustrated by Claudia Dávila
Trade Paperback | 64 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN 978-0-88776-962-7
“…reading their new book is a little like dipping into a grab bag from the candy store: the experience is fun, varied, and relatively cheap, considering the pleasure it gives. The difference is that you can take in the whole book at a single sitting and feel the better for it. Underneath its whimsical exterior – the humorous cartoon illustrations, the fun bits of trivia – there’s a centre of solid research. The writing is clear and engaging…. This thoughtfully constructed book is a treat to read.” – Starred review, Quill & Quire

What Am IWhat Am I?
Written by Linda Granfield
Illustrated by Jennifer Herbert
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 2-5
ISBN: 978-0-88776-812-5
“Little ones will be kept on their toes as they guess which item is being described by a series of clues. Straightforward descriptions and bright, simple illustrations help kids figure out the right answers.” – Today’s Parent

readerparade
Please click here for more information about John Martz, the illustrator who created the artwork for this year’s Reading Club!

TD Summer Reading Club

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TD Summer Reading Club 2012

Imagine
TD Bank Financial Group, the Toronto Public Library, and Library and Archives Canada are proud to support literacy in Canada by offering the TD Summer Reading Club to Canadian children across the nation in both English and French. This is a great program for parents, librarians, and teachers across the country!

Imagining is creating! What a wonderful introduction to Imagine, the theme of the TD Summer Reading Club 2012. As its name suggests, this theme will familiarize young readers with literature of the fantastic. Readers will be charmed by fantasy stories and novels and they will be enthralled by tales of wonder. They will discover the Gothic and steam-punk worlds where unusual creatures and strange machines can be found in mysterious locales.

Here is a list of our books that are on the TD Summer Reading Club’s various English book lists:

Legends, Folklore, Myths:
Spirits, Fairies, and Merpeople
Native Stories of Other Worlds
Written by C.J. Taylor
Hardcover | Ages 9-12 | Nonfiction
ISBN: 978-0-88776-872-9
C. J. Taylor draws from those stories and from her own Mohawk heritage in this collection of haunting tales about some of the powerful spirits who touch the lives of human folk. The spirits of heaven and earth from the Ute help bring an understanding of the stars in the sky. Illustrated with her own powerful oil paintings, this is a collection to read and an excellent story-teller’s resource.

Sindbad
From the Tales of the Thousand and One Nights
Retold by Ludmila Zeman
Trade Paperback | Ages 7-11 | Nonfiction
ISBN: 978-1-77049-264-6
Perhaps the best known of the Tales of the Thousand and One Nights are those about Sindbad the Sailor. For centuries, people have been fascinated by the stories of a simple, sometimes confused, sailor who mistakes a giant whale for a lovely island and the egg of the Roc (a bird so huge that she can carry an elephant in her talons) for a mountain. Sindbad encounters many dangers, but he prevails in this irresistible trilogy, thanks to nothing but his own wits.

Magic:
Daughter of the Great Zandini
Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Cybèle Young
Hardcover | Ages 8-10 | Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-88776-534-6
Tradition is important to the Great Zandini, the great magician of Paris. His grandfather was a magician, his father was a magician, and his son will be a magician too. Unfortunately, his son Theodore does not feel the same way. Zandini won’t hear of opposition. Besides, his arch nemesis, newspaper reporter A. S. Besette, has begun a smear campaign, suggesting the old master is washed up. Zandini creates a new magic show to introduce Theodore as his successor. There’s only one problem: Theodore is a hopeless magician.

Mythical Creatures:
Monsterology
Fabulous Lives of the Creepy, the Revolting, and the Undead
Written by Arthur Slade
Illustrated by Derek Mah
Trade Paperback | Ages 11-12 | Nonfiction
ISBN: 978-0-88776-714-2
Monsterology: Fabulous Lives of the Creepy, the Revolting, and the Undead is the most fun anyone can have with some of the nastiest creatures ever imagined! Who can resist morsels like the fact that “Drakul” means “son of the dragon” in Romanian, that the first Golem may have been Enkidu, who appeared in the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh, and that Frankenstein’s Monster was first inspired by Mary Shelley’s nightmare?

Scary Stories:
Don’t Go In There!
Written by Veronika Martenova Charles
Illustrated by David Parkins
Trade Paperback | Ages 5-7 | Easy Readers
ISBN: 978-0-88776-781-4
Ghostly tales of strange things lurking in forbidden places tie these three stories together. The boys have been warned not to go into a certain room while they are pet-sitting for the neighbor, but, of course, their bravado leads to a session of one-upmanship and the distinct possibility that the cats they are looking after may not be cats at all. Stories from Russia, the United States, and the West Indies are highlighted.

Don’t Talk to Strangers!
Written by Veronika Martenova Charles
Illustrated by David Parkins
Trade Paperback | Ages 6-8 | Easy Readers
ISBN: 978-0-88776-847-7
This time a lost dog sparks the theme of strangers and the wisdom in avoiding them. And what a collection of strangers they are! Headless trolls, people with pointy ears and huge eyes, and long-lost “aunties,” who enjoy eating their guests. Stories from Scandinavia, Sierra Leone, and Iraq are highlighted in this universal warning.

The Fortress of Kaspar Snit
Written by Cary Fagan
Trade Paperback | Ages 8-10 | Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-88776-665-7
Kaspar Snit is a villainous villain who is determined to steal all the fountains in the world. Why? Fountains are beautiful and give people pleasure, two things he can’t abide. Can a family of four who love fountains rescue them from the hands of this dastardly scoundrel? Especially when that family is made up of the four most eccentric individuals you’d care to meet?

Time Travel:
The Battle for Duncragglin
Written by Andrew H. Vanderwal
Hardcover | Ages 11+ | Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-88776-886-6
Set in the time of William Wallace, this is historical fiction at its bloody best! One of history’s most turbulent times comes to vivid life in this thrilling novel. Twelve-year-old Alex has been raised by his uncle since his parents disappeared on a trip to Scotland many years ago. He’s resigned to spending the summer in Scotland with yet another relative and finds himself on a farm near the ruined remnants of an ancient castle that is rumored to be haunted. Could it have a connection to his parents’ disappearance?

The TD Summer Reading Club is sponsored by TD Bank Group in co-operation with the Toronto Public Library and Library and Archives Canada. A team of children’s librarians from the public libraries of Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal developed the theme and the materials for the program. The participating regions are: Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Please click here for more information about DuÅ¡an Petričić, the illustrator who created the artwork for this year’s Reading Club!

Past TD Summer Reading Clubs: 2010 and 2011

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TD Summer Reading Club 2011

Splash! Celebrate Summer
Once again, TD Bank Financial Group, the Toronto Public Library and Library and Archives Canada are proud to support literacy in Canada by offering the TD Summer Reading Club to Canadian children across the nation in both English and French.

The TD Summer Reading Club has been successful in inspiring children to spend more time reading books and visiting their local libraries. During the summer of 2010, more than half a million children participated in programs offered at their local libraries and read more than 2 million books!

Here is a list of our books that are on the TD Summer Reading Club’s English book list:

Easy Readers
Don’t Go Near the Water!
By Veronika Martenova Charles
Illustrated by David Parkins
Trade Paperback | 56 pages
Ages 5-8 years
ISBN 978-0-88776-780-7
eBook 978-1-77049-055-0
“Having been warned to stay away from the high waters of the local creek, three friends’ imaginations run as swiftly as the stream. Before they know it, they have scared themselves silly with stories from Britain, Hawaii and Central Europe.” – Canadian Children’s Book Centre

Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas
By Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Dušan Petričić
Hardcover | 112 pages
Ages 8-11 years
ISBN 978-0-88776-895-8
eBook 978-1-77049-071-0
“Fagan has produced a lively tale of pirates, transatlantic voyages, and the usual heedless parents…” – Books for Young People: Books of the Year, Quill & Quire

Fiction 9-12 Years Old
Into the Ravine
By Richard Scrimger
Trade Paperback | 264 pages
Ages 11+
ISBN 978-0-88776-822-4
“Scrimger is a deft and funny storyteller who understands early adolescent boys, their dreams, and their realities…. A funny, scary, exciting, and spot-on adventure.” – Booklist

Noses are Red
By Richard Scrimger
Trade Paperback | 208 pages
Ages 8-12 years
ISBN 978-0-88776-590-2
eBook 978-1-77049-044-4
“As with its predecessors, this book is hilarious, with a wonderful blend of slapstick humor and dry wit. It will appeal to anyone who hates summer camp or who enjoys a refreshingly comic look at everyday life.” – VOYA

Folk Tales
Spirits, Fairies, and Merpeople: Native Stories of Other Worlds
By C.J. Taylor
Hardcover | 40 pages
Ages 8+
ISBN 978-0-88776-872-9
“Taylor’s retellings are crisp and lend themselves well to reading aloud. Each story is accompanied by a lushly hued, surrealistic painting. The powerful images featuring fearsome creatures and tiny human figures balance the taut economy of the text … this well-crafted collection is an accessible and thoughtful supplement to Native American culture studies.” – School Library Journal

Sindbad in the Land of Giants
By Ludmila Zeman
Hardcover | 32 pages
Ages 6+
HC ISBN 978-0-88776-461-5
TR ISBN 978-1-77049-266-0
“Engagingly written, the story is fleshed out by Zeman’s illustrations. Richly detailed, with intricate borders, the pictures are strongly reminiscent of Near Eastern miniatures, thus evoking the culture from which the story springs … for those who like adventure stories with gorgeous artwork, this title is a sound addition to folklore collections.” – School Library Journal

Lord of the Sky
By Linda Zeman-Spaleny
Illustrated by Ludmila Zeman
Hardcover | 32 pages
Ages 8+
ISBN 978-0-88776-896-5
“Zeman-Spaleny does a solid job with this classic, making the early ravens obnoxious but loveable whereas the thunderbird is both powerful and terrifying…. Illustrator Ludmila Zeman’s illustrations portray the strength of the story and its characters, with a palette of blacks, browns and autumn tones that captures the setting perfectly…. A glossy rendering of a classic; this is excellent mythology and delightful story-telling.” – Eclectica Magazine

Non-fiction
Sail Away with Me: Old and New Poems
By Jane Collins-Philippe
Illustrated by Laura Beingessner
Hardcover | 32 pages
Ages 3-6 years
ISBN 978-0-88776-842-2
“…The lively watercolor illustrations extend the images in the words, with pictures of ships on the ocean with patchwork sails and whimsical animal crews…. Ranging in theme from adventure to nonsense, these poems will be fun for reading aloud.” – Booklist

A Thousand Years of Pirates
By William Gilkerson
Hardcover | 96 pages
Ages 10+
ISBN 978-0-88776-924-5
eBook 978-1-77049-082-6
“The combination of strong storytelling and beautiful artwork and design make this an appealing book for children of all ages… Unparalleled in the presentation of pirate history… Gilkerson successfully weaves together fascinating tales to bring life and context to these adventurers of the high seas.” – Jury Comments, Finalist: Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction

Advanced Picture Books
A Seaside Alphabet
By Donna Grassby
Illustrated by Susan Tooke
Trade Paperback | 32 pages
Ages 6+
ISBN 978-0-88776-938-2
“…Each of Tooke’s 26 realistic paintings is a watercolor artwork in itself, capturing seaside scenes full of action, excitement, enjoyment, and wonder.” – National Center for the Study of Children’s Literature

Where I Live
By Frances Wolfe
Hardcover | 32 pages
Ages 3-6 years
ISBN 978-0-88776-529-2
“…words and images together take readers to a lovely, serene seascape and result in a lovely picture book.” – School Library Journal

Teen Books
Would You
By Marthe Jocelyn
Hardcover | 176 pages
Ages 9-12 years
HC ISBN 978-0-88776-816-3
TR ISBN 978-1-77049-223-3
eBook 978-1-77049-022-2
“The opening chapters give little hints of the intensity of Jocelyn’s…exquisitely honed novel…. Although the plot line sounds like that of a standard weeper, the author resists the urge to magnify emotions. Natalie reacts honestly, neither beautifully nor nobly…. The light touch with which Jocelyn handles her difficult material is best seen when Claire is declared brain-dead and taken off life support: the humanity in the author’s treatment affords the readers a sense both of grief and of peace.” – Starred Review, Publishers Weekly


Click here to see last year’s theme and book list.

British Columbia artist Kim LaFave, a recipient of the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, has created the artwork for the program.

And… if you’re free tomorrow:

TD Summer Reading Club Launch – Splash Fair!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
York Woods
Join the Toronto Public Library for fun Splash-themed activities to kick start the beginning of TD Summer Reading Club. Face painting, surprise guests, arts & crafts and much, much, more! No registration required. This program will be held in the Children’s Department and Outside Parking Lot area.

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TD Summer Reading Club 2010

Get ready to travel to exotic and exciting places and discover nature’s wonders right on the shelves of your local library! The theme for this year’s program is:

Here is a list of our books that are on the TD Summer Reading Club’s English Booklist:

Easy Readers:
Don’t Go into the Forest! (Easy-to-Read Spooky Tales)
Written by Veronika Martenova Charles
Illustrated by David Parkins
Paperback | 56 pages
Ages 5-8
ISBN 978-0-88776-778-4
“… Teacher’s will no doubt welcome this pedagogical device as a good motivator for narrative writing. They’ll also appreciate the fact that the series contains a balance of male and female protagonists, some of whom outwit the villain.” – Quill & Quire

Fiction 9-12 Years Old:
Afrika
Written by Colleen Craig
Paperback | 240 pages
Ages 12+
ISBN 978-0-88776-807-1
“The riveting revelations of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) are at the heart of this powerful novel….” – Starred Review, Booklist
“The realities of the society are carefully and skillfully portrayed…. The author does not sugarcoat the realities of South Africa…. Not just another multicultural title, by any means, this novel will really grab readers who appreciate realistic fiction about young people searching for their place in the world.” – Starred Review, School Library Journal

Folk Tales:
How We Saw the World: Nine Native Stories of the Way Things Began
Written and illustrated by C.J. Taylor
Paperback | 32 pages
Ages 8+
ISBN 978-0-88776-373-1
All peoples have their own stories of how the Earth was created, what separated the land from the seas, and how the many animals, fish, and other creatures came to have their particular characteristics. The native tribes of North America are no different: they too have stories about the “way things began.” A fascinating collection of tales that explain the origins of tornadoes, forest fires, butterflies, horses, Niagara Falls, why dogs are our best friends, and even a very funny story of why owls and rabbits look the way they do.

Non-fiction:
In the Land of the Jaguar: South America and Its People
Written by Gena K. Gorrell
Illustrated by Andrej Krystoforski
Hardcover | 160 pages
Ages 9+
ISBN 978-0-88776-756-2
“…every chapter is packed with highlights, descriptions, and poetry in the narrative, in boxes, and in captions. The engaging prose includes descriptions of the unique animals and plants of each country and – coupled with Krystoforski’s vividly colored, jaunty maps and pen-and-ink drawings of everything from sailing ships to tango dancers – encourages readers to peruse every page.” – School Library Journal

Picture Books, Advanced:
The Birdman
Written by Veronika Martenova Charles
Illustrated by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko and Stéphan Daigle
Hardcover | 32 pages
Ages 5-8
ISBN 978-0-88776-740-1
“The first thing that must be said about The Birdman is that the illustrations… are gorgeous. With intricate Gustav Klimt-style patterns filling every brilliantly coloured area, the book’s illustrations are also reminiscent of Chagall… The paintings are still wholly individual and suited to the text. The story is simple, very touching, and elegantly told, evoking Calcutta’s colour, heat, and its citizens’ difficult lives. And – let me say it again – the illustrations are exquisite.” – Starred Review, Quill & Quire

Preschool:
Eats
Written by Marthe Jocelyn
Illustrated by Tom Slaughter
Hardcover | 24 pages
Ages 2-5
ISBN 978-0-88776-820-0
“The word ‘eat’ never appears in the very minimal text accompanying Eats’ eye-catching cut-paper visuals….Top marks here for concept and execution.” – The Globe and Mail

Teen Books:
Swimming In the Monsoon Sea
Written by Shyam Selvadurai
Paperback | 280 pages
Ages 13+
ISBN 978-0-88776-834-7
“As lush and languid as its Sri Lanka setting…What captures readers is the way the story rolls in waves, mimicking how Amrith looks at himself, then looks away. The luxuriant language with details of architecture and verdant gardens doesn’t call attention to itself, but refreshes like a breeze. Selvadurai, who wrote so gracefully for adults…now does the same for teens.” – Starred Review, Booklist

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Guest Post: Monica Kulling

Tundra author, Monica Kulling, shares with us in this guest post about her event on Wednesday, November 18, 2009:

Monica Kulling: I had the distinct pleasure last week of participating in my first-ever Canadian Children’s Book Week event. I read my first Canadian book, It’s a Snap! George Eastman’s First Photograph, to a group of grade fours and fives at the Black Creek Branch of the Toronto Public Library.

Clip art credit: www.arthursclipart.org

Since publishing my first picture book, in the U.K. and the U.S. in 1992, I have looked longingly (each November) at the Canada Book Week poster and felt a like the poor match-girl in the fairy tale, uninvited because she has never published a book in Canada. A sad state of affairs. But sad no longer!

Enter TUNDRA BOOKS and Kathy Lowinger and all the talented people who work so hard to produce the beautiful books that Tundra is famous for. And a huge thanks to Bill Slavin, the illustrious Canadian illustrator, whose work is so well-known that doors open for me when I mention his name! Thank you for putting me on the Canadian map! I am tickled pink to be a Canadian author and to have the opportunity to share my books with kids across our great country.

So … with my symbolic invitation in hand, I drove to the Black Creek library located in the North York Sheridan Mall. Driving up Black Creek Drive, I passed the perfectly named, “Photography Drive,” which indicates the street that leads to the old Kodak plant. In 2005 Kodak became a casualty of the digital age and was forced to close down its plant. Until then it had employed hundreds of people for nearly 100 years. All the Kodak film and photography paper used in Canada were manufactured at the place that was called, “Kodak Heights.” Now one solitary building remains-building number 9:

Photo from: "The End of Kodachrome and the Death of Kodak Heights" by Rick McGinnis (July 3, 2009 on www.blogto.com)

The Black Creek Library is on the lower level of the Sheridan Mall, tucked behind an escalator. But the strategy of arriving early, allowed me to get lost, at least once. Anne-Marie Di Lello, the librarian who contacted me, greeted me warmly. She is proud of the library. “This library is a pearl in the mall,” Anne-Marie tells me. “Most people don’t know it’s here. But when they discover it, they keep coming back.” And as I entered its cozy and quiet domain, I can see why.

I was shown the room where the reading was going to be. Nancy Velez, another Black Creek librarian, had gone to great lengths to search the Toronto system for every book of mine she could get. The table at the front of the room, made me feel right at home.

The group was a little late, but worth waiting for. I began my presentation by taking a panoramic photograph of the entire group. So see for yourself what a grand bunch of kids I had in front of me.

And did they have questions? They did indeed! For that Kirkus reviewer who thought that “a few phrases may confuse young readers (“George had a brain wave”),” you can rest easy. Not only did my young listeners understand the term “brainwave,” one astute young man answered my query this way, “It’s when you have a wave of an idea in your brain and then a lightbulb comes on over your head!” Sounds about right to me.

Thank you Black Creek for a wonderful visit!

Note from Tundra: We hope people are happy to see pictures of themselves on Talking with Tundra, but if you would like your photo removed, please contact us at tundra@mcclelland.com. Thank you.

Tundra Book Group