THE BEAR: A Nature-Based Hit

This past summer saw most of us out and about, trying not to get too close to others and getting closer to nature as a result. The Bear by Andrew Krivak (Bellevue Literary Press) is almost eerily appropriate for 2020, as it delivers a beautiful story set in a post-post-apocalyptic world with almost no people. Recently winning the Banff Centre’s Mountain Book Competition in Fiction & Poetry, The Bear is about survival, listening to nature, and finding beauty in wild solitude. Author Andrew Krivak's previous book, The Sojourn, was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Latinx History Month

Have you done any reading for Latinx History Month (aka Hispanic Heritage Month)? If the answer is no, you still have a week to correct that! Fiebre Tropical, the debut novel by Juli Delgado Lopera and current finalist for the Kirkus Prize for Fiction, is a great place to start. Delgado Lopera is a Colombian writer, historian, speaker, and storyteller, and winner of the 2018 Lambda Literary Award and 2018 Independent Publisher Award.

Fiebre Tropical is part of The Feminist Press's new imprint Amethyst Editions, which features LGBTQ+ narratives curated by noted author Michelle Tea.

Shuggie Bain author at TIFA

Shuggie Bain is the heartrending story of a sweet and lonely boy growing up it the 1980's in Glasgow, Scotland. This beautiful novel is currently on the shortlist for the Booker Prize 2020 as well as the Kirkus Prize for Fiction 2020! On top of that, we are lucky enough to have author Douglas Stuart participating in this year's TIFA, which is completely virtual. Join Douglas in conversation with author Alex Pugsley in an event titled "Coming of Age," taking place on October 31st.  If you're planning a spooky night in for Hallowe'en, not to worry--the event will be available for three days following initial release.

2020 Booker Authors at TIFA!

The Toronto International Festival of Authors is online this year, and is hosting multiple authors who were shortlisted for the 2020 Booker and Booker International Prizes! Keep an eye out for:

- Maaza Mengiste, author of THE SHADOW KING, appearing in conversation with Emma Donoghue on October 25th for an event titled "Females on the Frontline"

- Fernanda Melchor, author of HURRICANE SEASON, appearing in an event titled "Tradition on Trial" on October 22nd.

- Shokoofeh Azar, author of THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE GREENGAGE TREE, appearing in an event titled "Home Sweet Homelands" on October 22nd, and doing a reading as part of the "Skin Hunger" event on October 27th.

The events will be available on line for three days following their initial release, so mark your calendars!

Blue Spruce Awards Go Virtual!

The Blue Spruce Awards are going virtual! Visit Forest of Reading (see attachment for the link ; read-aloud schedule) to catch this years Blue Spruce Nominees!  These books will enrich young readers learning experiences with beautiful illustrations blended with fun, interesting, and exciting stories.

Award Winner: The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom

Making lots of 2019 round-ups is Sarah M. Broom's The Yellow House. This touching, multigenerational memoir was highly anticipated, and that excitement was justified as it later won the 2019 National Book Award for Nonfiction and became a New York Times bestseller. Kirkus Reviews calls it, "A tribute to the multitude of stories one small home can contain." Available now!

Arsenal Authors Win Lambda Literary Awards in Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender Fiction

 

Hooray! We are proud to announce that three books from Arsenal Pulp Press have won Lambda Literary Awards in the categories of Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender Fiction! The awards were presented at a ceremony in New York last night (June 3).

Larissa Lai’s visionary novel The Tiger Flu won the Lammy for Lesbian Fiction. It was also shortlisted for the Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize and appeared on the James Tiptree Jr. Honor List.

Joshua Whitehead’s Indigiqueer novel Jonny Appleseed won the Lammy for Gay Fiction. It was also shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction, the Amazon Canada First Novel Award, the Firecracker Award for Fiction, the Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award, and the George Bugnet Fiction Award, and was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize.

Casey Plett’s brilliant novel Little Fish won the Lammy for Transgender Fiction. It also won the $60,000 Amazon Canada First Novel Award and was shortlisted for the Firecracker Award for Fiction and the Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award. 

Man Booker Longlist Announced

With Canada Reads over, many of us are looking for a new curated booklist to work through. Luckily, the Man Booker International longlist, or "Man Booker Dozen," was recently revealed. Like a baker's dozen, it consists of thirteen toothsome delights to delve into before the winner is announced on May 21st. These translated novels hail from Chile (The Remainder) to South Korea (At Dusk) and everywhere in between, each promising an engaging and challenging read. For full details of the shortlist check out the Man Booker International website, where the shortlist will be posted on April 9th.

Kate Greenaway and CILIP Carnegie Medal Shortlists Announced

The shortlists for the Kate Greenaway Medal and the CILIP Carnegie Medal were released this week. The Kate Greenaway shortlist includes bewitching ode to nature The Lost Words (House of Anansi) illustrated by Jackie Morris, alongside the latest from Jon Klassen, an illustrated history of the suffragette movement by David Roberts, and more. Last year saw Canadian illustrator Sydney Smith win for his illustrations in Town Is by the Sea (Groundwood Books).

Mark your calendars for June 18th when the winner is announced!

Look out for these Raincoast Books on CBC's Spring 2019 Canadian Fiction list!

Raincoast has two books on CBC Book's newly-released Spring 2019 Canadian Fiction list! A Deadly Divide by Ausma Zehanat Khan will be on sale Feb 12/2019, and Radicalized by Cory Doctorow comes out March 19/2019.

Blown Away: The Perfect Picture Book for A Blustery Spring Day

Rob Biddulph has won the 2015 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize with his debut picture book Blown Away. The book, which also won the best illustrated book category, is only the second picture book to take home the £5000 Waterstones prize. 

It's the perfect book for spring, featuring a windy day, a brand-new kite and an unexpected flight that leads a penguin off on an adventure! Check out this fun short video that introduces some of the new friends this fearless penguin meets along the way!

CBC Canada Reads 2015 Longlist!

When Everything Feels Like the Movies by Raziel Reid,
one of the longlisted titles for Canada Reads 2015

CBC has just announced the longlist for its annual battle of the books, Canada Reads! 

"One book to break barriers" is the theme for Canada Reads 2015 and the debates will be hosted by Wab Kinew, who emerged victorious when he defended Joseph Boyden's The Orenda for Canada Reads 2014. 

The panelists will be announced January 20th, along with the book each has chosen to champion. The debates will take place March 16th-19th.

Which book do you think will become the one book to break barriers?

New Owlkids Award

The Owlkids Award is an exciting new award by Owlkids and the Laboratory School at the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study. Teachers and teacher-librarians who are using inquiry-based learning in their classrooms can apply for this award. The grand prize is a gift certificate of  $1500 to be used at a Canadian bookstore or a Canadian book wholesaler of the winner's choice! Two runners-up will receive a $250 gift certificate each! The deadline for the award is March 28th so spread the word for this awesome award! You only have to wait till early May for the winners to be announced!  Complete submissions information is available here.

Canada has chosen Hana's Suitcase as the Ultimate Silver Birch Book!

Many congratulations to Karen Levine and Second Story Press! I am thrilled that Canadian readers have voted for Hana's Suitcase as the Ultimate Silver Birch Book in celebration of the prestigious award's 20th birthday. The Silver Birch Award is part of Ontario Library Association's Forest of Reading Program which has more than 250,000 participants each year. Read more about the OLA's oldest award and Hana's Suitcase here!  

Vote Now for the Best Silver Birch Title of All Time!

You can also enter to win prizes, such as your own personal Forest of Reading® library, tickets to the 2014 Festival of Trees™ in May 2014, a visit from a Silver Birch mystery author, and one of ten Forest of Reading gift bags. Click Here!

Canada Reads 2014 Top 10!

It's back! CBC Books asked their yearly question: what is the one novel that could change Canada? Hundreds of recommendations from across the country and across many genres were submitted, and many trusted readers helped narrow it down to a Top 40 List. Now, the Top 10 List has been announced and it is up to the Canada Reads judge panel to decide! I'm glad I don't have to pick a favourite out of this amazing list! Some of the titles belong to authors Margaret Atwood, Joseph Boyden, and Cory Doctorow. The panelists are reading the Top 10 now, and will reveal themselves and their favourite book of choice in the popular debate on November 27th, hosted by my favourite, Jian Ghomeshi. To view the full Top 10 List, click here.

Announcing the Finalists for the 2013 Canadian Children's Book Centre Awards!

The Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) has announced the finalists for this year's Canadian Children's Book Centre Awards. With up to $130,000 in prizes this year, here are the finalists:

TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award ($30,000)

1. Kids of Kabul: Living Bravely Through a Never-Ending War by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books)

2. One Year in Coal Harbour by Polly Horvath (Groundwood Books)

3. The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larson by Susin Nielsen (Tundra Books)

4. The Stamp Collector by Jennifer Lanthier, Illustrated by Francois Thisdale (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)

5. Virginia Wolf by Kyo Maclear, Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (Kids Can Press)

Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse ($30,000)

1. À la recherche du bout du monde by Michael Noel (Éditions Hurtubise)

2. La clé à molette by Élise Gravel (Éditions la courte échelle)

3. Jane, le renard & moi by Fanny Britt, Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (Éditions La Pastèque)

4. Minegan, mon village, Poems by Inuit schoolchildren, Illustrated by Rogé (Éditions de la Bagnole)

5. Tu me prends en photo by Marie-Francine Hébert, Illustrated by Jean-Luc Trudel (Éditions Les 400 coups)

Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award ($20,000)

1. Mr. King's Things by Geneviève Côté (Kids Can Press)

2. Mr. Zinger's Hat by Cary Fagan, Illustrated by Dušan Petričić (Tundra Books)

3. The Stamp Collector by Jennifer Lanthier, Illustrated by Francois Thisdale (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)

4. Uncle Wally's Old Brown Shoe by Wallace Edwards (Orca Book Publishers)

5. Virginia Wolf by Kyo Maclear, Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (Kids Can Press)

Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction ($10,000)

1. Going Up! Elisha Otis's Trip to the Top by Monica Kulling, Illustrated by David Parkins
(Tundra Books)

2. Kate & Pippin: An Unlikely Love Story by Martin Springett, Photographs by Isobel Springett (Puffin Canada)

3. Kids of Kabul: Living Bravely Through a Never-Ending War by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books)

4. Real Justice: Fourteen and Sentenced to Death - The Story of Steven Truscott by Bill Swan (Lorimer)

5. Rescuing the Children: The Story of Kindertransport by Deborah Hodge (Tundra)

Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People ($5,000)
1. A Call to Battle (I Am Canada) by Gillian Chan (Scholastic Canada)
2. The Lynching of Louie Sam by Elizabeth Stewart (Annick Press)
3. Making Bombs for Hitler by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch (Scholastic Canada)
4. Violins of Autumn by Amy McAuley (Walker Publishing Company Inc.)
5. Yesterday's Dead by Pat Bourke (Second Story Press)

John Spray Mystery Award ($5,000)

1. Becoming Holmes by Shane Peacock (Tundra)
2. Breakaway by Michael Betcherman (Razorbill/Penguin Group)
3. Devil's Press by Sigmund Brouwer (Orca Book Publishers)
4. The Lynching of Louie Sam by Elizabeth Stewart (Annick Press)
5. Neil Flambé and the Tokyo Treasure by Kevin Sylvester (Simon & Schuster)

Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy ($5,000)

1. The Girl with the Borrowed Wings by Rinsai Rossetti (Dial Books)
2. Island of Doom: The Hunchback Assignments IV by Arthur Slade (HarperCollins)
3. Rebel Heart by Moira Young (Doubleday Canada)
4. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (Doubleday Canada)
5. Shadows Cast by Stars by Catherine Knutsson (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)

The winners will be announced at the two invite-only galas held in Toronto on October 22, 2013 and Montreal on October 29, 2013. Young readers are encouraged to vote for their favourite book from the shortlisted TD Award titles for the first ever Fan Choice Award, presented by TD and CBC Books. For more information, click here.

Congratulations finalists! 

The Joe Shuster Awards

The nominees for the 2013 Joe Shuster Awards are in! The Joe Shuster Awards acknowledge the best in Canadian comics, graphic novels, and webcomics. This year they've nominated two awesome graphic novels by Kids Can Press for the Dragon Award, which recognizes comics for young readers.

Cat's Cradle Volume 1: The Golden Twine by Jo Rioux

Three Thieves Volume 3: The Captive Prince by Scott Chantler

(Scott Chantler was also nominated for "Best Cartoonist")

Click here for the full list of nominees! The winners will be announced on August 25, 3013.

CBC Bookies!

Now here is a hilarious awards list...
The Overlookie Bookie Award for Most Underrated Canadian Book: Cosmo by Spencer Gordon
The Brangelina Award for Most Attractive Book Cover: The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus
The Ron MacLean Award for Most Hilarious Canadian Book: Up and Down by Terry  Fallis
and drumroll please.....Best Canadian Book: The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny...YAY!
For the complete list go here. 

CCBC Awards Shortlist announced!

The Canadian Children's Book Centre has just announced their awards shortlist for 2012: TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, John Spray Mystery Award and the inaugural Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy.

The winners will be announced at The TD Canadian Children`s Literature Awards and Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse. For a full list of the nominees you can click here to go to the CCBC website.