Toronto Author Amanda Orlando at the Big Carrot - Yum! Yum!

Allergen-Free Desserts to Delight Your Taste Buds: A Book for Parents and Kids
ISBN  9781632203373

More than 100 recipes for anyone with food allergies

I Want to Eat Your Books - a positive review in the Globe and Mail

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/new-picture-books-from-eric-morse-and-anny-yi-wallace-edwards-and-karin-lefranc-and-tyler-parker/article27147085/

 ISBN 9781634501729

October Publication

“This is where I Want to Eat Your Books knocks it out of the park. There’s nothing sacred or touchy-feely about this story about a zombie who bursts into a library, starts eating the books, then realizes that reading them is more fun. This is exactly why it works.”

You gotta laff!

This website is HEEELARIOUS! Library Problems.

A PATRON SENDS ME A FRIEND REQUEST ON FACEBOOK

Top Grade

Top Grade is an initiative focused on bringing samples of new and recently published books by ACP (Association of Canadian Publisher) members to the attention of key decision makers, book buyers, and educators in school boards across Canada.

In addition to ensuring that educators are aware of the wealth of appropriate materials for schools through each new selection with publishers’ books, catalogues, promotional matter, and other material suitable for schools, there is also a conscious effort made to bring awareness to the wider literary community and the organizations, groups, and projects that publishers support through their publishing programs. Information about such organizations as the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, The Writers’ Union of Canada, CANSCAIP, the League of Canadian Poets, among others, are included with the aim of helping schools make connections that bring awareness, sales and support to members. 

The authors love it too. They are seeing more school visits and library invitations as a result. The 49th Shelf is featured as educators are readers too. The result is the receipt of many messages of thanks for filling the gap in the chain left by the disappearance of school librarians across the country. Here is one very typical response from all levels: “I cannot tell you how much these boxes are appreciated by all of us here.  We feel so privileged to have you include our schools in this promotion of Canadian publications.”

Stay tuned for spring 2016. They’ll be showcasing the wealth of diverse books published in Canada. 

A favourite Dewey pick from Fall 2015 - If You're Lucky by Yvonne Prinz

Quill & Quire review:  "Starts out as a sad story about a disaffected teenager and slowly builds in to a hold-on-to-your-seat thriller."

If You're Lucky by Yvonne Prinz
ISBN 978-1-61620-463-1
Ages 14 +
Algonquin Young Readers
October 2015

Finding Winnie

We've all seen the fantastic Historica Canada video on the Canadian roots of the bear the world has come to know as Winnie the Pooh from the book series by A.A. Milne. I don't know about you, but I've always wondered how the soldier from the video, Captain Harry Colebourn, came in possession of Winnie in the first place. Well, after reading the lovely picture book FINDING WINNIE, now I know!

Author Lindsay Mattick is the great grand-daughter of Captain Harry Colebourn, a veterinarian who enlisted in 1914 to care for the animals that were sent to serve the troops overseas in WWI. At one of the train stops en route from Manitoba to the training camp in Quebec, Harry bought a bear cub from a trapper. He named the bear Winnipeg (Winnie for short) and she became the mascot for the Second Canadian Infantry Brigade. Before deploying to France, Colebourn donated Winnie to the London Zoo for safekeeping. 

Excerpt:

"That's the end of Harry and Winnie's story," I said. 

"But I don't want it to be over," said Cole.

"Sometimes", I said, "you have to let one story end so the next one can begin."

"How do you know when that will happen?"

"You don't," I said. "Which is why you should always carry on."

It was at the London Zoo that a young boy named Christopher Robin befriended the bear, a friendship that spawned the book series, and later, the Disney films we all know and love.

The book is plotted as a bedtime story that a mother is reading to her son, which she reveals at the end is not just a bedtime story, but rather to be a true family story. The last few pages of the book are set up like a family 'Album' featuring photos of Harry and Winnie and other ephemera.  

Lindsay stopped by the HarperCollins offices in Toronto on Wednesday November 11th between media interviews for a meet and greet with our staff. She gave a very interesting talk about her family history, the process of writing the book, and the reasons why she wanted to share the story with a new generation of children, including her son Cole, who was named after his great-great-grandfather.

Do check out this beautiful and educational new picture book! 

Want to read more? 

• The fantastic blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast did a roundtable discussion back in September featuring the women behind FINDING WINNIE: Lindsay, illustrator Sophie Blackhall, Little, Brown (U.S. publisher) editor Susan Rich and Little, Brown art director Saho Fujii.  Check it out here if you haven't seen it, as it features lots of interesting information about the process of creating the book!

• Lindsay worked with Ryerson University on an exhibit called Remembering the Real Winnie. Many of the family artifacts that are featured at the end of the book were on display at the exhibit. Don't worry if you missed it- Ryerson has made an online archive that you can still access. 

-Rosalyn

A Hot List title and Dewey Pick - The Indestructible Houseplant - more reviews!

Tovah Martin shares tips from The Indestructible Houseplant (9781604695014) in this month’s issue of Redbook (circ. 2.2 million). You can also listen to her recent interview on the Wisconsin Public Radio show, Garden Talk which will rebroadcast in December.

 

A Library Journal DIY Fave for 2015!

Color Concrete Garden Projects was chosen by Library Journal as one of their best DIY books for 2015.

People Magazine - takes a look at the new book, The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh

The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh (9781604695991) is featured in this week’s People magazine (circ. 3.5 million)! It is one of three highlighted nonfiction titles, and they call the book “A delightful exploration.”

I Smile Back

Premiered at TIFF...

Major Motion Picture I Smile Back starring Sarah Silverman and Josh Charles.  Based on the book published by Two Dollar Radio and written by Amy Koppelman. 

I know Hallowe'en is over but...

How cool is this! The hotel that inspired The Shining is being made into a horror museum. Stephen King tells a great story about staying at the hotel when he was inspired to write the book. I would love/be terrified to go there...some day!

Educators are discovering HOW TO TELL A STORY - see comments below

Teachers have been using How to Tell a Story in their classrooms and reporting back with wonderful results:

"How to Tell A Story is a veritable creative writing master class series made brilliantly accessible through playful blocks of color and category - practically an Iowa creative writing workshop for kids. [Students] will respond to Daniel Nayeri's wit and wisdom." -Gail Sider, elementary school teacher

“This is a classroom must have for all levels…I want my ELL students on this right away.” – Paul Hankins, high school teacher

“What could be better than a game that helps children become better storytellers?” – Jennifer Reed, elementary school teacher/librarian

“[An] awesome writing resource that is sure to get kids' imaginations going and their words flowing.” – Jen Vincent, Technology Specialist in K-8 school and literacy expert

This week some influential teacher/bloggers have been celebrating "How to Tell a Story Week” and writing up their experiences. Reederama made a video of how her students used the book; others have been talking up the book and receiving reader responses like "Thank you for bringing another resource into my world. I can only imagine what stories it will bring."

'N.Y. Times' Announces 2015 Best Illustrated Children's Books

And what a list it is! I can't begin to think how they could whittle this list down to 10...I think they've done a pretty good job.

The Tiger Who Would Be King by James Thurber, illus. by JooHee Yoon (Enchanted Lion).

The Impossibly True Story of Tricky Vic: The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower by Greg Pizzoli (Viking).

The Skunk by Mac Barnett, illus. by Patrick McDonnell. (Roaring Brook).

Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson, illus. by Sydney Smith (Groundwood).

Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett, illus. by Christian Robinson (Chronicle).

The Only Child by Guojing (Random House/Schwartz & Wade).

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh (Abrams).

Big Bear Little Chair by Lizi Boyd (Chronicle).

Madame Eiffel: The Love Story of the Eiffel Tower by Alice Briere-Haquet, illus. by Csil (Little Gestalten).

A Fine Dessert by Emily Jenkins, illus. by Sophie Blackall (Random House/Schwartz & Wade).

Cool new digs for Anansi!

At the end of the year, House of Anansi and Groundwood Books will be leaving Spadina for the Junction area in Toronto. They will be moving into the former Scythes Textile Factory on Sterling Avenue. At the front of the building will be a store front which will double as a showroom and event space. Click here for more details.

Mac Barnett stops by Mabel's Fables

The awesome Mac Barnett stopped by Mabel's Fables recently to promote his new book Leo: A Ghost Story.
The gang at Mabel's sat down and chatted with him about writing.
My favourite quote: "ON JON KLASSEN: He’s like the Drake of children’s books."
Here is the full interview!

Barry Moser is talking about his new book, a memoir of growing up in Tennessee

We Were Brothers by Barry Moser

$32.00, Hardcover

ISBN: 9781616204136

Pub date: October 20, 2015

Publisher:  Algonquin Books

 

CKWR-FM KW Magazine (Kitchen-Waterloo), live-on-air interview with author, Nov. 25 @ 7:10 pm ET

Rosemary - the Life of Rosemary Kennedy is getting more Canadian press

Rosemary by Kate Clifford Larson $35.00, Hardcover ISBN:  9780547250250 Pub date: October 6, 2015 Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt   CKWR-FM KW Magazine (Kitchen-Waterloo), live-on-air interview with author, Nov. 18 @ 7:10 pm ET

Best American Short Stories - 100 Years of the best short stories

100 Years of the Best American Short Stories edited by Lorrie Moore & Heidi Pitlor $40.00, Hardcover ISBN: 9780547485850 Pub date: October 6, 2015 Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt   ·     Zoomer Magazine, to be included in their Books Gift Guide, December issue ·     Toronto Star, to be featured in Sarah Murdoch’s book column, date tk

Holiday House - new fall titles - middle grade novel reviews and more!

978-0-8234-3290-5 A Pig Called Heather by Harry Oulton   Heather the pig has it all until her owner and best friend, Isla, moves away to London.   Heather is bereft-but determined to reunite with Isla. Opportunity knocks when Heather heads to London to shoot a film as the farm's new advertising campaign star. Will Heather be able to make the daring escape and find Isla?    "Heather is a VIP (very impressive pig). For readers seeking a rousing adventure or animal tale, this is a winner."-School Library Journal   Check out the exclusive Author Q & A!

 

HC 978-0-8234-2863-2 PB 978-0-8234-3190-8 Ukulele Hayley by Judy Cox illustrated by Amanda Haley   Hayley has finally found her talent: playing the ukulele. But after successfully forming a popular band through her school music program she hears horrible news: the music program is being cut! Does Hayley have what it takes to save the program and her beloved music teacher?   Read a chapter excerpt.

Holiday House has a number of funny language arts books - take a look!

 

978-0-8234-3292-9 Ms. Spell by Ethan Long   An unorthodox teacher gives one of the most unforgettable spelling lessons ever in this zany adventure with eye-popping wonders as well as excellent spelling advice.   Download the Lesson Plan.    Watch the magical-and inspiring-book trailer created by the award-winning author himself!

978-0-8234-2046-9 Thank You, Miss Doover by Robin Pulver illustrated by Stephanie Roth Sisson   Miss Doover is teaching Jack's class how to write thank-you notes in this companion to Punctuation Takes a Vacation, Nouns and Verbs Have a Field Day, and Silent Letters Loud and Clear.   Have students write their own thank you note.

HC 978-0-8234-1774-2 PB 978-0-8234-1819-0 There's a Frog in my Throat:440 Animal Sayings a Little Bird Told Me by Loreen Leedy and Pat Street   Hot dog! Pat Street and Loreen Leedy have gone hog-wild with this amusing collection of animal sayings. From lucky ducks to odd ducks to sitting ducks to just plain quacks, this book presents a wealth of sayings alongside fun-filled art bursting with color and energy.   Download the Language Arts Guide.

Tomie dePaola's new children's picture book: Look and Be Grateful - special download

978-0-8234-3443-5

Look and Be Grateful

by Newbery Honor winner
Tomie dePaola

November is the month to #BeGrateful. 

"Today is today, and it is a gift."

Join us this month as we remember that each day is a gift and a time  to celebrate and cherish the things we are grateful for. Use #BeGrateful to join the conversation.

Download the poster, activity sheet and guide with Common Core Connections and strategies for teaching comprehension, point of view, language skills, vocabulary and more.

Listen to an exclusive interview with Tomie dePaola.