Welcome to the Cypher

Khodi Dill's Welcome to the Cypher will release this month. Check out the interview he did on how rappers can make the world a better place.

His website is also pretty cool!

Canadian Children's Book Week, May 2-8

The list is out! and what a  list...some of Canada's top creators will be out and about visiting schools and libraries in one way or another. Below are some of them

• Michelle Barker, My Long List of Impossible Things (9781773213644 PB/ 9781773213651 HC) 
• Paul Covello, Canada ABC 
• Kevin Sylvester, Follow Your Stuff (
• Nicola Winstanley, Mel and Mo’s Marvelous Balancing Act

You can see the full list here.

Natalie Portman's Fables

Natalie Portman has rewritten three classic stories in Natalie Portman's Fables. Tom Power interviewed her...give it a listen!

Quidditch Through the Ages

Calling all librarians! Raincoast has a very limited number of Quidditch Through the Ages kits. The kits include: double-sided poster, bunting, standees, mobile, tote bag. Please contact melissa@raincoast.com to order one. :)

September is Curious George Curiosity Month!

Request your Curiosity Month event kit from Raincoast and help us celebrate Curious George’s birthday and the magic of learning and discovery through reading. 
The Curiosity Day Event Kit includes:
- activity booklet
- Man with the Yellow Hat headbands
- door hangers
- sticker sheets

Please email melissa@raincoast.com to request a kit.

You can go here for more information: https://www.curiousgeorge.com/curiosity-day

Cone Cat Giveaway!

Who doesn't love cats! This book is super funny and Owlkids is running a contest to give away 2 copies of this hilarious book!

Click here to enter.

DK Marvel Superheroes!

Hello everyone! DK Books have prepared the perfect quiz to go in tandem with one of their newest books, WE ARE SUPER HEROES. There are some great questions that will help you find out if you're more of a Black Panther than a Ms. Marvel.

Take the quiz HERE

Operation Readaloud

Operation Readaloud was created by Lisa von Drasek (formerly of Bank Street and now directing the Kerlan Collection) in response to the need to aggregate children's book creators read-alouds while children are sequestered at home. Submissions from all authors and illustrators are more than welcome! There are millions of Canadian kids out there who had their school years cut short by the pandemic, and countless more who don't have access to the generous resources our school systems and libraries provide. Spread the word, my friends! You never know how far a virtual read-along can go!

Here is the link to Lisa von Drasek's Facebook page for Operation Readaloud:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/138080447610791/

DK Canada's "Stay Home, Stay Curious" Campaign

DK Canada is thrilled to share their "Stay Home, Stay Curious" campaign on DK Canada's website.

This hub will house content from across DK Canada's books and divisions. Everything from home learning ideas, recipe extracts to great Canadian content such as a free downloadable teacher's guide for Our Great Prime Ministers. There's also DIY ideas & Gardening tips as well as excerpts to make staying fit at home easy!

#OperationReadAloud

Operation Read Aloud is a much needed site to aggregate children's book creators to read-aloud while children are sequestered at home. Join the group to enjoy story-time with your little ones, all while watching some of our favourite authors #readaloud.

Paper Bag Princess Turns 40: A Podcast Primer

A classic of children's literature will be celebrating a big birthday in May 2020; its 40th, to be precise. And what a celebration it will be! Robert Munsch's seminal story, The Paper Bag Princess, has been adored by millions of children around the globe, and inspired countless artists over the last forty years to challenge the framework of 'normal' fairy-tales. The CBC recently published an illuminating interview (which you can check out here) on Munsch's creative process and various inspirations for PBP, along with the exclamation that Elizabeth's proud declaration of independence is indeed a happy ending; Munsch adds, "That's the ending it's supposed to have."

Stay tuned for more PBP news & updates - there's going to be plenty this year!

OLA Superconference 2020 Author Signings- HarperCollins/Harlequin

Please be sure to visit the HarperCollins (732/734) and Harlequin (730) Booths at the OLA Superconference this week! 

We have some great authors signing throughout the day on Thursday and Friday, and lots of great ARC giveaways and contests in-booth!

Thursday, Jan 30^th

• Molly Fader (The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season) 10:30am
• Kate Hilton (Better Luck Next Time) 10:30am
• Bryn Turnbull (The Woman Before Wallis) 11:30am 
• The Fan Brothers (The Scarecrow) 12:30pm 
• Hannah Mary McKinnon (Sister Dear) 2:30pm.

 Friday, Jan 31st

• Kelly Rimmer (Truths I Never Told You) 10:30am 
• Jessica Westhead (Worry) 10:30am
• Ken Oppel (Bloom) 11:30am 
• Kate Elizabeth Russell (My Dark Vanessa)- 12:30 pm 

Tune in tomorrow for a preview of some of the ARCs we'll have on hand at the HarperCollins booth!

Hope to see you at the conference!

Rosalyn

Child of Glass by Beatrice Alemagna

A tribute to strength and sensitivity, Child of Glass perfectly expresses our dual desires to embrace ourselves and to fit in. Italian author Beatrice Alemagna uses transparent pages and collage-like illustrations to bring her heroine to life in this poignant tale.

Resonating with many, the book has received a starred review in the School Library Journal, and was a 2019 NYT/NYPL Best Illustrated Children's Book.

Kirkus Reviews say it will "reach both small and older readers struggling to conceal, manage, and express complicated inner worlds."

Hervé Tullet: Inside the Creative Process

Hervé Tullet is the wondrous mind behind the worldwide-acclaimed children's book Press Here, published by Chronicle Books, among another 80-odd titles he's put out. He recently sat down with the New York Times to discuss his studio work-space and the methods he utilizes in crafting his unique art, as well as moving his entire operation (and family) from Paris to Harlem. The extended interview can be found here

Mr. Tullet is currently engaged in a project he calls "The Ideal Exhibition", a multifaceted, hands-on workshop that allows all who visit to contribute to his art. You can check out the promotional vid here

Allison Mills Talks "The Ghost Collector"

Allison Mills, the debut author of Annick's lead title for the Fall 2019 season, "The Ghost Collector", recently sat down with the good people over at School Library Journal for an extended interview. All sorts of topics were covered, including Allison's familial inspiration for the book, the thematic presence of troubled and healing relationships, what kind of books she wanted to read as a kid, and her background in children`s literature. Allison`s book comes out September 10th; it`s spooky, fun, and heartwarming. You don`t want to miss it!

Link to the full interview:

https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=allison-mills-on-the-ghost-collector

Curiosity Day - September 14th!

Curiosity Day is approaching, my friends! The smiling legend that is Curious George, published for decades by the renowned Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, will be celebrated nationwide on September 14th, 2019. Booksellers, please consult the handy-dandy poster for any information you might need, and if there's anything you need to know that isn't on there, please email Michelle & Ellen over at Raincoast with your requests!

In the meantime, friends, stay Curious, and enjoy the rest of the summer!

Three Cheers for Kid McGear!

Anyone remember Mighty Machines?  Kid McGear, the hardworking brainchild of Sherri Duskey Rinker and AG Ford, is the newest truck to join the Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site crew, an incredibly popular children's title from Chronicle Books. Can the new Kid on the site prove she's big enough? 

Three Cheers For Kid McGear will be released on September 24th. In the meantime, Chronicle has put together a fun character reveal video done by illustrator AG Ford, which you can watch here, and a dedicated landing page which you can view here.

The first Loan Star Jr. list!

BookNet Canada has finally announced their Loan Stars list for Juvenile and Young Adult titles, the Loan Stars Jr. list!

This new list allows library staff to recommend forthcoming picture books, middle-grade, and YA titles.  Click here to review the top 10 picks from BookNet's first Loan Star Jr. list! 

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!

Introducing Red Apple Reading!

Canadian Children's Book Centre is excited to launch it's new Red Apple Reading program! This is a fantastic online community where Canadian librarians and educators connect through their love of books for children and teens. Ask librarians and educations questions and share ideas by joining their Facebook community online!