2007 Information Book Award Announced

The Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada proudly announces,

THE 2007 INFORMATION BOOK AWARD
WINNER
I Found a Dead Bird: The Kids’ Guide to the Cycle of Life and Death
by Jan Thornhill. Maple Tree Press


HONOUR BOOK
At Vimy Ridge: Canada’s Greatest World War I Victory
by Hugh Brewster. Scholastic Canada

The 2007 Information Book Award prize of $500 will be presented on February 23, 2008, at the Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable Serendipity Conference. Accolades and heartiest congratulations to Winner Jan Thornhill (Maple Tree Press) and to Honour Book recipient Hugh Brewster (Scholastic Canada). And… a round of applause for the other exceptional and worthy short-listed authors, illustrators and publishers: Deborah Hodge, John Mantha (illustrator) and Kids Can Press (The Kids Book of Canadian Immigration), Herb Shoveller and Kids Can Press (Ryan and Jimmy and the Well in Africa that Brought Them Together) and Val Ross and Tundra Books (You Can’t Read This: Forbidden Books, Lost Writing, Mistranslations and Codes).

Sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the voting process of this very special award that acknowledges excellence in Canadian non-fiction aimed at informing, inspiring and connecting young readers from coast to coast.

Lois Brymer, National Chair, Information Book Award Committee, jmbrymer@axion.net

Ron Broda and TD Canadian Children's Book Week

Celebrate the Magic of Books during TD Canadian Children's Book Week from November 17-24
with Ron Broda one of Canada’s most renowned children's book illustrators and paper sculptors.

November 18, 2007
James Bay Community Centre Library
1-2 pm (for primary grades)
2:30-3:30pm (for intermediate grades)
*parents or guardians must attend with their children. (Free, but please reserve by phoning 598-5645 or emailing sheryl@sherylmcfarlane.ca)

November 19, 2007
7:30 pm
Spectrum Community School Library, 957 Burnside West
Entrance Free
Come early and browse the bookseller's table, and bring a friend!

illustrator
	biography... Ron Broda is a children's book illustrator and paper sculptor from Sarnia, Ontario. Born and raised in New Hamburg, Ontario, Ron was one of 11 children. He struggled as a student with ADD and learning disabilities, long before they had a name, or a method of accommodation. He shares these experiences, and how he overcame them, in several of his workshops and seminars. These very things that held Ron back as a student, have brought him great success as an illustrator and public speaker. Ron believes that children with learning differences should be encouraged to explore their unique talents and abilities. Ron has over 20 years of experience in advertising, art direction and commercial illustration. The medium of paper sculpture combines paper and water colour to create vivid illustrations with great detail and realism. They are labour intensive, and when photographed, have the ability to transform a 3-dimensional image onto the page of a book. Ron has used these skills for many ad campaigns and art pieces for such clients as Coca-Cola, Chrysler, and Xerox among others, and had the honour of being named "One of Canada's Top 5 Illustrators". Of the 12 books Ron has illustrated to date, his favorite book is The Little Crooked Christmas Tree. This book has since been made into a classic television production narrated by Christopher Plummer. Ron and his family enjoy watching it every Christmas on TV!
Ron enjoys visiting schools and libraries when he is not at work in his studio, and he is a strong supporter of delivering the curriculum through the arts. Many of his workshops can be specially designed by the teachers to make effective use out of the artistic talents of himself and those of the students. Ron is married with 3 children, one of whom shares his gifts of artistic talent AND unique learning style.
bibliography... In My Backyard (Tundra Books, 2007) Why Animals Show Off (Scholastic Canada, 2004) Take a Closer Look (Harcourt, 2004) Butterflies (Grosset & Dunlap, 2000) Dinosaur (Digging Up A Giant) (Scholastic Canada, 1999) 3D Paper Craft (Scholastic Canada, 1997) Have You Seen Bugs? (Scholastic Canada, 1996) Spider Lunch (Grosset & Dunlap, 1995) Waters (Scholastic Canada, 1993) Blue Jay Babies (National Geographic, 1991) Caterpillar Magic (National Geographic, 1990) The Little Crooked Christmas Tree (Scholastic Canada, 1990)
awards... Dinosaur (Digging Up A Giant) Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice 2000 starred selection Bronze, 3Dimensional Art Directors and Illustrators Awards Show, Children's Book Category, 1999 Have You Seen Bugs? Ontario Library Association Canadian Materials Committee Best Bet, Non-Fiction Category, 1996 Bronze, 3Dimensional Art Directors and Illustrators Awards Show, Children's Book Inside Page Category, 1995 Bronze, 3Dimensional Art Directors and Illustrators Awards Show, Children's Book Complete Book Category, 1996 Shortlisted for the 1997 Canadian Library Association’s Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award Why Animals Show Off Recommended by the Canadian Toy Testing Council, 2004
praise for Ron Broda... Dear Ron, I am a grade 5 teacher at Jack Chambers P.S. who had the opportunity to listen to your presentation at our school today. I cannot tell you how timely your honest recounting of the difficulties and mis perceptions you faced as a child dealing with ADD were for so many children in my class, one in particular. I have a young man who for years has suffered from low self-esteem and this year was diagnosed with ADD. The diagnosis has done little to make him feel better about himself, but has certainly alerted family and teachers to his special needs. Although over the years everyone has told him that he is not "stupid" as he refers to himself, he has never believed it. I have a feeling that your words today finally hit home. Like you, he loves to draw and feels it is the only thing he is good at — and some days won't even give himself that credit. While he has difficulty with core subjects, particularly math and writing, he is incredibly talented at acting, drawing and communicating with people of all ages. I watched his face as you spoke today and could see the intensity with which he was listening. He came back to class after the lunch break and asked if instead of doing silent reading would he be able to.....draw. I hope you realize that your words are as moving and inspirational as your art. I commend you for spending time in schools, for sharing your experiences and for letting kids see that being a little different doesn't mean being a failure. Please continue to spread the word in the gentle and sincere way that you do. It means so much to so many.

For information about Book Week check out www.bookweek.ca.

Sono Nis Press panel

Monday night's Sono Nis panel was a great success. Thanks to the three authors, Nikki Tate, Sylvia Olsen, and Julie White, publisher Diane Morris, and guests Ron Martin and Karen Brain who inspired their stories. And as always, thanks to Cadboro Bay Books for providing such a plethora of titles for us to peruse. Here are a few pictures of the evening.

The Power of Small

Event Announcement: Sono Nis Press Panel: The Power of Small
October 15th at 7:30pm - Spectrum Community School Library, 957 West Burnside Road
Sponsored by the Victoria Children's Literature Roundtable - Members Free, Public $5.00/$4.00

A publisher that won’t sell to Chapters? Tours its authors? Pays decent advances? Refuses to print offshore? Doesn’t quibble about royalty rates? Keeps backlist books in print? Throws fabulous author dinners several times a year? Hosts visiting authors in a specially built guest suite? A thriving publisher located not in the heart of Toronto but on the side of a mountain in the Slocan Valley? When most Canadian publishers are crying doom and gloom, how is it possible for such a small press to exist in today’s tough business climate?

Come meet publisher Diane Morriss and three Sono Nis authors with new books out this fall and learn the secrets of Sono Nis’ success. Nikki Tate, Sylvia Olsen, and Julie White (author of the new novel High Fences) will share their experiences working with one of Canada’s smallest (but finest) publishing houses. Other guests will include Ron Martin (the inspiration and guide for Sylvia Olsen’s new picture book, Which Way Shall I Go?) and Karen Brain (the subject of Nikki Tate’s biography, Double Take: Karen Brain’s Olympic Journey). This panel presentation hosted by the Victoria Children's Literature Roundtable is a great opportunity to celebrate the release of three new titles, meet the authors and their muses, and the publisher who works so hard to create quality books.

The Press
Sono Nis Press - Diane Morriss
Sono Nis Press was established 39 years ago by J. Michael Yates and began its life as a literary house specializing in poetry and fiction. Richard Morriss of Morriss Printing bought Sono Nis in 1976 and moved it to Victoria, B.C. He continued to publish poetry and added high-quality regional non-fiction to the mix. Many of those early non-fiction works have been reprinted many times and are still in print. When Richard Morriss passed away in 1994, his daughter Diane Morriss took over the company.

In 2002, publisher Diane Morriss and her husband, graphic designer Jim Brennan, moved Sono Nis from Victoria to Winlaw, a small community in the Kootenay mountains of southeastern British Columbia. Sono Nis' new office building and warehouse are situated on a picturesque thirty-three-acre mountainside retreat overlooking the Slocan Valley.

In 2007, Sono Nis celebrates 39 years of publishing: 39 years, more than 300 titles, 300 authors, and a fabulous string of Canadian poetry and history prize nominations and awards including the Pat Lowther Memorial Award, Eaton's Book Prize, BC Book Prizes, Governor General Awards, Lieutenant Governor's Medal for History, CAA Award, BC History Prize and others. For more than three decades Sono Nis has been devoted to its talented authors and committed to marrying strong content to high production values. The press publishes an average of six books a year and has approximately 130 titles in print. After all these years, Diane Morriss remains enthusiastic about publishing, throwing herself heart and soul into each new project. Morriss is known for thinking outside the box and running her company with passion, enthusiasm, and innovation.

The Authors
Sylvia Olsen
Popular author, Sylvia Olsen is all about stories. "I love storytelling," Olsen says. "I tell stories about the things I know, the people I meet, and the faces I see every day." Born and brought up in Victoria, BC, Olsen married into the Tsartlip First Nation when she was seventeen and for more than thirty years she has lived and worked and raised her four children in the Tsartlip community. As a writer, she often finds herself exploring the in-between place where Native and non-Native people meet. Olsen currently works in the area of First Nations community management, with a focus on reserve housing.

Nikki Tate
Nikki Tate is the author of the best-selling StableMates series, the Tarragon Island novels, the Estorian Chronicles, and half a dozen other titles for young readers. Tate lives on a tiny farm on Vancouver Island, which she shares with several equine friends, goats, dogs, cats, and birds.


Julie White relies heavily on her family, friends, and coworkers to cover for her when she’s on a writing binge. Fortunately, her husband and daughters are willing to jump in and help out with chores on the family horse farm near Armstrong, BC. A dreamy, imaginative child, White began writing as soon as she could wield a pencil. Today she writes about the subjects she understands best; children and their horses and ponies, the world of horse shows and riding lessons, and the everyday challenges faced by children, family, and friends as they learn to muddle through life as best they can. White loves immersing herself in the lives of her characters and sometimes finds herself thinking that writing is more fun than real life.

The Books
Which Way Should I Go?
By Sylvia Olsen with Ron Martin
Illustrated by Kasia Charko
ISBN: 978-1-55039-161-9
$19.95, full colour hardcover

Illustrated by Kasia Charko, this charming picture book captures the close relationship between grandparent and grandchild and shares a profound message with a deft, light touch.

Joey is a happy Nuu-chah-nulth boy, eager to help and quick to see the bright side of things. But when he loses his beloved grandmother, the sun goes out in his world. Fortunately, she has left something of herself behind ­ a song, which keeps knocking on Joey's heart, and a dance, which urges him to get up on his feet and choose again. Choosing was what their song was about, and Grandma's lessons prove strong indeed. Joey chooses to remember Grandma with joy and to take up his daily life again with a spring in his step.

Double Take: Karen Brain's Olympic Journey
by Nikki Tate
Suitable for ages 10+
978-1-55039-162-6
$12.95
Sono Nis Press
1-800-370-5228

Double Take is for young horse-lovers, biography fans, or anyone who loves an inspiring true story. From an early age, Canadian equestrian Karen Brain is determined to someday compete in the Olympics. Her first riding lessons aren't terribly encouraging, but Karen is determined. Soon jumping over obstacles becomes her specialty - literally and figuratively - as she struggles to get her own mount, the coaching she needs, and the funds to achieve her goals. Winning isn't a problem, though. Karen's hard work puts her at the top again and again. And then, one day, she falls. Her spine is shattered, and her doctors tell her she might never walk again, much less ride a horse. And jumping? Impossible.

Well, obstacles are this rider's specialty. How much so readers will discover as they follow her challenging but ultimately successful course from hospital bed to Paralympic triumph.

The story is expertly guided by the capable hands of Nikki Tate, author of many popular horse novels for young readers. Tate's characteristically energetic prose - plus many photos from the Brain family's own collection - beautifully convey Karen's zeal for her beloved horses and the work of riding them; her generous gratitude for the support of friends, family, and coaches; her joy and infectious enthusiasm; and, above all, her indomitable spirit.


High Fences by Julie White

ISBN: 978-1-55039-163-3
Suitable for ages 8+
Sono Nis Press
1-800-370-5228
$9.95
Fans of The Secret Pony will be delighted by this companion novel about Kirsty’s friend Faye. Readers new to Julie White are sure to become fans of the author’s perfectly evoked world of young riders – and its complicated friendships.

When Faye finds herself in the horrible position of having to sell her beloved pony, she struggles to accept the inevitable and rise above her feelings of frustration and resentment to help the same person who is causing her so much grief.

Moly Bang Breakfast in Vancouver

If you're planning a trip to Vancouver the weekend after Thanksgiving, why not take in this fabulous illustrator breakfast.

For more information, visit the Vancouver Children's Literature website.

Canadian Book Centre Announces short-lists...

The Canadian Children's Book Centre has just announced a wack of short-lists for Canadian Children's Book Awards. So exciting! You will definitely want to read them all!

TD CANADIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AWARD ($20,000)
Sponsored by the TD Bank Financial Group

I Found a Dead Bird: The Kids’ Guide to the Cycle of Life & Death
Written by Jan Thornhill
Maple Tree Press

“Fascinating and one-of-a-kind… This book is groundbreaking… Complimented by wonderful photographs, this book covers a difficult subject in a beautiful way.”

Johnny Kellock Died Today
Written by Hadley Dyer
HarperCollins Canada

“This story moves like a meandering, enjoyable summer full of wit, humour and honesty… Dyer is a stylist, an exquisite writer.”

Odd Man Out
Written by Sarah Ellis
Groundwood Books

“Beautifully written… I re-read this book as soon as I finished… Ellis skillfully weaves together a story within a story and creates a place for the reader… A brilliant ending.”

Stanley’s Wild Ride
Written by Linda Bailey
Illustrated by Bill Slavin
Kids Can Press

“Bailey’s fabulous dogs paired with Slavin’s perfect illustrations make for a picture book that is successful on all levels… This book is laugh-out-loud funny… What a great ride!”

Rex Zero and the End of the World
Written by Tim Wynne-Jones
Groundwood Books
“A fabulous book about the new kid in town…I laughed, I cried… Brilliant and beautifully written… Wynne-Jones is a master writer at the top of his field.”

Jury members: Merle Harris, author and storyteller; Theo Heras, Children’s Literature Resource Collection Specialist, Lillian H. Smith Library, Toronto Public Library; Dr. Dave Jenkinson, professor, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba; Norene Smiley, author; and Maya Munro Byers, owner, Livres Babar Books, Montreal.
. . . .

NORMA FLECK AWARD FOR CANADIAN CHILDREN’S NON-FICTION ($10,000)
Sponsored by the Fleck Family Foundation

Factory Girl
Written by Barbara Greenwood
Kids Can Press

“A fresh take on this universal topic… The research is meticulous… Greenwood expertly weaves together fact and fiction… Poignant, personal and fabulous, this book draws you in.”

Fire! The Renewal of a Forest
Written and illustrated by Celia Godkin
Fitzhenry & Whiteside

“This book demonstrates a scientific point in an enlightening way by showing examples of how wildlife not only survive but thrive after a fire… The artwork is stunning… Godkin marries fine art and non-fiction like no other.”

Genocide
Written by Jane Springer
Groundwood Books

“Well-written, well-argued, well-researched…This book is part of an incredible series… Springer explores this compelling and relevant topic making it accessible to teens.”

I Found a Dead Bird: The Kids’ Guide to the Cycle of Life & Death
Written by Jan Thornhill
Maple Tree Press

“Exceptional, original and engaging… The topics covered in this book are so powerful and so unusually fascinating… If you had to pick one way to explain our struggle with life and death this book would be it.”

Ryan and Jimmy: And the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together
Written by Herb Shoveller
Kids Can Press
“Compelling, touching, true-to-life and inspirational… Written with empathy for a child’s point of view, this book manages to neither make its subjects seem like heroes nor trivialize their lives.”

JURY MEMBERS: Mary Anne Cree, Junior School Librarian, The Bishop Strachan School; Polly Fleck, Governor General’s Award-nominated poet and member of the Fleck family; Frieda Wishinsky, author; Sheila Koffman, owner, Another Story Bookshop, Toronto; and Todd Kyle, branch manager, Churchill Meadows Library, Mississauga Library System.
. . . .
MARILYN BAILLIE PICTURE BOOK AWARD ($10,000)
Sponsored by A. Charles Baillie
Abby's Birds
Written by Ellen Schwartz
Illustrated by Sima Elizabeth Shefrin
Tradewind Books

“Beautiful integration of visuals and text... This innovative picture book uses paper collage and origami to illustrate its theme about the relationships between youth and age.”

Augustine
Written and illustrated by Mélanie Watt
Kids Can Press
“Watt invites young readers to explore art through her amazing, playful and luminous illustrations… The anxieties and fears of moving and making new friends are sensitively captured in this gentle tale… Watt knows exactly what her audience wants.”

Fox Walked Alone
Written and illustrated by Barbara Reid
North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada

“A beautiful book with amazing artwork… With lovely rhythm and perfect poetry, Reid shares a unique version of the animals’ journey to Noah’s Ark... A timeless, visual feast.”

Scaredy Squirrel
Written and illustrated by Mélanie Watt
Kids Can Press

“Clever, exciting and groundbreaking, this book is a real delight... A great and interactive way to get kids reading… Kids will love this book!”

When You Were Small
Written by Sara O'Leary
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
Simply Read Books

“Beautifully illustrated and timeless… O’Leary takes the reader on a whimsical tour of the imagination and captures the essence of what it is like to be a child.”

Zoe and the Fawn
Written by Catherine Jameson
Illustrated by Julie Flett
Theytus Books

“A lovely and gentle picture book with a touching storyline that greatly appeals to younger readers… Beautifully integrates Native Okanagan (Syilx) words and expressions into the text.”

JURY MEMBERS: Jeffrey Canton, Faculty of Arts, York University and children’s book reviewer; Myra Junyk, literacy advocate and author; and Janis Nostbakken, writer, producer, broadcaster and founding editor of ChickaDEE magazine.
. . . .
GEOFFREY BILSON AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ($1,000)
Sponsored by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Bilson Endowment Fund

Kanada
Written by Eva Wiseman
Tundra Books

“A poignant story that depicts the horrors of life inside the German concentration camps and the prejudice and persecution which the Jewish people experienced… Wiseman’s writing style is captivating and young people will be easily swept into the story.”

Meyers’ Rebellion
Written by Connie Brummel Crook
Fitzhenry & Whiteside

“Crook brings us an action-packed story full of historical details about real people… The characters are strong and independent, holding to their beliefs as they become involved in the 1837 Rebellion in Upper Canada.”

A Rebel’s Daughter: The 1837 Rebellion Diary of Arabella Stevenson
Written by Janet Lunn
Scholastic Canada

“Lunn tells a tale of the “fall from grace” of an upper society family during the 1837 Rebellion… The book is well-researched and gives authentic details of the political situation in Upper Canada at the time.”
Terror at Turtle Mountain
Written by Penny Draper
Coteau Books

“Draper has done a first rate job of describing a terror filled night at Turtle Mountain… The reader lives the Frank Slide through the experiences of the well-developed and likeable character of Nathalie Vaughan and by the seamless weaving in of several historical stories.”

Where Soldiers Lie
Written by John Wilson
Key Porter Books

“This is an absolutely terrific book… Never lagging with a credible hero and an exotic setting which should engage both female and male readers… The pacing is flawless.”

JURY MEMBERS: Albert Fowler, author and storyteller; Sharon McKay, author; Vicki Pennell, editor of Resource Links and IMPACT; and Gail de Vos (chair), storyteller and professor, School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta.
. . . .
ABOUT THE TD CANADIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AWARD
The TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award was established in 2005 to honour the most distinguished book of the year for children aged 1 to 13. Entries are judged on the quality of the text and illustrations and the book’s overall contribution to literature. All books for children, in any genre, written by a Canadian, are eligible for the award. The winning book receives $20,000 and there is $10,000 to divide amongst the honour books. The publisher of the winning book receives $2,500 for promotional purposes.

ABOUT THE NORMA FLECK AWARD FOR CANADIAN CHILDREN’S NON-FICTION
The Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction was established by the Fleck Family Foundation in 1999 to recognize Canada’s exceptional non-fiction books for young people. The award honours Norma Fleck (1906 – 1998), who inspired a deep love of reading in her children and grandchildren. Dr. Jim Fleck, who initiated the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, is the son of Norma Fleck. The winning book receives $10,000.

ABOUT THE MARILYN BAILLIE PICTURE BOOK AWARD
The Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award honours excellence in the illustrated picture book format, for children aged 3 to 6. Charles Baillie, retired Chairman and CEO of the TD Bank Financial Group, is delighted to give the prize in his wife Marilyn’s name. As an award-winning children’s book author and an early learning specialist, Marilyn is involved in and passionate about children’s literature. The winning book receives $10,000.

ABOUT THE GEOFFREY BILSON AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
The Geoffrey Bilson Award was established in 1988 in memory of the respected historian and children's author, Geoffrey Bilson. The $1,000 prize is awarded annually to the Canadian author of an outstanding work of historical fiction for young people. In 2005, an endowment fund was created to support this award. If you wish to contribute to this fund, please contact the CCBC.

ABOUT THE CANADIAN CHILDREN’S BOOK CENTRE
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre is a national, not-for-profit organization and registered charity founded in 1976 to promote, support and encourage the reading, writing and illustrating of Canadian books for children and teens. With book collections and extensive resources in five cities across Canada, the CCBC is a treasure-trove for anyone interested in Canadian books for young readers. For more information, please visit www.bookcentre.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Charlotte Teeple
Executive Director
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre
40 Orchard View Blvd., Suite 101
Toronto, Ontario M4R 1B9
Tel: 416.975.0010
Fax: 416.975.8970
charlotte@bookcentre.ca
www.bookcentre.ca

Kit Pearson and Ken Oppel are coming to Victoria

A special event is coming to Victoria hosted by Munro's Books. Kit Pearson and Ken Oppel will be reading from new works on Friday October 12th at 7:30 at The Conference Centre. It will be very cool. I will be introducing Kit and Grenfell Featherstone, a freelance editor and one of Ken's former high school teachers, will be introducing Ken. You won't want to miss these two fabulous writers. Hurry Hurry Hurry, tickets won't last long and are available at:
MUNRO’S BOOKS
1108 Government Street, Victoria BC V8W 1Y2
www.munrobooks.com
phone (250) 382-2464 fax (250) 382-2832

Ken and Kit will be reading from their new books followed by a signing. Tickets are available at the store for $5.00 and can be used toward the purchase of Darkwing or A Perfect Gentle Knight (one ticket per book). Don’t delay as we expect this event to sell out quickly!

Information Book Award Short-List Announced

The Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada
Proudly Announces…..

THE 2007 INFORMATION BOOK AWARD FINALISTS
(IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)











At Vimy Ridge: Canada’s Greatest World War I Victory
by Hugh Brewster. Scholastic Canada.

I Found a Dead Bird: The Kids’ Guide to the Cycle of Life and Death
by Jan Thornhill. Maple Tree Press.

The Kids Book of Canadian Immigration.
by Deborah Hodge. Illustrated by John Mantha.
Kids Can Press.

Ryan and Jimmy and the Well in Africa that Brought Them Together.
by Herb Shoveller. Kids Can Press.

You Can’t Read This: Forbidden Books, Lost Writing, Mistranslations and Codes.
by Val Ross. Tundra Books.


Roundtables across Canada will consider these finalists at their fall meetings and vote for their top three choices. Our vote will take place on Sunday September 16th between 2-4pm @ 2540 Trent St. Come for tea and vote for your favourites.

Can't make the tea? No problem, email your vote to sheryl@sherylmcfarlane.ca on or before September 16th. The announcement of the award will be made during Canadian Children’s Book Week in November.

Orca Book Panel on Writing and Illustrating

If you missed the Vancouver Roundtable's Serendipity Conference this past weekend in Vanocuver, you missed the best in kid's lit conferences. Ten BC author's presented with, I think the highlight going to Linda Bailey who likened her literary journey to the that of riding a donkey. She compared her quest for the best story to reaching for but never quite grasping a carrot on a stick while on the back of said donkey as opposed to the limo carrying J.K. Rowlings was roaring by in. International stars were many but my all time favourite was the conversation between translator Anthea Bell and writer Cornelia Funke. Of course hearing illustrator Janet Stevens refer to her sister as Miss Prissypants was right up there but then you had to be there to hear how that story unfolded and how it relates to Janet's books. Not to worry though. You have plenty of time to sign up for next year, although our most esteemed Roundtable mentor and organizer extraordinaire, Ron Jobe may not be at the helm. The confence was also an opportunity to wish Ron the very best as he retires.

Meanwhile last night our own Victoria Roundtable welcomed a distinguished panel of writers, and illustrator and a writer/editor; all from Orca Books. Each member of the panel introduced themselves and spoke about their craft and or the business of writing before the floor was opened to questions. The information was fabulous for any who wanted to learn more about getting into writing or illustrating kids books. Here is a bit of information about each of our talented panel members.

Sylvia Olsen is a story teller. Since she was a child she loved to tell stories and she loved to listen to stories. So it follows naturally, you would think, that she should become an author. But it wasn’t stories in books that fascinated her it was stories told in person. It wasn’t until Sylvia was over forty years old that she thought about writing. Since then she gets up about 4:30 and writes until 6:30 or 7:00 am. By writing everyday she is learning the art of creating written stories. Sylvia has published 6 novels for young people including Yellow Line and White Girl, a picture book and an adult non-fiction title. She has another picture book due out this fall and at least one, maybe two more teen fictions coming out in 2008. Check out her website @ www.sylviaolsen.com/

After fifteen years as a bookseller at the University of Victoria Bookstore,
Sarah Harvey was thrilled to make the move to Orca, where she edits books for readers age eight and up, and plays Ping Pong with her boss, AndrewWooldridge. Sarah is the author of a picturebook, Puppies on Board. She hasa new book, Bull's Eye, part of the Orca Soundings series, coming out in Fall 2007 and a full length teen novel due in Fall 2008.

Frieda Wishinsky is the international award winning author of over forty trade and educational books. Her books have earned critical acclaim in magazines and newspapers around the world. EACH ONE SPECIAL was nominated for a 1999 Governor General's Award for text and JENNIFER JONES WON'T LEAVE ME ALONE won the 2004/5 UK Stockport, Portsmouth and Sheffield Children's Picture Book Awards. Frieda's books have been translated into many languages including French, Dutch, Danish, Spanish, Korean and Catalan.

Frieda enjoys sharing literature and the writing process . Her most recent titles are: BEWARE, PIRATES! and DANGER, DINOSUARS (Maple Tree Press) 2007), IT'S YOUR ROOM (Tundra Books, 2006), QUEEN OF THE TOILET BOWL (Orca Currents, 2005) and ALBERT EINSTEIN (DK, 2006). Find out more about Frieda @ www.canscaip.org/

Troy Wilson has written two picture books for Orca including Frosty is a Stupid Name and Perfect Man. He has also written three stories for Chickadee Magazine with his third Chickadee story to to appear in May's issue. Check out Troy's website @ www.troywilson.ca/

Jessica Milne is from the Comox Valley and grew up painting, drawing and taking photographs. Her active outdoor lifestyle has been a great influence and inspiration in her work. Throughout her childhood she was balancing her time between visual expression and riding horses, canoeing and skiing.

In Jessica’s work, she has found an interesting visual language that combines both fine art and illustration. Jessica completed a double diploma in Fine Art and Graphic Design at North Island College in Courtenay for which she received the Governor General’s Award for outstanding achievement. She went on to University of Victoria where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with Honours in the fall of 2000. For the past few years Jessica has enjoyed teaching adult drawing and painting classes.

Drawing and painting are often interchangeable, reflecting similar ideas of emotion and mood through color and light. The personality of each character is expressed in a unique style with playful line and texture. Jessica’s landscapes can be seen as interesting backdrops for stories or stand on their own as aesthetic compositions. Regardless of the medium, she is on a journey of visual expression combing elements that are both illustrative and aesthetically pleasing. She has done three books with Orca including: Jeremy and the Enchanted Theatre, Jeremy and the Underworld and Jeremy and the Golden Fleece. Check out Jessica's website @ www.jessicamilne.com/

Freedom To Read Week February 25-March 3

Ontario writer and community activist Deb Ellis joined us for Freedom to Read Week. Deb gave an impassioned speech about children in need of our assistance. She sees books like The Breadwinner, Three Wishes, and I am a Taxi as vehicles to inform and bring change. It is ironic that her books have been challenged in middle class schools because of the harsh realities they bring to the forefront. I have just returned from taking Deborah Ellis to her hotel after her last presentation during the Victoria leg of her western tour. I have spent the last several days listening to Deb address the effects of war, aids, poverty, and the drug trade on the lives of children with audiences that ranged from grade four students to senior citizens. The importance of the themes that Deb’s stories bring to the forefront are especially evident in the questions the young people in her audience ask; questions like how can kids live in prisons, why can’t kids who are sick get the medicine they need, and why can’t girls go to school in Afghanistan? Many will have read The Breadwinner, Pavanah's Journey and Mud City, but Deborah Ellis has written many other books. She is no one trick pony, despite this label she so often gives to herself. She is about shaking us out of our complacency and about empowering young people to demand more of our world and it's inhabitants. She is about social justice.

Not surprisingly, I was excited to hear that Deb has turned her compassionate yet critical storyteller’s eye on North American. Jakeman will be the title of her next novel. It's about kid whose mother goes to prison. It's about poverty and the feeling of being powerless, but it's also about alter-egos and about kids taking back their power. I can hardly wait to read it. Posted by readingkidsbook

25 Years Young

The Victoria Children's Literature Roundtable has been around for 25 years. We celebrated by dressing up for tea and inviting 25 BC authors and illustrators to join us. Here are Ron Jobe (one of our founding members) and Donna Dippie (a longtime member) dressed in their fancy duds.