Finalists Announced for TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award
Prestigious $20k prize celebrates most distinguished
English-language Canadian children’s book of the year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (Toronto, August 6, 2008) — The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) and TD Bank Financial Group (TDBFG) are proud to announce the finalists of the 2008 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award for the most distinguished book of the year. This annual award recognizes excellence in Canadian children’s literature with a $20,000 prize.

This year’s nominated titles will captivate the hearts and imaginations of children (and adults!) everywhere. Readers will be introduced to the young Sherlock Holmes and the crime-ridden streets of 1867 inner-city London; 11-year-old Elijah, the first African Canadian child to be born into freedom in Buxton, Ontario, a settlement for runaway slaves; a young girl named Kate who is fraught with jealousy after being selected by artist John Singer Sargent to be a model for a painting, only to be replaced; a young bat named Dusk who can not only fly, but see at night using echo vision; and young Louise, the little sister who pesters her older brother so much so that he wishes she would just disappear… and she does!

All books, in any genre, written by a Canadian for children ages one through 12 were eligible for the award. Entries were judged on the quality of the text and illustrations and the book’s overall contribution to literature. The winner will be announced at a gala at The Carlu in Toronto on November 6, 2008.

The finalists for the 2008 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award are:

Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose: The Story of a Painting
by Hugh Brewster
with paintings by John Singer Sargent
Kids Can Press

Darkwing
by Kenneth Oppel
HarperCollins Publishers

Elijah of Buxton
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Scholastic Canada

Eye of the Crow: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His First Case
by Shane Peacock
Tundra Books

Please, Louise!
by Frieda Wishinsky
illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
Groundwood Books

JURY MEMBERS: Maya Munro Byers, owner, Livres Babar Books, Montreal; Theo Heras, Children’s Literature Resource Collection Specialist, Lillian H. Smith Library, Toronto Public Library; Dr. Dave Jenkinson, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba; Dr. Ron Jobe, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia; and Norene Smiley, author, Pugwash, Nova Scotia.

Jury comments on the finalists for the
2008 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award

Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose: The Story of a Painting by Hugh Brewster with paintings by John Singer Sargent
“An outstanding information book… Beautifully written and produced, with a fine balance of illustration, biographical and historical detail and insight into the creative process, all through the viewpoint of a child whose humanity makes it true.”

Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel
“Darkwing continues Oppel’s reputation for creating textured, engrossing animal societies that win generations of fans. The exceptional writing is filled with descriptive details, emotive connotations and visual sightings that give a richly plotted, fact-filled glimpse into this prehistoric world.”

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
“Tears of laughter and sadness commingle as Curtis immerses readers in the daily happenings of the nineteenth century Ontario community of Buxton whose inhabitants are slaves who have escaped from the United States. This novel engagingly and dramatically brings to life a little known segment of Canadian history.”

Eye of the Crow: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His First Case by Shane Peacock
“Historical fiction at its finest! The plot, speculating on the childhood adventures of Sherlock Holmes, is well-constructed, fast paced and embedded with details. Superb characterization is accompanied by witty dialogue and the author’s love of vivid descriptive words.”

Please, Louise! by Frieda Wishinsky, illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
“A gem of a picture book delighting in the warm relationship between brother and younger sister. Lively watercolours explode across the pages adding detail and humour to the powerful simplicity of the text. The words sing as they are read!”

* * * * *

About the Canadian Children’s Book Centre (www.bookcentre.ca)
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is a national, not-for-profit organization, founded in 1976 to encourage, promote and support the reading, writing and illustrating of Canadian books for young readers. The CCBC’s programs, publications and resources help teachers, librarians, booksellers and parents select the very best for young readers.

About TD Bank Financial Group Community Giving (www.td.com)
TD Bank Financial Group’s Community Relations program supports education, health and the environment, with a focus on children and youth. TD Bank Financial Group sponsors five flagship programs – TD Canadian Children’s Book Week, TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership, the Children’s Miracle Network, TD Summer Reading Club and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation – as well as a host of national, regional and local children’s programs across Canada.

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For more information contact:
Charlotte Teeple, Executive Director
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre
Tel: 416.975.0010
charlotte@bookcentre.ca

~kc

also blogging as leftwriter

This was made from CWILL’s table at the SDLAF as well as my presentation there. This is an annual event hosted by Pandora’s Collective, at Stanley Park in Vancouver.

For more information see my blog: http://jamesmccannauthor.blogspot.com/

BC-AUTHORED BOOKS SET IN BC LOCATIONS

Suggested by CWILL Members and compiled by Karen Autio

Children (C) Young Adult (YA)

Abbotsford:

The Beckoners (YA) by Carrie Mac

Barkerville:

Barkerville Gold (C) by Dayle Campbell Gaetz

By The Skin of His Teeth (YA) by Ann Walsh

The Doctor’s Apprentice (YA) by Ann Walsh

BC Forests:

Forestry A-Z (C) by Ann Walsh and Kathleen Cook Waldron

BC Mountains:

A Mountain Alphabet (C) by Margriet Ruurs

BC Southwest Interior:

Magnifico (C) by Victoria Miles

BC West Coast:

A Pod of Orcas: A Seaside Counting Book (C) by Sheryl McFarlane and illustrated by Kirsti Anne Wakelin

A Pacific Alphabet (C) by Margriet Ruurs

Sea Dog (C) by Dayle Campbell Gaetz

Spoiled Rotten (C) by Dayle Campbell Gaetz

The Lightkeeper’s Daughter (YA) by Iain Lawrence

BC Wilderness:

How Can I Be a Detective If I Have to Baby-sit? (C) by Linda Bailey

BC Wilderness near Whistler:

The Darwin Expedition (YA) by Diane Tullson

Bugaboo Provincial Park and Radium Hot Springs:

Vertical Limits (YA) by Pam Withers

Cariboo:

Jo’s Journey (C) by Nikki Tate

Never To Be Told (C) by Becky Citra

Cathedral Lakes Park:

Adrenalin Ride (YA) by Pam Withers

Chilliwack:

Skater Stuntboys (YA) by Pam Withers

Courtenay:

Perfect Blue (C) by Laura Langston

Crescent Beach:

Reading the Bones (C) by Gina McMurchy-Barber

Delta:

Home Court Advantage (C) by Sandra Diersch

Desolation Sound:

Adrift (YA) by Julie Burtinshaw

Discovery Islands:

The Whale’s Way (C) by Heather Kellerhals-Stewart

Fort St. James:

Eyewitness (YA) by Margaret Thompson

Fraser River – Lower Mainland:

Mud Girl (YA) by Alison Acheson

Fraser Valley:

Boxcar Kid (C) by Norma Charles

Fraser Valley near Hope:

The Golden Rose (C) by Dayle Campbell Gaetz

Gulf Islands:

How Can a Brilliant Detective Shine in the Dark? (C) by Linda Bailey

Tarragon Island (C) by Nikki Tate

No Cafes in Narnia (C) by Nikki Tate

Trouble on Tarragon Island (C) by Nikki Tate

Gulf Islands – Kuper Island:

No Time to Say Good-bye (YA) by Sylvia Olsen

Gulf Islands – Salt Spring Island:

A Sea Lion Called Salena (C) by Dayle Campbell Gaetz

Spoiled Rotten (C) by Dayle Campbell Gaetz

The Freedom of Jenny (YA) by Julie Burtinshaw

Lower Fraser Valley:

Pioneer Sounds (C) by Pat Godwin and Florence Nicholson

Maple Ridge:

Home Court Advantage (C) by Sandra Diersch

False Start (C) by Sandra Diersch

North Vancouver:

The Trouble with Cupid (C) by Laura Langston

Payback (YA) by James Heneghan

North Vancouver (Capilano Rainforest):

The Summer of the Spotted Owl (C) by Melanie Jackson

Okanagan:

Dragon in the Clouds (C) by Rosemary Nelson

Hubcaps and Puppies (C) by Rosemary Nelson

Pemberton and Area:

Peak Survival (YA) by Pam Withers

Port Hardy:

Dead In the Water (YA) by Robin Stevenson

Prince George and Area:

Raging River (YA) by Pam Withers

Queen Charlotte Islands:

Archipelago (C) by David Ward (coming in Fall 2008)

Richmond:

Ceiling Stars (YA) by Sandra Diersch

Robson Bight:

The Whale’s Way (C) by Heather Kellerhals-Stewart

Slocan Valley (West Kootenays):

Summer of Changes (C) by Ann Alma

Summer of Adventures (C) by Ann Alma

Smithers:

Alice, I Think (YA) by Susan Juby

Alice Macleod, Realist at Last (YA) by Susan Juby

Miss Smithers (YA) by Susan Juby

Squamish:

Extreme Edge (YA) by Heather Kellerhals-Stewart

Surrey/Sunshine Coast:

Meeting Miss 405 (C) by Lois Peterson (coming in Fall 2008)

Telegraph Cove:

The Rescue of Nanoose (C) by Mary Borrowman and Chloe O’Loughlin and illustrated by Jacqueline Wang

Tofino:

Miga, Quatchi and/et Sumi: The Story of the Vancouver 2010 Mascots (C) by VickiWong/Meomi

Surf Zone (YA) by Pam Withers

Vancouver:

Wishing Star Summer (C) by Beryl Young

How Come the Best Clues Are Always in the Garbage? (C) by Linda Bailey

Who’s Got Gertie? And How Can We Get Her Back? (C) by Linda Bailey

What’s a Daring Detective Like Me Doing in the Doghouse? (C) by Linda Bailey

What’s a Serious Detective Like Me Doing in Such a Silly Movie? (C) by Linda Bailey

Alecia’s Challenge (C) by Sandra Diersch

Offside! (C) by Sandra Diersch

Play On (C) by Sandra Diersch

Miga, Quatchi and/et Sumi: The Story of the Vancouver 2010 Mascots (C) by VickiWong/Meomi

Pick-Up Sticks (C) by Sarah Ellis

The Daring Game (C) by Kit Pearson

Awake and Dreaming (C) by Kit Pearson

Magnifico (C) by Victoria Miles

Seeds of Time (YA) by kc dyer

Secret of Light (YA) by kc dyer

Shades of Red (YA) by kc dyer

Flight or Fight (YA) by Diane Haynes

Crow Medicine (YA) by Diane Haynes

Gaia Wild (YA) by Diane Haynes (coming in Fall 2008)

Weeds and Other Stories (YA) by Jacqueline Pearce

Battle of the Bands (YA) by K. L. Denman

Rebel’s Tag (YA) by K. L. Denman

Flood (YA) by James Heneghan

Waiting for Sarah (YA) by James Heneghan

Tangled Web (YA) by Shelley Hrdlitschka

The Greenies (YA) by Myra Paperny

Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen (YA) by Glen Huser

Skud (YA) by Dennis Foon

Vancouver Island:

The Reunion (C) by Jacqueline Pearce

Under Emily’s Sky (C) by Ann Alma

Cougar Cove (C) by Julie Lawson

The Freedom of Jenny (YA) by Julie Burtinshaw

Another Kind of Cowboy (YA) by Susan Juby

Vancouver Island – Cowichan Valley:

The Tenth Pupil (C) by Constance Horne

Vancouver Island – Cumberland:

Red Goodwin (YA) by John Wilson

Vancouver Island – Extension:

Trapped by Coal (C) by Constance Horne

Vancouver Island – North:

The Mystery at Eagle Lake (C) by Dayle Campbell Gaetz

Le Secret du lac a l’Aigle (C) by Dayle Campbell Gaetz

Dead In the Water (YA) by Robin Stevenson

Vancouver Island – Saanich Peninsula:

Chasing the Moon (C) by Penny Chamberlain

Rebel of Dark Creek (Book #1, StableMates) (C) by Nikki Tate

Team Trouble at Dark Creek (Book #2, StableMates) (C) by Nikki Tate

Jessa Be Nimble, Rebel Be Quick (Book #3, StableMates) (C) by Nikki Tate

Sienna’s Rescue (Book #4, StableMates) (C) by Nikki Tate

Raven’s Revenge (Book #5, StableMates) (C) by Nikki Tate

Keeping Secrets at Dark Creek (Book #7, StableMates) (C) by Nikki Tate

Vancouver Island – West Coast:

Dead Reckoning (YA) by Julie Burtinshaw

Victoria:

Jo’s Journey (C) by Nikki Tate

Discovering Emily (C) by Jacqueline Pearce

Emily’s Dream (C) by Jacqueline Pearce

Mystery from History (C) by Dayle Campbell Gaetz

Under Emily’s Sky (C) by Ann Alma

Maggie and the Chocolate War (C) by Michelle Mulder

The Olden Days Locket (C) by Penny Chamberlain

Emily Carr’s Woo (C) by Constance Horne

The Golden Rose (C) by Dayle Campbell Gaetz

A Sea Lion Called Salena (C) by Dayle Campbell Gaetz

Awake and Dreaming (C) by Kit Pearson

Out of Order (YA) by Robin Stevenson

White Jade Tiger (YA) by Julie Lawson

No Problem (YA) by Dayle Campbell Gaetz

West Vancouver:

Never To Be Told (C) by Becky Citra

Whistler:

Miga, Quatchi and/et Sumi: The Story of the Vancouver 2010 Mascots (C) by VickiWong/Meomi

Happy reading!

-Karen Autio, Author of Second Watch (Sono Nis Press, 2005) and Saara’s Passage (Sono Nis Press, Fall 2008)

(posted for Karen by kc dyer, also blogging as leftwriter)

E

Intrepid YA authors kc dyer and James McCann have just returned from a rollicking Chocolate & Chat Tour of the Rockies, in which they hosted 9 events in 7 days, zooming through Kamloops, Banff, Calgary, Red Deer, Cochrane, Calgary again, Salmon Arm and Kelowna.

You can read all about the adventures on their blogs — kc dyer’s is HERE and James McCann’s is HERE.

Enjoy!

~kc

kc dyer and myself are on the first ever Western Canada Rocky Mountain Chocolate and Chat Road Tour. Together we are driving from Vancouver to Calgary, Calgary to Red Deer, Red Deer to Cochrane … and eventually back to Vancouver.

We’re not alone. Comic Life has sponsored this tour by providing a great draw give-away: free copies of Comic Life! This is a program that I personally have fallen in love with, and have used it as a unique way of blogging my author adventures. You can read a little about the sponsorship here.

So far, we’ve visited Chapters and Indigo in Kamloops and Banff.  Kamloops was fantastic, and they made us feel very welcome. The people we met there were interested in writing, and had some great questions. We would return there in a heartbeat.

Now we’re in Calgary, with two venues planned for tomorrow. At 1pm we’ll be presenting at Monkeyshines, and then at 7pm we’ll be at Owl’s Nest Bookstore. Thursday at 2pm we’ll be at the Red Deer Library, and at 7pm we’ll be at the Cochrane Library. Friday, we’re back in Calgary at Pages on Kensington at 7pm. Then, on Saturday, come see us at Spirit Quest books in Salmon Arm! Then, for our final stop, we’ll be in the Kelowna Chapters on Sunday at 6pm.

For more info hop on over to my blog.

Or kc’s blog.

On Monday I left with Lee Edward Fodi and Dan Bar-El to meet up with Kari Winters, Lori Sherrit and Kallie George at the CWC Canadian Camp 2008 (CWC is the Creative Writing for Children Society). This year it was held at Trinity Western University, which is a beautiful campus in Langley, BC very near Fort Langley (and the awesome Wedel’s Bookstore!).

On arrival, Lee and Kallie raced around their student’s rooms planting secret objects while Dan and I just tried to get our bearings. The theme for this camp was ADVENTURE, and I was partnered with Lori Sherrit of the TICKLE TRUNK PLAYERS. What I noticed most on arrival was the energy the students had - and there was a range from grade 4 up to grade 8 - as they met their roommates and saw the campus.

Lori and I had decided on the theme of “dungeon,” with me leading the writing and Lori the drama. In my class, students learned the terminology of dungeons such as the LORE and TRAPS and CODES or GUARDIANS. I showed them movie clips that reinforced my lecture, and then they began to write.

First they wrote the legend, or lore, of how their dungeon came to be. Then they drew maps, and wrote in secret passageways, guardians of the treasure, and traps to keep would-be adventurers out (or in!). Then they had Lori, who taught them to write a play - everything from story to character. Finally, Lori and I took what they did in both our classes and had them create a comic book that can be seen here.

What I’ll take away from this camp most of all won’t be the classes or the lessons, but the time spent with these awesome students. During free periods, Lee and I spent our time outside working on our own projects. While Lee drew, I wrote. And while we did this, there was always a group of students that came out to join us and watch.

One boy commented to Lee that he had thought Lee’s drawings just came from the computer, and this was the first time he really understood the work put behind each illustration. Another one of the boys told me that he enjoyed writing fantasy, because he could just make things up without any research. When I showed him the amount of research I put into writing my werewolf lore, he was very interested. It was moments such as those, when students got a chance to see working authors and illustrators in action, that they learned the most.

Of course, the camp was not all work. There was a treasure hunt with riddles and codes that had to be broken in order to figure out the course. Everyone had a great time running from point to point, working in groups to be the first to break the codes. It was awesome to see this group of students, many of whom were strangers when they met, working so well together.

The hardest part of the camp is the same as any camp - having to say goodbye and return back to Regular Life. There’s something very special about sharing meals with fellow writers - adult and student - that makes life just feel awesome. Suddenly being at home, typing away on a laptop without anyone knocking on your door to ask a question or slipping a coded message under your door as a prank, that feels a little too quiet. Of course, there’s always CWC camp next year…