November 2023 Newsletter

TD Grade One Book Giveaway Launch for Chaiwala!

This fall, Grade 1 children nationwide will take home Chaiwala!, written by Priti Birla Maheshwari, illustrated by Ashley Barron and published by Owlkids Books. Translated into French by Benoit Laflamme, francophone Canadians and French immersion students across Canada will receive copies of the French translation, also entitled Chaiwala ! Working with ministries of education, school boards and library organizations, the CCBC is currently distributing approximately 450,000 copies throughout the country.

This year, the launch of the program took place on Thursday, November 2 at Wilson Avenue Public School in Kitchener, Ontario, where author Priti Birla Maheshwari invited students to participate in a reading of the book. Students also had the chance to discuss the story and participate in activities. Illustrator Ashley Barron gave an art demonstration where students learned how to create a craft of their own—either a cup of chai or a hot chocolate. The event ended with signed copies of Chaiwala! being distributed to each of the students. A separate French launch of the book took place on November 14 at École primaire Jean-Grou in St. Laurent, Quebec. Learn more.

Seuls by Paul Tom and Mélanie Baillairgé wins the 2023 Prix TD!

Communication-Jeunesse (CJ) and the Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) are pleased to announce that the 2023 Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse has been awarded to Seuls, written by Paul Tom, illustrated by Mélanie Baillairgé and published by Éditions la courte échelle. The prize, supported by TD Bank Group, offers $50,000, which the author and illustrator share, while their publisher receives $2,500 for promotional purposes. An additional $10,000 is shared between the creators of the four remaining finalists for their contribution to Canadian children's literature. Learn more here.

Celebrate Canadian Teen Fiction with Amy Mathers & Help Us Meet Our Goal!

Amy Mathers has been passionate about reading from a young age. Born with a type of glycogen storage disease, she has received numerous transplants, but despite her physical challenges, she has volunteered and worked in the book community for many years. The Amy Mathers Teen Book Award honours excellence in teen/young adult fiction and offers an annual cash prize of $5,000, but the Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) needs new funding to keep it going. To that end, we've launched a fundraising initiative to support it. “Celebrate Canadian Teen Fiction with Amy Mathers” is a campaign in which Amy and special guests from the kidlit community highlight what they're reading and loving in the world of Candian YA. While we are making good progress with our fundraising initiative to keep her namesake award alive, the CCBC is still seeking more funding and a possible new partnership. We have raised $3,540 to date, which we are incredibly grateful for, but our goal is $9,000. We are dedicated and determined to ensure the continuity of the award with support from our community. Follow along @kidsbookcentre! Help keep this important award alive by donating today!

Winners Announced for the 2023 Governor General's Literary Awards

The Canada Council for the Arts has announced the winners of the 2023 Governor General's Literary Awards. The awards promote literature from Canada, recognizing the best English-language and French-language books in seven categories, including two categories for young readers—Young People’s Literature – Text and Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books. The awards carry a cash prize of $25,000, with $3,000 going to the publisher of the winning title. In addition, the finalists in each category also receive $1,000. Learn more here.

Accessibility Column 

Don’t Toss Braille Out with the Bathwater
by Rhianna McGregor Hajzer

I soaked up Braille like a sponge. But for many kids, that isn’t the case.

For many children, Braille is not being prioritized in their education. Preference is given to exposing them to the widest variety of literature possible by whatever “accessible” means necessary. Yet, while multiple formats offer a wider selection, the illiteracy of basic concepts such as spelling and grammar—which can only be learned through tactile means of reading and writing, like print—is stark in adulthood. With Braille not being prioritized, expensive to produce and bulky to store, how can we continue to reap its (necessary) literary benefits?

Enter refreshable Braille displays and notetakers. These devices offer the means to download and read books in electronic formats while preserving Braille and literary skills. I received my first notetaker—a PacMate—when I was in the fourth grade, and it was the first in a long line. It opened up a whole world of books and ideas for me to explore, but didn’t sacrifice the literary skills I’d need for future employment, relationships and participation in society.

Braille was made a top priority in my education and through it, many doors were opened for me both personally and professionally. Let’s not toss Braille out with the bathwater and keep finding innovative ways to use it daily, build our children’s literary foundations, and set them up for success.

 

Rhianna is a disability blogger, accessibility enthusiast and guide dog mom. She lives in BC and blogs at Not Your Blind Writer. 

Learn more about our Accessible Books for Young Readers project and visit Bibliovideo to watch videos about great Canadian books in accessible formats.

Asha’s papa makes and sells wooden toys to pay for her to go to school. But Papa struggles to find buyers. And this makes him worry. He worries Asha’s life will also be a struggle unless she focuses on her schoolwork, which he never had the chance to do. Can Asha’s art help Papa? Will he let her try? Author and illustrator Sakshi Mangal drew inspiration from her childhood in India for this sweet picture book. It celebrates the life-changing power of art in the real world, and offers children an opportunity to explore the concept of colour and the influence of the visual arts in their everyday lives. Mangal’s colourful art depicts the Indian city of Jodhpur, known as the Blue City for its many buildings painted a distinctive shade of blue.

Auntie always greets Cree in Nehiyaw when she comes for a visit. When Auntie arrives with a surprise gift hidden in her bag, Cree can’t wait to discover what it is. The first clue? It’s from the rez. As Cree tries to figure out what it might be, the bag starts to move. Cree is thrilled when the bag opens and out jumps a rez puppy! Cree asks Auntie how to take care of the new puppy. Auntie talks to Cree about the importance of dogs in their culture. They are our relatives, she explains, and need to be well taken care of. Cree decides she will name her new puppy Atim, the Nehiyaw word for dog.

When her family must move once more, Ophelia uses her imagination to make magic out of a scary situation. Giant rabbits with sharp teeth circle the old motel where they are staying. Ophelia can also hear crow-witches cackling from the trees. And when it’s time to go to her new school, she encounters an ogre who blocks the road with his giant ogre laughs. But most frightening of all is when Ophelia is left in her new class and realizes that everyone speaks French. Except her. The kids stare, and Ophelia feels like a fish in a fishbowl. But equipped with the magic of a sheet of white paper and a rainbow of pencils, she will find a way to cast her own spells over the class.

Sometimes, Jeffrey fixates on certain likes and dislikes. For example, he is very attached to the colour blue. He wears blue socks, blue underwear, a blue hat, and—of course!—blue jeans. At painting class, he paints only in blue. But when his classmate, Keiko, wants to use the blue paint, Jeffrey will have to try a different colour. With some gentle coaxing, the narrator helps him navigate his emotions, encouraging him to consider Keiko’s feelings. This story explores how something that seems simple for some people can be very complicated for others. Jeffrey’s caregiver provides choice, time and space to help Jeffrey process his emotions. The focus of the story is not about getting rid of Jeffrey’s fixation—it’s about widening his perspective to help a friend, which encourages empathy and compromise.

Coupled with Sayada Ramdial’s bright and colourful artwork, Julie and the Mango Tree by Sadé Smith will have readers of all ages giggling―and craving a mango of their own! Julie loves all kinds of fruit, but mangoes are her absolute favourite. One sticky summer afternoon, Julie goes to the big mango tree in her yard to ask for a snack. But no matter how nicely she asks or how patient she tries to be, the tree just won’t drop a single sweet, juicy mango! Will Julie ever be able to convince the tree to let her have just a taste of her favourite treat?

This traditional story, retold by Kugaaruk Elder Levi Illuitok, tells the tale of a Inuk boy who is adopted by little folk­―a magical race of small Arctic people called inugarulliit. The boy’s adoptive parents finally allow him to go hunting, where he catches a lemming. The little folk use their abilities to turn the lemming into a polar bear, and the catch is stored at their iglu. The boy’s parents are proud that their son can provide lots of meat to share with the community. This is a magical introduction to a traditional Inuit story for young readers.

It’s almost the end of middle school, and Charlie has to find her perfect song for a music class assignment. But it’s hard for Charlie to concentrate when she can’t stop noticing her classmate Emile, or wondering about Luka, who hasn’t been to school in weeks. Then, the class learns about opera, and Charlie discovers the music of Maria Callas. The more she learns about Maria’s life, the more Charlie admires her passion for singing and her ability to express herself fully through her music. Can Charlie follow the example of the ultimate diva, Maria Callas, when it comes to her own life?

A heartfelt story that celebrates the power of intergenerational love, connection and friendship, featuring the nostalgic imagery of a small East Coast village. When Peter was little, he asked his grandmother to knit him a VERY big sweater. So she made him a sweater with love knit into every stitch. Young Peter wore the sweater, with its drooping sleeves and oversized body, everywhere he went. Eventually, Peter outgrew his small seaside village and decided to see the world with his sweater providing comfort and a reminder of home on every adventure. After travelling for many years, he returns home to find a new family next door. They, too, have travelled from far away, and Peter finds a connection with the young son, who also needs a comforting reminder of home.

Princess Pru’s life is practically perfect. She has two loving dads, an ostrich named Orville, and three royal tarantulas. But one day, a ghastly ogre with crusty toenails and goopy ears moves into the house on the hill. At first, Pru sees the ogre as a nuisance: he disrupts her royal rock band practices, weekly tickle tag games and even the hide-and-seek tournament. But then she starts to wonder if the ogre is just lonely. The unsympathetic townspeople become especially terrified when Oggy the ogre is spotted buying cupcakes and balloons. They receive ominous notes (that look very much like invitations), and the kings are convinced that Oggy wants to make everyone into a stew! But with courage and spunk, Pru heads to the house on the hill to meet Oggy—for a party! All along, Oggy just wanted to make friends—and thanks to Pru, he does.

For one young child, nothing has been the same since losing their father. Words won't fit together. Playing soccer is no longer fun. And every night brings the same terrible dream... a black, slurping pit that looks just like the period their father taught about as a grammar teacher. Periods mean something has ended, forever. After receiving the gift of their father's old grammar book, other symbols appear in the dream. The comma that carries one idea to another might keep the child from being slurped up for a while, but to escape their nightmare for good, the child must make a startling discovery—one that will reach beyond dreams to help heal their grief and teach them the meaning of their father's favourite symbol of all.

Angie is used to helping her dad. Ever since they moved to Canada, he relies on her to translate for him from English to Chinese. Angie is happy to help: when they go to restaurants, at the grocery store, and, one day, when her dad needs help writing some signs for his work. Building off her success with her dad’s signs, Angie offers her translation skills to others in their community. She’s thrilled when her new business takes off, until one of her clients says he’s unhappy with her work. When her dad offers to help, she can’t imagine how he could. Working together, they find a surprising solution, fixing the problem in a way Angie never would have predicted.

The Animals Illustrated series mixes fun-filled animal facts suitable for the youngest of readers with intricately detailed illustrations to create a unique and beautiful collection of children’s non-fiction books about Arctic animals. Each volume contains first-hand accounts from authors who live in the Arctic, along with interesting facts on the behaviours and biology of each animal. In this book, kids will learn about the many body adaptations that make Arctic foxes perfectly designed for life in the Arctic, as well as some of their amazing abilities―like being able to travel huge distances in search of food, even swimming between islands on their quest!

What can one person do in the face of global environmental degradation? Indian Jadav Payeng has proven that each and every one of us can make a difference. As a boy, he began planting trees on a sandbank in the state of Assam. Nobody believed that he would succeed in doing so. But since 1979, a forest the size of Central Park has emerged, offering a home to countless animals and plants. It was not until 2007 that a photographer accidentally discovered the forest and made Payeng known to the world beyond India. Rina Singh has sensitively retraced the story of young Jadav. In Ishita Jain's picture book debut as illustrator, readers feel immersed in the spectacular habitat whose existence borders on a miracle come true.

When Freddie was young, he saw a plane up close for the first time when it dropped off supplies at his family’s remote bush camp. He was instantly hooked. Freddie has flown for nearly 70 years, doing everything from supply runs to search and rescue to transporting dog teams to far-flung areas. This book celebrates Freddie’s early dreams of flying and his later achievements. Readers move with Freddie through the year, hearing about his journey as a pilot and leader, while learning the names of the months in Gwich’in and Inuvialuktun at the same time. Art from Inuvialuit painter Audrea Loreen-Wulf perfectly captures the incredible Western Arctic as well as Freddie’s love for aviation.

Helicopters, gliders, and planes—oh my! Young readers never get tired of cool flying machines. Indulge their love for things with wings (and a few without) with bright photographs and jaunty verse that makes it easy for pre-readers to chime in. They won’t even notice the subtle language lesson in prepositions as the hot air balloon drifts between the mountains, the water bomber swoops through the smoke, and the space station orbits around the Earth. With Look Up High! Things That Fly, Victoria Allenby adds another kid-tastic instalment to the Big, Little Concept Books collection. Like its predecessors, the book features a closing note to caregivers with age-appropriate enrichment activities to extend both the learning and the fun. 

This celebration of curiosity is an excellent resource for fostering an interest in STEM. Sometimes, it seems as if scientists know everything about the world. They've recorded the songs of humpback whales, dug up the bones of dinosaurs, and even tracked the storms of Jupiter. But the young scientist in this charming picture book knows there is so much more to explore. What Will I Discover? is an inspiring exploration of curiosity and scientific discovery—and all the great mysteries just waiting for an answer.

Photo: Linda Marie Stella 

Creator's Corner: Shannon Bramer

How did you get your start as an author of books for children?

My first picture book for children, Climbing Shadows, was written while I worked as a kindergarten lunchroom supervisor for the Toronto District School Board. The amazing teacher I was working with knew I was a writer and encouraged me to read poems to the kids whenever possible. For Valentine's Day, I wrote a poem for each child (they requested the subjects of their poems!) and we read all of the poems together, alongside other poetry that I would bring into the class for them. The delight in creating and reading poetry with those kids was the springboard for me to refine the poems and begin looking for a publisher.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

My inspiration mostly comes from children. I love kids as much as I love poetry. I love listening to them, I am dazzled by their ideas, sensitivities, bravery, humour—so I love trying to make them laugh, feel and think with poems. I think having children and working with children means that I am immersed in a world of language and conversation and observations that I am always internalizing. I'm also inspired by artists, kindness, everything amazing in nature, music and the magic of language itself—the beauty of words. Also, I am so smitten with picture books. I have an alarmingly large collection of them that I started accumulating when I was a bookseller in my mid-twenties.

How did you come up with the idea for your second collection of poems, Robot, Unicorn, Queen?

Three children that I met during a school visit gave me the idea for the book by requesting that my next book be about "robots!", "unicorns" and "a queen." I could not get their exuberance out of my mind and started on the new manuscript right away.