(logo variation by michael martchenko) canscaip news...the need for compassion to kids early in life...
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Volume38Number4 Winter2016/2017ISSN0708-594X
CANSCAIPNEWSCanadianSocietyofChildren’sAuthors,Illustrators&Performers
LaSociétécanadiennedesauteurs,illustrateurs&artistespourenfants
CANSCAIPNEWSCanadianSocietyofChildren’sAuthors,Illustrators&Performers
LaSociétécanadiennedesauteurs,illustrateurs&artistespourenfants
•IntroducingMahtabNarsimhan•DavidBooth–ALifeinPublishing•NormaCharles–Vancouver’sReadingLightsProject•LisaDalrymple–A“WelcomeNeighbours”Event•TiffanyShort–PYIFirst-timer•ScotRitchie–Illustrator’sSketchbookPlusallourregularfeatures(LogovariationbyMichaelMartchenko)
CANSCAIPNEWSCanadianSocietyofChildren’sAuthors,Illustrators&Performers
LaSociétécanadiennedesauteurs,illustrateurs&artistespourenfants
Introducing… Mahtab Narsimhanby Karen KrossingM"#$"%N"()*+#",isaclosefriendandcritiquepartner,soIalreadyfeltwell-preparedtowritethisprofileofherandheraward-winningbooks.Luckyforme,myresearchinvolvedmeetingforahomemadelunchinMahtab’scomfortableTorontohome,whereIknewthemealandconversationwouldbescrumptious.
Mahtabisaself-proclaimedfoodie,evenwhenitcomestowriting.Shetoldme,“Ifanyauthormentionsamealwithoutdescribingit,Igetannoyed.Iwanttobeabletopicturewhatthecharactersareeating.”
Soheregoes.Withthesoundsofkidsplayingintheschoolyardnextdoor,weloadedourplateswithza’atar-spicedchicken,garammasalapotatoes,savourychickpeas,spicydaalandwafer-thinpapadums.Nottomentionthe
basmatiriceandgarlic-butternaanaswellascucumbers,tomatoes,andyogurtwithonionsandcumintosoothourpalates.HowwouldIinterviewMahtabifmymouthwasalwaysfull?
ReadingMahtab’swritingiseverybitasdeliciousasthefoodsheprepares.I’malong-
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CANSCAIPNEWS 2 WINTER2016/2017
timeadmirerofhermiddle-gradenovels—theTaraTrilogy(TheThirdEye,TheSilverAnkletandTheDeadlyConch)aswellasTheTiffinandthenewlypublishedMissionMumbai:A
NovelofSacredCows,Snakes,
andStolenToilets.Kidsandlibrarianslovethemtoo,andMahtabwontheOLA’s2009SilverBirchFictionAwardandwasnominatedfortheCLA’s2012Children’sBookoftheYearAwardaswellasmanyotherreaders’choiceawards.She’salsopublishedherfirstpicturebookthisyear—Lookingfor
LordGanesh—andhaswrittenshortstoriesandevenamemoiraboutherfirstmonthsinCanada(“What’sinaName?”inPiecebyPiece:StoriesAbout
FittingintoCanada,editedbyauthorTeresaToten).
Aswetuckedintoourmeal,IexplainedhowI’dbeenponderingwhatcharacteristicsMahtabshareswithhercharacters.Mahtabadmittedthat“everycharacterI’vewrittenhasalittlebitofme—eithersomethingIaspiretobeorsomethingIalreadyam.”
MPQRPSPTUQVWCQPWPXRVWYInMissionMumbai(Scholastic,2016),readersmeetstreet-smartNewYorkerDylanonvacationinIndiawithbest-friendRohit.AsDylaninvitesadventuresinvolvingintenseheat,massivecrowds,filthystreetsandstrangecustoms,Rohitworriesabouthisfamilyproblemsthatthreatentoruinthetrip.
MahtabtoldmethatDylanrepresentswhosheaspirestobe—funnyandover-the-topdramatic.Thekindofpersonwhocanletgoandenjoylife.Whocanembracechangewithoutover-analyzing.“EverythingI’dwrittenbeforeMissionMumbaiwasdarkandserious,”shesaid,“soIdidn’tthinkI’dbeabletopulloffDylan’svoice.WhenwritingDylan,Iwouldaskmyself,‘WhatwouldIdo?’andthenI’dhaveDylandotheopposite.”Mahtabadmittedthatshe’smorelikeRohit—conservativeanddowntoearth.ImentionedthatIfindbothDylanandMahtabtobecurious.Once,whenMahtabandIwereflyingtoNewYorktogetherforaconference,shewantedtotravelinthecockpit.Whenthatdidn’tworkout,sheaskedtheflightattendantifshecouldseethebackoftheplane,wherethegroundcrewwasloadinginsupplies.“Yes,Ilovetoobserve,toseewhatmakesthingstick,”Mahtabsaid.“Attheendofeachworkday,IletmyselfgowildandresearchwhateverIwantasareward.”IntheTaraTrilogy(DundurnPress,2007,2009,2011),Taraandheryoungerbrotherfaceimmeasurablechallenges—thedisappearanceoftheirmotherandhealergrandfather,acruelstepmotherwhomistreatsthemandanevilmagicalman
determinedtodestroytheirvillage.Torescue
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CANSCAIPNEWS 3 WINTER2016/2017
“Ilikeportrayingtheworldrealistically,whichiswhymystoriesdon’tworkoutperfectlyformycharacters.Idon’tlikerose-tintedglasses,eitherformyselforanyoneelse.”
herpeople,TaramustsummonbeliefinherselfandenlistthehelpofthegodGaneshandthelordofdeath,Yama.Whenwritingthetrilogy,Mahtabsaidshe“tookawayTara’sentiresupportsystem.Mothergone.Brothergone.Intheend,evenherwholefamilyisagainsther.Sothestoryanswersthequestion:CanTaradothisalone?LuckilyI’venotbeeninthatdireasituation.ButonethingIneededtolearninmylifeisthatthepersonIcanalwaysdependonismyself.”
SoacharacteristicMahtabshareswithTaraisself-reliance.EspeciallyduringtheyearsMahtabspentmovingfromIndiatotheMiddleEastandfinallytoCanada,sheneededtorelyonherself.Duringthistime,visatroublesmeantthatshelivedinadifferentcountryfromherhusbandfortwoofthoseyearswhilecaringfortheiryoungson,whohadhisfirstfourbirthdaysinfourdifferentcountries.BythetimethethreeofthemsettledinCanadain1997,Mahtabhadlearnedshecouldbeindependent.Shesaid,“It’salwaysabonusifIhavesomeonetohelp,butattheendoftheday,Ihavetostepuptotheplateanddowhatneedstobedone.”
Ipointedoutthat,althoughMahtabisanintrovertwholovestostayathomeandwriteinhercozyoffice,she’sshownheradventurousspiritinherjourneyfromIndiatoCanada,muchlikeDylan,whoexploresMumbai,andTara,whobravestheunderworldtosavehervillage.Mahtabagreed,althoughshedidn’tfeeladventurouswhilemakingthejourney.Morerecently,MahtabandherhusbandhavebeendiscussingplanstomovetotheVancouverarea—yetanotheradventuretoanewplace.
Mahtabalsosaidshe’sarisk-taker,muchlikeKunalinTheTiffin(DancingCat,2011).SetinMumbaiwithitsdabbawallas(menwhodeliverhome-cookedfoodintiffinboxestothe
“Ilikeportrayingtheworldrealistically,whichiswhymystoriesdon’tworkoutperfectlyformycharacters.Idon’tlikerose-tintedglasses,eitherformyselforanyoneelse.”
millionsofwhite-collarworkersthroughoutthecity),Kunalisthevictimofalostmessageinanundeliveredtiffin.Abandonedandalone,Kunaltriestotrackdownhismother,onlytorealizethathehadalreadyfoundhisrealfamily;onebasedonrespectandfriendship,ratherthanblood.Inthestory,Kunaltakesahugeriskwhenhereachesouttothemotherwhoabandonedhim.Wouldshewanttospeak
withhim?Wouldsherejecthimagain?“Idon’tmindtakingrisks,”Mahtabtoldme.“LikewhenIquitmyjobtostartwritingfulltime,Igaveupageneroussalarytostartafledglingcareerinwhichittakesyearstotakeoff.Still,Itooktherisk.”AsforKunal,hegetsahappyending,butnottheoneheexpected.Helearnstoappreciatewhathehas,aimforwhathewantsand
enjoytheunexpectedoutcomesthatlifebrings.Mahtabsaid,“Ilikeportrayingtheworldrealistically,whichiswhymystoriesdon’tworkoutperfectlyformycharacters.Idon’tlikerose-tintedglasses,eitherformyselforanyoneelse.”
TQVZVY[TMPQRPS’YWW[R[T\Inlifeandinherfiction,Mahtabisafiercedefenderoftheunderdog—andI’mnotjusttalkingaboutdogs,whichsheadores.Herfictionisfilledwithcharacterswhoareneglected,abusedandbullied.Forexample,hernewpicturebook,LookingforLordGanesh(Lantana,2016),isaboutagirlnamedAnikawhorecentlyemigratedfromIndiaandishavingtroublefittinginatschool.IaskedMahtabwhyhercharactersaresooftenunderdogs.
“Ithinktheyneedavoice,”Mahtabsaid.“Peoplewhoarestrongfindawaytoprevail.It’stheunderdogswhoneedourcompassionandhelp.”Mahtabhopesthatifwecanintroduce
“Ilikeportrayingtheworldrealistically,whichiswhymystoriesdon’tworkoutperfectlyformycharacters.Idon’tlikerose-tintedglasses,eitherformyselforanyoneelse.”
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CANSCAIPNEWS 4 WINTER2016/2017
theneedforcompassiontokidsearlyinlifethroughfiction,they’lldevelopastrongsenseofempathyandbecomecaringadults.
IpointedoutthattheheroesofMahtab’snovelstendtobeoutsideof“normal”cultureinsomeway,lookingin.Forexample,Tara’sfamilyturnsagainsther,KunalisrejectedbyhismotherandAnikaisexcludedfromschoolsoccergames.WhydoesMahtabwriteaboutexclusionandtheneedforbelonging?
“WhenIfirstcametoCanada,Ifeltlikeanoutsider,”Mahtabtoldme.Shewroteaboutthisfeelingin“What’sinaName?”(PiecebyPiece,Penguin,2010).Mahtabfoundithardtonavigateastrangesubwaysystem,findajobandcopewiththebitingcoldofwinter.Thenshenoticed“peoplewouldedgeawayfromme,andIwonderedwhyonearththeyweredoingthat.Itwashurtful.”Finally,whenshewasinanelevatorwithanIndiancouplewhosmelledstronglyofcookingodours,sherealizedthatshehadbeennoseblind—oblivioustosocialcustomsaroundcookingsmells.SheemptiedherlocalstoresofFebrezeandbegantocookwithherwindowsopen.Soon,shewashiredasarecruitmentmanager,helpingnewCanadiansnavigatesocialcustomsduringinterviewsaswellaslandingjobswithintheITsector.
MahtabandIbothagreedthatanythingkidsexperienceinlifeisfairgameforinclusioninabook,evendifficultsubjectmatter.SinceMahtabisn’tafraidtotackletoughsubjectmatterinhernovels,Iaskedwherethatspringsfrom.
“Ithinkthetoughsubjectsneedtobetackled,andthebestwaytodothatisinchildren’sfiction,”Mahtabsaid.Weagreedthatwhenanauthorpresentsdifficultmaterialinaninteresting,nonthreateningway,kidscanbenefitfromit.“Iwantkidstogrowupwithanunderstandingoftoughemotionsand
situationsinasafeenvironmentathomeorwiththeirparents,”Mahtabexplained.“Ithinkitpreparesthemforwhatthey’llfaceinreallife.”AlthoughMahtablovestodelveintohardtopics,shealsoknowshowtowritefunny.Dylan’sencounterwithasacredcowintheopeningpagesofMissionMumbaiishilarious.Howhardwasitforhertomovefromwritingserioustowritingfunny?“Itwasahugechallenge,”Mahtabtoldme.“I’mnotgenerallyafunnyperson.That’swhyIhadtoimagineDylan’sreactionstobeoppositetomine.”
ITU[PPYITY][WPR[^TMahtablivedinIndiauntilshewastwenty-four,andalmostallofhertitlesaresetthere.She’sobviouslygreatlyinspiredbyherhomecountry,andasareaderofherstories,Iamtoo.
“It’sarichculture,andit’sunder-representedinchildren’sbooks,”Mahtabsaid.“AlsoIknowIndiasowell,especiallyintermsofsensorydetails.Inseconds,IcanclosemyeyesandbeinthemiddleofCrawfordMarketinMumbai.”
Shealsowantstogiveavoicetothosepeoplewhoaren’tnormallyrepresentedinliterature,suchaskidsfromAsiancountries,sothatallchildrencanseethemselvesreflectedinthebookstheyread.AsagirlinMumbai,Mahtab’s
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CANSCAIPNEWS 5 WINTER2016/2017
schoollibrarywasstockedwithbooksaboutBritishchildren.ShelovedEnidBlyton’snovels,althoughshehadnoideawhat“scones”were,or“pottedmeat.”ShedidlovehowwellBlytondescribedfoodthough,andthewonderfuladventuresthecharactershad,eventhoughtheywereverydifferentfromherownchildhoodexperiences.
MahtabfirstturnedtoIndiaasinspirationtowritewhenherfatherpassedawaysuddenly.Seekingmemoriesofherwholefamilytogether,shebegantowriteadiaryofherearlylife.ThisdiarymadeMahtabwonderifshecouldwriteabook.Shelovedfantasy,andshenoticedthatnotmanykids’bookshadbeenwrittenaboutIndianmythology,soshestartedwritingTheThirdEye.Sincethatbookdidverywell,itshowedhowinterestedkidsareinthesubjectmatter.
ShewasinspiredtowriteTheTiffinwhenshewasseriouslymissingMumbai.Sheponderedwhatwasuniqueaboutthecityofherchildhood,anddecidedtowriteastorysetaroundthedabbawallasandtheirtiffin-deliveryservice.Whatifonetiffininthesixmilliondelivereddailywentastray?Whatifthatonetiffincarriedanimportantmessage?WhenshelivedinMumbai,thedabbawallaswouldannoyMahtab,pushingontocrowdedtraincompartmentswithbulkytiffincarriers.YearslaterinCanada,theybecameinspirationforawonderfulnovel.
OneofMahtab’sworks-in-progressisamiddlegradesciencefictionnovelsetonanotherplanet,andshe’sfoundithardtowriteabouttheforeignsetting.“IlovetoimmersemyselfinaplacewhenI’mwriting,usingallthefivesenses.Thechallengewithwritinganovel
setonanotherplanetis:HowcanIwriteaboutaplaceIhaven’tbeento?”
SinceMahtab’schildhoodexperienceswereinIndia,she’sfounditeasiertosetherchildren’sbooksthere,andshe’scurrentlyworkingonanadultnovelsetinIndia.AlthoughshewitnessedtheCanadianschoolsystemthroughherson’seyes,shedoesn’tfeelhervoicewouldbeauthenticifshewroteabout
certainaspectsofCanadianchildhood.
C^^_[T\U]PTEaa[X[VTRWW[R[T\PW^XVYYIknowfrompersonalexperiencethatMahtabisastellarcook.Infact,shestudiedhospitalitymanagementinIndia,includingcooking.Ialsoknowthatshecookswithoutrecipes.Inthekitchen,Mahtabembracesherintuitiveside.Atherwritingdesk,sheembracesadifferentphilosophy.Whenwriting,Mahtabbecomesthequeenofdiscipline.“I’mwritingby6:00"+,sixdaysa
week.”Withafirstdraft,sherereadsyesterday’sworkthenwrites1500to2000newwordswithintwohours.Herfirstdraftis“vomitonthepage,”followedbyanextensivecritiquingandrewritingprocess.Therestofthedayistakenupwithhersecondjob(writingisthefirstone).Intheevening,she’llfindtimeforthebusinesssideofwriting,critiquingotherwriter’smanuscripts,readingaboutthewritingcraftandpreparingschoolpresentations.
“WritingisadisciplinedactivitybecauseIwanttobesuccessfulatit,”Mahtabsaid.“It’smycareer.Withcooking,Irebelbynotfollowingrecipes.Becausethewritingpartofmylifeissoorganized,Icookwithfreedom.”
Mahtab’sintuitivesidecomesoutinherwriting,butit’swithinthedefinedtimeandspacethatshereservesforit.Shedoesplanher
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CANSCAIPNEWS 6 WINTER2016/2017
MEETCONNECTSHARE!
Nevermissameeting:www.canscaip.org/EventsCalendar!AddCANSCAIPeventsstraighttoyourcalendarorinboxwithhandyRSSandcalendartools.
Montreal:CANSCAIPmeetingsareheldregularly.Formoreinformation,[email protected]
Toronto:MeetingsareheldonthesecondWednesdayofeachmonth,tentimesayear(nomeetingsinJulyorAugust).Meetingsin2017:January11,February8,March8,April12,May10,June14.Seewebsiteforlocationandtopic:www.canscaip.org/Monthly-Meetings.
Saskatchewan:Holdsvirtualmeetingsmonthlyonthe15^_.YourSaskatchewanrepresentativeisSharonPlumbHamilton.skcanscaip.wordpress.com.
storiesbeforewriting,butshedoesn’tplottooheavily.Detailsarenotworkedoutbeforehand;shediscoversthedepthofhercharactersasshewrites.Duringrevision,shedissectsastoryscenebyscene,analyzinghowtorevise.“That’swhenastoryreallytakesshape,”shesaid.
Or$)*stM"#$"%’)#u+t,theschoolkidshadlongagodisappearedintotheirclassrooms.Onhertable,ourteacupssatemptyandourplateswerewipedclean.Mahtabofferedmecontainersofleftoverstotakehometomyfamily.Myowndaughtersarefamiliarwith“AuntieM’s”cooking,andwouldbethrilled.Mahtabisagenerousfriend—yetanotherqualitysheshareswithhercharacters.
AsIleftwithmybagpiledwithleftovers,IwasmoreeagerthanevertoreadnewstorieswrittenbyMahtab.Iwasricherinunderstandingabouttheworldsandcharactersofherstories,andverygratefulthatherparticularvoicehasbeenaddedtothecanonofchildren’sliterature.
KARENKROSSINGis
theauthorofseven
novelsforkidsand
teens.Herrecenttitles
includeBog,whichwontheSCBWI
CrystalKiteAward,
andPunchLikeaGirl,whichwasaCCBC
BestBookforTeens.
She’salsoapast
presidentofCANSCAIP.Kareniscurrently
writinganovelforteensaboutbodyimageand
celebrityculture.
MEETCONNECTSHARE!
Nevermissameeting:www.canscaip.org/EventsCalendar!AddCANSCAIPeventsstraighttoyourcalendarorinboxwithhandyRSSandcalendartools.
Montreal:CANSCAIPmeetingsareheldregularly.Formoreinformation,[email protected]
Toronto:MeetingsareheldonthesecondWednesdayofeachmonth,tentimesayear(nomeetingsinJulyorAugust).Meetingsin2017:January11,February8,March8,April12,May10,June14.Seewebsiteforlocationandtopic:www.canscaip.org/Monthly-Meetings.
Saskatchewan:Holdsvirtualmeetingsmonthlyonthe15^_.YourSaskatchewanrepresentativeisSharonPlumbHamilton.skcanscaip.wordpress.com.
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CANSCAIPNEWS 7 WINTER2016/2017
CongratulationsCANSCAIP Members!KarenBassTheGeoffreyBilsonAwardforHistoricalFictionforUncertainSoldier(PajamaPress)
ErinBowTheMonicaHughesAwardforScienceFictionandFantasyforTheScorpionRules(MargaretK.McElderry)
AlanCumynTheVickyMetcalfAwardforaBodyofWorkInspirationaltoYoungPeople
DanielleDanielTheMarilynBailliePictureBookAwardforSometimesIFeelLikeaFox(GroundwoodBooks)
MelanieFlorenceandFrancoisThisdaleTheTDCanadianChildren’sLiteratureAwardforMissingNimâmâ(ClockwisePress)
DeborahHodgeandKarenReczuchTheChildren`sLiteratureRoundtablesofCanadaInformationBookAwardforWest
CoastWild:ANatureAlphabet(GroundwoodBooks)
SusanJubyTheAmyMathersTeenBookAwardforTheTruthCommission(RazorbillCanada)
Jon-ErikLapanoandKelleHatanakaTheGovernorGeneral’sAwardforYoungPeople’sLiterature(illustratedbooks)forTokyoDigsaGarden(GroundwoodBooks)
MartineLevittTheGovernorGeneral’sAwardforYoungPeople’sLiterature(text)forCalvin(GroundwoodBooks)
KevinSandsTheJohnSprayMysteryAwardforTheBlackthornKey(Aladdin)
CorySilverbergandFionaSmythTheNormaFleckAwardforCanadianChildren’sNon-FictionforSexIsaFunnyWord:
ABookAboutBodies,FeelingsandYou(SevenStoriesPress)
SHORTLISTEDforthe2016GovernorGeneral’sAwards–YoungPeople’sLiterature(Text)
TimWynne-JonesforTheEmperorofAnyPlace(CandlewickPress)
YoungPeople’sLiterature(IllustratedBooks)
JoEllenBogartandSydneySmithforTheWhite
CatandtheMonk(GroundwoodBooks)
MireilleMessierandPierrePrattforTheBranch(KidsCanPress)
SHORTLISTEDforthe2017RockyMountainReaders’ChoiceAward–FictionLindaBaileyforSevenDeadPirates(TundraBooks)
CarolynBeckforThatSqueak(Fitzhenry&Whiteside)
DeborahEllisforTheCatAttheWall
(GroundwoodBooks)
GordonKormanforMasterminds(HarperCollins)
TanyaLloydKyiforExtremeBattlefields
(AnnickPress)
ElizabethMacLeodforGallopingThroughHistory(AnnickPress)
SusinNielsenforWeAreAllMadeofMolecules
(TundraBooks)
KennethOppelforTheNest(HarperCollins)
CarolinePignatforTheGospelTruth(RedDeerPress)
ValerieSherrardforRainShadow(Fitzhenry&Whiteside)
RobinStevensonforTheSummerWeSavedthe
Bees(OrcaBooks)
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CANSCAIPNEWS 8 WINTER2016/2017
NOTEWORTHYANIMATEDFILM:DeborahEllis’saward-winningnovelTheBreadwinner(GroundwoodBooks)isbeingmadeintoananimatedfilmtobereleasedinfallof2017.Thefilmhadanauspiciousstart.Theproducer,AnthonyLeoofAircraftPictures,firstheardthebookreadout
loudbyBelindaStronachtoacaptivatedaudienceofyounggirlsandtheirparents.Oncehehadsecuredrights,AngelinaJoliesignedonasexecutiveproducer.Jolie,amonghermanyotherinterests,isanadvocateforrefugeesandwomen’srights.Deborahsays,“She[Jolie]doestremendousworkinabunchoffieldsinsocialjusticeandIknowshewillmakeaprojectthateveryoneisgoingtobeproudof.”CongratulationstoDeborah.
COMPETITION:Winners($1000each)andfinalistsofCANSCAIP’s2016WritingforChildrenCompetition
WINNERSAnnMarieStasiuk(Stratford,ON),thePictureBook/EarlyReaderawardforAWintryWaitMarciMcAdam(Calgary,AB)theChapterBook/MiddleGrade/YoungAdultAwardforCreepSchool
FINALISTS–PictureBook/EarlyReader
MaryLouDriedge(Winnipeg,Manitoba),forWhyAreTheyNaked?
CynthiaFord(Vancouver,BC),forTheFiddleMan
CatherineJansen(Oakville,ON),forLavenderKirstenPendreigh(Vancouver,BC),forHamishMcFluffandtheBabyBirds
FINALISTS–ChapterBook/MiddleGrade/YoungAdultCorrineClark(Mississauga,ON),forCharlotte'sGhosts
DonnaHughes(Toronto,ON),forBrightShinyThings
JenniferIrwin(PointeClaire,Quebec),forTheTruthAboutLove,HockeyandBallroom
Dancing
CherylStewart(Kanata,ON),forRenegadeHeart
Onlyunpublishedwriterswereeligibletoenter.CANSCAIPreceivedcloseto300entriesin2016.AuniqueandverybeneficialelementoftheWritingforChildrenCompetitionisthateveryonewhoentersgetsfeedbackbytheCompetition’sevaluationreaders.ThereadersandjuriesevaluatingCompetitionentriesareallpublishedauthorsandCANSCAIPMembers.
FOLLOWCANSCAIP:Lookingforsomenewfriends?ThereisnowahandypageontheCANSCAIPwebsitewheretheTwitterhandlesofourprofessionalmembersarelisted.Let’sfolloweachotherandhelppromoteeachother’swork.Anddon’tforgettofollow@CANSCAIPaswell,http://canscaip.org/page-1862893.
FINDINGCANADIANBOOKS:49thShelf.comisawebsitedevotedtoCanadianbooksincludingbooksforkids.ProducedbytheAssociationofCanadianPublisherstogetherwiththeCanadianPublishers’Council,andwithfundingfromtheDepartmentofCanadianHeritageandtheOntarioMediaDevelopmentCorporationandaleadsponsorshipfromAmazon.ca.,itspurposeistomakeiteasierforreaderstodiscoverCanadianbooksinallgenres,frombestsellingauthorstonewtalent,frompublisherslargeandsmall,fromallregionsofthecountry.ThankstoLENACOAKLEYforpointingustothisgreatresource.
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CANSCAIPNEWS 9 WINTER2016/2017
CREATIVEWRITING:Ifyouareteachingacourseinwritingorillustrationforthechildren’smarket,we’dlovetosendyouapackageofbrochuresaboutCANSCAIPandaboutPackagingYourImaginationtodistributetoyourstudents.Justemailtheoffice([email protected])toletHelenaAaltoknowhowmanyyouneed.
LOGOVARIATION:Ourfront-pagelogovariationisbyMichaelMartchenko.YoucanseemoreofhisworkinReady,Set,Go!,Hugs,
PyjamaDay!andmanymore.AllwerewrittenbyRobertMunschandpublishedbyScholasticCanada.
ILLUSTRATORS:WearelookingformorelogovariationstodressuptheNEWS.Forinspiration,youcanviewourcurrentonesattheever-changinglogositeonthehomepageofourwebsite.
IfyouareafullCANSCAIPmember/illustratorandwouldliketosubmityourversionforpossibleuse,herearethespecifics:Digitalsubmissionispreferred,soscanyourartat300dpi(highresolution)andemailthefiletooffice@canscaip.org.MakesureyouputCANSCAIPLogoSubmissioninthesubjectline.We’dlovetohavecolourful,playfulart.Forthosewhofindscanningachallenge,sendpaperarttotheCANSCAIPoffice.
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CANSCAIPNEWS 10 WINTER2016/2017
From the President’s DeskbySharonJennings
MycolumnwasdueNovember20,thedayafterPackagingYourImagination.Whowasresponsibleforthiscruelandunusualtiming?WhenI’mPresidentI’mgoingto….Nevermind.Instead,I’lltakeyouthroughayearofPYIpreparation.
Planningfornextyear’sPYIbeginsafewdaysbeforethecurrentyear’sPYI.Thisisbecause,rightaroundthen,theteamcomesupwithabrilliantideaandwishedwe’dthoughtofitsooner.Thenextbitofplanningtakesplaceonthedayof,whentheteamcan’tbelievethatwegoofedonthisorthat,whensomeonewhohasneverliftedavolunteerfingercomplainsloudly,whenwelistentoabrilliantspeakerandresolvetoinvitehimorhertobenextyear’skeynote,whensomethingiffygoessoincrediblywellwefeeljustifiablysmug.Afewdaysaftertheevent,wehaveourdebriefingsession,againwithaviewtonextyear’sPYI.
Overthenextcoupleofweeks,we’llperuseregistrants’surveyresponsesanddiscussafewofthemorepressingissues:dowebookthesamevenue,forexample?HumberCollege,whohostedPYIforthepastthreeyears,informedusinFebruary2016thattheywerenolongeracceptingoutsideeventsandwehadtoscrambletofindanewhome.AndImeanscramble!OfficeAdministratorHelenaAaltovisitedafewlocations,andthensheandIcheckedouttheLiKaShingKnowledgeInstituteonMarch3ÉÑ.Abeautifulnewbuilding,filledwithlight,justoffthesubway—bookit!
WesentaroundasurveytoselectadateforthefirstPYIcommitteeplanningsession.In2016,wehelditatmyhouseonMarch19ÖÜ.Wediscussedalltheprosandconsfromthe2015event,andstartedthealwaysoneroustaskofselectingspeakers—onerousbecauseweoffertwokeynotespeeches,twelveworkshops(twoarepanels),andmanyone-to-onesessions,andthesepresentersmustengagewithauthorsandillustrators,beginnerandpublished,andsomethingofeverythingmustworkineachtimeslot.Aswell,evenwithourverysmall
budget,webringinpresentersfromoutofprovinceandoutsidethecatch-basinoftheGreaterTorontoArea.Theteamdivviesupthespeakerlistandemailsgoout.We’velearnedfrompastmistakestobeveryspecificregardingourexpectations,andwegivepresentersexact
detailsaboutwho,what,when,why,whereandDon’tYouDare!Thislastisanhonestthreatifanyonedoesn’tstayontopicorevenbothertomentiontheirtopic,andgivesusanhourofbabyphotosandawards.Andno,I’mnotkidding.OneauthorwassupposedtotalkaboutXandbeganthetalkwith,“X.Idon’tdoX.”
Thencomesboththerushaspossibilitiesbecomeconfirmed,andthedeflationasahoped-forspeakerturnsusdown.Ifthelatter,wegetfranticaboutfindinganothersuitablecandidateforsuchandsuchatopicandtimeslot.Butfinally,thespeakershaveconfirmedtheircontractsandbelieveitornot,theteamenterstheperiodknownasthecalmbeforethestorm.
Su+tuàâur+"â(t+t+%t(thatPYIusedtobemanagedbytheVicePresident.Thisbecameproblematicforseveralreasons,andtheExecutivevotedtohavePYImanagedbyouronehalf-timeemployee.So,overthesummer,
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CANSCAIPNEWS 11 WINTER2016/2017
SaintHelenaorganizedhervolunteerteam.AfterLabourDay,thisteammetforaweeklyconferencecall.Andthis,Ibelieve,istrulybrilliant—theweeklycheck-inforgescamaraderieduringthedarkesthoursand,contrarytoMurphy’sLaw,helpsusbelievethatnoteverythingwillgowrong.Andduringtheserun-upmonths,weeklyemailblastswithenticingdetailsaboutPYIgoouttoourMembers.
IhavewrittenalloftheabovewithtwosleepstogobeforePYI.Fingersarecrossed.Allthethingswecan’tdountilthelastminutearequeuingup,clamouringforattention.Andthisyearisspecialforanotherreason:afterbookingourdate,TheCanadianChildren’sBookCentreannouncedtheirTDBookAwardsGalanight—November17.WeencouragedourMemberstocometoTorontoforafullweekend—theGalaandPYI.Helenawent(another)extramileandbookedroomsatahotelforout-of-townersandsentoutinfoaboutalltheotherthingstodoinTorontothisweekend.(Somethingorotheraboutaskingabusyperson.)Andoneotherthing:workingwiththewonderfulShannonHowe-BarnesatCCBC,wemanagedtonabAshleySpiresasourmorningkeynotespeaker.TDwasbringingherinfromB.C.fortheGalabecausesheisthecreatorofSmall
Saul,thisyear’sCCBCGradeOneGive-AwayBook.Theupshotforuswastwofold:another‘comefromaway’speaker(withouttravelcosts)andacopyofSmallSaul(swag!)foreveryoneatPYI.
Andnow,inrealtime,Ihavetoprimpfortonight’sTDGalaAwards.
Ohno!Itis7:45onThursdaynightandAshleySpireshasastrainedthroatthankstohertourforTD.
Friday:anxiousalldayaboutpossible
messagefromAshleycancellingkeynote.Saturday:Ashleydeliversfunny,warm,self-
deprecating,inspirational(onlyslightlycroaky)morningkeynote!Everyonethrilledtoreceiveacopyofherbook.
Deepbreathin.Exhale.Therearealmost200peoplewatching!
Thenewdowntownlocationisstunning.Thespeakersreallydeliveredthegoods:
concreteadviceandencouragement.Ourout-of-townspeakerswerethrilledwithhowpamperedtheyfelt,thoroughlyenjoyingtheirstayinToronto.BooksaleswithMable’sFableswentsowellthatthey’vealreadycommittedtonextyear.DavidBoothgavetheClaireMackayMemorialLectureandreceivedastandingovationforhisknowledge,wisdom,humour,andinsightintowhywhatwecreateissocrucially
important.Andyes,sigh,therewasaslightmix-upwith
notenoughsandwichesforlunch,butthecaterersquicklysolvedtheproblem.
Awell-deservedcongratulationsandthankyoufromthebottomofmyhearttothosewhogavesowillinglyoftheirtimeandexpertise:HeatherCamlot,JillianDobson,JoyceGrant,HollyMainandJenniferMaruno.Aswell,LenaCoakley,BarbaraGreenwoodandGillianO’Reillyhadinvaluableadviceaboutspeakers.Nottoforgetallofyouwhoofferedtodriveandintroducespeakers.AndahugehugtoHelenaAalto,whoworkedtirelesslytoorchestratethiswonderfulday.
Yur,uäã,uä$#"$asyouarereadingthis,wehavealreadystartedplanningforPackaging2017.Andyoucandoyourpart:doyourselfahugefavourandplantoattend.
(PhotobyIanCrysler)
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CANSCAIPNEWS 12 WINTER2016/2017
WVwX^ZV!byMoniquePolak
Inthiscolumnwewelcomeournewestmembers.
MARCUSCUTLERwasborninMilton,Ontario.HeisagraduateofSheridanCollegeandOCAD.Hehasworkedfull-timeasanillustratorsince2009.Hisworkhasappearedinover100clientprojectsincludingmagazines,educationalbooksandmobileapps.HeistheillustratorofLarkHoldsTheKey(OrcaBooks),LarkandTheDiamondCaper(OrcaBooks),andBuyOneGetOne(Pearson).MarcuslivesandworksinWindsor,Ontario,withhiswifeandtwodaughters.
HOLLYDeWOLFisanillustratorandauthor.SheattendedNSCADUniversitywhereshetookaclassinmakingverbalandvisualnarratives.Afterthat,herdesigndayswereoverandshefocusedonillustration.Over20yearslater,Hollyisstillpushingideasthroughwordsandvisualstorytelling.What'sGoingOnAtThe
TimeTonight?(NimbusPublishing)wasthefirstbooksheillustrated.ThisbookisaboutanunderwaterpartysetinNewfoundland.Hersecondchildren'sbookwasPortCityChamp,whichwascreatedtopromotetheportofSaintJohn.Asanaddedbonus,thecitycreatedamascotfromhercharacter.Thatmascotthatcanbeseenaroundtownpromotingtheloveofreading.HollylivesinQuispamsis,NewBrunswickwhereshehappilywrites,blogsandillustrates.
REGANW.H.MACAULAYwritesnovels,shortstories,children’sliterature,andscripts.Writingisherpassion,butsheisalsoaproduceranddirectoroftheatre,filmandtelevision.Sheisananimalenthusiast,whichledhertobecomeacertifiedcanine(andfeline)massagetherapist.HerbooksforchildrenincludepicturestorybooksBeverleeBeaztheBrownBurmese,SloththeLazy
Dragon,andtheupcomingTamara
Turtle’sLifeSoFarandMerryMyrrh:TheChristmasBat.Regan’sbooksforadultsincludethenoveletteadaptationofherfeaturefilm(availableoniTunesandonDVD)SpaceZombies!andthehorror/comedynovellaTheySuck.ReganlivesinToronto.
KIMMcDOUGALLwritesunderthenameKimChatel.Sheisanauthor,fiberartistandphotographer.Sheregularlyvisitsschoolsandlibraries,bringingherartandbookstostudentsandinspiringthemtocreatetheirown.VisitKimatChatelVillage(www.kimchatel.com)tofindbooks,recipes,movies,bookreviewsandcrafts.Kimisalsotheco-founderofCastelane.com,asitethathelpsauthorsmarkettheirbookswithtrailers,coverdesignsandmore.KimlivesinNewmarket,Ontario.
MELANIEMcFARLANEjumpsinwithbothhandsonherkeyboard,whetherit’suncoveringthecorruptionofthefuture,ortravellingtootherworldstosavetheuniverse,.Thoughshecanbefoundobsessingoverzombiesfromtimetotime,Melaniehasfocusedherpowersonwritingstoriesthatkeep
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CANSCAIPNEWS 13 WINTER2016/2017
childrenupallnightreading.SheliveswithherhusbandandtwodaughtersintheLandofLivingSkies.HerbooksincludeThereOnce
WereStars(Month9Books),andtheupcomingHereSkiesSurroundUsandSummonerRising(bothwithMonth9Books).
JENNIFERMcGRATH,anaward-winningchildren'sauthorfromNewBrunswick,haswrittentwomiddle-gradeadventurenovels,andaChristmaspicturebookaboutawaywardCanadagoose.Hernewestpicturebook,TheSnowKnows(NimbusPublishing)willbeavailablethisfall.Anexperiencedandanimatedworkshoppresenter,Jenniferisapopularvisitortoclassrooms.JenniferstudiedEnglishatSt.FrancisXavierUniversityinAntigonish,NovaScotiabeforeearninganMAinEnglishLiteraturewithaDirectedStudyinChildren'sLiteraturefromtheUniversityofVictoriainBritishColumbia.Shehastaughtliteratureandwritingclassesattheuniversitylevel,andisaprofessionalmarketingandcommunicationswriterwithagencyexperience.JenniferliveswithherfamilyandpetsinthebeautifulNewBrunswickcountryside,justoutsideMoncton.Shelovesanimals,books,music,movies,theatre,storytelling,costumes,jokes,exploringtheoutdoorsand,ofcourse…chocolate!
SHARONMcKAY’sfocusasaYAwriter,andaCanadianWarArtist(CFAP,Afghanistan2009,2013)issocialjustice.HerworkhastakenhertoplacessuchasnorthernUganda,theWestBank,Israel,NorthernIrelandand
Afghanistan.HertopicsincludetheHolocaust,childsoldiers,torture,girls’rights,andunderagemarriage.Shehaspublished30booksincludingthesefromAnnickPress:PrisonBoy,
EndoftheLine,EnemyTerritory,andThunderOverKandahar.In2015,CBCincludedThunderOverKandaharonitsBest100YABookslist.ShesitsontheboardoftheNationalReadingCampaign,andontheReadingTownCommitteeofPrinceEdwardIsland,aweeklongcelebrationofreadingduringthefirstweekofMay.SharonlivesandworksinBurlington,Ont.,fromJanuarytoAprileveryyear.ThebalanceofheryearisspentonPrinceEdwardIsland.Shehastwosons,twograndchildrenandonehusband.
NANCYROSElivesinBedford,NovaScotia,andisaretiredguidancecounsellor.Nancycomesfromafamilyofsevenchildrenwherecreativitywasencouraged.HerpassionforphotographyandnaturemergedwithhercraftingskillswhenshediscoveredtheAmericanRedSquirrelswhoraidedherbirdfeeders.Bymakingminiaturesettingsandsquirrel-sizeprops,shecreatedhundredsofscenarioswheretheinquisitivesquirrelsfindthemselvesinhumanposesastheysearchforpeanutshiddenintheprops.HerimagesspreadacrosstheInternetandNancywasencouragedtoputthemtogetherintobooksforsquirrelfansofallages.Herfirstchildren'sbook,TheSecretLifeofSquirrels,wasreleasedin2014withaCanadianandAmericanversion,followedbytwomore,andafourthisintheworks.Mr.Peanut'soffspringstillvisitdailyandNancyhopesthattogethertheycancontinuetodelightviewersforyearstocome.
JOSEPHINEVACCARO-CHANGisaself-professedchocoholic.Herfavouritecolourispurpleandshelikestodoartsandcrafts.SheholdsaBAdegreefromUniversityofToronto,isacertifiedTeacherofEnglishasaSecondLanguage,and
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CANSCAIPNEWS 14 WINTER2016/2017
lovesdeliveringinteractiveworkshopstoprimaryagedchildren.Withthehelpofherhand-heldpuppetsandsix-footsculptureofRuby(aredflamingo),Josephinemakesliteracyfun.HerbooksincludeWeAre
ColourfulFriends,TheGardenofLove,WeAre
Leaves,andOurColourfulCookies(co-authoredwithAmandaChang).JosephineisanactivememberoftheRichmondHill,Ontario,communitywheresheliveswithheramazingfamily.
DERMOTWALSHEistheauthorandillustratorofMean
Machines(ImpactBooks);Rematch
(FlightGraphicNovel#8);andTTChallenge(Flight
GraphicNovel#7).DermotalsoillustratedTheFossil
Hunters(OrcaBooks).Hehasbeenworkingprimarilyinanimationsince1988ondozensofTVseriesandfeaturefilms.Hemaintainsafreelancebusiness,writinganddevelopingprojectsforanimation.Healsoracedmotorcycles,workedincountriesfromJapanandIndonesiatoFloridaforDisneyandhastwoCDsofhisownoriginalmusicpublishedoniTunesunderthebandname"HeadeforHobo."DermotlivesinOakville,Ont.,withhiswifeandthreemarvellousdaughters--allaccomplishedartistsintheirownright.
WADEALBERTWHITEhailsfromNovaScotia,landofwildblueberriesandDuckTollingRetrievers.Heteachespart-time,dabblesinanimation,andspendstherestofhistimeasa
stay-at-homedad.Itisalsopossiblehehassetanewrecordastheslowest10Krunner.Ever.Heownsonepretendcatandonerealone,andtheygetalongfabulously.HeistheauthorofTheAdventurer’sGuidetoSuccessfulEscapes(Little,BrownandCompany)aswellastheforthcomingTheAdventurer’sGuidetoDragons(andWhyTheyKeepBitingMe)
(Little,BrownandCompany).
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CANSCAIPNEWS 15 WINTER2016/2017
NEWS ROUNDUPByElizabethMacLeod
DeadlineforSPRINGNEWS:February20,2017We’dlovetohearfromyou!Letusknowaboutyournewbooks,tours,awards,launches,etc.Emailthedetails,includingyourtownandprovince,withthesubjectline:SPRINGNEWSto:[email protected].
ATLANTIC REGIONL.E.CARMICHAELpublishedthreenewchildren’ssciencebookslastfall:Discover
ForensicScience(Lerner),InnovationsinEntertainment(Crabtree)andInnovationsinHealth(Crabtree).ShealsodidfourpresentationsduringScienceLiteracyWeek,duringwhichshedemonstratedalivehuman-animalcommunicationexperimentandtaughtatotalof300schoolkidswhatthefoxREALLYsays!LindseylivesinLewisLake,NovaScotia.
QUEBECWelcometonewFriends:ChrisHamilton,WakefieldandNinaPariser,Montreal.
ONTARIO (OUTSIDE TORONTO)WelcometonewFriends:AmeetBhar,Dundas;RobynFraser,Guelph;GarthLaidlaw,Guelph;DonRysdale,Thorold;RamonStorr,Thornhill;LauraVernoy,Palgrave.
LISABEEREacquiredatraumaticbraininjuryonAugust9,2015.Asaresult,shesuffersfromextremenoisesensitivity.Lyingawakeduetonight-timenoises,yetagain,Lisa“caught”theideatocreateNightNoises(CrimsonCloakPublishing),herfirstchildren’sbook.InNightNoises,Samisafraidofthedarkandallthenoisesatnightarekeepinghimanxiousandawake.Onebyonehisfamilyattemptstohelphimgettosleep.Finally,hissisterJuniehasagreatideaandgiveshimherbelovedteddy
bear.Thebookistargetedatreadersage4to7years.TheebookwasreleasedOctober28,withtheprintformatpublishedNovember8.IngramwillalsohavetheprintandebookformatsavailableMay1.Lisahas19morechildren’sstorieswithbookcontractsthatwillbecomingoutoverthenexttwoyears!ShelivesinOttawa.
HOLLYBENNETThasanewyoungadultnovelcomingoutinJanuary.DrawnAway(OrcaBooks)isherseventhbookandfirstcontemporaryfiction—thoughstillonthespeculativeside.Holly’spreviousbookshavebeennominatedfortheWhitePineAward,SnowWillowAward,StellarTeenBookAwardandSunburstAward.HollylivesinPeterborough.
CELIAGODKINispleasedtoannouncethereleaseofherlatestenvironmentalpicturebook,TheWolvesReturn(PajamaPress).Celia’sbest-knownbook,WolfIsland
(Fitzhenry&Whiteside),exploredwhathappenedtoasmallislandecosystemwhenwolveswereremoved.TheWolvesReturnisthegood-newstruestoryoftheoppositeprocess,ofwolvesbeingreintroducedtoYellowstonePark,aninitiativethathasledtoincreasedbiodiversityintheworld’sfirst-evernationalpark.ThebookwasreleasedintheUnitedStatesinDecemberandwillbereleasedinCanadainMarch.CelialivesinFrankville.
JOELLENBOGART’sbookTheWhiteCatand
theMonk(GroundwoodBooks/HouseofAnansi),withartbySydneySmith,wasafinalistfortheGovernorGeneral’sAwardinthecategoryYoungPeople’sLiterature(IllustratedBooks).AJuniorLibraryGuildchoiceandrecipientoffivestarredreviews,thebookwas
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CANSCAIPNEWS 16 WINTER2016/2017
alsoaNewYorkTimesEditor’sChoiceandwasincludedintheNewYorkTimeslistofBestIllustratedBooksof2016.SchoolLibraryJournalincludedthebookonitsbestof2016list.JoEllenlivesinGuelph.
THÉRÈSECILIAjustreleasedherthirdpicturebook,writtenbyJanetBarkhouse.KeeperoftheLight(FormacPublishingCompany)isaheartwarmingstoryaboutagirlwho,afterthedeathofherfatheratsea,helpsherfamilybygoingtoworkforthelighthousekeepersonanearbyisland.Whentheymustleaveforamedicalemergency,11-year-oldSaraisleftalonetolightthewayasaterriblestormapproaches.Thisearly1900staleisbasedonthetrueexperiencesofchildrenwhoworkedatlighthouses.Thérèse’spreviousbooksincludeBullettheNewSteamEngineandOverbythe
Harbour(bothFlankerPress),bothbyDwayneLaFitte.OverbytheHarbourwasselectedbytheCanadianChildren’sBookCentreasaBestBooksforKids&Teens.ThérèselivesinBelleville.
ALANCUMYNhasbeenselectedbytheWriters’TrustofCanadaasthewinnerofthe2016VickyMetcalfAwardforbodyofworkforliteratureforyoungpeople.AlanteachesthroughtheVermontCollegeofFineArts,
whereheisfacultychairintheMFAprograminWritingforChildrenandYoungAdults.HislatestyoungadultnovelisHotPterodactyl
Boyfriend(SimonandSchusterCanada).HewillbetouringnorthernSaskatchewaninMayaspartoftheTDCanadianChildren’sBookWeek.AlanlivesinOttawa.
KARENHOOD-CADDY,authorof“TheWildPlaceAdventure”series(DundurnPress),is
excitedaboutthescreenplayGuyMullallyhasjustwrittenforthefirstbookinthatseries,Howl.DundurnPresshassoldthefilmoptionstoMaggieMonteithforthefirstthreebooksintheeco-fictionseries.KarenlivesinCollingwoodandParrySound.
SUEIRWIN’sfirstbook,SafetyStars—Players
whofoughttomakethehard-hittinggameof
professionalhockeysafer(Lorimer)waspublishedinFebruary2015.Thatsummer,becauseofitsemphasisonconcussions,SafetyStarsreceivedtheElementaryTeachers’FederationofOntario“CurriculumDevelopmentAward.”TheCanadianChildren’sBookCentrenamedthebooka2015BestBooksforKidsandTeensselection.Andnow,it’sbeennominatedforthe2017ForestofReadingSilverBirchNon-FictionAward.SueisexcitedaboutvisitinglibrariesandclassroomsallacrossOntario,speakingwithelementaryschoolstudentsaboutournation’sfavouritewintersport,aswellastheseriousissueofconcussionsandmore.SuelivesinGrimsby.
HEATHERKIRKpublishedtwobooksthisfall.ThefirstwasareissueofherversionoftheclassicCanadiannovel,WacoustabyJohnRichardson,whowasCanada’sfirstnative-bornnovelist.Thesecondwasanewbooktitled,SeekingPeace:TheQuakers.This330-pagebook,illustratedwithalmost100images,tracesthelongexistence—morethan360years—ofoneofthemostenduringnonviolent-resistancemovementsinhistory.SeekingPeaceisaimedataverageadultreadersaswellasstudentsinseniorhighschoolandjuniorcollege.ThebookisacompaniontoHeather’spreviousbookBeNotAfraid:ThePolish(R)evolution,“Solidarity”(allBorealis
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CANSCAIPNEWS 17 WINTER2016/2017
Press),aboutalittle-knownpacifistmovement,thePolishSolidaritymovementofthe1980s.HeatherlivesinBarrie.
SYLVIAMcNICOLLmarksabrandnewyearofmistakesinJanuarywhenshelaunches“TheGreatMistakeMystery”series(DundurnPress).TheseriesbeginswithTheBestMistake
Mystery—anxious12year-oldStephenNoblecountshiserrorsinsteadofhisblessings.TogetherwithhissassysidekickRenéeKobai,hewalksdogsPingandPong,andthroughhismistakes,solvesneighbourhoodmysteries.SylvialivesinBurlington.
JENNIFERMOOK-SANG’shumorousmiddlegradenovelSpeechless(Scholastic)wasmostrecentlynominatedfortheLangleyBookoftheYearawardandchosenfortheTDSummerReadingClub2017.CBCBooksalsoannouncedthatitwas“shortlistedforaslewofawards.”Jenniferhasbeenbusywithpresentationstosmallpeopleandjustfinishedaseriesofcreativewritingworkshopsfor“Sophie’sStudio”withtheTorontoPublicLibrary.She’snotsureaboutthestudents,butsaiditwasthemostfunshe’dhadinages.Sophie’sStudiowascreatedtosupportliteracy,creativityandwritingskillsinchildrenthroughagraciousbequestfromlong-timepatronSophiaLucyk.JenniferlivesinBurlington.
KATHYSTINSONhadabusyfall.ShewasWriterinResidenceforWellingtonCountyLibraries,didWordfestreadingsinCalgary,tookpartina“Welcome”eventforSyrianrefugeesinGuelph,gaveamasterclassaboutpicturebookwritingatPackagingYourImagination,aswellasworkedonherownnewpicturebooktextandherfirstadultnovel.ThiswinterseestheworldpremiereattheKennedyCenterinWashington,D.C.,ofthefamily-concertversionofTheManwiththeViolin,featuring“TheMan”himself(JoshuaBell),andthereleaseofTheDanceoftheViolin(bothAnnickPress),basedonachildhoodexperienceofJoshua
Bell’s,andillustrated(magnificently!)byDušanPetričić.KathylivesinRockwood.
JOSEPHINEVACCARO-CHANG,author/illustratorandartist,createdanelegant,six-footpinksculpturenamedGigi,inspiredbythegiraffeinthepopularchildren’sbookWeAre
ColourfulFriends(DancingInTheRainPublishing)andfundedthroughthegenerosityofthetownofRichmondHill’sCommunityandCulturalGrantprogram.JosephineandGigihavebeenbusydeliveringinteractiveworkshopstoprimary-agechildrenthroughouttheGreaterTorontoArea.Thejunior/seniorkindergartenworkshopfocusesonliteracyandincludeshand-heldpuppets,creatingaclasscollageandactingoutthepagesofthebook.Thegrades1to3workshopfocusesontheprocessofcreatingbooks.Childrenareexposedtooriginalartwork,printproofs,finalproducts,etc.Studentscompleteindividualworksheetsthatarethenpublishedase-books.Formoredetailsand/ortobookaworkshopatyourschoolorlibraryvisit:www.WeAreColourfulFriends.ca.
TORONTOWelcometonewFriends:AndreaBlinick,LisaErnst,StephaniePhoenix,SarahRamsey,LiviaSavinandDennisZaidi.
ANDREACURTIS’ssecondkids’bookaboutfood,EatThis!HowFastFoodMarketingGets
YoutoBuyJunk(AndHowtoFightBack)(RedDeerPress)isaimedatkidsage9to12.EatThis!isamedialiteracyandfoodliteracypicturebook.ItwillbelaunchedinMarch2017andcomesoutatakeytimeasthefederalgovernmentworkstowardregulationslimitingmarketingfastfoodandsugarybeveragestokids.
ANNEDUBLINreceivedtheCanadianJewishLiteraryAward(YouthLiterature)forherhistoricalnovel44HoursorStrike!(SecondStoryPress)onOctober30inToronto.“The
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CANSCAIPNEWS 18 WINTER2016/2017
CanadianJewishLiteraryAwards(CJLA)recognizethefinestbookswithJewishthemesandsubjectsbyCanadianauthorsinavarietyofgenres.”
AnnDublinwithJudithGhert
THEOHERAStravelledtoMontrealandHalifaxinNovemberwithherpicturebookHatOn,
HatOff(PajamaPress),illustratedbyRENNÉBENOIT.TheovisitedandreadherbookatMam&Pop,anewchildren’scraftstoreinMontreal,andthevenerableLivresBabarBooks,inPointeClaire.InHalifax,shewasgreetedbyaboisterousgroupofpreschoolersatWoozles,Canada’soldestchildren’sbookstore.Theo’snexttripistoNewYorkwhereshewillreadtochildrenatadaycareandthe67thStreetBranchoftheNewYorkPublicLibrary.
NADIAHOHN’sbookMalaika’sCostume(GroundwoodBooks)willbetranslatedintoFrenchandpublishedinJanuarybyScholasticCanada.TheillustratorisIreneLuxbacher.Currently,NadiaisbasedinAbuDhabi,UAE.
ELIZABETHMACLEOD’slatestbookisTopDogs:
CaninesthatMadeHistory(AnnickPress).IttellsthestoryofsuchdogsasLewisandClark’sNewfoundland,Seaman;“Sergeant”Stubby,aWorldWarIhero;Trakr,theGermanshepherdthatfoundthelastsurvivorundertheWorld
TradeCenteron9/11;andmore.LizwasdelightedtolearnthatherbookVanished:TrueTalesofMysteriousDisappearances(AnnickPress)hasbeennominatedfortheRedMapleBookAward,isastarredselectioninBestBooksforKids&Teens2016andwonaSilverEureka!AwardfromtheCaliforniaReadingAssociation.CanadaYearbyYear(KidsCanPress),Liz’sbookcelebratingCanada’supcomingsesquicentennial,hasbeenchosenasoneofQuill&Quire’sTop5Kids’Bookof2016,aswellasa“Heather’sPick”atIndigobookstores.It’salsogettinggreatreviews.“MacLeodtakesaconsciouslymulticulturalapproach,”saysKirkus,“highlightingbothhighlightsandlowlights…Bothrevelatoryandentertaining….”
MARYJENNIFERPAYNEreleasedtwonovelsattheendof2016.Enough(OrcaBooks)isagrittyhi-lonovelaboutagirlwhofleesherstepfather’ssexualabuseandwaspublishedinOctober.OnDecember17,thefirstbookinthe“DaughtersofLight”trilogy,FindingJade(DundurnPress),wasreleased.MaryJenniferwillbesigningcopiesofFindingJadeattheChapters/IndigostoreatYongeandEglintononSaturday,January7,from1:00to4:00p.m.TherewillalsobeabooklaunchpartyatTypeBooksonQueenWestonFriday,January27.
ALLANSTRATTONwasapresenteratthisSeptember’sFestivaletteraturainMantova,Italy,speakingabouthisRedMapleAwardwinning-novelTheDogs(ScholasticCanada).InOctober,hewasinWarsaw,Poland,toseethePolish-languagepremiereofhis1980comedyNurseJaneGoestoHawaii,whichhasbeenplayingatTeatrCapitalsincelastApril.WhilethereAlanmetwithhisPolishpublisherFoksal,whobroughtoutTheDogslastspring.ThebookhasalsorecentlybeenpickedupbyPandora/Trei,Romania,whichisitsfourteenthterritory.TheGraveRobber’sApprentice(HarperCollinsCanada)hasbeenboughtbyMarti,Turkey,itsseventhterritory.TheCurseof
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theDreamWitch(ScholasticCanada)isinfinalnegotiationswithStabenfeldt,Sweden,itsfifthterritory.Leslie’sJournal(AnnickPress)waspublishedinthefallbyMilan/Bayard,France,itssixthterritory.AndChanda’sSecrets(AnnickPress)hasjustcomeoutinanewTaiwaneseeditionfromHsiaoLuPublishing,itsnineteenthterritory.Hisnewnovel,TheWayBackHome(ScholasticCanada,AndersenPress,UK),willbepublishedinMay.
FRIEDAWISHINSKYandELIZABETHMACLEOD’sbookColossalCanada:100EpicFactsandFeats(ScholasticCanada)hasbeenselectedasoneofthe“RecommendedReads”fortheTDSummerReadingClubin2017.
KarenKrossing,ElizabethMacLeod,FriedaWishinsky
atTDGala
Theclubinvolvesmorethan2,000librariesand650,000readersacrossthecountry.Nextyear’sreadinglististhefirsttimeallthebooksonthelistwillbeCanadian,tocelebrateCanada’s150thbirthday.
MANITOBA, SASKATCHEWAN, ALBERTAWelcometonewFriends:OlatundeAboaba,Regina;AmandaConnolly,Calgary;DeidreDHavrelock,Lethbridge;andLeslieVermeer,Edmonton.
JOANMARIEGALATlaunchedhernewesttitle,DottoDotintheSky,StoriesoftheAurora(WhitecapBooks)attheTelusWorldofScience
inEdmontononDecember3.Sheliterally“launched”thebookinarocket!Theeventincludedareadingandsigning,aswellasentertainment,anastronautimpersonator,familyactivitiesanddoorprizes.JoanlivesinParklandCounty,nearEdmonton.
SIMONROSE’slatestbookofferingadviceandtipsforbothaspiringandestablishedwritersisnowavailable.TheTimeTraveler’sGuide(Sorcerer’sLetterboxPublishing)examinesthewritingoftimetravelstoriesandhistoricalfiction.Booksalwaystransportustootherplaces,especiallystoriesinvolvingtimetravelorthosesetindifferenthistoricaleras.Thebookexaminesthedefinitionoftimetravelandhistoricalfiction,thecreationoftimemachines,methodsanddevices,selectinghistoricalerasandsettings,andcreatingcharactersandcraftingdialogue.Thebookalsoexplorescommonissueswithtimetravelstoriesandtheimportanceofresearch,plausibility,descriptionandplot,alongwithwritingabouttimetravelintothefuture,alternatehistoryandparalleluniverses.TheTimeTraveler’s
Guideisanexcellentresourceforthosewritingtimetravelorhistoricalfictionstoriesforbothchildrenandadults.SimonlivesinCalgary.
KRISTINESCARROW’ssecondyoungadultnovelIfThisIsHome(DundurnPress)willbereleasedJanuary28.Thebookfollows16-year-oldJaycewhosearchesforherestrangedfatheraftershelearnsthathermomhasterminalcancer.Kristineteacheswritingasahealingartandisthewriter-in-residenceatSt.Paul’sHospitalinSaskatoon.ShealsowroteThrowawayGirl(DundurnPress).KristinelivesinSaskatoon.
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JUDITHSILVERTHORNE’sbookConvictions(CoteauBooks)recentlywontheGoldMoonbeamChildren’sBookAwardforYoungAdultFiction—Historical/Cultural.Judithwasalsoshortlistedfor
twoHighPlainsBookAwardsforherEnglish/Creebook,HonouringtheBuffalo(YourNickel’sWorthPublishing).ShehasbeenselectedtoparticipateintheTDCanadianChildren’sBookWeekTourfromMay6to13,2017.JudithlivesinRegina.
BRITISH COLUMBIAWelcometonewFriend:TrinaWiebe,Invermere.
NORMACHARLES’latestnovelLastChanceIsland(Ronsdale)isreportedtobeatopsellerinthefallissueofBCBookWorld.NormaalsowrotetosaythatJamesHeneghan(Vancouver)recentlywonthe2017PhoenixAwardfromtheChildren’sLiteratureAssociationforhisbookWishMeLuck(FarrarStrausGiroux).FewCanadianshavewonthisaward—MONICAHUGHESwonitin2000forKeeperoftheIsisLight(Aladdin).NormalivesinVancouver.
CLAIREEAMERhastwonewbookscomingoutthisspring.WhataWaste!WhereDoes
GarbageGo?(AnnickPress)isdueoutMarch14.Claire’sfirstpicturebook,UnderneaththeSidewalk(ScholasticCanada),isillustratedbyThomasGibaultandwillbereleasedFebruary28.ClairelivesonGabriolaIsland.
DEBORAHHODGEisthrilledandverygratefultohaveWestCoastWild:ANatureAlphabet(GroundwoodBooks)recognizedasthewinnerfortheInformationBookAwardfromtheChildren’sLiteratureRoundtablesofCanada.
Shesharesthishonourwithhermarvellousco-creator,KARENRECZUCH,whosegorgeousillustrationsbringthebooktolife.Theyweredelightedtobeinthecompanyofsomanywonderfulbooksonthisyear’sshortlistandsendcongratulationstoall!West
CoastWildhasalsobeenshortlistedfortheSilverBirchExpressAwardandtheChocolateLilyAward.Inaddition,itwasselectedastheFeaturedBookforVancouverSchools,bytheVancouverElementaryPrincipalsandVicePrincipalsAssociation.DeborahandKarenlookforwardtovisitingOntarioinMayfortheSilverBirchfestivities!DeborahlivesinVancouverandKarenlivesinKelowna.
JULIELAWSONhassignedacontractwithNimbusPublishingforayoungadultnovelsetduringtheHalifaxExplosion.ThestorytakesadifferentapproachthanthatofJulie’s“DearCanada”bookonthesubject,NoSafeHarbour
(ScholasticCanada).Hernewbookwillbeoutintimeforthecentenaryofthe1917disaster.Tocelebratetheupcoming25thanniversaryofJulieLawson’sfirstyoungadultnovel,White
JadeTiger,DundurnPress(theoriginalpublisher)ispublishinganewedition—completewithadramaticnewcover.WhiteJade
TigerwontheSheilaAEgoffAwardandisaCLAHonourBook.Itwasalsoarunner-upfortheSilverBirchAward.JulielivesinVictoria.
ANNEPATTONishonouredtohavehermiddlegradenovelThroughFloodandFire(CoteauBooks)nominatedfortheChocolateLilyAward.Thisisareaders’choiceawardforauthorsandillustratorsresidinginBritishColumbia.Anne’snovelrelatesthemisadventuresofafamilyofBarrColonists
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seekingahomesteadontheCanadianprairiein1093.AnnelivesinVictoria.
GILLIANRICHARDSON’Snonfictionbook10ShipsThatRockedthe
World(AnnickPress)isafinalistforthe2017OLAGoldenOakAward.Herthirdtitleinthe“WorldofTens”series,10RoutesThatCrossedtheWorld
(AnnickPress),willbereleasedinApril2017.GillianlivesinBlindBay.
MARGRIETRUURS’snewestbook,SteppingStones,ARefugeeFamily’sJourney(OrcaBooks),waslaunchedinVictoriaandreachedthebestsellerlistbytheendofOctober.MargrietrecentlysharedthebookatinternationalschoolsinQatarandSaudiArabia.Thebookisavailabletoschoolsandorganizationsasafundraiserforrefugeecauses.InJuly2017MargrietwillbeonthefacultyoftheOregonCoastChildren’sBookWritersWorkshopinOceanside,Oregon.Gotowww.occbww.orgtofindoutmore.MargrietlivesonSaltSpringIsland.
JOCELYNSHIPLEY’snewnovelShatterproofforreluctantreadersages10to14,isnowavailableinthe“Currents”series.Oneofherstorieswasshortlistedforthe2016SurreyInternationalWriters’ConferenceStoryteller’sAwardandheryoungadultnovelImpossible(bothOrca)willbepublishedinthe“Soundings”seriesinspring2018.JocelynlivesinTorontoandonVancouverIsland.
IRENEN.WATTShaspublishedanewgraphicnovel,SeekingRefuge(TradewindBooks),illustratedbyKathrynE.Shoemaker.Atwelve-year-oldrefugeeleavesherparentsandcountryofbirthtofindsafetyinBritain.Butsafetydoesnotmakeupforherlonelinessamongst
strangers,whoselanguageandcustomsshefindsdifficulttounderstand.Herfirstyearduringatimeofwarmakesseparationfromfamilydoublypoignant.ThebookisacompanionpieceforWattsandShoemaker’sfirstgraphicnovel,Good-ByeMarianne(TundraBooks).IrenelivesinVancouver.
INTERNATIONALWelcometonewFriend:LindaMauro,Bolton,MA,USA.
GORDONKORMAN’s89thbook(“Canyoubelievethatnumber?”asksGordon)wasreleasedattheendofSeptember.Jingleistheeighthbookinthe“Swindle”seriesandisaChristmas/Hannukahstorywith“good,old”Luthoronthecover.AlsonewisSlacker(bothScholasticInc.),aboutavideo-game-addictedcouchpotatowhoisinterestedinnothingandendsupatthecenterofeverything.GordonlivesinGreatNeck,NewYork.
NOTE:MemberscanbeemailedviatheformontheirCANSCAIPwebpage.WenolongerincludecontactinformationintheNEWS.
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TheFourthAnnualCLAIREMACKAYMemorialLectureIn2013CANSCAIPrenamedourPackagingYour
Imaginationkeynoteaddressinhonourofourco-
founderClaireMackay.Asanongoingandconstant
reminderofthestrongvisionClairehadfor
CANSCAIPasanorganizationofsupportand
outreach,wedecidedthatthememoriallecture
wouldbeprintedinournewsletteraswellas
deliveredatPYI.
Bookmarks from a Life in PublishingByDavidBooth
EnteringtheWorldofChildren’sBooks(OnlineandInPrint)Thistalkisaboutmyjourneythroughtheworldofbooksforchildren,frombirththroughtheteen-ageyearstothechildthathidesinallofus.Thisincludesmypersonalreadingpast,myson’sbookyears,mygrandchildren’stexts,andmysixtyyearsindifferentCanadianschools,fromprimarygradestograduatestudents.Perhapsmystorywilljogyourmemory,energizeyou,ornudgeyoutowardother,bettergoals.
Iwasareaderfromtheageoffiveyearson,resourcedbytheSarniaPublicLibrary,andmonitoredbymymother.FirstGradewastheépoqueofDickandJane.Ingradefour,IreadalloftheAndrewLangcollectionsoffairytales.Ingradefive,everyoneintheclassreadthesametext,TheTreasuryReaders,republishedinthe14ÖÜeditionin1946,butIseemedtobetheonlyonewhoenjoyedit.ThestoriesweregenerallyfromBritishwriters,withapoemortwobyCanadianwriterslikeBlissCarmenandArchibaldLampman.Initsdefence,therewasafinalsectioncalled“CanadaOurHomeland”,whichincludedapiecebyRudyardKipling,andendedwith“TheAthenianYouths’Pledge”.Highschoolfollowedthetraditionalmodel:onenovel(PresterJohn),oneplayby
Shakespeare(RomeoandJuliet),oneshortstoryanthology(British)andpoems(classicalBritishpoets).Suchwasmyhistoryofbooksforchildreninschool.However,athome,ErnestThomasSeton’sAnimalStories,TheSwiss
FamilyRobinson,RobinsonCrusoe,TheManin
theIronMask,andothersfilledmyimaginativelifewithwordsandstructuresandstoriesthatstillresonatetoday.AndImustn’tleaveoutcomicbooks,whichwereweekendtreatsthattodayarebigboffofilms.MyparentsbelongedtotheBookoftheMonthClub,soIhadaccesstoSomersetMaugham,ErnestHemingway,andevenMickeySpillane.
IreadtheTorontoTelegramnewspaperthoroughlyeveryday,andwasaradiodevotee.Aswell,therearethestoriesandhymnsfromanAnglicanchurchpast.Theserepresentmybackpackofliteratureandliteracyfroma
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childhoodspentinthehomeandschoolsofsmalltownsinOntario.Iamwonderingaboutthecontentsofthebookbackpacksoftoday’schildren,andyourrolesindecidingwhatresourcescouldfillthem.Infiftyyears,whatwilltheyremember?Whatsharedbookmemorieswillbringbacklaughterortears?Whatwill“Canadian”mean?Whatwillmatter?Whateffectwillyouhave?Andwhatisinyourbackpacksthatwilladdrichnesstoyourwritingandtothelivesofourchildren?
IamintheRobinsGroupIbeganteachinginHamiltonin1958whenJohnDiefenbakerwasPrimeMinisterofCanadaandEisenhowerpresidentoftheUS.Ihad45gradefivestudentsinmyclassroomandearlyinSeptembertheconsultantarrivedwith45textbooks.Iwastobethepilotteacherforthree-groupreading.Thestudentswouldbedividedintothreeabilitygroups,andeachstudentwouldhaveareaderchosenforthegroup.ThelimitedreadersreadYoungCanadaReads,thetopgroupreadProudProcessions,andthemiddlegroupreadGayAdventurers.Luckily,thenumberofstudentsateachlevelseemedtomatchthenumberofbooks.
Sincewehadnoschoollibrary,howfortunatewasIwhenWalterraisedhishandandsaid,“Whydon’twegotothepubliclibraryandgetsomerealbooks?”Andsowedid.Thatday.AndthekindlibrarianatthesmallneighbourhoodKenilworthLibraryletustakeoutasmanybooksaswewanted.Backintheclassroom,wefilledthebookshelveswiththesetreasures,andmylifechanged.Thechildrenbeganreadingandwritingaboutanddiscussingthesemagictexts,filledwithstoriesandinformationwrittenbyauthorslikeyou.Wetrottedbacktothelibraryeveryotherweekfornewresources,andstudentslearnedtoselectthetextstheycouldhandle,andthetextstheywanted.Igrewintobeingareadingteacheralongside45studentswholearnedtobereaders,andloandbehold,wewereatthe
forefrontofanotherliteracymovement.Theserealbookswouldlivealongsideschoolanthologiesforthenexttwodecades.
PublishorPerishAsauniversityprofessor,thedemandtopublishresearcharticlesisunrelenting.However,Iwastaughtbythebesttoworkunderground,towriteforteachersinsuchawayastohaveyourworkread.Andsomycareerinpublishingisschool-centred,classroom-basedresearch,withwritingsanddialoguesbyrealteachersandrealstudents.ButthegoodluckthatfollowedmewasthetransitionImadetodevelopingtextsfortheclassroomthathadtheringofresearcharoundthem.Schoolanthologies,stillrelevantintheseventiesandeighties,meantIcouldwriteandselectstories,poemsandinformationarticlesforstudentsundertheumbrellaofapprovedtextsforschooluse.Since30%ofthecontentshadtobeCanadian,Iimmersedmyselfindiscoveringourcountry’swriters,illustratorsandpoets,andfoundsuchexcellentselectionstosharewithchildreninschools.Incorporatingliteraturebyrealauthorsintoclassroomreaderspanickedsomeparents,especiallyintheStates.Authenticstoriestoldofsingleparents,troubledchildren,minoritycharacters,complexlifecircumstances-thehallmarkoftradebooks,andthecensoringofschooltexts,(whichIlivedthrough),andwhichstillcausessomepublisherstoweakentheirstoriesfromfearofattack.Theseanthologieshadlimitations,ofcourse,butsharedtextsfilledwithqualityselections,followedbyhonestdiscussion,havecertainbenefits,especiallywhenbalancedwithtradebooksandread-alouds.Literacycouldflourishhere.
ControlledVocabularyforUncontrollableStudentsDrivenbyassessmentneeds,guidedreadingprogramsweredevelopedusingverycontrolled,levelledtexts,originallyforstudents
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ingradeonewhowerenotyetreadingatanappropriatelevel,butquicklybecamethemodusoperandiforprimary/juniorstudents.Achildcouldmoveupalevelwhendeemedproficientwiththeleveljustcompleted.Ofcourse,hundredsofleveledbookswereneededtoresourcethisprogram,andnowthesedominatetheschoolpublishingworld.Theyareusuallywrittenin-house,andfollowatightformulaforprogressingthroughthelevels.TherearefewifanyanthologiesorgradereadersusednowinCanada;instead,levelledbooksarebundledingroupsoffiveorsixforclassroomuse.TheyreallyfollowthelanguagepatternofDickandJanereaders,butthecontentiscontemporary,andoftenincludesissuesandthemesfrompopularculture.Butwordcontroldoesnotnecessarilydeterminequalityoftext.However,manychildrenlearnedtoreadwithauthorslikeArnoldLobel,whoseToadandFrogbookscontainedaverysmallnumberofwords,orBillMartinJr’sBrownBear,BrownBear.AndCanadahasmanyfinebooks,likeKathyStinson’sRedIsBest,orJonKlassen’sIWantMyHatBack,usingfewwordsandbigideastoentertainandeducateyoungreaders.IcouldteachmostyoungchildrentoreadjustwithDenisLee’spoems.
Whilelevelledtextscansupportyoungreaderswhoaremakingtheirwayintoprint,weneedtocontinueexpandingtheirliteracyliveswithbookswereadaloudtothem,bookswheretheycanjoininorreadalong,informationbooksthatexpandtheirknowledgebase,songsandpoemsaccompaniedbyprintedtext,andstoriestheylistento,remember,andreadbythemselves.
MeetingBooksFacetoFaceFrommyearlyteachingyears,weeitherhadschoollibrariesorthebookmobilesupplyingbooksforstudentstoselect,andperhapsafewmomentsonFridaytoreadtheminschool.Butinthelatesixties,independentorindividualizedreadingprogramshelpedmove
authentictextsintoclassroomteachingandlearning.Itwasatoughsell;manyteacherspreferredthestandardizedgradeanthology-theReader-ratherthancopingwith30differentbookswithoutinstructionalmanualsfortheteacher.Wehadtosetuporganizationalpatternsforbookselection,teachstudentsappropriatewaystoselectabook,inventfollow-upactivitiesforcomprehension,andworryabouthowwewouldassesstheirreadingprogress,nevermindkeepingsomeclassroomorder.Butthisnewmethodologygaverisetothepaperbackpublishingindustry,andtoanopeningforCanadianauthors.Schoollibrariansbecametheliteratureexpertsthatweneededtohelpusdevelopresourcesandstructuresforrunningaprogramfocusedonactualbookswrittenbyrealauthorstobereadinschooltime.Librariansbegantoinviteauthorsintotheschool,andin-serviceprogramsforteachersfeaturedauthorsandillustratorsasguestpresenters.TheChildren’sBookStoreunderJudySarick’swiseguidancebroughtdozensofauthorstoSaturdaysessionsforteachersandchildren;teachercollegesofferedcurriculumcoursesinchildren’sliterature;YAnovelsplayedaprominentroleinolderstudents’readinglives;mediaincludedauthorsandeducatorstalkingaboutbooksforyoungpeople(IspentayearonPeterGzowski’sCBCradiopaneldiscussingchildren’sbooks).
Myeight-year-oldgranddaughter,Mara,isaHarryPotterfan.Hermotherreadeachonetoher,“underthecovers”,asshesays.ThenMarareadeachoneonherown.Thissummer,Iboughtherthelatestoneintheformofascript,HarryPotterandtheCursedChild.Shereadtheintroductionwhilewaitinginline,andshoutedout,“Ohmygod,he’s28yearsoldnow!He’smarried!Hehasthreechildren!Canyoubelieveit?”
Readingaloudtostudentshasalwaysbeenapartofaneffectiveteacher’sprogram,butwiththeexplosionofCanadianpicturebooks,poetryandfolktalecollections,classroomread-
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aloudeventsbecamealmostthenorm,withRobertMunschleadingtheway.Childrenbegantorecognizeauthors’orillustrators’stylesfromexperiencingseveralbooksinaseries.Authors’websitesopenedupvirtualinteractionswithauthorsinternationally.HurrayforDavidBouchardandhisbeautifulbookscelebratingIndigenousPeople.FortenyearsIwaspartofagroupofeducatorswhopresentedweek-longcoursesonchildren’sliteratureatdifferentuniversitiesintheUnitedStates,andourresidentauthorswereStevenKelloggandGordonKorman.
Middle-yearsstudentsareoftenusingnovelsornon-fictionasreadingresources,buthavingthewholeclassreadingthesametextisnolongerfavouredbymostschooldistricts.Inthelastfewyears,literaturecircles,orbookclubs,havedominatedreadingprograms,wheresmallgroupsofstudentsreadanddiscussanoveltheyhaveselectedfromalargebankofbooks,andthroughtheirinteractiveconversations,theycometobetterunderstandtheissuesandcharactersinsidethesharednoveleachgroupisreading.Ihaveobservedtrulyauthenticdiscussionsinstudent-ledbookgroupsaroundTheBreadwinner,orSilverwing,orTheSkyIsFalling.
Independentreadingstillthrivesinmanyclassrooms.Thusthemarketfortradebooksforstudentsintheseyearsisexpandingdaily.ProgramssuchasTheForestofReadingmotivatethousandsofstudentsintoreadingCanadianbooksfromthesuggestedlists.Butthestruggletomaintainschool(andpublic)librariesisneverending.Hurrayforauthors,illustrators,librarians,teachers,andpublisherswhocontinuetoenrichchildren’sliterarylives.
ReadingScreensAssomeonesaid,“Youcantypetheletter“o”,butwhenyouwritean“o”,yousenseroundness.Buttechnologyisubiquitous,andIwritethistalkonaMac.Someofuswillalwayswanttoholdabookoramagazineoranewspaper
whenweread;othersappreciatetheeaseandflexibilityofane-text.ForyoungchildrenwhomayplaywithaniPad,moststillenjoythecomfortoftheirownbookversions,andIcomparethatexperiencetotheneedforaTeddyBearora“blankie”.Tactilesensesmattersomeofthetime—thepaper,thefont,themargins,thewhitespace.ButIamnowconcernedwithwhatisonthescreenorthepage,alongwiththestudent’sresponse.
Afewyearsago,aspartofaresearchproject,Iwasworkingwithagradesevenall-boysclassinTimmins,Ontario,whowerebeingintroducedtotheexcitementofanexperimentalclasssetofiPads.Ihadpaidpermissionfeesforsixnovelstobereadonscreen,andtheprojectchairhadchosenTheHungerGames,ayearbeforethemediablitz,asoneofthechoices.Ihadimaginedtheboyschoosinganonscreennovelfromtheselection,buttheyallaskedtoreadTheHungerGames,andsoweproceeded.Afteroneweek,theprincipaltoldmethathehadbegunreceivingcallsfromparentsaskingwhytheschoolhadorderedthestudentstobuythenexttwobooksintheseries.Itseemedtheboyshadfullyenteredthisdystopianadventureworld,andthosenovels,onscreenandinprint,hadbecomethedrivingforceintheirliteracylives.Wecouldn’tstopthemreading.
WritingforRealAstheyearspassed,Ibeganwritingandeditingmyownbooks,supportedbytherichliteraturedietofbooksforchildrenthatIhaddiscoveredinCanada.KidsCanPresshelpedmetodevelop‘TilAlltheStarsHaveFallen,acollectionofCanadianpoemsforchildrenillustratedbyKadyMacDonaldDenton,followedbyDr.KnickerbockerillustratedbyMaryannKovalski,andTheDustBowlillustratedbyKarenReczuch.Myappreciationofthisartformgrewexponentiallywiththerealizationoftheworkthatgoesintocreatingthemiracleofthe32-pagepicturebook.Iam
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CANSCAIPNEWS 26 WINTER2016/2017
heretodaybecauseofmyeditorsonallmyprojects.Learntoloveyoureditors;theironlygoalistomakeyourworkbetter.SharonJennings,StanleySkinner,KateRevington,WendyCochran,TerriCarleton,DavidKilgourandadozenmorearemyfriendsforlife.Abook,likeamovie,isacollaborativeeffort.Irespectalloftheteamthatliftsmywriting.Iamsofortunatetohavestumbledintopublisherswhohelpedmecarveanicheformywork—StanlySkinner,MaryMacchiusi,WendyCochran,PatLashmar,MaggieGoh.IwascrossingthebordertotheStatesrecently,whenthecustomsofficeraskedmewhatIdidforaliving,andIrepliedthatIwasaliteracyteacher.Hesaid,“What’sthat?”IexplainedthatItaughtteachersaboutteachingreading.Heshouted,“Reading!That’sonlyforrichpeople!”Butweknowabiggertruth:thatreadingisapassporttoabetterworldforeveryone,onscreen,onpaper,andsometimes,onwalls.
HowPoetrySurvivesisaMiracleIrememberbeingatalunchthirtyorsoyearsagowiththreeBritisheducationalauthoritieswhowerenearingretirement.Toaperson,theyrevealedthatalltheywantedtodointheirremainingdaysinschoolswastoreadpoemstochildren.TheywerecaughtbythepowerofthefewwordscalledapoemthatexpandandexplodelikeJack’smagicbeans,andnowIaminasimilarplace.Ifindmyselfinsidethepoetrycupboard,withsomuchtoshare,andsolittletime.Manynovelsforyoungpeoplearebeingwritteninfreeverse,andthisblendingofmodesoffersadifferentwayofreading,wherecadenceandlinelengthandshapepresentnewopportunitiesforthenarrativetograbtheemotions.CarolinePignat’sEggheadisabeautifulexampleofafreeversenovel.WhenJeanLittlebroughthershoeboxfilledwiththepoemsshehadwrittenovertheyears,toseeiftheywereworthpublishing,IshowedthemtoKidsCanPressandJeanpublishedherbookHeyWorld,HereIAm!Saveyourworkinashoe
boxoracarton.Idid,andusedmanyofthepoemsfrommycollectioninHeadtoToe
Spaghetti!Revisitit.Repurposeit.Rejoiceinthememoriesofcreating!
TheCouragetoCreateAlmostthirtyyearsago,IhadthegoodfortuneofdevelopingthebookWritersonWriting,aguidetowritingandillustratingchildren’sbooks,withcontributionsatthetimebythewho’swhoofCanadianwriters,illustrators,publishersandeditors—TedHarrison,IanWallace,JeanLittle,JanetLunn,MonicaHughes,ValerieHussey,KathyLowinger,justtonameafew.AndthisCANSCAIPconferencetodaycarriesonthemandateforsupportingandencouragingallofustocontinuethestruggleforcreatingaheritageforourchildren,forofferingthemwordsandideasandvisualsandsongsthatembodythebestofourdreamsfortheirfutures,forenrichingtheirimaginations,theirglobalunderstandings,theirappreciationofwrittenandvisualart,theirpoweraslanguageusersandlanguagemakers,theirconnectionstoourcountry,theirsenseofbecomingaliterateandcaringcitizenry.Allofyouheretodaymattertoourchildren,toourparents,toourschools,toourcountry.
DAVIDBOOTHisarenownededucatoratthe
OntarioInstituteforStudiesinEducation
(OISE)attheUniversityofToronto,anda
programconsultantforScholastic’sTimeline
graphicnovelseries.Heistheauthorofbooks
foreducatorsandparents,aswellasmany
award-winningbooksforchildren,including
TheDustBowl(illustratedbyKarenReczuch)and‘TilAlltheStarsHaveFallen(illustratedbyKadyMacDonaldDenton),bothpublishedby
KidsCanPress.
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CANSCAIPNEWS 27 WINTER2016/2017
LamppostsLightingUpLiteracy:Vancouver’sREADINGLIGHTSProjectByNormaCharles
Walkafour-year-oldalonganystreetandlistentothemreadthesigns:STOP,DANGER.And,asweallknow,theycanpickoutMcDonald`sgoldenarchesfromblocksaway.ItwasthispredilectionkidshaveforreadingtheirsurroundingsthatgaveViHugheshermarvellousidea.Whynotfilltheirenvironmentswithkid-friendlysignsandreadingopportunities?
ViHughesisaneducatorfromwayback,aformerelementaryschoolprincipal,andtheauthorofseveralpicturebooks.Hermissionisearlyliteracy.She’spassionateaboutkidslearningtoread.Sheknowsthatoncechildrenhavelearnedtoread,theworldofbookswillbetheiroyster.Andwhatbetterwayistheretodothisthanwithkids’books?Especiallykids’bookswrittenandillustratedbylocalauthorsandillustrators.
Energizedbyhermarvellousidea,shewenttothemostnaturalplace,thelocalbook-peddler,alsoknownastheVancouverPublicLibrary.Howwouldtheyfeel,sheasked,aboutplacingsomeprintforchildrenintopublicspaces?Asithappened,thelibrarywasjustcompletingaprojectcalledLiteraryLandmarksthatplacesplaquesaroundthecitytoshowwherefamousCanadianauthorshaveworkedandlived.SandraSingh,ChiefLibrarian,suggestedsomethinglikethiscouldbetriedforyoungchildren.Andvoila!TheReadingLightsprojectwasborn.
Picturethis!Durablemetalplaques,7inchesby24inches(18cm.by61cm.),areinstalledonlamppoststhroughoutthecity.
EachplaqueisimprintedwithacolourfulillustrationandanexcerptfromaBCkids’book.Theplaqueslooklikeapagefromthebook.There’salsoinformationaboutcheckingoutthebookfromthelibraryorevenpurchasingitfromyourlocalbookseller.Soaskidswalkalongthestreet,searchingtheirsurroundingsaskidsdo,oneofthethingsthey
seeareinvitationstoreadgoodbooks!ThisjointprojectbetweentheVancouverPublicLibraryandCWILLBC(Children’sWritersandIllustratorsofBC)celebratesBCauthoredandillustratedkidsbooksaswellasprovidingchildrenwithexcellentreadingmaterialonthestreets.It’saprojectotherlibraryboardsmaywellwishtoemulate.Lastyear,in2015,20picturebookswerechosentobedisplayed.“Adifficultchoice,”Visays,sincetherewerealmost
100submissions.ThefirstsetofReadingLightswaslaunchedinJanuary,2016.Theselectedtitlesandamapofwheretheplaquesareinstalledcanbefoundonthelibrarywebsite,www.vpl.ca/ReadingLights.
Thisyear,20moretitleshavebeenchosen,thistimetoincludelongerpicturebooksandalsoearlychapterbooks.Infutureyears,moretitleswillbechosentoincludeavarietyofbooksforchildrensothat,eventually,theplaquesthroughoutthecitywillreflectthereadingandinterestlevelsofyoungchildren.Thecityandparksboardhavegivenpermissiontoinstalltheplaquesonlamppostsnearparks,schools,playgrounds,libraries,andbeaches–venueswherefamiliesoftencongregate.
Familiescanvisittheplaques,butit`salsohopedthatteacherswillorganizemini-fieldtripstoviewclose-byplaqueswiththeirstudents.Whentheyreturntotheirclassroom,
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CANSCAIPNEWS 28 WINTER2016/2017
theycanfindmoreinformationaboutthebook,anditsauthorandillustratoraswell.Thishasalreadyhappenedmanytimes.Forexample,afteraserendipitoussightingoftheplaquecelebratingthebookHowtoBuildYour
OwnCountrybyValerieWyatt,illustratedbyKarenFredericks,ateacherandherexcitedclasswentontodiscovermoreaboutthebookanditscontents.
Tofundtheproject,donationshavebeenmadefrommembersofthepublic,aswellasfrominterestedorganizationssuchasCWILLBCandVancouverChildren’sLiteratureRoundtable.
Thisisaprojectwhereeveryonewins:it’sexcellentPRforthePublicLibrary;localauthors,illustrators,andpublishershavetheirbookspubliclydisplayedandcelebrated;andbooksellerswillsellmorelocalbooks.ButtherealwinnersoftheReadingLightsprojectarekidswhoarelearningtoread,andwillbeableseetheirownworldreflectedinthewonderfulplaques.
ThanksVi!Thanksonbehalfofauthorsandillustratorsandpublishersandbooksellers.Andthanks,especially,onbehalfofkidswhoareonthemomentousjourneytobecomingreadersandplungingintotheexhilaratingworldofbooks.
FormoreinformationaboutVancouver’sReadingLightsprojectcheckoutthelibrarywebsite.www.vpl.ca/Readinglights.AndyoumightwanttothinkaboutstartingaReadingLightsprojectinyourneighbourhood.
NORMACHARLES
isaformerteacher/
librarianandthe
authorofmany
booksforchildren.
ThelatestisLastChanceIsland,justoutwithRonsdale.
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CANSCAIPNEWS 29 WINTER2016/2017
Changing the WorldA“WelcomeNeighbours”EventByLisaDalrymple
NeverdoubtthatasmallgroupofconcernedCANSCAIPerscanchangetheworld.OnSeptember17ÖÜ2016,ninechildren’sauthorsfromtheGuelphandCentreWellingtonareacametogetherwithrepresentativesoftheUpperGrandDistrictSchoolBoard(UGDSB),politicaldignitariesandfamilyliaisongroupstowelcometoCanadanewcomersfromSyria.
The“WelcomeNeighbours”eventwasanideaconceivedbyEricWalterswhobeganplanninginMarchof2016duringavisitwithGuelphMP,LloydLongfield.Theydiscussedthefactthatapproximately30SyrianrefugeefamilieshadalreadyarrivedinGuelphandthatthecommunitywasexpectinganother60bytheendoftheyear.Ericwantedlocalchildren’swriterstoworkwiththecitytoextendaspecialwelcometoitsnewestresidentsanditdidn’ttakelongbeforealargenumberofother“kind,caring,compassionatepeople”becameinvolved.
BonnieTalbot,theUGDSB’sSuperintendentofEducation,wasanenthusiasticpartnerincoordinatingtheeventheldatWestwoodPublicSchoolsixmonthslater.OrcaBook
Backrow:WernerZimmermann,EricWalters(centre),
LisaDalrymple,KiraVermond,JanetWilson;Middlerow:
KathyStinson(leftofcentre),JoEllenBogart(onright);
Frontrow:RobertMunsch(kneeling);Missing:JeanLittle.
PhotobyHeatherLoney,UGDSB
PublishersexpeditedthereleaseofMargrietRuurs’bookSteppingStones:ARefugeeFamily’sJourney,inspiredandillustratedbySyrianartistNizarAliBadr’sevocativestoneartwork.Theearlyreleaseenabledthepublishertoshipout100copiesofthebooktobegivenasameaningfulgifttoeachfamilyandpresenterattheevent.
ManymorebooksweredonatedbytheOntarioLibraryAssociationandthepublishersoftheattendingauthorssuchasAnnickPress,CreativeBookPublishing,Owlkids,PenguinRandomHouseandScholastic.FirstBookCanadadonatedover600bookswhileTDBankpaidforthecostofdeliveringsuchaheavyshipment.RobertMunscharrivedwithArabictranslationsofsomeofhisbest-lovedworkswhichdelightedallthechildren—andmanyoftheadults—inattendance.Over1000bookswerecontributedintotalandeachchildreceivedaliterarylootbagtotakehome—acollectionofbooksselectedspecificallyfortheiragegroup.
Atthebeginningoftheevent,presenterstookplaceatthefrontoftheroomalongwith
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CANSCAIPNEWS 30 WINTER2016/2017
translatorMotazNassifandNaiaAlkhaledi,ahighschoolstudentinaheadscarfadornedwithredmapleleaves.CANSCAIPersEricWalters,RobertMunsch,JeanLittle,KathyStinson,JoEllenBogart,WernerZimmermann,JanetWilson,KiraVermondandLisaDalrymple,alongwithotherpresenterssuchasschoolboardtrusteesandpoliticaldignitariesLloydLongfield(MPGuelph),LizSandals(MPPGuelph),andTedArnott(MPPWellington-HaltonHills)eachreadapageofSteppingStones.TheArabictranslations,writtenbyFalahRaheem,werethenreadfromthebookbyNaia.
Thewelcomeintheschoolauditoriumwasheartfeltandappreciatedespeciallywhenthechildrensurprisedthereaderswiththeirownspecialthankyougift.TheygatheredandsangaMiddleEasternsong,“GiveUsaChance,”whichtheyadmirablyaccomplishedinArabic,EnglishandFrench.
ThemutualcaringandthanksdidnotendonthatSaturdayinSeptember.Theripplethiseventhascreatedremainsevident.ThesaleofSteppingStonescontinuestoraisefundsforSyrianrefugees(www.steppingstonesthebook.com);theUGDSBispromotingthebook,withOrcaBookPublisherscontributing$10tolocalresettlementagenciesinGuelphforeachcopysoldthroughtheboardwebsite(www.ugdsb.on.ca/community/article.aspx?id=68406);andonNovember9ÖÜ,whenDufferinCountyheldawelcomedinnerforanothergroupofnewly-arrivedSyrianfamilies,KiraVermondandLisaDalrympleattendedandagainreadtoagatheringofengagingandinquisitiveyoungnewcomers.
Ofcourse,weshouldneverdoubtthatasmallgroupofconcernedwriterscanchangetheworld.Whentheystandhand-in-handwithchildrenandtheircommunities,isthereeveranyquestion?
LISADALRYMPLEis
theauthorofseveral
fictionandnon-
fictionbooksfor
childrenincluding
SkinkontheBrink,AMooseGoesA-Mummering,andBetheChangeintheWorld.HerfirstnovelJungleJittersisduetobereleasedbyOrcaBookPublishersinthe
springof2017.
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CANSCAIPNEWS 31 WINTER2016/2017
PACKAGINGYOURPERSEVERANCE“WriterintheWorks”byTiffanyShort
November19ÖÜmarkedthe32ⁿÑannualPackagingYourImaginationconference,andmyfirsttimeattending.ThisoneexcitingdaysummedupformeallthewaysI’dbeenlearningtobeawriter.
Backinthe1990s,whenSylviaMcNicollgaveapresentationatmyschool,Iwasn’toneofthestudentschosentoattend;Ibelievetheteacheronlyofferedtheworkshoptothoseinwhomhesawasparkandapparentlythatwasn’tme.ButIhavealwaysbeenapassionatereader,anddespitethatdisappointment,IdabbledinwritingwithoutbelievingI’deverbepublished.TwodecadeslaterImadethedecisiontostartattendingmylocallibrary’scircleofwriters.Then,withtheencouragementofanauthorfriend,InervouslywroteSylviaMcNicollamessageoverGoodreads.
SylviasuggestedapplyingforthementorshipprogramatCSARN(CanadianSeniorsArtistsResourceNetwork)whichwouldgivemetenmonthsofpersonalcoaching.
IwasimmediatelyacceptedandoverthepastninemonthsSylviaandIhaveworkedonthecraft,discussedtheindustry,andfacilitatedworkshopsviamylocallibrary.Sheprovidedencouragementandsuggestionstoimprovemyshorterworks,aswellasmynovel.
Withincreasedconfidence(thankyouSylviaandCSARN)Ihavestartededitingforlocalwriters,writingshortstoriesandblogposts,andworkingonmyfirstnovel.RecentlySylviaencouragedmetoattendtheCANSCAIPPackagingYourImaginationconferenceattheLiKaShingKnowledgeInstituteinToronto.Itturnedouttobeaninspiringday.
AshleySpiresopenedtheconferencewithakeynotespeechaboutinsecurity.Whatawayto
kickofftheday!Ashleysharedherowndoubtsasacreator,theconstantthreatof“not-good-enoughs”.Shespokeabouthowshepoweredthroughthedoubttocreateworkthat“didn’thavetobegoodenough”,itjusthadtomakeherlaugh.Iamgratefulforsuchcandidness;asanemergingwriter,Isufferfromimpostersyndrome.
AshleySpires,photobyJoyceGrant
WhatresonatedwithmefromLeeEdwardFödi’ssessionwashismessageto“cultivateacreativelifebyengaginginvariousimaginativeactivities”.Personally,Iamtakenwithseveralcreativeoutlets.
Next,IlistenedtoJacquelineGuestdiscussChannellingOurGhosts:CreatingHistoricalFictionforYAReaders.Hersessionprovidedinsightintohowtogetpublished,theinclusionofthefivesensesinwriting,andtheimportanceofpacing.MyinterestineducationwaspiquedwhenJacquelinementionedthatapitchshowinghowone’sworkconnectstocurriculumcanbeofbenefit.Sologicalanduseful.
Atlunch,itwasgreattohavetheopportunitytocheckoutthebooksbythefacilitatorsofthesesessionsattheMabel’sFablessetup.Itwasdifficulttodecidebetweensuchanarrayoftalent,butIsomehowmanaged.Theentanglementofpeoplewaitingtopurchaseworkbytheauthorsrivalledthatofthebathroomandthelunchtables,thenetworkisthatsupportive.ThepeopleofCANSCAIParesoencouraging.Alsoduringthe
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CANSCAIPNEWS 32 WINTER2016/2017
hourlunch,TheoHeraspresentedIBBYHansChristianAndersencertificatestoKennethOppelandTeresaToten.Congratulations!
DiverseexperienceswithpublishingwererepresentedattheBreakingInPanel,whichreflectedthemainideathatthereisnoonesolutiontobreakingintotheindustry.Also,thegroupaddressedtheimportanceofbeingpersistent,reiteratingAshleySpires’keeptrying!Theyendedtheirsessionwitheachholdingupasuggestion—“PolishedManuscript”,“TryEverything”,“ReadingandNetworking”,“ResearchandOrganization”.
BreakinginPanel,photobyLenaCoakley
MylastsessionwasNovelRevisionbyAnneLaurelCarter.Shespoketotheimportanceofgettingadraftdown—revisioncan’thappenuntilthedrafthappens.“Thedraftcanbeshitty!”sheassuredus.Justknowingthatcanunblockpeoplewhoaredealingwithdoubt.
Theimpactofthefinalkeynotewaspalpable.DavidBoothusedhumourandemotionaltalestosharehispassionforliteracyandliterature.Hebolsteredtheviewofthelibrary:“It’saboutlife!”Hespokeofthetrendsinschool,theprogressofclassroombooksandthetrajectoryofreading.Heharboursnoresentmentovertechnology,ratherencouragesusto“loveallofit”.DavidBoothwasgivenastandingovationfromeveryoneintheauditorium.Wehonouredhiswords,hisworkandhishopeforthefuture.
PublishingPanelwithPeterCarver,photobyJoyce
Grant
IamgratefulforallthepeoplewithwhomIhadtheopportunitytospeak.Thisinadditiontomymentorshipwillhelpmefeelmoreconfidentmovingforwardinmywriting.Ialreadyfeelencouragedtocontinueworkingonmycraft,andnotletthedoubtswin.Therearemanywaystolearnsomethingnew;forme,Iloveallofit.
Editor’sNote:Wantamentor/Wanttomentor?CheckoutCSARN.camentorshipmatch.OrcontactDeborahWindsoratmentors@csarn.ca
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CANSCAIPNEWS 33 WINTER2016/2017
To Market, To MarketbyBethPollock
Pleasenote:CANSCAIPdoesnotscreenliteraryagenciesorpublishers.Itisyourresponsibilitytoresearchtheirbusinessreputationsbeforesigningacontract.Reputableagenciesandpublishersdonotchargeforreading,editingorpublishingmanuscripts.
PUBLISHERSHotKeyBooksBonnierZaffreLtd,80-81WimpoleSt,LondonUKW1G9REWebsite:hotkeybooks.comManuscriptsubmissions:HotKeypublishesbooksforteensandYAreaders.Sendyourmanuscriptalongwithafullsynopsistoenquiries@bonnierzaffre.co.uk
FlashlightPress527EmpireBlvd.,Brooklyn,NY11225,USAWebsite:www.flashlightpress.com/Manuscriptsubmissions:FlashlightpublishesonlyPBfiction.Yourmanuscriptshouldtarget4-8year-olds,belessthan1000words,haveauniversaltheme,anddealwithfamilyorsocialsituations.Pleasesubmityourformviatheauthors.melinkonthewebsite:www.flashlightpress.com/submissionguidelines.html.
Illustrationsubmissions:PleasesendyourURLandafewlow-ressamplestoartsubmissions@FlashlightPress.com.
FlyingEyeBooks27WestgateSt,London,E83RLUKWebsite:www.flyingeyebooks.comManuscriptsubmissions:FlingEyeisacceptingPBsof500-1000wordsandnonfictionpiecesupto90pages.Emailsubmissionstopicturbksubs@nobrow.netandincludesynopsisandappropriatecharacterstudies.Illustratorsmustbepreviouslypublished.
Illustrationsubmissions:Sendthreefinishedspreadsandroughsoftheremainderofthems.
AGENTSMelissaNassonRubinPfefferContent:www.rpcontent.comMelissaNassonislookingforPB,MGandYAfictionandnonfiction.Opentoallgenreswithaspecialloveoffantasyandscifi.Enjoysunexpectedsettingsandagoodromanticangle.ForNFNassonwouldlovetoseestoriesthatshedlightonuntoldstoriesfromhistory,particularlyfeaturingmarginalizedpeople.Sendinquiryandfirst50pagesas.docor.pdftoMelissa@rpcontent.com.
TracyMarchiniBookEnds:bookendsliterary.comLookingforPBmaterialthatislaugh-out-loudfunnyordeliciouslydark,andMGandYAmss.Thatfeatureunderdogs,strongfemales,and/orunreliablenarrators.Particularlyinterestedinms.thatpresentdiversityofcharacters.Usesubmissionformatquerymanager.com/query/tmarchini.
KiraWatsonEmmaSweeney:www.emmasweeneyagency.comParticularlyinterestedinYAandMGmss.withstrongnarrativevoice,well-craftedstorylinesandmemorablecharacters.Activelyseekingrealisticfiction,speculativefiction,magicrealism,thriller/mystery,horror,fantasy,andhistoricalfiction.Storieswithfolkloreelements,complexvillians,morallyenigmaticprotagonists,medievalliteraryinfluences,andtaboosubjectsareboundtocatchherattention.Sendquerywithbriefcoverlettersayinghowyoulearnedabouttheagency,previouswritingcredits,andafewlinesaboutyourselftoqueries@emmesweeneyagency.com.Pasteyourfirsttenpagesintothebodyoftheemail.
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CANSCAIPNEWS 34 WINTER2016/2017
BUSINESSBRIEFSWRITINGWORKSHOP:ANNELAURELCARTERwillhostpicturebookworkshopsSundayafternoonsstartingJanuary8th.ContactAnneformoredetails:annelaurelcarter@rogers.com.ShewillalsoinstructWritingforChildrenattheUniversityofTorontoSCS(downtown)SaturdaysstartinginApril.Workshopwithotherwritersasyoustudyandacquiretoolstodraftandpolishasuccessfulpicturebook,middlegradeorYAnovel.Checkout:learn.utoronto.ca.Seealsowww.annelaurelcarter.com
BOOKTRAILERS:Bringyourstoriestolifeforyourprospectivereaderswithabooktrailer.VideographerTimClarkwillcreateaprofessional,1to3minutetrailerforastoryinanygenre.WatchhistrailerforTheChoicebyKathyClarkwhichwasnamedvideooftheweekontheOpenBookwebsite.ContactTimattim@studiomograph.com.
ISYOURMACHOLDINGYOUBACK?Ifyou’renotcomfortablewithyourApplecomputer,yourwritingsoftwareandyourfilesystem,you’reprobablywastingvaluablecreativetimeandenergy.RobMorphycanhelpyourelaxandgetwriting.One-on-one,inhome(centralTorontofornow)[email protected].
TEDSTAUNTONleadsWritingChildren’sFictioncoursesIandIIthiswinter,TuesdayandThursdayeveningsbeginninginmidJanuary.
ClassesareheldatMabel’sFablesbookstore.WritingIsurveysallgenresofkidlit.WritingIIisaworkshopforexperiencedwriters.ClickthelinksbelowfortheGeorgeBrownCollegeContinuingEdwebsite:https://writing-children-s-fiction-i/orhttps://writing-children-s-fiction-ii/
VISITINGCREATORS:Librariansandteachersinterestedinhavingauthor,illustratorandperformervisitscancheckmembers’pagesontheCANSCAIPwebsiteatwww.canscaip.org.
FREELANCEEDITOR:KathrynCole,formerchildren’sbookpublisheratOxfordUniversityPressandStoddartKids,andmorerecentlyEditorialDirectoratTundraBooks,isnowworkingasafree-lanceconsultantandeditor.Shecanbereachedatkcole21@gmail.com.
MANUSCRIPTEVALUATIONandCOACHING:Writtenafirstdraftandneedfeedback?Needaline-by-lineedit?Completedanoutline,afirstchapterandalastchapter,butdon’tknowwheretogofromthere?Playingwithahalf-writtenmanuscriptthatyou’renotsuremeritsyourcontinuedefforts?Ifyourmanuscriptisaimedatachildorteenaudienceandyou’relookingforsomehonestandpracticalfeedback,SusanHughescanhelp.Getintouchwithheratsusanhughes@sympatico.caorrefertoherwebsiteformoreinformation:www.susanhughes.ca.
SEMINARS:ForinformationaboutPWAC(ProfessionalWritersAssociationofCanada)’s2015-2016seminarsonfreelancewritingseewww.networds.ca.
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CANSCAIPNEWS 36 WINTER2016/2017
ReturnUndeliverableCanadianAddressesto:CANSCAIP,720BathurstSt.,Unit503,Toronto,ONM5S2R4416-515-1559
CANSCAIPNEWSAquarterlybulletinoftheCanadianSocietyofAuthors,IllustratorsandPerformers
LaSociétécanadiennedesauteurs,illustrateursetartistespourenfants
Volume38,No.4–Winter2016/2017
TheCANSCAIPExecutiveELECTEDEXECUTIVEMEMBERSPresident SHARONJENNINGS
VicePresident JenniferMarunoPastPresident BillSwanTreasurer MaureenMcGowanMemberatLarge PatsyMacKinnonFriendatLarge LornaPoplak
APPOINTEDEXECUTIVEMEMBERSRecordingSecretary BevKatzRosenbaumProgramCommittee HeatherCamlot
TheoHerasCatherineRondina
PatriciaStormsIllustrators’Rep HollyMainMembershipCommittee YolandeHirdaramani
HollyMainMichelleNidenoff
ListservManager MarshaSkrypuchSocialMediaCoordinator MelanieFishbanePackagingYourImagination HeatherCamlot
JillianDobsonJoyceGrant
SharonJenningsHollyMain
JenniferMarunoAdministrativeDirector HelenaAalto
CANSCAIPNews
Editor BARBARAGREENWOOD
Contributors DavidBoothNormaCharlesLisaDalrymple
SharonJenningsKarenKrossing
ElizabethMacLeodMoniquePolak
BethPollockScotRitchieTiffanyShort
FrontPageLogoVariation MichaelMartchenkoNewsletterProduction RobMorphy
Publication mail agreement #40043364