Michael Kusugak in Victoria Nov. 14, 2011

03 Nov 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in Events, For Educators, For Parents, News Tags: Michael Kuzugak, Storytelling, Victoria Children's Literature Roundtable

Michael Kusugak

Monday Nov. 14th, 7:30 pm

at the Victoria Children’s Literature Roundtable

Michael Kusugak, an award-winning author and storyteller originally from Repulse Bay, Nunavut, writes fiction for children. His body of work ranges from his most recent book, The Littlest Sled Dog, to his first book, A Promise is a Promise, co-authored with Robert Munsch.

He grew up living in igloos, traveling by dogsled, catching his food to eat and listening to his grandmother’s stories. Michael will weave these experiences into his storytelling.

The VCLR is open to the public. Members free, drop-ins $5, students $4. Meetings are held at the Nellie McClung Branch Library, 3950 Cedar Hill Road. Come early and browse Cadboro Bay Books’ table, and bring a friend! Doors open at 7 pm.

For more information about the Roundtable, call 250-598-3694 or visit:

www.victoriachildrensliteratureroundtable.blogspot.com.

Poetry at Play

02 Nov 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in For Educators, For Kids, For Parents, for teens, News, Worthy Causes Tags: Poetry at Play

Poetry at Play is a daily blog created by Poetry Advocates for Children and Young Adults (PACYA),  launched in the fall of 2011, is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting poetry for every age group . Its growing membership is a combination of poets, authors, teachers, students, scholars, editors, librarians, booksellers, and readers of every age from around the world.

PACYA is run by a team of 17 advisors who will serve from 2011-2013.

The organization is dedicated to:

*Speaking out for the need to engage with poetry at every age level—and addressing the challenges of doing so

*Creating a global online hub for news, reviews, essays, and interviews; learning/scholarly resources; communication and networking; audiovisual archives; collaborative projects; and more

*Organizing and promoting readings, awards, workshops, and conferences in North America and internationally

To learn more about PACYA, visit its blog at poetryadvocates.wordpress.com. You’ll find a poet of the week, on-line and book resources, and a community of like-minded people who believe in the power of poetry. Join today, and spread the word.

Celebrate Picture Book Month!

01 Nov 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in News Tags: Picture Book Month

I almost forgot to mention that today is day 1 of Picture Book Month.

Read * Share * Celebrate!

What You Can Do to Celebrate Picture Book Month * Create posters and hang them around your school and library. Posters are available for download in the media kit. Be sure to include the book

via Celebrate!.

NaNoWriMo

01 Nov 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in Help for writers, News Tags: NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month

Today is the first day of NaNoWriMo. Ok, for those of you who don’t have a clue what I’m talking about, NaNoWriMo is the equivalent of a marathon for writers. The idea is to write every day of the month with the completion of a 50,000 word novel by November 30. When it comes to National Novel Writing Month there is no chance for editing along the way, no winners and no prizes. You might be asking, Why bother? Well, if you’ve been meaning to write the great American (or the great Canadian) novel for years now, but just haven’t gotten around to it, NaNoWriMo just might be the push you need. Besides, you can meet other writers, get pep talks and support, or just commiserate. So stop talking about it, get yourself signed up, and get writing.

Free short story by Cheryl Rainfield

31 Oct 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in for teens, News Tags: Cheryl Rainfield, free download, Paranormal teen fantasy, PinPoint

If you’re looking for a little something to get you into the Halloween mood, there’s nothing like a spine-chilling paranormal read, especially when it’s free and just happens to be written by the award-winning author of Scars. So, hustle on over to Smashwords to download your copy of PinPoint: A HUNTED Bonus Short Story by Cheryl Rainfield. You can also check out the first 6 pages of her e-book, Hunted for free too. Happy Halloween!

Mindy Kaling and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

28 Oct 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in For Educators, For Kids, For Parents, Publishing News Tags: biography, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy Kaling

Apparently fall is the biography season…I guess I’ve not been paying attention all these years, or else I’ve just not been a big biography fan. But now, it seems there is even a biography that even I’m interested in, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? For those of you not in the loop, Mindy Kaling is both a writer and actress for the hit TV show, The Office. I’ve watched the show on and off for a while, and while I’m not a passionate follower, I do enjoy some of the humor.

Even if you aren’t a big fan of the The Office, you may want to pick up a copy of Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? . Kaling is both quirky and funny both on the show, and in her new book which talks about her experience with a little advice thrown in for good measure. So, if you’re in high school and struggling to fit in…and haven’t we all been there at one time or another… this book is for you. And if you happen to be well past high school, as I am, you may enjoy Kaling’s refreshing look back on why success in high school does not necessarily translate into success later in life. If you want a taste of how Kaling reads, check out the except in Publisher Weekly.

Rick Mercer’s Rant on Teen Suicide and Bullying

26 Oct 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in For Educators, For Kids, For Parents, Worthy Causes Tags: bullying, Rick Mercer, Sheree Fitch, teen suicide

Thanks to Sheree Fitch for the heads up on Rick Mercer rants about teen age suicide and bullying. Last year 300 kids committed suicide in Canada. As Rick says, “300 kids is 300 too many”. Most Canadians know who Rick Mercer is, but if you are from south of the border, or across the pond, you may want to check him out. He’s one of Canada’s national treasures.

Pullman doesn’t mince words

25 Oct 2011 2 Comments

by sherylbooks in News Tags: library advocacy, Philip Pullman, The Guardian

It seems that libraries are having a tough time everywhere, even in England. According to an article in The Guardian, more than 600 libraries are threatened with closure.

But in England, at least, libraries have a new “no bullshit” champion. Philip Pullman, author of His Dark Materials trilogy, isn’t one to mince words. At a national conference of library campaigners, he called on the participants to fight against stupidity, referencing Brent council’s suggestion that closing half of its libraries would help it fulfill “exciting plans to improve libraries”. This has got to be one of the more absurd statements I’ve come across lately. Pullman obviously thought so too. He suggested that Brent council’s ludicrous suggestion “ought to be quoted in every anthology of political bullshit from here to eternity”.

Right on Mr. Pullman.

Claire Eamer at the VCLR tonight!

24 Oct 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in For Educators, For Parents, News Tags: Claire Eamer, Victoria Children's Literature Roundtable

Claire Eamer

Monday Oct. 24th, 7:30 pm at the Victoria Children’s Literature Roundtable

Claire Eamer, a professional writer, reporter and editor from Whitehorse, has written non-fiction books for children, including Lizards in the Sky: Animals Where You Least Expect Them, and Super Crocs & Monster Wings. She has also published short stories for young adults, and is a regular contributor to the children’s science magazine, YesMag. Claire will tell us how she turned her passion for science and history into writing for children.

Sneak Preview! Dayle Sutherland and Melanie Jeffs from Orca Books will present titles from Orca’s fall book list, too.

For more information about the Roundtable, call 250-598-3694 or visit:

www.victoriachildrensliteratureroundtable.blogspot.com.

The short-lists for the Tree Awards have been announced

23 Oct 2011 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in Award News, News

The largest Canadian reading awards program where the kids are in charge of picking the winners, has announced this year’s short lists. The Ontario Tree Awards is a massive program with 8 different awards. It’s been hugely successful in getting kids and teens involved in reading. Here are some, but not all of this year’s picks.

Blue Spruce™ Nominees

	A Flock of Shoes Sarah Tsiang, Qin Leng Annick Press
	Giraffe and Bird Rebecca Bender Dancing Cat Books/Cormorant Books
	Kiss Me! (I’m a Prince!) Heather McLeod, Brooke Kerrigan Fitzhenry & Whiteside
	The Little Hummingbird Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas D&M Publishers/Greystone Books
	Making the Moose Out of Life Nicholas Oldland Kids Can Press
	Noni Says No Heather Hartt-Sussman, Geneviève Côté Tundra Books stand up for yourself and still be a good friend.
	One Hockey Night David Ward, Brian Deines Scholastic Canada/North Winds Press
	Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth! Marie-Louise Gay Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press
	Small Saul Ashley Spires Kids Can Press
	Stanley’s Little Sister Linda Bailey, Bill Slavin Kids Can Press

Silver Birch Fiction Nominees, Silver Birch Non-Fiction Nominees, Silver Birch Express Nominees

Red Maple™ Fiction Nominees

	Dear George Clooney Please Marry My Mom Susin Nielsen Tundra Books
	Dust City Robert Paul Weston Puffin Canada / Penguin Group Canada
	Fanatics William Bell Random House Canada / Doubleday Canada
	Fly Boy Eric Walters Puffin Canada / Penguin Group Canada
	Half Brother Kenneth Oppel Harper Collins Canada
	Haunting Violet Alyxandra Harvey Walker & Company
	Home Truths Jill MacLean Dancing Cat Books/Cormorant Books
	No Safe Place Deborah Ellis Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press
	Thunder Over Kandahar Sharon E. McKay, Rafal Gerszak (photographs) Annick Press
	Torn from Troy Patrick Bowman Ronsdale Press

White Pine Non-Fiction Nominees

White Pine™ Fiction Nominees

	Ashes, Ashes Jo Treggiari Scholastic Canada
	Beat the Band Don Calame Candlewick Press
	Blood Red Road Moira Young Random House Canada/Doubleday Canada
	Chance to Dance for You Gail Sidonie Sobat Great Plains Publications
	Death Benefits Sarah N. Harvey Orca Book Publishers L
	The Fifth Rule Don Aker Harper Trophy Canada/ Harper Collins Publishers
	The Gathering Kelley Armstrong Random House Canada/Doubleday Canada
	Motorcycles & Sweetgrass Drew Hayden Taylor Random House Canada/Vintage Canada
	Something Wicked Lesley Anne Cowan Puffin Canada/Penguin Group Canada
	The Way It Is Donalda Reid Second Story Press

And that’s not all…there are three other awards, so check them out too!

Claire Eamer

Monday Oct. 24th, 7:30 pm at the Victoria Children’s Literature Roundtable

Blue Spruce™ Nominees

A Flock of Shoes

Giraffe and Bird

Kiss Me! (I’m a Prince!)

The Little Hummingbird

Making the Moose Out of Life

Noni Says No

One Hockey Night

Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!

Small Saul

Stanley’s Little Sister

Red Maple™ Fiction Nominees

Dear George Clooney Please Marry My Mom

Dust City

Fanatics

Fly Boy

Half Brother

Haunting Violet

Home Truths

No Safe Place

Thunder Over Kandahar

Torn from Troy

White Pine™ Fiction Nominees

Ashes, Ashes

Beat the Band

Blood Red Road

Chance to Dance for You Gail

Death Benefits

The Fifth Rule

The Gathering

Motorcycles & Sweetgrass

Something Wicked

The Way It Is