The Canadian Science Writers’ Association recently announced that Tanya Lloyd Kyi’s 50 Poisonous Questions (Annick Press) has won the Science in Society Youth Book Award. Entries were judged on the basis of initiative, originality, scientific accuracy, clarity of interpretation and value in promoting a better understanding of science by the public. Way to go Tanya.
While you’re picking up a copy of 50 Poisonous Questions, you may also want to add The Blue Jean Book to your cart. It’s a fabulous book about that takes you behind the seams of bluejeans.
Over the years, I’ve had the good fortune to work with some very talented illustrators. I heard from one of them this morning. Chrissie Wysotski, the illustrator of This is the Dog, sent me this framed picture from the book. It will be one of the illustrations featured in two upcoming exhibits sponsored by the Ontario Library Association. The Blue Spruce 10th Anniversary Illustration Art Exhibit during the Festival of Trees in May 2012 at Harbourfront in Toronto, and at the Canadian Nation Exhibition in Toronto from August 17th – September 3rd , 2012. Of course you may want to read the book too, especially if you are a dog lover. It’s available at most libraries, and can be ordered from your favorite independent book seller.
I spent all of Friday at a Truth and Reconciliation Commission event in Victoria. I was there to support a dear friend who wanted to make a statement for the commission’s record. Some of you might not know what a Truth and Reconciliation Commission is about, so let me explain. Truth and Reconciliation Commissions are tasked with revealing past wrongdoing by a government or group…Think President Nelson Mandela after apartheid. But also think Canada and Indian Residential Schools. Indian Residential Schools are a shameful part of Canada’s history. Children as young as five were taken from their families with the stated aim to forcibly assimilate them. They were denied their language, their culture and their families. Many residential schools were notorious for allegations of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse as well as neglect.
In 2008 the Canadian Government apologized to First Nations Peoples for the wrongs done to Aboriginal, Métis and Inuit peoples. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was tasked with taking statements from survivors and family members, creating a public record, and working toward reconciliation and a better future for Canada. It was difficult to be there. It was difficult to hear some of the horrific stories of survivors, difficult to hear how so many had turned to substance abuse to drown the memories of their residential school experiences. It was difficult to hear of how such self-destructive behavior had in turn been so destructive to generations of families. But, it was also healing. By sharing their stories, survivors were letting others help carry the load of pain, anger and hurt. Counselors and healers were on hand to offer amazing support. By knowing and understanding our past, I hope we will be better equipped to go forward to a healthier future, a future that is respectful of cultural diversity.
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Karen Rivers is a fabulous author who has written for middle school, young adult, and adult audiences. She’s a master of the first person narrative that young adult audiences so often find appealing, and she uses it to put her readers in the driver’s seat along with her quirky characters. She’ll be talking about how she found her “dream job” as a writer, but anyone who knows Karen or has read her books, wil know that she hasn’t found, but created her dream job through well developed stories that are carefully crafted.
Her most recent novels areWhat is Real, the XYZ Trilogy, and Barely Hanging On.
***The doors open at 7:00 pm but you’re welcome to arrive early to browse the Cadboro Bay Books table.
***Everyone welcome! Cost: $5.00 at the door, Students $4.00, $25.00/year.
***Dayle Sutherland will present Orca Book Publishers new Spring titles. Bring lightly used children’s picture books to donate to Project abc 1,000 x 5.
Check out this great interview with my awesome writer friend, Sheree Fitch who knows and writes so well about that “between place”. Thanks Hilary Paige Smith for sharing a Canadian treasure with us.
Why is International Children’s Book Day today and not next week? Cuz it celebrates someone very influential to children’s literature.
Who? Hans Christian Andersen. Today is his birthday!. Or, it would be his birthday if he were still around, which would just be creepy!
What can you do about it? Celebrate!
How? By buying a child a book!
Where? Anywhere in the world!
****If you don’t have a child, you can buy a friend’s child a book. Or, buy a local school a book if you don’t know anyone with kids (your local independent bookstore would be happy to give you recommendations).
****Or, if you don’t have any money, you can read a child a book…
Further to yesterdays post about adults reading kids’ books…
Patricia McCormick, author of Sold, Cut and Never Fall Down, has a different take on why adults are reading young adult literature. Below is a quote from her opinion piece also appeared in the NYT yesterday, although I was so annoyed at Stein’s piece that I didn’t notice it right away.
I read an article in the New York Times this morning that made me so mad that I couldn’t stop myself from writing a letter to the editor. Although “Adults Should Read Adult Books” by Joel Stein was an opinion piece, I really expected more from the New York Times. Many of my colleagues felt it was better to ignore it, but I’m not comfortable letting this kind of unsubstantiated opinion pass unchallenged, and judging from the dozens of comments that followed, I’m not alone.
I’ve talked to you, my readers before about making a difference. I’ve talked about the importance of reading to your children and of sharing books with strangers. I’ve talked to you about the importance of making your voice heard and of voting. I’ve talked to you about brave kids who have shared their pain about being bullied and recently about a 17 year old girl who stared a petition against “R” rating a film about bullying which prevents kids from seeing it. Now I want to talk to you about another way that you can make a difference.
Some of you may not know about the child soldiers of Uganda or the Lord’s Resistance Army. Some of you may not be aware that a terrible man by the name of Joseph Kony has been abducting children for more than 20 years, turning the boys into his personal army, and making the girls into sex slaves. Kony has no religious or political agenda other than personal power. He’s number one of the Hague’s list of war criminals around the world. Thus far he’s evaded capture. But, with your help, 2012 is the year that Kony will be brought to justice. One of the reason he’s evaded capture is that few (aside from those impacted) know about him, and those who do have little power. A group of storytellers began a group called Invisible Children to change that. You can help.
Watch this film “Kony 2012” and you will see how your peaceful participation can make the biggest difference of all. Every child deserves to feel safe, no matter where in the world they were born.
While you’re picking up a copy of 50 Poisonous Questions, you may also want to add The Blue Jean Book to your cart. It’s a fabulous book about that takes you behind the seams of bluejeans.
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I’ll be in Tofino and Ucluelet for the next few days doing story time for their 
Sheryl McFarlane 