Sheryl McFarlane

Wonderful news!  A new award has just been announced by CODE Canada, The Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature is a unique literary award and readership initiative established by CODE with the generous support of philanthropist William Burt and the Literary Prizes Foundation that recognizes excellence in First Nations, Métis and Inuit literature for youth and provide engaging and culturally-relevant books for young people across Canada.

In partnership with the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Association of Canadian Publishers, and the Canada Council for the Arts, the Award will be given annually to three English-language literary works for young adults (aged 12 through 18) by First Nations, Métis or Inuit authors or translators (if applicable). The Canada Council for the Arts will be responsible for establishing the selection criteria and administering the jury process. A First Prize of $12,000, a Second Prize of $8,000 and a Third Prize of $5,000 will be awarded to the authors and translators (if applicable) of the winning titles. Winning publishers will participate in a guaranteed book purchase and distribution program in which CODE commits to purchasing a minimum of 2500 copies of each title at a bulk discount for distribution to schools, libraries, and Friendship Centres that serve First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth across Canada.

Publishers operating in Canada can submit English works of prose fiction or non-fiction written by First Nations, Métis or Inuit authors. Published books and unpublished manuscripts are eligible. In the case of published entries, they must have been published between May 1, 2010 and April 30, 2013.

The deadline for submissions for the inaugural Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature is May 1, 2013. Winning titles will be announced in September 2013.

For the full guidelines and publisher’s registration form, visit the Canada Council website at: http://www.canadacouncil.ca/prizes/ug129905517678738016.htm

For further Information on the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature, please contact Catherine Belshaw, Literary Awards Officer, at 613-232-3569 ext. 233 or CBelshaw@codecan.or

Up early and getting ready to head out for the 5k Run-for-the-Cure. If you are looking for places to donate a few bucks to, this is a good one.

If you live in the Victoria area, are a writer, illustrator,   educator or a parent, and have a passion for children’s books, the Victoria Children’s Literature Roundtable needs you. You’ll make some awesome new friends, meet lots book professionals and creators, learn a ton, and have fun. Drop me a line if you’re interested.

One of my favorite local garden sites.  This summer, the spider has been fishing, rollerblading, soccer, and now, knitting a spider web

If you plan on being in Vancouver for Canadian Thanksgiving, here’s a free event you won’t want to miss.

The University of British Columbia Master of Arts in Children’s Literature Program
and The Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable will be presenting

A talk by world-renowned children’s literature critic and historian, Leonard Marcus

“`Let the Wild Rumpus Start’: Maurice Sendak as Storyteller and Psychologist”

Friday, October 12th, 2012, 4:30 – 5:30 PM

The Lillooet Room, Room 301, Level 3, Chapman Learning Commons,
Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, 1961 East Mall, University of British Columbia
Refreshments served
Book sales and signing
Free — No registration necessary

Maurice Sendak, foremost picture-book creator of the 20th century, died on May 8th 2012. Noted children’s book historian Leonard Marcus, drawing on his incisive research, conversations with members of the psychological community, and wide-ranging interviews with Sendak, the creator of Max, Mickey, and friends, presents a rare glimpse into the life and work of the most original children’s book artist of our time.

Leonard Marcus is a world-renowned children’s literature critic, children’s book historian, curator of children’s book illustration exhibitions, and interviewer of authors and illustrators. Described as “one of the children’s book world’s most engaging speakers,” he is a children’s book reviewer for the New York Times, a columnist on illustrated books for The Horn Book Magazine, a judge on national American children’s book juries, and a prolific author who has written highly acclaimed books and hundreds of articles on children’s literature and publishing.
Among his over 20 books are: Minders of Make Believe: Idealists, Entrepreneurs, and the Shaping of American Children’s Literature, winner of the Children’s Literature Association Book Award; Show Me A Story: Why Picture Books Matter; The Annotated Phantom Tolbooth; Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom; Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children’s Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became an American Icon Along the Way; and Magaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon.

Leonard Marcus has been a consultant to the Whitney Museum of American Art, National Book Foundation, All for Kids Foundation, Norman Rockwell Museum, National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, and Book Globe Company Ltd (Japan). He is a member of the national board of the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (www.nccil.org) and the Mazza Museum national advisory board.

He holds degrees in history from Yale and poetry from the University of Iowa Graduate Writers’ Workshop. In 2007, Leonard Marcus was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Bank Street College of Education. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

This colloquium is sponsored by the Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable and the University of British Columbia Master of Arts in Children’s Literature Program,
a Multidisciplinary Degree Program offered by two faculties: the Creative Writing Program, Department of English and the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies in the Faculty of Arts; and the Language and Literacy Education Department in the Faculty of Education.

The Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable plans a series of annual events and conferences to bring award-winning authors, illustrators, editors and publishers to speak with students and Vancouver’s dynamic children’s literature community.

I love the fall.  The sun is still shining, but the mornings and evenings have a crispness to the air that makes everything feel fresh.  Each morning, herds of kids pass my house on their way to school, and on the way home, a lot of them are stopping by my library.

The blackberries are sweet and oh so pickable…perfect for jams, and pies.  My apple tree is sagging under the weight of red fruit waiting for that first frost before being picked, and the fall book launches, including the launch for Island Santa, is just around the corner.  Fabulous fall, I totally love you.