Tea Time at Annick Press

Chicago, Chicago, That Wonderful Town!

noreply@blogger.com (Brigitte Waisberg) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:54:00 +0000

What could be better than Chicago in the summertime? That’s what thousands of librarians and teachers must have asked themselves before setting out for the 2009 ALA Annual Conference. (Below: Katie sets up our booth.)

The Annick booth was a busy place as people stopped by to see what was new. It was great to hear so many say that they had a number of Annick books in their collections. We also heard many comment on how innovative our titles are, and how they look forward to getting our catalog. Our featured titles for the fall—Adventures on the Ancient Silk Road, The Kids @ the Crossroads series, and Camp Fossil Eyes—attracted a lot of attention. And the fortune cookies we gave away to promote The Chinese Thought of It were a big hit.

Backlist titles got a lot of attention, too—both the Little Black Book for Boys and the Little Black Book for Girlz drew enthusiastic responses and generated lots of discussion around the booth for their frank and honest approach to often controversial subject matter. But it wasn’t all work. We managed to take in an architectural tour of the fabulous Chicago skyline, explore the Magnificent Mile, and had some great meals. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone again in Boston for the Midwinter Meeting.

For more photos, check out our ALA 2009 album on Flickr.

More Author Interviews!

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:31:00 +0000

Our authors have been busy! Allan Stratton, author of Chanda's Secrets, was interviewed by Open Book Toronto about his new book, Chanda's Wars. Click here to read about how he researched the book, his ideal writing environment, how he first got published, and his advice for writers! (You can also watch a trailer for Chanda's Secrets here!)

Sally Rippin, author of Chenxi and t he Foreigner, was recently interviewed on the Tower of Books blog. Click here to read about her thoughts on Shanghai and her upcoming projects!

Sally Rippin will also be doing a blog tour this summer: if you have a blog and would like to interview her, there's still time to sign up -- just reply in the comments!

Stay tuned for a blog post on the American Library Association (ALA) conference in Chicago!

BEA Follow-up: the Slanket!

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:25:00 +0000

Back in May, I joined the BEA Tweetup group so I could meet face-to-face with some of the other book-lovers whose Twitter feeds I'd been following. One of the organizers, Kat Meyer, announced a MadLibs contest, which I promptly entered and then forgot about... until today, when my prize arrived, courtesy of Bethanne Patrick (aka The Book Maven)! Here I am showing off my brand new Slanket (blanket + sleeves = slanket). The left sleeve is monogrammed with a fitting hashtag: #BEATweetup2009.

This is going to come in handy next winter!

More Fall 2009 Books!

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:22:00 +0000

Following up on last week's post about our new Fall 2009 titles, please welcome the rest of our fabulous books for kids!

Aztec and Crusades, the first two books in our new Kids @ the Crossroads series, ask the question "What if kids wrote blogs during pivotal moment in history?" The result is an innovative blend of history and high-tech storytelling. Follow 12-year-old Yoatl's adventures as he trains to be an Aztec warrior in 1519, or trace the path of the Children's Crusade across Europe with young Hans, who is determined to find his older brother. Both books are written by Laura Scandiffio; the illustrators are Tina Holdcroft (Aztec) and John Mantha (Crusades).

Born to Write: The Remarkable Lives of Six Famous Authors: Ever wonder what your favourite authors were like as kids? Charis Cotter tells the stories of how six extraordinary children -- Madeleine L'Engle, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Louisa May Alcott, Philip Pullman, E.B. White, and Christopher Paul Curtis -- transformed their early struggles into spellbinding books for kids.

Camp Fossil Eyes: Digging for the Origins of Words: What if your summer camp involved not swimming and hiking, but hunting for ancient, fossilized words? Mark Abley captures the fun of language sleuthing as he unearths the origins of well known words such as television (Greek), pickle (Dutch), and mosquito (Spanish)!

Hear My Roar: A Story of Family Violence: Gillian Watts teams up with artist Ben Hodson for this graphic narrative adaptation of Dr. Ty Hochban's book about family violence. Through the story of Mama Bear, Papa Bear, and little Orsa, Hear My Roar provides a gentle, non-threatening approach to talking about family violence. A new afterword by Rita Smith, Executive Director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, says “This book can help children understand that they have a right to live free from violence in their own homes.”

The Great Motion Mission: A Surprisin g Story of Cosmic Energy and Matter: What does physics have to do with hockey and amusement park rides? Let Cora Lee help you find out! Steve Rolston's energetic artwork ensures a dynamic, high-voltage ride.

Kaboom! Explosions of All Kinds: Natural or man-made, explosions go BOOM for reasons that defy the imagination. Gillian Richardson explores all kinds of explosions, from those made by insects to get food to those used to carve Mount Rushmore.

Together: author Hazel Hutchins teams up with illustrator Alice Priestley to bring you this sweet story exploring the concept of what-goes-with-what. Whether it's buttons that keep your shirt together or shoelaces that keep your feet from dancing out of your shoes, all the items come from the child's immediate world.Wiggle Giggle Tickle Train: This rollicking tale from Nora Hilb and Sharon Jennings introduces us to children using the world around them as inspiration for play. A pony inspires a child to ride high on her father's shoulders; a sailboat sets the stage for setting off to sea in a cardboard box; and an airplane invites kids to soar like a bird.

We're also releasing new editions of two books: you can now get award-winning The Apprentice's Masterpiece (Melanie Little) in paperback, and bestselling The Paper Bag Princess (Robert Munsch, art by Michael Martchenko) as a board book!

Annick Press Recruits Melanie Little for New Series!

noreply@blogger.com (Annick Press - Children's Book Publisher) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:15:00 +0000

Annick Press is extremely pleased to announce that acclaimed writer and fiction editor Melanie Little has signed on as editor-at-large for a ground-breaking teen fiction series entitled Single Voice. Delivered through the authentic voice of a teen narrator, these stories resonate with emotional honesty. The series will be launched in the spring of 2010, when three titles will be released. It has generated rave reviews in France, where it originated with publishing house Actes Sud:

“There’s an urgency to the stories—they read in one go. Like a punch in the stomach. In your head. In your heart.”

—Le Vif / L’Express

“… a shocking series that provides young adults with an original approach to literature that places voice into the heart of reading.”

—Site de topolivres

“Short stories … that feature emotion … rage, and chaos.”

—Voix du Luxembourg

Under Little’s guiding hand, Annick will be originating titles to further build the series. Actes Sud holds the option to publish Annick-originated titles in the French language.

As well, Little will be responsible for acquiring and editing essays for a forthcoming young adult anthology.

Melanie Little is an award-winning author and editor of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry for adults and children. She studied at McGill University, Oxford University, the University of Toronto, and the University of British Columbia, graduating with both a Master of Arts in English and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Of her debut collection of stories, Confidence, the Globe and Mail wrote, “… she might very well become the Alice Munro of our generation.” Confidence was shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Award and selected as a Globe and Mail Top 100 Book.

Her 2008 novel-in-verse for young adults, The Apprentice’s Masterpiece, was a Canadian Library Association Honour Book, a gold medalist at the Independent Publisher Book Awards, and a White Raven selection for the International Youth Library in Munich. A paperback edition will be published this fall.

Little recently spent several years in Calgary, Alberta, where she was the Markin-Flanagan Canadian Writer in Residence at the University of Calgary and the founding editor of the nationally acclaimed literary imprint Freehand Books. Under her direction, Freehand was lauded as Publisher of the Year by the Book Publishers’ Association of Alberta and was a finalist for Small Press Publisher of the Year at the Canadian Booksellers’ Association Libris Awards. She was also awarded the BPAA Lois Hole Award for Editorial Excellence for her work on Marina Endicott’s novel Good to a Fault—a finalist for the Giller Prize and winner of the Canada-Caribbean Commonwealth Award.

Little and her husband, writer Peter Norman, recently moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she will be teaching creative writing at Dalhousie University and completing a novel.

Any inquiries should be directed to Colleen MacMillan, Associate Publisher of Annick Press (604-718-1888 / colleenm[at]annickpress[dot]com) or Melanie Little (mjclittle[at]gmail[dot]com).

Fall 2009 Titles Arriving!

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:09:00 +0000

One of the best things about working at a publishing house is watching manuscripts evolve into finished books. When the advance copies from the printers start to roll in, everyone gets pretty excited! I've got to say: our Fall 2009 books are looking good.

Allow me to introduce you to some of the new books on the block, available in September:

Shadow of the Leopard: Set in Mozambique, this is the sequel to Henning Mankell's award-winning Secrets in the Fire, and it's just as haunting and unforgettable. (Fans of crime fiction may know Mankell as the author of the bestselling Inspector Kurt Wallander series.)

Spiked Scorpions and Walking Whales: From Claire Eamer (@ceamer on Twitter!), author of Super Crocs and Monster Wings, comes a fascinating look at land animals that used to live in the sea. For example, did you know that our seas used to be inhabited by scorpions the size of crocodiles? Eek!

Chicken, Pig, Cow On the Move: The first book in this series, Chicken, Pig, Cow, just came out this spring, and author/illustrator Ruth Ohi is working on more for next season! Which is great, because I can't get enough of gutsy Chicken, easy-going Pig, and timid Cow. And who can forget drooly, snorty Dog? These picture books are destined to be classics.

The Chinese Thought of It: Most people know that the Chinese invented gunpowder. But did you know that playing cards and toilet paper are also Chinese inventions? In this latest addition to the We Thought of It series, Ting-xing Ye explores the fascinating origins of many everyday items. Other books in the series are A Native American Thought of It and The Inuit Thought of It.

Adventures on the Ancient Silk Road: This exciting tale by Priscilla Galloway and Dawn Hunter takes readers back in time on an action-packed trip along the legendary pathway that brought people, culture, and trade from Asia to the West. Follow Chinese Buddhist Xuanzang, Mongolian warrior Genghis Khan, and Italian merchant Marco Polo as their travels take them to places they had never imagined.

That's all for this week: but stay tuned, as I'll be blogging about more of our Fall 2009 list next week!

Summer of Munsch!

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:53:00 +0000

So far, it's shaping up to be the Summer of Munsch! Earlier this week, it was announced that Robert Munsch had donated one of his unpublished stories to 8-year-old Taya Kendall in Guelph, Ontario. She got her classmates to illustrate the book, Braids, and will be selling copies to raise money for AIDS orphans in Kenya. Check out the full story at TheStar.com or GuelphMercury.com, and be sure to visit the Children of Bukati website to find out how you can buy copies of Braids!

But wait, there's more! Today, Munsch received an outstanding birthday present (his birthday is June 11) when he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. The Walk of Fame honors Canadians who have made significant cultural achievements, and the addition of nine new members this year (including Tom Cochrane, Howie Mandel, and Kim Cattrall) brings the total number of inductees to 124. You can search for their stars in the sidewalk east of the Princess of Wales Theatre on King Street West and south along Simcoe Street (or look them up online!). All of us here at Annick Press send our heartfelt congratulations to Robert Munsch and all of the Canadian Walk of Fame inductees!

Finally, to cap off this unofficial Summer of Munsch, we are proud to announce that a board book version of The Paper Bag Princess will be available this fall -- it should arrive in our warehouse at the end of August! Now even the youngest children can cheer for smart, resourceful Elizabeth as she defeats the dragon and discovers that not all princes appreciate being rescued!

BookCamp Toronto 2009: Asking the Right Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:30:00 +0000

(photo: Steph Troeth)

Last weekend, my colleague Susan and I spent a sunny Saturday at camp... no, not the kind with marshmallows (although there were Rice Krispie squares at lunch, which was provided by BookNet Canada). We were at BookCamp Toronto, an "unconference" put together after the demise of Book Expo Canada.

BookCamp billed itself as "a conversation about the future of books, writing, publishing, and the book business in the digital age," and what a lively conversation it was (links to participants' notes and write-ups have been posted by both Mark Bertils and David H. Burton). Most attendees were from the publishing industry (participant Miette noted a shortage of "publishing outsiders, renegades, and derelicts"), with a few exceptions here and there.

The first step in answering "how will the publishing industry evolve?" is figuring out the right questions. Should authors and publishers be prepared to give away part or all of a book in the hopes of reaching more potential readers, or will that reduce the perceived value of the author's work? Do we need Digital Rights Management on ebooks to protect the author's right to get paid for their work, or will DRM alienate consumers? How can authors and publishers find and engage with the communities who would love their books? (Quote from Hugh McGuire of LibriVox: "What does someone who loves this book want, and how can we give it to them?")

One of the big questions for me, one that I've been hearing a lot lately, was "what is the publisher's role?" Traditionally, of course, the answer was "to publish," since the money required to create and distribute books was a significant barrier for people seeking publication. However, technological advances have lowered these costs to the point that far more people are able to publish their work by themselves, whether that be through a blog, an ebook, or a print-on-demand book. In the session "What is a publisher for?" Dan Wagstaff of Raincoast Books proposed that publishers can be advocates for books, using their expertise to collaborate with authors and produce the highest quality books possible.

Our director Rick Wilks agrees, and explains:

When we’re asked how one becomes a writer our first response is to recommend “read, read and read some more.” A similar adage applies to publishing: the art of producing a book demands a skill set that is developed over years of experience in editing, design, marketing, and an acute understanding of how a literary work will deeply resonate with the reader. It often surprises people to learn that it takes at least year to bring a book to the point where it is ready for production (and frequently much longer). At Annick we don’t release a book until it’s the best it can possibly be – a process that brings together the skills of a variety of people and involves an intense working relationship with the writer.

It would be a misnomer to believe that publishing is simply about access to an audience. A professionally published book is a unique work of art – one that is appreciated by the reader for its excellence.

I'm already looking forward to next year's BookCamp – I wonder which of this year's questions will have been answered, and what the new questions will be.

CNN Interview with Mariatu Kamara

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:48:00 +0000

Our author Mariatu Kamara was recently on CNN talking about her book The Bite of the Mango, which is an account of her war-time experiences in Sierra Leone. Mariatu is an inspiring speaker -- don't miss it! (She appears at 3:59 in the video below.)

BEA Wrap Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:22:00 +0000

"Might I interest you in a quality children's book?" (Me at the Annick Press booth)

I just got back from Book Expo America (held in New York this year), where we had a very lively and productive show. Lots of great people stopped by the Annick booth: librarians, teachers, booksellers, bloggers, reviewers, writers, illustrators, printers, and of course my friends from other publishing companies! I had fun recommending books for different ages and interests, and talking about children's books in general. It's so energizing to be surrounded by book lovers!

The NAPPA (National Parenting Publications Awards) staff came by to give us our winning ribbon for A Pocket Can Have a Treasure in It, which we proudly displayed.

Later, Janice Beley from Arsenal Pulp Press (they blog, too!) came by and "yarn bombed" our Munschworks Grand Treasury to promote Arsenal's new book, Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti. I caught her in the act!

There were also some great panels; I learned more about Twitter at a session led by Michael Gruen (@gruen). (Are you following my updates @AnnickPress?)

I especially enjoyed the panel on book blogging, where I was finally able to see the faces behind some of my favorite book review blogs. For details, read the very in-depth recap on Dawn Rennert's blog at She Is Too Fond of Books.

It was a wonderful show and I'm a little sad it's over. For more photos of BEA (including the Espresso book machine and Clifford the Big Red Dog!), head on over to our Flickr set!

Preparing for Book Expo America!

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:09:00 +0000

Next week, from May 29-31, is Book Expo America (BEA) in New York, and I will be representing Annick Press at booth 420 -- come by and say hi! We'll have all our spring books on display, along with some of our fall titles, hot off the presses! (And for fall titles that haven't been published yet, we'll have sample pages for you to check out.) We'll also have some free goodies, including posters, bookmarks, and special fortune cookies (first come, first served!).

If you're new to BEA, here are some tasty tidbits to chew on:

BEA blog entry: why a smaller book expo might work out better
BEATweetup: party in person with book folk you met on Twitter!
Preparing for your first BEA: blog post full of helpful tips (from last year but still relevant)
The best sightseeing in New York and a list of New York attractions: discover the Big Apple!

And of course there's tons of information on the BEA website -- have fun preparing your list of authors to meet, events and seminars to attend, and pavilions to browse! (If you're a bookseller, you can sign up for Speed Dating with Children's Authors... sounds like fun!)

See you there!

Forest of Reading Awards 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:48:00 +0000

A few of us at Annick Press headed downtown on Wednesday to party at the Ontario Library Association's Festival of Trees: a huge event at which the winners of the Forest of Reading awards are announced. This event drew 6,500 students in 2008, and we heard that this year there were about 8,000 students in attendance! The weather cooperated perfectly, resulting in a day filled with sunshine, energetic book-loving kids, and happy authors.

It's up to the students to choose the winning books--over 250,000 readers voted for their favorite nominees--so we were thrilled to hear that our authors Hazel Hutchins and Gail Herbert were nominated for the Blue Spruce award for Mattland, and Elizabeth MacLeod won the Red Maple Non-Fiction award for Royal Murder! Congratulations, Elizabeth, Hazel, and Gail! (Pictures: Elizabeth MacLeod with the Red Maple award; Gail Herbert and Hazel Hutchins enjoying the awards reception)

Children's Book Week, May 11-17

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:28:00 +0000

Children's Book Week started in 1919, which makes this its 90th anniversary! Traditionally, it was celebrated the week before Thanksgiving, but recently it was moved to May instead (all the better to have a book picnic!).

It's just a coincidence, of course, but I think it's neat that author Richard Scarry was born in 1919, the same year that Children's Book Week started. His masterpiece Best Word Book Ever was one of my favorite bedtime stories as a toddler (much to my parents' dismay -- it's a loooong book!).

If you're looking to rediscover children's classics as old as the Children's Book Week tradition, you could start with the Bobbsey Twins series (which began in 1904). But if you're nostalgic for more modern classics, why not rediscover your favorite Robert Munsch books? (I never get sick of Murmel, Murmel, Murmel -- which one speaks to you the loudest?)

Head over to www.bookweekonline.com to explore all the ways you can share your love of reading: go to a book event, download and print bookmarks, vote for your favorite books for children and young adults, stage a read-in, and more!

And I hope that some of you will make some time for your very own book picnic this week! All you need is good food, good friends (and family!), and good books!

Happy Mother's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:12:00 +0000

(Tulips: FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

This Sunday is Mother's Day -- why not treat your mom to a new book? I can still remember my mom tucking me in with a chapter of The Secret Garden when I was little. What books did your mom read to you?

Top Ten Reasons a Book Makes the Perfect Mother's Day Gift

Unlike flowers, a book won't die a few days later.
Unlike chocolate or candy, you can spend all day indulging in a book without feeling gross later.
A book is also the gift of time alone to read -- and what mother doesn't need a bit of that?
A book won't give you cavities.
You don't need to get dressed up to enjoy a book.
A book is cheaper than going out for dinner and a movie, but lasts a lot longer.
A good book leaves you feeling satisfied long after you've finished reading it.
A book is a present you can share when you're finished with it.
Discussing a book with your mom can be a great bonding experience.
A book will make up for all that trouble you gave your mom when you were a teenager. (Ok, maybe not... but it's worth a shot!)

If you're shopping for a new mom, you might want to pick up two books: one for mom, and one for baby to enjoy while mom reads! Might we recommend Ruth Ohi's Chicken, Pig, Cow? (We're putting out a sequel this fall, too... more on that later!)

Happy Mother's Day, everyone!

Book Trailer: The Night Wanderer by Drew Hayden Taylor

noreply@blogger.com (Annick Press - Children's Book Publisher) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:45:00 +0000

Our latest book trailer, The Night Wanderer, is up -- and it's pretty spooky! Hope you enjoy it.

Author Q&A with Robyn Harding

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Robyn Harding, author of My Parents Are Sex Maniacs and a number of other books (check her website for a complete list of titles!), has answered some of our burning questions about life, high school, writing, and food. Enjoy!

1. What embarrassed you most as a teenager about your parents?

My mom remarried when I was 11. Of course, it never occurred to me that this meant she was having sex with my stepfather. Imagine my shock (and horror) when she got pregnant when I was 13! I definitely know how Louise felt when her mom was waddling around her high school hallways with a huge baby belly.

2. Have your kids reached the age where you’re embarrassing them yet?

My son is eleven so he finds me a little embarrassing – which is crazy because I keep telling him how lucky he is to have the coolest mom in the world.

3. What was your favourite part of high school? Least favourite?

I really enjoyed drama and creative writing classes. My least favourite part was anything math related.

4. What’s your writing strategy?

It’s taken me several years to figure this out, but I’m really only creative in the morning. If I wasn’t so lazy, I’d get up at 5:00 AM and write in my pajamas for a couple of hours. Unfortunately, I am so lazy so I usually start work around 8:30. I kind of self edit as I go along, so I don’t have to write too many drafts.

5. What is your favourite part of being an author? Least favourite?

I love writing! I love telling stories! And I love when readers tell me that something I wrote touched them or made them laugh. The worst part is definitely bad reviews. A bad review is like a punch in the solar plexus.

6. Who are some of your favourite authors?

I love YA author Susan Juby. Her Alice, I Think series is hilarious. David Sedaris is soooo funny. I literally cried with laughter reading Naked on a plane once. And Nick Hornby is always good.

7. What are your most- and least-eco-friendly habits?

I am pretty green (if you care to know exactly how green, you can read: Mom, Will This Chicken Give Me Man Boobs? My Confused, Guilt-Ridden and Stressful Struggle to Raise A Green Family). About a month ago, I bought a composter, which I think is a huge step in my green evolution. But I still feel bad about a lot of non-green things I do: dyeing my hair, using a lot of Kleenex, flying to Australia (my husband is an Aussie) every four years…

8. If you didn’t have to worry about any practical matters (work visas, language, moving, kids’ schools, work, etc.), where in the world would you choose to live?

Paris! I’ve only been there once but it really spoke to me: Come live here Robyn, it said, before you get tied down with work and visas and kids’ schools! So if that were all off the table, that’s where I’d be. But Vancouver is a pretty awesome place to live, too.

9. What food could you eat exclusively for an entire week without getting sick of it?

Dairy Queen Blizzards. I’d have a different flavor every day for variety.

10. What advice do you have for writers who want to get published?

Write and then submit. Get the Writer's Market and send your manuscript everywhere. I didn’t have any insider connections and I got published. It’s not easy but I remember reading some sage advice: if you’ve written something good, it will find a home.

Thanks, Robyn!

Winners of the "My Embarrassing Parents" Contest!

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:40:00 +0000

Robyn Harding's book My Parents Are Sex Maniacs introduces us to sixteen-year-old Louise, whose parents are in the middle of some very public, very embarrassing relationship drama (one parent has an affair; the other starts dating Louise's math teacher!).

I asked readers to send in their own tales of parental embarrassment, and the following submitters of teen trauma tales each won a copy of the book!

MAUREEN K. WRITES:

When I was in fourth grade, I used a weird, nonsensical, and babyish name when I addressed my mother, but only at home. I don't even remember how I arrived at it, but it was definitely not for everybody and their sister to know.

At a Girl Scout meeting, we made puffy-paint shirts (yeah, I'm betraying my age now) and it wasn't until my mother's shirt had dried and she was wearing it all around, showing everybody, that I realized she'd written THAT NAME all over it. Of course, expecting other fourth-graders to overlook that is like thinking sharks are going to just ignore that bucket of blood in the water. I didn't hear the end of it until middle school. Needless to say, that name never left my lips again, either.

ALISON K. SHARES:

Grade eight. Mom came to pick me up after school, and the parking lot was, as usual, filled with all the cool kids who were standing around and chatting about make-out parties (I'd never kissed anyone) and the latest episode of The Simpsons (I didn't own a TV). The cool kids walked home or took the bus. They acted like they didn't have parents. I had tried to convince my mom to pick me up a block or so away from the school, but she thought I was being ridiculous. She drove right up to the front of the school and I got in the car with my backpack and my bag of gym clothes. I slunk down low in my seat so that maybe nobody would see me with her. She said, "Well, if you're going to be embarrassed, I might as well do something embarrassing!" and she reached into my gym bag, pulled out my shorts, and put them on her head. She then started jigging around and singing a little tune that went something like, "I'm wearing gym shorts on my head! Look everybody, Alison's mom is wearing gym shorts on her head!" Luckily the windows were rolled up and I don't think anyone heard her. But the windows were made of glass, a notoriously transparent substance, and as we slowly moved through the parking lot, pausing frequently to wait while the crowds of kids got out of the way of the car, I thought how nice it would be if I could just evaporate.

RACHEL KRAMER BUSSEL ADMITS:

I cut high school with my best friend. We went from NJ to NYC and... ran into my dad in the Village! He let us go, but we got in big trouble.

Congratulations to all our winners... it's about time being embarrassed by your parents paid off! Hope you enjoy the book.

Up next: Q&A with author Robyn Harding!

TD Canadian Children's Book Week 2009!

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:18:00 +0000

My first "spring has almost arrived in Toronto!" post was on March 20, and I quickly learned I'd been a bit premature. (I plead ignorance: I only moved to Toronto last September, after all!) But today really felt like spring: the temperature went up to 20C and I was able to go outside in short sleeves. Hooray!

Things have been busy at Annick: books are heading off to the printer, new books are in the works, and we're gearing up for some neat stuff for fall (more about our fall list later!). Meanwhile, our books continue to win awards: Mattland (written by Hazel Hutchins and illustrated by Dusan Petricic) has won the Canadian Library Association's Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award, and Melanie Little's The Apprentice's Masterpiece is the CLA's Young Adult Canadian Honour Book. I also selected the winners for our My Parents Are Sex Maniacs contest, and will be posting their stories, along with a Q&A with author Robyn Harding, next week!

More good news: three of our authors have been invited to this year's TD Canadian Children's Book Week! From November 14-21, Kristin Butcher (Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers), Claire Eamer (Super Crocs and Monster Wings), and Charis Cotter (A World Full of Ghosts) will be giving readings at schools, community centres, and libraries. (More information on tour schedules to follow!) In celebration of Vancouver's 2010 Olympics, this year's Book Week theme is "sports."

Wherever you are, I hope you're enjoying spring so far!

Chanda's Secrets in Namibia!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:28:00 +0000

Chanda's Secrets author Allan Stratton shared a heart-warming story with us recently: Aly Martin, a young woman teaching with the Peace Corps in Otjimbingwe, Namibia, is using Chanda's with her grade 10 students, shown above in this photo, and the book is having a big impact on everyone.

Allan was originally contacted by Aly's mother, as Aly has limited internet connection from her village. She informed Allan that his novel of 16-year-old Chanda, whose family and village in Sub-Saharan Africa are struggling with HIV/AIDS, reflects well life in Otjimbingwe and is touching everyone there who reads it. To point, here's a passage from one of the messages from Aly's mom:

A touching story for you. Last year, at Aly's request, I sent several of Chanda's Secrets books. She carefully lent them out (she is also in charge of the Library) to students she knew would take care of the book. One boy, kept begging for the book. Aly was wary as the boy was very irresponsible and a troublemaker. Sadly, he lives by himself in a tin shack without electricity or running water - I believe he is an orphan. His many chores kept him from attending school altho Aly said he is very bright. Aly decided to loan him the book and this is what she relayed onto me: The boy was in bed reading your book. All of a sudden he noticed the sun was shining on his face and he was crying very hard. He hadn't cried in years. Now, he is reading the book to his friends who cannot read and cannot go to school because they can't afford it. This is why she wants to teach your book the entire semester because it is the story of her village. She starts the whole process today! Through donations from her family and friends, every student will have a copy of the book.

This is heart-warming praise, indeed!

Chanda's Secrets, Africana Book Award winner and Printz Honor Book, is published in over 20 countries around the world.

Bella Bologna!

noreply@blogger.com (Susan) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:18:00 +0000

What would spring be without a trip to Italy for the Bologna Book Fair, the only international rights fair dedicated soley to children's and YA books?

Publishers, agents, scouts, authors and illustrators from all over the world gather in this beautiful city for four days to proudly present their latest releases, reconnect with industry friends, and pitch, persuade, listen, review, oogle, covet, poo poo, and generally buy and sell rights to publish books from other countries. What fun.

The photo here shows the entrance to the fair, which this year featured Korea as Guest of Honour. In addition to several halls of publisher booths, the fair also hosts an Illustrators Exhibition, designated areas for literary agents, translators, tv/film producers, and other specialized fields within the biz.

For Annick, the fair was again a success, with international editors praising the innovation and originality of Annick books. But the hard work begins now as materials are sent out for review so editors can mull over these books in more detail and decide whether or not to make an offer for rights to publish their own edition of the book. Stay tuned for news... !!!

But wait! Before we go, we must share a true Italian delight - parmiggiano:

Win a copy of My Parents Are Sex Maniacs!

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:23:00 +0000

Book Giveaway and Author Q&A!

Book Giveaway:
In Robyn Harding's new book, My Parents Are Sex Maniacs, sixteen-year-old Louise has to deal with some pretty embarrassing parental antics: like her dad having an affair with Louise's best friend's mom, and her mom hooking up with Louise's math teacher. What's worse than thinking about your parents' sex lives? Try your entire high school gossiping about your parents' sex lives!

But if you think you've got an embarrassing-parents story that beats that -- like the time your new crush came over and your mom gleefully hauled out those photos of you as an awkward preteen -- you could win a copy of My Parents Are Sex Maniacs!

Just e-mail your tale of parental humiliation to annickpress@annickpress.com. The top five stories will each win a copy of the book... and we promise to keep all entries confidential! You can also enter through the Annick Press group on Facebook, or send a direct message to @AnnickPress on Twitter (if you can keep your story to 140 characters!). Deadline is Friday, April 10!

Author Q&A:
I'll also be doing a Q&A with Robyn Harding soon, so if you have any questions you'd like to ask her, please post them in the comments and I'll select the best ones! Again, you can also send questions through the Annick Press group on Facebook or @AnnickPress on Twitter. Deadline is Sunday, April 5!

More Award Nominations Blooming in Spring!

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Today is officially the first day of spring, though it doesn't quite feel like it yet here in Toronto... I regret leaving my gloves at home! I can't really complain though: at least we have sunny blue skies. Something else is also putting me in a fresh spring mood: more award nominations for our authors!

Shadow-Town, by Duncan Thornton, has been shortlisted for the Manitoba Book Awards' McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award – Older Category.

The Canadian Library Association has also shortlisted two of our picture books for its illustration award, the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon award. Congratulations to illustrator Dusan Petricic for Mattland and Deirdre Betteridge for A Pocket Can Have a Treasure In It!

Finally, we also received a nice review in Quill & Quire for The Bears We Know, written by Brenda Silsbe and illustrated by Vlasta van Kampen.

Happy spring!

Mariatu Kamara Honoured with New Pioneers Award

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:29:00 +0000

Mariatu Kamara, author of The Bite of the Mango, was recently honoured with the New Pioneers Award (Youth category). This award is given out by the Skills for Change organization to immigrants and refugees who have overcome amazing obstacles and made Canada their new home. Mariatu was hailed as "an inspirational young woman who exemplifies the best of humanity." We agree--Canada is lucky to have you, Mariatu! (To see more event pictures and read about the other award winners, visit the Skills for Change website.)

Meanwhile, The Bite of the Mango continues to be well-received:

Finalist, ForeWord Magazine's 2008 Book of the Year Award, in the Young Adult Non-Fiction category
Selected by the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany, for the White Ravens 2009, a collection of outstanding international books for children and young adults

The White Ravens 2009 collection will be displayed at the Bologna Book Fair in Italy from March 23-26, 2009, and will be permanently housed at the International Youth Library in Munich. A description of the books is available on the International Youth Library's website.

More about Mariatu!
YouTube video for The Bite of the Mango
More info on The Bite of the Mano, including a podcast with Mariatu, sample chapter, lesson plans
The Mariatu Foundation

The Apprentice's Masterpiece Makes CLA Shortlist

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:13:00 +0000

Melanie Little's The Apprentice's Masterpiece has been shortlisted for the Canadian Library Association's 2009 Young Adult Book Award! Congratulations, Melanie!

This gripping verse novel, set in the time of the Spanish Inquisition, has already received the following distinctions:

White Raven Collection 2008, International Youth Library, Munich
Next Generation Indie Book Awards 2008 finalist
YALSA 2009 Best Books for Young Adults nomination

Visit The Apprentice's Masterpiece page on our website for more info, including a podcast with the author, and check out Melanie Little's page for an interview about why and how she wrote this novel! (I always love hearing the story behind the story!)

Shari Graydon at Beauty (Mis)Represented event, Thursday March 5

noreply@blogger.com (Joanna K) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:36:00 +0000

Our own Shari Graydon, author of Made You Look and In Your Face, will be participating in an event on a hot topic: airbrushing photos in advertising. This event, Beauty (Mis)Represented, will debate the question: Is photo-manipulation in advertising benign and irrelevant, or damaging and indefensible?

This is a topic I'm particularly interested in... and yet I will confess that I sometimes untag photos of myself on Facebook if I don't like how I look in them! (I can't be the only one who does this, right? Right?)

Event details:

Date: Thursday, March 5 2009

Time: 7:30-9 p.m.

Location: Room 5-280, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (252 Bloor St W, map)

Cost: Free!

This event is put on by Media Action in partnership with The Centre for Women’s Studies in Education and Shameless Magazine.

More great stuff about Shari and her books:

Visit her website: www.sharigraydon.com/

Watch her video interview: www.annickpress.com/authors/graydon.asp?author=214