$4.95 SPRING 2012 VOL. 35 NO. 2 RECOMMENDED BOOKS + OPINIONS + PROFILES + NEWS + REVIEWS A Passion for Poetry ALAN CUMYN’S NEW MALE HERO A TRAIN, THE HOCKEY SWEATER AND A SUPRISING STORY 02 recommended new books by Karen Patkau, Aubrey Davis, 7125274 86123 30+ Christopher Paul Curtis and more TThe MMoosstt Awarddeded Cannada ian Chillddrrenen’s’s Booo k of alll Timme The 10th Anniversary of the Beloved True Story In the spring of 2000, a small Holocaust ed- ucation center in Tokyo received a suitcase from the Auschwitz museum. It was marked “Hana Brady, May 16, 1931, Orphan.” Fumiko Ishioka and the children at the center were determined to learn more. The heartbreaking story they uncovered — of a brave young girl killed in the Holocaust and survived only by her brother, George — was captured in Karen Levine’s book Hana’s Suitcase, published in 2002. People across the country have taken Hana into their hearts. This new edition contains the original story plus updates from author Karen Levine, Hana’s brother George Brady, and Fumiko Ishioka. With over 60 pages of new materials, including children’s letters, art, photographs, and an audio CD. April 2012 Hana’s Suitcase Anniversary Album By Karen Levine Ages 9 + up ISBN: 978-1-926920-36-8 $24.95 Enhanced ebook available on the iBookstore Find out more at www.socialjusticestories.comm www.secondstorypress.ca CONTENTS THISI ISSUE booknews Spring 2012 Volume 35 No. 2 18 All Fired Up! Young readers revel in books at the 2011 Festival of Trees celebration. “All Fired Up” looks at plans for the 2012 Festival and other intriguing Editorr Gillian O’Reilly Copy Editor and Proofreaderr Mary Roycroft Ranni ways people across the country are getting kids and books together. Design Perna Siegrist Design Advertising Michael Wile Editorial Committee Peter Carver, Brenda Halliday, Merle Harris, Diane Kerner, Cora Lee, Carol McDougall, Liza Morrison, Shelley Stagg Peterson, Charlotte Teeple, Gail Winskill This informative magazine published quarterly by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre is available by yearly subscription. Single subscription — $21.95 plus sales tax (includes Best Books for Kids & Teens) Contact the CCBC for bulk subscriptions and for US or overseas subscription rates. Spring 2012 (April, 2012) Canadian Publication Mail Product Sales Agreement 40010217 Published by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre ISSN 1705 – 7809 For change of address, subscriptions, or return of undeliverable copies, contact: The Canadian Children’s Book Centre 40 Orchard View Blvd., Suite 217 Toronto, ON M4R 1B9 Tel 416.975.0010 Fax 416.975.8970 Email [email protected] Website www.bookcentre.ca Review copies, catalogues and press releases should be sent to the Editor at: [email protected] or to Gillian O’Reilly c/o the above address. For advertising information, contact: Michael Wile at [email protected] or 416.531.1483 Brian Pudden, Ontario Library Association 4 Opinion: A train, a classic story 18 All Fired Up! Getting Excited and a surprising passion about books across Canada Children’s literature reviewer Bernie From radio panels to international reading Goedhart remembers two surprising fans quizzes, getting kids excited about books of a children’s classic. takes many forms. 6 News Roundup 20 Bookmark! Poetry Pops! New online platform for Canadian books; Eighteen books show that great poetry comes Joyce Barkhouse remembered; Exciting in many different packages – from lively “Seven” project; Read to Me! celebrates picture book stories to thoughtful collections 10th anniversary; new Book Week blog. to captivating novels in verse. 8 Seen at ... 22 The Classroom Bookshelf: For COVER: Illustration from the 2012 TD Canadian young scientists and teen researchers Children’s Book Week poster by Janice Nadeau A photographic look at book events. © 2012. TD Canadian Children’s Book Week takes A new series offers vivid look at ecosystems; place May 5 to 12, 2012. For more information, 10 Author Profi le: a valuable book fosters virtuoso researchers visit www.bookweek.ca. Alan Cumyn’s New Male Hero and writers. MEDIUM: The artwork was rendered in watercolour. Sylvia McNicoll looks at Alan Cumyn and 24 Book Bits: Let Me Tell You a Secret... ABOUT THE ARTIST: Illustrator of several books, his new male heroes – honest, vulnerable Janice Nadeau is a three-time recipient of the and romantic – for middle grade and teen Four new books for teens explore secrets that Governor General’s Literary Award (Illustration). readers. are stumbled on and secrets that are hidden Her evocative, poetic and sophisticated style is a – and the repercussions that result. mix of retro and modern. Describing her Book Week 14 Focus: Passing on a Passion image, she says “On my illustration, there is a for Poetry 26 We Recommend central character, a librarian who is reading a book to the children gathered around her. On the cover, Dedicated poets are working in different Reviews of the latest in fi ne Canadian books we see that the story she’s reading is about the capacities – as writers, editors, educators for children and teens. two creatures at the entrance of the library. and community catalysts – to bring young I was inspired by the beautiful entryway of the people and poetry together. 40 Index of Reviews Lillian H. Smith library branch.” For more information, please visit www.janicenadeau.com. SPRING 2012 CANADIAN CHILDREN’S BOOK NEWS 1 New from Eric Walters New in paperback! WHEN ELEPHANTS FIGHT THE MATATU CATBOY AGA ES 10+ IIllluustrateed byy Eva Cammpbbelelll AAGGESE 9+ • 9797811555 4699535 7 • $9.995 pbb AGAGESES 4–88 • 9787 155546930016 • $1919.995 hhcc 9977881554646993559 $14.4 000 ppb ““SSololidd writting, stronng kidd chaharacters,, 9781155551443990006 $1$ 99.9595 hhcc “Thhe MaM tat tuu is bobothth a beauuttifi uull ccaariringg aduults, andn cutu e animi als CCBC Best Books starred selection aannd a lighht-t heh arrtteed glg imi psp e intoto ccooululd mmaakee thhis a pop pup lalar choioiccee.” Resource Links “The Year’s Best” tthhe lil vev s ana d sttoorrieies ofof theh Keennyyaan —BBookoklist pep opplele. WaWalterers exxpertlyy swiwittcchehes “AA thohouugghthtful histstoorricaal andnd COMING SEPTEMBER 2012: ggeearrs on thehe reaeader by turu nin ngng a popolil tiicacal ananalalysy iis to aasssiistst yoouungg HUNTER sts ory off advenentuturer intn o onne rereadadere s——ala onng wiithth maanny aann ofo hilarrittyy.” —KiK rkrkuuss TThhe seeqqueel to CaCatbboyoy oolldeder rereadader undndererstannddaabbly AAGGEESS 9+ • 979781814545989801015778 • $9$9.995 pbpb ccoonfnfuusseded by worlld eve ennttss—ins sseeeie ngg howow thehesese cononfl ictsicict arise.” TThhe ststorory oof CCaatbtboyoy tolold throughththrough —QuQuilll & QuQuirire vveerryy dififfefererentnt eyes.e SEVEN CO M I N G E H 10.10.2012 T SERIES See the trailer: www.seventheseries.com 7 novels written by 7 bestselling Canadian authors: ErEricic Walaltetersrs, JoJohnhn Wililsoson,n, Teded Stataununtoton,n, Ricichahardrd Scrcrimimgeger,r, NoNorarah McMcClClinintotockck, Sigmgmunund BrBrououwewer anand ShShanane PePeacacocock also available as ebooks FROM THE EDITOR GILLL IAN O’REILLY Board of Directors Sheila Barry, President Todd Kyle, Vice-President Leigh Chalmers, Treasurer Jean-François Bouchard Diane Davy Lisa Doucet Sharon Jennings Charles McCarragher Susan McLennan Jo-Anne Naslund Felicia Quon Itah Sadu Staff Charlotte Teeple Executive Director Shannon Howe Barnes Program Coordinator Meghan Howe Library Coordinator Holly Kent Sales and Marketing Manager Dawn Todd General Manager THE POWER OF POETRY, THE POWER OF STORIES In his recently published memoir, Stories About Storytellers, veteran editor / publisher Patrons Doug Gibson talks about arriving at his new job at Macmillan of Canada in 1974. The company was headed by Hugh Kane, and Gibson recalls, “the corridors in the stately Marilyn Baillie Kit Pearson old building at 70 Bond Street were alive with gossip of how Hugh was championing a The Peter and Eleanor Daniels Foundation crazy project, a couple of children’s books by a poet named Dennis Lee, illustrated by Tina Powell Ian and Deb Wallace Hugh’s old friend Frank Newfeld, that would need to sell ten times the usual number of copies sold by Canadian children’s books before they broke even. The whole thing was Sponsors going to be a disaster.” Amazon.ca Friesens Fortunately, as we know, Alligator Pie and its successor Nicholas Knock and Other People HarperCollins Canada surpassed expectations and were reissued over the years by various publishers (some no Penguin Group (Canada) Rawlinson Moving & Storage longer extant) and in various forms. This year sees the welcome reissue of Alligator Pie TD Bank Group and Garbage Delight by HarperCollins Canada, making sure the much-loved classics fi nd a new generation of readers. Funders Canada Council for the Arts April is National Poetry Month. Whether you are reading, writing or performing it, poetry Canadian Heritage (BPIDP) is a great way to enjoy language and literature. As you will read in Carol-Ann Hoyte’s Charles Baillie feature article “Passing on a Passion for Poetry,” Canadian poets are working in many Fleck Family Foundation different capacities to bring young people and poetry together. As editors, parents, teachers Manitoba Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism and community activists, they are celebrating and encouraging the joy of poetry. PEI Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Poetry can also be the basis for an excellent picture book or even a novel in verse for teens. PEI Department of Tourism and Culture Our “Bookmark!” list extends the range of poetry, giving you a variety of titles to explore, Ontario Arts Council savour and display to young readers in your school or library. Ontario Arts Foundation Toronto Public Library The theme of TD Canadian Children’s Book Week 2012 (May 5 to 12) is “Read a Book, Yukon Department of Education Share a Story.” On our “Opinion” page, book reviewer Bernie Goedhart gives us a moving look at the power of one story to capture readers and listeners all over the country.