(Logo variation by Michael Martchenko) CANSCAIP NEWS...the need for compassion to kids early in life...

Volume38Number4 Winter2016/2017ISSN0708-594X

CANSCAIPNEWSCanadianSocietyofChildren’sAuthors,Illustrators&Performers

LaSociétécanadiennedesauteurs,illustrateurs&artistespourenfants

•IntroducingMahtabNarsimhan•DavidBooth–ALifeinPublishing•NormaCharles–Vancouver’sReadingLightsProject•LisaDalrymple–A“WelcomeNeighbours”Event•TiffanyShort–PYIFirst-timer•ScotRitchie–Illustrator’sSketchbookPlusallourregularfeatures(LogovariationbyMichaelMartchenko)

Introducing… Mahtab Narsimhanby Karen KrossingM"#$"%N"()*+#",isaclosefriendandcritiquepartner,soIalreadyfeltwell-preparedtowritethisprofileofherandheraward-winningbooks.Luckyforme,myresearchinvolvedmeetingforahomemadelunchinMahtab’scomfortableTorontohome,whereIknewthemealandconversationwouldbescrumptious.

Mahtabisaself-proclaimedfoodie,evenwhenitcomestowriting.Shetoldme,“Ifanyauthormentionsamealwithoutdescribingit,Igetannoyed.Iwanttobeabletopicturewhatthecharactersareeating.”

Soheregoes.Withthesoundsofkidsplayingintheschoolyardnextdoor,weloadedourplateswithza’atar-spicedchicken,garammasalapotatoes,savourychickpeas,spicydaalandwafer-thinpapadums.Nottomentionthe

basmatiriceandgarlic-butternaanaswellascucumbers,tomatoes,andyogurtwithonionsandcumintosoothourpalates.HowwouldIinterviewMahtabifmymouthwasalwaysfull?

ReadingMahtab’swritingiseverybitasdeliciousasthefoodsheprepares.I’malong-

CANSCAIPNEWS 2 WINTER2016/2017

timeadmirerofhermiddle-gradenovels—theTaraTrilogy(TheThirdEye,TheSilverAnkletandTheDeadlyConch)aswellasTheTiffinandthenewlypublishedMissionMumbai:A

NovelofSacredCows,Snakes,

andStolenToilets.Kidsandlibrarianslovethemtoo,andMahtabwontheOLA’s2009SilverBirchFictionAwardandwasnominatedfortheCLA’s2012Children’sBookoftheYearAwardaswellasmanyotherreaders’choiceawards.She’salsopublishedherfirstpicturebookthisyear—Lookingfor

LordGanesh—andhaswrittenshortstoriesandevenamemoiraboutherfirstmonthsinCanada(“What’sinaName?”inPiecebyPiece:StoriesAbout

FittingintoCanada,editedbyauthorTeresaToten).

Aswetuckedintoourmeal,IexplainedhowI’dbeenponderingwhatcharacteristicsMahtabshareswithhercharacters.Mahtabadmittedthat“everycharacterI’vewrittenhasalittlebitofme—eithersomethingIaspiretobeorsomethingIalreadyam.”

MPQRPSPTUQVWCQPWPXRVWYInMissionMumbai(Scholastic,2016),readersmeetstreet-smartNewYorkerDylanonvacationinIndiawithbest-friendRohit.AsDylaninvitesadventuresinvolvingintenseheat,massivecrowds,filthystreetsandstrangecustoms,Rohitworriesabouthisfamilyproblemsthatthreatentoruinthetrip.

MahtabtoldmethatDylanrepresentswhosheaspirestobe—funnyandover-the-topdramatic.Thekindofpersonwhocanletgoandenjoylife.Whocanembracechangewithoutover-analyzing.“EverythingI’dwrittenbeforeMissionMumbaiwasdarkandserious,”shesaid,“soIdidn’tthinkI’dbeabletopulloffDylan’svoice.WhenwritingDylan,Iwouldaskmyself,‘WhatwouldIdo?’andthenI’dhaveDylandotheopposite.”Mahtabadmittedthatshe’smorelikeRohit—conservativeanddowntoearth.ImentionedthatIfindbothDylanandMahtabtobecurious.Once,whenMahtabandIwereflyingtoNewYorktogetherforaconference,shewantedtotravelinthecockpit.Whenthatdidn’tworkout,sheaskedtheflightattendantifshecouldseethebackoftheplane,wherethegroundcrewwasloadinginsupplies.“Yes,Ilovetoobserve,toseewhatmakesthingstick,”Mahtabsaid.“Attheendofeachworkday,IletmyselfgowildandresearchwhateverIwantasareward.”IntheTaraTrilogy(DundurnPress,2007,2009,2011),Taraandheryoungerbrotherfaceimmeasurablechallenges—thedisappearanceoftheirmotherandhealergrandfather,acruelstepmotherwhomistreatsthemandanevilmagicalman

determinedtodestroytheirvillage.Torescue

“Ilikeportrayingtheworldrealistically,whichiswhymystoriesdon’tworkoutperfectlyformycharacters.Idon’tlikerose-tintedglasses,eitherformyselforanyoneelse.”

herpeople,TaramustsummonbeliefinherselfandenlistthehelpofthegodGaneshandthelordofdeath,Yama.Whenwritingthetrilogy,Mahtabsaidshe“tookawayTara’sentiresupportsystem.Mothergone.Brothergone.Intheend,evenherwholefamilyisagainsther.Sothestoryanswersthequestion:CanTaradothisalone?LuckilyI’venotbeeninthatdireasituation.ButonethingIneededtolearninmylifeisthatthepersonIcanalwaysdependonismyself.”

SoacharacteristicMahtabshareswithTaraisself-reliance.EspeciallyduringtheyearsMahtabspentmovingfromIndiatotheMiddleEastandfinallytoCanada,sheneededtorelyonherself.Duringthistime,visatroublesmeantthatshelivedinadifferentcountryfromherhusbandfortwoofthoseyearswhilecaringfortheiryoungson,whohadhisfirstfourbirthdaysinfourdifferentcountries.BythetimethethreeofthemsettledinCanadain1997,Mahtabhadlearnedshecouldbeindependent.Shesaid,“It’salwaysabonusifIhavesomeonetohelp,butattheendoftheday,Ihavetostepuptotheplateanddowhatneedstobedone.”

Ipointedoutthat,althoughMahtabisanintrovertwholovestostayathomeandwriteinhercozyoffice,she’sshownheradventurousspiritinherjourneyfromIndiatoCanada,muchlikeDylan,whoexploresMumbai,andTara,whobravestheunderworldtosavehervillage.Mahtabagreed,althoughshedidn’tfeeladventurouswhilemakingthejourney.Morerecently,MahtabandherhusbandhavebeendiscussingplanstomovetotheVancouverarea—yetanotheradventuretoanewplace.

Mahtabalsosaidshe’sarisk-taker,muchlikeKunalinTheTiffin(DancingCat,2011).SetinMumbaiwithitsdabbawallas(menwhodeliverhome-cookedfoodintiffinboxestothe

millionsofwhite-collarworkersthroughoutthecity),Kunalisthevictimofalostmessageinanundeliveredtiffin.Abandonedandalone,Kunaltriestotrackdownhismother,onlytorealizethathehadalreadyfoundhisrealfamily;onebasedonrespectandfriendship,ratherthanblood.Inthestory,Kunaltakesahugeriskwhenhereachesouttothemotherwhoabandonedhim.Wouldshewanttospeak

withhim?Wouldsherejecthimagain?“Idon’tmindtakingrisks,”Mahtabtoldme.“LikewhenIquitmyjobtostartwritingfulltime,Igaveupageneroussalarytostartafledglingcareerinwhichittakesyearstotakeoff.Still,Itooktherisk.”AsforKunal,hegetsahappyending,butnottheoneheexpected.Helearnstoappreciatewhathehas,aimforwhathewantsand

enjoytheunexpectedoutcomesthatlifebrings.Mahtabsaid,“Ilikeportrayingtheworldrealistically,whichiswhymystoriesdon’tworkoutperfectlyformycharacters.Idon’tlikerose-tintedglasses,eitherformyselforanyoneelse.”

TQVZVY[TMPQRPS’YWW[R[T\Inlifeandinherfiction,Mahtabisafiercedefenderoftheunderdog—andI’mnotjusttalkingaboutdogs,whichsheadores.Herfictionisfilledwithcharacterswhoareneglected,abusedandbullied.Forexample,hernewpicturebook,LookingforLordGanesh(Lantana,2016),isaboutagirlnamedAnikawhorecentlyemigratedfromIndiaandishavingtroublefittinginatschool.IaskedMahtabwhyhercharactersaresooftenunderdogs.

“Ithinktheyneedavoice,”Mahtabsaid.“Peoplewhoarestrongfindawaytoprevail.It’stheunderdogswhoneedourcompassionandhelp.”Mahtabhopesthatifwecanintroduce

theneedforcompassiontokidsearlyinlifethroughfiction,they’lldevelopastrongsenseofempathyandbecomecaringadults.

IpointedoutthattheheroesofMahtab’snovelstendtobeoutsideof“normal”cultureinsomeway,lookingin.Forexample,Tara’sfamilyturnsagainsther,KunalisrejectedbyhismotherandAnikaisexcludedfromschoolsoccergames.WhydoesMahtabwriteaboutexclusionandtheneedforbelonging?

“WhenIfirstcametoCanada,Ifeltlikeanoutsider,”Mahtabtoldme.Shewroteaboutthisfeelingin“What’sinaName?”(PiecebyPiece,Penguin,2010).Mahtabfoundithardtonavigateastrangesubwaysystem,findajobandcopewiththebitingcoldofwinter.Thenshenoticed“peoplewouldedgeawayfromme,andIwonderedwhyonearththeyweredoingthat.Itwashurtful.”Finally,whenshewasinanelevatorwithanIndiancouplewhosmelledstronglyofcookingodours,sherealizedthatshehadbeennoseblind—oblivioustosocialcustomsaroundcookingsmells.SheemptiedherlocalstoresofFebrezeandbegantocookwithherwindowsopen.Soon,shewashiredasarecruitmentmanager,helpingnewCanadiansnavigatesocialcustomsduringinterviewsaswellaslandingjobswithintheITsector.

MahtabandIbothagreedthatanythingkidsexperienceinlifeisfairgameforinclusioninabook,evendifficultsubjectmatter.SinceMahtabisn’tafraidtotackletoughsubjectmatterinhernovels,Iaskedwherethatspringsfrom.

“Ithinkthetoughsubjectsneedtobetackled,andthebestwaytodothatisinchildren’sfiction,”Mahtabsaid.Weagreedthatwhenanauthorpresentsdifficultmaterialinaninteresting,nonthreateningway,kidscanbenefitfromit.“Iwantkidstogrowupwithanunderstandingoftoughemotionsand

situationsinasafeenvironmentathomeorwiththeirparents,”Mahtabexplained.“Ithinkitpreparesthemforwhatthey’llfaceinreallife.”AlthoughMahtablovestodelveintohardtopics,shealsoknowshowtowritefunny.Dylan’sencounterwithasacredcowintheopeningpagesofMissionMumbaiishilarious.Howhardwasitforhertomovefromwritingserioustowritingfunny?“Itwasahugechallenge,”Mahtabtoldme.“I’mnotgenerallyafunnyperson.That’swhyIhadtoimagineDylan’sreactionstobeoppositetomine.”

ITU[PPYITY][WPR[^TMahtablivedinIndiauntilshewastwenty-four,andalmostallofhertitlesaresetthere.She’sobviouslygreatlyinspiredbyherhomecountry,andasareaderofherstories,Iamtoo.

“It’sarichculture,andit’sunder-representedinchildren’sbooks,”Mahtabsaid.“AlsoIknowIndiasowell,especiallyintermsofsensorydetails.Inseconds,IcanclosemyeyesandbeinthemiddleofCrawfordMarketinMumbai.”

Shealsowantstogiveavoicetothosepeoplewhoaren’tnormallyrepresentedinliterature,suchaskidsfromAsiancountries,sothatallchildrencanseethemselvesreflectedinthebookstheyread.AsagirlinMumbai,Mahtab’s

schoollibrarywasstockedwithbooksaboutBritishchildren.ShelovedEnidBlyton’snovels,althoughshehadnoideawhat“scones”were,or“pottedmeat.”ShedidlovehowwellBlytondescribedfoodthough,andthewonderfuladventuresthecharactershad,eventhoughtheywereverydifferentfromherownchildhoodexperiences.

MahtabfirstturnedtoIndiaasinspirationtowritewhenherfatherpassedawaysuddenly.Seekingmemoriesofherwholefamilytogether,shebegantowriteadiaryofherearlylife.ThisdiarymadeMahtabwonderifshecouldwriteabook.Shelovedfantasy,andshenoticedthatnotmanykids’bookshadbeenwrittenaboutIndianmythology,soshestartedwritingTheThirdEye.Sincethatbookdidverywell,itshowedhowinterestedkidsareinthesubjectmatter.

ShewasinspiredtowriteTheTiffinwhenshewasseriouslymissingMumbai.Sheponderedwhatwasuniqueaboutthecityofherchildhood,anddecidedtowriteastorysetaroundthedabbawallasandtheirtiffin-deliveryservice.Whatifonetiffininthesixmilliondelivereddailywentastray?Whatifthatonetiffincarriedanimportantmessage?WhenshelivedinMumbai,thedabbawallaswouldannoyMahtab,pushingontocrowdedtraincompartmentswithbulkytiffincarriers.YearslaterinCanada,theybecameinspirationforawonderfulnovel.

OneofMahtab’sworks-in-progressisamiddlegradesciencefictionnovelsetonanotherplanet,andshe’sfoundithardtowriteabouttheforeignsetting.“IlovetoimmersemyselfinaplacewhenI’mwriting,usingallthefivesenses.Thechallengewithwritinganovel

setonanotherplanetis:HowcanIwriteaboutaplaceIhaven’tbeento?”

SinceMahtab’schildhoodexperienceswereinIndia,she’sfounditeasiertosetherchildren’sbooksthere,andshe’scurrentlyworkingonanadultnovelsetinIndia.AlthoughshewitnessedtheCanadianschoolsystemthroughherson’seyes,shedoesn’tfeelhervoicewouldbeauthenticifshewroteabout

certainaspectsofCanadianchildhood.

C^^_[T\U]PTEaa[X[VTRWW[R[T\PW^XVYYIknowfrompersonalexperiencethatMahtabisastellarcook.Infact,shestudiedhospitalitymanagementinIndia,includingcooking.Ialsoknowthatshecookswithoutrecipes.Inthekitchen,Mahtabembracesherintuitiveside.Atherwritingdesk,sheembracesadifferentphilosophy.Whenwriting,Mahtabbecomesthequeenofdiscipline.“I’mwritingby6:00"+,sixdaysa

week.”Withafirstdraft,sherereadsyesterday’sworkthenwrites1500to2000newwordswithintwohours.Herfirstdraftis“vomitonthepage,”followedbyanextensivecritiquingandrewritingprocess.Therestofthedayistakenupwithhersecondjob(writingisthefirstone).Intheevening,she’llfindtimeforthebusinesssideofwriting,critiquingotherwriter’smanuscripts,readingaboutthewritingcraftandpreparingschoolpresentations.

“WritingisadisciplinedactivitybecauseIwanttobesuccessfulatit,”Mahtabsaid.“It’smycareer.Withcooking,Irebelbynotfollowingrecipes.Becausethewritingpartofmylifeissoorganized,Icookwithfreedom.”

Mahtab’sintuitivesidecomesoutinherwriting,butit’swithinthedefinedtimeandspacethatshereservesforit.Shedoesplanher

MEETCONNECTSHARE!

Nevermissameeting:www.canscaip.org/EventsCalendar!AddCANSCAIPeventsstraighttoyourcalendarorinboxwithhandyRSSandcalendartools.

Montreal:CANSCAIPmeetingsareheldregularly.Formoreinformation,contactCarol-AnnHoyte.kidlitfan1972@yahoo.ca

Toronto:MeetingsareheldonthesecondWednesdayofeachmonth,tentimesayear(nomeetingsinJulyorAugust).Meetingsin2017:January11,February8,March8,April12,May10,June14.Seewebsiteforlocationandtopic:www.canscaip.org/Monthly-Meetings.

Saskatchewan:Holdsvirtualmeetingsmonthlyonthe15^_.YourSaskatchewanrepresentativeisSharonPlumbHamilton.skcanscaip.wordpress.com.

storiesbeforewriting,butshedoesn’tplottooheavily.Detailsarenotworkedoutbeforehand;shediscoversthedepthofhercharactersasshewrites.Duringrevision,shedissectsastoryscenebyscene,analyzinghowtorevise.“That’swhenastoryreallytakesshape,”shesaid.

Or$)*stM"#$"%’)#u+t,theschoolkidshadlongagodisappearedintotheirclassrooms.Onhertable,ourteacupssatemptyandourplateswerewipedclean.Mahtabofferedmecontainersofleftoverstotakehometomyfamily.Myowndaughtersarefamiliarwith“AuntieM’s”cooking,andwouldbethrilled.Mahtabisagenerousfriend—yetanotherqualitysheshareswithhercharacters.

AsIleftwithmybagpiledwithleftovers,IwasmoreeagerthanevertoreadnewstorieswrittenbyMahtab.Iwasricherinunderstandingabouttheworldsandcharactersofherstories,andverygratefulthatherparticularvoicehasbeenaddedtothecanonofchildren’sliterature.

KARENKROSSINGis

theauthorofseven

novelsforkidsand

teens.Herrecenttitles

includeBog,whichwontheSCBWI

CrystalKiteAward,

andPunchLikeaGirl,whichwasaCCBC

BestBookforTeens.

She’salsoapast

presidentofCANSCAIP.Kareniscurrently

writinganovelforteensaboutbodyimageand

celebrityculture.

MEETCONNECTSHARE!

Nevermissameeting:www.canscaip.org/EventsCalendar!AddCANSCAIPeventsstraighttoyourcalendarorinboxwithhandyRSSandcalendartools.

Montreal:CANSCAIPmeetingsareheldregularly.Formoreinformation,contactCarol-AnnHoyte.kidlitfan1972@yahoo.ca

Toronto:MeetingsareheldonthesecondWednesdayofeachmonth,tentimesayear(nomeetingsinJulyorAugust).Meetingsin2017:January11,February8,March8,April12,May10,June14.Seewebsiteforlocationandtopic:www.canscaip.org/Monthly-Meetings.

Saskatchewan:Holdsvirtualmeetingsmonthlyonthe15^_.YourSaskatchewanrepresentativeisSharonPlumbHamilton.skcanscaip.wordpress.com.

CongratulationsCANSCAIP Members!KarenBassTheGeoffreyBilsonAwardforHistoricalFictionforUncertainSoldier(PajamaPress)

ErinBowTheMonicaHughesAwardforScienceFictionandFantasyforTheScorpionRules(MargaretK.McElderry)

AlanCumynTheVickyMetcalfAwardforaBodyofWorkInspirationaltoYoungPeople

DanielleDanielTheMarilynBailliePictureBookAwardforSometimesIFeelLikeaFox(GroundwoodBooks)

MelanieFlorenceandFrancoisThisdaleTheTDCanadianChildren’sLiteratureAwardforMissingNimâmâ(ClockwisePress)

DeborahHodgeandKarenReczuchTheChildren`sLiteratureRoundtablesofCanadaInformationBookAwardforWest

CoastWild:ANatureAlphabet(GroundwoodBooks)

SusanJubyTheAmyMathersTeenBookAwardforTheTruthCommission(RazorbillCanada)

Jon-ErikLapanoandKelleHatanakaTheGovernorGeneral’sAwardforYoungPeople’sLiterature(illustratedbooks)forTokyoDigsaGarden(GroundwoodBooks)

MartineLevittTheGovernorGeneral’sAwardforYoungPeople’sLiterature(text)forCalvin(GroundwoodBooks)

KevinSandsTheJohnSprayMysteryAwardforTheBlackthornKey(Aladdin)

CorySilverbergandFionaSmythTheNormaFleckAwardforCanadianChildren’sNon-FictionforSexIsaFunnyWord:

ABookAboutBodies,FeelingsandYou(SevenStoriesPress)

SHORTLISTEDforthe2016GovernorGeneral’sAwards–YoungPeople’sLiterature(Text)

TimWynne-JonesforTheEmperorofAnyPlace(CandlewickPress)

YoungPeople’sLiterature(IllustratedBooks)

JoEllenBogartandSydneySmithforTheWhite

CatandtheMonk(GroundwoodBooks)

MireilleMessierandPierrePrattforTheBranch(KidsCanPress)

SHORTLISTEDforthe2017RockyMountainReaders’ChoiceAward–FictionLindaBaileyforSevenDeadPirates(TundraBooks)

CarolynBeckforThatSqueak(Fitzhenry&Whiteside)

DeborahEllisforTheCatAttheWall

(GroundwoodBooks)

GordonKormanforMasterminds(HarperCollins)

TanyaLloydKyiforExtremeBattlefields

(AnnickPress)

ElizabethMacLeodforGallopingThroughHistory(AnnickPress)

SusinNielsenforWeAreAllMadeofMolecules

(TundraBooks)

KennethOppelforTheNest(HarperCollins)

CarolinePignatforTheGospelTruth(RedDeerPress)

ValerieSherrardforRainShadow(Fitzhenry&Whiteside)

RobinStevensonforTheSummerWeSavedthe

Bees(OrcaBooks)

NOTEWORTHYANIMATEDFILM:DeborahEllis’saward-winningnovelTheBreadwinner(GroundwoodBooks)isbeingmadeintoananimatedfilmtobereleasedinfallof2017.Thefilmhadanauspiciousstart.Theproducer,AnthonyLeoofAircraftPictures,firstheardthebookreadout

loudbyBelindaStronachtoacaptivatedaudienceofyounggirlsandtheirparents.Oncehehadsecuredrights,AngelinaJoliesignedonasexecutiveproducer.Jolie,amonghermanyotherinterests,isanadvocateforrefugeesandwomen’srights.Deborahsays,“She[Jolie]doestremendousworkinabunchoffieldsinsocialjusticeandIknowshewillmakeaprojectthateveryoneisgoingtobeproudof.”CongratulationstoDeborah.

COMPETITION:Winners($1000each)andfinalistsofCANSCAIP’s2016WritingforChildrenCompetition

WINNERSAnnMarieStasiuk(Stratford,ON),thePictureBook/EarlyReaderawardforAWintryWaitMarciMcAdam(Calgary,AB)theChapterBook/MiddleGrade/YoungAdultAwardforCreepSchool

FINALISTS–PictureBook/EarlyReader

MaryLouDriedge(Winnipeg,Manitoba),forWhyAreTheyNaked?

CynthiaFord(Vancouver,BC),forTheFiddleMan

CatherineJansen(Oakville,ON),forLavenderKirstenPendreigh(Vancouver,BC),forHamishMcFluffandtheBabyBirds

FINALISTS–ChapterBook/MiddleGrade/YoungAdultCorrineClark(Mississauga,ON),forCharlotte'sGhosts

DonnaHughes(Toronto,ON),forBrightShinyThings

JenniferIrwin(PointeClaire,Quebec),forTheTruthAboutLove,HockeyandBallroom

Dancing

CherylStewart(Kanata,ON),forRenegadeHeart

Onlyunpublishedwriterswereeligibletoenter.CANSCAIPreceivedcloseto300entriesin2016.AuniqueandverybeneficialelementoftheWritingforChildrenCompetitionisthateveryonewhoentersgetsfeedbackbytheCompetition’sevaluationreaders.ThereadersandjuriesevaluatingCompetitionentriesareallpublishedauthorsandCANSCAIPMembers.

FOLLOWCANSCAIP:Lookingforsomenewfriends?ThereisnowahandypageontheCANSCAIPwebsitewheretheTwitterhandlesofourprofessionalmembersarelisted.Let’sfolloweachotherandhelppromoteeachother’swork.Anddon’tforgettofollow@CANSCAIPaswell,http://canscaip.org/page-1862893.

FINDINGCANADIANBOOKS:49thShelf.comisawebsitedevotedtoCanadianbooksincludingbooksforkids.ProducedbytheAssociationofCanadianPublisherstogetherwiththeCanadianPublishers’Council,andwithfundingfromtheDepartmentofCanadianHeritageandtheOntarioMediaDevelopmentCorporationandaleadsponsorshipfromAmazon.ca.,itspurposeistomakeiteasierforreaderstodiscoverCanadianbooksinallgenres,frombestsellingauthorstonewtalent,frompublisherslargeandsmall,fromallregionsofthecountry.ThankstoLENACOAKLEYforpointingustothisgreatresource.

CREATIVEWRITING:Ifyouareteachingacourseinwritingorillustrationforthechildren’smarket,we’dlovetosendyouapackageofbrochuresaboutCANSCAIPandaboutPackagingYourImaginationtodistributetoyourstudents.Justemailtheoffice(office@canscaip.org)toletHelenaAaltoknowhowmanyyouneed.

LOGOVARIATION:Ourfront-pagelogovariationisbyMichaelMartchenko.YoucanseemoreofhisworkinReady,Set,Go!,Hugs,

PyjamaDay!andmanymore.AllwerewrittenbyRobertMunschandpublishedbyScholasticCanada.

ILLUSTRATORS:WearelookingformorelogovariationstodressuptheNEWS.Forinspiration,youcanviewourcurrentonesattheever-changinglogositeonthehomepageofourwebsite.

IfyouareafullCANSCAIPmember/illustratorandwouldliketosubmityourversionforpossibleuse,herearethespecifics:Digitalsubmissionispreferred,soscanyourartat300dpi(highresolution)andemailthefiletooffice@canscaip.org.MakesureyouputCANSCAIPLogoSubmissioninthesubjectline.We’dlovetohavecolourful,playfulart.Forthosewhofindscanningachallenge,sendpaperarttotheCANSCAIPoffice.

From the President’s DeskbySharonJennings

MycolumnwasdueNovember20,thedayafterPackagingYourImagination.Whowasresponsibleforthiscruelandunusualtiming?WhenI’mPresidentI’mgoingto….Nevermind.Instead,I’lltakeyouthroughayearofPYIpreparation.

Planningfornextyear’sPYIbeginsafewdaysbeforethecurrentyear’sPYI.Thisisbecause,rightaroundthen,theteamcomesupwithabrilliantideaandwishedwe’dthoughtofitsooner.Thenextbitofplanningtakesplaceonthedayof,whentheteamcan’tbelievethatwegoofedonthisorthat,whensomeonewhohasneverliftedavolunteerfingercomplainsloudly,whenwelistentoabrilliantspeakerandresolvetoinvitehimorhertobenextyear’skeynote,whensomethingiffygoessoincrediblywellwefeeljustifiablysmug.Afewdaysaftertheevent,wehaveourdebriefingsession,againwithaviewtonextyear’sPYI.

Overthenextcoupleofweeks,we’llperuseregistrants’surveyresponsesanddiscussafewofthemorepressingissues:dowebookthesamevenue,forexample?HumberCollege,whohostedPYIforthepastthreeyears,informedusinFebruary2016thattheywerenolongeracceptingoutsideeventsandwehadtoscrambletofindanewhome.AndImeanscramble!OfficeAdministratorHelenaAaltovisitedafewlocations,andthensheandIcheckedouttheLiKaShingKnowledgeInstituteonMarch3ÉÑ.Abeautifulnewbuilding,filledwithlight,justoffthesubway—bookit!

WesentaroundasurveytoselectadateforthefirstPYIcommitteeplanningsession.In2016,wehelditatmyhouseonMarch19ÖÜ.Wediscussedalltheprosandconsfromthe2015event,andstartedthealwaysoneroustaskofselectingspeakers—onerousbecauseweoffertwokeynotespeeches,twelveworkshops(twoarepanels),andmanyone-to-onesessions,andthesepresentersmustengagewithauthorsandillustrators,beginnerandpublished,andsomethingofeverythingmustworkineachtimeslot.Aswell,evenwithourverysmall

budget,webringinpresentersfromoutofprovinceandoutsidethecatch-basinoftheGreaterTorontoArea.Theteamdivviesupthespeakerlistandemailsgoout.We’velearnedfrompastmistakestobeveryspecificregardingourexpectations,andwegivepresentersexact

detailsaboutwho,what,when,why,whereandDon’tYouDare!Thislastisanhonestthreatifanyonedoesn’tstayontopicorevenbothertomentiontheirtopic,andgivesusanhourofbabyphotosandawards.Andno,I’mnotkidding.OneauthorwassupposedtotalkaboutXandbeganthetalkwith,“X.Idon’tdoX.”

Thencomesboththerushaspossibilitiesbecomeconfirmed,andthedeflationasahoped-forspeakerturnsusdown.Ifthelatter,wegetfranticaboutfindinganothersuitablecandidateforsuchandsuchatopicandtimeslot.Butfinally,thespeakershaveconfirmedtheircontractsandbelieveitornot,theteamenterstheperiodknownasthecalmbeforethestorm.

Su+tuàâur+"â(t+t+%t(thatPYIusedtobemanagedbytheVicePresident.Thisbecameproblematicforseveralreasons,andtheExecutivevotedtohavePYImanagedbyouronehalf-timeemployee.So,overthesummer,

SaintHelenaorganizedhervolunteerteam.AfterLabourDay,thisteammetforaweeklyconferencecall.Andthis,Ibelieve,istrulybrilliant—theweeklycheck-inforgescamaraderieduringthedarkesthoursand,contrarytoMurphy’sLaw,helpsusbelievethatnoteverythingwillgowrong.Andduringtheserun-upmonths,weeklyemailblastswithenticingdetailsaboutPYIgoouttoourMembers.

IhavewrittenalloftheabovewithtwosleepstogobeforePYI.Fingersarecrossed.Allthethingswecan’tdountilthelastminutearequeuingup,clamouringforattention.Andthisyearisspecialforanotherreason:afterbookingourdate,TheCanadianChildren’sBookCentreannouncedtheirTDBookAwardsGalanight—November17.WeencouragedourMemberstocometoTorontoforafullweekend—theGalaandPYI.Helenawent(another)extramileandbookedroomsatahotelforout-of-townersandsentoutinfoaboutalltheotherthingstodoinTorontothisweekend.(Somethingorotheraboutaskingabusyperson.)Andoneotherthing:workingwiththewonderfulShannonHowe-BarnesatCCBC,wemanagedtonabAshleySpiresasourmorningkeynotespeaker.TDwasbringingherinfromB.C.fortheGalabecausesheisthecreatorofSmall

Saul,thisyear’sCCBCGradeOneGive-AwayBook.Theupshotforuswastwofold:another‘comefromaway’speaker(withouttravelcosts)andacopyofSmallSaul(swag!)foreveryoneatPYI.

Andnow,inrealtime,Ihavetoprimpfortonight’sTDGalaAwards.

Ohno!Itis7:45onThursdaynightandAshleySpireshasastrainedthroatthankstohertourforTD.

Friday:anxiousalldayaboutpossible

messagefromAshleycancellingkeynote.Saturday:Ashleydeliversfunny,warm,self-

deprecating,inspirational(onlyslightlycroaky)morningkeynote!Everyonethrilledtoreceiveacopyofherbook.

Deepbreathin.Exhale.Therearealmost200peoplewatching!

Thenewdowntownlocationisstunning.Thespeakersreallydeliveredthegoods:

concreteadviceandencouragement.Ourout-of-townspeakerswerethrilledwithhowpamperedtheyfelt,thoroughlyenjoyingtheirstayinToronto.BooksaleswithMable’sFableswentsowellthatthey’vealreadycommittedtonextyear.DavidBoothgavetheClaireMackayMemorialLectureandreceivedastandingovationforhisknowledge,wisdom,humour,andinsightintowhywhatwecreateissocrucially

important.Andyes,sigh,therewasaslightmix-upwith

notenoughsandwichesforlunch,butthecaterersquicklysolvedtheproblem.

Awell-deservedcongratulationsandthankyoufromthebottomofmyhearttothosewhogavesowillinglyoftheirtimeandexpertise:HeatherCamlot,JillianDobson,JoyceGrant,HollyMainandJenniferMaruno.Aswell,LenaCoakley,BarbaraGreenwoodandGillianO’Reillyhadinvaluableadviceaboutspeakers.Nottoforgetallofyouwhoofferedtodriveandintroducespeakers.AndahugehugtoHelenaAalto,whoworkedtirelesslytoorchestratethiswonderfulday.

Yur,uäã,uä$#"$asyouarereadingthis,wehavealreadystartedplanningforPackaging2017.Andyoucandoyourpart:doyourselfahugefavourandplantoattend.

(PhotobyIanCrysler)

WVwX^ZV!byMoniquePolak

Inthiscolumnwewelcomeournewestmembers.

MARCUSCUTLERwasborninMilton,Ontario.HeisagraduateofSheridanCollegeandOCAD.Hehasworkedfull-timeasanillustratorsince2009.Hisworkhasappearedinover100clientprojectsincludingmagazines,educationalbooksandmobileapps.HeistheillustratorofLarkHoldsTheKey(OrcaBooks),LarkandTheDiamondCaper(OrcaBooks),andBuyOneGetOne(Pearson).MarcuslivesandworksinWindsor,Ontario,withhiswifeandtwodaughters.

HOLLYDeWOLFisanillustratorandauthor.SheattendedNSCADUniversitywhereshetookaclassinmakingverbalandvisualnarratives.Afterthat,herdesigndayswereoverandshefocusedonillustration.Over20yearslater,Hollyisstillpushingideasthroughwordsandvisualstorytelling.What'sGoingOnAtThe

TimeTonight?(NimbusPublishing)wasthefirstbooksheillustrated.ThisbookisaboutanunderwaterpartysetinNewfoundland.Hersecondchildren'sbookwasPortCityChamp,whichwascreatedtopromotetheportofSaintJohn.Asanaddedbonus,thecitycreatedamascotfromhercharacter.Thatmascotthatcanbeseenaroundtownpromotingtheloveofreading.HollylivesinQuispamsis,NewBrunswickwhereshehappilywrites,blogsandillustrates.

REGANW.H.MACAULAYwritesnovels,shortstories,children’sliterature,andscripts.Writingisherpassion,butsheisalsoaproduceranddirectoroftheatre,filmandtelevision.Sheisananimalenthusiast,whichledhertobecomeacertifiedcanine(andfeline)massagetherapist.HerbooksforchildrenincludepicturestorybooksBeverleeBeaztheBrownBurmese,SloththeLazy

Dragon,andtheupcomingTamara

Turtle’sLifeSoFarandMerryMyrrh:TheChristmasBat.Regan’sbooksforadultsincludethenoveletteadaptationofherfeaturefilm(availableoniTunesandonDVD)SpaceZombies!andthehorror/comedynovellaTheySuck.ReganlivesinToronto.

KIMMcDOUGALLwritesunderthenameKimChatel.Sheisanauthor,fiberartistandphotographer.Sheregularlyvisitsschoolsandlibraries,bringingherartandbookstostudentsandinspiringthemtocreatetheirown.VisitKimatChatelVillage(www.kimchatel.com)tofindbooks,recipes,movies,bookreviewsandcrafts.Kimisalsotheco-founderofCastelane.com,asitethathelpsauthorsmarkettheirbookswithtrailers,coverdesignsandmore.KimlivesinNewmarket,Ontario.

MELANIEMcFARLANEjumpsinwithbothhandsonherkeyboard,whetherit’suncoveringthecorruptionofthefuture,ortravellingtootherworldstosavetheuniverse,.Thoughshecanbefoundobsessingoverzombiesfromtimetotime,Melaniehasfocusedherpowersonwritingstoriesthatkeep

childrenupallnightreading.SheliveswithherhusbandandtwodaughtersintheLandofLivingSkies.HerbooksincludeThereOnce

WereStars(Month9Books),andtheupcomingHereSkiesSurroundUsandSummonerRising(bothwithMonth9Books).

JENNIFERMcGRATH,anaward-winningchildren'sauthorfromNewBrunswick,haswrittentwomiddle-gradeadventurenovels,andaChristmaspicturebookaboutawaywardCanadagoose.Hernewestpicturebook,TheSnowKnows(NimbusPublishing)willbeavailablethisfall.Anexperiencedandanimatedworkshoppresenter,Jenniferisapopularvisitortoclassrooms.JenniferstudiedEnglishatSt.FrancisXavierUniversityinAntigonish,NovaScotiabeforeearninganMAinEnglishLiteraturewithaDirectedStudyinChildren'sLiteraturefromtheUniversityofVictoriainBritishColumbia.Shehastaughtliteratureandwritingclassesattheuniversitylevel,andisaprofessionalmarketingandcommunicationswriterwithagencyexperience.JenniferliveswithherfamilyandpetsinthebeautifulNewBrunswickcountryside,justoutsideMoncton.Shelovesanimals,books,music,movies,theatre,storytelling,costumes,jokes,exploringtheoutdoorsand,ofcourse…chocolate!

SHARONMcKAY’sfocusasaYAwriter,andaCanadianWarArtist(CFAP,Afghanistan2009,2013)issocialjustice.HerworkhastakenhertoplacessuchasnorthernUganda,theWestBank,Israel,NorthernIrelandand

Afghanistan.HertopicsincludetheHolocaust,childsoldiers,torture,girls’rights,andunderagemarriage.Shehaspublished30booksincludingthesefromAnnickPress:PrisonBoy,

EndoftheLine,EnemyTerritory,andThunderOverKandahar.In2015,CBCincludedThunderOverKandaharonitsBest100YABookslist.ShesitsontheboardoftheNationalReadingCampaign,andontheReadingTownCommitteeofPrinceEdwardIsland,aweeklongcelebrationofreadingduringthefirstweekofMay.SharonlivesandworksinBurlington,Ont.,fromJanuarytoAprileveryyear.ThebalanceofheryearisspentonPrinceEdwardIsland.Shehastwosons,twograndchildrenandonehusband.

NANCYROSElivesinBedford,NovaScotia,andisaretiredguidancecounsellor.Nancycomesfromafamilyofsevenchildrenwherecreativitywasencouraged.HerpassionforphotographyandnaturemergedwithhercraftingskillswhenshediscoveredtheAmericanRedSquirrelswhoraidedherbirdfeeders.Bymakingminiaturesettingsandsquirrel-sizeprops,shecreatedhundredsofscenarioswheretheinquisitivesquirrelsfindthemselvesinhumanposesastheysearchforpeanutshiddenintheprops.HerimagesspreadacrosstheInternetandNancywasencouragedtoputthemtogetherintobooksforsquirrelfansofallages.Herfirstchildren'sbook,TheSecretLifeofSquirrels,wasreleasedin2014withaCanadianandAmericanversion,followedbytwomore,andafourthisintheworks.Mr.Peanut'soffspringstillvisitdailyandNancyhopesthattogethertheycancontinuetodelightviewersforyearstocome.

JOSEPHINEVACCARO-CHANGisaself-professedchocoholic.Herfavouritecolourispurpleandshelikestodoartsandcrafts.SheholdsaBAdegreefromUniversityofToronto,isacertifiedTeacherofEnglishasaSecondLanguage,and

lovesdeliveringinteractiveworkshopstoprimaryagedchildren.Withthehelpofherhand-heldpuppetsandsix-footsculptureofRuby(aredflamingo),Josephinemakesliteracyfun.HerbooksincludeWeAre

ColourfulFriends,TheGardenofLove,WeAre

Leaves,andOurColourfulCookies(co-authoredwithAmandaChang).JosephineisanactivememberoftheRichmondHill,Ontario,communitywheresheliveswithheramazingfamily.

DERMOTWALSHEistheauthorandillustratorofMean

Machines(ImpactBooks);Rematch

(FlightGraphicNovel#8);andTTChallenge(Flight

GraphicNovel#7).DermotalsoillustratedTheFossil

Hunters(OrcaBooks).Hehasbeenworkingprimarilyinanimationsince1988ondozensofTVseriesandfeaturefilms.Hemaintainsafreelancebusiness,writinganddevelopingprojectsforanimation.Healsoracedmotorcycles,workedincountriesfromJapanandIndonesiatoFloridaforDisneyandhastwoCDsofhisownoriginalmusicpublishedoniTunesunderthebandname"HeadeforHobo."DermotlivesinOakville,Ont.,withhiswifeandthreemarvellousdaughters--allaccomplishedartistsintheirownright.

WADEALBERTWHITEhailsfromNovaScotia,landofwildblueberriesandDuckTollingRetrievers.Heteachespart-time,dabblesinanimation,andspendstherestofhistimeasa

stay-at-homedad.Itisalsopossiblehehassetanewrecordastheslowest10Krunner.Ever.Heownsonepretendcatandonerealone,andtheygetalongfabulously.HeistheauthorofTheAdventurer’sGuidetoSuccessfulEscapes(Little,BrownandCompany)aswellastheforthcomingTheAdventurer’sGuidetoDragons(andWhyTheyKeepBitingMe)

(Little,BrownandCompany).

NEWS ROUNDUPByElizabethMacLeod

DeadlineforSPRINGNEWS:February20,2017We’dlovetohearfromyou!Letusknowaboutyournewbooks,tours,awards,launches,etc.Emailthedetails,includingyourtownandprovince,withthesubjectline:SPRINGNEWSto:NewsRoundup@canscaip.org.

ATLANTIC REGIONL.E.CARMICHAELpublishedthreenewchildren’ssciencebookslastfall:Discover

ForensicScience(Lerner),InnovationsinEntertainment(Crabtree)andInnovationsinHealth(Crabtree).ShealsodidfourpresentationsduringScienceLiteracyWeek,duringwhichshedemonstratedalivehuman-animalcommunicationexperimentandtaughtatotalof300schoolkidswhatthefoxREALLYsays!LindseylivesinLewisLake,NovaScotia.

QUEBECWelcometonewFriends:ChrisHamilton,WakefieldandNinaPariser,Montreal.

ONTARIO (OUTSIDE TORONTO)WelcometonewFriends:AmeetBhar,Dundas;RobynFraser,Guelph;GarthLaidlaw,Guelph;DonRysdale,Thorold;RamonStorr,Thornhill;LauraVernoy,Palgrave.

LISABEEREacquiredatraumaticbraininjuryonAugust9,2015.Asaresult,shesuffersfromextremenoisesensitivity.Lyingawakeduetonight-timenoises,yetagain,Lisa“caught”theideatocreateNightNoises(CrimsonCloakPublishing),herfirstchildren’sbook.InNightNoises,Samisafraidofthedarkandallthenoisesatnightarekeepinghimanxiousandawake.Onebyonehisfamilyattemptstohelphimgettosleep.Finally,hissisterJuniehasagreatideaandgiveshimherbelovedteddy

bear.Thebookistargetedatreadersage4to7years.TheebookwasreleasedOctober28,withtheprintformatpublishedNovember8.IngramwillalsohavetheprintandebookformatsavailableMay1.Lisahas19morechildren’sstorieswithbookcontractsthatwillbecomingoutoverthenexttwoyears!ShelivesinOttawa.

HOLLYBENNETThasanewyoungadultnovelcomingoutinJanuary.DrawnAway(OrcaBooks)isherseventhbookandfirstcontemporaryfiction—thoughstillonthespeculativeside.Holly’spreviousbookshavebeennominatedfortheWhitePineAward,SnowWillowAward,StellarTeenBookAwardandSunburstAward.HollylivesinPeterborough.

CELIAGODKINispleasedtoannouncethereleaseofherlatestenvironmentalpicturebook,TheWolvesReturn(PajamaPress).Celia’sbest-knownbook,WolfIsland

(Fitzhenry&Whiteside),exploredwhathappenedtoasmallislandecosystemwhenwolveswereremoved.TheWolvesReturnisthegood-newstruestoryoftheoppositeprocess,ofwolvesbeingreintroducedtoYellowstonePark,aninitiativethathasledtoincreasedbiodiversityintheworld’sfirst-evernationalpark.ThebookwasreleasedintheUnitedStatesinDecemberandwillbereleasedinCanadainMarch.CelialivesinFrankville.

JOELLENBOGART’sbookTheWhiteCatand

theMonk(GroundwoodBooks/HouseofAnansi),withartbySydneySmith,wasafinalistfortheGovernorGeneral’sAwardinthecategoryYoungPeople’sLiterature(IllustratedBooks).AJuniorLibraryGuildchoiceandrecipientoffivestarredreviews,thebookwas

alsoaNewYorkTimesEditor’sChoiceandwasincludedintheNewYorkTimeslistofBestIllustratedBooksof2016.SchoolLibraryJournalincludedthebookonitsbestof2016list.JoEllenlivesinGuelph.

THÉRÈSECILIAjustreleasedherthirdpicturebook,writtenbyJanetBarkhouse.KeeperoftheLight(FormacPublishingCompany)isaheartwarmingstoryaboutagirlwho,afterthedeathofherfatheratsea,helpsherfamilybygoingtoworkforthelighthousekeepersonanearbyisland.Whentheymustleaveforamedicalemergency,11-year-oldSaraisleftalonetolightthewayasaterriblestormapproaches.Thisearly1900staleisbasedonthetrueexperiencesofchildrenwhoworkedatlighthouses.Thérèse’spreviousbooksincludeBullettheNewSteamEngineandOverbythe

Harbour(bothFlankerPress),bothbyDwayneLaFitte.OverbytheHarbourwasselectedbytheCanadianChildren’sBookCentreasaBestBooksforKids&Teens.ThérèselivesinBelleville.

ALANCUMYNhasbeenselectedbytheWriters’TrustofCanadaasthewinnerofthe2016VickyMetcalfAwardforbodyofworkforliteratureforyoungpeople.AlanteachesthroughtheVermontCollegeofFineArts,

whereheisfacultychairintheMFAprograminWritingforChildrenandYoungAdults.HislatestyoungadultnovelisHotPterodactyl

Boyfriend(SimonandSchusterCanada).HewillbetouringnorthernSaskatchewaninMayaspartoftheTDCanadianChildren’sBookWeek.AlanlivesinOttawa.

KARENHOOD-CADDY,authorof“TheWildPlaceAdventure”series(DundurnPress),is

excitedaboutthescreenplayGuyMullallyhasjustwrittenforthefirstbookinthatseries,Howl.DundurnPresshassoldthefilmoptionstoMaggieMonteithforthefirstthreebooksintheeco-fictionseries.KarenlivesinCollingwoodandParrySound.

SUEIRWIN’sfirstbook,SafetyStars—Players

whofoughttomakethehard-hittinggameof

professionalhockeysafer(Lorimer)waspublishedinFebruary2015.Thatsummer,becauseofitsemphasisonconcussions,SafetyStarsreceivedtheElementaryTeachers’FederationofOntario“CurriculumDevelopmentAward.”TheCanadianChildren’sBookCentrenamedthebooka2015BestBooksforKidsandTeensselection.Andnow,it’sbeennominatedforthe2017ForestofReadingSilverBirchNon-FictionAward.SueisexcitedaboutvisitinglibrariesandclassroomsallacrossOntario,speakingwithelementaryschoolstudentsaboutournation’sfavouritewintersport,aswellastheseriousissueofconcussionsandmore.SuelivesinGrimsby.

HEATHERKIRKpublishedtwobooksthisfall.ThefirstwasareissueofherversionoftheclassicCanadiannovel,WacoustabyJohnRichardson,whowasCanada’sfirstnative-bornnovelist.Thesecondwasanewbooktitled,SeekingPeace:TheQuakers.This330-pagebook,illustratedwithalmost100images,tracesthelongexistence—morethan360years—ofoneofthemostenduringnonviolent-resistancemovementsinhistory.SeekingPeaceisaimedataverageadultreadersaswellasstudentsinseniorhighschoolandjuniorcollege.ThebookisacompaniontoHeather’spreviousbookBeNotAfraid:ThePolish(R)evolution,“Solidarity”(allBorealis

Press),aboutalittle-knownpacifistmovement,thePolishSolidaritymovementofthe1980s.HeatherlivesinBarrie.

SYLVIAMcNICOLLmarksabrandnewyearofmistakesinJanuarywhenshelaunches“TheGreatMistakeMystery”series(DundurnPress).TheseriesbeginswithTheBestMistake

Mystery—anxious12year-oldStephenNoblecountshiserrorsinsteadofhisblessings.TogetherwithhissassysidekickRenéeKobai,hewalksdogsPingandPong,andthroughhismistakes,solvesneighbourhoodmysteries.SylvialivesinBurlington.

JENNIFERMOOK-SANG’shumorousmiddlegradenovelSpeechless(Scholastic)wasmostrecentlynominatedfortheLangleyBookoftheYearawardandchosenfortheTDSummerReadingClub2017.CBCBooksalsoannouncedthatitwas“shortlistedforaslewofawards.”Jenniferhasbeenbusywithpresentationstosmallpeopleandjustfinishedaseriesofcreativewritingworkshopsfor“Sophie’sStudio”withtheTorontoPublicLibrary.She’snotsureaboutthestudents,butsaiditwasthemostfunshe’dhadinages.Sophie’sStudiowascreatedtosupportliteracy,creativityandwritingskillsinchildrenthroughagraciousbequestfromlong-timepatronSophiaLucyk.JenniferlivesinBurlington.

KATHYSTINSONhadabusyfall.ShewasWriterinResidenceforWellingtonCountyLibraries,didWordfestreadingsinCalgary,tookpartina“Welcome”eventforSyrianrefugeesinGuelph,gaveamasterclassaboutpicturebookwritingatPackagingYourImagination,aswellasworkedonherownnewpicturebooktextandherfirstadultnovel.ThiswinterseestheworldpremiereattheKennedyCenterinWashington,D.C.,ofthefamily-concertversionofTheManwiththeViolin,featuring“TheMan”himself(JoshuaBell),andthereleaseofTheDanceoftheViolin(bothAnnickPress),basedonachildhoodexperienceofJoshua

Bell’s,andillustrated(magnificently!)byDušanPetričić.KathylivesinRockwood.

JOSEPHINEVACCARO-CHANG,author/illustratorandartist,createdanelegant,six-footpinksculpturenamedGigi,inspiredbythegiraffeinthepopularchildren’sbookWeAre

ColourfulFriends(DancingInTheRainPublishing)andfundedthroughthegenerosityofthetownofRichmondHill’sCommunityandCulturalGrantprogram.JosephineandGigihavebeenbusydeliveringinteractiveworkshopstoprimary-agechildrenthroughouttheGreaterTorontoArea.Thejunior/seniorkindergartenworkshopfocusesonliteracyandincludeshand-heldpuppets,creatingaclasscollageandactingoutthepagesofthebook.Thegrades1to3workshopfocusesontheprocessofcreatingbooks.Childrenareexposedtooriginalartwork,printproofs,finalproducts,etc.Studentscompleteindividualworksheetsthatarethenpublishedase-books.Formoredetailsand/ortobookaworkshopatyourschoolorlibraryvisit:www.WeAreColourfulFriends.ca.

TORONTOWelcometonewFriends:AndreaBlinick,LisaErnst,StephaniePhoenix,SarahRamsey,LiviaSavinandDennisZaidi.

ANDREACURTIS’ssecondkids’bookaboutfood,EatThis!HowFastFoodMarketingGets

YoutoBuyJunk(AndHowtoFightBack)(RedDeerPress)isaimedatkidsage9to12.EatThis!isamedialiteracyandfoodliteracypicturebook.ItwillbelaunchedinMarch2017andcomesoutatakeytimeasthefederalgovernmentworkstowardregulationslimitingmarketingfastfoodandsugarybeveragestokids.

ANNEDUBLINreceivedtheCanadianJewishLiteraryAward(YouthLiterature)forherhistoricalnovel44HoursorStrike!(SecondStoryPress)onOctober30inToronto.“The

CanadianJewishLiteraryAwards(CJLA)recognizethefinestbookswithJewishthemesandsubjectsbyCanadianauthorsinavarietyofgenres.”

AnnDublinwithJudithGhert

THEOHERAStravelledtoMontrealandHalifaxinNovemberwithherpicturebookHatOn,

HatOff(PajamaPress),illustratedbyRENNÉBENOIT.TheovisitedandreadherbookatMam&Pop,anewchildren’scraftstoreinMontreal,andthevenerableLivresBabarBooks,inPointeClaire.InHalifax,shewasgreetedbyaboisterousgroupofpreschoolersatWoozles,Canada’soldestchildren’sbookstore.Theo’snexttripistoNewYorkwhereshewillreadtochildrenatadaycareandthe67thStreetBranchoftheNewYorkPublicLibrary.

NADIAHOHN’sbookMalaika’sCostume(GroundwoodBooks)willbetranslatedintoFrenchandpublishedinJanuarybyScholasticCanada.TheillustratorisIreneLuxbacher.Currently,NadiaisbasedinAbuDhabi,UAE.

ELIZABETHMACLEOD’slatestbookisTopDogs:

CaninesthatMadeHistory(AnnickPress).IttellsthestoryofsuchdogsasLewisandClark’sNewfoundland,Seaman;“Sergeant”Stubby,aWorldWarIhero;Trakr,theGermanshepherdthatfoundthelastsurvivorundertheWorld

TradeCenteron9/11;andmore.LizwasdelightedtolearnthatherbookVanished:TrueTalesofMysteriousDisappearances(AnnickPress)hasbeennominatedfortheRedMapleBookAward,isastarredselectioninBestBooksforKids&Teens2016andwonaSilverEureka!AwardfromtheCaliforniaReadingAssociation.CanadaYearbyYear(KidsCanPress),Liz’sbookcelebratingCanada’supcomingsesquicentennial,hasbeenchosenasoneofQuill&Quire’sTop5Kids’Bookof2016,aswellasa“Heather’sPick”atIndigobookstores.It’salsogettinggreatreviews.“MacLeodtakesaconsciouslymulticulturalapproach,”saysKirkus,“highlightingbothhighlightsandlowlights…Bothrevelatoryandentertaining….”

MARYJENNIFERPAYNEreleasedtwonovelsattheendof2016.Enough(OrcaBooks)isagrittyhi-lonovelaboutagirlwhofleesherstepfather’ssexualabuseandwaspublishedinOctober.OnDecember17,thefirstbookinthe“DaughtersofLight”trilogy,FindingJade(DundurnPress),wasreleased.MaryJenniferwillbesigningcopiesofFindingJadeattheChapters/IndigostoreatYongeandEglintononSaturday,January7,from1:00to4:00p.m.TherewillalsobeabooklaunchpartyatTypeBooksonQueenWestonFriday,January27.

ALLANSTRATTONwasapresenteratthisSeptember’sFestivaletteraturainMantova,Italy,speakingabouthisRedMapleAwardwinning-novelTheDogs(ScholasticCanada).InOctober,hewasinWarsaw,Poland,toseethePolish-languagepremiereofhis1980comedyNurseJaneGoestoHawaii,whichhasbeenplayingatTeatrCapitalsincelastApril.WhilethereAlanmetwithhisPolishpublisherFoksal,whobroughtoutTheDogslastspring.ThebookhasalsorecentlybeenpickedupbyPandora/Trei,Romania,whichisitsfourteenthterritory.TheGraveRobber’sApprentice(HarperCollinsCanada)hasbeenboughtbyMarti,Turkey,itsseventhterritory.TheCurseof

theDreamWitch(ScholasticCanada)isinfinalnegotiationswithStabenfeldt,Sweden,itsfifthterritory.Leslie’sJournal(AnnickPress)waspublishedinthefallbyMilan/Bayard,France,itssixthterritory.AndChanda’sSecrets(AnnickPress)hasjustcomeoutinanewTaiwaneseeditionfromHsiaoLuPublishing,itsnineteenthterritory.Hisnewnovel,TheWayBackHome(ScholasticCanada,AndersenPress,UK),willbepublishedinMay.

FRIEDAWISHINSKYandELIZABETHMACLEOD’sbookColossalCanada:100EpicFactsandFeats(ScholasticCanada)hasbeenselectedasoneofthe“RecommendedReads”fortheTDSummerReadingClubin2017.

KarenKrossing,ElizabethMacLeod,FriedaWishinsky

atTDGala

Theclubinvolvesmorethan2,000librariesand650,000readersacrossthecountry.Nextyear’sreadinglististhefirsttimeallthebooksonthelistwillbeCanadian,tocelebrateCanada’s150thbirthday.

MANITOBA, SASKATCHEWAN, ALBERTAWelcometonewFriends:OlatundeAboaba,Regina;AmandaConnolly,Calgary;DeidreDHavrelock,Lethbridge;andLeslieVermeer,Edmonton.

JOANMARIEGALATlaunchedhernewesttitle,DottoDotintheSky,StoriesoftheAurora(WhitecapBooks)attheTelusWorldofScience

inEdmontononDecember3.Sheliterally“launched”thebookinarocket!Theeventincludedareadingandsigning,aswellasentertainment,anastronautimpersonator,familyactivitiesanddoorprizes.JoanlivesinParklandCounty,nearEdmonton.

SIMONROSE’slatestbookofferingadviceandtipsforbothaspiringandestablishedwritersisnowavailable.TheTimeTraveler’sGuide(Sorcerer’sLetterboxPublishing)examinesthewritingoftimetravelstoriesandhistoricalfiction.Booksalwaystransportustootherplaces,especiallystoriesinvolvingtimetravelorthosesetindifferenthistoricaleras.Thebookexaminesthedefinitionoftimetravelandhistoricalfiction,thecreationoftimemachines,methodsanddevices,selectinghistoricalerasandsettings,andcreatingcharactersandcraftingdialogue.Thebookalsoexplorescommonissueswithtimetravelstoriesandtheimportanceofresearch,plausibility,descriptionandplot,alongwithwritingabouttimetravelintothefuture,alternatehistoryandparalleluniverses.TheTimeTraveler’s

Guideisanexcellentresourceforthosewritingtimetravelorhistoricalfictionstoriesforbothchildrenandadults.SimonlivesinCalgary.

KRISTINESCARROW’ssecondyoungadultnovelIfThisIsHome(DundurnPress)willbereleasedJanuary28.Thebookfollows16-year-oldJaycewhosearchesforherestrangedfatheraftershelearnsthathermomhasterminalcancer.Kristineteacheswritingasahealingartandisthewriter-in-residenceatSt.Paul’sHospitalinSaskatoon.ShealsowroteThrowawayGirl(DundurnPress).KristinelivesinSaskatoon.

JUDITHSILVERTHORNE’sbookConvictions(CoteauBooks)recentlywontheGoldMoonbeamChildren’sBookAwardforYoungAdultFiction—Historical/Cultural.Judithwasalsoshortlistedfor

twoHighPlainsBookAwardsforherEnglish/Creebook,HonouringtheBuffalo(YourNickel’sWorthPublishing).ShehasbeenselectedtoparticipateintheTDCanadianChildren’sBookWeekTourfromMay6to13,2017.JudithlivesinRegina.

BRITISH COLUMBIAWelcometonewFriend:TrinaWiebe,Invermere.

NORMACHARLES’latestnovelLastChanceIsland(Ronsdale)isreportedtobeatopsellerinthefallissueofBCBookWorld.NormaalsowrotetosaythatJamesHeneghan(Vancouver)recentlywonthe2017PhoenixAwardfromtheChildren’sLiteratureAssociationforhisbookWishMeLuck(FarrarStrausGiroux).FewCanadianshavewonthisaward—MONICAHUGHESwonitin2000forKeeperoftheIsisLight(Aladdin).NormalivesinVancouver.

CLAIREEAMERhastwonewbookscomingoutthisspring.WhataWaste!WhereDoes

GarbageGo?(AnnickPress)isdueoutMarch14.Claire’sfirstpicturebook,UnderneaththeSidewalk(ScholasticCanada),isillustratedbyThomasGibaultandwillbereleasedFebruary28.ClairelivesonGabriolaIsland.

DEBORAHHODGEisthrilledandverygratefultohaveWestCoastWild:ANatureAlphabet(GroundwoodBooks)recognizedasthewinnerfortheInformationBookAwardfromtheChildren’sLiteratureRoundtablesofCanada.

Shesharesthishonourwithhermarvellousco-creator,KARENRECZUCH,whosegorgeousillustrationsbringthebooktolife.Theyweredelightedtobeinthecompanyofsomanywonderfulbooksonthisyear’sshortlistandsendcongratulationstoall!West

CoastWildhasalsobeenshortlistedfortheSilverBirchExpressAwardandtheChocolateLilyAward.Inaddition,itwasselectedastheFeaturedBookforVancouverSchools,bytheVancouverElementaryPrincipalsandVicePrincipalsAssociation.DeborahandKarenlookforwardtovisitingOntarioinMayfortheSilverBirchfestivities!DeborahlivesinVancouverandKarenlivesinKelowna.

JULIELAWSONhassignedacontractwithNimbusPublishingforayoungadultnovelsetduringtheHalifaxExplosion.ThestorytakesadifferentapproachthanthatofJulie’s“DearCanada”bookonthesubject,NoSafeHarbour

(ScholasticCanada).Hernewbookwillbeoutintimeforthecentenaryofthe1917disaster.Tocelebratetheupcoming25thanniversaryofJulieLawson’sfirstyoungadultnovel,White

JadeTiger,DundurnPress(theoriginalpublisher)ispublishinganewedition—completewithadramaticnewcover.WhiteJade

TigerwontheSheilaAEgoffAwardandisaCLAHonourBook.Itwasalsoarunner-upfortheSilverBirchAward.JulielivesinVictoria.

ANNEPATTONishonouredtohavehermiddlegradenovelThroughFloodandFire(CoteauBooks)nominatedfortheChocolateLilyAward.Thisisareaders’choiceawardforauthorsandillustratorsresidinginBritishColumbia.Anne’snovelrelatesthemisadventuresofafamilyofBarrColonists

seekingahomesteadontheCanadianprairiein1093.AnnelivesinVictoria.

GILLIANRICHARDSON’Snonfictionbook10ShipsThatRockedthe

World(AnnickPress)isafinalistforthe2017OLAGoldenOakAward.Herthirdtitleinthe“WorldofTens”series,10RoutesThatCrossedtheWorld

(AnnickPress),willbereleasedinApril2017.GillianlivesinBlindBay.

MARGRIETRUURS’snewestbook,SteppingStones,ARefugeeFamily’sJourney(OrcaBooks),waslaunchedinVictoriaandreachedthebestsellerlistbytheendofOctober.MargrietrecentlysharedthebookatinternationalschoolsinQatarandSaudiArabia.Thebookisavailabletoschoolsandorganizationsasafundraiserforrefugeecauses.InJuly2017MargrietwillbeonthefacultyoftheOregonCoastChildren’sBookWritersWorkshopinOceanside,Oregon.Gotowww.occbww.orgtofindoutmore.MargrietlivesonSaltSpringIsland.

JOCELYNSHIPLEY’snewnovelShatterproofforreluctantreadersages10to14,isnowavailableinthe“Currents”series.Oneofherstorieswasshortlistedforthe2016SurreyInternationalWriters’ConferenceStoryteller’sAwardandheryoungadultnovelImpossible(bothOrca)willbepublishedinthe“Soundings”seriesinspring2018.JocelynlivesinTorontoandonVancouverIsland.

IRENEN.WATTShaspublishedanewgraphicnovel,SeekingRefuge(TradewindBooks),illustratedbyKathrynE.Shoemaker.Atwelve-year-oldrefugeeleavesherparentsandcountryofbirthtofindsafetyinBritain.Butsafetydoesnotmakeupforherlonelinessamongst

strangers,whoselanguageandcustomsshefindsdifficulttounderstand.Herfirstyearduringatimeofwarmakesseparationfromfamilydoublypoignant.ThebookisacompanionpieceforWattsandShoemaker’sfirstgraphicnovel,Good-ByeMarianne(TundraBooks).IrenelivesinVancouver.

INTERNATIONALWelcometonewFriend:LindaMauro,Bolton,MA,USA.

GORDONKORMAN’s89thbook(“Canyoubelievethatnumber?”asksGordon)wasreleasedattheendofSeptember.Jingleistheeighthbookinthe“Swindle”seriesandisaChristmas/Hannukahstorywith“good,old”Luthoronthecover.AlsonewisSlacker(bothScholasticInc.),aboutavideo-game-addictedcouchpotatowhoisinterestedinnothingandendsupatthecenterofeverything.GordonlivesinGreatNeck,NewYork.

NOTE:MemberscanbeemailedviatheformontheirCANSCAIPwebpage.WenolongerincludecontactinformationintheNEWS.

TheFourthAnnualCLAIREMACKAYMemorialLectureIn2013CANSCAIPrenamedourPackagingYour

Imaginationkeynoteaddressinhonourofourco-

founderClaireMackay.Asanongoingandconstant

reminderofthestrongvisionClairehadfor

CANSCAIPasanorganizationofsupportand

outreach,wedecidedthatthememoriallecture

wouldbeprintedinournewsletteraswellas

deliveredatPYI.

Bookmarks from a Life in PublishingByDavidBooth

EnteringtheWorldofChildren’sBooks(OnlineandInPrint)Thistalkisaboutmyjourneythroughtheworldofbooksforchildren,frombirththroughtheteen-ageyearstothechildthathidesinallofus.Thisincludesmypersonalreadingpast,myson’sbookyears,mygrandchildren’stexts,andmysixtyyearsindifferentCanadianschools,fromprimarygradestograduatestudents.Perhapsmystorywilljogyourmemory,energizeyou,ornudgeyoutowardother,bettergoals.

Iwasareaderfromtheageoffiveyearson,resourcedbytheSarniaPublicLibrary,andmonitoredbymymother.FirstGradewastheépoqueofDickandJane.Ingradefour,IreadalloftheAndrewLangcollectionsoffairytales.Ingradefive,everyoneintheclassreadthesametext,TheTreasuryReaders,republishedinthe14ÖÜeditionin1946,butIseemedtobetheonlyonewhoenjoyedit.ThestoriesweregenerallyfromBritishwriters,withapoemortwobyCanadianwriterslikeBlissCarmenandArchibaldLampman.Initsdefence,therewasafinalsectioncalled“CanadaOurHomeland”,whichincludedapiecebyRudyardKipling,andendedwith“TheAthenianYouths’Pledge”.Highschoolfollowedthetraditionalmodel:onenovel(PresterJohn),oneplayby

Shakespeare(RomeoandJuliet),oneshortstoryanthology(British)andpoems(classicalBritishpoets).Suchwasmyhistoryofbooksforchildreninschool.However,athome,ErnestThomasSeton’sAnimalStories,TheSwiss

FamilyRobinson,RobinsonCrusoe,TheManin

theIronMask,andothersfilledmyimaginativelifewithwordsandstructuresandstoriesthatstillresonatetoday.AndImustn’tleaveoutcomicbooks,whichwereweekendtreatsthattodayarebigboffofilms.MyparentsbelongedtotheBookoftheMonthClub,soIhadaccesstoSomersetMaugham,ErnestHemingway,andevenMickeySpillane.

IreadtheTorontoTelegramnewspaperthoroughlyeveryday,andwasaradiodevotee.Aswell,therearethestoriesandhymnsfromanAnglicanchurchpast.Theserepresentmybackpackofliteratureandliteracyfroma

childhoodspentinthehomeandschoolsofsmalltownsinOntario.Iamwonderingaboutthecontentsofthebookbackpacksoftoday’schildren,andyourrolesindecidingwhatresourcescouldfillthem.Infiftyyears,whatwilltheyremember?Whatsharedbookmemorieswillbringbacklaughterortears?Whatwill“Canadian”mean?Whatwillmatter?Whateffectwillyouhave?Andwhatisinyourbackpacksthatwilladdrichnesstoyourwritingandtothelivesofourchildren?

IamintheRobinsGroupIbeganteachinginHamiltonin1958whenJohnDiefenbakerwasPrimeMinisterofCanadaandEisenhowerpresidentoftheUS.Ihad45gradefivestudentsinmyclassroomandearlyinSeptembertheconsultantarrivedwith45textbooks.Iwastobethepilotteacherforthree-groupreading.Thestudentswouldbedividedintothreeabilitygroups,andeachstudentwouldhaveareaderchosenforthegroup.ThelimitedreadersreadYoungCanadaReads,thetopgroupreadProudProcessions,andthemiddlegroupreadGayAdventurers.Luckily,thenumberofstudentsateachlevelseemedtomatchthenumberofbooks.

Sincewehadnoschoollibrary,howfortunatewasIwhenWalterraisedhishandandsaid,“Whydon’twegotothepubliclibraryandgetsomerealbooks?”Andsowedid.Thatday.AndthekindlibrarianatthesmallneighbourhoodKenilworthLibraryletustakeoutasmanybooksaswewanted.Backintheclassroom,wefilledthebookshelveswiththesetreasures,andmylifechanged.Thechildrenbeganreadingandwritingaboutanddiscussingthesemagictexts,filledwithstoriesandinformationwrittenbyauthorslikeyou.Wetrottedbacktothelibraryeveryotherweekfornewresources,andstudentslearnedtoselectthetextstheycouldhandle,andthetextstheywanted.Igrewintobeingareadingteacheralongside45studentswholearnedtobereaders,andloandbehold,wewereatthe

forefrontofanotherliteracymovement.Theserealbookswouldlivealongsideschoolanthologiesforthenexttwodecades.

PublishorPerishAsauniversityprofessor,thedemandtopublishresearcharticlesisunrelenting.However,Iwastaughtbythebesttoworkunderground,towriteforteachersinsuchawayastohaveyourworkread.Andsomycareerinpublishingisschool-centred,classroom-basedresearch,withwritingsanddialoguesbyrealteachersandrealstudents.ButthegoodluckthatfollowedmewasthetransitionImadetodevelopingtextsfortheclassroomthathadtheringofresearcharoundthem.Schoolanthologies,stillrelevantintheseventiesandeighties,meantIcouldwriteandselectstories,poemsandinformationarticlesforstudentsundertheumbrellaofapprovedtextsforschooluse.Since30%ofthecontentshadtobeCanadian,Iimmersedmyselfindiscoveringourcountry’swriters,illustratorsandpoets,andfoundsuchexcellentselectionstosharewithchildreninschools.Incorporatingliteraturebyrealauthorsintoclassroomreaderspanickedsomeparents,especiallyintheStates.Authenticstoriestoldofsingleparents,troubledchildren,minoritycharacters,complexlifecircumstances-thehallmarkoftradebooks,andthecensoringofschooltexts,(whichIlivedthrough),andwhichstillcausessomepublisherstoweakentheirstoriesfromfearofattack.Theseanthologieshadlimitations,ofcourse,butsharedtextsfilledwithqualityselections,followedbyhonestdiscussion,havecertainbenefits,especiallywhenbalancedwithtradebooksandread-alouds.Literacycouldflourishhere.

ControlledVocabularyforUncontrollableStudentsDrivenbyassessmentneeds,guidedreadingprogramsweredevelopedusingverycontrolled,levelledtexts,originallyforstudents

ingradeonewhowerenotyetreadingatanappropriatelevel,butquicklybecamethemodusoperandiforprimary/juniorstudents.Achildcouldmoveupalevelwhendeemedproficientwiththeleveljustcompleted.Ofcourse,hundredsofleveledbookswereneededtoresourcethisprogram,andnowthesedominatetheschoolpublishingworld.Theyareusuallywrittenin-house,andfollowatightformulaforprogressingthroughthelevels.TherearefewifanyanthologiesorgradereadersusednowinCanada;instead,levelledbooksarebundledingroupsoffiveorsixforclassroomuse.TheyreallyfollowthelanguagepatternofDickandJanereaders,butthecontentiscontemporary,andoftenincludesissuesandthemesfrompopularculture.Butwordcontroldoesnotnecessarilydeterminequalityoftext.However,manychildrenlearnedtoreadwithauthorslikeArnoldLobel,whoseToadandFrogbookscontainedaverysmallnumberofwords,orBillMartinJr’sBrownBear,BrownBear.AndCanadahasmanyfinebooks,likeKathyStinson’sRedIsBest,orJonKlassen’sIWantMyHatBack,usingfewwordsandbigideastoentertainandeducateyoungreaders.IcouldteachmostyoungchildrentoreadjustwithDenisLee’spoems.

Whilelevelledtextscansupportyoungreaderswhoaremakingtheirwayintoprint,weneedtocontinueexpandingtheirliteracyliveswithbookswereadaloudtothem,bookswheretheycanjoininorreadalong,informationbooksthatexpandtheirknowledgebase,songsandpoemsaccompaniedbyprintedtext,andstoriestheylistento,remember,andreadbythemselves.

MeetingBooksFacetoFaceFrommyearlyteachingyears,weeitherhadschoollibrariesorthebookmobilesupplyingbooksforstudentstoselect,andperhapsafewmomentsonFridaytoreadtheminschool.Butinthelatesixties,independentorindividualizedreadingprogramshelpedmove

authentictextsintoclassroomteachingandlearning.Itwasatoughsell;manyteacherspreferredthestandardizedgradeanthology-theReader-ratherthancopingwith30differentbookswithoutinstructionalmanualsfortheteacher.Wehadtosetuporganizationalpatternsforbookselection,teachstudentsappropriatewaystoselectabook,inventfollow-upactivitiesforcomprehension,andworryabouthowwewouldassesstheirreadingprogress,nevermindkeepingsomeclassroomorder.Butthisnewmethodologygaverisetothepaperbackpublishingindustry,andtoanopeningforCanadianauthors.Schoollibrariansbecametheliteratureexpertsthatweneededtohelpusdevelopresourcesandstructuresforrunningaprogramfocusedonactualbookswrittenbyrealauthorstobereadinschooltime.Librariansbegantoinviteauthorsintotheschool,andin-serviceprogramsforteachersfeaturedauthorsandillustratorsasguestpresenters.TheChildren’sBookStoreunderJudySarick’swiseguidancebroughtdozensofauthorstoSaturdaysessionsforteachersandchildren;teachercollegesofferedcurriculumcoursesinchildren’sliterature;YAnovelsplayedaprominentroleinolderstudents’readinglives;mediaincludedauthorsandeducatorstalkingaboutbooksforyoungpeople(IspentayearonPeterGzowski’sCBCradiopaneldiscussingchildren’sbooks).

Myeight-year-oldgranddaughter,Mara,isaHarryPotterfan.Hermotherreadeachonetoher,“underthecovers”,asshesays.ThenMarareadeachoneonherown.Thissummer,Iboughtherthelatestoneintheformofascript,HarryPotterandtheCursedChild.Shereadtheintroductionwhilewaitinginline,andshoutedout,“Ohmygod,he’s28yearsoldnow!He’smarried!Hehasthreechildren!Canyoubelieveit?”

Readingaloudtostudentshasalwaysbeenapartofaneffectiveteacher’sprogram,butwiththeexplosionofCanadianpicturebooks,poetryandfolktalecollections,classroomread-

aloudeventsbecamealmostthenorm,withRobertMunschleadingtheway.Childrenbegantorecognizeauthors’orillustrators’stylesfromexperiencingseveralbooksinaseries.Authors’websitesopenedupvirtualinteractionswithauthorsinternationally.HurrayforDavidBouchardandhisbeautifulbookscelebratingIndigenousPeople.FortenyearsIwaspartofagroupofeducatorswhopresentedweek-longcoursesonchildren’sliteratureatdifferentuniversitiesintheUnitedStates,andourresidentauthorswereStevenKelloggandGordonKorman.

Middle-yearsstudentsareoftenusingnovelsornon-fictionasreadingresources,buthavingthewholeclassreadingthesametextisnolongerfavouredbymostschooldistricts.Inthelastfewyears,literaturecircles,orbookclubs,havedominatedreadingprograms,wheresmallgroupsofstudentsreadanddiscussanoveltheyhaveselectedfromalargebankofbooks,andthroughtheirinteractiveconversations,theycometobetterunderstandtheissuesandcharactersinsidethesharednoveleachgroupisreading.Ihaveobservedtrulyauthenticdiscussionsinstudent-ledbookgroupsaroundTheBreadwinner,orSilverwing,orTheSkyIsFalling.

Independentreadingstillthrivesinmanyclassrooms.Thusthemarketfortradebooksforstudentsintheseyearsisexpandingdaily.ProgramssuchasTheForestofReadingmotivatethousandsofstudentsintoreadingCanadianbooksfromthesuggestedlists.Butthestruggletomaintainschool(andpublic)librariesisneverending.Hurrayforauthors,illustrators,librarians,teachers,andpublisherswhocontinuetoenrichchildren’sliterarylives.

ReadingScreensAssomeonesaid,“Youcantypetheletter“o”,butwhenyouwritean“o”,yousenseroundness.Buttechnologyisubiquitous,andIwritethistalkonaMac.Someofuswillalwayswanttoholdabookoramagazineoranewspaper

whenweread;othersappreciatetheeaseandflexibilityofane-text.ForyoungchildrenwhomayplaywithaniPad,moststillenjoythecomfortoftheirownbookversions,andIcomparethatexperiencetotheneedforaTeddyBearora“blankie”.Tactilesensesmattersomeofthetime—thepaper,thefont,themargins,thewhitespace.ButIamnowconcernedwithwhatisonthescreenorthepage,alongwiththestudent’sresponse.

Afewyearsago,aspartofaresearchproject,Iwasworkingwithagradesevenall-boysclassinTimmins,Ontario,whowerebeingintroducedtotheexcitementofanexperimentalclasssetofiPads.Ihadpaidpermissionfeesforsixnovelstobereadonscreen,andtheprojectchairhadchosenTheHungerGames,ayearbeforethemediablitz,asoneofthechoices.Ihadimaginedtheboyschoosinganonscreennovelfromtheselection,buttheyallaskedtoreadTheHungerGames,andsoweproceeded.Afteroneweek,theprincipaltoldmethathehadbegunreceivingcallsfromparentsaskingwhytheschoolhadorderedthestudentstobuythenexttwobooksintheseries.Itseemedtheboyshadfullyenteredthisdystopianadventureworld,andthosenovels,onscreenandinprint,hadbecomethedrivingforceintheirliteracylives.Wecouldn’tstopthemreading.

WritingforRealAstheyearspassed,Ibeganwritingandeditingmyownbooks,supportedbytherichliteraturedietofbooksforchildrenthatIhaddiscoveredinCanada.KidsCanPresshelpedmetodevelop‘TilAlltheStarsHaveFallen,acollectionofCanadianpoemsforchildrenillustratedbyKadyMacDonaldDenton,followedbyDr.KnickerbockerillustratedbyMaryannKovalski,andTheDustBowlillustratedbyKarenReczuch.Myappreciationofthisartformgrewexponentiallywiththerealizationoftheworkthatgoesintocreatingthemiracleofthe32-pagepicturebook.Iam

heretodaybecauseofmyeditorsonallmyprojects.Learntoloveyoureditors;theironlygoalistomakeyourworkbetter.SharonJennings,StanleySkinner,KateRevington,WendyCochran,TerriCarleton,DavidKilgourandadozenmorearemyfriendsforlife.Abook,likeamovie,isacollaborativeeffort.Irespectalloftheteamthatliftsmywriting.Iamsofortunatetohavestumbledintopublisherswhohelpedmecarveanicheformywork—StanlySkinner,MaryMacchiusi,WendyCochran,PatLashmar,MaggieGoh.IwascrossingthebordertotheStatesrecently,whenthecustomsofficeraskedmewhatIdidforaliving,andIrepliedthatIwasaliteracyteacher.Hesaid,“What’sthat?”IexplainedthatItaughtteachersaboutteachingreading.Heshouted,“Reading!That’sonlyforrichpeople!”Butweknowabiggertruth:thatreadingisapassporttoabetterworldforeveryone,onscreen,onpaper,andsometimes,onwalls.

HowPoetrySurvivesisaMiracleIrememberbeingatalunchthirtyorsoyearsagowiththreeBritisheducationalauthoritieswhowerenearingretirement.Toaperson,theyrevealedthatalltheywantedtodointheirremainingdaysinschoolswastoreadpoemstochildren.TheywerecaughtbythepowerofthefewwordscalledapoemthatexpandandexplodelikeJack’smagicbeans,andnowIaminasimilarplace.Ifindmyselfinsidethepoetrycupboard,withsomuchtoshare,andsolittletime.Manynovelsforyoungpeoplearebeingwritteninfreeverse,andthisblendingofmodesoffersadifferentwayofreading,wherecadenceandlinelengthandshapepresentnewopportunitiesforthenarrativetograbtheemotions.CarolinePignat’sEggheadisabeautifulexampleofafreeversenovel.WhenJeanLittlebroughthershoeboxfilledwiththepoemsshehadwrittenovertheyears,toseeiftheywereworthpublishing,IshowedthemtoKidsCanPressandJeanpublishedherbookHeyWorld,HereIAm!Saveyourworkinashoe

boxoracarton.Idid,andusedmanyofthepoemsfrommycollectioninHeadtoToe

Spaghetti!Revisitit.Repurposeit.Rejoiceinthememoriesofcreating!

TheCouragetoCreateAlmostthirtyyearsago,IhadthegoodfortuneofdevelopingthebookWritersonWriting,aguidetowritingandillustratingchildren’sbooks,withcontributionsatthetimebythewho’swhoofCanadianwriters,illustrators,publishersandeditors—TedHarrison,IanWallace,JeanLittle,JanetLunn,MonicaHughes,ValerieHussey,KathyLowinger,justtonameafew.AndthisCANSCAIPconferencetodaycarriesonthemandateforsupportingandencouragingallofustocontinuethestruggleforcreatingaheritageforourchildren,forofferingthemwordsandideasandvisualsandsongsthatembodythebestofourdreamsfortheirfutures,forenrichingtheirimaginations,theirglobalunderstandings,theirappreciationofwrittenandvisualart,theirpoweraslanguageusersandlanguagemakers,theirconnectionstoourcountry,theirsenseofbecomingaliterateandcaringcitizenry.Allofyouheretodaymattertoourchildren,toourparents,toourschools,toourcountry.

DAVIDBOOTHisarenownededucatoratthe

OntarioInstituteforStudiesinEducation

(OISE)attheUniversityofToronto,anda

programconsultantforScholastic’sTimeline

graphicnovelseries.Heistheauthorofbooks

foreducatorsandparents,aswellasmany

award-winningbooksforchildren,including

TheDustBowl(illustratedbyKarenReczuch)and‘TilAlltheStarsHaveFallen(illustratedbyKadyMacDonaldDenton),bothpublishedby

KidsCanPress.

LamppostsLightingUpLiteracy:Vancouver’sREADINGLIGHTSProjectByNormaCharles

Walkafour-year-oldalonganystreetandlistentothemreadthesigns:STOP,DANGER.And,asweallknow,theycanpickoutMcDonald`sgoldenarchesfromblocksaway.ItwasthispredilectionkidshaveforreadingtheirsurroundingsthatgaveViHugheshermarvellousidea.Whynotfilltheirenvironmentswithkid-friendlysignsandreadingopportunities?

ViHughesisaneducatorfromwayback,aformerelementaryschoolprincipal,andtheauthorofseveralpicturebooks.Hermissionisearlyliteracy.She’spassionateaboutkidslearningtoread.Sheknowsthatoncechildrenhavelearnedtoread,theworldofbookswillbetheiroyster.Andwhatbetterwayistheretodothisthanwithkids’books?Especiallykids’bookswrittenandillustratedbylocalauthorsandillustrators.

Energizedbyhermarvellousidea,shewenttothemostnaturalplace,thelocalbook-peddler,alsoknownastheVancouverPublicLibrary.Howwouldtheyfeel,sheasked,aboutplacingsomeprintforchildrenintopublicspaces?Asithappened,thelibrarywasjustcompletingaprojectcalledLiteraryLandmarksthatplacesplaquesaroundthecitytoshowwherefamousCanadianauthorshaveworkedandlived.SandraSingh,ChiefLibrarian,suggestedsomethinglikethiscouldbetriedforyoungchildren.Andvoila!TheReadingLightsprojectwasborn.

Picturethis!Durablemetalplaques,7inchesby24inches(18cm.by61cm.),areinstalledonlamppoststhroughoutthecity.

EachplaqueisimprintedwithacolourfulillustrationandanexcerptfromaBCkids’book.Theplaqueslooklikeapagefromthebook.There’salsoinformationaboutcheckingoutthebookfromthelibraryorevenpurchasingitfromyourlocalbookseller.Soaskidswalkalongthestreet,searchingtheirsurroundingsaskidsdo,oneofthethingsthey

seeareinvitationstoreadgoodbooks!ThisjointprojectbetweentheVancouverPublicLibraryandCWILLBC(Children’sWritersandIllustratorsofBC)celebratesBCauthoredandillustratedkidsbooksaswellasprovidingchildrenwithexcellentreadingmaterialonthestreets.It’saprojectotherlibraryboardsmaywellwishtoemulate.Lastyear,in2015,20picturebookswerechosentobedisplayed.“Adifficultchoice,”Visays,sincetherewerealmost

100submissions.ThefirstsetofReadingLightswaslaunchedinJanuary,2016.Theselectedtitlesandamapofwheretheplaquesareinstalledcanbefoundonthelibrarywebsite,www.vpl.ca/ReadingLights.

Thisyear,20moretitleshavebeenchosen,thistimetoincludelongerpicturebooksandalsoearlychapterbooks.Infutureyears,moretitleswillbechosentoincludeavarietyofbooksforchildrensothat,eventually,theplaquesthroughoutthecitywillreflectthereadingandinterestlevelsofyoungchildren.Thecityandparksboardhavegivenpermissiontoinstalltheplaquesonlamppostsnearparks,schools,playgrounds,libraries,andbeaches–venueswherefamiliesoftencongregate.

Familiescanvisittheplaques,butit`salsohopedthatteacherswillorganizemini-fieldtripstoviewclose-byplaqueswiththeirstudents.Whentheyreturntotheirclassroom,

theycanfindmoreinformationaboutthebook,anditsauthorandillustratoraswell.Thishasalreadyhappenedmanytimes.Forexample,afteraserendipitoussightingoftheplaquecelebratingthebookHowtoBuildYour

OwnCountrybyValerieWyatt,illustratedbyKarenFredericks,ateacherandherexcitedclasswentontodiscovermoreaboutthebookanditscontents.

Tofundtheproject,donationshavebeenmadefrommembersofthepublic,aswellasfrominterestedorganizationssuchasCWILLBCandVancouverChildren’sLiteratureRoundtable.

Thisisaprojectwhereeveryonewins:it’sexcellentPRforthePublicLibrary;localauthors,illustrators,andpublishershavetheirbookspubliclydisplayedandcelebrated;andbooksellerswillsellmorelocalbooks.ButtherealwinnersoftheReadingLightsprojectarekidswhoarelearningtoread,andwillbeableseetheirownworldreflectedinthewonderfulplaques.

ThanksVi!Thanksonbehalfofauthorsandillustratorsandpublishersandbooksellers.Andthanks,especially,onbehalfofkidswhoareonthemomentousjourneytobecomingreadersandplungingintotheexhilaratingworldofbooks.

FormoreinformationaboutVancouver’sReadingLightsprojectcheckoutthelibrarywebsite.www.vpl.ca/Readinglights.AndyoumightwanttothinkaboutstartingaReadingLightsprojectinyourneighbourhood.

NORMACHARLES

isaformerteacher/

librarianandthe

authorofmany

booksforchildren.

ThelatestisLastChanceIsland,justoutwithRonsdale.

Changing the WorldA“WelcomeNeighbours”EventByLisaDalrymple

NeverdoubtthatasmallgroupofconcernedCANSCAIPerscanchangetheworld.OnSeptember17ÖÜ2016,ninechildren’sauthorsfromtheGuelphandCentreWellingtonareacametogetherwithrepresentativesoftheUpperGrandDistrictSchoolBoard(UGDSB),politicaldignitariesandfamilyliaisongroupstowelcometoCanadanewcomersfromSyria.

The“WelcomeNeighbours”eventwasanideaconceivedbyEricWalterswhobeganplanninginMarchof2016duringavisitwithGuelphMP,LloydLongfield.Theydiscussedthefactthatapproximately30SyrianrefugeefamilieshadalreadyarrivedinGuelphandthatthecommunitywasexpectinganother60bytheendoftheyear.Ericwantedlocalchildren’swriterstoworkwiththecitytoextendaspecialwelcometoitsnewestresidentsanditdidn’ttakelongbeforealargenumberofother“kind,caring,compassionatepeople”becameinvolved.

BonnieTalbot,theUGDSB’sSuperintendentofEducation,wasanenthusiasticpartnerincoordinatingtheeventheldatWestwoodPublicSchoolsixmonthslater.OrcaBook

Backrow:WernerZimmermann,EricWalters(centre),

LisaDalrymple,KiraVermond,JanetWilson;Middlerow:

KathyStinson(leftofcentre),JoEllenBogart(onright);

Frontrow:RobertMunsch(kneeling);Missing:JeanLittle.

PhotobyHeatherLoney,UGDSB

PublishersexpeditedthereleaseofMargrietRuurs’bookSteppingStones:ARefugeeFamily’sJourney,inspiredandillustratedbySyrianartistNizarAliBadr’sevocativestoneartwork.Theearlyreleaseenabledthepublishertoshipout100copiesofthebooktobegivenasameaningfulgifttoeachfamilyandpresenterattheevent.

ManymorebooksweredonatedbytheOntarioLibraryAssociationandthepublishersoftheattendingauthorssuchasAnnickPress,CreativeBookPublishing,Owlkids,PenguinRandomHouseandScholastic.FirstBookCanadadonatedover600bookswhileTDBankpaidforthecostofdeliveringsuchaheavyshipment.RobertMunscharrivedwithArabictranslationsofsomeofhisbest-lovedworkswhichdelightedallthechildren—andmanyoftheadults—inattendance.Over1000bookswerecontributedintotalandeachchildreceivedaliterarylootbagtotakehome—acollectionofbooksselectedspecificallyfortheiragegroup.

Atthebeginningoftheevent,presenterstookplaceatthefrontoftheroomalongwith

translatorMotazNassifandNaiaAlkhaledi,ahighschoolstudentinaheadscarfadornedwithredmapleleaves.CANSCAIPersEricWalters,RobertMunsch,JeanLittle,KathyStinson,JoEllenBogart,WernerZimmermann,JanetWilson,KiraVermondandLisaDalrymple,alongwithotherpresenterssuchasschoolboardtrusteesandpoliticaldignitariesLloydLongfield(MPGuelph),LizSandals(MPPGuelph),andTedArnott(MPPWellington-HaltonHills)eachreadapageofSteppingStones.TheArabictranslations,writtenbyFalahRaheem,werethenreadfromthebookbyNaia.

Thewelcomeintheschoolauditoriumwasheartfeltandappreciatedespeciallywhenthechildrensurprisedthereaderswiththeirownspecialthankyougift.TheygatheredandsangaMiddleEasternsong,“GiveUsaChance,”whichtheyadmirablyaccomplishedinArabic,EnglishandFrench.

ThemutualcaringandthanksdidnotendonthatSaturdayinSeptember.Theripplethiseventhascreatedremainsevident.ThesaleofSteppingStonescontinuestoraisefundsforSyrianrefugees(www.steppingstonesthebook.com);theUGDSBispromotingthebook,withOrcaBookPublisherscontributing$10tolocalresettlementagenciesinGuelphforeachcopysoldthroughtheboardwebsite(www.ugdsb.on.ca/community/article.aspx?id=68406);andonNovember9ÖÜ,whenDufferinCountyheldawelcomedinnerforanothergroupofnewly-arrivedSyrianfamilies,KiraVermondandLisaDalrympleattendedandagainreadtoagatheringofengagingandinquisitiveyoungnewcomers.

Ofcourse,weshouldneverdoubtthatasmallgroupofconcernedwriterscanchangetheworld.Whentheystandhand-in-handwithchildrenandtheircommunities,isthereeveranyquestion?

LISADALRYMPLEis

theauthorofseveral

fictionandnon-

fictionbooksfor

childrenincluding

SkinkontheBrink,AMooseGoesA-Mummering,andBetheChangeintheWorld.HerfirstnovelJungleJittersisduetobereleasedbyOrcaBookPublishersinthe

springof2017.

PACKAGINGYOURPERSEVERANCE“WriterintheWorks”byTiffanyShort

November19ÖÜmarkedthe32ⁿÑannualPackagingYourImaginationconference,andmyfirsttimeattending.ThisoneexcitingdaysummedupformeallthewaysI’dbeenlearningtobeawriter.

Backinthe1990s,whenSylviaMcNicollgaveapresentationatmyschool,Iwasn’toneofthestudentschosentoattend;Ibelievetheteacheronlyofferedtheworkshoptothoseinwhomhesawasparkandapparentlythatwasn’tme.ButIhavealwaysbeenapassionatereader,anddespitethatdisappointment,IdabbledinwritingwithoutbelievingI’deverbepublished.TwodecadeslaterImadethedecisiontostartattendingmylocallibrary’scircleofwriters.Then,withtheencouragementofanauthorfriend,InervouslywroteSylviaMcNicollamessageoverGoodreads.

SylviasuggestedapplyingforthementorshipprogramatCSARN(CanadianSeniorsArtistsResourceNetwork)whichwouldgivemetenmonthsofpersonalcoaching.

IwasimmediatelyacceptedandoverthepastninemonthsSylviaandIhaveworkedonthecraft,discussedtheindustry,andfacilitatedworkshopsviamylocallibrary.Sheprovidedencouragementandsuggestionstoimprovemyshorterworks,aswellasmynovel.

Withincreasedconfidence(thankyouSylviaandCSARN)Ihavestartededitingforlocalwriters,writingshortstoriesandblogposts,andworkingonmyfirstnovel.RecentlySylviaencouragedmetoattendtheCANSCAIPPackagingYourImaginationconferenceattheLiKaShingKnowledgeInstituteinToronto.Itturnedouttobeaninspiringday.

AshleySpiresopenedtheconferencewithakeynotespeechaboutinsecurity.Whatawayto

kickofftheday!Ashleysharedherowndoubtsasacreator,theconstantthreatof“not-good-enoughs”.Shespokeabouthowshepoweredthroughthedoubttocreateworkthat“didn’thavetobegoodenough”,itjusthadtomakeherlaugh.Iamgratefulforsuchcandidness;asanemergingwriter,Isufferfromimpostersyndrome.

AshleySpires,photobyJoyceGrant

WhatresonatedwithmefromLeeEdwardFödi’ssessionwashismessageto“cultivateacreativelifebyengaginginvariousimaginativeactivities”.Personally,Iamtakenwithseveralcreativeoutlets.

Next,IlistenedtoJacquelineGuestdiscussChannellingOurGhosts:CreatingHistoricalFictionforYAReaders.Hersessionprovidedinsightintohowtogetpublished,theinclusionofthefivesensesinwriting,andtheimportanceofpacing.MyinterestineducationwaspiquedwhenJacquelinementionedthatapitchshowinghowone’sworkconnectstocurriculumcanbeofbenefit.Sologicalanduseful.

Atlunch,itwasgreattohavetheopportunitytocheckoutthebooksbythefacilitatorsofthesesessionsattheMabel’sFablessetup.Itwasdifficulttodecidebetweensuchanarrayoftalent,butIsomehowmanaged.Theentanglementofpeoplewaitingtopurchaseworkbytheauthorsrivalledthatofthebathroomandthelunchtables,thenetworkisthatsupportive.ThepeopleofCANSCAIParesoencouraging.Alsoduringthe

hourlunch,TheoHeraspresentedIBBYHansChristianAndersencertificatestoKennethOppelandTeresaToten.Congratulations!

DiverseexperienceswithpublishingwererepresentedattheBreakingInPanel,whichreflectedthemainideathatthereisnoonesolutiontobreakingintotheindustry.Also,thegroupaddressedtheimportanceofbeingpersistent,reiteratingAshleySpires’keeptrying!Theyendedtheirsessionwitheachholdingupasuggestion—“PolishedManuscript”,“TryEverything”,“ReadingandNetworking”,“ResearchandOrganization”.

BreakinginPanel,photobyLenaCoakley

MylastsessionwasNovelRevisionbyAnneLaurelCarter.Shespoketotheimportanceofgettingadraftdown—revisioncan’thappenuntilthedrafthappens.“Thedraftcanbeshitty!”sheassuredus.Justknowingthatcanunblockpeoplewhoaredealingwithdoubt.

Theimpactofthefinalkeynotewaspalpable.DavidBoothusedhumourandemotionaltalestosharehispassionforliteracyandliterature.Hebolsteredtheviewofthelibrary:“It’saboutlife!”Hespokeofthetrendsinschool,theprogressofclassroombooksandthetrajectoryofreading.Heharboursnoresentmentovertechnology,ratherencouragesusto“loveallofit”.DavidBoothwasgivenastandingovationfromeveryoneintheauditorium.Wehonouredhiswords,hisworkandhishopeforthefuture.

PublishingPanelwithPeterCarver,photobyJoyce

IamgratefulforallthepeoplewithwhomIhadtheopportunitytospeak.Thisinadditiontomymentorshipwillhelpmefeelmoreconfidentmovingforwardinmywriting.Ialreadyfeelencouragedtocontinueworkingonmycraft,andnotletthedoubtswin.Therearemanywaystolearnsomethingnew;forme,Iloveallofit.

Editor’sNote:Wantamentor/Wanttomentor?CheckoutCSARN.camentorshipmatch.OrcontactDeborahWindsoratmentors@csarn.ca

To Market, To MarketbyBethPollock

Pleasenote:CANSCAIPdoesnotscreenliteraryagenciesorpublishers.Itisyourresponsibilitytoresearchtheirbusinessreputationsbeforesigningacontract.Reputableagenciesandpublishersdonotchargeforreading,editingorpublishingmanuscripts.

PUBLISHERSHotKeyBooksBonnierZaffreLtd,80-81WimpoleSt,LondonUKW1G9REWebsite:hotkeybooks.comManuscriptsubmissions:HotKeypublishesbooksforteensandYAreaders.Sendyourmanuscriptalongwithafullsynopsistoenquiries@bonnierzaffre.co.uk

FlashlightPress527EmpireBlvd.,Brooklyn,NY11225,USAWebsite:www.flashlightpress.com/Manuscriptsubmissions:FlashlightpublishesonlyPBfiction.Yourmanuscriptshouldtarget4-8year-olds,belessthan1000words,haveauniversaltheme,anddealwithfamilyorsocialsituations.Pleasesubmityourformviatheauthors.melinkonthewebsite:www.flashlightpress.com/submissionguidelines.html.

Illustrationsubmissions:PleasesendyourURLandafewlow-ressamplestoartsubmissions@FlashlightPress.com.

FlyingEyeBooks27WestgateSt,London,E83RLUKWebsite:www.flyingeyebooks.comManuscriptsubmissions:FlingEyeisacceptingPBsof500-1000wordsandnonfictionpiecesupto90pages.Emailsubmissionstopicturbksubs@nobrow.netandincludesynopsisandappropriatecharacterstudies.Illustratorsmustbepreviouslypublished.

Illustrationsubmissions:Sendthreefinishedspreadsandroughsoftheremainderofthems.

AGENTSMelissaNassonRubinPfefferContent:www.rpcontent.comMelissaNassonislookingforPB,MGandYAfictionandnonfiction.Opentoallgenreswithaspecialloveoffantasyandscifi.Enjoysunexpectedsettingsandagoodromanticangle.ForNFNassonwouldlovetoseestoriesthatshedlightonuntoldstoriesfromhistory,particularlyfeaturingmarginalizedpeople.Sendinquiryandfirst50pagesas.docor.pdftoMelissa@rpcontent.com.

TracyMarchiniBookEnds:bookendsliterary.comLookingforPBmaterialthatislaugh-out-loudfunnyordeliciouslydark,andMGandYAmss.Thatfeatureunderdogs,strongfemales,and/orunreliablenarrators.Particularlyinterestedinms.thatpresentdiversityofcharacters.Usesubmissionformatquerymanager.com/query/tmarchini.

KiraWatsonEmmaSweeney:www.emmasweeneyagency.comParticularlyinterestedinYAandMGmss.withstrongnarrativevoice,well-craftedstorylinesandmemorablecharacters.Activelyseekingrealisticfiction,speculativefiction,magicrealism,thriller/mystery,horror,fantasy,andhistoricalfiction.Storieswithfolkloreelements,complexvillians,morallyenigmaticprotagonists,medievalliteraryinfluences,andtaboosubjectsareboundtocatchherattention.Sendquerywithbriefcoverlettersayinghowyoulearnedabouttheagency,previouswritingcredits,andafewlinesaboutyourselftoqueries@emmesweeneyagency.com.Pasteyourfirsttenpagesintothebodyoftheemail.

BUSINESSBRIEFSWRITINGWORKSHOP:ANNELAURELCARTERwillhostpicturebookworkshopsSundayafternoonsstartingJanuary8th.ContactAnneformoredetails:annelaurelcarter@rogers.com.ShewillalsoinstructWritingforChildrenattheUniversityofTorontoSCS(downtown)SaturdaysstartinginApril.Workshopwithotherwritersasyoustudyandacquiretoolstodraftandpolishasuccessfulpicturebook,middlegradeorYAnovel.Checkout:learn.utoronto.ca.Seealsowww.annelaurelcarter.com

BOOKTRAILERS:Bringyourstoriestolifeforyourprospectivereaderswithabooktrailer.VideographerTimClarkwillcreateaprofessional,1to3minutetrailerforastoryinanygenre.WatchhistrailerforTheChoicebyKathyClarkwhichwasnamedvideooftheweekontheOpenBookwebsite.ContactTimattim@studiomograph.com.

ISYOURMACHOLDINGYOUBACK?Ifyou’renotcomfortablewithyourApplecomputer,yourwritingsoftwareandyourfilesystem,you’reprobablywastingvaluablecreativetimeandenergy.RobMorphycanhelpyourelaxandgetwriting.One-on-one,inhome(centralTorontofornow)Appletherapy.Getbacktowork!ContactRobatrsmorphy@gmail.com.

TEDSTAUNTONleadsWritingChildren’sFictioncoursesIandIIthiswinter,TuesdayandThursdayeveningsbeginninginmidJanuary.

ClassesareheldatMabel’sFablesbookstore.WritingIsurveysallgenresofkidlit.WritingIIisaworkshopforexperiencedwriters.ClickthelinksbelowfortheGeorgeBrownCollegeContinuingEdwebsite:https://writing-children-s-fiction-i/orhttps://writing-children-s-fiction-ii/

VISITINGCREATORS:Librariansandteachersinterestedinhavingauthor,illustratorandperformervisitscancheckmembers’pagesontheCANSCAIPwebsiteatwww.canscaip.org.

FREELANCEEDITOR:KathrynCole,formerchildren’sbookpublisheratOxfordUniversityPressandStoddartKids,andmorerecentlyEditorialDirectoratTundraBooks,isnowworkingasafree-lanceconsultantandeditor.Shecanbereachedatkcole21@gmail.com.

MANUSCRIPTEVALUATIONandCOACHING:Writtenafirstdraftandneedfeedback?Needaline-by-lineedit?Completedanoutline,afirstchapterandalastchapter,butdon’tknowwheretogofromthere?Playingwithahalf-writtenmanuscriptthatyou’renotsuremeritsyourcontinuedefforts?Ifyourmanuscriptisaimedatachildorteenaudienceandyou’relookingforsomehonestandpracticalfeedback,SusanHughescanhelp.Getintouchwithheratsusanhughes@sympatico.caorrefertoherwebsiteformoreinformation:www.susanhughes.ca.

SEMINARS:ForinformationaboutPWAC(ProfessionalWritersAssociationofCanada)’s2015-2016seminarsonfreelancewritingseewww.networds.ca.

ReturnUndeliverableCanadianAddressesto:CANSCAIP,720BathurstSt.,Unit503,Toronto,ONM5S2R4416-515-1559

office@canscaip.orgwww.canscaip.org

CANSCAIPNEWSAquarterlybulletinoftheCanadianSocietyofAuthors,IllustratorsandPerformers

LaSociétécanadiennedesauteurs,illustrateursetartistespourenfants

Volume38,No.4–Winter2016/2017

TheCANSCAIPExecutiveELECTEDEXECUTIVEMEMBERSPresident SHARONJENNINGS

VicePresident JenniferMarunoPastPresident BillSwanTreasurer MaureenMcGowanMemberatLarge PatsyMacKinnonFriendatLarge LornaPoplak

APPOINTEDEXECUTIVEMEMBERSRecordingSecretary BevKatzRosenbaumProgramCommittee HeatherCamlot

TheoHerasCatherineRondina

PatriciaStormsIllustrators’Rep HollyMainMembershipCommittee YolandeHirdaramani

HollyMainMichelleNidenoff

ListservManager MarshaSkrypuchSocialMediaCoordinator MelanieFishbanePackagingYourImagination HeatherCamlot

JillianDobsonJoyceGrant

SharonJenningsHollyMain

JenniferMarunoAdministrativeDirector HelenaAalto

CANSCAIPNews

Editor BARBARAGREENWOOD

Contributors DavidBoothNormaCharlesLisaDalrymple

SharonJenningsKarenKrossing

ElizabethMacLeodMoniquePolak

BethPollockScotRitchieTiffanyShort

FrontPageLogoVariation MichaelMartchenkoNewsletterProduction RobMorphy

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