TLA congratulates Michael Arvaaluk Kusugak who is the 2008 recipient of the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children's Literature. Sponsored by the George Cedric Metcalf Foundation and administered by the Writers' Trust, this award is given to the author of a body of work in children's literature that, in the opinion of the judges, demonstrates the highest literary standards. This award was founded in 1963 by Vicky Metcalf, author of Journey Fantastic, with the purpose of stimulating the writing of literature for Canadian children.

The 2008 jurists for the award, Jean Little, Susan Perren and Judith Saltman, describe Michael’s published work spanning two decades, as: 

“A dynamic linking of memory and place defines Inuit children’s author Michael Kusugak’s picture books, short stories, and historical novel. Kusugak’s stories are primarily set in the 1950’s of his childhood in Repulse Bay, a small Inuit community of only 100 people, at the north end of Hudson’s Bay within the Arctic Circle. Drawing from personal experience, Kusugak writes unforgettably of the lived experience of the North: the beauty of the Arctic landscape, its variety of seasonal change and animal and human activities, the close knit life of the Inuit community, the presence of mythic imagery and belief. Kusugak’s voice is unique with Inuit diction and metaphor — falling stars are “star droppings”. Kusugak writes of family love, folk tricksters, residential school, pre-contact era shamanism in a unifying spirit of place and culture, offering Canadian child and adult readers a living version of a rich way of life.”

Kusugak devotes his time to writing, storytelling and speaking with educators and is currently travelling to launch his newest picture book Igvillu: The Littlest Sled Dog, illustrated by Vladyana Krykorka.

Each year, the Bologna Book Fair contributes a selection of dozens of English and Italian picture books to the city of Itabashi, Tokyo – as Bologna and Itabashi have a sister city relationship and are culturally twinned in the promotion of children’s books.

From that assortment, a committee chooses one title from each language to be the two featured books for the Itabashi Translation competition, in which Japanese residents from around the country attempt their own translation of the book into their native language. The grand prize winners’ translations receive almost a thousand dollars in cash and prizes and are also considered for publication.

This year’s English selection is Four Feet, Two Sandals, written by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed, illustrated by Doug Chayka, originally published in 2007 by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

The publisher, honoured by the selection, notes in their press release, "This poignant story of loss, friendship, and sharing has introduced many American children to the tragic realities of refugee children and we are excited that its message of the life-changing power of hope will soon be shared across the ocean in Japan."

Link to news release on Eerdman's Books for Young Readers

Congratulations to author Frieda Wishinsky and illustrator Marie-Louise Gay for Please, Louise! which has won the Marilyn Baillie Picture Books Award. 

Published by Groundwood Books, the picture book was also on the shortlist for the 2008 TD Canadian Children's Literature award. When announcing the awards, its sponsors, The Canadian Children's Book Centre and TD Bank Financial Group, praised Please, Louise! as "A gem of a picture book delighting in the warm relationship between brother and younger sister. Lively watercolours explode across the pages adding detail and humour to the powerful simplicity of the text. The words sing as they are read!"

At Kentville Harvest Fest, on October 4, 2008, Kings County Museum hosted the tremendously successful debut of the picture book, Pumpkin People, written and illustrated by Ron and Sandra Lightburn. Published by Nimbus Publishing, the picture book brings to life the Pumpkin People created annually to celebrate the harvest in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia.

More information including video highlights of the festival and the booklaunch can be found at the Nova News Now website.
23rd annual Kentville Harvest Fest packed with fun family activities

Already a bestseller in Nova Scotia, a second hardcover printing of Pumpkin People is planned for mid-November.

TLA is at the Frankfurt Fair October 14 through 18.
Shaun Bradley and Samantha Haywood can be found at TLA's table, Y1, in the Agents Center.

TLA congratulates Joanne Proulx whose Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet (Viking Canada) has received The Sunburst Award in the first year it has been awarded in the YA category. The winner in the adult category is The New Moon's Arms (Warner Books) by Nalo Hopkinson.

The Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic is a prized and juried award presented annually. It is based on excellence of writing and awarded to a Canadian writer who has published a speculative fiction novel or book-length collection any time during the previous calendar year. Named after the novel by Phyllis Gotlieb, one of the first published authors of contemporary Canadian speculative fiction, the award consists of a cash prize of $1,000 and a hand-crafted medallion.

About Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet, the Sunburst jury said: "Proulx doesn't shy away from showing the tumultuous mix of beauty and ugliness at work in the mind of a teen stoner. Her debut novel tackles ESP, drug use, teen sexuality and the mores of small-town conservative Michigan all foregrounded against the soundscape of Luke Hunter's life. There is no doubt teens will recognize many of the characters in this uncomfortable novel. The book, like the protagonist, is not without flaws; Proulx's huge accomplishment here is writing a character whose rage, frustration and love are palpable through the disaffected teen voice."

More information can be found at The Sunburst Award website.

Just released, Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival (Walker Books for Young Readers), written by Mary Nethery and Kirby Larson and illustrated by Jean Cassels, has already been widely and well received.
 
Bobbi and Bob Cat are the best of friends. When their hometown of New Orleans was struck by Hurricane Katrina, they lost everything, as did so many others. Only by staying together could Bobbi and Bob Cat survive. Two Bobbies is the true story of their friendship, an "incredible journey" in the tradition of Owen and Mzee.

The picture book has already been selected by the Junior Library Guild Selection and named one of the Top Ten Books of the Season on the Indie Next List.

"Teaching children about natural disasters can be frightening for them. But Larson and Nethery have found a way to make a touching story of a devastating event."
– Marin Independent Journal

“This moving story about the importance of friendship and home highlights the plight of the hurricane’s lost and left-behind animals, as well as the value of animal shelters.” 
– Booklist

"An excellent introduction to Katrina for young children, this touching animal tale memorializes a modern catastrophe and pays tribute to the many volunteers who traveled to New Orleans to help."
– School Library Journal

"The true story of their friendship is a beautiful one . . . reading about Bobbi and Bob Cat will make your whole family feel better about the strength of humans and animals in the face of great challenges."
– The News Star

"Out of the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, a few heartening stories emerged. If not for Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery we would not have learned of the two Bobbies and their loyalty, perseverance and ultimate happy fate. More than the tale of an unlikely dog and cat friendship, Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival is a children's book sure to be treasured by grown-up readers too, smitten by the redemptive story of the orphaned creatures and the humans who cared enough to come to their aid."
– Third Place Books

Book Trailer on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MByhbft6x3o

The 2008 Scotiabank Giller Prize jury today announced its longlist of books in the running for this year’s prize. The jury selected 15 titles out of 95 books, submitted by 38 publishers from every region of Canada. TLA congratulates all of the authors listed, including Paul Quarrington for his novel, The Ravine.

Every childhood contains at least one “ravine”– one episode where the normal fabric of everyday life rips and the monsters come roaring out. In Paul Quarrington's capable hands that moment becomes both profound and profoundly funny. Phil McQuigge’s marriage is over, he has lost his job as the producer of a wildly successful TV series, and even the mysterious death of the star of that series seems to have been Phil's fault. Phil narrows down the source of his mid-life freefall to the lingering consequences of an ugly incident that happened in a suburban ravine when he was a boy, on an afternoon of adventure with his little brother, Jay, and their hapless tagalong, Norman Kitchen.

Of the longlist for this year's Scotiabank Giller Prize, the jury writes:

“These fifteen books vary widely in technique, in setting, and in tone — from the historical to the contemporary, from the comic to the satiric to the tragic, from the local to the international. Nothing unites them but the jury's belief in their accomplishment: each contributes something fresh, original, thoughtful, or vital to the practice of fiction.”

More information can be found about the Scotiabank Giller Prize at
www.scotiabankgillerprize.ca

Congratulations to Joanne Proulx whose Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet (Viking Canada) joins with Cobalt Blue, Late Nights on Air, Remembering the Bones and Muybridge’s Horse as a finalist in the category of English Fiction for the 2008 Ottawa Book Awards.

After foretelling the death of a friend with freakish accuracy, Luke Hunter becomes big news in his hometown in Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet. Terrified, but pretending not to be, he holds everyone at arm’s length as he lurches through a personal minefield studded with existential ponderings, a missing teen’s frantic mother, and a dream girl who isn’t his.

“Through this award, we are proud to celebrate the accomplishments of Ottawa’s great writers,” said Mayor Larry O’Brien. “These writers strengthen the cultural fabric of our city and make it a better place to live.”

The winners of the 2008 Ottawa Book Awards will be announced
October 18, 2008 at 8 p.m. at Library and Archives Canada during an opening event for the Ottawa International Writers Festival.

More information can be found at ottawa.ca/arts.

Uncle Bobby's Wedding, (G.P. Putnam's Sons), written and illustrated by Sarah Brannen, is a charming and simple story about a little girl guinea pig who worries that her favorite uncle won't have time for her after he marries. The fact that Uncle Bobby is marrying his boyfriend is treated in a matter-of-fact way. A Book Sense Spring 2008 Children's Pick, Uncle Bobby's Wedding has had extensive coverage since it was published in March. Reviews and articles have appeared in The Advocate, The San Francisco Chronicle, Tacoma News-Tribune, The Detroit News, Madison Capital Times, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist.  Sarah Brannen's web site has complete reviews and article links. 

In Colorado, Douglas County Libraries head librarian Jamie LaRue responded to a patron's challenge about the book with a well reasoned and researched letter. The response may be read in its entirety on his blog which went from 12 hits per day to as many as 12,000. For comparison: LaRue's blog had 444 views (217 visits) in June; the Uncle Bobby's Wedding blog posted on July 14 resulted in 32,334 views (26,472 visits) in July; and 37,339 views (28,730 visits) in August. 

Sarah Brannen was recently interviewed by the BBC for the LGBT Citizen Manchester radio program; the interview will be available online in the near future at the BBC website . She also appeared live on the San Francisco TV morning show The View from the Bay in July.

On June 14th, Sarah Brannen was honored by the mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, during their annual GLBT luncheon prior to the Gay Pride Parade in Boston. "Alternative families are a part of all communities, and just like all parents and grandparents, we want our children to be happy, safe, well-educated, and healthy," said Mayor Denise Simmons. "Cambridge has made great strides in supporting alternative families. We need to take time to appreciate the people that have made Cambridge such a positive environment for GLBT families." More coverage of the event can be found in the New England Blade June 9, 2008.

In Danbury, Connecticut, the story of Uncle Bobby's Wedding was acted out by children during the Intergenerational Flower Communion Service at the Unitarian Universalist Church to celebrate June weddings and the fact that all people have a place in their congregation.

"Though the story makes an easy springboard for adult-child dialogue, the issue of same-sex marriage is incidental to the plot, which straightforwardly addresses the fear of being replaced when a loved one marries. Featuring a sunny palette, Brannen's delicately outlined watercolors convey the characters' varied emotions — the guinea pigs' eyes are particularly expressive — and the mutual affection of the heroine and her uncle. The final scene, which depicts Chloe between her uncles in the light of a full moon, underscores Brannen's reassuring message."
-Publishers Weekly

Sarah Brannen's illustrations are also featured in The ABC Book of American Homes (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2008) written by Michael Shoulders, which has been recently released.

Carol Off has extensive experience in both Canadian and international current affairs. Ms Off has covered conflicts in the Middle East, Haiti, the Balkans and the sub-continent, as well as events in the former Soviet Union, Europe, Asia, the United States and Canada. She reported the fallout from the 9/11 disasters with news features and documentaries from New York, Washington, London, Cairo and Afghanistan. She has covered Canadian military missions around the world including its latest combat operation in Kandahar.

Ms. Off's award-winning documentaries include Fatwas and Beauty Queens, Of Crimes and Courage, In the Company of War Lords, Playing with Fire, Children of Chernobyl, Flight from Bosnia, and Thou Shalt Not Kill.

Ms. Off is also a best-selling author. Her current book, Bitter Chocolate: Investigating the Dark Side of the World's Most Seductive Sweet, is about the politics and intrigue surrounding the international cocoa industry.

TLA congratulates all the nominees on the longlist for the eighth annual ReLit Awards, which recognize works published by independent presses. 

The works of TLA clients Carol Bruneau, Zoe Whittall, Gary Geddes and Barbara Nickel are among those nominated.

Category: Novel
Glass Voices by Carol Bruneau (Cormorant Books)
Bottle Rocket Hearts by Zoe Whittall (Cormorant Books )

Category: Poetry
Falsework by Gary Geddes (Goose Lane Editions)
Songs for the Dancing Chicken by Emily Schultz (ECW Press)
Domain by Barbara Nickel (House of Anansi Press)

The winners will be announced at an event during the Ottawa International Writers Festival in October.

On June 1st, 2008, Leona changed her status from a literary agent with TLA to her new independent role with Leona Trainer Associates Literary Consultants. Leona officially departed from TLA on that date to launch her new company with Jerry Trainer.

As a literary consultant, Leona will be providing her new clients with feedback on manuscripts and suggestions as to where their manuscripts might be submitted. A complete list of the services of Leona Trainer Associates Literary Consultants and contact information can be found on her website www.ltalc.ca .

Leona has been a great asset to TLA during her ten years with the company. With her range of experience and extensive contacts in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, she will provide an important service to writers in her new role as a literary consultant.
 
Prior to working with TLA, Leona was President of Stoddart Kids. Previously she had held the position of Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Stoddart Publishing. In Leona's prior publishing experience, she held sales and marketing positions with Scholastic Canada, Bantam Books Inc. and Penguin Books Canada.
 
Leona has also served on the board of many industry organizations including Canadian Publisher's Council, Canadian Council Teacher's of English, Canadian Library Trustee's Association, and as Board Member and Chair of the Canadian Children's Book Centre.

Liepman AG
Englischviertelstrasse 59
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Circle the Truth by Pat Schmatz has been named a book of "Outstanding merit" in the 2008 Edition of The Best Children’s Books of the Year of the Bank Street College of Education. 

The Best Children's Books of the Year is a comprehensive annotated book list for children. The Bank Street College of Education Committee reviews over 4000 titles each year for accuracy and literary quality and considers their emotional impact on children. It chooses the best 600 books, both fiction and nonfiction, which it lists according to age and category. More information can be found about this designation at www.bankstreet.edu .

The Extinct Files: My Science Project by Wallace Edwards, designed by Karen Powers, (Kids Can Press), has been placed on the  2008-2009 Horned Toad Tales list. This list was created to promote the lifelong love of reading for students in the Cypress Fairbanks Independent School District.  

"With our 40+ elementary schools and over 90,000 students in our school district, we are excited to share the exemplary writing in this book with those students and their parents."

This reading program will run from March 2008-February 2009. The students who read at least 5 of the Horned Toad Tales will vote for their favorite book on the list in February and the winning book will be announced in March 2009.

Blue Lipstick also was selected by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) as one of the 2008 Notable Children's Books. Each year a committee of ALSC identifies the best of the best in children's books. According to the Notables Criteria, "notable" is defined as: Worthy of note or notice, important, distinguished, outstanding. As applied to children's books, notable should be thought to include books of especially commendable quality, books that exhibit venturesome creativity, and books of fiction, information, poetry and pictures for all age levels (birth through age 14) that reflect and encourage children's interests in exemplary ways.

The hilarious and unique collection of poetry was chosen by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), for its 2008 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers selection list. The list is presented annually at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. The Quick Picks list suggests books that teens, ages 12-18, will pick up on their own and read for pleasure; it is geared to the teenager who, for whatever reason, does not like to read.

A 15-year-old girl named Jessie voices typical—and not so typical—teenage concerns in Blue Lipstick. Her musings about trying out new makeup and hairstyles, playing volleyball and cello, and dealing with her annoying younger brother are never boring or predictable. Who else do you know who designs her own clothes and writes poetry to her cat? Jessie’s a girl with strong opinions, and she isn’t shy about sharing them. Her funny, sarcastic take on high school life is revealed through concrete poetry: words, ideas, type, and design that combine to make pictures and patterns. The poems are inventive, irreverent, irresistible, and full of surprises—just like Jessie—and the playful layout and ingenious graphics extend the wry humor.

From January to April 2008, Don Sedgwick is teaching on the west coast having joined Simon Fraser University's Canadian Centre for Studies in Publishing (CCSP) in the Master of Publishing Program. He will be teaching publishing management and magazine publishing.

The Master of Publishing (MPub) Program is Canada's premier training ground for publishing professionals. This innovative 16-month program challenges students with dynamic seminar courses and intensive simulation projects. Along with a highly qualified faculty, the program introduces guest experts drawn from publishing firms across Canada into many facets of the program.

Random House Canada plans a 2009 release of The Bishop's Man a novel by award-winning journalist Linden MacIntyre. Linden's novel Causeway won the 2007 Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction.