Thursday, November 13, 2008

Eye Candy


The NYT decrees the best ten illustrated children's books of 2008. I'm happy to see one Canadian book, Skim, on the list. I'm heading out of town next week with list in hand. Me thinks my bags might be heavier on my return.

And speaking of Skim, Chester Brown and Seth have something to say about only the author being listed on the nomination list for the GG award. Of course in a graphic novel, without the illustrator there is no novel.

Thanks to Bookninja for both of these links. Go to this blog and read it. (Every day.)

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

New Books!


This is actually old news, but I'm very slow in posting this fall. (Bear with me, my friends. I'm hoping all this "blog silence" is translating into great writing elsewhere. One day, one day, you might see it!) I have two new books out this fall. The first, Robots: From Everyday to Out of This World comes with the byline The Editors of YES Mag. This is another in the great series of books created by the fab. folks at YES and KNOW mags and it was fun to have a part in this one.

The book has been well received thus far and both Quill and Quire and Canadian Materials have had favourable things to say.




Next up is another title in the Lu & Clancy series. This one, Secret Spies, is also a leveled reader. Here's the blurb:

When Lu and Clancy find a map labeled “Top Secret” and a note written in code in Aunt Izzy’s trunk, the mystery begins. Is Aunt Izzy a spy? The canine sleuths dress up in disguises to follow her. This case proves so full of surprises that the detectives need all their skills and nifty spy stuff to solve it.

This Level 2 first reader contains longer stories, varied sentences, increased vocabulary, more difficult visual clues and some repetition.


These titles were so much fun to write, especially trying out magic tricks, science experiments, spy disguises and the like. Thank goodness my kids and their friends were so game to play around.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Don't Miss Hycroft This Wednesday!


If you live in the lower mainland get yourself over to Hycroft on Wednesday evening for CWILL BC's annual event. Here's your chance to meet over 20 children's book writers and illustrators to hear about their new books. Each presenter gives a quick presentation on their new book, which are sure to be captivating and fun. There is also an address by Kathy Stinson and a chance to purchase books you're keen on.