If you Happen to Have a Dinosaur by Linda Bailey and Colin Jack – Read Share Celebrate Day 18

Our 18th Selection on the Read Share Celebrate – Picture Book Month list is…..

If You Happen To Have A Dinosaur by Linda Bailey and Illustrated by Colin Jack.

French Title, Si Jamais Tu Avais Un Dinosaure…

ABOUT THIS BOOK

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If you happen to have a dinosaur, lying around your living room, and you don’t know what to do with it … why don’t you use it as a can opener? It will make a terrific nutcracker too! There are oodles of uses for a dinosaur — from a fine umbrella to an excellent kite and a dandy pillow, not to mention a reliable burglar alarm and the perfect excuse to forget your homework. This delightfully absurd exploration of the domestic uses of dinosaurs — and the things dinos just aren’t good for at all — is guaranteed to tickle funny bones and spark imaginations. If you read carefully, you’ll learn how to make your dinosaur last a very long time.

Imprint:Tundra Books
Format: Hardcover
Pub Date: May 2014
Age: 3-7 years
Trim Size: 10-1/2 x 10-1/2
# of Pages: 40 pages
ISBN: 978-1-77049-568-5 (1-77049-568-1)

Source -http://www.tundrabooks.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781770495685

Now this is not my favorite YouTube Read Aloud I have found in the last couple weeks, but you do get to hear the story, so here we go…..

 

Besides it being Day 18 for our Picture Book Month Project, it was also Book Club Monthly Meet-Up day.  So we took our Read Aloud on the road, and added it into our books read during Book Club.

We’ve read this book a few times, and everytime we  do get quite a kick out of the illustrations and some of the things these dinosaurs are doing.  Babysitting dinosaurs…..ummmmm….still not sure that there is a good one for that, but ok!

About the Author –

Award-winning author LINDA BAILEY has written more than twenty books for children in a number of different genres, including the best-selling Stanley-the-dog series, The Farm Team, the Stevie Diamond Mysteries, the Good Times Travel Agency series, and most recently, Toads on Toast, also illustrated by Colin Jack. Known for her wonderful sense of humor, evident in almost all her stories, Linda has garnered a long list of honors in both Canada and the United States such as the Ontario Blue Spruce Award, the Atlantic Provinces Hackmatack Award, the Arthur Ellis Award (Crime Writers of Canada), the California Young Reader Medal, and the Georgia Storybook Award.

Source – http://www.tundrabooks.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=978177049568

For more information on Linda Bailey and her other books, check out her website, http://www.lindabaileybooks.com/home.html

About the Illustrator

COLIN JACK is the incredibly talented illustrator of several books for children including the Galaxy Zack series, Toads on Toast and 1 Zany Zoo. He also works as a story artist and character designer at Dreamworks, and has been involved in such productions as Hotel Transylvania, Grossology and Ed, Edd n Eddy.

Source – http://www.tundrabooks.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=978177049568

Colin also has a great blog, http://jackomtablet.blogspot.ca/ and Tumblr page, http://colinjack.tumblr.com/ where you can check out some of his other illustrations.

Let us know what you think of If You Happen To Have A Dinosaur…

Bearcub and Mama by Sharon Jennings and Melanie Watt – Day 17, Read Share Celebrate

We’re going pretty digital for our 17th selection of Read Share Celebrate for Picture Book Month. 

Bearcub and Mama by Sharon Jennings, Illustrated by Melanie Watt is another book I have requested from the library.  The great news is that like the books on my list they are ALL available for borrowing through the library, this one however is not available at my Local Library, so the InterLibrary Loan program is AWESOME, just a bit slower.  Until we get the physical book in hand, I was able to find a Read Aloud on YouTube by Arwen Sharp.

What did we do next…we we snuggled up on the couch, of course and, and watched the story.

If you haven’t read this book, here’s the YouTube link so you can do what we did….

Bearcub follows his mama wherever she goes. By Mama’s side, he discovers how to catch a fish and dig for grubs. With Mama’s help, he learns to climb a tree and find honey. One day, Bearcub is exploring the high country when the sky darkens and a storm blows in. But this time, Mama is not there. Frightened and alone, Bearcub must rely on himself — and all that his mama has taught him — to weather the fierce winter storm.

Told in simple, evocative language and illustrated in rich, luminous colors, Bearcub and Mama is a reassuring story about growing up and the powerful bond between mother and child.

Reviews

“Preschoolers will find the heartwarming story reassuring and comforting.”

— Kirkus Review, February 2005

“The enduring relationship between mother and child is mirrored through Bearcub and Mama. Little ones will identify with Bearcub as he develops new skills and learns how to accept separation despite the fears it causes. … The soft-edged acrylic artwork mirrors the colors of the seasons.”

— Booklist, February 2005

Awards

2006 – Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award, Short-listed

2006 – Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Short-listed

2006 – Teacher’s Choices Project, International Reading Association, Winner

2005 – Book of the Year, ForeWord Magazine, Winner

Source – http://www.kidscanpress.com/products/bearcub-and-mama

Even though we didn’t have the physical book in hand it was so nice to snuggle up with my little ‘bearcub’ and follow along with this read aloud.  There was a few snow flurries falling out the living room window, so that’s another good reason to snuggle up.

We hope you enjoy reading/watching this story with your little ones too.

This book has also been translated into French. Ainsi font les oursons

About the Author –

Sharon Jennings grew up in Toronto writing, directing and starring in plays for the backyard. She went to university and got a master’s degree in English so that she could spend many years doing not much more than reading books. Then she found work as an editor where she could spend lots of time reading other people’s stories. Sharon didn’t figure out that she wanted to write her own stories until she had a child. After her first book was published (Jeremiah and Mrs. Ming), Sharon had a couple more kids and published a lot more books. Mostly, her three children were her inspiration for all of her writing, so when they grew up, Sharon was very happy when one of them brought home a puppy. The “puppy” is now 110 pounds, but she earns her keep by giving Sharon lots more ideas. Sharon followed the old rule to “write what you know” — she now knows lots about dogs — but then she added in a dollop of imagination and wrote C’mere Boy — a story about a dog that really, really, really wants a boy.

When she isn’t writing or walking her dog, Sharon likes to cook, run and talk to children and adults about writing. And she has never stopped reading.

Source – http://www.kidscanpress.com/creators/sharon-jennings/553

If you want more information about Sharon or her other books check out her website, http://sharonjennings.ca/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sharoneileenjennings?_rdr=p

About the Illustrator –

It was in a design class taught by Michèle Lemieux at the University of Quebec in Montreal that author and illustrator Mélanie Watt created her first picture book, Leon the Chameleon, which was later published by Kids Can Press. Watt went on to create several more books, including the Learning with Animals collection and Augustine, which was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book. Watt has also illustrated Where Does a Tiger-Heron Spend the Night? and Bearcub and Mama, which won the 2006 IRA Teachers’ Choices Project.

Mélanie’s best known book Scaredy Squirrel, has won many awards including the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award for Children’s Picture Book and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator’s Award. The release of Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, was met with enthusiastic reviews and incredible sales, confirming the arrival of kid lit’s newest superstar.

Chester,Chester’s Back! and Chester’s Masterpiece are about a megalomaniac cat who is every bit the antithesis to Scaredy. Chester has already become a bestseller and shows the breadth and creativity of Mélanie Watt.

Scaredy returns to take a few more tentative steps out of his comfort zone in Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach and Scaredy Squirrel at Night. Mélanie has often noted how the Scaredy Squirrel books helped her work out her own insecurities and fears, as the success of these titles has required her to venture out into the unknown, and like Scaredy she has found the experience truly uplifting.

Mélanie currently resides near Montreal, Quebec.

Source -http://www.kidscanpress.com/creators/m%C3%A9lanie-watt/223

In a few days we have selected on of Melanie’s Chester books as our Picture Book of the day, so stay tuned for that.  Until then if you want to find out more about her other books check out – http://melaniewatt.blogspot.ca/ or http://www.scaredysquirrel.com/

Until tomorrow, enjoy your Picture Books, and Read Aloud time with your Little Ones (or Big Ones).  Family Storytime is Important!!

La grosse patate de Aubrey Davis et Dusan Petricic – lire partage celebrer, 12 jours, selection francaise

Description

Un fermier plante une patate qui devient de plus en plus grosse. Pour l’aider à l’arracher, le fermier fait appel à sa femme, qui demande l’aide de sa fille, qui à son tour appelle son chien, qui appelle…

La grosse patate est un conte populaire et amusant qui célèbre le sens de l’entraide parmi les membres de la communauté. Cette histoire simple, idéale pour la lecture à voix haute, ravira les petits comme les jeunes.

This story begins with a farmer who plants an eye — a potato eye. It grows and grows into an enormous potato. Harvest time comes, but the potato is so big that the farmer can’t pull it out. So he calls for help, first to his wife, then to their daughter, then to the dog and so on. Energetic illustrations capture the growing determination of the family to free the potato from the soil and the celebratory feast that follows their success.

Original title: The Enormous Potato

Source – http://49thshelf.com/Books/L/La-grosse-patate

About the Author:

Aubrey Davis est auteur de livres pour enfants et conteur professionnel. Il a écrit, entre autres, Une poule pour Izzy Pippik. Ses livres ont reçu des critiques élogieuses ainsi que de nombreux prix. Aubrey vit à Toronto, en Ontario.

Aubrey Davis is an author and storyteller. His picture book, A Hen for Izzy Pippik (Une poule pour Izzy Pippik), has won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award. Aubrey lives in Toronto.

About the Illustrator

Dušan Petricic a illustré plus d’une vingtaine de livres pour enfants en Yougoslavie et en Amérique du Nord, dont Ma grande famille, une merveilleuse initiation à la généalogie. Il habite à Toronto, en Ontario.

Dusan Petricic is the award-winning illustrator of more than twenty books for children including My Family Tree and Me, and The Enormous Potato. A former professor of illustration and book design, Dušan’s work appears in The New York Times, Scientific American, The Wall Street Journal, and The Toronto Star. He lives in Toronto.

Mes grands freres et moi de Cary Fagan et Luc Melanson – lire partage celebrer, 9 jours, selection francaise

Trois frères, trois fois plus de plaisir? Évidemment, avec trois garçons dans une même famille, il y du plaisir à profusion, mais aussi beaucoup de sottises et de mésaventures… Les trois frères mettent accidentellement le feu à l’arbre du voisin. Ils jouent au football dans le salon et organisent même des funérailles pour leur lézard! Pendant toutes leurs folles aventures, les grands frères ne sont pas toujours gentils avec le plus jeune. Que ressent ce dernier? Il s’amuse tout autant que ses grands frères et profite pleinement de la vie, pour le meilleur et pour le pire!

Texte français de Hélène Pilotto
ISBN 978-1-4431-0919-2
Album illustré
Couverture souple
3 à 8 ans
20,5 cm x 26,5 cm
32 pages en couleurs
10,99 $

http://www.scholastic.ca/editions/livres/albums/mesgrandsfreresetmoi.htm

Cary Fagan

a écrit de nombreux livres à succès pour les jeunes et pour les adultes. Cet album est son premier publié aux Éditions Scholastic. C’est avec beaucoup d’humour qu’il trace ce « portrait de famille », assez conforme à la réalité… Cary vit à Toronto.

For more information on Cary Fagan, check out – http://www.caryfagan.com/kidsbooks.html

Luc Melanson

a remporté de nombreuses récompenses au cours de sa carrière d’illustrateur, dont le Prix du Gouverneur général, le prix Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon et le Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award. Son style rétro, très vivant, complémente à merveille l’histoire de Cary Fagan. Ce livre est son premier à paraître aux Éditions Scholastic. Luc vit à Laval, au Québec.

Canada 1, 2, 3 de Kim Bellefontaine et Per-Henrik Gurth – lire partage celebrer, 8 jours, selection francaise

Une feuille d’érable, deux ours polaires et trois totems… Apprendre à compter jusqu’à dix est facile et agréable grâce à cet album haut en couleurs, où chaque illustration rappelle des thèmes bien de chez nous.

2 à 6 ans
22 cm x 22 cm
32 pages en couleurs
9,99 $
978-0-439-94042-9

http://www.scholastic.ca/editions/livres/lecanada/

To download this poster – http://www.kidscanpress.com/sites/default/files/products/assets/Canada123_1833_posterLG.pdf

To download stickers – http://www.kidscanpress.com/sites/default/files/products/assets/Canada123BoardBook_1988_stickers.pdf

About Kim Bellefontaine –

Kim Bellefontaine grew up in a military family and had the opportunity to live and study across Canada and Europe. She graduated from Ottawa’s Algonquin College as a Museum Technologist and worked in that field in both Germany and Canada. During that period she found that her interest lay in children’s education and worked on education programs within museums. Her first book, ABC of Canada, is an introduction to our country at the primary level. Kim teamed with a friend who was a known children’s book illustrator for her three published works.

Kim is currently living in Kingston, Ontario, with her two children, Emily and Ben. She is presently expanding her education at St. Lawrence College, but is always looking for and working on new projects.

http://www.kidscanpress.com/creators/kim-bellefontaine/552

About Per-Henrik Gurth

Per-Henrik Gürth is a graphic designer and illustrator of more than a dozen children’s books, including the bestselling titles Canada 123 and ABC of Canada. He lives in Kingston, Ontario.

http://www.kidscanpress.com/creators/henrik-g%C3%BCrth/82

Vite, Vite, Benjamin de Paulette Bourgeois et Brenda Clark – lire partage celebrer, 6 jours, selection francaise

Benjamin est si lent sur la route qui mène à la maison de son ami Martin Ours, qu’il arrive juste à temps pour chanter Joyeux Anniversaire avec tous les invités.

Original title: Hurry Up, Franklin!

Benjamin sets out for Martin Ours’s house, and they both arrive just in time to join in the birthday song for Martin.

http://www.amazon.ca/Vite-vite-Benjamin-Paulette-Bourgeois/dp/1443114820/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1445853125&sr=1-1&keywords=vite%2C+vite+benjamin

Paulette Bourgeois est connue et appréciée de tous pour les livres destinés aux enfants qu’elle a écrits. Ses histoires ont été traduites dans 21 langues et ses livres se sont vendus à plus de 30 millions d’exemplaires à travers le monde! Ses albums Benjamin va à l’hôpital et Benjamin et la Saint-Valentin ont remporté respectivement la première et la troisième position au palmarès Communication-Jeunesse des livres pour les jeunes.

For more information, http://www.paulettebourgeois.ca/

Brenda Clark est illustratrice de livres pour enfants. Elle a longtemps travaillé à des ouvrages scolaires avant de se consacrer à l’illustration des livres mettant en vedette Benjamin la tortue. Elle vit à Port Hope, en Ontario.

Mon Petit Tresor de Jean Little et Marisol Sarrazin – lire partage celebrer, 5 jours, selection francaise

Un par un, les animaux naissent dans la ferme. Chaque nouveau-né donne envie à toutes les mamans de la bassecour d’avoir un petit à chérir. Une belle et chaleureuse histoire sur l’amour maternel.

One by one, the baby animals are born on the farm, each making another barnyard mother yearn for a baby of her own. A warm-hearted, gently humorous story about a mother’s love.

Original Title:The Sweetest One of All

http://www.amazon.ca/Mon-petit-tr%C3%A9sor-Jean-Little/dp/144313337X

De Jean Little
Illustrations de Marisol Sarrazin
Texte français d’Hélène Rioux
ISBN 978-0-439-93796-2
Couverture rigide
4 à 8 ans
32 pages en couleurs
24 cm x 24 cm

http://www.scholastic.ca/editions/livres/albums/monpetittresor.htm

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Jean Little est l’une des auteurs préférés des lecteurs de tous âges. Elle a écrit de nombreux albums illustrés dont Pluie de souhaits illustré par Geneviève Côté et Le Noël de Pétunia (Prix Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz). Jean est aussi l’auteure de quatre titres de la collection Cher Journal. Elle a reçu de nombreuses récompenses dont le prix Vicky Metcalf et elle est membre de l’Ordre du Canada.

Jean Little is one of Canada’s — and the world’s — best-loved writers for children. She is the author of many picture books, including Wishes (Pluie de souhaits) illustrated by Geneviève Côté and Pippin the Christmas Pig (Le Noël de Pétunia) (Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award). Jean has also written four Dear Canada (Cher Journal) titles. Among her many other awards are the Vicky Metcalf Award for Body of Work and the Order of Canada.

http://www.amazon.ca/Mon-petit-tr%C3%A9sor-Jean-Little/dp/144313337X

Marisol Sarrazin est une illustratrice de livres pour enfants de renommée internationale. Elle a publié plus de 60 livres qui ont été traduits dans de nombreuses langues. Son travail a déjà reçu de nombreux prix, dont le Prix M. Christie pour le meilleur livre publié en français au Canada en 1998. En 2001, son nom figurait également sur les listes des finalistes pour la médaille Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon destinée aux illustrateurs.

Marisol Sarrazin is an internationally reknowned children’s books illustrator. She has published more than sixty books which have been translated into many languages. Her work has already earned her numerous awards, including the Mr. Christie Award for the best book published in French in Canada in 1998. Her name was also on the lists of finalists for the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrators Medal from the Canadian Association of Children’s Librarians for 2001.

http://www.amazon.ca/Mon-petit-tr%C3%A9sor-Jean-Little/dp/144313337X

Ce n’est pas mon Chapeau de Jon Klassen – lire partage celebrer, 4 jours, selection francaise

Détails sur le produit

• Album: 40 pages
• Editeur : Editions Milan (30 janvier 2013)
• Collection : MIL.ALB.4/7 ANS
• Langue : Français
• ISBN-10: 2745960806
• ISBN-13: 978-2745960801

–http://www.amazon.fr/Ce-nest-pas-mon-chapeau/dp/2745960806

https://www.youtube.com/embed/BAH6XDub4vM“>http://

Ce n’est pas mon chapeau De Jon Klassen

Après l’extraordinaire succès de Rendez-moi mon chapeau!, l’auteur et illustrateur Jon Klassen revient avec une seconde histoire tout aussi hilarante que la première. Un minuscule poisson vole le beau chapeau bleu (qui lui va parfaitement, il faut l’avouer) d’un poisson beaucoup plus gros que lui qui heureusement est endormi… pour l’instant.

Jon Klassen est un illustrateur canadien vivant à Los Angeles. Il exerce la profession d’animateur pour DreamWorks et il a beaucoup travaillé sur le film d’animation Coraline. Il est le premier Canadien à remporter le prix prestigieux CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal pour l’illustration d’albums jeunesse.

–http://www.scholastic.ca/editions/livre/ce-nest-pas-mon-chapeau.htm

About Jon Klassen –

Jon Klassen (born November 29, 1981)^[1] is a Canadian writer and illustrator of children’s books and an animator. He won both the American Caldecott Medal and the British Kate Greenaway Medal for children’s book illustration, recognizing the 2012 picture bookThis is Not My Hat, which he also wrote.^[2][3][4][5] He is the first person to win both awards for the same work.^[a]

This Is Not My Hat is a companion to Klassen’s preceding picture book, I Want My Hat Back (2011), and his first as both writer and illustrator.^[6] Both books were on the New York Times Best Seller list for more than 40 weeks; by April 2014 one or the other had been translated into 22 languages and they had jointly surpassed one million worldwide sales.^[6] Both books were recommended for children ages 5+ by the Greenaway judges.^[7][8]

Publications

Books written and illustrated

• I Want My Hat Back, by Klassen (Candlewick Press, Sep 2011) ISBN 9780763655983
• This Is Not My Hat, by Klassen (Candlewick, Oct 2012) ISBN 9780763655990

Children’s picture books illustrated

• Cats’ Night Out, by Carolyn Stutson (Simon & Schuster, Mar 2010), ISBN 9781416940050
• Extra Yarn, by Mac Barnett (Balzer + Bray, a HarperCollins imprint, Jan 2012) ISBN 9780061953385
• House Held Up By Trees, by Ted Kooser (Candlewick, Mar 2012), ISBN 9780763651077
• The Dark, by Lemony Snicket (Little, Brown, Apr 2013), ISBN 9780316187480
• Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, by Barnett (Candlewick, Oct 2014), ISBN 9780763662295

Other books illustrated

• The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place – series of novels by Maryrose Wood (published by Balzer + Bray)
  • Book I: The Mysterious Howling (Feb 2010), ISBN 9780061791055
  • Book II: The Hidden Gallery (Feb 2011), ISBN 9780061791123
  • Book III: The Unseen Guest (Mar 2012), ISBN 9780061791185
  • Book IV: The Interrupted Tale (Dec 2013), ISBN 9780061791222

(Book V: The Unmapped Sea (Apr 2015), ISBN 9780062110411, was illustrated by Eliza Wheeler)

• Vanished, by Sheela Chari (Hyperion, July 2011), ISBN 9781423131632
• The Watch that Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic, by Allan Wolf (Candlewick, Mar 2013), ISBN 9780763663315
• The Witch’s Boy, by Kelly Barnhill (Algonquin, Sep 2014), ISBN 9781616203511
• The Nest, by Kenneth Oppel (Simon & Schuster, Oct 2015), ISBN 9781481432320
• Pax, by Sara Pennypacker (Balzer + Bray, Feb 2016), ISBN 9780062377012

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Klassen

Red is Best [ Le Rouge C’est Bien Mieux] by Kathy Stinson, Illustrated by Robin Baird Lewis – Picture Book Month, Day 1

Hello and Welcome to Kaelyn’s Book Club as we…

READ, SHARE and CELEBRATE

30 days Celebrating AMAZING CANADIAN Children’s Picture Books!

…Each day over the next month we will discover a new Children’s Book written by a different Canadian Children’s Author/Illustrator.

Our goal is to have you re-discover some books you might already know, and discover some New books that you might not be as familiar with. 

I am very excited to say that I have been able to search and borrow each of the books from my local library, so they are all very accessible.

This has been a very fun, and educational project, and we cannot wait to share with you, some great CANADIAN  books for Wee Ones, Little Ones, and Kids of ALL Ages!!!

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It’s November 1, so the first title on our list is Red is Best by Kathy Stinson and Illustrated by Robin Baird Lewis

This book is both our English Selection of the Day, and the French Selection.  (French Title, Le Rouge C’est Bien Mieux.  Copyright 1986, pour l’edition francais)

Thank you Katie’s Bookshelf for this YouTube video of Red is Best.

http://

In this modern classic a little girl explains to her mom and readers how red mitts make better snowballs, red boots take bigger steps and red pajamas keep monsters away. And why is this so? Well naturally, red is best! Originally published in hardcover and paperback in 1982, by Annick Press (Our Choice 1983/1984).

Thematic Links: Red – Preferences – Imagination

-Source: http://www.bookcentre.ca/library/catalogue/red_best_0

Red is Best was originally published in 1982, and in 2006 Annick Press published a 25th Anniversary Edition.  http://www.annickpress.com/Red-is-Best-25th-Anniversary-Edition .  You can now buy Red is Best in – Hardcover: published by Annick Press ISBN: 1-55451-052-X; Paperback: ISBN: 1-55451-051-1; Board Book:ISBN: 1-55451-364-2, as well as translated into several other languages (including French)  http://kathystinson.com/red-is-best/red-is-best-editions/

 

-Source: http://www.annickpress.com/Red-is-Best-Annikin-Edition

Awards and Recognition :

• 1982 IODE Award, Toronto Chapter [ http://people.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/iodet.html ]
• Starred selection in Best Books for Kids & Teens 2012 (board book edition) [ http://www.bookcentre.ca/best_books_for_kids_and_teens/spring2012 ]
• 100 Best Books List, Toronto Public Library [ http://kidsspace.torontopubliclibrary.ca/genCategory15785.html ]
• Top Canadian Books for Children, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
• The 10 Picture Books Every Canadian Home Should Have, CBC Books [ http://www.cbc.ca/books/2014/05/the-10-picture-books-every-canadian-home-should-have.html ]
• 100 Best Canadian Kids’ Books, Today’s Parent Magazine [ http://www.todaysparent.com/family/activities/books-for-babies-and-toddlers/ ]

Downloadable pdf of the Today’s Parent List.  Red is Best is #23

[ http://www.todaysparent.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/TP06_100top_books_read.pdf ]

About Kathy –

Kathy Stinson is a familiar name in children’s literature. She wrote the award-winning Red is Best and Big or Little?—two of the first picture books for preschoolers in Canada. Both were a huge success and have since achieved international acclaim. Red is Best 25th Anniversary Edition was released in 2006 a newly illustrated Big or Little? was published in 2009.

Kathy’s latest book, The Man with the Violin (2013), was greeted with rave reviews, including starred reviews in Kirkus and Quill & Quire. Illustrated by Dušan Petričić, this beautifully evocative picture book tells the true story of world-renowned violinist, Joshua Bell, who conducted an experiment by anonymously playing his priceless violin in the Washington D.C. subway station.

Kathy grew up in Toronto. “My love affair with books began as a child,” she says. “I remember regular visits to the library, getting stacks of books to read.” She still has a notebook of stories that she wrote when she was in grade four. She believes that reading a lot is the key to becoming a good writer.

In the early 1970s Kathy attended university while teaching elementary school. In 1981, she took a course called “How to write and get published.” The titles she has published in the years since range from picture books to young adult novels, from historical fiction chapter books to short stories in the horror genre. 2008 sees the publication of her first brand-new picture book in sixteen years!

Kathy enjoys visiting schools across Canada, and especially talking with fellow writers. In 1987 she traveled to England as part of an exchange of Canadian and British children’s authors. She has helped students across Canada pursue their own creative projects through the Writers in Electronic Residence program, and in many communities has conducted writing workshops for children and for adults.

When she’s not busy writing or reading, Kathy is a self-proclaimed jigsaw puzzle addict. Her children now grown, she lives with her partner, editor Peter Carver, in a hamlet not far from Guelph, Ontario.

-Source: http://www.annickpress.com/author/Kathy-Stinson

For more on Kathy or any of her books please check out her website, http://kathystinson.com/

About Robin –

Robin Baird Lewis’s illustrations for the classic picture book Red is Best (1992) have taken on iconic stature for the tens of thousands of people who read the book as a child, and are now reading it to their own children and grandchildren.

Robin has always been an illustrator, and credits any success in school to the visual explanations crammed into her notebook margins. Since designing ceramic trivets at the tender age of four, and organizing a class mural in kindergarten, she has continued to build a rich genetic talent into a steadily successful life-long career in the arts.

Despite an absence of formal art training (her academic degrees are in English, History, Education, and Scottish Studies), Robin has acquired a wide command of media: pencil, chalk, ink, paint, lithography, and clay.

Robin’s versatility, expressed in graphic design, illustration, murals, theatrical scenery, restaurant design, and the decorative arts, has supported her entrepreneurial career for over 35 years. She now operates with a network of associates out of Studio One in Guelph, Ontario.

Recent projects have broadened to a therapeutic coloring book for adult survivors of child abuse and the young adult mystery book, The Ale Sea. Lately, Robin has discovered a remarkable gift for practical creative engineering, devising unique domestic arts and crafts for workshops and camps. While regularly adding to her journal of essays entitled The Only Sane One Here, Robin finds time for her other interests including choral singing, opera, gardening, animal care, and Aussie rugby rules.

-Source: http://www.annickpress.com/author/RobinBaird_Lewis

For more information on Robin, check out her website, http://robinbairdlewis.com/  (as of November 1, 2015 her website is currently under construction)

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For me Red is Best is a book that I grew up with, and now really enjoying reading to my daughter.

We hope you enjoy this selection as much as we do.  Please share with anyone who might be interested, and if you have a moment let us know what you think.

We look forward to sharing our next selection with you tomorrow.

lire, partage, celebrer – en francais

For everyone who saw our post yesterday about READ SHARE CELEBRATE, 30 Days of AMAZING CANADIAN Children’s Picture Books, here is the French version.

Our household is not a French one.  So when I put out a request for people’s favorite CANADIAN Children’s authors someone had given a name of a French author.  So the wheels started turning, about turning the idea (because it was just an idea at the time for this Picture Book Month celebration) into a French version as well.

Let’s just say it was a challenge for me, but an incredibly fun one, and very educational about where to look for French books, and also interesting to see the slight variations of the illustrations, and book titles because of translation.

Please enjoy.  I hope if you are a French household that I have been able to do this justice.  I did have some help with the Translation, so that was fabulous.  ( Thank you Veronique. )

I’ll also do my best to add the French book into our Daily blog post starting the beginning of November.