Something New Just Arrived!

Look what just arrived. It’s my new picture book, Nevin Knows! Isn’t it beautiful?

I got the inspiration for Nevin Knows during the pandemic. Everyday as I sat at my desk trying to write, I watched my neighbour (actually called Frank, like in the book) take his grandson to the park. They went everyday – rain or shine. The routine of it was soothing during a time when the world was particularly chaotic. It radiated love. I wanted to capture that and put it in a book.

I hope Nevin Knows will bring you as much joy as it has brought me.

Nevin Knows will be in bookstores February 11th 2025. It is also available in French.

No Horses in the House Colouring Pages

Look what just dropped!
New No Horses in the House colouring pages are now available!
Free to use, share and enjoy! Thank you, Anna Bron!

2024-25 School Year – Limited Availability for In-Person Visits

This upcoming school year I will have much less availability for in-person school visits in the GTA. I have a handful of dates in early Decemebr, late January/early February and late March. If you are interested, please contact me soon as spots are going fast.

If virtual visits are a viable option for your school, my schedule will accomodate those much more easily. And, they are a more buget-friendly alternative. Just sayin’… 😉

Click here for more information about my presentations.

Don’t hesiate to contact me if you have any questions or to book one of the rare spots left for in-person presentations.

 

Thrilled To Be A Part of This Beautiful Initiative!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Toronto (June 19, 2024)—The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is pleased to announce the selection for the 2024 TD Grade One Book Giveaway. Violet Shrink, written by Christine Baldacchino, illustrated by Carmen Mok and published by Groundwood Books, will be distributed to approximately 500,000 Grade 1 students across Canada this fall. Translated into French by Mireille Messier, francophone Canadians and French immersion students will receive copies of the French translation, Violette Cent-Soucis.

Through the generous support of TD Bank Group, the CCBC is thrilled to deliver—for the twenty-fifth year—the gift of a Canadian picture book to every Grade 1 student across Canada. Books are taken home by each child to keep and to read and re-read with their caregivers. The impact of the TD Grade One Book Giveaway is undeniable, with 12.5 million books given to Grade 1 students across Canada since 2000. In a survey after last year’s giveaway, 96% of Grade 1 educators felt that this program allows students to feel included and demonstrates that books and reading are important! 

 

No Horses in the House is Short Listed!

Some happy news!

My biographical picture book No Horses in the House: The Audacious Life of Artist Rosa Bonheur has been short listed for the prestigious IODE Jean Throop Award!

What an honour it is to have my book amongst the five finalists, rubbing shoulders with some of the most well-known and talented children’s book authors and illustrators from Ontario. Congratulations to all, includidng my good friends Frieda, Ruth, Danielle!

The winner will be announced on April 20th 2024 at the IODE Ontario annual general meeting in Goderich, Ontario. Fingers crossed!

January 2024

Happy New Year, everyone!
May 2024 be a healthy and creative one!

In January, I will be at the oh-so-amazing OLA Superconference.

This event is the ultimate, province-wide shin dig for all librarians, teacher-librarians and, let’s be frank, authors/publishers and book lovers of all kinds. If you’ve been to the OLA Superconference in the past, you know that it is a must-attend event to get the scoop on all the new and upcoming releases in canadian publishing. And if you haven’t yet attended, what are you waiting for? There’s still time to register!

This year, I will have the pleasure of signing copies of my recent picture book No Horses in the House: The Audacious Life of Artist Rosa Bonheur at the Orca booth (#410). Join me there on Thursday, January 25th at 3pm.

I hope to see you there!

Forest of Reading Finalist!

Good news! My picture book “Pas de chevaux dans la maison: La vie audacieuse de l’artiste Rosa Bonheur” is a finalist for the 2024 Prix Peuplier award! This award is part of the Forest of Reading program, a wonderful initiative by the Ontario Library Association.
Young participants from across Canada will have until the spring to read the books selected in their chosen category (there are 10!) and will then vote for their favourite book. The winning books will be announced in May at Harbourfront in Toronto in what is sure to be a huge kidlit lovefest!
Interested in the Forest of Reading reading programs? There is still time to register your classroom! For more information about the program or to see the finalists in all the categories, go to the OLA website.
Bonne chance à tous les finalistes et bonne lecture!

A Treasure StoryWalk Across Canada!

The TD Summer Reading Club is all about reading and having some bookish fun during the summer month, both inside AND OUTSIDE! That’s right – not only is reading outdoors ok, it’s encouraged! On top of all the great activities and books we have all come to know and love, the TD Summer Reading Club is now offering a bilingual storywalk.

What’s a storywalk, you ask? It’s a story that is printed on weatherproof panels and set up outside for everyone to enjoy!

This is the third year of the Storywalk. Over 200 libraries signed up to get the free panels for their branch this year and, best of all, this year my picture book Treasure/Trésor was selected for the Storywalk!

I have had friends and family send me pictures of the storywalk from all across the country and it is glorious. Some have been set up in the city while others are in fields, forest and even next to waterfalls. From British Columbia all the way to Labrador (hello to my friends in Chruchill Falls!), kids and their grownups are enjoying Treasure outdoors. Talk about living vicariously through my art!

Have you seen Treasure in your neck of the woods?