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Read my books in the Forest!

I got some great news today!

Every year, the Ontario Library Association (OLA) has a wonderful literacy program called The Forest of Reading where young readers from across the province read a selection of books and vote for their favourite. This culminates into a massive celebration at Harbourfront in Toronto in May where thousand of kids come and meet the authors they’ve read. Since 2010, Forest of Reading also has French categories. In the past, I’ve had the pleasure of having two of my books, Tous les œufs dans le même panier and Coup de théâtre à Stratford, make the cut and be finalists for this award.

Today, I got the news that not one but TWO of my new releases are in the running! Fatima et les voleurs de clémentines is a finalist for the Prix Tamarac Express and Chapeau Charlotte! is in the running for the brand new picture book award, Prix Peuplier.

If you’d like more information about the Forest of Reading program, or if you’d like to have your class join in, click here!

Thank you, Forest of Reading selection committee! Now, all we can do is read and… knock on wood! 😉

 

Saguenay Bound!

As of Monday, I will be in the Saguenay region meeting with young readers. Fatima and Charlotte are coming along for the trip. Some kids, I will see at their schools, others I will meet at the annual Saguenay book fair (Salon du livre du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean). either way, I’m really look forward to it! If, per chance, you are in the area, please don’t hesitate to swing by and say “bonjour”!

A Book Trailer for Charlotte partout!

Before, it was bookmarks and posters. Some even had stickers or pens. Those days are over! Now, every self-respecting new book (like every self-respecting new movie) has a book trailer – a fun, short ad to entice readers!

Having come from a radio and television broadcasting background (and having a video editor husband!) I’m very happy to give in to this new trend. And so, here is my trailer for my new picture book, Charlotte partout!

Psst… If you think you’ve recognized the narrator’s voice, you’re probably right. It’s me! (-;

Charlotte partout! – A New Release Just in Time for Back to School!

Let me introduce you to my new “baby” – Charlotte partout!

Brilliantly illustrated by Benoit Laverdière and published by Les Éditions de la Bagnole, this new picture book is my third Charlotte adventure.

This time, Charlotte discovers that there are many places around the world that are also called Charlotte… but none of them are named for her specifically. And so, Charlotte sets off with her aunt (and her trusty cat!) to find a place to call her own.

Charlotte partout! is very special to me because the character of Tatie Katie was inspired by my good friend, children’s author and pilot, Katia Canciani.

I hope this new adventure will let readers 4 and up indulge in a wonderful flight of fancy!

Charlotte partout! is now available in stores.

Loads of Visits in 2011-2012

As the 2011-12 school year draws to a close, I’d like to take a few minutes to reflect upon all the wonderful school visits I had the pleasure of making in the last few months. How inspiring and energizing these have been! I’d also like to thank all the schools, teachers and students who welcomed me into their classroom to share with them (In French or in English) my love of writing and books. A special thanks to :

École Victoria, Saskatoon
Lakeview Public School, Saskatoon
École Cardinal-Léger, Saskatoon
École française de Saskatoon
École St-Paul, Saskatoon
École Ste-Anne, Prince Albert, SK
Holy Cross Catholic School, Prince Albert, SK
Cliffwood Public School, Toronto
École Horizon jeunesse, Toronto
Lester B. Pearson Public School, Toronto
Withrow Public School, Toronto
Runnymede Public School, Toronto
École Tom Tomson P.S., Burlington
École St-Jean-de-Lalande, Toronto
École Ste-Madeleine, Toronto
École Notre-Dame, Hamilton
École Georges-Étienne-Cartier, Toronto
École Adrienne Clarkson Public School, Richmond Hill
École Uxbridge Public School, Uxbridge
E.W. Foster Public School, Milton
École St-Michel, New Liskeard
École Sacré-Cœur, New Liskeard
École Ste-Croix, Haileybury
École Assomption, Earlton
École Ange-Gardien, Missisauga
École Barrhaven Public School, Ottawa
École Vision jeunesse, Vanier, Ottawa
École Rockcliff Park, Ottawa
École Mgr-Rémi-Gaulin, Kingston

Wow! That’s a lot of people met in 2011-12.

Here’s to hoping the 2012-13 school year is just as exciting! Have a great summer!

Salon du livre de Québec 2012

This year I will have the great pleasure of leaving my office and going out to actually meet my readers. I will be at the SILQ (Salon du livre international de Québec) from Thrusday April 12th to Sunday April 15th. I really look forward to this, and not only because the SILQ is only steps away from the most amazing burger place in all of Quebec city! No, I look forward to seeing how people I don’t know will react to my book. Will they pick it up? Flip through the pages? Perhaps even buy it? I’ve tested out my pens (blue vs. black, ball vs. marker, fine point vs. ultra fine point) and I believe I am ready to face the crowds of adoring fans. Ha!

If you’re in the area, please swing by. I’d love to shake your hand. For a complete schedule of my signing sessions, click here.

First Fatima Presentation… Check!

Yesterday, was the first time I presented my new picture book Fatima et les voleurs de clémentines in front of an audience. I was excited and, admittedly, a little nervous. Would the students like my new story? Would they relate to a little Moroccan girl whose only friends are spiders? The proof was in the (clementine) pudding! Madame Karine’s grade 2 students at École Georges-Étienne-Cartier (Toronto) seem to enjoy and relate to the story whole-heartedly. Questions and comments fused! Eyes tinkled! Smiles beamed!  I could not have asked for a better first experience.
And now, I can’t wait to tell the story again.

New Look, Same Mireille!

Hello and welcome to my new website! It’s fresh, it’s fun, it’s… blue!

I hope you’ll have a minute to click around and see what’s new. First and foremost, it’s bilingual! No more need to use Google translator to figure out if I was talking about you behind your back. Hehehe!

Secondly, we’ve added tons of content : information about my newly released picture books, a new voice demo, a bio, pictures of me doing cool stuff… There’s enough here to keep you clicking for, well, many more minutes than before (-;

A special thanks goes out to my friends and webmasters, Peter Cook and Laura Suzuki of Doodletronics, for their work on this complete overhaul of my website! It was great to kick up some dust with you guys!

Please check back sporadically for news about upcoming books and project or just to say hi!

Cheers,
M.

A New Picture Book with a Moroccan Twist

couverture FatimaIt was three years in the making but, boy oh boy, was it worth the wait! My new French picture book, Fatima et les voleurs de clémentines (Éditions de la Bagnole), is now available in stores! Gabrielle Grimard, the illustrator, did an amazing job and I have her to thank for making this story an absolute gem.

Fatima et les voleurs de clémentines is a beautiful story of friendship and collaboration with a bit of a Moroccan twist.

If you would like me to come present this new book to your students, please don’t hesitate to contact me.