After just over ten years, CanLit for LittleCanadians is ready to celebrate one million views of posts about books for young people by Canadian authors and illustrators. Want to help me celebrate? Then have I got a contest for you!
What do you have to do?
Leave a comment below (with an identifier so I can contact you somehow) and/or Tweet (tag @HelenKubiw and #1Mviews) about a book that you decided to purchase or read (I'm thrilled to support libraries) after checking out a review here. You've got ten years of reviews from which to choose. Tell me the title of the book and author/illustrator and what grabbed your attention.
Participants will be time-logged in order of submission and a random number generator will select one from all submissions. I will announce the winner here and on Twitter.
If you submit more than once, only your earliest submission will be logged.
Who can participate?
You must be a resident of Canada in order to participate. (Sorry expats who live outside our country.) Authors and illustrators are welcome to participate.
When?
You have from now until the end of the day (11:59 PM EST) when the blog's view counter hits one million views. (Hint: it will be happening within the next few days.) So if it hits 1,000,000 at lunch on Friday, January 14, you have until almost midnight that night to leave a comment. (I think it will happen sooner.)
Prize?
A box of Canadian books for young people. I will pick the books but it will be a mixed box of at least 10 books.
I have been privileged to promote so many wonderful books by so many fabulous authors and illustrators. I've covered picture books, early readers, middle grade novels, graphic novels, non-fiction, young adult books and more. My readers are young people, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, teachers, school librarians, public librarians, school boards, university faculties of education, organizations like the Ontario Library Association and the Canadian Children's Book Centre, publishers, and more. Thank you to all who have linked to my blog and helped promote it as I promote our Canadian creators.
Though I have wondered whether the 10-year mark (October 2021) or the 1 million view mark would be a milestone for me to reconsider the blog, I don't think I'm quite ready to give it up yet. This is especially true as I think CanLit for LittleCanadians offers an opportunity to celebrate books from everyone from debut authors and small publishers to world-renowned writers and large publishing houses. As long as these creators are Canadian, born or residing, I will champion them, if I like the books. (You might notice that I don't review anything I don't like.)
So here's to CanLit for LittleCanadians
and it's upcoming ONE MILLION VIEWS.
Thanks you for celebrating with me.
It was the adaptation of "Mary Poppins" illustrated by Genevieve Godbout that first introduced me to your blog. I quickly put that book in my school library to inspire a new generation of readers. Congratulations on the (upcoming) one million views! Liz C
ReplyDeleteThanks, Liz. I remember the book. Consider yourself entered!
DeleteSubmitting this for a participant having issues:
ReplyDeleteIt was your review of Making Bombs for Hitler in 2011 that had totally engaged with your reviews and with the writing of Marsha Skrypuch! Congratulations on reaching this milestone and for being such a champion of Canadian Children's Literature!!! Karen U.
Thanks, Karen. I think this was a pretty significant book for many. Little wonder it won the Silver Birch Award.
DeleteIt was your review of The StarLight Claim by Tim Wynne-Jones from September 10, 2019. I have limited budgets at my schools so your reviews are my one stop shop for engaging stories for my students. The review you did for this particular book was extra engagine and my hard to reach high school boys are loving it, even doing impromptu book talks about it with their peers! I always think of you, Helen--when I sign that book out. Thank you for all you do to encourage reading--it was a special day when I sat in on your OLA Superconference session! Nancy Clow
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy. I think Tim Wynne-Jones would be delighted to hear this about his book.
DeleteYou are entered!
I decided to read Canadian Women Now and Then, by Elizabeth MacLeod, illustrated by Maia Faddoui. I love history as a source of inspiration, and the review highlighted how the author managed to convey each woman's contributions in only a few paragraphs. This I had to see!
ReplyDeleteGlad this guest review grabbed your attention. Thanks for leaving a comment.
DeleteYou are entered!
A million posts? That's pretty impressive, Helen! I know I'm not alone in thanking you for supporting Canadian children's books. You're our hero!
ReplyDeleteI love reading your reviews, especially when I'm looking for books for my grands. They have inspired countless book purchases.
I'm pretty sure your blog is where I first heard about Muddle School by Dave Whamond. (My grandson is going to love this one!)
Thanks, Heather. Muddle School is a hoot. Your grandson will love it!
DeleteThanks for your kind comments. I certainly am feeling a lot of love right now. (Maybe my decision to keep things going is the right one.)
You are entered!
This is AMAZING! Congrats, Helen, and thank you for all you do for Canadian kidlit (and the authors who write it!). While I feel like I'm generally in the know about all the great books coming out, I always find something new among your reviews and roundup posts - too many added to my TBR to pick just one!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joanne. I'm pretty pleased by how the blog has been received over the years. Hopefully it has done what it was supposed to do: promote the books by Canadian authors, like yourself, and illustrators.
DeleteFeel free to just pick the name of 1 book, just to be able to enter the contest. Just 1 is all you need. (I know you've probably read lots.)
In that case, after some hard thinking, I'd have to choose This Is Your Brain on Stereotypes - a really enlightening and timely book.
DeleteAnd yes, your blog absolutely hits the mark on promoting books. Your work is important and is very much appreciated!
Good choice. Always nice to get some love for non-fiction. Your entry is now in!
DeleteThere are so many book reviews I have enjoyed on this blog. I especially love your genre lists like you do for Indigenous Peoples Day, and also your Coming soon, monthly lists. But one book I do recall learning about from your blog which might have gone unnoticed by me otherwise, was Marsha Skrypuch's Dance of the Banished. I put it on my Wish List immediately and was very happy to receive it when I was finally able to order it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your passion for Canadian children's literature.
Thanks so much, Phyllis. Marsha would probably be delighted to hear this about Dance of the Banished. I was happy to give it some well-deserved attention.
DeleteYou are now entered!
Helen, I feel so lucky to have spent time with you at UGDSB tl meetings discussing kids' books and authors and of course the Forest of Reading. Congratulations on one million!
ReplyDeleteThank you. That's so nice of you to say. But you've got to tell me your name (first name is good enough, I'll figure it out) because you show up as Unknown! And share a title so that I can enter you in the contest.
DeleteKathy W wrote: So many books, notable "Tinfoil Sky" by Cyndi Sand-Eveland (also "The Seven Series & Sequels")
DeleteThanks, Kathy. I pasted your comment here so I didn't give away your email address. But I have it now. Thanks.
DeleteYou are now entered.
I read your review of Cherie Dimaline's The Marrow Thieves with great interest. It prompted me to read it right away at my school library. You were right, it was a dystopian, agonizing story, but told with such clarity of expression, and as you said, lyricism. I have recommended it to so many teachers and students at my school since reading it... Thank you always for your brilliant reviews and lists!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth A.
Thanks, Elizabeth, for sharing that. I think The Marrow Thieves was an important book for many. Glad the review helped grab your attention.
DeleteI have now added your name to the list of contest entries.
CONGRATULATIONS, Elizabeth A. You are the WINNER of the contest! (see my final comment below)
DeleteI choose the wolverine book with its detailed illustrations I also love it because it was my first book review published on your blog with Ms. Cook -Hudson G
ReplyDeleteThanks, Hudson, for your comment. I have now added your name to the contest. Good luck.
DeleteOh, my goodness. How to choose, Helen?! For myself, I am always so glad to see your picture book reviews. I live in rural Ontario, and often, your reviews are the closest I can get to these gorgeous gems. You constantly introduce me to new authors, and importantly, new illustrators whose work I might not otherwise have a chance to encounter. But I also love your interviews — I particularly enjoyed the one with Phillipa Dowding that encouraged me to grab and gobble her book Firefly. CONGRATULATIONS on 1million and counting.
ReplyDeleteFirefly was incredible and so worthy of its GG win. Thanks for your very generous words, Amanda, and for leaving a comment.
DeleteYou are now entered in the contest.
One million - I am doing a happy dance right now!!!! This blog is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa. Be sure to share a title whose review you read for a chance at a box of free books. Contest ends tonight 11: 59 PM EST.
DeleteWow, Helen, how to choose?! I must admit my favourite part of seeing your blog is that I get to see so many picture books that I might not encounter otherwise. You’ve introduced me to countless new and exciting illustrators, so that I feel inspired with each new post. But I also love your interviews. The one with Phillipa Dowding sent me scurrying out to buy Firefly as soon as I could. Thank you for all you do and CONGRATULATIONS! Here’s to the next million.
ReplyDeleteSorry for accidentally posting twice! What a techno nerd I am! I hope it didn't change your count.
DeleteNot at all. Happens ALL the time. Usually I just delete the second (I logged your first logged in my contest) but because you said something a little more in the second I opted to keep it. Thanks for all your comments.
DeleteIt's me again telling you how helpful this blog is. Your reviews are insightful and invigorating.
ReplyDelete❤️
DeleteThis contest is now closed. It ended last night at 11:59 PM EST after this blog reached one million views at approximately 3:08 PM.
ReplyDeleteUsing a random number generator, a winner was selected and it is.....Elizabeth A. who enjoyed the review of Cherie Dimaline's "The Marrow Thieves."
Thank you to all who shared on the blog and on Twitter.
And Elizabeth A., if you submit a comment with your details (email, address), I won't post the comment, just grab the information and delete your comment.