Mystery at the Biltmore: Book launch (Winnipeg, MB)

Colleen Nelson 

author of picture books, middle grade, non-fiction and YA

 

 

is launching her newest book

 

Mystery at the Biltmore

Written by Colleen Nelson

with illustrations by Peggy Collins

Pajama Press

978-1-772783278

104 pp.

Ages 7-10

October 8, 2024 

on

Sunday, October 27, 2024
 

3:00pm - 4:00 PM

 

at

Whodunit New And Used Mystery Bookstore

163 Lilac St.

Winnipeg, Manitoba

 

 

An early middle grade novel, with illustrations, Mystery at the Biltmore is the first in a new series by Colleen Nelson (Book 2, The Classified Catnapping, releases in April 2025), and is described as "Only Murders in the Building meets Harriet the Spy." (Publisher's page at https://pajamapress.ca/book/mystery-at-the-biltmore-2/)

Here's a bit more about the book to really pique a mystery lover's interest:

The Biltmore in New York City is full of mysteries, and Elodie LaRue, a novice detective, plans to piece together the clues and solve the case of the missing jewels.

Left behind by her globe-trotting detective parents once again, Elodie decides to prove she’s worthy of joining them on a case by setting up her own detective agency at her renowned Upper West Side home, The Biltmore.

When a pair of sapphire earrings mysteriously disappear from Mrs. Vanderhoff’s apartment, Elodie is asked to solve the case. Elodie begins her investigation the way any good detective would, looking for clues and potential suspects. With twists, turns, and suspects galore, will Elodie be able to prove she has what it takes to solve a crime? Or will the LaRue Detective Agency fail on its first case? As Elodie, her dog Carnegie, and new friend Oscar (a self-proclaimed parkour master) delve deeper into the mystery, they encounter a quirky cast of characters, an array of clues, and a little bit of fun.

(From Pajama Press book page at
https://pajamapress.ca/book/mystery-at-the-biltmore-2/)

 

If you're fortunate enough to live in the area of Winnipeg, this would be a fabulous opportunity to grab a new mystery book, get it signed by the author, and start a new series that is sure to please all young mystery lovers.

Mystery at the Biltmore (October 2024)

The Classified Catnapping (April 2025)

Dragonfly Kites / Pimithaagansa

by Tomson Highway

Illustrated by Julie Flett

Fifth House Publishers

978-1-89725-263-5

32 pp.

Ages 4+

March 2016

The two young Cree brothers from Tomson Highway’s Caribou Song (Fifth House, 2013) return in a new release of the second tale from the author and playwright’s Magical Songs of the North trilogy. This time the boys and their parents and dog Ootsie are heading to spend the summer further north in Manitoba.

From Tomson Highway’s reminiscent text and Julie Flett’s creative and evocative illustrations, Dragonfly Kites takes readers to a simpler time and one deep in traditions. A time of traveling north by canoe and erecting a tent by a lake so papa and mama could fish while the boys played by themselves on land, and “think up games with made-up toys.” (pg. 6) The boys are only limited by their imaginations and because their imaginations are so expansive, there are no constraints on their play.

They create personalities from sticks.  They make friends of terns, loons, rabbits, and eaglets.  And they create magical kites from dragonflies and string. But even after the sun sets and the boys are asleep, their dragonfly kites take them on wondrous adventures.

From Dragonfly Kites by Tomson Highway, illus. by Julie Flett

The story of Dragonfly Kites is both uplifting and calming and beautifully captivated by Julie Flett’s illustrations.  The clean lines of her art may appear to be stark but they conjure the lavish environment of the lakes and north of Tomson Highway’s story so persuasively that any “more” would have been too much.

Like Caribou Song, Dragonfly Kites is presented in English and Cree and shares another aspect of traditional Cree ways, the summer in the north. While most young readers could not imagine a whole summer away from their technology, Joe and Cody demonstrate the richness of a life based in family, the natural world and imaginative play is more than enough to fill their days and their dreams.

Rain Shadow

by Valerie Sherrard

Fitzhenry & Whiteside

978-1-55455-341-9

150 pp.

Ages 10+

November 2014

Yes, the book cover is beautiful.  And the beauty of Rain Shadow's cover is only surpassed by Valerie Sherrard's story within.

Valerie Sherrard takes the reader back to Junction, Manitoba, the setting for her multi-award-winning book, The Glory Wind (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2010), a poetic tale of friendship and tragedy.  Two years after The Glory Wind's events, twelve-year-old Bethany Anderson still only knows that something happened to Gracie, though her only memory involves a half penny she never was able to return to her schoolmate before she was gone.  Bethany has never shared that with anyone and certainly not her fourteen-year-old sister Mira who calls Bethany a "Retard" and tells her about scary places for children like Bethany "who have parts that do not work correctly." (pg. 19) Bethany may have difficulties learning, and cannot read, and takes things too literally, but she has the biggest heart and blames herself too readily for things that are never in her control. 

"But I did do wrong things lots of other days.  Mostly, I did not know they were wrong until after I did them.  That made me wish I knew how to write more words.  Then I could have made a list of things I should not do so I would not forget them and keep upsetting Mother.  At bedtime, I said the ones I could remember over and over in my head." (pg. 81)

Perhaps her gravest error, in her mind, was answering the door to a man and his family whose son later died of polio. Of course, no one knew he had polio at the time, and Bethany didn't invite them in or tell Mira to join them and Mother in the house; Mother did that.  But when Mira contracts polio and dies, Mother's grief lashes out at Bethany.

"That made me feel like something black and scary was inside me." (pg. 83)

Surprisingly, school becomes Bethany's salvation.  Without Mira around, the other students are generally kinder to her, and her efforts are recognized, and there is always someone to chastize those who might be mean to her.  So while Bethany might feel unwanted and inconvenient at home, a stone to Mira's jewel, at school she feels exactly like the others.  And it's only through the efforts of others in the community that Bethany is encouraged to see how strong and brave she has always been.

The polio epidemics of the 1940s and 1950s were all the more frightening for the lack of understanding and the tragic prognoses. But the loss of a favourite and "perfect"child to polio is obviously too much for Bethany's mother to bear. Already flawed, as indicated by her treatment of Bethany, Mother could do nothing less than destroy her relationship with her only surviving daughter. That doesn't excuse her.  But, by continuing to perpetuate the placement of her youngest daughter in Mira's (rain) shadow, her mother has actually nudged Bethany to explore everything she can be.

Valerie Sherrard is so adept at telling a story that could be anyone's tale.  At its foundation, Rain Shadow is just the story of a girl with challenges whose family doesn't know how to meet her needs, especially after a great tragedy engulfs all of them.  Though set in 1949, Rain Shadow encompasses the story lines of our lives: tragedy, relationships with siblings and parents, school life, the kindness of strangers, love, and self-awareness.  But, conceived and written by Valerie Sherrard, Rain Shadow becomes a triumph of the human spirit to weather life's challenges and to even transcend them.  It's a beautiful story amidst despairing circumstances.

Caribou Song / Atihko Nikamon

by Tomson Highway

Illustrated by John Rombough

Fifth House Publishers

978-1-89725-261-1

32 pp.

Ages 4+

June, 2013

Joe and Cody are two brothers who travel with their parents by dog sled across the tundra all year round.  Joe plays the kitoochigan, an accordion, while his younger brother dances.  At one stop, a large rock in the middle of a meadow seems a fine spot for music and dance, especially when singing, "Ateek, ateek! Astum, astum!" ("Caribou, caribou! Come, come!"). Engrossed in their play, the two boys do not hear the rumbling of thousands of caribou heading their way, even though young Cody has fallen onto the caribou moss below.  While their parents fear for the boys' safety, the rapids of powerful beasts carry the boys along and the mystical voice of the herd invites them to know the caribou spirit.

Tomson Highway, award-winning Canadian and Cree playwright and author, originally offered this tantalizing story in 2001, illustrated by Brian Deines (HarperCollins, 2001). This new edition, illustrated by Chipewyan Dene artist John Rombough,  emphasizes the intensity of the story, specifically the emotional experience of the boys amidst the enormity of and the potentially fatal caribou run.  The bold and rich tones of blues and purples, strongly outlined in unrelenting black visually depict the fierce, almost violent nature of the landscape and the caribou in run.  The intermittent golden hues of the sky and other backgrounds lend a warm cushion that provides relief from the terror and hostility of the boys' circumstances.  

Presented in English and Cree, Caribou Song will take young readers to a world fast disappearing: one of a frozen landscape of snow and traditional hunting and life on the tundra.  For those readers who can appreciate the high Cree translation of Caribou Song, this new edition suggests that there are still valuable ways to retain their ancestral ways.

Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Awards 2013 Nominees announced

The Manitoba School Library Association marked the International Year of Literacy, 1990, with the implementation of a literacy program aimed at promoting literacy for children of ages 10 to 14 years of age.

The Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Awards (MYRCA) program presents 15 to 18 Canadian novels written in English for the targeted young readers.  Those young people who have read or heard a minimum of 3 nominated titles vote for their favourite title in April.  The winning title and honour books are announced in May and celebrated at an awards ceremony in October.

This week's press release which announced the winners for 2012 also announced the shortlist of nominated titles for the 2013 MYRCA.  Congratulations to the authors and publishers of these eighteen nominees:

Against All Odds 
by Natale Ghent
HarperCollins
227 pp.
Ages 8-12

The Bedmas Conspiracy 

by Deborah Sherman

Fitzhenry & Whiteside

172 pp.

Ages 8-11

Blood Red Road 
by Moira Young
Doubleday
459 pp.
Ages 14+ 

Box of Shocks

by Chris McMahen
Orca
160 pp.
Ages 9-12

The Case of the Missing Deed
by Ellen Schwartz
Tundra
189 pp.
Ages 8-12

Dragon Seer's Gift 

by Janet McNaughton
HarperCollins
282 pp.
Ages 10+ 

The Dragon Turn: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His 5th Case
by Shane Peacock
Tundra
220 pp.
Ages 10-14

Encore Edie 

by Annabel Lyon
Puffin Canada
163 pp.
Ages 9-12

End of Days
by Eric Walters
Doubleday
316 pp.
Ages 10-15

Fly Boy

by Eric Walters
Puffin Canada
192 pp.
Ages 8-12

Ice Storm (Disaster Strikes #6)
by Penny Draper
Coteau Books
198 pp.
Ages 9-13

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes

by Jonathan Auxier
Puffin Canada
381 pp.
Ages 10-13

This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein
by Kenneth Oppel
HarperCollins
298 pp.
Ages 12+

The Tiffin

by Mahtab Narsimhan
Dancing Cat Books
190 pp.
Ages 9-12

Timber Wolf
by Caroline Pignat
Red Deer Press
206 pp.
Ages 11-14

True Blue

by Deborah Ellis
Pajama Press
229 pp.
Ages 11-14

Undergrounders
by David Skuy
Scholastic Canada
194 pp.
Ages 11-14

Witchlanders

by Lena Coakley
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
416 pp.
Ages 12+ 

Manitoba Young Readers' Choice 2012 Award winners announced!

This week the Manitoba School Library Association announced the winners of the Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Awards (MYRCA) for 2012. 


The 2012 winning title, as voted by young Manitoba readers of ages 10 to 14, is

Dear George Clooney, 

Please Marry My Mom

by Susin Nielsen

Tundra Books

2010

Also 

Winner of the 2012 Rocky Mountain Book Award Gold Medal

Winner of the 2011 Snow Willow Award

          *          *          *          

Congratulations to the readers' two Honour Books:

Half Brother

by Kenneth Oppel

HarperTrophy 

 

Stolen Child

           by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

                                              Scholastic Canada

 

  CONGRATULATIONS

 to all Nominees and Winners 

and young readers in this literacy program 

Manitoba Book Awards: 2012 Nominees

I often forget how expansive Canada is until I have to announce all the regional and provincial book award programmes.  Then, I find myself blogging post after post of worthy Canadian books, authors, illustrators and publishers which really do reflect the unique nature of each area.  As such,  it's only fitting that there are the Manitoba Book Awards which are administered by the Manitoba Writers’ Guild and the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers, with assistance from their numerous partners (Aqua Books, Friesens, the Manitoba Arts Council, Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism, McNally Robinson Booksellers, Prairie Fire, the Winnipeg International Writers Festival, the Winnipeg Foundation, the Winnipeg Arts Council, and the Canada Council for the Arts).

The 2012 nominees for the Manitoba Book Awards were announced yesterday, with the presentation of awards scheduled for the gala on Saturday April 28th at the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain and hosted by Drek Daa.  If I was fortunate enough to live near Winnipeg, I'd be delighted to attend this event which is free and open to the public.

The Manitoba Book Awards consist of the following thirteen categories:

• Aqua Lansdowne Prize for Poetry / Prix Lansdowne de poésie

• Best Illustrated Book of the Year / Meilleur livre illustré de l’année

• Manuela Dias Book Design of the Year / Prix Manuela-Dias de conception graphique en édition

• Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book

• Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award / Prix littéraire Carol-Shields de la ville de Winnipeg

• Michael Van Rooy Award for Genre Fiction

• Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction

• Alexander Kennedy Isbister Award for Non-Fiction / Prix Alexander-Kennedy-Isbister pour les études et essais

• John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer

• Mary Scorer Award for Best Book by a Manitoba Publisher / Prix Mary-Scorer pour le meilleur livre par un éditeur du Manitoba

• McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award

• Younger Category
• Older Category

• McNally Robinson Book of the Year

As I always do like to focus on the awards for younger readers, I've included the short-listed nominees for the McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award.

In the Younger Category:

Annie’s Bright Idea: A Christmastime Adventure 
by Audrhea Lande
Illustrated by Jenny Prest
Self-published

Nanabosho and the Butterflies 
by Joe and Matrine McLellan
Illustrated by Jackie Traverse
Pemmican Publications

S is for Science: A Discovery of Alphabet 
by Larry Verstraete
Sleeping Bear Press

In the Older Category:

Case Files: 40 Murders and Mysteries Solved by Science 
by Larry Verstraete
Scholastic

Kingdom of Trolls 
by Rae Bridgman
Sybertooth

Tori by Design 
by Colleen Nelson
Great Plains Teen Fiction






 
Find more details on this year's nominees at the Manitoba Writers' Guild or about the awards in general at the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers .