Africville

Written by Shauntay Grant

Illustrated by Eva Campbell

Groundwood Books

978-1-77306-043-9

32 pp.

Ages 4-7

September 2018

Though Africville, a Nova Scotia community founded by former slaves and Black Loyalists in the 1800s, is sadly a legacy of racial discrimination and abandonment, Shauntay Grant chooses to tell the story of community and all the goodness one child sees in Africville.

Africville's story begins with a young girl looking at the community as an observer, seeing its location

at the end of the ocean
 where waves come to rest
 and hug the harbor stones

to its structures

and the houses lay out like a rainbow

From Africville by Shauntay Grant, illus. by Eva Campbell

and the activity of children at play and at home, relaxing and busy. There is fishing and football, rafting, skipping and fishing, food, family and church. This is the Africville of home.

From Africville by Shauntay Grant, illus. by Eva Campbell

Take me to where the pavement ends
and family begins

Though Shauntay Grant shares the girl's observations of Africville as if the child is of that place and time, it only becomes evident at the very end that the girl is visiting the current historic site, looking at the community from a contemporary setting, envisioning the children and families as their lives may have been lived and Africville may have been.

From Africville by Shauntay Grant, illus. by Eva Campbell

But, while Africville is a piece of history of which countless books have been written, including several of youngCanLit, Shauntay Grant's book is not a journalist piece about the community's evolution and tragedies. She has written a joyful account of a neighbourhood of people. The colour in their lives comes from where they are, what they do, and how they feel. There is a respect for the past and for the present, and anticipation for the future.

where memories turn to dreams,
and dreams turn to hope,
and hope never ends.

Shauntay Grant is a poet who brings that sweetness of time and place to her free verse, transporting all readers to the humanity of Africville. Likewise, BC painter Eva Campbell uses vivid colours of acrylic on canvas to bring out Africville's joys and its sense of kinship even with those who would be unrelated. In Africville, everyone belongs.

The legacy that is Africville will spark deep discussions of history and racism but Shauntay Grant and Eva Campbell's Africville will take those discussion sideways to celebrate the Africville that was home and life to so many for over a century.

Canadian KidLit Masquerade Gala (Toronto, ON)

Writers! Illustrators! 
Lovers of youngCanLit!

On October 29, 2018, the TD Children's Literature Awards will be presented in an exclusive event in Toronto. Because of limited venue capacity, many authors and illustrators and members of the Canadian Children's Book Centre will not be able to share in honouring their peers on this special night.  As such, a special event, the Canadian KidLit Masquerade Ball, the brain child of authors Kari Maaren, Ishta Mercurio, Claudia Osmond and Star Spider, will be held as the official *unofficial* after party.  It will be a great opportunity to celebrate, schmooze, imbibe, and share with writers and illustrators of youngCanLit.

Come celebrate the nominees and winners of this year's TD Children's Literature Awards and all those who create great books for children and teens in Canada.

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Here's the scoop on the event and how you can attend:

Date:  

Monday, October 29, 2018

Time:

 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Location:  

Lula Lounge

1585 Dundas West, Toronto, Ontario M6K1T9

Tickets: 

$45 

(includes free coat check, canapés, one drink ticket and performance by Tia Brazda and more)  
are available at

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/canadian-kidlit-masquerade-gala-tickets-50607201502

Musical guest Tia Brazda will perform

Dress:

Fancy dress with mask

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Please join us at the

 Canadian KidLit Masquerade Gala 

and

help celebrate the writing and art achievements of creators of youngCanLit.

Inkling

Written by Kenneth Oppel

Illustrated by Sydney Smith

HarperCollins

978-1-44345-028-1

256 pp.

Ages 8-12

September 2018

When  a splotch of ink pulls itself out of the sketchbook of graphic artist Mr. Rylance, only the cat Rickman sees it roaming and exploring until it hides itself within the drawing efforts of sixth grader Ethan. In fact, while the talented Mr. Rylance, known for his Kren graphic novels, struggles with writer's and artist's block undoubtedly stemming from the death of his spouse, his son is just struggling to contribute the artwork to a class project. (His peers are convinced he should be able to draw like his dad.) But after Ethan discovers the ink splotch which he calls Inkling is able to absorb the ink from books, newsprint and even photographs and complete incredible illustrations, he begins to use the inky entity to build on his own clumsy stick figure drawings and submit the artwork as his own.

From Inkling by Kenneth Oppel, illus. by Sydney Smith

While Inkling feeds on a variety of print which affects its voice and behaviour–violent comic books are the worst!–and draws Ethan's homework, the boy struggles to keep his secret advantage safe and undercover. But, like all good secrets, it is revealed, first to one friend and then to his father, before being discovered by Ethan's archenemy, the daughter of Dad's publisher.  Too soon, Ethan is scrambling to keep Inkling safe and stop those who wish to enslave it. 

From Inkling by Kenneth Oppel, illus. by Sydney Smith

What starts out as an imaginative creation story of a splotch of ink soon becomes a cautionary tale against finding an easy way out of work and taking advantage of those who might help you. And you'll be astonished when you feel like cheering for a blob of ink who expresses itself wildly in terms of whatever text it has most recently consumed, including L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, Roald Dahl's The BFG and Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, and then feel angst for it when Inkling writes, in inky bold writing, that "I AM ALONESOME" (pg. 82). Kenneth Oppel has made us care for bats, a fostered chimp and now a blob of ink. Too soon the reader will see Inkling as a living thing, even before given a name, and I defy any science teacher to do a lesson on the characteristics of living things and not struggle with Inkling's classification. It's all in Kenneth Oppel's ability to give life through his words, invigorating Inkling with needs and wants and free will.

Though Inkling is not a picture book or a graphic novel, it is illustrated, here by Governor General award-winning artist Sydney Smith who takes Kenneth Oppel's story and sugars it with artwork that adds but doesn't explain. From chapter heading panels to ink splats small and large on every double-spread and the occasional expression of Inkling's work, Sydney Smith guides us to understanding the evolution of Inkling from static ink on a page to living being, absorbing, learning and feeling. Remember: Inkling is composed solely of ink.

I suspect teachers will be jumping on Inkling (please don't hurt him!) to use in class for everything from writing voice and setting to writing "What If?" stories as the basis for plot. But don't disregard Inkling's magic as a blob of ink restores life to a family disintegrating in grief and offers hope through the art of its dynamic efforts.

Body Swap: Book launch (Burlington, ON)

Sylvia McNicoll

middle grade and YA author extraordinaire

is 

launching her newest book

Body Swap

Written by Sylvia McNicoll

Dundurn

978-1-45974-090-7

248 pp.

Ages 12-15

September 2018 

on

Sunday, September 30, 2018

from

 2-4 p.m.

at

A Different Drummer Books

513 Locust Street

Burlington, ON

If that glorious cover doesn't get you interested, then this blurb about the book, from Dundurn's website, will be sure to entice:

A fatal collision — who’s to blame? Two bodies, two souls switch in search of justice.

When fifteen-year-old Hallie gets knocked flying by a Hurricane SUV, her life ends without her ever having kissed a boy. At an otherworldly carnival, she meets and argues with the eighty-two-year-old driver, Susan. Both return to life, only with one catch — they’ve swapped bodies.

Now Hallie has wrinkled skin and achy joints while Susan deals with a forehead zit and a crush on a guy who’s a player. Hallie faces a life in a long-term care residence. Susan gets picked up for shoplifting.

As they struggle with technology, medications, and each other’s fashion foibles, they start to understand and maybe even like each other. But can they work together to prove that a defect in the Hurricane caused the deadly crash? Or will their time run out?

Retrieved on September 21, 2018 from https://www.dundurn.com/books/Body-Swap

Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes: Book launch (Winnipeg, MB)

As part of THIN AIR: The Winnipeg International Writers Festival

musician, journalist and Member of the Legislative Assembly

Wab Kinew

launches his first picture book

Go Show the World:

 A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes

by Wab Kinew

Illustrated by Joe Morse

Tundra Books

9780735262928

40 pp.

Ages 5-9

September 2018

on 

Saturday, September 22, 2018

at

 2 p.m.

McNally Robinson

Grant Park in the Atrium

Winnipeg, MB

From Penguin Random House Canada website:

"We are a people who matter." Inspired by President Barack Obama's Of Thee I Sing, Go Show the World is a tribute to historic and modern-day Indigenous heroes, featuring important figures such as Tecumseh, Sacagawea and former NASA astronaut John Herrington.

Celebrating the stories of Indigenous people throughout time, Wab Kinew has created a powerful rap song, the lyrics of which are the basis for the text in this beautiful picture book, illustrated by the acclaimed Joe Morse. Including figures such as Crazy Horse, Net-no-kwa, former NASA astronaut John Herrington and Canadian NHL goalie Carey Price, Go Show the World showcases a diverse group of Indigenous people in the US and Canada, both the more well known and the not-so-widely recognized. Individually, their stories, though briefly touched on, are inspiring; collectively, they empower the reader with this message: "We are people who matter, yes, it's true; now let's show the world what people who matter can do."

Complete details at McNally Robinson Booksellers here.

The Reptile Club: Book launch (Winnipeg, MB)

Join 

author

 Maureen Fergus

for the launch of her newest picture book

The Reptile Club

Written by Maureen Fergus

Illustrated by Elina Ellis

Kids Can Press

978-1-77138-655-5

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

September 2018 

Reviewed here

on

Saturday, September 29, 2018

at

1 p.m.

at

McNally Robinson Booksellers

Grant Park Shopping Centre

Winnipeg, MB

🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊

 

See my review today about this clever picture book about reptiles, passions, friends, and acceptance and then take in the book launch next week for The Reptile Club.

The Reptile Club

Written by Maureen Fergus

Illustrated by Elina Ellis

Kids Can Press

978-1-77138-655-5

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

September 2018 

There are a lot of clubs at Rory's school including glee, ballet, knitting, karate, theater, astronauts, prancing unicorn (!), extra math homework and cooking, but none speak to his passion so he starts his own reptile club. But who shows up to see his plastic reptile collection and eat his lizard-shaped cookies? Reptiles! After all, it is the Reptile Club.

From The Reptile Club by Maureen Fergus, illus. by Elina Ellis

There's Raoul the massive crocodile, Miriam the anaconda and Pierre the gecko, and they all introduce themselves as does Rory with interesting tidbits about themselves before the meeting transitions into discussion, play and food.

Once the other kids see what the Reptile Club is all about, they want to join too, and Rory has to convince the reptiles that "it wasn't nice to be prejudiced against others just because they had hair and could regulate their body temperature." (pg. 21) The Reptile Club flourishes with new members and activities like the game "Guess What I Just Ate?" until weeks later when the reptile members announce that they must say goodbye as winter is coming. But what of the Reptile Club?

From The Reptile Club by Maureen Fergus, illus. by Elina Ellis

Time and time again, author Maureen Fergus has shown her prowess at word play and seeing stories from unusual perspectives. Her picture book The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten (Kids Can Press, 2013) has a kindergartner affectionately chastizing her mother for her inappropriate behaviour at school. The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold (Tundra, 2016) twists the idea of children questioning the existence of the jolly old man to Santa wondering whether a particular child is real. In The Reptile Club, Maureen Fergus does the same, presenting a club that draws its members from the Class Reptilia not just those who are passionate about them. It makes for a funny story. But the story isn't just a clever take on school clubs. It's about honouring your passions, making friends and accepting others, regardless of their differences. When the reptiles are reluctant to let the other human kids into the club, Rory has to help them see that the differences aren't that big a deal since they already accept him, a lowly mammal. And if the humour throughout the book doesn't tickle a child's funny bone–I wonder if reptiles have funny bones?–then the illustrations of the UK's Elina Ellis with their youthful lightness in colours and shape, perfect for a school setting filled with children and animals, definitely will.

From The Reptile Club by Maureen Fergus, illus. by Elina Ellis

While I won't give away Maureen Fergus's surprise ending that will definitely get readers smiling, I can say that school clubs have never been so much fun and engaging and The Reptile Club is one to join for a chance at learning, laughing and literacy. 

🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊