New Releases for Fall 2012

I've spent hours perusing catalogues from Canadian publishers, looking for new releases for my MUST READ pile.  I look for my favourite authors, new books in series, illustrators whose work I adore, and books with just something a little different that grabs my attention.  While not a complete list, the books I've included below are ones for which there will be much anticipation, at least from me.

Picture Books

• Maggie's Chopsticks by Alan Woo, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant (Kids Can Press)
• Mr. King's Things by Geneviève Côté (Kids Can Press)
• Mr. Zinger's Hat by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Dušan Petričić (Tundra)

Fiction

• Nobody Knows by Shelley Tanaka (Groundwood Books)
• Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy (Bloomsbury/Penguin)

Young Adult

• And Nothing But the Truth by Kit Pearson (HarperCollins) >>> sequel to The Whole Truth reviewed here
  
• Encyclopedia of Me by Karen Rivers (Scholastic Canada)
• Starling by Lesley Livingston (HarperCollins)
• Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel (HarperCollins Canada) >>> sequel to This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor of Frankenstein reviewed here
• Through Indigo's Eyes: Why Two Little Words Mean So Much by Tara Taylor and Lorna Schultz Nicholson (Hay House Visions)
  

Non-Fiction 

• Mimi's Village: And How Basic Health Care Transformed it by Kate Smith Milway, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes (Kids Can Press) >>>  part of the CitizenKids series
• Robbers! True Stories of the World’s Most Notorious Thieves by Andreas Schroeder, illustrated by Rémy Simard (Annick Press)

   

Picture Books 

• The Big Game by Gilles Tibo, illustrated by Bruno St-Aubin (Scholastic Canada) >>> sequel to Where's My Hockey Sweater? and The Best Goalie Ever
• A Few Bites by Cybèle Young (Groundwood) >>> sequel to A Few Blocks
•  Finding Christmas by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko (Scholastic Canada)
•  Goodnight, Canada by Andrea Beck (Scholastic Canada)
• I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Simon & Schuster)
•  Last Leaf First Snowflake to Fall by Leo Yerxa (Groundwood)
•  Toads on Toast by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Colin Jack (Kids Can Press)
•  Wishes by Jean Little, illustrated by Geneviève Côté (Scholastic Canada)

Graphic 

•  Binky Takes Charge by Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press) >>> sequel to Binky the Space Cat, Binky to the Rescue, Binky Under Pressure reviewed here
  
•  The Captive Prince by Scott Chantler (Kids Can Press) >>> third book in Three Thieves series

Fiction 

• Bookweirdest by Paul Glennon (Random House) >>> sequel to Bookweird and Bookweirder 
• The Boy in the Box by Cary Fagan (Puffin)
• Breakaway by Maureen Ulrich (Coteau) 
• Hunter by Eric Walters (Orca) >>> sequel to Catboy
• I am Canada: A Call to Battle, War of 1812, Alexander MacKay, Upper Canada 1812 by Gillian Chan (Scholastic Canada)
  
• Little Jane Silver and the Nameless Isle by Adira Rotstein (Dundurn) >>> sequel to Little Jane Silver reviewed here
• My Name is Parvana by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books) >>> sequel to The Breadwinner Trilogy
• Nobody's Dog by Ria Voros (Scholastic Canada) 
• The One Spooky Night by Dan Bar-el, illustrated by David Huyck (Kids Can Press)
• One Year in Coal Harbour by Polly Horvath (Groundwood) >>> sequel to Everything on a Waffle
• Outlaw in India by Philip Roy (Ronsdale Press) >>> reviewed here; fifth book in the Submarine Outlaw series;  Ghosts of the Pacific (#4) reviewed here
• The Piper of Shadonia by Linda Smith (Coteau) >>>  reviewed here
• The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen by Susin Nielsen (Tundra)
• A Sea of Sorrows: The Typhus Epidemic of Johanna Leary, Canada East 1847 by Norah McClintock (Scholastic Canada) >>> Dear Canada volume on escaping the Irish Potato Famine
• A Semester in the Life of a Garbage Bag by Gordon Korman (Scholastic Canada)
• Shade and the Sorceress: The Last Days of Ti Dian by Catherine Egan (Coteau)
• Time Flies When You're Chasing Spies: A Halifax Mystery by Allison Mahar (Nimbus)
• Ungifted by Gordon Korman (Scholastic Canada)

Young Adult 

• Bright's Light by Susan Juby (HarperTrophy Canada)
• The Darkest Corner of the Universe by Urve Tamberg (Dancing Cat Books) >>> WW2 historical fiction
• I'll Be Home Soon by Luanne Armstrong (Ronsdale Press) >>>  reviewed here 
• Live to Tell by Lisa Harrington (Dancing Cat Books)
• My Book of Life by Angel by Martine Leavitt (Groundwood Books) >>> verse novel
• Not With a Bang by Gail Sidonie Sobat (Magpie)
• Pieces of Me by Darlene Ryan (Orca) 
• Rebel Heart (Dustlands 2) by Moira Young (Random House) >>> sequel to Blood Red Road reviewed here
  
• Redwing by Holly Bennett (Orca)
• Yesterday by C. K. Kelly Martin (Random House)
• (You) Set Me On Fire by Mariko Tamaki (Razorbill)

Non-Fiction

• A Long Way from Home by Alice Walsh (Second Story Press) >>> about those stranded in Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11

Picture Books 

• Checkers and Dot by J. Torres, illustrated by J. Lum (Tundra) 
• Checkers and Dot at the Zoo by J. Torres, illustrated by J. Lum (Tundra) 
• A Good Trade by Alma Fullerton, illustrated by Karen Patkau (Pajama Press) >>> a special story about a special day for a boy in a Ugandan village
• Lumpito and the Painter from Spain by Monica Kulling, illustrated by Dean Griffiths (Pajama Press) >>> based on the true story of Pablo Picasso's special relationship with a dachshund
• Miss Mousie's Blind Date by Tim Beiser, illustrated by Rachel Berman (Tundra) >>> from team that brought us Bradley McGogg, The Very Fine Frog  
• Murilla Gorilla by Jennifer Lloyd, illustrated by Jacqui Lee (Simply Read Books)
  
• Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas by Mélanie Watt (Kids Can Press) >>> fifth book in the Scaredy Squirrel series
• That Night's Train Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (Groundwood)
• Uncle Wally's Old Brown Shoe by Wallace Edwards (Orca) >>> more hidden objects and meanings from the master

Fiction

• Neil Flambé and the Tokyo Treasure by Kevin Sylvester (Simon & Schuster) >>> fourth book in the award-winning Neil Flambé series; Neil Flambé and the Crusader's Curse reviewed here
• Secret of the Village Fool by Rebecca Upjohn, illustrated by Renée Benoit (Second Story Press)
• Becoming Holmes: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Final Case by Shane Peacock (Tundra) >>> the sixth and final book in The Boy Sherlock Holmes series; The Dragon Turn (#5) reviewed here
• Seven: The Series   (Orca) >>> introduced here

1. Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters
2. Lost Cause by John Wilson
3. Jump Cut by Ted Staunton
4. Ink Me by Richard Scrimger
5. Close to the Heel by Norah McClintock
6. Devil's Pass by Sigmund Brouwer
7. The Last Message by Shane Peacock

 
Young Adult

• I, Witness by Norah McClintock, illustrated by Mike Deas (Orca) >>> graphic thriller
• The Lewton Experiment by Rachel Sa (Tradewind)
• Oracle by Alex Van Tol (Orca)
• Shallow Grave by Alex Van Tol (Orca)
• Three Little Words by Sarah N. Harvey (Orca)

Non-Fiction

• Going Up: Elisha Otis's Trip to the Top by Monica Kulling, illustrated by David Parkins (Tundra) >>> part to Great Ideas Seried, In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps It Up reviewed here
  
• The Hunting of the Snark, Illustrated by Oleg Lipchenko (Tundra) >>> new illustrated version of Lewis Carroll's story
• One Step at a Time: A Vietnamese Child Finds Her Way by Marsha Skrypuch (Pajama Press) >>> sequel to Last Airlift: A Vietnamese Orphan's Rescue from War reviewed here
• The Quiz Book for Spies by Helaine Becker (Scholastic Canada)
• Rescuing the Children: The Story of the Kindertransport by Deborah Hodge (Tundra)

 

Picture Books

• Dreamboats by Dan Bar-el, illustrated by Kirsti Anne Wakelin (Simply Read Books)
• Emily and the Mighty Om by Sarah Lolley, illustrated by Sleepless Kao (Simply Read Books) 

  Young Adult

• The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress (Dial, Penguin)
• The Geomancer's Compass by Melissa Hardy (Tundra) >>> futuristic setting

• Anna May's Cloak by Christianne Cicioli, illustrated by Susan Pearson (Simply Read Books)

  @yourbookstore   @yourbookstore   @yourbookstore  

I wish I could post an image of every book listed and even all those set for fall release dates but, as always, there are too many books, too little time, and too little money to purchase all these books.  Special thanks to Pajama Press, Ronsdale Press, Raincoast Books (including Simply Read Books), Coteau Books, Orca Books, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Scholastic Canada who have been very generous in sharing copies of their books with me.

The Piper of Shadonia

Written by Linda Smith

Coteau Books

978-1-550-505160

232 pp.

Ages 11-15

2012

With author Linda Smith's passing in 2007, The Piper of Shadonia has been published posthumously so the reader will need to look at Linda Smith's previously published books to enjoy the full extent of her award-winning fantasy writing.  If her other books are similar to The Piper of Shadonia, then they will show that the traditional fantasy novel, relying on an imaginary realm where magic can exist, is just as engrossing and fulfilling as contemporary paranormal fantasies.

Master Hamish Morgenstar, the father of fourteen-year-old Tobin, has just been installed as the mayor of Cradoc in the nation of Shadonia, one of the nations under Forenzian rule and Emperor Ferdinand.  Though he is schooled in the Forenzian ways i.e., those of the wealthier ruling class, and physically looks Forenzian because of his light hair, Tobin is proud of his Shadonian heritage, as supported by his father's mother, Gran, who continues to speak to him in Shadonian and tell him the stories of their people.  Even with his mixed background (his mother's father had been Forenzian but had converted to Shadonian), Tobin finds it tricky to balance his Forenzian advantages with his Shadonian background, especially when taunted by two Shadonian boys, Kasper and Graff, that his father was the "biggest boot-licking toady to the Forenzian emperor in all Cradoc." (pg. 8)  That assertion continues to plague and direct Tobin's actions throughout The Piper of Shadonia as he attempts to defend his father and his Shadonian heritage.

The appearance of a troupe of puppeteers in Cradoc heralds new conflict after Major Gurtin, a Forenzian officer, accuses them of inciting the Shadonians to rebel against the Emperor, and convinces the Mayor to have them arrested.  Tobin rushes to warn the puppeteers and ends up accompanying them on their travels.  So begins Tobin's adventure with the Ellabalm Puppeteers i.e., Balm, Ella and their daughter Gaby, along with the Shadonian bully Kasper.  It is during this time, while evading detection and watching behind the scenes, that Tobin develops his gift of becoming part of the landscape and calling forth the spirit of the river. 

The story in The Piper of Shadonia is essentially one of divided loyalties and reconciling the evil vs. good designation of people, both conflicts typical of all worlds, imaginary and real.  Tobin sways between defending his parents and their actions while supporting his Gran and other proud Shadonians who need to claim their heritage.  But which is the right side to support?  Are the Forenzians all evil?  Major Gurtin certainly is but what of the mayor who is threatened to follow orders?  And are all Shadonians innocent and good?  Even those willing to kill anyone who stands in the way, perhaps unknowingly?  With a pretty girl, an antagonistic troupe-mate and misinterpretations of all he hears, Tobin even has difficulties deciding who he is and where he belongs.

Coming-of-age stories tend not to be set in imaginary worlds of magical talents but Linda Smith has shown that the combination works.  What better way to depict the anger and confusion of the teen years than with a teen who has a gift for making himself unseen and for beckoning natural spirits?  Place that teen in the midst of a national conflict, seemingly pitting parents against friends, oppressor vs. the oppressed, emotions over reasoning, and Tobin must make some tough choices.  And isn't that what a coming-of-age story is all about:  making tough choices and some mistakes for the purpose of learning and maturing? In The Piper of Shadonia, Linda Smith has managed to balance Tobin's angst and subsequent development within the story of an oppressed people finding the means to stand up for themselves, all in a satisfying fantasy for young readers. 

Cats, Cats, More Cats: Book List

Yes, there is a day dedicated to my favourite furry companion. (Although if you ask a cat, every day should be World Cat Day.  And if you ask a cat person, every day becomes World Cat Day.)

There are so many books by Canadian authors and illustrators that feature felines that I can only provide a limited (!) number of titles and specs here.  Sorry, no room for even the briefest of synopses.

PICTURE BOOKS

The Baritone Cat
By Mora Skelton
Illustrated by Janet Wilson
Lester Publishing
32 pp.
Ages 4-6
1994

Caramba

By Marie-Louise Gay
Groundwood Books
40 pp.
Ages 4+
2005

Caramba and Henry

By Marie-Louise Gay
Groundwood Books
40 pp.
Ages 4+
2011

The Cat and the Wizard
By Dennis Lee
Illustrated by Gillian Johnson
Key Porter Books
32 pp.
Ages 4-8
2001

The Cat Came Back

By Fred Penner 

Illustrated by Renee Reichert

Roaring Brook Press

32 pp.

Ages 4-7

2005

The Cat Came Back

By Bill Slavin

Kids Can Press

32 pp.

Ages 5-9

1992

A Cat in a Kayak

By Maria Coffey

Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes

Annick Press

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

1998

A Cat Adrift

By Maria Coffey

Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes

Annick Press

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

2002

 

The Cat's Pajamas

By Wallace Edwards

Kids Can Press

32 pp.

Ages 4-8

2010

Chester

By Mélanie Watt

Kids Can Press

32 pp.

Ages 4-8

2007

Chester’s Back!

By Mélanie Watt

Kids Can Press

32 pp.

Ages 4-8

2008

Chester’s Masterpiece

By Mélanie Watt

Kids Can Press

32 pp.

Ages 4-8

2010

The Chicken Cat
By Stephanie Simpson McLellan
Illustrated by Sean Cassidy
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
32 pp.
Ages 3-8
2000

Give Maggie a Chance

By Frieda Wishinsky

Illustrated by Dean Griffiths

Fitzhenry & Whiteside

32 pp.

Ages 5-7

2002

Maggie Can't Wait

By Frieda Wishinsky

Illustrated by Dean Griffiths

Fitzhenry & Whiteside

32 pp.

Ages 2-6

2009

The Klondike Cat

By Julie Lawson

Illustrated by Paul Mombourquette

Kids Can Press

32 pp.

Ages 5-9

2002

Lucy Maud and the Cavendish Cat

By Lynn Manuel

Illustrated by Janet Wilson

Tundra

32 pp.

Ages 7-10

1997

 

Miss Meow Pageant

By Ricardo Keens-Douglas

Illustrated by Marie laFrance

Annick Press

32 pp.

Ages 4-8

1998

Mister Got To Go: The Cat That Wouldn't Leave

By Lois Simmie

Illustrated by Cynthia Nugent

Red Deer College Press

32 pp.

Ages 5-8

1995

Mister Got To Go and Arnie

By Lois Simmie

Illustrated by Cynthia Nugent

Red Deer Press

32 pp.

Ages 4+

2012

Mister Got To Go, Where Are You?

By Lois Simmie

Illustrated by Cynthia Nugent

Red Deer Press

32 pp.

Ages 4+

2014

My Cat Isis

By Catherine Austen

Illustrated by Virginie Egger

Kids Can Press

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

2011

Nat the Cat Can Sleep Like That

By Victoria Allenby

Illustrated by Tara Anderson

Pajama Press

32 pp.

Ages 2-5

2013

 

Pounce de Leon

By Tim Wynne-Jones

Illustrated by Alfredo Tapia

Red Deer Press

32 pp.

Ages 4-7

2009

Pussycat, Pussycat, Where Have You Been?

By Dan Bar-el

Illustrated by Rae Maté

Simply Read Books

32 pp.

Ages 4-8

2011

The Sleeping Porch 

By Ian Wallace

Groundwood Books

32 pp.

Ages 4-7

2008

The Snow Cat

By Dayal Kaur Khalsa

Tundra

24 pp.

Ages 4-8

1992

Stanley’s Little Sister

By Linda Bailey

Illustrated by Bill Slavin

Kids Can Press

32 pp.

Ages 2-8

2010

True Story

By Marty Chan

Illustrated by Lorna Bennett

Ink Jockey

32 pp.

Ages 3-6

2009

Wellington’s Rainy Day

By Carolyn Beck 

Illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan

Orca Book Publishers

32 pp.

Ages 4-7

2011

Where's That Cat?
(previous title: Have You Seen Josephine?)
By Stéphane Poulin
Tundra
24 pp.
Ages 4-8
2003

Catch That Cat!  
(previous title: Can You Catch Josephine?)
By Stéphane Poulin
Tundra
24 pp.
Ages 4-8
2003

Could You Stop Josephine?
By Stéphane Poulin
Tundra
24 pp.
Ages 4-8
1986

You Can’t Rush a Cat

By Karleen Bradford 

Illustrated by Leslie Elizabeth Watts

Orca Book Publishers

32 pp.

Ages 5-8

2003

Zoom

By Tim Wynne-Jones 

Illustrated by Eric Beddows

Groundwood Books

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

2009

Zoom at Sea 

By Tim Wynne-Jones 

Illustrated by Eric Beddows

House of Anansi

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

1990

Zoom Upstream 

By Tim Wynne-Jones 

Illustrated by Eric Beddows

Groundwood Books

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

1992

Zoom Away

By Tim Wynne-Jones 

Illustrated by Eric Beddows 

Groundwood Books

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

1993

EASY READERS, GRAPHIC NOVELS and NOVELS

 

Andrew, Catch that Cat!

By Deanne Lee Bingham 

Illustrated by Kim LaFave

Fitzhenry & Whiteside

46 pp.

Ages 6-9

1999

Any Pet Will Do           

By Nancy Shouse             

Orca Book Publishers

106 pp.  

Ages 8-11

2005        

Binky the Space Cat

By Ashley Spires

Kids Can Press
64 pp.
Ages 7-10
2009

Binky to the Rescue

By Ashley Spires

Kids Can Press
64 pp.
Ages 7-10
2010

Binky Under Pressure

By Ashley Spires
Kids Can Press
64 pp.
Ages 7-10
2011

The Birthday Girl 

By Jean Little 

Illustrated by June Lawrason 

Orca Book Publishers

64 pp.

Ages 7-8

2004

Catboy 

By Eric Walters 

Orca Book Publishers

229 pp.

Ages 9-11

2011

Hunter 

By Eric Walters 

Orca Book Publishers

208 pp.

Ages 9-11

September 2012

Cat’s Eye Corner

By Terry Griggs

Raincoast Books

168 pp.

Ages 9-12

2002

The Circus Dogs of Prague

By Rachel Delaney

Puffin Canada

192 pp.

Ages 8+

2014

Feral

By Bev Cooke

Orca Book Publishers

197 pp.

Ages 13-15

2008

Fred's Dream Cat

By Marie-Danielle Croteau

Illustrated by Bruno St-Aubin

Translated by Sarah Cummins

Formac Publishing

61 pp.

Ages 8-9

1995

The Nine Lives of Travis Keating

By Jill MacLean

Fitzhenry & Whiteside

217 pp.

Ages 8-12

2008

The Present Tense of Prinny Murphy     

By Jill MacLean

Fitzhenry & Whiteside

217 pp.

Ages 8-12

2009

Nutz!
By Virginia Frances Schwartz
Illustrated by Christina Leist
Tradewind Books
120 pp.
Ages 8-11
2011

Plain Kate

By Erin Bow

Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic Canada

314 pp.

Ages 12-15

2010

TJ and the Cats

By Hazel Hutchins

Orca Book Publishers

108 pp.

Ages 8-11

2002

TJ and the Rockets

By Hazel Hutchins

Orca Book Publishers

105 pp.

Ages 8-11

2004

TJ and the Quiz Kids

By Hazel Hutchins    

Orca Book Publishers

128 pp.

Ages 8-11

2007

Apologies to those authors and illustrators whose books I missed including in this list, but my little one is calling for her tuna juice and I shouldn't keep her waiting, ever.

HAPPY  WORLD  CAT  DAY!