I Wish I Could Draw

Words and (Bad) Pictures by Cary Fagan

Groundwood Books

978-1-55498-318-6

32 pp.

Ages 6-10

Release May 13, 2014

I did not label the illustrations in Cary Fagan's I Wish I Could Draw as "(Bad) Pictures"; that was all Cary Fagan's doing.  Like so many of us, it takes some effort and practice before Cary Fagan, the illustrator, can accept that he has some artistic skill.  Of course, he does have to stop wishing and start doing before he realizes that, with a little practice, some effort and an interest in his subject, he can draw. 

From the onset, Cary Fagan, the illustrator, states unequivocally and even takes the time to show the reader how crummy an artist he is, from a self-portrait to a series of still-life pictures.  It's only when he begins to draw things he actually likes, e.g., a double-scoop chocolate ice cream cone, does Cary start to see some promise in his artistry.  And then, when he makes his illustrations purposeful i.e., part of a story, he admits that he likes drawing and encourages readers to go and pursue their own "stinky" drawings!

In these days of nurturing resilience and grit in children, I Wish I Could Draw lends itself so well to encouraging young readers not to give up when they are challenged.  In a notebook-style format, I Wish I Could Draw could be any child's doodle book of sketches, cartoons and reproductions of superheroes or characters with which they are familiar.  Maybe they won't be drawing teapots (though I think Cary's is rather quaint) but you can be assured that they'll be practising those troublesome fingers and landscape elements of trees and houses that always seem to show up in some school drawing.  With Cary Fagan's signature dry humour (we've read it in Danny, Who Fell in a Hole and Oy Feh So?), I Wish I Could Draw will make readers point and chuckle and then stop wishing and start drawing for themselves.  After all, their drawings couldn't be any worse than Cary Fagan's (bad) pictures.

Check out his brief drawing demonstration for Groundwood Books recently.

Yesterday's Dead: Guest Blog Post

The following blog post is a review letter of Yesterday's Dead to author Pat Bourke from a 12-year-old reader who read the book as part of the Silver Birch Fiction reading program.  I would like to add that this student read all thirty books of the Silver Birch Express, Fiction and Non-Fiction award reading programs, and over half of the Red Maple nominees, and chose to write a review of Yesterday's Dead.  No surprises of the high praise within.

by Pat Bourke

Second Story Press

978-1-926920-32-0

232 pp.

Ages 9-14

2012

Dear Pat Bourke,

As a Silver Birch reader who has read all of the book selection, I would clearly say that your book, Yesterday’s Dead, was a favourite of mine. I prefer to read historical fiction, and your book was a great fit for me. It was the first book I read, and nothing I read after this came close to your book.

A character I connected really well to was Meredith, because one night when my mother was sick, my father and I had to take care of my sister, who had thrown up. I could sense her hardships, and I knew how hard she was working to take care of Parker, Mrs. Butters, Jack, and Harry. I also could connect with her frustration to Maggie’s attitude. Maggie was a clear brat in my eyes, and I think Meredith did an amazing job of keeping calm.
       
One of my favourite things about this book was the way Maggie and Meredith had to settle their differences to take care of all of the patients, without any adult help. This sent a really good message out to students because many people take a first impression of someone and will not change that, no matter what. This book will help children understand that this is not okay, and that first impressions can be changed, because Meredith’s first impression of Maggie was that she was a spoiled brat, but near the end she realized that she was able to get along with her.

This book was an amazing read, and I knew right after our librarian, Ms. Kubiw, had explained it to us, that it would be the first one I read and probably the one I would most enjoy. Thank you so much for writing this awesome book, and I sincerely hope there will be a series or more books to come like this.

Sincerely,

Grace D.
Age 12

Viminy Crowe's Comic Book: Book Launch (Toronto)

Tundra Books

978-1770494794

336 pp.

Ages 9-12

May 2014

 

The Circus Dogs of Prague: Guest Post Review

by Rachelle Delaney

Puffin Canada

978-0-14-318416-4

192 pp.

Ages 8+

April 2014

The following review has been submitted by Claire, a Grade 5 student, who read the advance reading copy of The Circus Dogs of Prague, just after reading the first book in this series, The Metro Dogs of Moscow as part of the Silver Birch Fiction reading program of the Ontario Library Association.

The Circus Dogs of Prague starts out with JR, the Jack Russell from The Metro Dogs of Moscow, going with his human, George, and George's girlfriend, Nadya, on a plane to Prague to see Nadya's family and the Circus Sergei.  Also travelling with them are JR's dog friends Beatrix, Robert and Pie and George's human friend, John.  When they arrive, they go to the apartment Nadya's brother Niko found for them.  When JR, Pie, Robert and Beatrix see some cats, and chase them next door, Nadya and George get mad.  Nadya wants to adopt one of the cats, naming it Kisa, although all the dogs except for Pie don't like it one bit.  Kisa is a stray and they have lots of them in Prague.

One night, Pie goes missing and JR wakes everyone up to search for him, but there isn't a clue.  They do find a note that says something about going to the circus so JR, Beatrix and Robert go there and have to bust down a locked door to find Pie with the other circus animals.  Pie wants to read a poem in the circus.  Robert convinces Pie to come home but JR senses something wrong with the animals.  He learns that none of the circus animals want to do what they are doing so JR knows that he must do something to help with all the help from the stray dogs of Moscow.   JR also learns that another circus called Circus Magnificus is stealing performers from Circus Sergei.  JR knows that Kisa is their only hope.

I really loved the new book The Circus Dogs of Prague.  The first book The Metro Dogs of Moscow was really enjoyable too.  My favourite part of The Circus Dogs of Prague was when JR and Kisa made up to each other and promised to work together to save the circus.  Everyone thinks that dogs and cats are not supposed to have anything to do with each other, like JR's embassy friends who wanted to bite Nadya for adopting Kisa.

Enjoy the book!

by Claire
Grade 5

The Circus Dogs of Prague: Blog Tour

by Rachelle Delaney

Puffin Canada

978-0-14-318416-4

192 pp.

Ages 8+

For release April 2014

When author Rachelle Delaney introduced the lovable JR, a Jack Russell terrier, in The Metro Dogs of  Moscow (currently being read as a Silver Birch Fiction nominee), she created a new canine hero with a multitude of opportunities for travel and adventure via JR's Human, George, who works for the Canadian embassy.  In this new book, The Circus Dogs of Prague, JR extends his Europe-hopping tale when he and his embassy friends, both canine and human, head off to Prague to visit the family of Nadya, George's girlfriend.

You'd think with George and John Crowley, the Australian ambassador to Moscow, and four dogs–JR, the keenshond Beatrix, and shepherd brothers Robert and Pie–that the apartment that they're staying in would feel full enough to Nadya.  But when she spots a fluffy, long-haired gray cat that reminds of one she knew as a girl, Nadya is determined to adopt Kisa.  Sadly, the dogs, except for Pie, are happier to give chase and treat Kisa with disdain, if not worse.  When JR begins to shake when tormented by some stray cats, he would answer George's question about what he'd seen, if he could, with

"Our future, you lunkhead.  And it's terrifying." (pg. 52)

While the group does some touristing around Prague,  their primary purpose is to visit with Nadya's older brother, Niko, a trapeze artist for Circus Sergei, and his ten-year-old daughter, Masha.  While Niko can do some extraordinary tricks beyond the trapeze, the circus director, Sergei, will not abide change.  Those who want something different have been lured away by the splashy and profitable Circus Magnificus, including Masha's mother and Niko's ex-wife, and now they want Niko too.

When Pie, a budding spoken "word" artist, runs away to join Circus Sergei, JR et al. learn how unhappy the animal performers are, having no free will of their own and doing tricks they cannot do well.  Together the dogs and the circus animals concoct a plan to put on a show where everyone gets to do what they like, with some guest spots with Pie, Beatrix and Kisa, and directed by JR. 

Meanwhile, the home front is less than content with George constantly revealing new phobias, Nadya feeling hampered by George's reluctance to visit those attraction in which she is interested, and Kisa trying to be friends with the dogs but somehow managing to get them blamed and punished for her actions.  Will George and Nadya break up?  Will Kisa come between JR and George and Nadya?  What will happen to Circus Sergei and the animals Masha loves so dearly?

The Circus Dogs of Prague is like a playful romp through an old Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland movie where a bunch of friends see someone or organization that needs help and decide to put on a show to make things right.  The dialogue is brisk and flavourful, as "Biscuit Brains" (JR) or the furball (Kisa) would know.  And the details rich, like the contortionist duck known as The Rubber Chicken and the vanity of Beatrix, whose glare translates into scorn, when called "fluffy".

"Fluffy?" Beatrix shot him a glare.  "Pomeranians are fluffy.  We keeshonds are voluminous." (pg. 13)

While illustrating the story with Prague's Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Kafka Museum, the Bone Church (ossuary), and a sweet cake shop (cukrána) or two, Rachelle Delaney provides fodder for George's reluctance to engage in anything that he deems unusual.  Sadly, those venues or activities seem to be all those Nadya is interested in seeing.  But the friction between George and Nadya, just as it is for JR and Kisa, is ephemeral, lasting only as long as they forget how much they are hurting someone for whom they care.  And, with the acceptance that change isn't always a bad thing, whether for a circus, a dog, or a stubborn human, Rachelle Delaney is still able to lace the humourful plot of The Circus Dogs of Prague with a lesson or two, even for those who fight like cats and dogs.

Revenge on the Fly

by Sylvia McNicoll
Pajama Press
978-1-927485-56-9
224 pp.
Ages 8+
April, 2014
Reviewed from advance reading copy

Never ever underestimate the efforts of a child who seeks revenge, especially if that revenge is in response to grief and heartache. Twelve-year-old Will Alton has lost his baby sister Colleen and his Mum to illness and that grief pervades his new beginnings with his father in 1912 Hamilton, Ontario.  So when Dr. Roberts, Hamilton’s health officer, visits Will’s new school to speak about the role of flies in the transmission of disease and to announce an essay contest and a fly-killing contest, Will is all in and Revenge on the Fly is on.

“You can be a hero to your city, vanquish disease, and win great prizes too.” (pg. 40)

As determined as Will is to kill “the miserable creatures that had caused my family so much grief” (pg. 50) and win $50 to help his father find them their own home (and away from the rooming house of vile Madame Depieu), hostile classmate Fred Leckie is just as relentless. Worse still, Fred has the advantage of wealth to bribe others to do the work for him and a father with a factory of workers compelled to help as well. Fortunately Will is tireless, clever and good-hearted, attributes that are always valuable when facing challenges.

Award-winning author Sylvia McNicoll who has penned numerous early chapter books, middle grade fiction and YA fiction, never submits to the predictable, in her storylines or characters. In Revenge on the Fly, Will, Fred, Ginny, Rebecca, Bea, Ian and Da have the true voices of individuals, never cardboard cut-outs. Even Finnigan has the yips and yaps of a true character, albeit a canine one. And while the ending is gratifying, it isn’t the all-tied-up-in-bows happy ending, because life isn’t like that and in 1912 it definitely wasn’t like that for poor Irish immigrants. Effortlessly Sylvia McNicoll finds the words to illustrate a tragic, but seemingly peculiar, episode in Canadian history and make it personal and unforgettable.

This review was originally written for and published in Quill & Quire, as noted in the citation below.

Kubiw, H. (2014, May). [Review of the book Revenge on the Fly, by Sylvia McNicoll]. Quill & Quire, 80 (4): 36.

Severn and the Day She Silenced the World: Book Launch (Eden Mills, ON)

Celebrate Earth Day 2014

with

Janet Wilson

fine artist and author 

of numerous picture books 

and 

non-fiction social justice books

including

One Peace: True Stories of Young Activists 

(Orca Book Publishers, 2008)

Our Earth: How Kids are Saving the Planet 

(Second Story Press, 2010)

Our Rights: How Kids are Changing the World 

(Second Story Press, 2013)

and

Shannen and the Dream For a School 

(Second Story Press, 2011)

for the launch of her newest book

Severn and the Day She Silenced the World

by Janet Wilson

Second Story Press

978-1-927583-23-4

184 pp.

Ages 9-13

Released April 19, 2014

Tells the true story of Severn Cullis-Suzuki, daughter of environmentalists Tara Cullis and David Suzuki, who spoke at the closing of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio when she was only twelve-years-old and grabbed the attention of the world.

The Book Launch 

will be held on

Saturday, April, 26, 2014

from 2 - 3 p.m.

at

Eden Mills Community Hall, Club Room

108 York Street

Eden Mills, Ontario

(east of Guelph)

Map here

There will be a presentation, books for sale and signing, and refreshments.