Short Chapters, Perfect Pacing and Lots of Action...

I was so delighted to return from Fireworks School (more on THAT in a later post) to find the Canadian Children's Book Centre's BookNews in my mailbox, with a review of Trouble in the Hills in it. I was even more delighted by the review. It says, in part:

"Filled with non-stop action, the story moves at breakneck speed as Cam faces numereous perilous situations...Short chapters, perfect pacing and lots of action make Helaine Becker's debut YA novel a perfect choice for reluctant boy readers, and once they pick it up, they'll find it impossible to put down until the end."

Thanks CCBC!

CSWA Best Science Books for 2011 Announced

The CSWA has announced the winners of this year's book awards. The general audience book winner is Cascadia’s Fault by Jerry Thompson. The youth book winner is 50 Poisonous Questions by Tanya Lloyd Kyi.






Entries were judged on the basis of initiative, originality, scientific accuracy, clarity of interpretation and value in promoting a better understanding of science by the public.





Both of this year’s books appealed to the judges because they created a sense of mystery and discovery. Commenting on Cascadia’s Fault one judge said, “The writing was masterful and it read almost like a novel. I never felt bogged down in details, and yet the science about earthquakes was all there along with the controversies, descriptions of the sources, and stories about the people.”





The youth judges were equally enthusiastic about 50 Poisonous Questions, “There were very interesting facts that I didn’t know about and the explanations were easy to understand.” “It was a book I didn’t want to put down until I finished the whole book.” “It was a really fun book.”





The book awards will be presented at the CSWA annual conference in Windsor, Ontario on June 2, 2012.

Parents' Choice Award for Planet Echo!

For the last few years, I've been writing the Dr. Greenie's Mad Lab segments for the TV show, Planet Echo. I just learned today that the show received a Parents' Choice Award for season 1.

From the Parents' Choice website:

"The program is recommended for kids aged 8 to 12, and though some of the skits are a little corny, the factoids are fascinating and there's a nice blend of hard science and light-hearted humor to keep kids' attention. The program includes frequent tags directing viewers to the companion website for more activities and information, and many show segments are available for viewing on demand.
For a universal message about doing your part to help save the planet, and an interesting glimpse into Aboriginal history and culture in Canada, Planet Echo is an earnest half-hour offering up positive suggestions kids can understand and put into practice in their own lives."

All I can say is wait til the folks at Parents' Choice see seasons 2 and 3!