OLA Signing/Appearance Schedule

The Ontario Library Association Superconference is always a highlight on my calendar.

This year, I'll be busy busy busy!

Thursday, Feb 2:

Scholastic booth -   11 am - signing copies of Deck the Halls  

Orca booth - 2:30 pm - signing copies of You Can Read, Dirk Daring, Secret Agent, and Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Friday, Feb 3:

Forest of Reading Breakfast - 8 am

Canscaip Forest of Reading Launch - 10:30-11-30

DK Books - 12 pm - Poster signing for Our Great Prime Ministers

Hope to see you there!

Looking ahead to Superconference - Woot!

The Ontario Library Association Superconference is always a highlight on my calendar.

This year, I'll be signing copies of Deck the Halls at the Scholastic booth on Thursday, Feb. 2.

I'll also be signing copies of You Can Read at the Orca booth that same day.

And if you just want to say hi, I'll be at the Forest of Reading Breakfast bright and early on Friday, Feb 3, talking about Worms for Breakfast and Everything: Space, which are both shortlisted for the Silver Birch Award. Expect me to be a bit overexcited, but sleepy-eyed!

Porcupine on Parade

Lovely to learn that the gang from A Porcupine in a Pine Tree had a featured spot in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade this year!

Here's the photo of the adorable Indigo/Chapters float:

Thanks to the folks at Indigo, and to CTV for taking the vid! (And to Debbie Ohi, author and illustrator extraordinaire of Where are My Books? who snagged the screenshot!)

Deck the Halls debuts - and is an instant bestseller!

Deck the Halls: A Canadian Christmas Carol, hit store shelves last week. And to my utter delight, it immediately hit the national bestseller list in the #12 spot for children's books!

Deck the Halls is the sequel to A Porcupine in a Pine Tree  and Dashing Through the Snow. 

Get Yer Book Signed at OLA! #fb #OLASuperconference #kidlit

It's less than a week away: OLA Superconference!

I'll be signing hot-off-the-press copies of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, at the Orca Booth at 11 AM on Friday.

I'll be signing equally sizzling copies of Top Secret: Uncover Your Inner Spy at the Scholastic Canada booth directly after that, at 11:30.

Please come by and say hi!

New for 2016 - Part One!

Have you got what it takes to survive?

Would you survive an attack by intergalactic microbes? What about sentient robots? Ghost cats? Or a Sharknado? In my 7th title in the popular quiz book series from Scholastic Canada, you'll get to find out the truth. See how you stack up against evil masterminds, giant scorpions, and the neighborhood bully! Rate your bravery, confidence, musclepower, and find out if you can master your own inner demons.

Reader tip: Don’t open the book without a firm grip on your security blanket. You’ll need every extra bit of bravery-boosting possible!

What's New for Fall...Part 4

Who do you think you are? What makes you tick? Are you an extrovert or an introvert? A bold, brash Leo or a live-and-let-live Libra? An Ox or a Monkey? A creative red or a mystical purple? This insightful quiz book will give you a fascinating glimpse into the secret workings of your — and your pals’ — personalities.

And you'll laugh, too.

What's New for Fall...Part 3

This Canadianized Christmas carol became an instant holiday classic when it first came out in 2011. Now the whole family can join in the fun with this hot off the press, specially adapted board book version — the perfect first Christmas book for every preschooler on your list!

Enjoy all of Werner Zimmermann’s zany illustrations, count the characters from 1 to 12, and sing along. It’s Christmas as only Canadians can celebrate it — with squirrels curling, Mounties munching donuts, hockey players-a-leaping.... and A Porcupine in a Pine Tree!

It's kinda the perfect stocking stuffer or gift for a new baby, don't you think???

Dashing toward Christmas. Yes. Really.

And how much fun it is to ride this particular sled!

Dashing through the Snow: A Canadian Jingle Bells, will be available on October 1st. May I humbly suggest you order your advance copies now??? ;)

The book's a long-awaited sequel to the bestselling A Porcupine in a Pine Tree, and is illustrated with the same verve and charm by  illustrator extraordinaire Werner Zimmermann.

So It's Funny. Shoot Me.

Not every book for kids has to be "good for them." Kids need a break too. Something light and fluffy. You know, a good beach book.

But that doesn't mean it should be dumb. I really hate dumb books. Books that talk down to the reader, or that are written by someone's foot. Clumsy writing is reason to throw a book at the wall.

So may I suggest Do You Dare?

For those of you who agree that kids need a) light, fun books too and b) books that, at the same time, don't insult them, you may find this latest book in my Scholastic Canada quiz book series is just the ticket. So pick it. (Snorf.)

 You can also read an excerpt from the book here.

What Are Friends For? A Meditation. Ok, Not Really.

Because it's summer, a lot of us are reading light, fun books. Some of us actually enjoy light, fun books year round. And if you're a kid who happens to be a girl, and has a BFF, what could be better than reading a fun book with her?

Just in time for summer fun - or back to school (AGH I KNOW I SAID IT!!!! WHAT A DORK!!!!), Scholastic Canada has published the third book in my Quiz Book series just for us gals.

Here are some deets about it:

Are you and your BFF still meant to be? Take these quizzes and find out!

• Are you twins separated at birth?
• What sports star is she?
• Is she a princess, a peasant or a jester?
• Are you destined to remain friends?

Whether you want to make sure you've still got what it takes to be a great best friend, or have a new BFF, or need more questions for your best-ever sleepover, The Quiz Book for BFFs 2 is another fun way to celebrate your friendship and get to know each other even better!

Raves & reviews:

Praise for The Quiz Book for BFFs:

"The 31 quizzes in The Quiz Book for BFFs will have girlfriends talking and laughing... the combination of silly and serious questions would make this an entertaining book to bring along for a sleepover." —Canadian Review of Materials

You can also check out an excerpt here.

Previous books in the series are The Quiz Book for BFFs and  

The Quiz Book for Girls.

Honors for Little Jack Horner !

Nice news for Little Jack this week - it has been named a BEST BET - Honorable Mention by the Ontario Library Association. AND received a Best of the Year citation in the Picture Book category from Resource Links.

Way to go, Jack!

Four Stars for Little Jack Horner!

Just like the cow, I'm over the moon about this four-star review of Little Jack Horner, Live from the Corner.

It's from CM Magazine and says, in part, " Little Jack Horner Live from the Corner is a fresh and wonderful attempt to modernize old nursery rhymes and is a must-have for all children’s collections."

Read the full review here. Then go buy the book at your favorite indy bookseller!

A Holiday Treat, Just for You

For your viewing pleasure, the animated, musical trailer for A Porcupine in a Pine Tree.

Enjoy, and have a very happy holiday season!

With love,
Helaine

You GOTTA see this Awesome Trailer!

Illustrator Mike Boldt put together this fantastic trailer for our upcoming picture book, Live from the Corner, It's Little Jack Horner.

Check it out!

ARRRR!!!! Discover Your Inner Pirate

 

Gosh I love my job. Today's project is to come up with the list of quizzes that I'll be including in next Fall's Quiz  Book for BFFs (Scholastic Canada). While going through my files, I came across this piratey quiz I wrote last year for another project. It didn't make it into that book, but it still makes me laugh, maties! Maybe it will make you laugh too!



1. You have stumbled across a treasure chest in your grandma’s attic. You:

a. Shout: Mine!!!!!

b. Bury it in the graveyard in the dead of night

c. Make your granny walk the plank and then run off with the treasure.

2. Which do you fear most?

a. Crocodiles

b. Drowning

c. Being bored


3. Your pirate flag would be:

a. Made from the tanned skin of your enemies

b. A skull and cross bones, what else?

c. A happy face


4. What does your parrot say?

a. Aaaaar!!!!

b. Please don’t kill me, kind pirate sir!

c. Grog and Ale! Grog and Ale!


5. Where’s the best place for pirate gold?

a. Under your mattress

b. In a bank

c. Buried under the x of course, on a desert island.



6. You have captured a British frigate. You:

a. Make everyone walk the plank

b. Drop everyone off on a remote island with just 1 jug of water.

c. Put them all to work, styling your hair and curling your moustache



7. What body part are you missing?

a. Your eye

b. Your hand

c. Your left leg



8. What would you name your ship?

a. Wastin’ Time

b. Maid of the Mist

c. Terror



9. Which is your favorite piratey island?

a. Newfoundland – lots of puffins to amuse my parrot

b. Bermuda – you get to wear plaid shorts with your pirate hat

c. As if I’d tell you, landlubber!



10. What is your favorite pirate meal?

a. Grog and biscuit

b. Barbecued red snapper and iced tea

c. A head on a stake!



Scoring

11. A 1 b 2 c 3

12. A 5 b 2 c 1

13. A 5 b 1 c 3

14. A 1 b 5 c3

15. A 1 b 2 c3

16. A 3 b 5 c 7

17. A 2 b 5 c 1

18. A3 b2 c 4

19. A 2 b 4 c3

20. A2 b4 c 5



15-20 Cap’n Crunch. You don’t really think of pirating as anything other than a good time. A chance to hang out with pals, see new places, lop off a few heads when you get bored. You’d be just as happy as a hockey defenseman.

21-30 Jack Sparrow. Why is everything so difficult? All you want is a peaceful place to relax in the sun. But those soldiers keep getting you out of your nice comfy hammock. But watch out! Once you’ve been roused to action, you are the terror of the seas!

31-37 Captain Kidd Ah, pirating is the life for you! Nothing more enjoyable than boarding another ship, stealing their treats and sneaking back to port with your pockets full of cookies. But you have a terrible temper. Nobody crosses the Kidd and lives to tell the tale!

38-46 Blackbeard Guess who woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Make that every morning! You are the one everyone should fear because you are king of the cranky. Even your parrot fears your wrath – and your breath. You should stop eating that raw liver and onions on an empty stomach!