Oh, Wow!!

It's finally official. Let's Go! has been announced as the 2009 Grade One Giveaway Book sponsored by TD Canada Trust and the Canadian Children's Book Centre.

Woo-hoo!!!

This means that in November grade 1 kids all across Canada will get a special copy of the book!!!! For free!! That's like 500,000 kids. I'm kinda speechless.

While I have known about this for awhile, my family was starting to think I was delusional since, you know, if I say it's true it doesn't actually really truly mean it's true (good life lesson that, although sometimes you'd like to be taken on your word). But I can doubt my own sanity--on this matter--no longer. There's proof out there!!

Too cool.

This is a terrific program that's been in place for several years now. I know my own kids, who will sadly all be just past that grade 1 milestone next fall, have really enjoyed getting books from this program in the past.

I am truly honoured and lucky to have had such excellent collaborators with this book. Scot Ritchie. Maple Tree Press. Thank you!!!

Cue the Crickets

I am so busy at the moment I need to neglect my blog for a couple weeks. Will talk more about a project I'm working on when it's more of a reality...and hopefully, possibly, betterbe done.

In the meantime, while the crickets chirp and frolic here, I recommend you check out Gregory K's blog for a fabulous month of poetry celebrations. Interviews with poets, poems, and more!

Hop on over to http://gottabook.blogspot.com

But come back later this month, okay? Please...

Snakes in a Car

My kids thought it would be fun to drive around with their plastic snakes on the dashboard.

Actually, it was.

Driving down the highway, more than one car slowed down as they were passing us to take a second look. Hah!

So Cute and yet So Pesky

This past weekend I was visiting my parents. They have no snow left. Must be nice. Anyway, I saw this really cute raccoon hanging out in a tree at the end of their driveway. He just stayed there in the fork of the tree staring at us. I only had my phone camera, but still. Such a cute creature.

Your Story Doesn't Stink, Honest!

So I'm working on a student assignment (as part of my work for the Institue of Children's Literature) and I'm rereading the edits I made on the manuscript earlier that morning.

I read:

Wow! Good fart!

EXCUSE ME? What was I thinking???? Good gawd I am ashamed of myself.

But then I looked closer at my, um...er, less than stellar penmanship. I realized that what I had intended to be a 'c' is in reality coming across as an 'r' and hence causing the confusion.

I pull out the old pen and emphasize the curve of the 'c.' Fixed. It now reads:

Wow! Good fact!

Phew! Caught that one.

Shout Out to Shari

Many thanks to Shari Lyle-Soffe and her "Out of my Mind" About Books for Children blog for featuring my Let's Go! today.

You can see the entry here.

My showing there is part of a great series she's doing about books of particular interest to boys.

Thanks, Shari!!

(Now go visit her....go!)

Spring Thing 2009

Putting on my SCBWI regional advisor hat for a moment to announce our upcoming spring event.

The Canada East Chapter of the
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
presents our Annual Spring Writing Conference:

It's a retreat, it's workshops, it's fun! It's

The Spring Thing 2009!

April 24-26, 2009
Kempenfelt Conference Centre
Barrie, Ontario

Featuring:

Lisa Graff, Associate Editor, Farrar Straus & Giroux
Kathy Lowinger, Publisher, Tundra Books
Karen Li, Editor, Kids Can Press

Limited all-inclusive weekend attendance but lots of Saturday day-only spots. Come take part in the writing and illustrating inspiration, networking, and fun!


For more information, see the Events page of our website for the conference brochure and registration form.