Ontario book news, interviews and more

Winners Announced for 2020 Indigenous Voices Awards

Jesse Thistle, Michelle Sylliboy, and Arielle Twist are among the winners of the third annual Indigenous Voices Awards.The announcement, made yesterday on National Indigenous Day (June 21st), came during ...

To Pre-read, or Not to Pre-read?

Should you be vetting your kids’ reading material? For many, the answer seems so obvious, you don’t even need to ask the question.  To make sure kids are choosing books that meet their approval, ...

Sue Macartney on Loving Yourself, Funny Birds, and Her Favourite Writing Partner

Benjamin, the central character in author and illustrator Sue Macartney's new picture book Benjamin's Blue Feet (Pajama Press), is a blue-footed booby — a seabird native to the South Pacific. While ...

On Reclaiming Brokenness and Refusing the Violence of ‘Recovery Narratives’

I’m working on this essay when a friend texts me. His therapist suggested he write a list of things that he likes about himself but the picture that shows up on my phone is just a blank page.“Having ...

Forest of Reading Announces 2020 Winners

An always-anticipated event for fans and creators of KidLit, winners have been revealed for this year's Forest of Reading Awards. Announced by the Ontario Library Association yesterday at a free virtual ...

On Stage: Jordi Mand on the Freedom of Playwriting and What To Do When The Work's Not Working

Brontë sisters Emily, Charlotte, and Anne have come to a crossroads. While they've long enjoyed writing as a hobby, with a father gravely ill and a brother struggling with addiction, it's up to them ...

The School Library - Why It Matters More Than Ever

School libraries, now sometimes called Information Centres, have been getting short shrift in the last decade or so. Budgets have been slashed, staff hours cut and distributed among multiple locations, ...

On Collaboration and Trust

 "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller I crave collaboration. When I was young, I had no desire to connect or work closely with people in the way that I do today. ...

Why are Canadian kids’ books so darn good? (And they are!)

We Canadians are pretty good at downplaying our accomplishments. “Cutting down the tall poppies” and “familiarity breeds contempt” should perhaps be emblazoned on our coins and flag.So it may ...

Kids' Club: Marsha Skrypuch on the Real-Life Hero Behind Her New Book

Author Marsha Skrypuch's Sky of Bombs, Sky of Stars (Pajama Press) traces a young girl's harrowing journey from war-torn Vietnam to the alien suburbs of Southern Ontario.Tasked with caring for the babies ...