Marsha Skrypuch

The Expositor, 12 Apr 2012. Page17

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:41:34 GMT

The Expositor

12 Apr 2012

come visit me at www.calla.com

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:10:02 GMT

I am now incorporating my blog into my website. Come on over and say hi.

www.calla.com

Introducting Deborah Underwood: Crystal Kite winner for California and Hawaii!

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:54:59 GMT

In celebration of the 4th of July, I am introducing one of the American Crystal Kite winners, Deborah Underwood.

Deborah worked as a street musician, puzzle writer, jewelry maker, and administrative assistant before embarking upon her career as a children’s author. Her books include The Quiet Book, A Balloon for Isabel, Granny Gomez & Jigsaw, and the easy reader Pirate Mom. She co-writes the Sugar Plum Ballerina chapter book series with Whoopi Goldberg, and has written over 25 nonfiction books on topics ranging from smallpox to ballroom dancing.

The Quiet Book, illustrated by Renata Liwska (Houghton Mifflin, 2010) catalogues the various types of quiets that fill a child’s day: everything from first one awake quiet to thinking of a good reason you were drawing on the wall quiet. A companion volume, The Loud Book, was published in 2011.

Introducting Monika Schröder: Crystal Kite winner for the Middle East/India/Asia

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 03:31:26 GMT

Monika Schröder grew up in Germany and has worked as an elementary school teacher and librarian in international schools in Egypt, Oman, Chile and India. She recently moved to the US and now lives with her husband and their dog Frank in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Crystal Kite winning novel, SARASWATI'S WAY, is Monika's second book and set in contemporary India. 12-year old Akash, who has a gift for math, runs away from his home in rural Rajasthan in search of a better life and ends up as a street child in the New Delhi train station. Monika's first book, THE DOG IN THE WOOD (Front Street, 2009), was included in the Voya Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers list. Her next novel, MY BROTHER'S SHADOW, will be published in September 2011 and takes place in Berlin at the end of WWI. Visit her at www.monikaschroeder.com

Crystal Kite winner Kathryn Erskine!

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 02:25:45 GMT

Kathryn Erskine, a lawyer-turned-author, grew up in six countries, an experience that helps her view life, and her writing, from different perspectives. While covering weighty topics, her books have warmth and humor, making difficult issues approachable. Her novel, MOCKINGBIRD (Philomel 2010), won the (U.S.) 2010 National Book Award, the 2011 International Reading Association's Award for Middle Grade Fiction, the 2011 Crystal Kite Award, and other honors. Her latest novel, THE ABSOLUTE VALUE OF MIKE (Philomel, June 2011) is a Junior Library Guild selection and ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults nominee. QUAKING (Philomel 2007) was a 2008 Bank Street Best Book of the Year and a 2008 American Library Association Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. She is a writing instructor and frequent workshop presenter. And she eats way too much chocolate.

MOCKINGBIRD is the story of tolerance and healing as Caitlin, a girl with Asperger's, comes to terms with the death of her beloved older brother after a school shooting.

Would you like to follow Kathryn's blog? It's here.

Crystal Kite winners from around the world. First up: Claire Saxby

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 03:08:15 GMT

One of the best things about winning the Crystal Kite is that I have been initiated into an amazingly talented group of fellow winners. From around the world, there are 15 of us in all, and I would like to introduce each of them on my blog.

First is Claire Saxby, the Crystal Kite winner for Australia and New Zealand. Congratulations, Claire!!!

And here is her winning book:

Claire Saxby writes fiction, non-fiction and poetry for children. Her poetry appears in magazines, anthologies, on train walls and in museum education resources.

Claire’s picture book publications include Ebi’s Boat (Windy Hollow Books), illustrated by Anne Spudvilas, which was a CBCA Notable Book in 2007. Her most recent picture book is There Was an Old Sailor (Walker Books Australia), a nautical take on an old rhyme, illustrated by Cassandra Allen. It was shortlisted for the 2010 Speech Pathology Awards and for the 3^rd Korean Picture Book Award, and won the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for Australia/New Zealand region. Her most recent book is Freaky Fact or Fiction: Human Body (Hinkler Books), the first of her books to combine her health-worker past and her writing present.

coming in September!

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 15:52:05 GMT

Last Airlift: A Vietnamese Orphan's Rescue from War
By Marsha Skrypuch
Pajama Press

A woman would come to see me. She would bring a young boy. I would sit on her lap for a while, and then they would leave. Maybe that was my mother; maybe the boy was my brother.

After a while, they stopped coming.

Like the other children in the Saigon orphanage, Tuyet dreams of a family of her own. But she is one of the oldest, and polio has weakened her and left her with a limp. Nobody will adopt a girl like her. Instead, Tuyet cares for the babies and toddlers, hoping that if she continues to make herself useful, the nuns will let her stay.

One day in April, the babies and toddlers are packed into small boxes and frantically loaded into a van.The driver places Tuyet in the back of the van as well. As she and the younger children are taxied to the airport through streets filled with smoke, artillery fire and frenzied refugees trying to escape, Tuyet believes that her job is to look after the babies until they are airlifted to safety. But when the huge Hercules C-130 takes off from the burning city,Tuyet is not left behind after all.What will happen to her when she arrives in Canada? Will she be sent to an orphanage to look after new children, or will the people return her to Saigon to take her chances with the Viet Cong’s invading forces?

Last Airlift is the true story of the last Canadian airlift operation that left Saigon and arrived in Toronto on April 13, 1975. Son Thi Anh Tuyet was one of 57 babies and children on that flight. Based on personal interviews and enhanced with archive photos,Tuyet’s story of the Saigon orphanage and her flight to Canada is an emotional and suspenseful journey brought to life by the award-winning children’s author, Marsha Skrypuch.

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin by Erik Larson

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:15:21 GMT

I really enjoyed Larson's The Devil In the White City so I was looking forward to this one. It started out strong but dragged about halfway through.

Ambassador Dodds was a remarkable man and it's too bad the American government didn't take his concerns about Hitler seriously in the early 30s. I am grateful to Larson for illuminating the life of this interesting man and his unusual family.

This is an era that I've studied and written about myself and I was impressed with the depth of research that Larson did in terms of the Dodds family and Berlin. He fell short when it came to historical context, however. As an example, he mentioned Dodd's daughter's trip to the Soviet Union and about the NKVD recruiting her. The Soviet Secret Police were every bit as brutal and racist as the Nazi Gestapo. There is no indication of that in this book. In fact, towards the end of the book, he calls Martha's flirtation with the NKVD noble. Hardly.

As well, the author implies that Ukraine was a region in "Russia" when in fact it was a country that had been taken over by the Soviet Union -- Russia is not interchangeable with the Soviet Union. I realize that many people make that mistake, but in a historian, it's just plain sloppy.

He mentions that Ukraine had "suffered a famine" in 1933 but he states it passively, as if it were a fluke of nature, instead of what it really was -- an intentional genocide of Ukrainians that killed millions. He didn't mention how many people died but did mention the deaths of livestock. I found that odd, to say the least.

He also skipped over the fact that Stalin and Hitler were allies for the first two years of WWII, and instead jumps to when Stalin was an ally of the US. That's not just sloppy but misleads the casual reader into thinking that Stalin was a different kind of person as Hitler.

Saving Armpit

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:39:51 GMT

lovely letter

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:40:53 GMT

Hello Marsha,

My name is T, and I would like to tell you this wonderful story.

My mother had given a copy of your book, Nobody's Child, to my teenage children about a year ago. Being an Armenian, and having read many books based on the Armenian Genocide, I was curious about the information contained in this little book. As I read it over the past summer, I fell in love with it and immediately got and read Daughter of War. I was amazed at finding all the delicate, small but important details in those two books, things that I had not seen in the many books I had come across before.

In our school district for 10th grade English class the children have to choose a book from a list of books, representing conflicts in the history of different nations, and write a research paper on that subject as well as present it to the rest of the class.

Last year, with my daughter being in that class, she wished to do her paper and presentation about the Armenian Genocide.
Since she had not yet read any books on this subject, and there were no books about this in the class list, I suggested Nobody's Child and the teacher approved. She did an excellent job with both the paper and the power point presentation, scoring a perfect grade plus extra credits. We were thrilled with this; but there was more to come.

The teacher had liked the book and added it to the list. This meant that as of January 2011, for years to come, every 10th grader in our district will be told the true facts of the Armenian Genocide, based on your book.

Thank you for a beautiful book.

T

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 17:46:00 GMT

Gail Winskill launches Pajama Press

Mon, 30 May 2011 22:49:15 GMT

Yay! It is finally out in the public!

Check it out.

I am pleased to have a book on this stellar list.

Making Bombs For Hitler

Thu, 05 May 2011 19:47:00 GMT

From today's Quill & Quire:

Scholastic Canada director of publishing Diane Kerner has acquired North American rights to Marsha Skrypuch’s middle-grade novel Making Bombs for Hitler, about child labourers in Germany during the Second World War. Dean Cooke of The Cooke Agency arranged the deal.

Stolen Child wins Crystal Kite Award!!!

Tue, 03 May 2011 18:53:10 GMT

I am thrilled that Stolen Child has won the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for the Americas -- Canada, Mexico, Central & South America. What makes it especially wonderful is that this is a peer award.

The press release can be found here.

Congratulations to all of the winners!

Book giveaway!

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 20:49:56 GMT

Hey everyone,

Drop by Deb Marshall's MG & YA blog here. She has just done an interview with me and is giving away copies of Stolen Child!

nasty snail-mail

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 02:00:35 GMT

I guess I should chalk this up to things being better. It's not hate mail. No death threat. Just someone telling me that no one is interested in reading about WWII and Ukraine. The handwritten letter -- unsigned of course -- was snail-mailed to my husband's office, addressed to me. It was postmarked right after Stolen Child was shortlisted for Children's Book of the Year.

Here it is, errors intact:

Dear Marsha Skrypuch

Many Actors and others are into writing short children's books (some don't have children)
Others -- to fill in their empty hours are into the arts (Not for financial gain)

Your stories are emotional. Sad - and suffering = Related to you by older people, friends and close relatives and you are a good listener =
The War, Ukraine, Nazis (not Germans but NAZIS) - Today people do not know these history. War. Ukraine. Words.
Many other countries have suffered more even in to-days world=
Forget about The Nazis - Hitler=
let it go = What child or adult wants to read about Hitler? = Maybe only you and your Ukraine old friends - have you been there? I've been there =

Tip Tuesday: Historical Fiction First Drafts

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:02:39 GMT

My good friend and fellow writer Linda Gerber is featuring writing tips each Tuesday. Check out on her awesome blog here.

This week, it is my turn as her guest tipper. It's on her blog, but also down below:

Just last week I finished the companion novel to my 2010 juvenile historical, Stolen Child. It is called Making Bombs For Hitler and is scheduled to be published by Scholastic in 2012. Writing it took four intense months.

Steps:

Do preliminary research of the era you want to write about and try to imagine yourself living in that time. Non-fiction children's books are a great preliminary research tool. Also encyclopedias and textbooks. At this stage you just want to gather enough background to get the general lay of the land.

In order to come up with a premise for a novel, ask yourself: What would happen if...

Think in terms of a dilemma for a person in your historical era.

As an example, for my 2008 Armenian genocide novel Daughter of War, the question was: If you were pregnant by rape but survived a genocide, would you want your fiance to find you?

If you can't boil your novel idea down into a question like that, it's too unwieldy a concept.

Do an outline. I hate outlines, but it is amazing what you can pre-organize by doing a one or two page point form plotting of your entire novel.

Try writing a sample chapter or two. This will help you narrow down the point of view, as well as voice and tone.

After you've done the outline and initial chapters, do more research.

Do read memoirs, diaries, newspaper articles, recordings, interviews, maps, city directories of your era. Look at photographs. If people are still alive, talk to them.

Do not read novels set during your era. If you do that, you may unconsciously pick up inaccurate bits, or you could unwittingly copy the author's style or turns of phrase.

Try to get opposing points of view of the same situation. As an example, when I was researching Daughter of War, I consulted both Armenian and Turkish memoirs, as well as those of missionaries and medical personnel of the time. Inter-library loan and abebooks.com are great resources for this sort of item.

Over-researching is great procrastination technique. Not only do you waste time, but you'll also be tempted to use everything you learn, which makes for a very boring novel.

I like to do commando research -- ie -- only as much as I'll need for the next 20 pages or so. When I dry out, I do more.

Now start writing!

Think in terms of scenes. You don't have to write the story in order. I like to start with the scene that is most vivid in my imagination. As I write each scene, I decide whether it comes before or after that first one. As the writing continues, the story develops like raindrops forming a puddle. Don't worry about sticking to your outline. Let your characters take you to new places.

Goal one is to get the first draft finished.

Set yourself a schedule. It might be to write one new page a day, or maybe to write just one new paragraph a day. I like to write one scene a day. Butt in chair (or feet under tread desk) and get those words out. Don't get up (or get off) til your goal is achieved.

Don't give in to excuses. The most lame one is that you're too busy to write. Writing can be done in a steno pad while waiting in line at the grocery store or watching your kids play baseball, or on the subway. My favourite writing place is at an airport.

Do not keep going back to page one in an attempt to make it perfect. That is just a procrastination technique. First drafts aren't supposed to be perfect.

Once you finish your first draft reward yourself!

It is a huge achievement to be able to write The End. Go to the movies, Eat chocolate. Drink wine.

Let that first draft cool off for a couple of days before looking at it again. Once you've given your brain a chance to clear, print your draft and read it aloud, carefully, a few pages at a time. You will be amazed at what you can catch when you speak your words and read them on paper instead of the screen.

There are many more steps to revision, but that's another post.

OLA Best Bets for YA 2010 -- congrats all!

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 20:39:46 GMT

BEST BETS

2010

Fiction Reading for Young Adults

The OLA’s Canadian Materials Committee prepares this annual list.

Books are selected on the basis of their literary merit as well as their appeal for young adults. Illustrations are also considered in the case of graphic novels.

Armstrong, Kelley. Reckoning.
Doubleday Canada
In book three of the Darkest Powers series, Chloe Saunders and her friends have finally found a safe haven with Andrew, a renegade supernatural, as opposed to the Edison Group as they are. However, things are not necessarily all as they seem with Andrew, and Chloe, Tori, Simon, and Derek may be in the greatest danger they’ve faced yet.

Brooks, Martha. Queen of Hearts.
Groundwood
When 15 year old Marie-Claire is diagnosed with tuberculosis, she and her two siblings are sent away to a sanatorium where they are kept away from each other and forced to room with strangers. Marie-Claire’s roommate is a rich and relentlessly cheerful girl named Signy and the story is as much about their friendship as it is about their struggles to beat this terrible disease in the days before a vaccine was developed.

Cummings, Gillian. Somewhere in Blue.
Lobster Press.
Sandy’s father is dead. She is desolated and barely functioning. Her mother, always somehow outside the charmed circle of Sandy’s close relationship with her father, appears not to be grieving. Best friend Lennie is trying to provide comfort but has her own problems with a mother who keeps casting her net for a man but catching only creeps and losers. There is a boy who would like to help if he can just find a way to break through the ice wall of Sandy’s grief. A beautifully written story about the healing power of love and friendship.

Ellis, Deborah. No Safe Place.
Groundwood
Three teenagers smuggle themselves into England, each of them with a reason to leave their native land. Abdul is from war-torn Baghdad. Rosalia had been sold into sexual slavery by an uncle and escaped just in time and Cheslav had been a young Russian soldier. Distrusting everyone, they are forced to rely on each other in order to survive. Ellis fashions another look at young people with lives very different than our own but with similar hopes and dreams.

Harvey, Alyxandra. Hearts at Stake.
Walker & Company
Solange Drake is a natural born vampire, about to go through the change that will turn her from basically human, to thoroughly vampire. Since Solange is the only born vampire who is female, and there is a prophecy about her becoming the ruler of the vampires, her change is creating huge tension in the vampire world. With the Queen trying to kill her, and power hungry males trying to capture her heart, there is a lot going on in Solange’s world. Luckily, Solange’s human friend Lucy, her seven brothers, and a vampire hunter named Kieran, are all on Solange’s side, and all fighting for her survival.

Jocelyn, Marthe. Folly.
Tundra
Mary, a poor farm girl in 19th century England is sent from her home by a mean spirited stepmother and pressed into the life of a domestic servant. Independent by nature, Mary soon finds a better offer in another household but burns her bridges with her family by doing so.

Harvey, Sarah N. Death Benefits
Orca Book Publishers
As far as Royce ever knew his grandfather, Arthur, had just been this miserable old grouch, but when he's offered a lucrative summer job caring for the old guy, Royce discovers that Arthur's also very rich and famous. The old man's health is slowly deteriorating and he wants to die. Arthur confides this secret to Royce in the hope of getting some help.

Oppel, Kenneth. Half Brother. Harper Collins
Ben Tomlin's dad has one of the more interesting jobs on the planet. He's trying to teach sign language to a baby chimpanzee. Having a chimp in the family certainly has its perks. Ben finds he's suddenly a chick magnet. But he also sees some of the darker side of animal research.

Prinz, Yvonne. The Vinyl Princess.
Harper Trophy
Allie is a music geek. Music is her passion. She works full-time at Bob and Bob Records, selling vinyl. Not CDs. Not MP3s. Vinyl.   The trouble is, Bob and Bob’s isn’t doing too well. It seems that most people just don’t understand the greatness of music on vinyl. Enter Allie’s secret identity as The Vinyl Princess, blogger and Zine creator. Can Bob and Bob’s be saved, even with a crime wave sweeping the neighbourhood? Will Allie be stuck playing third wheel to her mother’s romantic life?    Can Allie change people’s minds about music?

Slade, Arthur. The Dark Deeps.
Harper Collins
In book two of The Hunchback Assignments, Modo and Octavia are sent on a mission to discover a ship that has the power to wreak havoc on the world. When their own boat is rammed, and Modo is thrown into the sea, Octavia fears he is dead. Modo, however, finds himself somewhere completely unexpected, beneath the sea.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Bow, Erin. Plain Kate. Scholastic.
Buffie, Margaret. Winter Shadows. Tundra.
Livingston, Lesley. Darklight.. Harper Trophy.
McClintock, Norah. Homicide Related. Red Deer Press.
Muller, Rachel Dunstan. Squeeze. Orca Book Publishers.
Russell, Craig. Black Bottle Man. Great Plains.
Stratton, Allan. Borderline. Harper Trophy.
Van Tol, Alex. Knifepoint. Orca Book Publishers.

NOTABLE NON FICTION (We do not review non fiction but came across this book which we felt deserved a mention).

Dyer, Hadley, Illustrated by Marc Ngui. Watch This Space: Designing, Defending and Sharing Public Spaces. Kids Can Press

OLA’S CANADIAN MATERIALS COMMITTEE

We are a long standing committee with a strong voice in promoting Canadian literature for children and young adults. Our goal is to highlight excellence in literature for children and young adults for the OLA membership and others with an interest.
The OLA’s annual Best Bets evolved from a list put out by the Canadian Material’s

Committee of the Children’s Services Guild. This Canadian Materials Committee is now under the wing of the OPLA Children and Youth Committee.

The OLA’s Canadian Materials Committee selects books on the basis of their literary/artistic merit as well as their appeal for children and young adults. Text and illustrations are of equal importance in picture books and information books.

The Committee thanks S & B Books, www.sbbooks.com, for their ongoing support with providing a place to meet and copies of books to review.

Meetings are held a minimum of four times a year at S & B Books Ltd (3086 Universal Dr., Mississauga). Members discuss and evaluate recent publications by Canadian authors and illustrators. The books evaluated are suitable for children and young adults from birth to nineteen years old. From these discussions, the Committee produces "Best Bets" lists, annual annotated lists of recommended titles. These lists are released each year at the OLA Super Conference.

OLA’s Canadian Materials Committee Members:

Carrie Dawber, Richmond Hill Public Library

Dinah Gough, Retiree from Oshawa Public Library

Patrick Gracey, Toronto Public Library

Sandy Laird, Mississauga Public Library

Sheilah O’Connor, Toronto Public Library

Cecily Reid, Richmond Hill Public Library

Jane Salmon, Barrie Public Library

Jennifer Stephen, Vaughan Public Libraries

For further information, please contact

Jane Salmon at the Barrie Public Library

jsalmon@barrie.ca

Ontario Library Association

50 Wellington St. East, Suite 201,

Toronto, ON M5E 1C8

Tel 416-941-9581 or 866-873-9867

FAX 416-941-9581 or 800-387-1181

www.accessola.com

info@accessola.com

OLA Best Bets for children 2010 -- congrats all!

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 20:39:01 GMT

The OLA’s Canadian Materials Committee, which is under the umbrella of the OPLA Child and Youth Services Committee, picks this annual list.

Books are selected on the basis of their literary/artistic merit as well as their appeal for children.

Text and illustrations are of equal importance in picture books and information books.

        PICTURE BOOKS

Bailey, Linda. Stanley’s Little Sister.
Illustrated by Bill Slavin. Kids Can Press
Stanley’s world is turned upside down with the arrival of “Fluffy” the cat. Chaos and hilarity ensue with Stanley catching all the blame. But just when Stanley is about to give up, he realizes that having a little sister isn’t so bad after all.

Becker, Helaine. A Porcupine in a Pine Tree: a Canadian 12 Days of Christmas.
Illustrated by Werner Zimmerman. North Winds Press *
A porcupine, caribou, beavers, moose, squirrels, Mounties, Stanley Cups and more rollick through the familiar carol. With tongue-in-cheek humour and bright illustrations, this distinctively Canadian version is a delight.

Edwards, Wallace.   The Cat’s Pajamas.
Kids Can Press.
Wallace Edwards makes understanding idioms fun and entertaining.   His extraordinary illustrations are visual clues to 26 idioms. Readers are challenged to decipher each one.   Edwards seems to be telling us “Use Your Noodle”! and It’s a “Piece of Cake’!”. Check out the hidden cat on each page.   Readers of all ages will find this book ”more fun than a barrel of monkeys”!

Horrocks, Anita. Silas’ Seven Grandparents.
Illustrated by Helen Flook. Orca Book Publishers
Modern family dynamics have left Silas with more than the usual quota of doting caregivers when his parents go away on a business trip. As one after another invites him to stay, Silas is in a quandary. How can he choose to stay with only one when all seven want him? Clever Silas finds a solution that pleases everyone. Colourful, lively illustrations make this book a special treat for readers, too.

Leonetti, Mike. The Mighty Tim Horton;
Illustrated by Greg Banning. North Winds Press*
Hockey fans and history buffs alike will enjoy this endearing story of a boy and his encounter with a hockey legend, the mighty Tim Horton. The thrill and excitement of the 1962 NHL playoffs is captured nicely as we join Tim Horton and the Toronto Maple Leafs on their successful quest to win the Stanley Cup.

Luxbacher, Irene. Mattoo, Let’s Play!
Kids Can Press
Ruby LOVES to play with her pet cat, Mattoo. But why is Mattoo being such a sour puss? A delightful, beautifully illustrated story about considering the feelings of others and playing nicely.

Munsch, Robert. Put Me in a Book!
Ilustrated by Michael Martchenko. North Winds Press*
An author sitting on a park bench tells Mrs. O’Dell’s class that he can’t complete his picture book until he finds a kid to be in it. Hailey enthusiastically volunteers and is shocked when she is suddenly folded into the book. Once she discovers that she can’t escape, the other kids try to help with hilarious results. Kids will buy into the absurdity of Hailey’s problem and will love the concluding twist.

Tsiang, Sarah. A Flock of Shoes.
Illustrated by Qin Leng. Annick.
Abby’s sandals are pink and brown with lime green trim. They are perfect for running and jumping and making tracks in the sand. But when summer is over Mum says they are worn out and it’s time for them to go. Abby disagrees but the sandals take matters into their own hands, flying away to the south like birds. Soon unhappy Abby learns to love her blue and white boots with purple trim. Until, one sunny spring day…. Young readers will delight in this nonsensical story about Abby and her faithful footwear.

Ward, David. One Hockey Night.
Illustrated by Brian Deines, Scholastic.
Owen and Holly have moved to Saskatchewan from Nova Scotia and miss playing hockey on a lake. However their father has a big surprise for them on Christmas Eve. Gorgeous artwork and a charming story celebrate one of Canada’s favourite pastimes.

Wishinsky, Frieda. The Queen’s Secret.
Illustrated by Loufane.   North Winds Press*
There’s a secret that both the Queen and Kay share – and it’s up to the reader to find out! Delightfully teasing (the answer is at the end) this is also a rhyming book with bright, colourful illustrations.
.
*Note that North Winds Press is part of Scholastic Canada.

                  FICTION

Brewster, Hugh Prisoner Of Dieppe: World War II, Alistair Morrison, Occupied France, 1942 (I am Canada). Scholastic
Alistair Morrison is talked into joining the war effort by his best friend, the slightly older “Mackie”. After basic training they are sent overseas and end up being captured after the disastrous battle of Dieppe. This new series is promoted as being for ages 9-12 but the honest way in which Brewster treats the lives of the soldiers during WWII makes it suitable for older readers as well. Exciting and well written, this is a story that will engage boys in particular.

Charles, Rie. No More Dragons. Napoleon Publishing.
Alex keeps a diary in the form of letters to a friend. As we read each entry something disturbing is revealed.   Thirteen year old Alex is not only lonely and insecure, he is also being abused.   Nevertheless, his letters are filled with humour and hope, especially when he talks about trying out for the school play.   We see his world slowly crumbling until he reaches a point where he knows he must stand up to his father. A believable and touching story.

Mack, Winnie. After All, You’re Callie Boone. Scholastic.
12 year old Callie has been dumped by her best friend and has just belly flopped off the diving board at the pool. On top of that her Uncle has moved in with his ferrets and her grandma is cranky. Things change when a boy named Hoot moves to her neighbourhood. A great first novel about friendship.

MacLean, Jill. The Present Tense of Prinny Murphy.
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
This shining novel reintroduces Grade 5 to 8 readers to characters from The Nine Lives of Travis Keating. Her mother’s alcoholism, bullying classmates, and struggles with reading are making Prinny’s life in her small Newfoundland town a misery until a sympathetic teacher gives her a book which helps her find the strength and resilience to grow past her troubles.

Milway, Katie Smith. The Good Garden: How One Family Went from Hunger to Having Enough.
Illustrated by Sylvie Daigneault. Kids Can Press
Impoverished soil and greedy “coyotes” have driven Maria’s Honduran family to desperation. A new teacher defies tradition and introduces practices which enable Maria’s family to rehabilitate their land and become successful, independent farmers. A thoughtful introduction to the issue of global food shortages. For Grades 4 to 8 but Daigneault’s charming illustrations will attract younger readers, too.

Nielsen, Susin. Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom.   Tundra.
According to Violet, divorce sucks.   Her mother dates losers and always seems depressed, while her father is never around since he has remarried and moved. When she and her sister are invited to visit her TV-director dad in Los Angeles, Violet hatches a plan involving George Clooney to save her Mom and make her father crazy with jealousy.   A hilarious look at the ups and downs of family life.

Peterson, Lois. The Ballad of Knuckles McGraw
Orca Book Publishers
When Kevin Mason is abandoned by his mother, he decides to escape by becoming Knuckles McGraw, a tough and brave cowboy. But with the support of his new foster family, and the reunion with his grandparents, Kevin re-finds not only himself, but the courage to face his future with new optimism. A touching story.

Sherrard, Valerie. Tumbleweed Skies.
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
Ellie is sent to live with her embittered and unwelcoming grandmother for the summer. While a sympathetic uncle and a wounded magpie help her cope, it is Ellie’s maturity and inner strength which guide her growing understanding. This historical novel captures Ellie’s thoughts and emotions with compassion and insight. The hopeful ending avoids a sentimental solution.

Skrypuch, Marsha Stolen Child
Scholastic
After World War II, twelve year old Nadia is adjusting to life in Canada after years in a Displaced Persons camp in Europe. But her memories and her dreams are confused and contradictory. Gradually she comes to realize that as a young child she was stolen from her Ukrainian parents and raised to be a good Nazi German. This aspect of the war is not covered in children’s books and this gives an added interest to an “adjusting to a new life in Canada “story.

Stevenson, Robin. Liars and Fools.
Orca Book Publishers.
In the wake of her mother’s tragic disappearance, Fiona's rational minded science teacher father falls for a new age spirit medium. Smelling a rat, Fiona and her overachieving friend Anna decide to expose "psychic phenomena" for their next science project.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Fergus, Maureen – Ortega – Kids Can
Kerz, Anna – Gnome’s Eye – Orca
Peacock, Shane – Secret Fiend – Tundra
Sylvester, Kevin – Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders – H.B. Fenn

          NON-FICTION

Becker, Helaine. Magic Up Your Sleeve: Amazing Illusions, Tricks, and Science Facts You’ll Never Believe;
Illustrated by Claudia Dávila. Owlkids Books Inc.
Magic and science unite with wondrous results in this clever and informative book about magic tricks. The easy to follow step by step instructions, and eye catching illustrations are sure to astound and amaze the curious minds of budding magicians!

Ellis, Deborah. We Want You to Know: Kids Talk About Bullying. Coteau Books.
Deborah Ellis’ latest book is meaningful not only to kids who have been bullied, but also to educators and parents. The interviews are poignant and thoughtful and the kids have their own ideas, advice and solutions to share. A section called “What Do You Think” has great topics for further discussion.   The “Resources” section provides helpful websites and addresses.

Kelsey, Elin.
Not Your Typical Book About the Environment.
Illustrated by Clayton Hanmer. Owlkids
Catchy titles and fun illustrations offering empowering advice without preaching or sentimentalizing make this book a winner. The book is packed with interesting information and readers are encouraged to connect with the environment proactively. The author’s sincerity, thoughtfulness and ability to connect with kids shines through in this highly- readable book.

Kyi, Tanya Lloyd.
50 Burning Question: a Sizzling History of Fire. Illustrated by Ross Kinnaird. Annick Press
Entertaining headings (“Who was the first hairy potter?”) and brightly-coloured pages with wacky illustrations introduce the reader to the subject of fire. Well-researched (there’s a bibliography) with a wealth of interesting detail, this book is fun and informative. Chapters include both scientific and social aspects of fire in a question and answer format.

McAllister, Ian & Read, Nicholas. Sea Wolves- Living Wild in the Great Bear Rainforest. Orca Book Publishers.
Beautifully illustrated with almost 100 photos by McAllister, this stunning book covers the lives and habits of these creatures who are genetically different from other wolves. Details on how they differ (they fish!) and how they are similar to other wolves is contrasted with how similarly they live to the First Nations who share the same space.

McAllister, Ian & Read, Nicholas. Salmon Bears: Giants of the Great Bear Rainforest.. Orca Book Publishers.
This is another amazing book by this author and photographer. We hope they continue with this series. Incredible photos and informative text make this a must for any collection. Both titles by this author and photographer deserve to be on the Best Bets list

Patterson, Heather. Canada From Above: A Photo Journey.
Scholastic Canada
This photographic book features breathtaking images of 30 Canadian natural and man-made landmarks, all shot from above. Each picture covers a two page spread with interesting information about the location included. Subject matter ranges from the Alberta Pond Hockey championships, to a beluga migration in Nunavut, to salmon farms on the East coast, to an old-growth forest in B.C.

Read, Tracy C. Exploring the World of Eagles
Firefly Books
Get up close and personal with some of nature’s most fascinating creatures. Beautiful colour photographs coupled with interesting facts and trivia make this and the other books in the Exploring the World of… series a must see!

Webb, Jonathan. Canada's Wars: An illustrated History.   Scholastic Canada
A thorough and up to date, richly illustrated book covering Canada's official and unofficial involvement in conflicts around the globe. Starting with the Boer War and covering a surprising range of lesser known material, this book closes with Canada's role in Afghanistan. Includes maps and an index.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Coulter, Laurie – Kings and Carpenters: One Hundred Bible Land Jobs You Might Have Praised or Panned - Annick
Goldner, John– Hockey Talk – Fitzhenry & Whiteside
Lightfoot, Gordon – Canadian Railroad Trilogy – Groundwood (for the illustrations by Ian Wallace).
Weaver, Janice – Hudson. Tundra

       OLA’S CANADIAN MATERIALS COMMITTEE

We are a long standing committee with a strong voice in promoting Canadian literature for children and young adults. Our goal is to highlight excellence in literature for children and young adults for the OLA membership and others with an interest.

The OLA’s annual Best Bets evolved from a list put out by the Canadian Material’s Committee of the Children’s Services Guild. This Canadian Materials Committee is now under the wing of the OPLA Children and Youth Committee.

The OLA’s Canadian Materials Committee selects books on the basis of their literary/artistic merit as well as their appeal for children and young adults. Text and illustrations are of equal importance in picture books and information books.

The Committee thanks S & B Books, www.sbbooks.com, for their ongoing support with providing a place to meet and copies of books to review.

Meetings are held a minimum of four times a year at S & B Books (3086 Universal Dr., Mississauga). Members discuss and evaluate recent publications by Canadian authors and illustrators. The books evaluated are suitable for children and young adults from birth to nineteen years old. From these discussions, the Committee produces "Best Bets" lists, annual annotated lists of recommended titles. These lists are released each year at the OLA Super Conference.

OLA’s Canadian Materials Committee Members:

Carrie Dawber, Richmond Hill Public Library

Dinah Gough, Retiree from Oshawa Public Library

Patrick Gracey, Toronto Public Library

Sandy Laird, Mississauga Public Library

Sheilah O’Connor, Toronto Public Library

Cecily Reid, Richmond Hill Public Library

Jane Salmon, Barrie Public Library

Jennifer Stephen, Vaughan Public Libraries

For further information, please contact

Jane Salmon at the Barrie Public Library

jsalmon@barrie.ca

Ontario Library Association

50 Wellington St. East, Suite 201,

Toronto, ON M5E 1C8

Tel 416-941-9581 or 866-873-9867

FAX 416-941-9581 or 800-387-1181

www.accessola.com

info@accessola.com

Stolen Child -- An OLA Best Bet!

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:11:52 GMT

Each year the Ontario Library Association Best Bets committee chooses the top 10 Canadian books for children and teens in the categories of picture books, junior fiction, junior non fiction and teen fiction. The titles are featured in the OLA store at the conference. I am pleased to announce that Stolen Child is on the 10 ten list for Juvenile Fiction. Yay!

the dance

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 05:18:57 GMT

Kobzar contributor Paulette MacQuarrie saw the dance and wrote about it here.

I am so jealous, Paulette!

Blood Line

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:32:45 GMT

Blood Line photo by Miles Lowry

stories lost, history suppressed

choreographed by Lori Hamar

featuring dance artists Brandy Baybutt, Jung-ah Chung, Nicole McSkimming and composer Dave Chokroun

The LOLA Projects

featuring choreographed works by Constance Cooke, Lori Hamar, Leah Wickes

with guest choroeography by Joe Laughlin

January 30th, 2011, 7:30 pm

The Metro Studio Theatre

1411 QUadra Street, Victoria, BC

produced by Dance Victoria

tickets by donation at the door

A dance inspired by one of my books?

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 04:46:01 GMT

Just before Christmas, I had an intriguing email from Victoria contemporary dance artist Lori Hamar. She was delving into her Ukrainian roots and found out for the first time about the internment of Ukrainian Canadians in WWI. Shortly after that, she came across my anthology, Kobzar's Children: A Century of Untold Ukrainian Stories at the Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, Manitoba. It spoke to so many of the questions she had and touched on a history she knew little about.

Inspired by the stories in the book, Lori created a 60 minute contemporary dance called Bloodline. It will be performed at the end of this month.
Here are the details (I wish I could see it!):

The LOLA Projects

Metro Studio Theatre,

1411 Quadra StJanuary 30 • 7:30 pm

Local artists Constance Cooke, Lori

Hamar and Leah Wickes will perform

the work they created under the

mentorship of Wen Wei Wang. Also,

coMOTION Dance Collective will

premiere their new work

choreographed by Joe Laughlin.

TICKETS • www.rmts.bc.ca • Teen and

Adult

www.dancevictoria.com

Authors' Booking Service holiday newsletter

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 22:32:43 GMT

In addition to being Marsha Skrypuch, I am also half of the Authors' Booking Service team. Together with Valerie Sherrard, I arrange school and library visits for 100+ of Canada's best known authors and illustrators.

Each December, we ask our members to provide us with a family recipe, story or anecdote that we can distribute in our newsletter. Pasted below is that lovely collection. Enjoy!

*****
Whatever you celebrate this time of year,
We're wishing you happiness, peace and good cheer!

*****

Marsha Skrypuch: Gramma Jo's Convertible Cookies

Here is my Irish grandmother's "convertible cookie" recipe. With slight variations, you can make peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies or oatmeal raisin cookies.

My grandmother died eight years ago at the age of 94. She was a wonderful no-nonsense cook and always had some nice thing for dessert. What I like about this recipe is that you don't need fancy ingredients. She made these for me all the time when I was a child, and she made them for my mother when she was a child. I made them myself when I was in university and then also made them for my son when he was little. They're very tasty:

base recipe:
1 cup shortening or margarine
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Cream together the shortening and sugar, then add the eggs, then the rest of the ingredients.

Alternates:

For peanut butter cookies, add a cup of peanut butter and a tbsp of vanilla extract to the base recipe.

For chocolate chip cookies, add a cup of chocolate chips to the base recipe.

For oatmeal cookies, change one of the cups of flour to oatmeal (flakes like quick oats or old fashioned, but NOT steel cut) and add an extra egg to the base recipe. You can add raisins or chocolate chips to this if you wish. Also, cinnamon (1 tsp) if you wish.

Drop from a teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 350c oven for about 10 minutes. Don't over-bake.

Note: the peanut butter cookies should be flattened on the cookie sheet with the back of a fork before baking.

*****

Valerie Sherrard: Snowflake card hanger

(A craft so simple that even I can make it.)

Thread a length of twine through the centre coil of wooden clothespins, one at a time. Loop and tie each clothespin so that it won’t move sideways on the string. Leave a space of 2 - 3 inches between each clothespin to allow cards to hang freely.

Cut silver (or luminescent white) wrapping paper into squares just large enough to cover clothespins. Fold and cut snowflake patterns into each square. Glue completed snowflakes to one or both sides of clothespins (one side if hung against the wall, both if hung in a doorway). Clip holiday greeting cards with the clothespins to hang.

You can substitute the snowflakes with any cut-out shape or design you prefer.

Happy Holidays from Brent and I!

*****

Beryl Young: Since my father, Charlie, was a Home Child who came from England, he’d never heard of cranberry sauce until he was married and living in Canada. He took to it whole-heartedly and always ate more than his share. My mother, who was quite capable of cooking up raw cranberries into a sauce, had this very clever short-cut for a busy holiday season and my father never knew there was any other kind.

Place a tin of whole cranberry sauce in a bowl and add one or two chopped oranges (not mandarin) and some grated peel, mix and serve.

This is very quick, it tastes almost as good as the fresh berries and the chopped oranges add fresh flavour and texture.

*****

Kathy Kacer: I grew up with a Jewish grandmother whose joy was encouraging members of my family to “Eat!” She didn’t understand portion control and never heard of the concept of “light” cooking. She made the best chicken soup. (What respectable Jewish grandmother didn’t?) My homage to her is this soup recipe. It’s a lighter version, which she might frown upon. But, as long as you eat a lot of it, I know she’ll approve.

Beef and Vegetable Pea Soup

1 lb. Stewing beef cut in one inch chunks

2 large onions, diced

4 large carrots, diced

1 potato, diced

6-8 mushrooms, chopped

2 stalks celery, diced

1 cup dry split peas

1 cup dry barley

1 tblsp vegetable oil

flour for dredging

1 tblsp. Salt

1 tsp. Pepper

2 tblsp. Chicken powder

1 quart water

Heat 1 tblsp vegetable oil in a large soup pot. Add onions and sauté until soft. Dredge the stewing beef in flour and add to pot. Saute until the meat is brown (1-2 minutes). Add all the other ingredients. Stir and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 1 ½ hours. Taste and add more salt if needed. Serve with crusty French bread.

*****

Gillian Richardson: Christmas craft: Holiday Placemats

We all love Christmas cards’ exquisite images. After the holidays, it’s a shame to toss them. Instead, save the memories. Placemats are easy to make, wipe clean and will last forever.

Material for each placemat:

27 cards, solid color MacTac, clear or frosted MacTac, scissors.

Directions:

1. Cut a 9 cm diameter round template from back of one card.
2. Use the template to trace around the best part of each card’s image.
3. Cut out 27 circles.
4. Arrange 14 circles on the sticky side of solid color MacTac, overlapping them slightly to create an oval placemat 44 cm by 30 cm.
5. Overlap 10 circles in another oval inside the first.
6. Use the last 3 circles to cover remaining MacTac with your favorite image at the centre.
7. Easily peel/rearrange the circles to get a pleasing design of colors or pictures.
8. Once you are happy with the design, place clear or frosted MacTac over the placemat.
9. Trim around placemat following the scalloped edge, leaving a .5 cm border of MacTac.

Teachers: give your class advance notice to collect old cards from relatives for a pre-holiday craft.

*****

Vicki Grant: Miss Canada’s Christmas Danish

This dessert really did come from Miss Canada. My dear friend, Sylvia McGuire, was Miss Canada in her twenties, a cop on Vancouver’s Lower Eastside in her thirties and a French teacher thereafter. Not bad for a girl from Windsor Junction, Nova Scotia.

The dessert isn’t as interesting as Sylvia - but they do both share a sweet nuttiness.

Pastry

½ cup butter

1 cup flour

2 tablespoons water

Cut butter into flour. Sprinkle water over mixture. Form into a ball. Divide in half. With fingers, spread into two 12”x3” strips on an ungreased pan.

Almond Puff

1/2 cup butter

1 cup water

1 tsp almond extract

1 cup flour

3 eggs

Bring butter and water to a boil. Remove pan from heat. Stir in almond extract and flour. Beat in eggs all at once until smooth. Spread over pastry strips. Bake 60 minutes at 350 degrees.

Icing

1 ½ cups icing sugar

2 Tablespoons butter

2 teaspoons almond extract

Milk if needed.

Mix ingredients together. Spread icing on cooled Danishes. Decorate with slivered almonds or candied cherries. Makes a great hostess gift – especially since it looks way harder to make that it is.

*****

A Jolly Jurassic Christmas

By Helaine Becker

At Christmastime, in days of yore

‘Twas great to be a dinosaur

The Duckbills jingled all the way

Pulling Santa Claus’s sleigh

The Longnecks strung up all the lights

The Hadrosaurs had snowball fights

And at the Festive Fossil Bash

Apatosaurus made a splash

Spinosaurus spiked the punch

Then burped and hiccupped all through lunch

Giganta gorged on gingerbread

Got scolded and was sent to bed

The Stego-chorus sounded swell

When it sang “Noel, Noel”

But as the carolers came to greet him

T-Rex felt he had to eat them!

The Christmas tree was quite a sight

When Diplodocus took a bite

The Raptors wrapped the gifts all night

But didn’t get the name tags right!

So Allosaur got salad tongs

And CDs full of heartbreak songs

Triceratops got underwear

And whined all day, it wasn’t fair!

But all in all, they had a ball

And celebrated ‘til Last Call

And now they want to raise a toast

To all the kids they love most

So here’s to you from the Jurassic

We hope your Christmas is fantastic!

*****
Lesley Simpson: This year it's my turn to host our annual family Chanukah party. That means I will be making about 3,000 latkes, the potato pancakes fried in oil and guaranteed to thin your thighs. My favourite part is when we light the menorahs in the window. We ask people to bring their menorot (that's the plural in Hebrew) and we line them up in the window with different coloured candles. Each night another candle is added and lit. So imagine at least 20 different menorot (from Mickey Mouse to sculptured clay to sterling silver to cast iron.) From artful to tacky and everything in between. We turn off the lights, say the blessings, and you see flames flickering like a dance in the reflection of the window. Outside it's black. And this tradition is one small way of creating more light in the world.
*****

Val Wyatt: Here's my family tradition:

Fortunenuts: Some years ago, we started wondering what we could possibly do with all those Christmas nut shells once the nut itself has been removed. The answer is a hard-shelled version of fortune cookies. Simply insert a handwritten fortune between two walnut, pecan or other shell halves and tie, glue or tape the shell together. Put the nuts in a bowl and take turns picking and opening one before Christmas dinner.

*****

Philip Roy: Submarine Stew

(from: Submarine Outlaw Series)

Submarine stew is wonderful for long voyages at sea, especially in the Arctic. First, you fashion a home-made desalinator to remove the salt from seawater. Alfred’s desalinator looks like a teapot from ancient Persia, with a copper tube sticking out the top to collect steam into another pot. Alfred finds that it takes two boilings and a filter to remove all the salt, but that once-boiled seawater is perfect for stew. Add: one carrot, one potato, one onion, one clove of garlic, one tablespoon butter and a pinch of pepper, sage, rosemary and thyme. Stew for at least an hour. Eat with hard biscuit and piece of cheese. Excellent for Christmas away from home. Make double batch if you’re going to share with the crew.

*****

This year's Christmas season is proving to be a busy one for Julie Burtinshaw. As one of the judges for the 2011 Red Cedar Awards in British Columbia, she has over a hundred books to read before April, in order to select the best reads for BC elementary students. She has also has a book coming out in the spring and one more in progress. Julie wishes everyone a Happy Holiday Season.

*****

Sharon Jennings: A Fun Recipe for Tiny Hands
Children love to help bake...but that can cause so many problems! Years ago I came across this recipe in a magazine, tarted it up a bit, and now make it only when my great nephews and nieces are around. Each child makes his or her own batch and wraps it up as a gift for mommy and daddy or grandparents or teachers or....

Adult: Melt one large bag of dark chocolate chips.
Child: Break one large bag of Oreo cookies into bits.
Adult: "Stop eating the cookies!"
Child: Stir broken cookies into melted chocolate.
Adult: "Good job!"
Child: Stir in a handful of dried, mixed fruit (cherries, blueberries, etc.).
Adult: "Terrific!"
Child: Spread mixture on a cookie sheet lined with parchment (waxed) paper
Adult: "Wow!" Pry tray away from child (this may take some doing) and place in fridge until hardened.
Child: Break chocolate bark into small pieces. Sample.
Adult: "One is enough!"
Child: Put chocolate bark into a tin. Give to someone special!

*****

Helene Boudreau: Snow for the Holidays

I have a large family. So large and so scattered that we usually plan a pre-holiday get-together to avoid traveling during the iffy weather of late December.

This year was our turn to host and, as it is with extended families, it was a bit tricky to settle on a date. We finally did—but in very early November. The pumpkins hadn’t even been composted yet but we were determined to make our get-together as festive as possible.

So, a fresh tree was acquired (not an easy task right after Halloween!) and copious amounts of food were prepared. Though, cooking for thirty-five guests in a small house means things can get a bit cramped and a lot hot.

As the thermostat rose, the kids began to get shack happy. I stole a crazed glance at my husband across the crowded room. What to do? It was only 3 pm! He understood, grabbed my brother, and hustled out of the house.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived with a truckload full of Zamboni snow, which they dumped on our front lawn.

Snowball fight!

A sure-fire way to cool things off AND get into the holiday spirit on a spring-like November afternoon.

*****

Matt Beam: Christmas: The School of Hard Knocks

In the mid-1970s, I was five and had graduated to Christmas gift-giving, as had my older sister. The expectations for my gifts were low; an astral configuration made of Popsicle sticks and glue was perfect. While the parent/child gift-giving contract was very clear, the intersibling exchange hadn't exactly been hammered out.

And so: I wanted Walkie-Talkies. Desperately. The morning finally came. Stockings were emptied, toes pinched to the ceiling. Wrapping paper was removed with such efficiency it’s a wonder this wasn’t the evolutionary purpose for our articulated digits.

Finally, all that was left at the bottom of the tree was the red tree-stand and my sister’s present to me.

To my great delight, the wrapped box was exactly two Walkie-Talkies big. The devices would stretch my sister’s allowance capabilities, but this wasn’t a time for pragmatism. Christmas is a time to dream, so I went at the final present, expectations high.

The wrapping paper was shred in seconds. The box lid, to cover shoes not Walkie-Talkies, flew open.

There were no Walkie-Talkies. No shoes.

Inside was another box. Just a little smaller: a tight fit for two hand-held radio devices, but my optimism was unyielding.

Inside was an even smaller box. One Walkie-Talkie? I looked up at my sister with irritation. Who was I going to talk to?

Inside that box was another. And then another…

As each box grew smaller, so did my hopes. By the time I pulled out my sister’s macramé bracelet, I was furious and in tears, and was sharply ordered to spend the rest of the morning in my room.

Several hours later, after a long discussion, an apology, and a sister/brother hug, I had evolved, from a greedy child to an it’s-the-thought-that-counts kid.

*****

Rosemarie Boll: My husband, daughter and I lived in Europe for five years, and we decided we would travel each Christmas. In 2003, the Foehn wind in Cadaqués, Spain nearly blew us into the Mediterranean, and then we laughed ourselves silly in England when the Christmas goose wouldn’t fit in my aunt’s oven. Snow-hushed Switzerland charmed us on New Year’s Eve 2004, when we sat on a rooftop high in the Alps and watched fireworks flower in the valley below. The next year we went tropical, and Bangkok’s Chakuchek Market – perhaps the world’s largest – elevated Christmas shopping to a whole new level. In 2006, tourists were still scarce in post-bombing Bali, but we selfishly loved having the beaches to ourselves.

But our most moving experience was 2007 in Morocco. We were catapulted back in time. On Christmas Eve, our battered taxi bumped along the road from Marrakech to Essaouira. People dressed in long hooded capes travelled on donkeys alongside the road. It could so easily have been 2000 years ago, with Mary and Joseph on the long trek to Bethlehem. Then New Year’s Eve riding camels in the Sahara Desert, more stars than I’d ever seen, the Christmas star almost close enough to touch.

*****

Laura Langston: Our family Christmas Eve buffet is a much-loved tradition, originally borne out of necessity to feed a group of people (some arriving that night) before an early church service. When the kids were young, food was selected on the basis of make-ahead ease. As they grew, it evolved to cover our ethnicity. And since we cover the gamut from Ukrainian and Polish to Russian, Turkish, French, English and Irish (and my Italian cousins often join us), we inevitably end up with a veritable feast of nations. We have smoked salmon and proscuitto; bread and olives and dips; borek and varenyky; cheese from around the globe; tourtiere and pate; tiny crepes stuffed with grilled mushrooms or fish; hot spiced wine and a glut of sweets: baklava, kutya, Bouche de Noel, fruit cake. This year, my daughter won't be joining us. She has moved east where she'll celebrate with new friends. As sad as I am, it's comforting to know that when her candles are lit and her music is cued, she'll feast on many of the same foods we're feasting on in Victoria.

*****

Karen Bass: My mother tells a story of growing up on the farm in northern Alberta. One of her younger sisters was bedridden with a contagious disease, so none of the family could attend the annual Christmas concert, which was the highlight of the winter season. My mother was devastated. Christmas morning arrived, though it hardly felt like Christmas at all. Then a noise outside sent her to the window. She breathed a view hole on the frosty glass and peered outside. There, across the yard, was Santa Claus, stepping out from behind the chicken coop. (This part of the story always puzzled me, until I decided he had passed up the house’s steep roof and parked his sleigh on the shallow incline of the chicken coop’s roof, which would be much safer to climb down from.) He crossed the yard, sack in hand, entered the house, stomping to knock the snow from his boots, and handed out gifts to the three house-bound girls. But he didn't just leave gifts; he left the joy of Christmas with that visit, one that a little girl has carried in her heart for over seventy years.

*****

Jeremy Tankard: My family aren’t ones to make a big deal of holidays. Call it laziness. However, we did have a tradition that revolved around books. Amongst other things we all received books at Christmas. In a nicely unspoken tradition we would open presents after attending Christmas Mass; then lunch (nothing fancy); then sitting in comfy chairs in companionable silence reading our new books and snoozing the afternoon away before getting up and making a nice dinner.

Some people have suggested that I make more of a “big deal” about Christmas. You know, for the sake of my kids. I respectfully disagree with those people. I loved my quiet family Christmases. A quiet afternoon with a good book seems the BEST way to celebrate any holiday. Holidays in the Tankard house were never stressful affairs. And really, is there a better way to pass the time than in the company of your favourite people and a couple of good books? I think not.

*****

Larry Verstraete’s Easiest-Ever Holiday Punch

(Simple, but festive and tasty.)

I can frozen raspberry juice concentrate

1 can frozen cranberry juice concentrate

1 - 2 litre bottle of club soda

Mix ingredients. Add ice. Garnish with whole cranberries and/or raspberries. Serve and enjoy!

*****

Jane Drake and Ann Love: Playdough for Baking -- Making Seasonal Ornaments

Using traditional cookie cutter shapes and this recipe, we made tree ornaments with kids ages 7, 5 and 3 this year. From the kitchen gadget drawer, we found that the garlic press made great hair and manes. After the first batch, the kids started free-styling shapes with a plastic knife and adult supervision. We now have a whip-tail lizard, tractor, and fossil hanging from our tree as well as bells, reindeer, and Santa faces.

You’ll Need:

1 cup salt

4 cups flour

2 oz glycerine (available at the pharmacy)

1 ½ cups water

a narrow stick such as a chopstick

water-based paints and brushes

narrow ribbon

Method

1. Mix the salt and flour together.

2. Add the glycerine to the water.

3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix.

4. Knead on a lightly floured counter until very smooth and the dough forms a not-too-sticky ball

5. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to mould.

6. Roll out and cut as a cookie. With the stick, cut a clean hole top and center on the shape for hanging.

7. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 300 F for about 1 ½ hours or until hard.

8. When cold, paint one side, then the other.

9. When the paint dries, thread a narrow ribbon through the hole (step 6) and tie in a loop.

Happy decorating, happy holiday!

*****

Margriet Ruurs: My family and I hold on to our Dutch heritage by celebrating St. Nicolaas Day on December 5. All the origins of Santa can be found in St. Nicolaas, who was a child in Spain - giving gold coins to poor farmers and gifts to his friends on the eve of his birthday.

In our house we set a wooden shoe, with a carrot for his horse, by the fireplace, sing songs. Our (now grown) children make fun gifts for each other which are given along with a long poem, teasing the receiver with an event that happened in the past year. When we get together to exchange these gifts, have traditional cookies, hot chocolate and a LOT of fun reading poems and opening fun gifts.

The tradition has allowed us to keep the gifts away from Christmas, which is a more sober, candlelit affair with a tree and a big dinner with friends and family. For Christmas, we give each other a gift from the World Vision or UNICEF catalogues. This year it will be two goats in Kenya.

*****

Janet Wilson: No matter what faith or culture, no one should be alone in our shared holiday season. For more than thirty years, my husband and I have kept to our rules for Christmas dinner--no family, no presents. Anyone without family to share Christmas for whatever reason, is welcome to join us. Over the years we've had guests who were recently bereaved, newly divorced, new immigrants, war refugees, ill, or just lonely. While our numbers have fluctuated from barely enough to set a table, to loaves and fishes multitudes, the menu is consistent--turkey, port cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, turnip, cauliflower pie, brussel sprouts and chestnuts, finishing with a flaming figgy pudding and a rousing chorus of "We Wish you a Merry Christmas." We wear silly paper hats, sing carols, toast absent friends, congratulate the milestones, welcome new babes, drink too much, and then I put my feet up while I listen to the happy babble while the dishes are done after dinner.

*****

Anyone who knows Marina Cohen, knows she has a pathological obsession with gingerbread. Determined to find the absolute perfect recipe, she scoured the earth (and the internet)—even going so far as to pretend she had various food allergies in order to get the local awesome bakery to divulge their secrets. After much experimentation (several pounds gained and a few stomach aches), she has it! The absolute best ever gingerbread recipe and she is willing to share!

Best Gingerbread Ever

1 ½ sticks of butter

2/3 cup of fancy (unsulfured?) molasses

1 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 ½ tsp grated lemon peel

2 ½ cups of flour

**2 packages (2 large tablespoons equivalent!) German “lebkuchen” spice mix

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. baking soda

¼ tsp baking powder

**if you do not have access to a German delicatessen which will sell these packages around the holidays, you can mix it yourself with the following: cinnamon, coriander, cloves, fennel, Anis, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg.

Melt butter, molasses, sugar and spices together in a sauce pan. Let cool. Mix dry ingredients. Add butter mixture and egg. Dough will be a bit sticky. Refrigerate for an hour or less (otherwise dough will get too hard and you will need to let it warm or work it hard before you can roll it!). Bake at 325 for about 13 minutes. You can ice them with a mixture made of icing sugar, lemon juice and water, if you wish or eat them plain! Now, this dough is a diva. It appears to break easily but if you press it back together the cookies will turn out in one piece--they are well worth the hassle!!!

*****

Safe and Happy Holidsays to ALL!
We'll be back in January.

Marsha and Valerie

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 02:02:13 GMT

The Glory Wind by Valerie Sherrard

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A timeless story of a boy's first love and a young girl confronted with prejudice and bullying. Well done.

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