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When I Listen to Silence
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I Found Hope in a Cherry Tree
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In the stillness of a summer dawn, two siblings leave their campsite with fishing rods, tackle and bait, and push a red canoe into the lake. A perfect morning on the water unfolds, with thrilling glimpses of wildlife along the way.
The narrator describes the experience vividly. Trailing a lure through the blue-green depths, the siblings paddle around a point, spotting a moose in the shallows, a beaver swimming towards its home and an eagle returning to its nest. Suddenly there is a sharp tug and the rod bends to meet the water. A few heart-stopping moments later, the pair pull a silvery trout from the water, then paddle back to the campsite to fry up a delicious breakfast. The poetic text is accompanied by stunningly beautiful paintings rendered on wood panels that give a nostalgic feeling to the story. August 2017 Illustrated by Phil Published by Groundwood Books To purchase, visit Groundwood Books |
August 1, 2017
"Evocative, lyrical, perfect." Kirkus STARRED REVIEW "A true gem that invites contemplation and reflection in children, who are often too busy to notice the beauty of everyday life." School Library Journal STARRED REVIEW |
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In this exquisite lullaby, the beauty and wonder of a northern winter night unfold, with images of a soft snowfall, the wild animals that appear in the garden, the twinkling stars, the gentle rhythm of the northern lights and the etchings of frost on the window pane.
Jean E. Pendziwol's lyrical poem reflects a deep appreciation of the magic of a northern winter night where, even as a child slumbers, the world outside does not rest but continues its own natural rhythms. Isabelle Arsenault's spare, beautifully rendered illustrations, with their subtle but striking use of color, make us feel that we too are experiencing the enchantment of that northern night. They simultaneously evoke winter's nighttime life and the cozy warmth and security of a beloved child's sleep. "...one of the loveliest picture books you’ll see all year long." Julie Danielson, Kirkus Reviews July 26, 2013 "...destined to join the ranks of winter-themed classics to be reached for year after year." Sarah Sorenson, Quill and Quire July 2013 "Once Upon a Northern Night is a breathsucker, a gust of cold winter air awakening the senses." Donna McKinnon, 32 Pages August 2013 August 2013 Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault Published by Groundwood Books, 2013 To purchase, visit Groundwood Books
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Awards
Short-listed for the The Governor General's Literary Awards-Children's Literature- Text 2013 Selected for the Toronto Public Library's First and Best 2013 Selected for the Quill & Quire Book of the Year 2013 Short-listed for the Amelia Frances Howard‐Gibbon Award 2014 Short-listed for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Picture Book Award 2014 Selected for the Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year 2014 Short-listed for the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award 2014
"A beautiful, lyrical celebration of northern light and night." Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW "A reverent ode to the magic and wonder of an icy winter night." Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW "This is a lovely wintry bedtime story, best for sharing one-on-one." School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW "“A sweet and lovely tale of the magic of waking up to a world transformed by winter.”" Booklist, STARRED REVIEW "[A] mixture of magic, wildlife and deep comfort." New York Times |
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Based on stories that author Jean E. Pendziwol used to hear from her husband's grandmother, Marja's Skis is an engaging children's picturebook set at the close of the nineteenth century, in the Great Lakes region where many Scandinavians settled. Evocative prose and beautiful illustrations bring this moving tale, set in a 19th-century Canadian logging town, to life.
"A heartwarming storybook that celebrates Scandinavian heritage." Midwest Book Review Illustrated by Jirina Marton Published by Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press, 2007 To purchase, visit Groundwood Books |
Awards
Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award, 2007, Short-listed, Governor General's Literary Awards: Illustration, 2007, Short-listed, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens 2008, 2008, Commended |
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The Red Sash is the story of a young Metis boy who lives near the fur trading post of Fort William, on Lake Superior, nearly 200 years ago. His father spends the long winter months as a guide, leading voyageurs into the northwest to trade with native people for furs. Now it is Rendezvous, when the voyageurs paddle back to Fort William with their packs of furs, and North West Company canoes come from Montreal bringing supplies for the next season.
Pendziwol’s engaging text combines with Debon’s vivid and historically accurate illustrations to give an authentic picture of life at a fur trading post in the early 1800s. Illustrated by Nicolas Debon Published by Groundwood Books, To purchase, visit Groundwood Books |
Awards
Michigan Reading Association's "Great Lakes Great Books", 2007, Long-listed, CCBC Our Choice, 2006, Commended |
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This lyrical picture book tells the story of a child and her father making a night crossing of Lake Superior on their sailboat.
As first mate, the child's job is to watch for ships, lights, land and logs while the autopilot steers the craft. Above, the Big Dipper, North Star, Milky Way and Northern Lights illuminate an inky night sky. And as dawn breaks, the horizon begins to glow and land appears, a black line between sky and sea. Striking illustrations by Nicolas Debon capture the excitement, mystery and beauty of this night-time adventure on the world's largest freshwater lake. Illustrated by Nicolas Debon Published by Groundwood Books, To purchase, visit Groundwood Books |
Awards
Governor General's Literary Awards: Illustration, 2004, Short-listed CLA Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award, 2005, Short-listed CCBC Our Choice, 2005, Commended |