Pajama Press

Pajama Press is proud to announce that Revenge on the Fly and A Brush Full of Colour: The World of Ted Harrison have been nominated for the 2016 Rocky Mountain Book Awards.

The Rocky Mountain Book Awards are the province of Alberta’s readers’ choice award program. Each year, students in grades 4–7 read at least five of ten nominated books in two categories (fiction and nonfiction) and vote for their favourite. The winner is asked to tour the province of Alberta, giving presentations to randomly selected schools.

Click here to see the full list of nominees.

Revenge on the Fly by Sylvia McNicoll has been nominated in the fiction category. This middle-grade novel immerses readers in the quest of 12-year-old immigrant Will Alton to win a fly-catching contest and rid his new city of disease.

A Brush Full of Colour: The World of Ted Harrison has been nominated in the nonfiction category. This illustrated biography of world-famous Canadian artist Ted Harrison is co-authored by Margriet Ruurs and Katherine Gibson.

Pajama Press is proud to once again congratulate Karen Bass for her award-winning novel Graffiti Knight. On June 6th the historical YA novel was awarded the R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature at the Alberta Book Awards Gala in Calgary. Administered by the Writers’ Guild of Alberta, the award recognizes an Alberta author each year for excellence in writing for young audiences.

Graffiti Knight has already won the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award and the CAA Exporting Alberta Award. It has also been an Ontario Library Association Best Bet, a Best Books for Kids & Teens Starred Selection, and a Resources Links “The Year’s Best” selection.

We are humbled by the reception this novel has received and honoured to work with Karen Bass.

Alma Fullerton

Two Pajama Press authors begin their TD Canadian Children’s Book Week tours today: Alma Fullerton in Alberta and Sylvia Gunnery in Manitoba. The Canadian Children’s Book Centre interviewed both of these wonderful authors before they left.

Click here to find out why Alma struggled to read as a child

Click here to find out what famous writer’s hometown Sylvia is excited to visit.

And then click here to learn more about the TD Canadian Children’s Book Week!

Sylvia Gunnery

Alma Fullerton is the author of two Pajama Press books: A Good Trade (2012) and the upcoming Community Soup (June 1, 2013). Her novels Libertad, Burn, Walking on Glass and In the Garage have earned her many awards.

Sylvia Gunnery is the author of Emily For Real (Pajama Press, 2012) and more than fifteen other novels for young people. A recipient of the Prime Minister’s Minister’s Teaching Award, she regularly gives presentations and writing workshops young people, inspiring them to write just as they have inspired her.

Award-winning East Coast author Jill MacLean is taking her first official trip west this week. The lucky residents of Calgary, Alberta will be able to meet the author of Nix Minus One, Home Truths, The Present Tense of Prinny Murphy, and The Nine Lives of Travis Keating at a number of different events. These include:

Monday, April 22 6:00 pm–8:30 pm
The Calgary Children’s Literature Round Table
Headspace
1817 10 Ave. SW Calgary
Tickets only

Tuesday, April 23 12:00 pm–1:00 pm
Author Meet-and-Greet
Pixie Hollow Bookshop 4
17 1 St SW  High River

Tuesday, April 23 7:00 pm
Bookstore Signing
Monkeyshines Children’s Books
2215 33 Ave SW  Calgary

Jill will also be presenting to elementary school students at two different library-hosted readings. We look forward to hearing wonderful stories about this trip!

“No Shelter Here is a wonderful introductory for younger generations and sure to be a book the entire family will learn from. From what dogs need to have a quality life to serious issues and those who face them, Rob Laidlaw gives young readers a fair but realistic view on today’s canine world. While learning simple facts about acquiring a dog, their needs and responsible ownership, they are also exposed to several realities in the canine/human realm.

When it comes to the impact humans have on ‘Man’s Best Friend’ there are sensitive issues that can be extremely difficult to discuss, let alone explain. Laidlaw gently explores the various topics such as research, racing, chaining and puppy mills while featuring what he calls ‘Champions’ from around the world and what they are doing to create change”

–Jamie Hunter, Rescue Mag

Click here to read the full review