Author: Dianne Young
Illustrator: John Martz
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Release Date: March 1, 2012
A rhythmic romp through space! See a preview at the Kids Can Press Website.
Watch a video trailer.
WINNER of the 2014 Saskatchewan Book Awards in the SaskEnergy Children’s Literature category.
Purchase from Our Little Book Shop.
Congratulations to Linda Aksomitis, whose book L is for Land of Living Skies has been nominated for the High Plains Book Award in the art and photography category!
The award is given out by the Parmly Billings Library Board in Billings, Montana. It recognizes authors and/or literary works which examine and reflect life in the North American plains. This includes Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas in the U.S. A., and Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan in Canada.
For more information, see the Parmly Billings Library website.
Author: Anne Patton
Publisher: Coteau Books
Release Date: May 2011
Winner of the 2009 John V. Hicks Unpublished Long Manuscript Award!
Eleven-year old Dorothy Bolton makes the long journey to the Canadian prairies in 1903 with her parents, her sister Lydia, her brother Frank, and a boatload of new acquaintances. They travel with other Barr Colonists by steam train, steam boat, and another train on their way to settle in the Northwest Territories (now Saskatchewan and Alberta). Reverend Barr has promised them a fertile land with a gentle climate just waiting to welcome them to a new home. But when they get there, things are not quite as rosy as they thought…
Based on diaries and conversations with actual Barr colonists, this book brings the story of the Barr Colony to life for middle-grade readers.
Read more of the story in Dorothy’s own words at Barr Colony Adventures!
Read a review in Canadian Teacher Magazine.
Order from McNalley-Robinson, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Chapters-Indigo.ca, Orca Books, or Coteau Books.
Author: Adele Dueck
Publisher: Coteau Books
Racing Home is now available from McNalley-Robinson, Chapters-Indigo, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Orca Books, and Coteau Books.
Kirkus Reviews – April 1, 2011
“This tale draws its grace from the fine, detailed portrait of immigrants making their way in a new world.”Booklist – April 15, 2011
“Dueck weaves information about prairie settlers in the early 1900s into vivid scenes of trapping, fishing, and working on the farm…Erik’s and Olaf’s personal situations and their ambivalence toward each other are well drawn and subtly contrasted. This Canadian novel dovetails neatly with American stories of pioneer life on the prairies.”2011 OLA Best Bets for Children and Young Adults
“…a richly detailed and engrossing portrait of pioneer prairie life seen through a young boy’s eyes.”
Anne Patton’s hot-off-the-press novel Full Steam to Canada will be launched on May 14 at a Victorian tea in Briercrest, Saskatchewan.
The event is a fundraiser for the Brier Rose Cultural Centre, and will help preserve the smallest farmhouse ever.
This house is notable because it is the very house that the real-life Dorothy Bolton, (Dorothy Boan) the protagonist in Anne’s novel, lived in when she first got married.
Full Steam to Canada is based on memoirs and diaries of people who immigrated to Canada from England as part of the Barr Colony settlement in 1903. A large part of the story comes from an interview that Anne did with Dorothy Boan, who was a young girl when she came to Canada with the Barr Colonists.
Anne will read and autograph copies of her book at the Briercrest Community Centre on Saturday, May 14, 2011, starting at 2 pm. Admission to the Victorian Tea is $15 for adults and $10 for children. Call 306-799-2147 or 306-631-7966 for more information.
Briercrest is about 100 km southwest of Regina. From Regina, follow highway 1 west toward Moose Jaw and take the right exit ramp at highway 301. Turn left toward Weyburn. After 13 km, you will see a sign for Briercrest/Avonlea. Turn right onto highway 339 and drive 19 more km to Briercrest.
“This novel is about loyalty, self discovery, change and acceptance. Written with a young adult audience in mind, adults will also enjoy the themes explored in this story.”
Read the full review about Draco’s Child at the Saskatchewan Publishers’ Group book review website.
“Alison Lohans is one of the HSW Literary Agency’s most prolific clients. While she always seems to have something on the go, the past year has been especially busy…”
Read more about Alison’s latest writing adventures at the HSW Literary Agency website.
“REGINA author Sharon Plumb offers a compelling read in Draco’s Child…”
“COLLAPSE of the Veil by prolific Regina author Alison Lohans…is unique in its development of a protagonist with authentic teen issues.”
This review article by Beverly Brenna was published in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix on January 15, 2011. Read the full article on the Star Phoenix website.
Saskatchewan Children's Writers' Round Robin 