You are cordially invited to the wedding of Frankenstein and his bride!
Now that it is October, it is time to start a Halloween Countdown, starting with FRANKENSTEIN TAKES THE CAKE: Which is Full of Funny Stuff Like Rotting Heads and Giant Gorillas and Zombies Dressed as Little Girls and Edgar Allan Poe. The Book, We Mean—Not the Cake. 
No one ever said it was easy being a monster. Take Frankenstein, for instance: He just wants to marry his undead bride in peace, but his best man, Dracula, is freaking out about the garlic bread. Then there’s the Headless Horseman, who wishes everyone would stop drooling over his delicious pumpkin head. And can someone please tell Edgar Allan Poe to get the door already before the raven completely loses it? Sheesh.
In a wickedly funny follow-up to the bestselling FRANKENSTEIN MAKES A SANDWICH, Adam Rex once again proves that monsters are just like you and me. (Well, sort of.)
But why, oh why did Adam Rex finally make a sequel to FRANKENSTEIN MAKES A SANDWICH? To answer that question, he took to his blog:
A Haiku about Adam Rex
He know Frankenstein’s
the doctor, not the monster.
Enough already.
Avast, all you shark-baits, landlubbers, and squid kissers!
Paperrrrr engineerrrrrrrr and authorrrr Ray Marshall and illustratorrrr Wilson Swain have teamed up to create a stunning pop-up book, THE CASTAWAY PIRATES: A POP-UP TALE OF BAD LUCK, SHARP TEETH AND STINKY TOES.
If you are a pirate (or a pirate-in-training), you may wish to avoid the bad luck, sharp teeth, and/or stinky toes featured in CASTAWAY PIRATES. Which is why you need your very own PIRATE’S LOG: A HANDBOOK FOR ASPIRING SWASHBUCKLERS. Each activity and challenge you complete will get you one step closer to becoming a full-fledged, parrot-wearing, seafaring, boat-steering pirate! 
Getting into the lingo is the first important lesson in your PIRATE’S LOG jaaarrrrrnal (I know it’s usually spelled “journal”, but try saying it out loud, wherever you are: Jarrrnal! good. Try it again, with more rasp in your voice: Jaaarrrrnnnnal! See how much more fun it is this way? See how many people turned around and stared at you? Get used to it. Pirates don’t care when people turn around and stare at them. This is the first important lesson).
Here are a few more words where Arrr would fit in comfortably:
1. Monkey barrrrrs
2. Harry Parrrrrtarrrr and the Prisonarrrrrrr of Arrrrrrrzkabarrrrrrn
3. Raincoast Bloarrrrrrrrrrg
PIRATE’S LOG is the definitive guide for any young spit-scrubber: it explains the correct way to wear an eye patch, how to write a hit sea chantey, and of course, it comes with a nifty built-in light for jarrnaling below deck.
He’s as skillful as Wayne Gretzky, as charismatic as Pierre Trudeau and as arrogant as Don Cherry... He’s Raincoast’s newest picture book character Clancy from Chris Mizzoni’s hit book Clancy with the Puck!
This is the first of many collaborations between Raincoast Books and Canada’s leading animation house Studio B Productions! Studio B bring you hit shows on YTV and Nickelodeon like Being Ian, Class of the Titans, George of the Jungle and Yvon of the Yukon!
The idea for the book started as an animated cartoon and Studio B loved it so much they thought it would make a great book. They approached Raincoast Books and the rest is history. Bob Cole the legendary voice of Hockey Night in Canada narrated the animated cartoon that comes on DVD for free with the book!
Visit the Clancy with the Puck page to listen to a podcast with Chris Mizzoni the author of the book. Also download your free Clancy with the Puck hockey cards and avatar. Check back often because we have lots of fun additional content that we’ll be adding!
In the meantime score an autographed copy of Clancy with the Puck as well as an autographed set of Clancy hockey cards. We’ll give away two sets. All you have to do to win is either leave a comment about why you love to read -OR- email a drawing of you as a Clancy Hockey Card Character to .
Good Luck!
Visit our MySpace Page and add us as a friend to be notified about all kinds of great giveaways!
It’s been 40 years since the publication of Eric Carle’s first illustrated book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
To celebrate the anniversary—and the work of this brilliant picture book creator—NPR visited Eric Carle in his studio to talk about his work, inspiration—and even his favourite colour.
If you’re a fan, be sure to check out the audio-slideshow of NPR’s interview with Eric Carle, and also read the article on NPR.org.
Chronicle Books (which, coincidentally, is also celebrating it’s 40th anniversary this year!) has brought out some fun Eric Carle items such as Animal Flash Cards, and the Up, Up I Go Growth Chart. Just released this month are the Eric Carle Animal Lacing Cards, which are tons of fun for little hands.
For a full list of Chronicle’s Eric Carle gift items, click here.
Parents, teachers and librarians who want to learn more about Eric Carle should visit the Caterpillar Exchange on the author’s website: it’s a bulletin board where fans can post their ideas and suggestions on how to use Eric Carle’s books in creative ways. The projects involve all kinds of disciplines, from reading and writing, to science and math, to art and other fun activites.
It is a very exciting day for a Children’s Book Publicist when she learns that one of the authors on her fall list has been honoured with the title of UK’s Children’s Book Laureate. I’ve been very behind on reading my Daily Publisher’s Weekly Emails and just opened last week’s Children’s Bookshelf to find this very exciting article:
Michael Rosen was appointed Britain’s fifth children’s laureate at a ceremony in London this past Monday. Rosen received a £10,000 stipend for the post, which he holds for the next two years. Following illustrator Quentin Blake and authors Anne Fine, Michael Morpurgo and the current children’s laureate, Jacqueline Wilson, Rosen is the first poet to become children’s laureate.
Rosen has set his mission as children’s laureate to make poetry as accessible as possible. “I think poetry for children needs to be saved from the cold dissection table of right and wrong answers and put back into rooms and halls full of wonder, compassion, haunting, laughter, music and rhythm,” he said. “We need to hear its many voices, many cultures, many sounds. So I’ll be trying to find ways of spreading the excitement of poetry as widely as possible, whether that be through books, performances, festivals, Internet, conferencing or however. This is about wide and diverse participation.”
—Julia Eccleshare, Publisher’s Weekly Children’s Bookshelf
Michael Rosen’s new book The Bear in the Cave will be released this November. In addition to the rollicking storyline provided by Michael Rosen and adorable illustrations provided by Adrian Reynolds, the book comes with a bonus CD, which features Michael reading the story and favourite bear songs.
For a full list of Michael Rosen’s books distributed by Raincoast click here.
Happy Reading! 
Anyone who has read Adam Rex’s book Frankenstein Makes A Sandwich knows that Adam Rex is a genius. Fan’s are now raising him to rockstar status by doing crazy, fun things like having his illustrations tatooed on their bodies!
The poem that this tatoo is based on is The Dentist. The look of the characters are a monster twist on The Peanuts. It’s about Dracula’s son who is terrified of going to the dentist. My favorite stanza is:
Young Drac couldn’t move, so she forced him to sit. “
Open wide, now” she told him. “This won’t hurt a bit!”
“You aren’t flossing” she scolded, and Dracula blushed.
“And honestly, when was the last time you brushed?
You really must brush after every bite.
See? A cavity’s formed in this fang on the right."
Fan’s of Adam Rex will be excited to hear that his new book is scheduled to be released in September. The title is Pssst! and it is every bit as wonderful as Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich. Every bit as quirky, fun and fabulous. You could read the book a hundred times and still find some new and fun tidbit hidden within his illustrations.
Last but not least… to get your daily dose of Adam Rex visit his blog Editpus Rex.
Do you have a tatoo based on your favorite book? Send us a link to it in the comments field!
Happy Reading!
In her column this weekend, Susan Perren at the Globe and Mail included a great review of The Aunts Come Marching, a new picture book written by CBC personality Bill Richardson and illustrated by Cynthia Nugent.
In The Aunts Come Marching, a band of bustling, busy, noisy aunts march into the house, bringing all their musical instruments along with them, much to poor Pop’s dismay.
“This book is a noisemaker’s dream come true, and those looking for visual thrills won’t be disappointed either, thanks to Cynthia Nugent’s multitudes of costumed aunts."
--Susan Perren, Globe and Mail
Read the full Globe and Mail review right here.
And if you’re a noisemaker yourself—or you know a little one who is—download our instructions on how to build a shoebox guitar from our Activities page.
Are you a hockey fan?
Canucks Legends: Vancouver Hockey Heroes by Jeff Rud, with an introduction by Trevor Linden.
Canucks Legends chronicles the first four decades of the franchise—from a young expansion team to the Canucks’ current place among hockey’s elite. The Canucks come to life through 75 player profiles—Orland Kurtenbach, Stan Smyl, Richard Brodeur, Cam Neely, Trevor Linden, Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and many others—and over 300 historic and contemporary photos. If you are a Canucks fan, this is the book for you.
Maple Leaf Legends and Canadien Legends are also available.
A Hero Named Howe by Mike Leonetti and illustrated by Greg Banning.
A Hero Named Howe is the latest in Raincoast’s Hockey Heroes series for kids, age 5+.
Charlie is a fan of the Detroit Red Wings, and his hero is the great Gordie Howe. Although he plays in his neighbourhood hockey league, Charlie is concerned that he doesn’t play as well as his teammates. Inspired by a book written by Howe, Charlie considers other ways to be involved in hockey. A chance meeting with broadcaster Foster Hewitt, famous for exclaiming “He Shoots! He Scores!,” convinces Charlie to try play-by-play announcing.
Drawn.ca has reviewed a couple of great books for kids.
The review of Ann and Paul Rand’s kids books (Chronicle) can be found here.
Sparkle and Spin: A Book About Words by Ann Rand and Paul Rand
Little 1 by Ann Rand and Paul Rand
Also on Drawn.ca is a posting about Ingri Von Bergen and her quirky and lovable plush characters, which were featured in a book for preschoolers called Me! Me! ABC by Harriet Ziefert.
Here’s the link to the posting about Ingri.
ALL ABOARD THE DINOTRAIN by Deb Lund, illustrated by Howard Fine (Harcourt, Inc., 0-15-205237-2, $19.95 cloth)
They stoke the boiler, stow the luggage, and when hills are steep, they even get out and push. That’s right, the thrill-seeking, daredevil dinosaurs from DINOSAILORS are back, and now they’re riding a train. But this train is more like a roller coaster—up, down, and faster and faster, until they realize the brakes are out! Laughs and thrills abound in this hilarious rhyming read-aloud tale.
HOW TO BE A GOOD DOG by Gail Page (Bloomsbury USA, 1-58234-683-6, $19.95 cloth)
Bobo isn’t a bad dog—he’s just having a little trouble remembering how to be good. When Bobo’s owner, Mrs. Birdhead, finally has enough of Bobo’s antics, she banishes him to the doghouse. Oddly enough, it’s the silent Cat who misses him the most and it’s Cat’s patience and can-do attitude that save the day.
TRUST ME MUM by Angela McAllister, illustrated by Ross Collins (Bloomsbury U.K., 0-7475-7301-8, $24.95 cloth)
A mother’s fears are put to rest after her son returns home safely from a trip to the shops with the correct change (and the cheese!). TRUST ME MUM is a reassuring book for both mother and child. It gently addresses a child’s need for independence and the maturity that helps him figure out things for himself.
LOOKING AFTER LITTLE ELLIE by Dosh Archer, illustrated by Mike Archer (Bloomsbury UK, 0-7475-7929-6, $14.95 paperback)
Helping and sharing are explored in an original way in this clever picture book by a popular husband-and-wife team. A family of mice agrees to help out a neighbour and baby-sit Little Ellie. Imagine their surprise when Little Ellie turns out to be a baby elephant! She needs so much food, so many games and a lot of rest, and even her tears are huge. The mice, though run off their feet, cope admirably—proving they are true friends.
I CAN DO IT by Jana Novotny Hunter, illustrated by Lucy Richards (Frances Lincoln, 1-84507-127-1, $19.95 cloth)
Preschoolers will learn the importance of their actions as they follow along with Little Guinea Pig’s first day at nursery school. He finds himself doing lots of different things. He can be careful when he is building his bricks. He can be loud when it is music time. Through easily accessible text and sweet illustrations, young children will realize that sometimes we can be fast, noisy or strong.
OVERBOARD by Sarah Weeks, illustrated by Sam Williams (Harcourt Inc., 0-15-205046-9, $17.95 cloth)
Sweet little baby bunny is as cute as can be, but turn your back for just one minute and—uh-oh—he’s throwing everything overboard! The peachy peaches are going overboard! Squeaky, leaky rubber ducky? He’s overboard! So are the jammies and the diapers and everything else within reach. And when it’s finally time to settle down for bedtime, the baby bunny has one last surprise! Sarah Weeks’ charming rhythmic text and Sam Williams’ sweet, appealing illustrations have come together in a book that mischievous toddlers will want to read again and again.
Great News from Danielle in the publicity department:
Gretzky’s Game, The Freedom of Jenny and Jack’s Knife are all Our Choice 2006 Selections.
Sensational Scientists received an Our Choice Favourite mention.
Our Choice is sent to CCBC members each year as part of their membership and is included with every TD Canadian Children’s Book Week kit distributed across Canada. Our Choice is also distributed at the Bologna International Book Fair as well as various Canadian conferences and fairs, including Word on the Street, OLA, CLA, and BookExpo Canada. For the past three years Our Choice has been going into every school in the Toronto District School Board.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gretzky’s Game by Mike Leonetti (Raincoast, 1-55192-851-5, $21.95 cloth)
“ ... Leonetti’s latest winner focuses on overcoming obstacles and believing in yourself."
** Starred selection **
The Freedom of Jenny by Julie Burtinshaw (Raincoast, 1-55192-839-6, $12.95 paper)
“Burtinshaw tells the story of Jenny, born into slavery in the 1840s in Missouri, and her family who immigrated from the banks of the Mississippi to Saltspring Island, British Columbia."
** Starred selection **
Jack’s Knife by Beverley and Chris Wood (Raincoast, 1-55192-709-8, $12.95 paper)
“ ... Dog lovers will relish the second thrilling novel in the series that began with the highly recommended Dogstar."
Sensational Scientists by Barry Shell (Raincoast, 1-55192-727-6, $24.95 cloth)
“First published in 1997 as Great Canadian Scientists by Polestar Book Publishers, Our Choice 1998/1999 Starred Selection.”
Stanley Cup Finals—Carolina vs. Edmonton—start Monday night at 8 p.m. EST.
Go Oilers!
In the 1983-84 NHL season the Edmonton Oilers de-throned the four-time defending Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders four games to one in the Cup finals.
Gretzky’s Game by Mike Leonetti and illustrated by Greg Banning is about that series. It is a picture book for ages 5 and up.
About the book
Ryan loves to play hockey. Every year, his dad makes a rink in the backyard, and Ryan plays with his brother Jason and practises for his team. But Ryan is small for his age and tends to get pushed around. He really wants to make the select team this year, but has to practise extra hard to get through the tryout.
Ryan follows the Edmonton Oilers and his hero is Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky is small, too, but he sure can skate and score. And he is leading the Oilers in the Stanley Cup finals against the reigning champs, the New York Islanders. Inspired by Gretzky’s example, Ryan makes the select team—and his hero leads the Oilers to Edmonton’s first ever Cup win!
Gretzky’s Game is the fifth in the bestselling Hockey Heroes series from Mike Leonettii.
J. Otto Seibold has a design hit with Olive, My Love (Harcourt).
The beloved hero of Olive, the Other Reindeer is back again for a new adventure. This time Olive isn’t heading off to the North Pole to help Santa; she’s out to return a one-of-a-kind lost object: a heart. And not just any heart, but one as large as Olive’s own. In her search to find its one true owner, she makes the acquaintance of a cast of characters who show her what it truly means to give all of one’s love.
Olive My Love is a wacky, witty and weirdly heartwarming story in which anything can happen if only one follows one’s heart.
Vivian Walsh is also the author of Penguin Dreams, Monkey Business, Free Lunch and many more great books for kids. J. Otto Seibold illustrated Gluey: A Snail Tale and The Pig in the Spigot, among others. His website offers great downloads and games: http://jotto.com
Celebrate Black History Month with the Lindy Hop and Happy Feet, the story of the Savoy Ballroom.
On March 12, 1926, the doors of Harlem’s Savoy Ballroom, the earth’s hottest, most magnificent dancing palace, swung open. It was a night when blacks and whites, rich and poor, all came together to dance. And did they ever dance--spinning and flying and flipping all over the ballroom!
Happy Feet (Harcourt) is the story of the magic of the Savoy and lindy hop dancing told from a father to his son.
The Savoy Ballroom was Harlem’s most famous dance club. It hosted celebrities, royalty, and most every big-name band and singer of the Swing Era (c. 1935-1940s), including Count Basie, Duke Ellignton, and Ella Fitzgerald.
The Lindy Hop was named after Charles Lindbergh’s “hop,” his historic first flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927. The dance, with its dizzy spins and joyful acrobatics, captured the excitement and optimism of the Harlem Renaissance. It reached its greatest popularity in 1937 when Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, staring Frankie “Musclehead” Manning, became a world-famous sensation, but the Lindy Hop remains one of North America’s most celebrated dances today.
It’s the year 4704, and time to welcome the Year of the Dog!
Chinese New Year is celebrated in cities around the world. This year celebrations occur during the week before and after January 29.
Two major centres, Vancouver and Toronto, have widely publicized parades and events that are appropriate for kids.
Visit the Travel With Kids website for details or see below:
Vancouver, BC
Vancouver has a large Chinese community, and the Spring Parade is held annually in Chinatown on the first Sunday of the Lunar New Year, with entertainment and lion dance. Call the Vancouver Touristinfo Centre, 604-683-2000, or check HelloBC. Nearby are activities at the beautiful (admission-by-donation) classical Gardens: music, fortune telling, craft demonstrations, etc.
Toronto Lunar New Year
Toronto celebrates “The Largest Lunar New Year Festival in Canada”, January 27 to January 29, 2006, at Exhibition Place, with market fair, arts and crafts bazaar, Asian food court, Lunar New Year cooking stage, flower market, lanterns exhibit, games; and entertainment such as lion dance, opera, magic shows.
If you’d rather stay in, check out Ed Young’s visual poem about China, Beyond the Great Mountains.
Ed Young is a Caldecott Award winner and his lyrical masterpiece is a wonderful introduction for children to the grace, depth and majesty of the Orient. Each page features gorgeous paper-collage illustrations, highlighted with Chinese characters that are explained at the back.
Interested in the Chinese zodiac?
The legend of the Chinese zodiac is told in David Bouchard’s picture book, The Great Race. Bouchard’s text is accompanied by the paintings of Chinese-Canadian artist Zhong-Yang Huang. The images and text set in motion the timeless contest that pits creatures such as the ox, rat, horse and dragon against one another to see who will reach the Jade City first. But as the story unfolds, it becomes poignantly clear that there are more important things than being the fastest or the craftiest.
“Remember, it is not who won that matters. It is the order in which they placed that is most important. Listen carefully so that you come to understand why each animal placed where it did.” —excerpt
Raincoast podcasts are available from iTunes by searching for "Raincoast" or the RSS feed is available from Feedburner at 
Check out our NEWEST Podcast for Clancy with the Puck, a hilarious tale of hockey hubris.