SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

January 27, 2015 by Travis Jonker

2015 Preview Interview: Groundwood Books

January 27, 2015 by Travis Jonker   Leave a Comment

If you’re interested in diverse children’s books that take chances, take a look at what Canadian publisher Groundwood puts out. I shot the email breeze with Groundwood publisher Sheila Berry about their upcoming books.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

(click images to enlarge)

Travis Jonker: Alright. 2014: surprises? Good News? Things you were especially happy about at Groundwood?

We were very pleasantly surprised by the reaction to two books in particular last fall: Any Questions? by Marie-Louise Gay,

and Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress, written by Christine Baldacchino and illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant.

We knew that we had fallen in love in-house with the sweetness and dignity displayed by Morris as he insists on his right to wear a dress and also ride in a rocket ship, but we were truly thrilled with the way readers responded to his story.

As for Any Questions?–Marie-Louise Gay is so well known for her Stella and Sam series that we were very happy to see readers respond just as enthusiastically to this very different book, which is a completely immersive exploration of how books get made, and really, the whole creative process.

I agree! Great to see both those excellent books get positive notices.

Let’s dive right in to 2015. What do you have for very young readers (age 0-4)?

Drive: A Look at Roadside Opposites by Kellen Hatanaka is a brilliantly stylish and witty concept book, a companion to last year’s Work: An Occupational ABC.

This new offering is a book for every child who’s ever spent time staring out the car window. It’s funny, and surprising, and informative as well.

How about lower elementary (ages 5-7)?

We have several gorgeous picture books for this age range:

In Rosario’s Fig Tree, written by Charis Wahl and illustrated by Luc Melanson, a little girl discovers the magic of gardening by observing her neighbor.

Swimming, Swimming, by acclaimed illustrator Gary Clement, brings the words of the classic camp song to life.

With The Tweedles Go Online, written by Monica Kulling and illustrated by Marie Lafrance, the eccentric Tweedle family returns in a story that pokes fun at our modern addiction to technology.

We also have a wordless picture book that just shouldn’t be missed: Sidewalk Flowers, conceived by poet JonArno Lawson and illustrated by Sydney Smith.

The book depicts a little girl collecting wild flowers (weeds, really) while walking with her distracted father. Through a series of small but profound gestures, each flower then becomes a secret gift. Sidewalk Flowers has already received starred reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly, and I can’t wait to see how readers react once the book is published in March.

I have this one marked on my calendar.

Upper elementary? Middle grade (ages 8 and up)?

2015 marks the fifteenth anniversary of The Breadwinner, the first book in Deborah Ellis’s award-winning series.

To mark the anniversary, we are reissuing the whole series–including a Spanish edition of The Breadwinner–with gorgeous new covers and updated maps and introductions. Nobel peace prize winner Malala Yousafzai described The Breadwinner to the New York Times as the one book all girls should read, and I expect that girls and boys alike will enjoy reading these new editions.

2015 is also the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania, and we are excited to be publishing Avis Dolphin, written by Frieda Wishinsky, and including a 32-page graphic novel story-within-a-story by Willow Dawson.

This unforgettable novel was inspired by the true account of a young girl travelling on the the Lusitania, and it’s a thrilling, frightening, magical novel.

What’s new in nonfiction?

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

I don’t know if it has ever been more important to translate books from other cultures for children. And that’s why I am particularly happy to have The Amazing Discoveries of Ibn Sina, written by Fatima Sharafeddine and illustrated by Intelaq Mohammed Ali, on our list.

Ibn Sina was one of the greatest thinkers of his time, and besides his discoveries in the fields of medicine, physics, chemistry and astronomy, he also promoted progressive theories about educating children–both boys and girls.

What’s the most unusual or unexpected book on the horizon?

Cybèle Young’s Some Things I’ve Lost is a breathtaking book and unlike anything I’ve seen.

Through a series of exquisite paper sculptures, everyday household objects–a wallet, a set of keys, and so on–are misplaced and then reconstituted as fantastical creatures. It’s a book for all ages about the magic of a world where even inanimate objects are constantly undergoing a process of growth, transformation and change.

Young’s work is always so unique. I love A Few Blocks and A Few Bites.

Is there a book that you think will work particularly well as a read-aloud?

Griffin Ondaatje’s chapter book The Mosquito Brothers is a particularly funny and unusual book about a city mosquito who wants to be cool.

Dinnn Needles is an endearing little mosquito who lives under a drive-in theatre screen and goes to school in an abandoned air-conditioner. What he really wants, though, is to explore The Wild. There is a laugh on every page of this book, and lots of fascinating information about mosquitoes too.

The world can always use a go-to chapter book read aloud, so I’m looking forward to this.

Thank you for taking my questions, Sheila!

Thank you for the chance to talk about our books, Travis!

Filed under: Previews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

June 2022

10 to Note: Summer Preview 2022

by Travis Jonker

February 2022

10 to Note: Spring Preview 2022

by Travis Jonker

December 2021

10 to Note: Winter Preview 2022

by Travis Jonker

September 2021

10 to Note: Fall Preview 2021

by Travis Jonker

May 2021

10 to Note: Summer Preview 2021

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Your 2023 Caldecott Comment Card

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Will Spring Be Early? Or Will Spring Be Late? by Crockett Johnson

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Monkey Prince Vol. 1: Enter the Monkey | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Readers’ Poll Results

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Philosophy and/as/of Literature, a guest post by Amy Zhang

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

ChatGPT Does Readers’ Advisory | Top Stories on SLJ

6 Chapter Books Series Updates for Transitioning Readers

Remember: 10 Titles to Read for Holocaust Remembrance Day

Supernatural Page-Turners for 'Lockwood & Co.' Fans | Read-Alikes

6 Middle Grade & YA Novels on Repeat for Groundhog Day

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023