Pamela McDowell's Blog - Posts Tagged "children-s-books"

My telephone - my rather retro home landline - has a strange feature: it announces the caller. I found that annoying right from the start because it garbled simple words. I mean, really, how difficult is “Grandma B”? But one day, just over two years ago, I kissed that phone. On January 23, 2012, I was stepping out of the shower when the phone rang. “Forget it. I’m dripping wet,” I thought. “It’s probably someone who wants money/clothing/blood donation. Later.” After the second ring, the phone announced, “Call from Orca Books.” Clear as day, no swallowed vowels, and strangely no exclamation point. I’m pretty sure I scared the dog as I flew across the room and I’m pretty sure I dropped the towel, but I got there before the fourth ring. “Hello?” My voice was hopeful, but not trembling. I had received a rejection delivered via the telephone just a few months earlier, so I knew not to pop open the champagne just because a publisher phoned. But this was the real deal. Orca Books wanted Ospreys in Danger!

If you have finished reading Chapter Three of Ospreys in Danger, here’s a little quiz to see how much you remember. The very first line of the book is “I love the smell of Mondays.” Do you remember which character said that? And what do Mondays smell like, anyway? You can look back in the book if you can’t recall the answers – and remember, this quiz is only for the first three chapters, pages 1 – 19.

I am thrilled to share the news -- Ospreys in Danger has been shortlisted for the Green Earth Book Awards! These awards honour books that inspire children to grow a deeper appreciation, respect and responsibility for nature.

There are five categories for the awards, including fiction and non-fiction. I am excited and honoured to see Ospreys in Danger in the company of so many beautiful and important books. Winners will be announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2015, and awards will be presented during the Read Green Festival in Washington, D.C., this fall.

Check out this link for the full list of nominated books http://www.natgen.org/uncategorized/4...
Thanks so much to my publisher, Orca Books, and The Nature Generation for this honour.

Shortly after Justin Trudeau was elected as Canada's 23rd prime minister, my editor asked me to write a book about him for the Canadian Prime Ministers series for students in Grades 3 - 5. This was fun and a huge challenge, because my deadline was March 14 - only 20 weeks after Trudeau was sworn into office! How could I possibly write about his accomplishments as a prime minister when he hadn't really done much yet? I've never had a challenge quite like this one.

The background on Justin Trudeau is interesting, the photos are fabulous, and the book is a good resource that can be found in libraries and schools across Canada. If you've read it (and even if you haven't) test yourself with this new quiz to see how much you know about Prime Minister Trudeau.

Justin Trudeau

It's time to hit the road with my new book, Bats in Trouble! I'll be touring Southern Alberta starting July 19 with stops in Pincher Creek, Lethbridge, and Waterton, meeting readers and talking about my favourite eco-superhero - BATS!

Thursday, July 19 Join me for Bats in Your Backyard, a presentation and book signing at the Pincher Creek Library, 899 Main Street, 11:00 - 12:00

Thursday, July 19 Meet me for a presentation all about bats at the Lethbridge Public Library, Main Branch, 810 - 5 Avenue S, 2:00 - 3:00

Friday, July 20 Learn why bats are superheroes and how they are in danger at a presentation at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre, Lethbridge, 1:00 - 2:00

Saturday, July 21 I'll visit the Lethbridge Public Library, Crossings Branch, for a presentation and reading, 255 Britannia Blvd West, 10:00 - 11:00

Saturday, July 21 Celebrate Parks Day in Waterton and join me at the Book Nook to pick up a signed copy of Bats in Trouble and your very own origami bat, 108 Waterton Avenue, 1:00 - 4:00

Sunday, July 22 The last stop on the book tour is at Indigo Lethbridge, 701 - 1st Avenue South, where I'll be meeting readers and signing books 11:30 - 4:00