I had the pleasure of doing a double book launch with the talented Philippa Dowding on Tuesday November 3, 2026. Philippa launched her new historical novel THE WAR LANTERN and I launched ABOUT A HOME CHILD.
Both titles are published by Cormorant/DCB Young Readers.
Thank you to one and all who attended and/or sent good wishes.
SAVE THE DATE
Tuesday Nov 3
Double book launch - Middle Grade Historical Fiction - Philippa Dowding and Caroline Fernandez
6:30-8:30pm
Mabel's Fables Children's Bookstore (NEW address)
540 Mt Pleasant Rd
All ages • Light refreshments • Books available for purchase and signing • Author readings and Q & A
The War Lantern by Philippa Dowding - Governor General’s Literary Award–winning author
One day in World War II, three seemingly separate lives are forever changed and bound together by war.
Themes: Europe World War II, Family & Resilience, Children in wartime
About A Home Child by Caroline Fernandez - Willow Award-winning author
From the streets of Britain to Canada's vast unknown, their uncertain journey unfolds.
Themes: Canadian history, Home Children, Emigrants, Immigrants & Refugees
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
#BringingTheArtsToLife
May 2026.
AWARD NEWS: Plague thieves won the Diamond Willow Award 2025. It's a reader's choice award which makes it all the more special.
Thanks to: @willowawards volunteers, @saskenergy (feature sponsor), the MLA for the region and Mayor of Outlook, the local media, the local writer's guild, all the teacher and librarians across the province who encourage literacy for students...and the kids for reading and voting. 👏
Congratulations to all the nominees and winners:
Shining Willow Award
Do Hippos Brush Their Teeth? How Animals Care for Their Bodies, written by Etta Kaner, illustrated by Jenna Piechota (@owlkidspublishing )
💎Diamond Willow Award
Plague Thieves, written by Caroline Fernandez (DCB Young Readers @cormorantbooks)
Snow Willow Award
Simon Sort of Says, written by @erinbowbooks (@scholasticcda )
1st image credit: @kidsbookcentre
Willow Gala: @outlookhighschoolblues
Hope you can join us to celebrate kidlit books and all things water!
I'm thrilled to share the 7th Asha and Baz book releases in May 2026. Look for Asha and Baz Meet Sylvia Earle whereever you buy or borrow books (pre-orders welcome as they impact the algorithms of book lists).
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Thank you @eduquerdifferemmentlepodcast for our discussion on how authors can partner with educators.
Interview in English but subtitles in French.
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Join me and Loretta Garbutt Thurs Dec 4th at Michael Garron Hospital for their Holiday Market.
We will be selling and signing books!
I'm thrilled to share that today (Sept 2nd) Asha and Baz Meet Mary Anning is officially launched into the world. This is book 6 in the Asha and Baz chapter book series where I feature an overlooked women in history (who also happens to be a fantastic woman in STEAM/STEM).
As always, the class challenge in the book can be reproduced at home or in the classroom as a STEM activity using simple materials. This fossil activity is my fav one yet! Probably, because it goes full circle from my Grandmasaurus picture book days where I was researching dinosaurs on the daily.
Chapter Book (6-9)
ISBN 9781998484102
Asha and Baz travel in time to unearth fossils!
When their teacher assigns The Great Fossil Challenge, best friends Asha and Baz wonder how they’ll convincingly re-create a prehistoric fossil. Luckily time is on their side!
Together, they magically travel to 1823 to meet legendary fossil hunter Mary Anning, who shows them the marine fossil beds along the cliffs of the English Channel.
Ammonites, evidence of marine reptiles, and more wait just beneath the earth’s surface, and with Mary’s instructions, the kids might uncover the exact inspiration they need to succeed back at home!
Available wherever you buy books!
Three cheers for book 6 in the Asha and Baz series releasing into the world in September 2025.
Asha and Baz Meet Mary Anning
Asha and Baz travel in time to unearth fossils!
When their teacher assigns The Great Fossil Challenge, best friends Asha and Baz wonder how they’ll convincingly re-create a prehistoric fossil. Luckily time is on their side!
Together, they magically travel to 1823 to meet legendary fossil hunter Mary Anning, who shows them the marine fossil beds along the cliffs of the English Channel.
Ammonites, evidence of marine reptiles, and more wait just beneath the earth’s surface, and with Mary’s instructions, the kids might uncover the exact inspiration they need to succeed back at home!
Chapter Book (6-9)
ISBN 9781998484102
AVAILABLE WHERE YOU BUY OR BORROW BOOKS
I'm honoured to share that PLAGUE THIEVES has been shortlisted in the SCBWI 2025 Crystal Kite Awards - Canadian Division.
Canada & North America
Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains by Anita Yasuda, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu
(Clarion Books)
Honor Winner:
Making Sense of Dog Senses: How Our Furry Friends Experience the World by Stephanie Gibeault, illustrated by Raz Latif
(Owlkids)
Dearest Reader,
Announcing a new column I'm writing for BETWEEN THE COVERS published by Jeo Publishing.
Subscribe, read, enjoy -- Parent Club Picks...(this is from the June 2025 issue)
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