Kids and Teen Blog

Countdown to Father’s Day!

by Liz
Gift & Stationery + Kids + Picture Books / June 16, 2011

Father’s Day is this weekend!

 

Does he really need another tie? Why not give the best gift you can — quality time with the kids! Whether you want to encourage him to take the little ones outdoors with this handy pocket guide from Gibbs Smith:

Pitch your tent, build a cozy campfire, cook up some dinner, and tell some rollicking good campfire tales! This must-have guide gives kids everything they need for the perfect camping trip.

or just want to let him know where he stands a good book is the perfect fit.

 

... or just want to let him know where he stands in you and your children's eyes...

He's not a superhero..
but he is supergood at being a Dad

Your local bookstore will have the perfect gift for your little ones to give to their perfect dad.

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Art of Cars 2 Giveaway

by Danielle
Contests + Events + Film / June 13, 2011

Hi there,

As a publicist I sometimes get movie passes for give-away. This time I worked with Disney for a cross promo with Cars 2 and a book from Chronicle Books, Art of Cars 2. Disney was nice enough to send me a few.

So, I have one here (admits 2) for the Vancouver premier on Wednesday June 22, 2011, 7PM at The Scotiabank Theatre on Burrard st.

I also have a book here that I will throw in as well!!

To be entered:

Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)

Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

“I entered to win The Art of Cars 2 Book and movie pass courtesy of #raincoastbooks #chroniclebooks & #disney!”

I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Friday, June 17th, at 12:00pm (PST). I will be in touch if I draw your name.

Please note: This draw is open to lower mainland residents. Please keep in mind to arrive early as seating is first come first serve and that this ticket does not guarantee you a seat.

**And you have to find your own way to get to the movie.

Good luck!

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Event on Friday June 10- A Note From Janet Gurtler

by Crystal
Events + YA Fiction / June 08, 2011

Janet Gurtler, the author of I'm Not Her just sent me the below note and asked for me to pass it along to all of our readers. If you are in Calgary, Janet hopes to see you there!

 

Hello all!

I would love to invite you all to, the book launch/signing for I’M NOT HER  this Friday from 7-9pm.

It’s at Chapters MacLeod Trail 9631 MacLeod Trail SW and will be set up at the back of the store.

 Please bring your friends and family. I will have delicious cupcakes and some other treats. Kids are very welcome. The event will be casual so if you can not stay the whole time please just stop by and say hi!

I’M NOT HER has had some great reviews over the last couple of weeks, so hope that you will enjoy the book.

Thanks and hope to see you Friday night!

Janet Gurtler
 

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Notes From A Children’s Book Publicist- Volume Five

by Crystal
Excerpts + Food & Drink + Kids + Parenting / June 08, 2011

For today's blog post, please allow me for just a moment to switch from my Children's Book Publicist hat to my Mom Minute hat and say

"Does everyone have as hard of a time getting their 2 year old to eat a well balanced diet as I do?"

Seriously. Some days it's impossible. What my daughter likes changes on a day to day basis. One day she will inhale a plate of salmon, the next week she will push it away. One meal she will delight in pretending she is a giant who is eating a forest of broccoli trees, the next meal we serve them to her she will wrinkle her nose.

The one thing that we can consistently get her to eat? Dessert.

Last spring when we went to Toronto to meet with editors the creators of Zoku Popsicle Makers had just sent out a bunch of their machines to editors and bloggers for them to test out. Everywhere we went our contacts were raving about this amazing little machine that lets you make popsicles on your counter in just 7 minutes.

Ever since I have been dying to have one. Then last week as I was eyeballing them on the Williams Sonoma website I thought "My birthday is in July, I should ask for one!" Ask I did and fingers crossed I will be getting a Zoku for my birthday.

So today, imagine my delight, when I found the beautiful new Chronicle cookbook Perfect Pops: The 50 Best Classic & Cool Treats on my desk. It is a beautiful sunny day outside, the perfect day for a popsicle and when I started flipping through the book I found a recipe for this gorgeous popsicle! The Striped Juice Bar Pop. And guess what? It's jam packed with healthy ingredients like beet and carrot juice but is sweet and so yummy looking that my kiddo will have absolutely no idea what she is eating except for that it is a popsicle and it is cold and delicious.

So hoping that there are other parents out there, reading this blog, struggling to get their little ones to eat what's good for them I give you this gift. The recipe for the Striped Juice Bar Pop from Perfect Pops: The 50 Best Classic & Cool Treats.

Striped Juice Bar Pops

This pop will remind you of a drink from your neighborhood juice bar. I came up with this combination for a party celebrating the birthday of a friend's daughter. My friend likes to give her kids healthful sweets, and this pop was a natural. (It is also her daughter's favorite color scheme.)

Ingredients

watermelon-beet juice

2 1/2 cups seeded watermelon cubes (from 1 1/2 pound piece)
2 tablespoons beet juice
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
2 teaspoons agave sweetener

carrot-apple juice

1 cup carrot juice
1/2 cup apple juice
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
2 teaspoons agave sweetener

1. To make the watermelon-beet juice: Place the watermelon in a blender and process until liquefied. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a small bowl, pressing the pulp with a flexible spatula to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the solids. You should have about 1 cup watermelon juice. Stir in the beet juice, lime juice and agave sweetener.

2. To make the carrot-apple juice: In another small bowl, stir together the carrot juice, apple juice, lime juice and agave sweetener.

3. Using a small measuring cup with a pour spout, fill each ice 

pop mold about 1/4 full with the watermelon juice mixture. Freeze until set, about 30 minutes. Fill each mold another quarter of the way full with the carrot juice mixture. Return molds to the freezer and freeze until set, 30-45 minutes. Insert sticks and repeat once more with each juice mixture to make four layers total. Freeze until firm, at least 6 hours or up to 1 week.

4. To unmold the pops, run hot water over the outsides of the molds for a few seconds, then gently pull the sticks.

That's it!  What is your favorite treat to eat on a hot summer day?

Happy Reading (and popsicle making)!

Crystal 

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Change of Distribution: Blue Apple Books

by Siobhan
News / June 06, 2011

Effective July 1, 2011, Random House of Canada will be distributing Blue Apple Books.

The ISBN prefixes included in this change are: 978-1-60905, 978-1-59354, and 978-1-93470.

Returns on shipments made from Raincoast will be accepted by Raincoast until September 30, 2011.

If you have any questions please contact Raincoast customer service at 1-800-663-5714.

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Notes From A Children’s Book Publicist- Volume Four

by Crystal
Kids + News + Picture Books + Vancouver + YA Fiction / June 01, 2011

 

There are oh so many reasons that I love my job. Please. Who wouldn't love being surrounded by fun kids books all day? Here are my top 5 reasons I love my job:

 

 

1. The people I work with. They really are super fab! These are just a few of them.

2. The insanely talented editors that I get to work with and the fun mail that they send me. For example check out the summer issue of The Magazine below, visit them online and pick up an issue on newstands now. Their are reviews of Cinderella Ninja Warrior, I'm Not Her, The Big Book of Spy Stuff, The Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure Everest and Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings.

3. The super knowledgeable stores that I get to work with. Check out the store front of Kidsbooks right now and their Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure Everest Window!

4. The authors, publishers and incredible publicity departments at those publishers. What other girl get's to say that she works with Chronicle, Gibbs Smith, Lonely Planet, Moleskine, New Harbinger, Silver Dolphin, Simply Read and Sourcebooks every day?

5. The books. Because really, at the end of the day, that is why I do what I do. Because of the mountains of beautiful, moving, funny, clever, magical books that transport me and anyone else who is a kid at heart to other worlds.

And that is why I do what I do! 

Happy Reading!

Crystal

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Notes From A Children’s Book Publicist- Volume Three

by Crystal
Kids + Picture Books / May 25, 2011

Danielle and I just got back from a whirlwind trip to Toronto to meet with media. We met with loads of wonderful editors and bloggers.

I'll be back next week with a sneak peek of some of the books that everyone was really excited about but in the meantime (while I catch up on a week's worth of work) here are videos for two of my favorite picture books from the Spring List.

 

First up is Press Here by Herve Tullet- In the days where everything is an app, has it's own website, or has some kind of online component it is so refreshing to see an interactive book that is, well, just a book. Take it from a mama of a two year old who is addicted to puzzles on the iphone. Give them this book to play with and help reintroduce them to the magic that can be held between the pages of a book. Check out the video and you will understand why.

 

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld- Whenever I mention the name Tom Lichtenheld to editors I almost always get squeals of delight and "Oh my goodness, he is the guy that illustrated Duck! Rabbit! I LOVE him!!!" Yes he is. And if you have a little one that is obsessed with trucks and diggers then Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site should find a home right next to Duck! Rabbit! on their bookshelf. Let's face it, what little one, male or female, isn't intrigued with trucks and diggers?

 

Back next week! Until then- Happy Reading!

Crystal

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Fantastic fiction for my Florida fling!

by Liz
YA Fiction / May 19, 2011

Hello readers!

I’m blogging remotely right now from beautiful Islamorada in the Florida Keys (I know—life is rough!). While I could be reading any number of serious books on current events I’ve decided to spend the week catching up on my YA fiction.

Here's what I’ve packed:

I’m Not Her (Sourcebooks)

Written by Canadian Janet Gurtler, this is a heart-wrenching story about two polar-opposite sisters who come together after one is diagnosed with cancer. I started with this one so I wouldn’t be sad for the whole trip... and then I called my own sister just to catch up.

Read Janet’s interview with Indigo Kids here

 

Are You Going to Kiss Me Now (Sourcebooks)

I am not ashamed—I love gossip mags, like really love them, especially when on holiday. So this book about a high school junior who shares my obsession and gets stranded on a desert island with five celebrities is right up my alley! Think Lord of the Flies if Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric were Audrina, Lindsay, Nick and Justin (and much less interested in surviving).

 

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior (Silver Dolphin)

My favourite fairy tale (a love story that revolves around shoes! It doesn’t get better) + ninjas + choose your own adventure format = awesomeness! 

(Also check out Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer , another excellent fairy tale mash-up from Silver Dolphin!)

 

 

How I stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend (Chronicle)

An action-packed love story revolving around an atypical hero, David, who goes to the ends of the earth (literally) for the one he loves. Unfortunately Zelda just happens to love Johnny (who doesn't?). Trust me; you don’t know a love triangle until you’ve read this! 

 

My job this week was really tough ;)

~ Liz

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Notes From A Children’s Book Publicist- Volume Two

by Crystal
Kids + News + Picture Books + Vancouver + YA Fiction / May 11, 2011

 

This Children's Book Publicist is busy, busy, busy getting ready for a trip to Toronto next week to meet with editors. It is always so fun to catch up with all of the editors and bloggers who I now consider friends and to finally put faces to the people that I have been emailing with.

 

 

 

Yesterday Danielle and I sent out catalogues to everyone that we have appointments booked with. Here is a set of catalogues going to the lovely Melissa Carter who I met when she was an editor at Canadian Family Magazine and who is now an editor writing about Baby, Parenting and Food at iVillage.ca. 

This week I also sent out copies of I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler to the winners of the MyJellybean.com contest.

It's hard to believe that as publicist we are already working on books for Fall 2011. It feels more like fall here in Vancouver. Here is the view from the window at my desk today. Pretty gloomy and drizzly out there.

It's very interesting working 4 or more months ahead in time. The last of our Spring 2011 books are currently arriving in the warehouse and it is time to switch our focus and start looking forward. Right now I am printing out manuscripts from some of our Fall Canadian Authors to send to the Quill and Quire.

This afternoon I am using our new e-catalogue system and making themed book lists for presenting to editors next week. I will make Board Book, Picture Book, Teen Book, Parenting, Cooking, Health and Travel lists to present to the appropriate editors and bloggers. Danielle and I are really excited to be presenting the catalogue using iPads for the first time. Our e-catalogue system is great because it has internal images from the books. Being able to show editors pages from different titles on the screen of the iPad is a very effective pitching tool.

I'll report back in two weeks with how the trip went. Perhaps I'll even blog from the road next week. Now to pick out what to read on the plane! So many wonderful books to chose from. Anyone read anything really terrific lately?

Happy Reading!

Crystal 

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Mom Minute- Celebrate Cinco De Mayo With This Viva La Piñata Project!

by Crystal
Craft + Kids / May 05, 2011

Happy Cinco De Mayo everyone! Have a kiddo that loves to craft? If so, for today's Mom Minute I have the book for you. Every Day's A Holiday : Year Round Crafting with Kids by Heidi Kenney, photographs by France Ruffenach.

I'm the mama of a 2 year old and while many of the crafts in this book are still too advanced for her she has been delighted with every single one that I have crafted and given to her. Not only are all of the big holidays covered (Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day) b

ut lesser known holidays like National Bird Day (January 5th) and Eat Your Veggies Day (June 17th) are also   covered.

So to celebrate Cinco De Mayo here is a downloadable pdf for how to make this adorable Viva La Piñata Project. Enjoy!

How do you celebrate Cinco De Mayo? 

Do you do special crafts with your kids to help celebrate different holidays? We would love to hear about them!

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