Kathy Stinson goes to Liberia!

Annick author Kathy Stinson is currently in Liberia working with authors and teachers on CODE's newest project, "Reading Liberia." In addition, she is helping to select manuscripts from Liberian authors for publication. Follow Kathy's experiences on her blog.

The aim of "Reading Liberia" is to increase literacy rates among children in Liberia, to train educators to better use books in the classroom, and to help establish a local publishing industry. For more information on the early stages of this project, please see CODE executive director Scott Walter’s article or read about the project on CODE's blog.

CODE works with local organizations throughout the developing world to empower children to learn and in so doing, delivers an essential, sustainable development solution that endures. Their programs support libraries and teacher training as well as national and local book publishing in more than 17 languages in Africa and the Caribbean.

CODE and IBBY Canada, sister organizations, are in the process of soliciting volunteer mentors, Canadian children's authors, editors, and designers who are willing to share their expertise online with Liberian authors and publishers to produce books for children ages 7-12.

A Perfect Day

Warm sunshine on a cloudless day, stacks of books wherever you looked, balloons, food, and hundreds of kids, dogs, and families enjoying a beautiful autumn day - such was the scene at this year's Toronto Word On The Street Festival. Things were hopping at the Annick booth where we shared space with Barefoot Books and Random House Children's Books. With the good people from Mabel's Fables tending both cash registers, things were hopping inside the tent and out. Appearances by two of Annick's best loved authors, Kathy Stinson and Loris Lesynski drew crowds, while interest was high in The Bite of the Mango, the moving memoir by Mariatu Kamara and Susan McClelland. While many people came looking for their old favourites - books by Robert Munsch, Ruth Ohi, Kathy, and Loris - they often left with new treasures such as Elizabeth MacLeod's Royal Murder or Mattland by Hazel Hutchins and Gail Herbert. For book lovers, booksellers, families and friends, it was a perfect day in the park.

It's Festival Time

It's that time of the year--cool nights, fall colors and book festivals! Sunday, September 28 is when cities across Canada will be holding their annual The Word On The Street Book and Magazine Festival this year. Authors, readings, arts and musical performances--and lots of fabulous books will be the order of the day as people flock to hear and see the best that Canadian publishers have to offer.

For those living in Toronto, we hope that you'll come by and visit the Annick booth (#347 on Kidstreet). And make sure to catch two of our most popular authors, Kathy Stinson and Loris Lesynski.

Loris will read from her latest book, Shoe Shakes, at the Children's Reading Tent at 2:00, and will be signing books at the Author Signing Tent at 2:30 and at the Annick booth at 3:30.

Kathy will read from A Pocket Can Have a Treasure in It and from her classic Red is Best at the Children's Reading Tent at 1:30 and the Little Readers' Tent at 4:00. Come and have your books signed at the Author Signing Tent at 2:00 and at the Annick Booth at 2:30.

And if you're planning to attend the Kitchener Word On The Street, you're in for a treat as Ruth Ohi reads from her new book, Chicken, Pig, Cow at 11:30 at the 96.7 CHYM Children's Reading Tent.

For those of you who will be at The Word On The Street in Vancouver, make sure to visit the Canada Writes tent at 11:20 to hear author Laura Trunkey read from her just-published junior novel, The Incredibly Ordinary Danny Chandelier.

And what would a festival be without a few show specials at the Annick booth?
• Buy any 3 books and get 2 free hardcover picture books (for younger kids), or 2 free paperbacks (fiction & non-fiction assortment, for older kids)
• Surprise bags $5 each (cash only)

The Word On The Street is celebrating it's 19th year, and is expecting over 300,000 people across Canada; can't wait to see you there!

Annick Goes to BEC

Melanie Little, author of The Apprentice's Masterpiece

The number of exhibitors was noticeably down from previous years, and there were fewer independent booksellers than everyone had hoped for, but even so, Book Expo Canada 2008 was a successful show for Annick. Thanks to the presence of a number of teachers and librarians, the booth was busy with people stopping to ask about our upcoming books. The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara and Susan McClelland drew a lot of attention as did The Apprentice's Masterpiece by Melanie Little. Long line-ups awaited all our authors who signed books: Loris Lesynski, Melanie Little, Elizabeth MacLeod, Ruth Ohi, Charis Cotter, and Kathy Stinson.

Loris Lesynski, author of Shoe Shakes

Most of the publishers, association representatives and some booksellers attended a meeting on Monday to discuss the future of BEC. While everyone agreed that something had to be done to increase attendance, there was no consensus as to what that should be. There seems to be a movement afoot to move the show from June to September. As a publisher of children's books, we would be concerned that teachers and librarians who now attend BEC will not come to a fall show.

Elizabeth MacLeod, author of Royal Murder

The idea of opening BEC up to the public is a good one, but not unless a way can be found of allowing them to purchase books. Why else would they want to spend money to get in? For those who want to see and hear big name authors, there is the International Festival of Authors held later in the fall, and for those wanting bargains, there's The Word On The Street. Perhaps the appeal to the public would be being able to purchase the new Fall titles before they actually hit the stores. As for The Word On The Street, those publishers interested in selling could partner with an independent bookseller of their choice. Whatever the case, it looks as if BEC as it stands now is not viable for either its owners, Reed Exhibits, or for the publishers who attend. It'll be interesting to see what happens next.

Red is STILL Best!

Outside the snow has blanketed everything in white - but inside the Annick house red is best!

Today we had a visit from one of our favourite picture book authors - Kathy Stinson. Coincidently, Kathy's daughter Kelly - the inspiration for her book Red is Best - celebrates her 30th birthday today. I wonder if red is still Kelly's favourite colour?

Watch for Kathy's latest project, A Pocket Can Have a Treasure in It, coming to a bookstore near you this spring!