Transatlantic is proud to note that five of our titles have been shortlisted for the 2020 OLA Forest of Reading: BROKEN STRINGS by Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer, THE PHONE BOOTH IN MR. HIROTA’S GARDEN by Heather Smith and illustrated by Rachel Wada, UNDER PRESSURE: THE SCIENCE OF STRESS by Tanya Lloyd Kyi and illustrated by Marie-Eve Tremblay, FRYING PLANTAIN by Zalika Reid-Benta and SERGEANT BILLY by Mireille Messier and illustrated by Kass Reich.
Organized by the Ontario Library Association, the Forest of Reading Awards are the largest recreational reading program in Canada. The nominated titles are chosen by school and library staff, and since October 2019, over 270,000 children have read nominated books, which include Canadian fiction and non-fiction books by English and French-language authors.
BROKEN STRINGS by Eric Walters and Kathy Kacer (Penguin Random House Canada Books for Young Readers) is shortlisted for the Red Maple Award, which recognizes English language fiction for ages 12-14.
Eric Walters is one of Canada’s best-known and most prolific writers of fiction for children and young adults. His books have been translated into thirteen languages and have won over 120 awards, including thirteen separate children’s choice awards, as well as the Africana Children’s Book Award, the UNESCO Award for Literature in Service of Tolerance and The Christopher Award. He lives in Guelph, Ontario, and is the co-founder of Creation of Hope, a charity that provides care for orphans in the Mbooni district of Kenya. In 2014 Eric was named a Member of the Order of Canada
Kathy Kacer’s award-winning list of Holocaust fiction and non-fiction for young readers includes The Secret of Gabi’s Dresser (winner of OLA Silver Birch Award), The Diary of Laura’s Twin (winner of the National Jewish Book Council Award [US] as well as the Canadian Jewish Book Award), Hiding Edith (winner of the OLA Silver Birch Award; the Sydney Taylor Book Award [Association of Jewish Libraries], Notable Book for Older Readers; and the Yad Vashem Award for Children’s Holocaust Literature [Israel]), and To Look a Nazi in the Eye (a Sydney Taylor Honor Book for Teens). Her books have been published and translated in twenty countries. She is the child of Holocaust survivors, and the parent of two actors and musical theater performers.
Both Eric and Kathy are represented by Amy Tompkins.
THE PHONE BOOTH IN MR. HIROTA’S GARDEN by Heather Smith and illustrated by Rachel Wada (Orca Book Publishers) is nominated for the Silver Birch Express Award, which recognizes English language fiction and nonfiction for ages 8-10.
Heather Smith is originally from Newfoundland. She now lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her family. Her Newfoundland roots inspire much of her writing. Her middle-grade novel Ebb and Flow won the Winterset Award and the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, and her YA novel The Agony of Bun O’Keefe won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award and the White Pine Award.
Rachel Wada is a freelance illustrator whose work is defined by heavy texture, bold color and intricate details that capture the nuances of people, places and ideas, real and surreal. Rachel’s identity as Japanese-Cantonese, an immigrant and a woman informs her artistic practice. She loves to put her own spin on traditional techniques, motifs and symbolism inspired by her cultural background. This duality of old and new is also apparent in her use of both traditional and digital mediums, and she draws inspiration from a variety of sources, from Japanese woodblock prints, Chinese pottery and ceramics, food packaging design to traditional folk art. She has a special love for the ocean, tea and noodles of all kinds. Rachel lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Rachel and Heather are represented by Amy Tompkins.
UNDER PRESSURE: THE SCIENCE OF STRESS by Tanya Lloyd Kyi and illustrated by Marie-Eve Tremblay (Kids Can Press) has been shortlisted for the Yellow Cedar Award (English language nonfiction for ages 9-14).
Tanya Lloyd Kyi has worked as a typesetter, graphic designer and photo editor before pursuing writing full-time. She is the author of many non-fiction titles, including This is Your Brain on Stereotypes. Her published novels for young readers include Anywhere but Here, The Prince of Pot, Mya’s Strategy to Save the World, and Me and Banksy. Tanya is represented by Amy Tompkins.
FRYING PLANTAIN by Zalika Reid-Benta has been nominated for the White Pine Award, which recognizes English language fiction for high schoolers. Zalika Reid-Benta was nominated for her award-winning and critically acclaimed collection of interconnected short stories Frying Plantain, about a girl growing up in the Toronto neighborhood known as Little Jamaica, which was published by Astoria/House of Anansi Press. Zalika is represented by Amy Tompkins.
SERGEANT BILLY by Mireille Messier and illustrated by Kass Reich has been shortlisted for Le Prix Mélèze, which recognizes French language illustrated fiction. Kass Reich was born in Montreal, Quebec. She works as an artist and educator and has spent the majority of the last decade traveling and living abroad. She is now back in Toronto and is a new mom. Kass loves illustrating picture books, including Sergeant Billy, the Canadian bestseller Carson Crosses Canada, Hamsters Holding Hands, Dr. Coo and the Pigeon Protest, and the Megabat series. Kass is represented by Fiona Kenshole.
To see the full list of nominees, please visit: https://accessola.com/forest/award-nominated-lists/