Canadian Children's Book Week

Today is the first day of Canadian Children's Book Week, the single most important national event celebrating Canadian children's books and the importance of reading. Every November, close to 35,000 children, teens and adults participate in activities held in every province and territory across the country. Hundreds of schools, public libraries, bookstores and community centres host events as part of this major literary festival.

The TD Canadian Children's Book Week program is organized by the Canadian Children's Book Centre, in partnership with the Storytellers of Canada/Conteurs du Canada, and is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors and funders.

Over a dozen Canadian authors and illustrators will tour Canada this week to highlight their books and promote reading among young readers. Find out who's touring, along with details about the week's events and ways to celebrate.

Check out Kane/Miller's Canadian title, Purple Hair? I Don't Care! written by Dianne Young with illustrations by Barbara Hartmann.

Purple Hair? I Don't Care!

Happy Birthday Janine!

Today is Janine Dawson's birthday. Janine is the illustrator behind Bobbie Dazzler and our Jack Russell: Dog Detective series.

Janine was born in New South Wales in 1957. She has lived and worked in Los Angeles, Canada, Taiwan, Thailand, and Sydney. She has worked as a film animator, director and teacher of English before settling on a career as a children's book illustrator.

Happy Birthday Trudy!

Today is the birthday of Australian author/illustrator, Trudy White. She wrote and illustrated our amazing gift book, Could You? Would You? which was featured on The Martha Show back in February of this year.

Trudy recently became a mom for the first time and we look forward to hearing more about her new baby as well as learning more about her upcoming projects. Of course, she's probably still enjoying life with a little one so we wish her a Happy Birthday and many sleep-filled nights.

Back-to-School Bash

Kane/Miller is pleased to be one of many sponsors for the upcoming VIRTUAL BACK TO SCHOOL PARTY - FOR ADULTS ONLY!

Getting ready for back to school isn't easy. Parents and educators deserve a bash too, right? Head to this back to school bash for a chance to connect with others and win some cool prizes (not JUST back to school gear for kids, but some great goodies for you, too).

Date: August 16
Time: 9pm
Location: MommyTalk




They will also announce the winner of the big Back to School Contest, which you can enter until August 15th. The grand prize is a Back to School Prize Pack worth more than $140! Be sure to register ahead of time (it's free!) so you can hop right into the chat room. Just show up at the time of the Back to School Bash and you're in.

BE SURE to invite your friends... Everyone is welcome.

National Rabbit Week

This week is National Rabbit Week! Celebrate with one of the Kane/Miller books featuring a rabbit as the main character:

Happy Birthday I'm 1

Nina Bonita

No! That's Wrong!

While We Were Out

Gained in Translation

The June issue of San Diego Magazine included a feature on Kane/Miller and our 24 years of publishing award-winning children's books from around the world.

We're pleased that despite our growth over the last two decades, little has changed.

Kids are exposed to different cultures through the books' plots (a South Korean girl celebrates the Lunar New Year in New Clothes for New Year's Day) or illustrations (the Japanese wood-block prints in Hannah Duck). But themes such as friendship, self-esteem and manners show that children everywhere are similar in many ways.

Kane/Miller has exciting things in store for our 25th anniversary, happening in 2009! Don't miss out on the great promotions, events and celebrations that will take place throughout the year.

Books to Share with Dad

With Father's Day nearly a week away, I wanted to share with our readers the great father figures found in some of our children's books:

I Lost My Dad!


The Key to My Heart


On My Way to Buy Eggs


My Father's Shop


You Be Me, I'll Be You

Happy Father's Day to all of our readers, whether you're a Dad, Grandpa, Father or Daddy-to-be, enjoy this special day!

To Fathers With Love

by Lisa Smith

In June of each year, we celebrate the wonderful Fathers and father figures in our lives! The modern celebration of Father’s Day has ancient roots, dating all the way back to the Babylonian period of history.

The earliest record of Father's Day was found in the ruins of ancient Babylon. A young boy named Elmesu carved a Father's Day message on a card made out of clay nearly 4,000 years ago. He wished his Babylonian father good health and a long life. The tradition was passed down from generation to generation and is currently celebrated in several countries throughout the world. In many countries, where the Catholic Church has had an important influence on the culture, Father's Day is celebrated on St. Joseph's Day (March 19) but in others, the date varies with the calendar year. In the United States, we typically purchase greeting cards or small gifts for our fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, etc. In other countries around the globe, they have unique and different ways to celebrate the Father’s Day tradition. 1. The UK and Australia: Breakfast meetings for fathers and families are held along with public games and activities that strengthen the father-family bond. These events include picnics with sports or games, fishing contests and hiking or running races. 2. Canada: Different colored roses are worn by families signifying the well-being of their fathers. A white Rose is worn if the father has passed away and a red Rose signifies father or grandfather in good health and vitality. 3. South Africa: Social and cultural societies host large community Father’s Day celebrations to stress the role of fathers in building a stronger society and in nurturing their children. They read stories and poems that have strong male characters. 4. Ireland: Families make donations in the name of their father or perform acts of community service that pay tribute to the important men in their lives. This year in June, we can all look into some different ways to express thanks and gratitude for the fathers and father-figures in our lives. Whether we spend time strengthening our relationship by participating in an outdoor activity, performing some community service together or just sitting down to a meal together, we can all look to different cultures around the world to see that celebrating fathers is not just something we do here at home. It is an ancient and wonderful tradition that can be expanded upon to create some wonderful new memories and traditions of our own. Lisa Smith has a BA in Psychology & is the Owner/CEO of Regionz Kidz, a multi-cultural infant & toddler clothing line featuring ethnically diverse characters and designs. She publishes a blog on her website http://www.regionzkidz.com that discusses cultural diversity & children & is a frequent guest blogger on other blogs and websites regarding parenting and children’s issues. You can contact Lisa directly at: lisa@regionzkidz.com

Happy Birthday Mark!

Today is Mark David's birthday. He's the author and illustrator of Crazy Cars, for Crazy Kids.

Mark David was born in Melbourne, Australia but grew up in Sydney. As a kid, he was forever making up machines in complex illustrations, mainly because it was fun, but also because his friends enjoyed them!

Mommy Dearest

Written by Lisa Smith

Moms deserve a special day all to themselves. Being a mom myself, I am probably biased, but…I believe that being a mother is the most difficult thing a woman can do & the accomplishment is something to be celebrated!

The origins of Mother’s Day have roots in the 1600s. Mothering Day as it was called in England, became an especially compassionate holiday toward the working class women. On the Sunday of Lent, servants and trade workers were allowed to travel back to their towns of origin to visit their families. Mothering Day also provided a one-day reprieve from the fasting and penance of Lent so that families across England could enjoy a sumptuous family feast — Mother was the guest of honor. Mothers were presented with cakes and flowers, as well as a visit from their beloved and distant children.

The modern day US celebration is very similar to the celebrations of the English so long ago. We shower our Mothers with flowers, greeting cards and gifts to thank them for their devotion and love. However, the Holiday is not specific to the United States and is celebrated all over the world in a number of different ways.

Argentina: During Día de la madre, young children gather their mothers together and read them poetry.

Japan: On haha no hi, families prepare traditional dishes that their mothers taught them to cook. The Japanese give their Mothers flowers (especially red carnations), scarves, handkerchiefs and handbags.

United Kingdom: The Mother’s day traditions include a gift of violet and the customary Simnel Cake, a glazed fruitcake inspired by a folk tale about a married couple, Simon and Nell. So the story goes, this pair could not decide bake or broil a cake. So in the end they did both. Thus Simnel Cake was born.

Finland: Mother’s Day is called aidipayiva and in the morning the family takes a walk, picks new flowers and makes a bouquet for their mother. A particular flower called the valkovuokko is favored. Mom is then presented with a decorated bouquet, while also being served breakfast in bed.

Sweden: Mother’s Day takes a charitable course; the Swedish Red Cross sells small plastic flowers leading up to the holiday, and the proceeds raised are given to poor mothers and their children.

This year to celebrate our wonderful Mothers in a new and different way, perhaps we can adopt a few of the unique customs that are celebrated around the world. Read a poem to your mom, bake a cake, serve her breakfast in bed, or make a charitable donation in her name. Take it from someone who knows, she will appreciate the originality and thought that is put into making Mother’s Day such a special and wonderful day of celebration!

Lisa Smith has a BA in Psychology & is the Owner/CEO of Regionz Kidz, a multi-cultural infant & toddler clothing line featuring ethnically diverse characters and designs. She publishes a blog on her website http://www.regionzkidz.com that discusses cultural diversity & children & is a frequent guest blogger on other blogs and websites regarding parenting and children’s issues. She is also a monthly contributor to Educated Mommy Magazine.

May is...

Get Caught Reading Month

Healthy Vision Month

Paul Needs Specs

National Bike Month

A Bicycle for Rosaura

Marta and the Bicycle

Marta y la bicicleta

Be Kind to Animals Week (May 4 - 10)

The Deliverance of Dancing Bears

Reading is Fun Week (May 4 - 10)

Tibili, the Little Boy Who Didn't Want to Go to School

Mother's Day (May 11)

When Mum Was Little

Selma

National Transportation Week (May 11 - 17)

Crazy Cars

On the Road

CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK (May 12 - 18)

National Backyard Games Week (May 19 - 25)

Playing with Stuff

Slugs Return from Capistrano Day (May 28)

Sally and Dave, A Slug Story

International Children's Book Day

Even though all of our titles come from countries other than the U.S. it is a very special day when we can highlight our books that speak about or take place in a land that is somehow different than the ones we're used to seeing in a children's book.

Here are just a few of our books that take place in unique places in our world:

From France

My Father's Shop

From Taiwan

On My Way to Buy Eggs

From Japan

Girl from the Snow Country

From Australia

Are We There Yet?

From Australia

Ziba Came on a Boat

From the Netherlands

Little Fish

Make Up Your Own Holiday

This Wednesday, March 26th is the official Make Up Your Own Holiday day. That's right. You can now celebrate whatever you would like!

Cat Tails (and Tales)

Cat

Figaro, The Cat Who Snored



My Cat Copies Me


Dog Days of Summer


Apollo



Benny

Lucky, A Dog's Best Friend

Samsara Dog



Happy Birthday Coco



Saving Sinbad!



The Costume Party

Mom's Choice Awards

The 2008 Mom's Choice Awards were officially announced yesterday. Two Kane/Miller titles were included among the great list of finalists.

Congratulations to both Satoru Onishi and Tina Burke!

From Australia
It’s Christmas
by Tina Burke

2008 Silver Recipient: Seasonal, Holidays & Festivals


From Japan
Who’s Hiding?
by Satoru Onishi
2008 Gold Recipient: Basic Concepts