"Danny Who Fell in a Hole" nominated for Japan's Sakura Medal

How did I find out that "Danny Who Fell in a Hole" was nominated for the Sakura Medal? By receiving an email from fifth and sixth graders at the Tathva International School in Tokyo. Kids enrolled in international schools in Japan (about 15,000 kids) are eligible to vote for the winner. I'm naturally very pleased to hear about it. Read away, international school students!

Picture Book course starts Monday evening, January 27

I'll be teaching my course in writing picture books for the continuing studies department at the University of Toronto again. The time is 6:30 to 9 p.m. and the place is the OISE building at Bloor and St. George.

I always look forward to the interest, enthusiasm, and talent of the participants. Why not join us? ***For more details see: http://2learn.utoronto.ca/uoft/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&cms=true&courseId=1150416

Best dog name of the year!

Yes, it's official. 'School Library Journal''s blog, called 100scopenotes.com, has named "Danny Who Fell in the Hole" as the kid's book of 2013 with the best name for a dog. As the blog says, "How can you not like a dog named Thwack?" Thanks, SLJ!

'A Bird's Eye' is an Amazon Best Book of 2013

Amazon.ca has named 'A Bird's Eye' a best book of 2013. Nice! *** I want to congratulate Colin MacAdam for winning the Rogers Trust Fiction Prize for his compelling novel, 'A Beautiful Truth.' I highly recommend it. By the way, the Writers Trust awards night last week was great fun and, yes, a little nerve-wracking. It was great to see hundreds of people come out to the Glenn Gould Studio. ***The Writers Trust produced a very nice short video about 'A Bird's Eye.' I can't seem to embed it here but if you paste the following link in your browser, you can see it on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh8UztBSjZo

Mr. Zinger's Hat wins the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award

I was honoured to hear that Dusan and I have been awarded this year's Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award. As I am at the Vancouver Writer's Festival (and having a terrific time, by the way--surely this isn't work) I couldn't attend the ceremony on Tuesday but my wife Rebecca graciously stepped in for me. Here follows the words she read for me.****This is an overwhelming honour. And if I was actually standing before you, I’d probably have a hard time getting the words out. Although I’m happy to be at the Vancouver Writers’ Festival, I am very sorry not to be with you in person. Not just because I want to be made a fuss over—although my wife Rebecca well knows how much I enjoy that—but because I feel, with all sincerity, such great pride at being part of this community of people who care so deeply about children’s books. When I started writing “Mr. Zinger’s Hat” I didn’t know that it was going to be a story about stories. In truth, I was as surprised by what came out of that hat as Leo, the boy in the story, is. And when it was done, it just felt to me as if needed the amazing gifts of Dusan Petricic to make it complete. Thank goodness he agreed to make it his story, too. I want to thank everyone at Tundra books. I want especially to thank Katherine Cole who was our editor. I want to express my gratitude to the Baillie family and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. And finally, to my family. Thank you all so much.

'A Bird's Eye' is a finalist for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize

'A Bird's Eye has been named one of five finalist for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Finalists receive $2,500, and the winner (announced at a gala on November 20) receives $25,000. ***The other nominees are: Krista Bridge, 'The Eliot Girls'; Lynn Coady, 'Hellgoing'; Colin McAdam, 'A Beautiful Truth'; Lisa Moore, 'Caught.' *** My congratulations to the other finalists. I look forward to meeting you all.

Early reviews of "A Bird's Eye"

"Fabulous...pure and utter magic." National Post.*** "A captivating coming-of-age story. Perhaps his finest book yet." Canadian Jewish News.*** "A slim volume of great beauty, memorable and filled with truth." Gary Shteyngart.*** "Captivating." Quill & Quire.***"Lyrical. 'A Bird's Eye' is written exactly to the scale it should be." Montreal Gazette.*** Amazon "Best Books of September."