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Lady Ginny’s Book Launch

How better to launch a book about tea parties than by throwing one? Here are some photos from Susan Jolliffe’s launch (tea) party in Ottawa for her new picture book, Lady Ginny’s Tea Parties.

Susan Jolliffe
Susan Jolliffe signs books in a most splendid hat.    
Tea cakes
Tea cakes—an essential part of tea parties everywhere.

Susan's Tea Party

Susan's Tea Party

Congratulations, Susan!

 

I Spy … a new edition!

Posted by HRH (Hyper Redheaded Harmonist) Dinah Galloway!

It began with Wilfred the cat, though my sister Madge insists she started it by leaving the back door open. Wilfred wouldn’t have been able to get out otherwise, she says.

That’s Madge for you. She has to be the center of any story. I guess it’s because she’s so pretty, with her burnished red hair, lupine-blue eyes and smooth, porcelain skin. It would be hard not to believe you were the center of attention, looking like that.

“My hair is auburn,” says Madge, miffed. She’s peering over my shoulder at the computer screen, where I’m writing this.

Well, she’s part of the story, I’ll give her that. And, by letting Wilfred go, she set things off: the discovery of the bucktoothed spy and the mysterious thefts, not to mention the high-speed chases. (Okay, so the chases were on foot. They were still high-speed.)

The Spy in the Alley

So begins my very first adventure, first published in 2002, and now featured in a skookum new edition! As you can see, the new cover is very film noir style, very sinister and mysterious. Well, natch. The spy I chase in this story is very sinister, and the plot is very mysterious! Not to mention featuring a nummy recipe for tomatoes, courtesy my soon-to-be-brother-in-law, Jack French.

Hey, and guess what? This is the book where Madge meets Jack! And double-guess what: at first she can’t stand him! Luckily, wisdom—in the person of yours redheadedly—prevails.

Here’s what Quill & Quire said (blush): “With writing as delicious as the fresh tomatoes Dinah loves to munch, Jackson weaves a lively mystery … [nothing] will stop young readers from adoring Dinah and gobbling up this entertaining new mystery series.”

So … if you’re into gobbling, check out Spy!

 

Two Foot Punch Launched

Last week Anita Daher launched Two Foot Punch in Winnipeg, reading from the book to a packed room. Members of Winnipeg Parkour also answered questions about the sport.

Anita Daher signing copies of Two Foot Punch
Anita signs a copy of the book for Zeddy, with Hawk looking on.

Anita Daher poses with a group of traceurs
The Winnipeg Parkour traceurs and Anita pose for a photo.

You can learn more about parkour from sites like Urban Freeflow… or even better, read the book!

 

Orca partners with TumbleBooks

Due to the growing demand for audio versions of many titles in the Orca Soundings and Orca Currents series for reluctant readers, Orca Book Publishers is pleased to announce a partnership with TumbleBooks Inc., to create online Read-Alongs.

Tumble Read-Alongs provide large print coupled with complete audio narration. The sentences are highlighted as they are read, and the pages turn automatically. Read-Alongs are great for emergent, struggling, and reluctant readers, as well as being an excellent tool for ESL. They are also well received by strong and accomplished readers who are excited to follow along to the narration of their favorite books.

“We are delighted to be working with TumbleReadables on this project,” said Andrew Wooldridge, Associate Publisher at Orca. “There is a growing demand for word-for-word audio that encourages reading and aids in comprehension. The TumbleReadables product is advanced and very user-friendly and this is an ideal time to pursue innovative ways of bringing quality fiction to readers.”

Ron Zevy, president of TumbleReadables agrees. “Online Read-Alongs of chapter books and YA/Teen novels are a natural extension of our line of TumbleBooks…. Once we decided to create online read-alongs, Orca was an obvious choice as our primary licensing partner. Subscriber after subscriber sang the praises of their collection of high interest/low level books for both the middle school and high school market. The quality of their books combined with their enthusiasm for our new technology make it a great match.”

Preview select titles in development for free until September 30 by logging on to www.tumblereadables.com, username: orca, password: login. Offcial launch is Oct 1. 2007.

Contact:
Orca Book Publishers: Andrew Wooldridge, Associate Publisher, 250-380-1229
TumbleReadables: Ron Zevy, President, 416-781-4010

 

New 2007-2008 Educational Catalogs

Hot off the virtual presses: new educational catalogs (PDF) for the upcoming school year.

Whether you live in Canada…
Canadian K-6 and library catalog

Canadian 6-12 and library catalog

Canadian Classroom Resource Kits flier

…or in the USA…
US 6-12 educational catalog

…you might want to order books from Orca this fall!