News and notes... There is a lot to cover this time - we've been saving up, or its been a good month.
(Click on the covers for more info).
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Some great reviews...
 Art's Supplies, a recent picturebook by Chris Tougas is reviewed in the latest issue of School Library Journal
"Bright colors, heavy doses of humor and puns to make readers groan fill the pages as a boy's art supplies prepare for a person-ality-plus party... This lively title is sure to be a favorite of youngsters learning to appreciate both subtle humor and engaging cartoon art."
 Also reviewed in School Library Journal, Wild Ride, a graphic novel by Liam O'Donnell and Mike Deas.
"Three kids rely on wilderness survival skills after their plane crashes... the crisp art creates distinct, full-bodied characters. This title is perfect for reluctant readers and adventure aficionados."
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Canadian Living Summer Reads...
 In their August issue, Canadian Living magazine has selected their "10 All-Time Great Canadian Summer Reads."
Orca has two titles on the list. (For those taking summer-school math, that's 20% - of the all-time (Canadian) greats...not bad, eh?)
Crush, an Orca Soundings novel by Carrie Mac and Red Sea by Diane Tullson were both selected and are among some pretty august company.
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Staff changes...
Founder and publisher Bob Tyrrell has taken a lateral transfer to Editorial Director (with a minor in fly casting) and has handed the Publisher's baton to Andrew Wooldridge. After starting in the warehouse over fifteen years ago, Andrew has moved from marketing to editorial to rodent catching and now, with the purchase of fifty percent of the company, to publisher and partner with Bob.
Bob will work a little less and focus on the editorial directon of the company while Andrew will work a little more and...a little more.
See the official press release here.
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And recently, down East...
 Nightwalker: The Warlocks of Talverdin Book One by K.V. Johansen, has won the Ann Connor Brimer Award, for an "outstanding contribution to children's literature in Atlantic Canada" at the Atlantic Book Awards ceremony in Halifax recently.
Book Two in the series, Treason in Eswy, has just been released. CM Magazine said of Treason is Eswy, "...every bit as good as Nightwalker. Highly recommended."
And look for book three coming in Spring 09!
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Hmmm, Utah, why does that ring a bell?...
Pigboy, an Orca Currents novel by Vicki
Grant, has been nominated for the 2009 Utah Beehive Award by the Children's Literature Association of Utah
(CLAU).
The
association sponsors book awards that motivate reading in five categories.
Winners are chosen from the nominated books by the children of Utah, who vote for their
favorite books.
Pigboy was also an Ontario Library
Association Silver Birch nominee.
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Best Books for Kids and Teens...
The Canadian Children's Book Centre has just released their new Best Books for Kids and Teens list. The Best Books list replaces the Our Choice list and gathers together the best new books for young readers published in Canada. Bear with us - this is a long one! Orca has an impressive 35 titles on this years list.
Picturebooks:
- Ben's Bunny Trouble (Wakeman, van Stralen)
- Jeffrey and Sloth (Winters, Hodson)
- Mechanimals (Tougas)
- Summer of the Marco Polo (Manuel, Charko)
Early Chapter Books
- Jeremy and the Golden Fleece (Citra)
- Cheetah - starred (Lewis)
- Out and About With the Big Tree Gang (Bogart & Bogart)
Junior Fiction:
- Boot Camp (Walters)
- Emville Confidential (Trembath)
- Just J - starred (Frizzell)
- Orphan Ahwak (Rivera)
- When the Curtain Rises (Muller)
Middle Years Fiction (Hi-Lo)- Blazer Drive - starred (Brouwer)
- Cobra Strike (Brouwer)
- Finding Elmo (Polak)
- Hypnotized (Trembath)
- Kicker (Bossley)
- Mirror Image (Denman)
- Manga Touch - starred (Pearce)
- Rebel's Tag (Denman)
- Titan Clash (Brouwer)
Young Adult Fiction- The Bonemender's Choice (Bennett)
- Nightwalker (Johansen)
- Out of Order - starred (Stevenson)
- The Warrior's Daughter (Bennett)
Teen Fiction (Hi-Lo)
- Bang (McClintock)
- Bull's Eye - starred (Harvey)
- The Darwin Expedition (Tullson)
- Down (McClintock)
- First and Ten (Rud)
- House Party (Walters)
- I.D. (starred) (Grant)
- Responsible (Ryan)
- Wave Warrior - starred (Choyce)
Graphic Novels- Wild Ride - starred (O'Donnell/Deas)
Starred selections signify titles of exceptional calibre. Congratulations to all the authors and illustrators!
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The Spanish are coming...
 The first four Spanish translations of best-selling titles in the Orca Soundings series are now in stock and shipping.
De nadie mas (Saving Grace by Darlene Ryan),La verdad (Truth by Tanya Lloyd Kyi), El que diran (Sticks and Stones by Beth Goobie) and La guerra de las bandas (The Battle of the Bands by KL Denman) are all available now.
Orca Soundings have long been popular with English readers aged 12 and
up looking for high-interest fiction. Now these best-selling novels for
reluctant readers have been professionally-translated into Spanish.
Geared to reluctant or non-readers in grades 7 and up, these
contemporary novels, with plots and characters teens can relate to, are
sure to be a hit.
Written at a grade 2.0 to 4.5 reading level, these translations will complement the existing English versions.
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Contact Us
p: 800-210-5277
f: 877-408-1551
e: orca@orcabook.com
website: www.orcabook.com
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