I don’t just have one excellent thing to talk about today…
I have three!

First of all, I attended the Vancouver launch of Are You Seeing Me?
(9781459810792) published by Orca Book Publishers. It’s a
fantastic YA novel about the love of two siblings and I’m happy to
say that the author, Darren Groth, is just as charming in person as
he is as a writer!

Darren reading a list of excised words deemed too Aussie for a North American audience.

Next up, the shortlist for the 2015 TD Canadian Children’s
Literature Award was announced. A bunch of very deserving books
for young people were recognized, including titles from Owlkids,
Orca Book Publishers, Kids Can Press and many others.

Amongst the nominees is Owlkids Books’ Starting from Scratch: What You Should Know About Food and Cooking (9781926973968), written by Sarah Elton and illustrated by Jeff Kulak.

Finally, we’ll get a little personal. I have a terrible confession
to make. I, Dani Farmer, have a real problem with games on
my phone. I can’t quit playing them! When DK presented their
winter list, they included a book on Disney’s Tsum Tsums.
Tsum Tsums (which translates to “stack stack”) are little
stuffed animals from Japan that are TOO CUTE!

Stickers and stuffies? Yes please!
Ultimate Sticker Collection: Disney Tsum Tsum (9781465444226)

I have also been playing the accompanying mobile game
since the sales meeting and I am hooked. Who needs a
social life when you have cute stuffed Dumbos and iPhone
games, right?

-Dani