Wednesday, July 28, 2010

around a camp fire



Spending some time around a campfire? Why not fry up some delicious bannock?
It's a combination of Scottish bread and First Nations' fry bread and is found throughout First Nations' cuisine, including the Metis people. In fact, bannock, in Michif, is called Gallet. Here is the illustration in Julie Flett's Owls See Clearly at Night:



Here is a recipe to try yourself!

Campfire bannock

2 1⁄2 cups of flour
2 tsp baking powder
1⁄2 tsp salt
3 tablespoons of butter or earth bound butter replacement
1 cup cold water (approximately)

Combine the dry ingredients into a bowl. Cut the butter in till well blended. Slowly add water to form a thick dough. Knead the dough on a floured board for less than a minute. Form the dough into one-half to one inch cakes and place into a warmed (greased) caste iron frying pan. Place on rack or prop into the coals of the campfire. Cook for approximately 10 minutes and turn, and then for another 10 (or until cooked in the middle).

Breakfast Bannock

Use the same bannock base, add a cup of berries and serve warm with molasses or maple syrup.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

cutest interview ever

We've all seen author and illustrator interviews, but what about an interview with a doll? Not just any doll, but Cloudy, the co-star of Foggy, by Robin Mitchell-Cranfield and Judith Steedman.



The interview is on TV, on the Knowledge Network. You can watch it between kids programming on Knowledge Network, or find it online at http://knowledge.ca/program/cartographies-shorts

It is such a funny, cute stop-motion!
Check out Robin and Judith's blog too, Windy and Friends, which is chock-full of excellent crafts for kids.

Best Books for Kids & Teens!

The Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens, 2010, just arrived in our mailbox.

Yay! Three of our books are included in it!

Saffy Looks for Rain by Paola Opal


Totty by Paola Opal


The Undesirables by Paule Briere and illustrated by Philippe Beha


The magazine guide is produced by The Canadian Children Book Centre, a national, not-for-profit organization and their Book News magazines are great too. The Centre is a wonderful recourse for anyone interested in children's books.
Congrats to all the other amazing authors and illustrators whose books were chosen!
And thanks to all the dedicated librarians, booksellers and educators who sat on the selection committees!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

yummy crayons









Amazing! Crayons that you can draw with, or eat, depending on how you feel!
This awesome project was created by Luxirare. It's a weekly webzine dedicated to clothing and cuisine.
Although it is not really book related, Luxirare's manifesto reminds me of some of the ideas behind Simply Read, to constantly produce an imaginative flow of images and ideas.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

fall/winter 2010 catalog!

Our catalog for Fall & Winter 2010 Catalog is now available for download from our website!
Check out all our new books there! So exciting!