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Press, book news and updates on prints and book tours.
I am excited to be a presenter at Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Homecoming Event this year. I will be speaking on: Wednesday, June 18 at 1:15pm EST
Program partners and supporters from around the world will join together virtually from June 17-19, 2025, for a special celebration of DPIL's shared history and achievements.
Join us at the opening of Only Human at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound.
OPENING: Saturday, June 28th from 2-4.
I explore what it means to create art in an era of generative AI art. I won’t be sharing any images from the exhibition and I ask everyone that comes not to share images as well. We will see what can be experienced without being ‘trained on’. You will have to come in person. Come for the art, the community and human connection. Stay human! The show runs from June 28th to October 4th. Thanks friends!
I just got some lovely news. Zap! Clap! Boom!, written by Laura Purdie Salas, published by Bloomsbury Kids, is shortlisted for the North Carolina Children’s Book Award! The book will be one of 12 shared with students throughout the state.
Frostfire is a December Staff Pick at Indigo! It is also a Best Book for 3-5. It is on sale right now. You can pick up a copy on sale! https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/frostfire/9780735266988.html
Thank you independent booksellers for choosing Frostfire as an Indie Kids’ Next Pick!
Frostfire.
By Elly MacKay. Illus. by the author
Oct. 2024. 44p. Tundra, $18.99 (9780735266988). PreS–Gr. 2
Two foxes clad in cozy coats head out into a dazzling winter’s day. Their cavorting is interrupted by a grumbling sound from somewhere in the distance. Miriam, the older sibling, confidently explains that the sound could have emanated from just one source: a snow dragon. Younger Celeste is intrigued by the possibility, though she questions the plausibility of its existence. Miriam insists snow dragons are real and answers all of Celeste’s questions easily. Why aren’t there any tracks? Dragons fly, of course! Why can’t they see them? They disguise themselves as snowbanks, leaving behind only traces of frostfire—the swirling icy patterns on glass. The intrepid pair tumble down snow-covered hills and skate on the frozen pond, all the while pondering snow-dragon specifics. Could it all be true? The sisters will have the unexpected answer before their snowy stroll is through. This gem of a story is an ideal cold-weather companion, offering wintry wonders and a humorous twist that sweetly shifts the dynamic between the sisters. The gently suspenseful story is satisfying on its own, but the exquisite paper scenes are a wonder as well. There are sparkling snowflakes, a glowing sky, and a cozy cottage beckoning the foxes home after an eventful day. Frosted endpapers are a perfect final touch. An enchanting outing that will have readers longing to wander a winter wonderland. — Emily Graham
This September I Am A Meadow Mermaid, published by Tundra, written by my pal Kallie George and illustrated by me went out to kids across Canada as part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. It is such an honour to have another book in her library. I love the small paperback size - so perfect for kids’ hand. So cute. Thanks Dolly!
“A farm girl with a big imagination turns her landlocked home into an ocean playground in this dreamy picture book by Kallie George with illustrations by Elly Mackay” - Imagination Library
BY ELLY MACKAY ; ILLUSTRATED BY ELLY MACKAY ‧ RELEASE DATE: TOMORROW
As contemplative and lovely as a walk in the snow.
On a quiet winter walk, two fox sisters look for a snow dragon and find magic in the natural world around them.
Miriam and Celeste meander through the glittering, silvery wonder of a snowy day. Miriam, the eldest and a self-proclaimed dragon expert, points out signs that a snow dragon is hiding in their garden. That low, rumbling noise is its roar; a snowbank is its camouflage; and the swirling pattern of frost on a greenhouse window is, in fact, frostfire. Miriam has an answer to all of Celeste’s questions: Why doesn’t the dragon leave tracks? Where does it go in the summer? Miriam also notes that dragons are sneaky and greedy and that they would love to eat Celeste. Bravely, Celeste marches off alone to confront the dragon. When she finds it, all is not quite as she expected. She returns to her sister, but now Celeste is the one armed with knowledge, and it’s Miriam’s turn to learn. The sibling relationship is sweetly authentic. Their dynamic has enough mild friction to ring true, with Miriam’s slightly know-it-all air and Celeste’s tendency to tag along and ask questions, but the sisters’ strong bond and mutual trust never waver. Whimsical illustrations feature dreamy colors and soft-focus backgrounds washed out with reflected winter light. This tale is magical anytime, but it’s a top choice when seeking a winter story that doesn’t center on a holiday.
As contemplative and lovely as a walk in the snow. (Picture book. 4-8)
Winner of the 2024 Eloise Jarvis McGraw Award for Children’s Literature!
“Too Early is a quietly stunning picture book. It can be used as a bedtime read, a study of light, or a read aloud to examine poetry and craft. Nora Ericson takes the age old problem of a child getting up too early and turns it into an olde about spending time with someone you love and teaches us how to notice the breath-taking awe of dawn.” - Karl Allen, Judge.
