Miss Mousie's Blind Date is coming soon

Tundra Books has scheduled Tim Beiser's next book, Miss Mousie's Blind Date, for release this fall on October 9, 2012.

It's the tale of Miss Mousie, a shy and sensitive creature, who suffers a blow to her self-esteem when Matt LaBatt the water rat has the nerve to call her fat! While pining at home, she receives a mysterious invitation in the mail -- some unnamed gentleman has invited her out on a date. But who is it? Dare she go? Will he laugh at the way she looks? In a fit of inspiration, Miss Mousie hatches a clever plan.

Bradley McGogg illustrator Rachel Berman has once again brought Tim's fantasy woodland creatures to vibrant life in charming watercolors certain to bring laughter and even a few tears to children and their parents.

Miss Mousie's Blind Date can be pre-ordered right now on Amazon.com.

Bradley McGogg on "The Marilyn Denis Show"

Heather Feldstein, founder of WordsByMom.com - a wonderful website showcasing children's books -- recently visited "The Marilyn Denis Show" on Toronto's CTV, for a discussion focusing on "The Best Children's Books You've Never Heard Of." Heather told Marilyn about a variety of wonderful books on a variety of themes -- friendship & relationships, individuality & being different, and imagination & creativity. For information about a wide range of children's books, visit www.WordsByMom.com

(Video description courtesy of YouTube.)

Book Review: Words By Mom

Here's a wonderful review of Bradley McGogg, the Very Fine Frog from WordsByMom.com :

I love, love, love this book and so do my kids! A rhyming picture book that’s written so beautifully, that it appeals to everyone. My kids love the rhymes and I love the rich vocabulary of the text. The story is about a frog named Bradley, who is out of food and quite hungry. He goes around to different neighbours, asking for food. They are all very generous, but the other animals don’t exactly have the same pallet as a frog.

Bradley quickly learns that everyone’s tastes are different. This story teaches kids to appreciate others’ personal tastes and opinions, and that not everyone likes the same thing. I recommend this book to everyone! The message is subtle and you can generate so much discussion from this book. This is truly a picture book like no other. It reads like a classic and looks like a classic. In my opinion, this book certainly has the makings of a true classic! A must read book to treasure!

Book Review: The Victoria Times Colonist

A well-travelled mouse 
Other notable picture books released this fall 
 By Patricia Coppard, Victoria Times Colonist
December 10, 2011 3:08 AM

 Back in paperback:

 Bradley McGogg The Very Fine Frog
 By Tim Beiser, illustrated by Rachel Berman
 Tundra Books, $9.99

 This lovely tale, whose delightful watercolour illustrations by Victoria's Berman made the shortlist for the 2009 Governor General's awards, is back in paperback, a veritable word feast with superb rhyme. And it's about a picky eater - who can't relate to that?

 © Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
 Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/well+travelled+mouse/5841824/story.html#ixzz1g9AaUVDK

New books are on the way!

For those of you wondering what's next for children's book author Tim Beiser, here's the latest news:

The paperback version of Bradley McGogg, the Very Fine Frog will be released by Tundra Books on August 9, 2011. You can pre-order a copy right now at Amazon.ca by following this link: BRADLEY IN PAPERBACK

Tundra has scheduled Tim's next book, Miss Mousie's Blind Date, to be released in November 2012. Bradley McGogg illustrator, Rachel Berman, is once again behind the easel creating another gorgeous set of enchanted forest watercolours.

And there's a third book coming, too. Little Chicken Duck will be published by Tundra in the fall of 2013. This time, acclaimed children's book illustrator Bill Slavin will be bringing Tim's rhyming fairy tale to life.

Anson S. Taylor P.S.

On April 27, Tim Beiser visited Anson S. Taylor Public School in Scarborough, Ontario as part of their Poetry Day festivities. It was a wonderful day together -- and what a pleasure it was to read all the absolutely awesome poetry written by the students. It covered the walls! The next day, the students sent the following delightful note:

Good morning.

Thank you for coming to our school yesterday. We loved your presentation.

We like your book because it has a lot of rhyming words in it. We also like the pictures.

We hope you have a good time making more books.

From Mrs. Lisi's Grade 1 class

Anson Taylor Public School

April & May Personal Appearances

"Bradley McGogg" author Tim Beiser will be appearing at the following schools during the months of April and May 2011:

April 15 - C.E. Broughton P.S., Whitby, Ontario

April 27 - Anson S. Taylor P.S., Toronto, Ontario

May 11 - Altona Forest P.S., Pickering, Ontario

May 18 - Queen Elizabeth O.S., Oshawa, Ontario

Book Review: National Center for the Study of Children's Literature

Beiser, Tim. Bradley McGogg, The Very Fine Frog. Illus. Rachel Berman, Toronto: Tundra, 2008. ISBN 978-0-88776-864-4. Can. $19.99/ U.S. $17.95. Ages 4-9.

Review by Marie Soriano
National Center for the Study of Children's Literature
San Diego State University
Department of English and Comparative Literature

One day frog Bradley McGogg finds there is no food left in his pantry. What is he to do?! He decides to ask his neighbors to share their food with him. He visits the mouse, bear, hare, and cow. But they do not have the tasty food he's expecting! This hilarious story can be used from a number of angles to teach children. Adults could use this book to teach children that people have personal tastes, that people from different cultures eat different foods/dishes, that animals have different diets, or even that we need to be and can be polite when we don't wish to eat the food that someone has graciously offered us. Rachel Berman's illustrations in beautifully detailed watercolor capture frog's personality and bring the anthropomorphic animals to vivid life, bringing back memories of The Wind in the Willows. Frog wears Birkenstocks, Hare wears a redcoat and tails with a checkered waistcoast and Bear wears a yellow and white beanie and vest ensemble. The colors are neutral, toned down like cream, olive green and shades of brown. The illustrations are contained, not all over the page, and the text is above or below the pictures, so this might be a good book for kids who have outgrown simpler picture books.

"Best Book!" says Canadian Children's Book Centre

Bradley McGogg, the Very Fine Frog made the list of the 2010 Best Books for Kids in the category Picture Books for Kids Ages 1 and Up by the Canadian Children's Book Centre!

The Canadian Children's Book Centre is a national, not-for-profit organization founded in 1976. The CCBC is dedicated to encouraging, promoting and supporting the reading, writing, illustrating and publishing of Canadian books for young readers.

Word of Mouse Book Review

If I had to judge Bradley McGogg, the Very Fine Frog ...
Word of Mouse Book Reviews
August 20, 2010

... Now the story is great but the rhyming text is so fun to read and so different than any other book that it makes this worth the read and purchase. I can't imagine any child getting sick of this book or any parent for that matter.

Berman's illustrations match the fresh and unique text. Her depictions of the Brad McGogg the finicky frog in his sandals, jaunty bow tie and striped overalls are magnificent (who could not love a frog in sandals?!) I love the expressions that all the animals in the story have, especially Brad. I love their clothes and the animals' table settings and the fine food they prepare. This book is truly an exploration in epicurean delights that would please any aficionado!

(To read the full review, please go to: HERE )

MAY 2010 TOUR DATES

Tim Beiser will be making the following personal appearances during the month of May:

May 3 - Orangeville Public Library, Orangeville, Ontario
May 3 - Princess Elizabeth School, Orangeville, Ontario
May 4 - Holy Name School, Toronto, Ontario
May 5 - St. Cornelius School, Caledon, Ontario
May 5 - Albion-Bolton Community Centre, Bolton, Ontario
May 10 - E.W. Foster Elementary, Milton, Ontario
May 20 - Streetsville Branch Library, Missisaugua, Ontario

In the News

Children's book author visits Harrow schools

The Harrow News, Tues. April 13, 2010

Page 6

Harrow Junior school was recently visited by Tim Beiser, author of the award nominated children's book, Bradley McGogg: The Very Fine Frog. Beiser spoke to students from both Harrow Junior and Harrow Senior School about his books and becoming an author.

by Heather Gignac

Students from harrow Junior and Senior Public Schools partook in some interactive storytelling when award nominated author, Tim Beiser, came for a visit on April 1.

Meeting with a range of students from grades one through four, Beiser took the classes through a reading of his award nominated new children's book, Bradley McGogg: A Very Fine Frog and then a dramatization of the popular Grim's Fairy Tale, The Frog Prince.

Bradley McGogg: A Very fine Frog is Beiser's first children's book. It tells the story of a frog who lives in a bog and finds his food pantry suddenly bare. Bradley Mcgogg must set out to meet his neighbours in the hopes that they will share some of their food with him, only to find that not all creatures eat alike.

"I think the children really enjoyed Mr. Beiser's visit," said Cathy Franklin, librarian for Harrow Junior School. "His book is very clever and creative, it's all written in rhyme and the kids really have a fun time reading it."

Bradley McGogg: A Very Fine Frog is nominated for an Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading Award in the Blue Spruce category. All nominated books are read by select groups of students throughout the province who then vote on their favourite for a winner.

"The awards are set in place to encourage children of all ages to read," said Franklin.

Harrow Junior Senior School students are partaking in this year's Forest of Reading program and will be voting on their favourite book in the blue Spruce category. There are nine other nominees along with Beiser's book.

In the News

Children’s author comes to local school during area tour

Posted By Ron Giofu/The Amherstburg Echo

AMHERSTBURG — A Toronto-based author up for a children's book award stopped by Malden Central Public School to share his work with the public.

J. Timothy Hunt, who writes the children's books under the name Tim Beiser, concluded a three-day trip to the Windsor-Essex County area Thursday as part of a tour promoting his book "Bradley McGogg, the Very Fine Frog."

The book is nominated for an Ontario Library Association "Blue Spruce Award" for books geared towards students in the primary grades. Students in Malden Central's youngest age groups were those who heard him read from his books Thursday afternoon.

"This is fun," said Hunt. "I've got two little boys at home so I love being around kids. I love talking to kids, answering their questions and letting them use their imagination. It makes me really happy."

-----

To read the full article, CLICK HERE.

APRIL 2010 TOUR DATES

Tim Beiser will be making the following personal appearances during the month of April:

April 1 - Harrow Junior P.S., Harrow, Ontario
April 1 - Malden Central P.S, Amherstburg, Ontario
April 9 - Adam Beck PS., Scarborough, Ontario
April 14 - Valley Farm PS, Pickering, Ontario
April 19 - Woburn Jr. P.S., Scarborough, Ontario
April 20 - Hamilton Public Library, Hamilton, Ontario
April 21 - Hamilton Public Library, Hamilton, Ontario
April 27 - Williamsburg P.S., Kitchener, Ontario
April 28 - St. Michael the Archangel School, Barrie

CBA Libris Awards Nomination

Bradley McGogg, The Very Fine Frog has been shortlisted for the Canadian Booksellers Association Libris Award for CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR!

The CBA Libris Awards are voted on by members of the book industry. The award ceremony will be held on May 29, 2010, during the CBA's National Conference and will be hosted by CBC Radio's Shelah Rogers.

The Canadian Booksellers Association is a national trade association representing trade and campus booksellers in all provinces and territories. Members includes Canadian bookstores of all sizes, including independents, chains, specialty stores, campus bookstores as well as more than 200 publishers and distributers. Some 1,000 bookstores are represented by CBA (www.cbabook.org).

For a complete list of the nominees, CLICK HERE.

Bradley McGogg YouTube Video

Tim Beiser performs at TINARS for Tots

National Post article

Metatexts for kids

Posted: December 12, 2009

Book Reviews, Children's Books, Governor-General's Literary Awards

By Beverley Brenna

The digital age has prompted developments in children’s literature consistent with the changing forms and formats, changing perspectives and changing boundaries that readers of all ages are experiencing. Described in terms of Radical Change theory by Dr. Eliza Dresang, a professor at the University of Washington, some of these changes within books are evident in the five picture books shortlisted for the 2009 Governor General’s Award for children’s literature (illustration). ...

Tim Beiser’s Bradley McGogg the Very Fine Frog (Tundra, 24 pp.; $19.99), illustrated by Rachel Berman, performs in rhyming couplets the story of Bradley’s quest for a suitable meal. Berman’s watercolour gouache on rag paper extends outside its frames, a decision implying the story’s awareness of itself in an illustrative attempt at “metafiction.” Very traditional, however, is the perspective that different creatures eat different things, inspiring Bradley to criticize the choices of others as “strange.” Listed for ages two to five, the complexity of the language and the hints at mystery in the dark patches of background illustration may be more suitable for ages five and up. ...

Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/afterword/archive/2009/12/12/metatexts-for-kids.aspx#ixzz0be72HwMa
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Eclectica Book Review

Picture Book Reading for Vacation Days

Review by Colleen Mondor

Eclectica Magazine

July/Aug 2009

Bradley McGogg: The Very Fine Frog is one of those sweet old fashioned stories that features funny animals in odd situations echoing all the good things of Wind in the Willows and Peter Rabbit and every other similar past tale. Author Tim Beiser has written a rhyming text that explains the trials and tribulations of hungry Bradley who goes visiting his friends in search of a decent meal. Illustrator Rachel Berman uses rich color in her realistic paintings of animals at work and play who are dressed in fine clothing (the rabbit wears sneakers, even) and draw the reader into their creative environments. (Bradley sits on a stack of cookbooks. Herr Bear and Herr Hare are shown enjoying a meal of honey and carrots over a complete tea set and later there is a candelabra illuminating a meal of "maggots, mosquitoes, grasshoppers and snails" for our favorite frogs.) The message here is that everyone eats something different and what is good for one will likely be unappetizing for another. Poor Bradley would like to be a mooch but just can't bring himself to eat what everyone else is serving. The story has a happy ending that the rolling text will have lulled readers into expecting. Bradley is a kick in the pants; here's hoping this is not his only adventure.

National Post article

You know, for kids books: a Q&A with the nominees for the Governor General's Literary Award in Children's Literature, Illustration

Posted: November 17, 2009

Children's Books, Governor-General's Literary Awards, Art

The nominees for the Governor General’s Literary Award in Children’s Literature, Illustration, introduce young readers to an eclectic cast of characters, including a hungry frog and a big fat momma, and send them to far-off locales including an island in Nunavut and, er, Newfoundland. Mark Medley spoke with the five artists about their work. ...

Rachel Berman, Bradley McGogg, The Very Fine Frog (text by Tim Beiser)

Q What kind of experience did you have illustrating frogs before this book?

A None.

Q None at all?

A No. And, actually, I used myself as a model. I’m sort of skinny and funny looking, and I didn’t have a frog, so I was leaping all over my studio trying to emulate [a] frog. I could sort of see him as a person, so I decided to use me.

Q He reminded me of Mr. Toad from The Wind in the Willows, but I like your explanation better.

A Oh, well, I’m not going to deny that I was influenced by The Wind in the Willows. I looked at every version of The Wind in the Willows, and also I wanted to do — being serious now — they said it was just going to be a paperback, like most children’s books are. And I thought OK, even if it’s paperback, I’m going to give children credit for some sort of sensibility. I wanted it to be like the books I remember as a child. I wanted to have it as art. I mean that’s what I do: I make art. And I didn’t see any reason why children shouldn’t be given the benefit of the doubt and think that they could appreciate really good art. ...

Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/afterword/archive/2009/11/17/gg.aspx#ixzz0be9e6qOJ
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