Books published by publisher Quarry Pr

In August 2014 at the Congres Mondial Acadien, the Acadian communities in Canada and the United States commemorate the Grand Derangement (Expulsion) in 1755 when they were transported, under great duress, from their homes in Acadia to Louisiana. The Acadians were emigrants from France who settled in the Acadia region (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Maine) and built a rich culture there. This is the world where the young Evangeline from Longfellow's poem would have lived.This ABC book for children K to 3 paints a picture of the Acadian community before the Expulsion, a community with unique customs and beliefs. The pages are alive with will-o-the-wisps, werewolves, gremlins, and goblins. Porcupine quills are used as decorations and worn-out clothing made into rag dolls. The community was thriving until the British expelled them and set them adrift.The paintings in ABC Acadie were done by Anne LeBlanc, an Acadian from Clare, N.S. Anne is a renowned story-teller of Acadian Legends, and has brought her legends into the ABC Acadie pages, giving children lots to look for from page to page. Anne's vibrant paintings are unique in style and complement well-known author Mary Alice Downie's down to earth explanation of the history of the Acadians. The simple lines and wonderful paintings come together for a compelling read-along story book to share with youngsters or read for your own pleasure. The notes at the back of the book help to expand on the customs and farming practices brought by the Acadians to the new world. Each of the notes pages is illustrated by details from the full paintings used on each of the alphabet pages to bring attention to the delightful stories being told within each page. Children will enjoy going page to page seeking out the often hidden goblins, which took the blame for any unexplained event in Acadie.

BICENTENNIAL To celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of Sir John A. Macdonald, Quarry Press is publishing five related titles that together give us a special perspective on the life and times of Canada’s first prime minister, who still is the nation’s most colorful citizen. These titles include a picture book of his little-known boyhood adventures, a profile of the man as a politician, two historical novels where Sir John A. makes a brief but auspicious appearance, and a cookbook that takes us “downstairs” in the Macdonald household to see what the Prime Minister and his guests ate on special occasions “upstairs.” BOYHOOD BIOGRAPHYOur Rascal JohnThe Childhood Adventures of Sir John A. MacdonaldCanada’s First Prime MinisterMary Alice DownieIllustrations by James CockburnSir John A. Macdonald lived a storied life. A complicated character even as a child, he fascinates us still. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1815 and immigrated to Upper Canada in 1820 where his father looked for a more prosperous occupation. After a harrowing ocean passage, the family first settled in Kingston but soon went looking for greener pastures at the Hay Bay settlement. The young John Alexander was schooled in Kingston and Adolphustown. As a young man, he became known for his charm and his love of a joke, often at his own expense. Cartoonists have portrayed him as a mischievous schoolboy.Not all was sweetness and light. His father was a less than successful businessman and his brother died because of a caregiver’s negligence. “I had no boyhood,” he once told a friend. “From the age of 15 I began to earn my own living.” John supported his mother and sisters, Louise and Margaret (Moll). Years later, Sir John A. wrote, “Moll was my oldest and sincerest friend and has been so through life.”’ She is the narrator of these episodes from her brother’s childhood. Although some of the early dialogue is invented, much is taken from accounts of his life by friends and relations, as are all the anecdotes. A teacher’s guide is available under separate cover.