Books published by publisher Fitzhenry and Whiteside

In her dreams, Phoebe twirls through rows of sea island cotton as a white dress blows around her knees like a breeze. As she dances, she loses all memory of being born a slave on an Alabama plantation. She lifts up her feet and flies high above the fields, as light as air. Before her a single white star shines. Thirteen-year-old Phoebe has always dreamed of leaving her life as a slave behind. She has heard whispers about a secret path to freedom, and she has seen what can happen to those who take it and fail. But freedom means more to Phoebe than anything, and when she meets Liney, a strong young woman who picks cotton next to her, they form a plan to escape together. One night, Poebe, Liney, and Liney's two small children flee under cover of darkness. Following clues from the songs and stories they have heard, the runaways elude slave catchers and reach the first stop on the Underground Railroad. It is only one safe house in a chain that leads all the way north to Canada. But between them and freedom, lie miles and miles of unfriendly country and dangers too horrible to imagine. Winner, Silver Birch Award, 2002 Winner, Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction A 2005 New York Public Library selection for Books for the Teen Age

Winner of The World Guild Canadian Writing Awards Children's Book category (2006) To create this enchanting fictional account of how maple syrup might have been first discovered. Connie Brummel Crook borrows elements from some of the many prevailing traditional folk takes. In finding this new source of nourishment, her young protagonist, a native boy named Rides the Wind, is able to help his people through a harsh winter. His pride also boosts his confidence in spite of a physical disability, and he is able to rise above the cruel taunts of other children.

The Animal Behavior Society Children's Book Award for 2014 finalist 2014/2015 Red Cedar Non-Fiction Award shortlist On Resource Links' Best of 2013 list Octopuses are eight-armed, boneless, solitary sea creatures. They're ugly, slimy and squirmy. Some can weigh over 200 pounds while others can be as small as a golf ball. They have taste receptors all over their body, and scent receptors on every arm. One kind of octopus can even spit out toxic saliva at its enemies! These complex creatures can even solve problems, store memories, recognize shapes and even mimic people. In Deep with the Octopus takes you inside the octopus's world--with fascinating facts, photos and everything you need to know about: types of octopus anatomy life and mating cycles habitats behaviour intelligence You'll also: learn how octopuses shoot ink. explore habitats. find out how octopuses have changed over the centuries. discover the neat tricks they perform. learn what octopuses eat, and what eats them. take a quiz.

What do you think a two-legged carrot would taste like? What about a crabby-faced apple? Jay makes some surprising discoveries after he plants and cares for a garden with his mother. Jay learns that naturally grown food can grow to look different than what he is used to buying at the grocery store. He is delighted to discover the hilarious, misshapen fruits and vegetables. To his amazement, they all taste the same, maybe better even! What a waste it would be to throw them out. It seems foolish to throw away an absurd amount of food because it looks a little different -- especially when children love those funny shaped foods!

Lumpy mashed potatoes oozing down the wall; green beans soaring through the air; stodgy meatloaf guiltily smeared across the cafeteria floor. Who threw that first fistful of food? Could it be the shy new kid cracking under the pressure of being new? The star athlete? He could easily throw veggies across the room. Perhaps the perp is someone completely unexpected, like a top student who has never been in trouble before? Someone started it and someone is going to detention. All this in the middle of a contentious contest for the election of class president. The suspects are endless but, in the end, the case will be cracked, and the election won. Food Fight is a fun-filled middle grade novel by the author of The Bedmas Conspiracy and Triple Chocolate Brownie Genius.

Rocky Mountain Book Award finalist, 2013 2012 Silver Birch Express Award nominee When vandals deface the Harmony Point sign, the town does indeed seem to become the "arm pit" of the region. The baseball team hasn't won a game in two seasons and the town itself is falling into disrepair. But when the new postmaster becomes the ball coach, Clay and the rest of the Terriers finally seem to stand a chance of winning a game. Until they overhear a bureaucrat from the city say that the post office will close unless the "numbers" work out. The team begins "Operation Tennis Elbow" - a letter writing campaign designed to generate enough mail to keep the post office - and its postmaster - in town (and coaching their baseball team). And along the way, they learn the power of the pen in effecting positive changes in their community.

Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada Information Book Award winner Canadian Library Association Honour Book With new introduction! In May 2015, "In Flanders Fields," one of the most popular poems ever written on the subject of war, marked 100 years since it was written. This special edition celebrates that emotional anniversary. John McCrae's poem has been recited by many generations who have embraced and continue to cherish its underlying message of respect for the fallen, longing for peace and its call to action. In this award-winning book, the lines of the celebrated poem are interwoven with fascinating information about the First World War (1914-1918) and details of daily life in the trenches in Europe. Also included are accounts of McCrae's experience in his field hospital and the circumstances that led to the writing of "In Flanders Fields." New introduction by noted historian Dr. Tim Cook of the Canadian War Museum. Vibrant new painting by Janet Wilson on the cover. Original text, maps, and evocative paintings of the acclaimed, now classic, 1995 edition. An invaluable reference for classroom studies of war and remembrance. A lasting gift for history buffs, veterans, and families determined never to forget the sacrifices of war.

A brand new edition of a children's classic. First published to critical acclaim in 1986, Naomi's Road is the story of a girl whose Japanese-Canadian family is uprooted during the Second World War. Separated from their parents, Naomi and her brother Stephen are sent to an internment camp in the interior of British Columbia. For the young girl growing up, war only means that she can no longer return to her home in Vancouver, or see her parents. Told from a child's point of view and without a trace of anger or malice, Naomi's Road has been praised as a powerful indictment of the injustice of war and the government's treatment of Japanese-Canadian citizens, both during and well after World War II. This new edition is based on an expanded version of the story published in Japan. In it, Kogawa brings in more of the extended family and answers the question so often asked by fans of the original book: What happened to Naomi's mother? With a historical note and a new ending, cover, and interior drawings by popular children's illustrator Ruth Ohi, this book will be an absolute must for owners of the original as well as a whole new generation of young readers. Praise from Publishers Weekly: "Kogawa, who wrote the adult book Obasan, begins this with a letter to children, explaining the background for Naomi's story -- that Canada was at war with Japan and so all Japanese-Canadians were placed in internment camps Naomi's point of view is singularly childlike -- for her, war means missing her parents and not understanding why another girl, Mitzi, dislikes her... This is not a novel that bears malice for the injustices of the war, but relates instead a tale of unquenchable human spirit, undaunted by prejudice and unable to let go of hope."

A baby harp seal is born on the frozen Arctic Ocean with only his vigilant mother to care for him. At first the pup does little more than sleep and drink his mother's milk. As he grows, however, he begins to show a little curiosity about his neighbours on the ice. But this is a harsh world. At only twelve days old, the helpless baby is about to be abandoned for good. His mother will no longer care for him. It's time for the harp seal to grow up. Original color photographs taken in the wild Simple, informative stories Includes a Did You Know? Section of interesting facts Complete with introduction, table of contents, and index for parents and teachers A fine introduction to nature for preschoolers and primary readers

Shortlisted for Governor General's Award for Children's Literature Now an animated holiday special on Teletoon! Santa didn't make many mistakes. But he made a big one when he asked what Anton Stingley wanted for Christmas. . . . . . Anton's list was sixteen pages long. On Christmas morning, there was one thing under the Stingley's tree. It was an orange. Anton was not pleased. He and his lawyer decided to sue Santa Claus. Everyone came. It was the trial of the century. But Santa Claus, alias Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, Pere Noel - has a surprise up the sleeve of his old blue suit. Anton was stunned. What had he done? With the sparkle and snap of a holiday cracker, Don Gillmor and Marie-Louise Gay deliver The Christmas Orange, a witty, fun filled treat for all.

There is a lion in our village, and it is carrying away our children. At her father's funeral, Binti's grandmother utters the words that no one in Malawi wants to hear. Binti's father and her mother before him, dies of AIDS. Binti, her sister, and brother are separated and sent to the home of relatives who can barely tolerate their presence. Ostracized by their extended family, the orphans are treated like the lowest servants. With her brother far away and her sister wallowing in her own sorrow, Binti can hardly contain her rage. She, Binti Phirim, was once a child star of a popular radio program. Now she is scraping to survive. Binti always believed she was special, now she is nothing but a common AIDS orphan. Binti Phiri is not about to give up. Even as she clings to hope that her former life will be restored, she must face a greater challenge. If she and her brother and sister are to reunited, Binti Phiri will have to look outside herself and find a new way to be special. Compelling and uplifting, The Heaven Shop, is a contemporary novel that puts a very real face on the African AIDS pandemic, which to-date has orphaned more than 11 million African children. Inspired by a young radio performer the author met during her research visit to Malawi, Binti Phiri is a compelling character that readers will never forget. Awards and Nominations: Ontario Library Association's Golden Oak Award winner 2006 Winner of the 2005 Jane Addams Children's Book Award in the category of Honor Books for Older Children Shortlisted for the 2006 Alberta Children's Choice Book Award A Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Awards Honour Book for 2006 Foreword Magazine 2004 Book of the Year Award finalist A Children's Africana Book Awards (CABA) 2005 Honor Book for Older Readers A Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice 2005 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Young Adult/Middle Reader Books finalist