Saturday, July 2, 2011

I Missed It!


Canada Day was yesterday & I missed it! Well, I didn't miss it in real life - we had a blast with family! - but I missed it here on the blog.

So, in honour of my nation's birthday, I'd like to celebrate a few of my favourite Canadian authors.

Margaret Atwood -- great poetry & novels! I first discovered her in high school. I love the poems in The Circle Game. I always introduce a few of her poems to my students to show them poetry isn't all love poems or 'bippity-boppity-boo' stuff. They love it!

Farley Mowat -- fabulous adventures - fiction and nonfiction. Never Cry Wolf is my favourite (I've mentioned it before). Another is Virunga. This is a biography of Dian Fossey's life - with Mowat's narrative entwined with entries from Fossey's diary. Amazing stuff!

Gordon Korman -- incredibly talented and prolific author. He's written tons of MG and YA books. He started writing when he was a kid - and produced The MacDonald Hall series. Bruno & Boots get into hilarious adventures at a boarding school.

Lucy Maud Montgomery -- of course! You all know how I feel about her :)

Talli Roland -- she's living in the UK, but she was born in Canada, so she counts! The Hating Game is a fun-filled book. Great romance story with hysterical escapades on a reality TV show.

Dennis Lee -- awesome poet for kids. I think my kids had at least 20 of his poems memorized before they were 4. They adored his stuff! Here's an example from memory (hope it's right!)
Here is the story of Freddy my friend,
He ran out in traffic,
And that is the end!
I know! They loved it. More faves were Jelly Belly & Annie & Ernie - fun stuff! :)

Hope everyone has a marvelous weekend! Happy 4th of July to all my US buddies!!

70 comments:

Emy Shin said...

:) I'm actually in the process of re-reading ANNE, so huge YES to Montgomery. (And, of course, to Talli, who is awesome.)

Happy Belated Canada Day to you!

Andrea Mack said...

My daughters and I love Dennis Lee too. Yay, Canada Day!

Jemi Fraser said...

Emy - thanks!!! Talli is awesome :) I adore LMM and her Anne series - just reread the 1st a few months ago!

Jemi Fraser said...

Andrea - Dennis Lee is a riot! Such unique rhymes that are easy on the ear and the funny bone :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Happy Canada Day! "Oh Canada..." Never mind, you don't want to hear me sing...

Jemi Fraser said...

Alex - I'd love to hear you sing!! Anyone singing Oh Canada sounds wonderful ... even me! Okay, maybe not :)

Bethany Elizabeth said...

Happy Canada day! :) And great authors. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Bethany - thanks!! :)

I agree - they are terrific - there are more, but no one wants to read a looooooong post!

Emily R. King said...

I was born in Victoria, but live in the USA. I celebrate both Canada Day and the Fourth of July...I also have two Thanksgivings! : )
Happy Fourth of July!

Jemi Fraser said...

Emily - you have the best of both worlds!! All kinds of parties & celebrations :) sounds like a blast!!

catherinemjohnson.com said...

Have a great Canada weekend Jemi, it's thundering as I write this. Where in Canada are you?

Helen Ginger said...

Clearly, Canada has some wonderful authors. I really like Margaret Atwood and Talli Roland.

Jemi Fraser said...

Kangaroobee - thanks! We're outside at a bonfire now so I hope the thunder stays far away! I'm in beautiful northern Ontario :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Helen - thanks! I agree - there are so many terrific writers from here :)

Michael Di Gesu said...

Happy Canada Day....

I'll be visiting in August/September.... Toronto, the falls, Montreal, and Quebec...

I am SO looking forward to visiting your fair country.

Nichole Giles said...

This is a great idea. Thanks for sharing your favorite authors with us!

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Being in Canada 6 weeks ago I know what a great place it is, I was in Toronto for 4 days in that time visited Niagara Falls, then went on to the US. Hope you enjoyed Canada Day with family and a Happy 4 th July for tomorrow.
Yvonne.

Amie Kaufman said...

Gordon Korman! I WANT TO GO HOME is one of my favourite books ever! My copy dissolved and I can't get another anywhere. Man, that book makes me laugh out loud in public.

Old Kitty said...

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay for gorgeous and lovely Canadian bloggie friends too! Take care
x

Jemi Fraser said...

Michael - thanks! You'll love it!! Those are fantastic cities - so many great sites and things to do. You'll have a blast!

Jemi Fraser said...

Nichole - you're welcome! I hope you can find a new author among them :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Yvonne - Toronto & Niagara are fabulous cities! Those falls are truly an incredible site. I remember your photo from being on the Maid of the Mist! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Amie - I agree! That book is hysterical! I've read it aloud to several classes and they love it. I love the beaver subplot throughout! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Old Kitty - Thanks!! You're a sweetie!! :)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

As long as you remembered in real life, that is what matters.

Jemi Fraser said...

Diane - so true! Real life is what it's all about after all :)

cleemckenzie said...

You have some excellent writers in your neck of the wood. Hope your 4th was super. Off to enjoy the one here in the U.S.

Shelley Sly said...

I'm from the U.S., but a lot of my favorite musicians, actors, and authors are Canadian, not to mention some good friends, too. :) So, Happy belated Canada Day!

Laura S. said...

Happy Canada Day, Jemi!!! L.M. Montgomery is my favorite Canadian author, too! I also like Alistair MacLeod.

Charmaine Clancy said...

No July 4th celebrated in Australia, but we are on school holidays for 2 weeks (yipee!). No excuse now to put off writing.
Wagging Tales - Blog for Writers

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Happy Canada Day, Jemi!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Happy Birthday to your nation :)

Anonymous said...

Hey Jemi, I'm trying to get caught up in my blog reading. Sorry I'm late in wishing you a Happy Canada Day!

Nas said...

Hi Jemi, Sorry to be late in wishing you but anyway, Happy Canada Day!

Talli is awesome.

Unknown said...

Happy Canada Day!
I've read Margaret Attwood - of course - but I love the sound of Gordon Korman's novels I can't wait to find some (I'm reading boarding schools next ;)) It made me smile to see Talli Roland listed as Canadian.

Jemi Fraser said...

Lee - thanks! I think they're fabulous too :)

We've had a fabulous weekend! Hope yours is the same

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Shelley! :) I have lots of great US buddies too!

Jemi Fraser said...

Laura - LMM is magic! MacLeod is good too - forgot about him... :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Charmaine - happy 2 weeks off! We had an exchange teacher from Australia one time and she loved our long holidays - but still missed those 2 week breaks every couple of months!

Jemi Fraser said...

Teresa - thank you! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Lynda - thanks! We've had a great weekend to celebrate :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Susanne - that's more than okay! I was even late posting about it :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Nas - I agree - she's terrific!

Thanks! Best wishes are never late :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Elaine - I know! I like claiming Talli as Canadian - even though she lives in the UK! :) I think your students would enjoy Korman's books!

Talli Roland said...

AHHHHHHH! How thrilled am I that I'm on your list! Thanks so much, Jemi! And *lowers voice* I will always consider myself a Canadian first. It's where my roots are and I couldn't be prouder.

Happy Canada Day!

Anonymous said...

What a great way to celebrate your country! Thanks for all the suggestions. Hopefully I'll get to check them out in the near future. Although I'm already super familiar with Montgomery; seeing Prince Edward Island is on my bucket list. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Talli - you're very welcome! I don't think Canadians ever give up their roots all the way!! That Canuck blood is pretty strong :)

Jemi Fraser said...

E - PEI makes a great choice for a bucket list! I'd love to get there one day too - such pretty countryside ... and I'd love to see Green Gables :)

Angela Ackerman said...

Happy belated Canada Day! :)

Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Angela - we've extended the day over several days so you're right in time :)

Rosalind Adam said...

Glad to hear that you had a great Canada Day.

VR Barkowski said...

Yay! I get to say Happy Canada Day. Better late than never, right? So glad the day was special for you and your family.

Jemi Fraser said...

Rosalind - thanks! It's been lots of fun :)

Jemi Fraser said...

VR - thanks! We had a blast - and it's kind of still going on :)

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

I totally did not know Gordon Korman was Canadian! Wow. How is it you guys produce such an abundance of coolness with so few people? :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Susan - love it! Yes, we proudly claim Gordon Korman. I saw him speak once to a group of kids and he was incredible! I have a signed copy of Bugs Potter & I treasure it :)

Lisa Gail Green said...

Wow - it's interesting to me that Canada and the US's birthdays are so close to each other! Gordon Korman's name sticks out on your list. Probably because I got to hear him speak at SCBWI LA last year. He was awesome!

Jemi Fraser said...

Lisa - I heard Gordon Korman speak over a decade ago and he was amazing. He inspired a whole audience full of kids! Amazing! :)

erica m. chapman said...

Happy Belated Canada day!!! Hope you had a wonderful weekend ;o)

M Pax said...

Tanya Huff is Canadian. She wrote an awesome space opera series.

Love Atwood and Montgomery, too. And Tally.

Happy Canada Day!

Alix said...

Happy "belated" Canada Day!

I must check out some of your favourite Canadian authors.

Jemi Fraser said...

Erica - thank you! We had a wondeful time :)

Jemi Fraser said...

M Pax - I've heard good things about Tanya Huff, but I haven't read her stuff yet. I'll have to put her on my wishlist! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Alexa - thanks! I think you'll enjoy them :)

Meagan Spooner said...

Wow, authors I never knew were Canadian! Very cool--and happy belated Canada Day!

Jemi Fraser said...

Meagan - thanks! I'm always pleasantly surprised when an author is Canadian :)

Julie Musil said...

I had no idea those authors were Canadian, especially Talli. That's so cool.

Happy Canada Day!

Jemi Fraser said...

Julie - well, Talli lives in the UK now, but she was born Canadian so we get to claim her!! :)

Thanks!

Leslie S. Rose said...

I'm singing "Oh Canada," in my head. I lived in Toronto for a few months in my youth. Loved it there. Especially familiar candy with French packaging. I'm also a massive Gordon Korman fan. NO MORE DEAD DOGS rules.

Jemi Fraser said...

Leslie - Toronto is a great city! I love our bilingual stuff too :P

No More Dead Dogs is hysterical! Such a fun book!! :)