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In
our first of many readings about the cat named Zoom who loves water
and finds his way to sea, Sarah (who was three at the time) would
sneak peaks at the illustration on the back page which had little
eyes peering out of some dark pots under the table. "What is in
there?" she'd whisper cautiously. I hadn't seen the eyes at first;
they weren't referred to in the story. But it's a good question
to ask when reading from the many award-winning stories Canadian
Author Tim Wynne-Jones has written for your children. If you don't
ask "what's in there," you'll probably miss a passage or a doorway
that can lead you to extraordinary places.
Tim
was born on August 12, 1948 in Cheshire, England, but lives now
in the pine woods of eastern Ontario with his wife Amanda Lewis,
his children Xan, Maddy and Lewis, and his cats Applesauce, Marble,
Rozz and Thurber.
As
a child, Tim built twig forts in the woods in northern B.C. and
claimed a rock as his own island and ship. He once ran away with
a tea cozy on his head. (I wonder what was in there?)
A
writer, editor and teacher, Tim says he gets his ideas from "The
Ideas Store". Try to imagine where this is, he challenges. Try to
imagine who runs it and how much ideas cost.
Tim
works early in the morning, six o'clock, before anyone is up, "working
as fast as I can and then going back again and again to find better
and better words and phrases. Waiting. (There's a lot of waiting.)
But not for inspiration. Really, I'm just waiting for my silent
partner (my unconscious mind) to help me out."
Tim
has won numerous awards for his writing, including the Governor
General's Literary Award for two of his books.
A
list of some of Tim's books follows:
ZOOM
AT SEA -
About lovable, adventurous Zoom the cat who loves water and mysteriously
finds the sea with the help of his uncle Captain Roy and his friend
Maria. Amazing black and white illustrations. This book not only
garnered several awards, but has become a Canadian classic.
G22P034
(Paperback) - $5.95
ZOOM AWAY
- The continuing adventures of Zoom the cat who goes in search of
his uncle, Captain Roy in the high arctic of his friend Maria's
house.
G22P032
(Paperback) - $5.95
ZOOM UPSTREAM
- Zoom and Maria go to Egypt in search of Captain Roy.
G22P035
(Paperback) - $5.95
THE MAESTRO
- 14 year old Burl Crow runs away from his abusive father and stumbles
into the private world of eccentric musician Nathanial Orlando Gow
(a character influenced by Canadian composer Glenn Gould). Burl
has no place to go and no plan in the world, and he recognizes the
potential refuge that Gow (the Maestro) might offer him. However,
while the Maestro is instrumental in changing Burl's life, there
are no tidy solutions here. The devastating conclusion forces us
to make tough choices between life and ideals. This is a riveting
novel that was justly awarded Canada's highest literary honour.
This is not just a child's book. In Wynne-Jones' words, he writes
for children who will become adults and adults who once were children.
E22P056
(Paperback) - $6.95
SOME OF THE KINDER PLANETS
- A collection of short stories which probe the unique and powerful
creative spirit we all posses. The stories are, at turns, funny,
wise, eery, bold, desperate and hopeful. An extraordinary collection.
E22P039 (Paperback) - $4.95
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