Since mid-October I've been giving school and library talks almost every day--or giving performances of 'Canada, Fall In'. So it was great to wrap up my last scheduled talk for '14 at St Peter's School in Brantford on December 3rd. Thanks to teacher Craig Enns and Librarian Nancy Runstedtler for setting this up. With 'Vimy to Victory' on the Silver Birch Non-Fiction list, I'll be starting a new round of talks in the new year.

Eleanor Lefave runs Mabel's Fables in Toronto, one of the best children's bookstores in Canada. And she is brilliant at connecting teachers and kids with the latest books. So I was thrilled to spot 'From Vimy to Victory' featured in her window for Remembrance Day. Thanks Eleanor!

I'm thrilled that my newest book From Vimy to Victory: Canada's Fight To The Finish In World War I, has been nominated in the non-fiction category for this year's Silver Birch Award. This award is part of the Forest of Reading program run in schools by the Ontario Library Association  and is a great reading motivator.  There are ten books in each category and kids are encouraged to read them all and vote for their favourites. There's a big awards ceremony on May 13th in Toronto where authors are always mobbed by young fans. (This year there are also events in London and Thunder Bay.)  I've won the Silver Birch once before but just being nominated makes you a winner since it brings great attention to your book.