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At the beautiful Mahar Dry Goods, where they have just added WYWS to their inventory...

When author Sara O’Leary wrote and introduced us to her book When You Were Small we were instantly smitten not only by her simple imaginative story but also by the beautiful illustrations of Julie Morstad. It’s a bedtime story told by a father to his son about when the little boy was small, not younger but quite literally smaller. Named one of the best books of 2006 by the Association of Booksellers for Children, we’re pleased to see this wonderful book begin to garner well-deserved recognition. You can learn more about the author, illustrator and story at it’s very own web site. When You were Small was published by a small independent press, Simply Read Books in 2006. Recommended for ages 5 and up.

Notice from a "small" magazine

"This is a quietly amusing and touching story of a father telling his son tales 'from when you were small'. A beloved topic with small children, they will be enchanted by the gentle story and laugh out loud at the whimsical pen and ink drawings."

A note from my delightful, clever and charming godmother

Dear Sara,
I doubt that I have told you how often I visit your website for When
You Were Small. I do so quite frequently, and as I read the reviews and
accolades I glow with pride, as though, somehow, just by being your
godmother, I had some hand in the delightful, clever, and charming
person you turned out to be!
My autographed copy (thank you for the lovely inscription) is proudly
displayed, and pointed out to all who visit my living room. Although I
will never be the "book person" your mother is, I have always loved
books, and I have a cherished cache of much read classics from
childhood, including A. A. Milne, Beatrix Potter, Mary Ganon, and L. M.
Montgomery, just to name a few.
With love, Penny

Lemony Snicket!

I was delighted to receive a lovely note about When You Were Small from Daniel Handler this week. It seems wonderful to me that he took the time to reply to my offer of reading material for his small son. But, on consideration, it seemed presumptuous of me to actually post his note here and so if you want to know what it says, you will have to come over to my house and read the framed original up on my office wall!

FIRST PRIZE in the children's book category of the Alcuin Society Awards goes to the very deserving Robin Mitchell

Vancouver, BC - The Alcuin Society has announced the winners of its 25th annual Alcuin Society Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada. The judges (Alan Brownoff (University of Alberta Press, Edmonton), book designer, artist, and teacher; Jan Elsted (Barbarian Press, Mission, BC), letterpress printer and teacher; and Glenn Goluska (Imprimerie Dromadaire, Montreal), book designer, typographer, and letterpress printer) selected 34 winning titles from 252 entries; 96 publishers from 9 provinces participated.

The winning books will be exhibited internationally at the Frankfurt and Leipzig Book Fairs, and, in Canada: in Halifax; Wolfville (NS); Montréal; Ottawa; Toronto; Edmonton; Vancouver; and Victoria (BC).

CHILDREN
First prize: ROBIN MITCHELL [Hundreds and Thousands], designer of When You Were Small by Sara O’Leary (Simply Read Books)
Second prize ANDRÉE LAUZON, designer of L’Envers de la chanson by André Leblanc (Les 400 Coups)
Honourable mentions: KAREN POWERS, designer of Casey at the Bat by Ernest L. Thayer (Kids Can Press); ROBIN MITCHELL [Hundreds and Thousands], designer of One Winter Night by Jennifer Lloyd (Simply Read Books); and ANDRÉE LAUZON, designer of Philou, architecte et associés by Sophie Gironnay (Les 400 Coups).