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Tundra Books Celebrates 40 Years
Tundra is forty! When I grew up, books that reflected me, my friends, and my country were rarities.
Trafalgar Square, the wide Mississippi, or New York City were the “real” places because, after all, they
were important enough to be the settings of the books I loved. With a few exceptions – Green Gables,
Finland Street, and a handful of others – the life I knew was simply not there in the books I read.
Forty years in business is a huge accomplishment, especially for a publishing company, and all
the more so for a children’s publisher. May Cutler, the founder of Tundra, is one of this country’s
great pioneers. The practices she put in place for her new publishing company have since become
standards of the industry. With books that showcased fine artists like William Kurelek, Ted
Harrison, Lindee Climo, and others, she created a literary landscape for Canadian children. By
selling foreign rights to her books, she told the world about Canada. And by bravely publishing
hard-hitting, nonfiction books like A Child in Prison Camp, the first book to be written about the
Japanese internment, she told us the truth about ourselves.
In this, our 40th spring season, we are presenting you with a list that reflects our commitment
to children of all ages. We are publishing two can’t-put-down series: True Horse Stories by first-time
writer Judy Andrekson and Easy-to-Read Spooky Tales (for first-time readers) by veteran Veronika
Martenova Charles. We’ve got a great novel by award-winning author Marthe Jocelyn, and a shelfful
of the terrific picture books that are our backbone, ranging from Ten Old Men and a Mouse, Cary Fagan’s
hilarious story of an unlikely friendship, to Lily and the Mixed-Up Letters, Deborah Hodge’s thoughtful
story about learning disabilities. And, of course, there is nonfiction: from the story of penguins to
the history of candy to an introduction to the creatures who live in our backyards.
Tundra was known from its earliest days for “children’s books as works of art.” We’re embarking
on the next forty years by upholding that tradition this spring. Artist Elizabeth Quan sets down a
long-ago journey in her lovely watercolors. And, together with the McMichael Gallery, we are
excited to introduce children here at home and around the world to one of Canada’s greatest
treasures, Inuit art, in a gorgeous and informative book.
To those of you who have supported Tundra over the years, we thank you for bringing our books
to the children in your lives. To the readers who grew up with Mary of Mile 18 and The Hockey Sweater and
whose children now laugh out loud over The Nose From Jupiter, more thanks. And to those extraordinary,
talented authors and artists who have given Tundra the privilege and the pleasure of publishing their
work, our gratitude!
Kathy Lowinger
Publisher, Tundra Books