• Age: 4 to 8
• Grade: p to 3

A clever and whimsical environmental fable about a bird who is a human-watcher from a dynamic author-illustrator duo.

Warble is a small yellow warbler who lives on the beautiful island of Icyland, where he pursues his hobby of human watching. But on a warm day, a deep fog rolls in and obscures his view. The rest of the birds don't seem to notice the fog or the other changes Warble observes on the island. The more the fog is ignored, the more it spreads. When a Red-hooded Spectacled Female (Juvenile) appears, Warble discovers that he's not the only one who notices the fog. Will they be able to find others who can see it too? And is the fog here to stay? Kyo Maclear's witty story, brought to life with the delicate, misty artwork of Kenard Pak, is a poignant yet humorous reminder of the importance of environmental awareness.

KYO MACLEAR was born in London and grew up in Toronto as the only child of a foreign correspondent. Her father reported on some significant world events, including recording the first interviews with American POWs in North Vietnam. While Stray Love is entirely a work of fiction, it is informed by her experiences living with her father. Her first novel, The Letter Opener (2007), was awarded the K.M. Hunter Artists Award and shortlisted for the Amazon/Books in Canada First Novel Award. Maclear is also an award-winning visual arts writer and the author of two children’s books: Spork (2010) and Virginia Wolf (2012). Visit her online at www.kyomaclear.ca.

Kyo Maclear's profile page

Kenard Pak's profile page

A Quill & Quire Best Kids' Book of the Year (2017)
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2017
A CBC Books Best Canadian Young Adult and Children's Books (2017)
PRAISE FOR The Fog:
"This thoughtful selection, full of amusing details, has much to offer readers and listeners who are thinking about the importance of the environment and the need to come together to care for it." --School Library Journal

“[S]weet and compelling . . . Pak’s watercolour and pencil illustrations are playfully reminiscent of Nova Scotian painter Alex Colville.” --Globe and Mail

"Maclear (The Liszts) and Pak (When the World Is Dreaming) deliver readers to an icy island overtaken by a persistent fog in this haunting but hopeful allegory." --Publishers Weekly
"This book is a tribute to all those wonderful people (and birds) who are bothered, and who understand that it is important to see, and confront, the problems that face us all." --Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews

"A perfect and gentle introduction to environmental issues for young readers everywhere." --Picture Books Blogger
"The whimsical drawings help add humor to the story, which shows readers that when faced with a problem you must first recognize it before you can fix it. The subtle message is not lost and readers will enjoy the light-hearted humor peppered throughout the story... Recommended." --School Library Connection

PRAISE FOR Julia, Child (by Kyo Maclear):
"Maclear, who began her career writing for adults, has turned in to one of the country's best children's authors....I guarantee it'll leave you hungry." --The National Post

"[A] delicious new children's book...." --The Toronto Star

"Julie Morstad can do no wrong, and mixed with Maclear's musings on who these women might have been as girls, Julia, Child cooks up some real magic." --Huffington Post

PRAISE FOR Flowers Are Calling (illustrated by Kenard Pak):
"Pak's pretty, digitally worked watercolors achieve equilibrium between stylized reduction and naturalistic verisimilitude." --Kirkus Reviews

"Beautifully subdued watercolor and digital media illustrations, at times reminiscent of Jon Klassen's work, will draw readers into the text about symbiotic relationship between flowers and their pollinators." --Booklist