• Age: 3 to 7
• Grade: p to 4

In Candyville, the Juicy Jelly Worm rules over a land where lollipop trees grow beside rivers of root beer and powdered sugar falls like snow. Every day, he devours his candy throne, jujube crown and cupcake castle. Day in and day out, the children of Candyville must make new ones — never getting so much as a nibble of nougat for themselves.
Finally, one child comes up with an idea to outsmart the self-centered tyrant. The children plant a secret garden, hoping the fruits of their labor, which include sugar snap peas, candy cane beets, sweet potatoes, and watermelon radishes, might appeal to the Juicy Jelly Worm just enough to spark the sweetest trade ever.
Deliciously free of morals or overt lessons, this book is full of playful warnings and tips (“Warning: Parents like candy, too. They’re just pretending they don’t. Search the cupboards.”). The wordplay and wicked sense of humor will appeal to kids while encouraging them to stick up for themselves.

Carrie Snyder is the acclaimed author of three books for adults. Her 2014 novel, Girl Runner, was shortlisted for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize and has been translated into several languages. The Juliet Stories was a finalist for the 2012 Governor General’s Literary Award, and her debut short story collection, Hair Hat, was shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Award for Short Fiction. The Candy Conspiracy is her first book for children. Carrie blogs at Obscure Canlit Mama (http://carrieannesnyder.blogspot.ca), where she documents her writing, photography, recipes, and life with four children. She lives in Waterloo, ON.

Carrie Snyder's profile page

CLAUDIA DÁVILA a été directrice artistique des magazines Chirp et ChickaDEE, en plus d’être l’auteure-illustratrice de la série de bandes dessinées primées The Future According to Luz et de l’album Super Red Riding Hood. Elle a également illustré l’ouvrage percutant et multi récompensé Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War de Michel Chikwanine et Jessica Dee Humphreys, ainsi que Viminy Crowe’s Comic Book de Marthe Jocelyn et Richard Scrimger. Claudia est née à Santiago, au Chili, et vit maintenant à Toronto avec sa famille.

Claudia Dávila is the former art director of Chirp and chickaDEE magazines, and is the author-illustrator of the award-winning graphic novel series The Future According to Luz and the picture book Super Red Riding Hood. Claudia illustrated the powerful and multi-award-winning book Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War by Michel Chikwanine and Jessica Dee Humphreys, Viminy Crowe's Comic Book by Marthe Jocelyn and Richard Scrimger and The Canadian Kids Guide to Outdoor Fun by Helaine Becker. Claudia was born in Santiago, Chile, and lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two children.

Claudia Dávila's profile page

• A Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Book for Kids and Teens

"Davila's bright pictures look truly delectable, and nutritionists and dentists everywhere will groan as the children chomp down on all the sweets."

Kirkus Reviews

""The Candy Conspiracy" is a sweetly silly story that kids will eat up. Recommended."

Canadian Review of Materials

"A fun romp that doesn't take itself too seriously...a fitting dessert to any storytime."

Quill & Quire

"With its intimate tone, delicious descriptive poetic narrative and reversed sense of justice, "The Candy Conspiracy" exudes undying appeal for kids and the adults who care for them."

The Midwest Book Review

"An inviting, delightful story line."

The Midwest Book Review

"A happy, satisfying book for children who enjoy eating candy and outwitting grownups."

The National Reading Campaign