The War Lantern by Philippa Dowding Starred Review — School Library Journal @phdowding.bsky.social @mandagroup.bsky.social #IReadCanadian #middlegradereads #middlegradebooks #schoollibraryjournal

The Love Song of Mr. Byrd by Philippa Dowding. *Nominated — SYRCA Shining Willow Award, 2026 *A Canadian Children’s Book Centre “Best Books for Kids and Teen” selection *Telling Tales Reading Selection 2026 #IReadCanadian #EarlyReader

SAVE THE DATE Tuesday Nov 3 Middle Grade Historical Fiction - @phdowding.bsky.social and @parentclub.bsky.social @cormorantbooks.bsky.social 6:30-8:30pm Mabel's Fables Children's Bookstore - Toronto We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. #BringingTheArtsToLife #kidlit

"Told through alternating narrators, this fascinating World War II novel will hook readers until the very end." — School Library Journal (starred review) @mandagroup.bsky.social @phdowding.bsky.social @slj.com #schoollibraryjournal #bookreview #IReadCanadian

THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD is a Telling Tales Festival Reading Selection for 2026! Thank you! This curated list of great Canadian children's literature is a resource for parents, guardians, and educators. More about Telling Tales and Mr. Byrd here: phdowding.blogspot.com @cormorantbooks.bsky.social

Introducing THE WAR LANTERN, coming from DCB Young Readers, October 2026. This middle-grade historical fiction follows the lives of three children one day in 1941, when bombs fall, families vanish, and the war lantern burns. More: phdowding.blogspot.com @cormorantbooks.bsky.social

THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD is a Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Book Spring 2026! Thanks to my publisher DCB and the CCBC and congrats to all! @cormorantbooks.bsky.social @kidsbookcentre.bsky.social

A little cherry blossom action at High Park in Toronto today. Happy May Day!

Congratulations to our Willow Award nominees! THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD by Philippa Dowding, RED FLAGS AND BUTTERFLIES by Sheryl Azzam, and WE BURY NOTHING by Kate Blair. @mandagroup.bsky.social #IReadCanadian #kidlit @phdowding.bsky.social @kateblair.bsky.social @willowawards.bsky.social

Thank you to the SYRCA WILLOW AWARDS! "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd" is a Shining Willow 2026 nominee, congrats to all! willowawards.ca/ @cormorantbooks.bsky.social

The robins in the park yesterday reminded me it's spring! To celebrate, here's Bat and Byrd's origin story: One summer night, a bat and bird flew over my head then chirped & swooped & flew into a tree together. I couldn't stop thinking about them, and so a story was born! phdowding.blogspot.com/

Celebrate friendship with THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD! An early reader chapter book about what it means to love your friend, right to the very end. For ages 6 to 9 (and 99), a gentle read-aloud for everyone. MORE: phdowding.blogspot.com @cormorantbooks.bsky.social

The Ontario Library Association Super Conference is next week in Toronto! I'm delighted to be signing my new book, THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD on Thursday, Jan. 29, 1:20 p.m. Find me in the OBPO Pavilion, please drop by and say hi. #olasc #writer #newbook @cormorantbooks.bsky.social

Winter! Today is all about skiing through the woods to the cottage and a roaring fire. If you're in southern Ontario today, my guitar instrumental with Allister Thompson is for you! @allistert.bsky.social #music #wintersong #musician

Winter, by Philippa Dowding and Allister Thompson

from the album Fifth Season

thegatelessgate.bandcamp.com

Enjoy a little sweetness from Grade 4 students. Thank you to them for writing to me about THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD! @cormorantbooks.bsky.social #writing

A story for your heart's desire the Christmas that you were six ... enjoy the Tin Foil Fairy❤️

The Tin Foil Fairy

I was six the Christmas that the tin foil fairy appeared in my life.  Other people will tell you that she wasn’t real, they’ll insist th...

phdowding.blogspot.com

"It is an emotional rollercoaster ... our class loves it." And more very sweet letters from grade 4 students. Enjoy a little love from the next generation of readers! @cormorantbooks.bsky.social #writers #kidsbooks

An emotional rollercoaster, sweet student letters for Mr. Byrd!

One of the sweetest moments for any writer is when we receive letters from a classroom of students who have just read our book! I'm always...

phdowding.blogspot.com

The Love Song of Mr. Byrd by @phdowding.bsky.social with illustrations by Caroline Clarke is a balm for the soul. A reassuring story of friendship: poignant, lyrical, wise in an empthetic perspective for young readers. I loved this book. Much needed in our current world. #kidlit #canadiankidlit 📚👍🏻

Q&A with Philippa Dowding about her children's chapter book, THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD. tinyurl.com/596uvj6w @phdowding.bsky.social

What is The Love Song of Mr. Byrd about? What made you write it? Are there books that inspired you? Who would enjoy this story? Q & A about Mr. Byrd on the blog today! @cormorantbooks.bsky.social

5 Questions and Answers about The Love Song of Mr. Byrd

Whenever I have a new book published, I post 5 questions and answers here that I think my audience might find interesting (or questions I wi...

phdowding.blogspot.com

What pairs well with a new book? Shortbread book cookies (bookies?)! "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd" cookies are almost too cute to eat ... (but they're delicious!) #writer #newbook #bookcookies #MrByrd #chapterbook @cormorantbooks.bsky.social

Meet Bat and Mr. Byrd, one with fur and one with feathers, who celebrate joy, loss, and love over one sweet summer. Enjoy the Book Trailer for THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD, with illustrations by Caroline Clarke @cormorantbooks.bsky.social #writer #booksforkids #Canadianbooks #ireadcanadian #chapterbook

The Love Song of Mr. Byrd Book Trailer

YouTube video by Philippa Dowding

youtube.com

"I wonder. I wonder if she’ll be back?" A wobbly start to a new friendship captured beautifully by illustrator Caroline Clarke. Is Bat his friend? Mr. Byrd just isn't sure ... how DO you make friends, anyway? THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD: phdowding.blogspot.com/2025/10/mr-b... #writers #booksforkids

It's publication day for THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD! Welcome, welcome new book, I hope you bring the world a little more love. Sing your song! @cormorantbooks.bsky.social #writers #writingforkids #newbook

My author copies of "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd"! "This story is about friendship and love and is for everyone who has ever been moved to sing (or dance, or paint, or write, or celebrate) like Mr. Byrd. I hope he inspires you to hear your own song, & sing it, too." More on the blog! #cormorantbooks

Delighted to be signing THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD at Word on the Street, Toronto, this weekend. I'll be at the Cormorant/DCB booth, B11, this Saturday, September 27, at 2:45. Drop by and say hello! @cormorantbooks.bsky.social #WOTS2025

"A new friend is a scary thing, sometimes." Here's the lovely back cover of "THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD," (Oct/2025), from DCB Young Readers. The sweet feather is one of 10 beautiful illustrations by Newfoundland artist Caroline Clarke. Booklovers, you can pre-order now! @cormorantbooks.bsky.social

Maupassant's "The Necklace" - a portrait of #fakes: "She dressed plainly because she could not dress well, but she was unhappy as if she had really fallen from a higher station." #maupassant #botd #booksky

Honored to publish "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd" (Oct/25), with @cormorantbooks.bsky.social. An independent publisher, all their books are entirely made in Canada! Written by Canadians Illustrated by Canadians Edited by Canadians Designed by Canadians Published by Canadians and Printed in Canada!