Weird Stories Gone Wrong at the CNE 2019

Award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series
Quinn and the Quiet, Quiet comes out September/2019

Come to the CNE on August 24 or 26, 2019! Bring the kids!

I'll be the featured performer at Scadding Cabin, reading to kids from my 2016 title, Carter and the Curious Maze, which is a time-travel story set on the site.

It's book 3 of the award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series for kids ages 8-12.

Here's the York Pioneers facebook page for more information about the event: Philippa Dowding at the CNE

We'll be playing Victorian games, colouring, and I'll be doing readings from the books as people gather at the beautiful gardens. Books will be available for purchase, bookmarks are free! Hope to see you there.

When: August 24 & 26 2019
Where: CNE, Scadding Cabin grounds
Time: 2-5 pm
Event is FREE with admission

A child's visit to Fort Rouille during the CNE...

Tree pose with the York Pioneers (not easy in a skirt);
photo courtesy InsideToronto.com

Yoga, monarch tagging, and a child's visit to Fort Rouille! Come to Scadding Cabin during the CNE, and go back to a simpler time in Toronto. 

Join me on August 21 and 28th, 1-3 p.m., I'll be reading from my time-travel/historical fantasy children's novel, Carter and the Curious Maze, which is set in 3 different time periods on the CNE grounds: 1903, 1813 and the Grand Magazine Explosion, and 1750 trading day at Fort Rouille.

Fort Rouille, Toronto @1750

Here's an InsideToronto.com article about Scadding Cabin events during the CNE (yes, that's me in the hat, trying to do tree pose in a long skirt, or laughing like a maniac in the third picture):
Scadding Cabin During the CNE

Thanks to the York Pioneer and Historical Society for inviting me to read to kids during the CNE!

Join me for a reading at Fort Rouille during the CNE!

My book, Carter and the Curious Maze, has been out for a year now. Somehow! It's a time-travel/historical fantasy for kids 8-12, set on the CNE grounds in Toronto, and is book 3 in the award-winning Weird Stories Gone Wrong series.

Last summer I read from the book on the CNE stage, and at Fort York. Now, in the last leg of a reading triumvirate, I'm reading at Fort Rouille, twice during the CNE 2017. Many thanks to the wonderful York Pioneer and Historical Society for the time slot, and the encouragement!

Fort Rouille was the first European settlement in the Toronto area, 1750-1759, a French trading post set strategically near the Humber River, to combat the English fur trade in the area. The original site still sits at the foot of Dufferin Street and Lakeshore Road, on the current CNE grounds.

Part of Carter's time-travel story is set there. It's a fascinating, little-known part of Toronto history that kids won't learn about in school.

Come join me at Scadding Cabin, for a little history and fun on Family Mondays (kids get in with adults for $2):

August 21, 1-3 p.m.: Fort Rouille with Philippa Dowding
August 28, 1-3 p.m.: Fort Rouille with Philippa Dowding

Carter and the Curious Maze Book Trailer
All posts about Carter and the Curious Maze on this Blog

Time Travel in Toronto...

Did you know Fort Rouillé was a tiny French trading fort which stood at the foot of what is now Dufferin street in Toronto, from 1750-1759? 

The French inhabitants (12 people for most of the year), and local First Nations, traded furs for hatchets, blankets and silver. Fort Rouillé was the first permanent European settlement in Toronto and a monument still stands, beside Scadding Cabin on the CNE grounds.  

 Learn about Fort Rouillé at the CNE this summer, on Kid's Toonie Monday! Travel back in time, learn about Toronto's history, and enjoy a reading from my children's book in a chapter about the fort, Carter and the Curious Maze...

... Carter enters a curious maze at the fair, only to discover that he has travelled back in time! He visits three time periods, 1903, 1813 and 1750, all on the same spot on the CNE grounds!

Hosted by the York Pioneer and Historical Society, the event will include historical children's games, a scavenger hunt, prizes, a reading, book signing and more. Come join us for Time Travel in Toronto:

Event: A visit to Fort Rouille with Philippa Dowding

When: Monday, August 21 & Monday, August 28

Time: 1-3 pm 

Where: CNE Grounds, Scadding Cabin

Cost: $2 CNE admission for kids 13 and under

More About Carter and the Curious Maze, book 3 in the award-winning middle-grade series, Weird Stories Gone Wrong:

Book Trailer, Carter and the Curious Maze
Blog Posts, Carter and the Curious Maze
CM Magazine Review (4/4 stars)
Goodreads Reviews

NEW BOOK COMING MARCH 2018!
The Weird Stories Gone Wrong series, for kids 8-12, has a new little brother coming in 2018: Alex and The Other.

Carter excerpt just in time for Canada150!

Toronto is a pretty interesting place, at least I've always thought so... 

Recently, I joined the York Pioneer and Historical Society, which as the name implies, explores Toronto's history. They recently published their annual journal, The York Pioneer (along with a book about founding father, William Howland), and very nicely excerpted part of my time-travel slash historical-fiction novel for kids. I'm really chuffed to see part of my middle-grade story, Carter and the Curious Maze, in their venerable pages, thank you! And just in time for the celebration of Canada's 150th year of Confederation.

The section they excerpted (with permission), recounts a brief visit by two modern day boys (via a creepy maze), to the first European settlement on Toronto soil, at Fort Rouille, at the foot of Dufferin and Lakeshore roads, on the current CNE grounds. There's a memorial to the Fort, beside Scadding Cabin.

It was a pleasure to research this little-known French trading Fort, and to imagine visiting it in 1750, as a lost and frightened time-travelling boy from present day. The local First Nations hunters traded with the French at this spot.

It's an interesting look at Toronto's history, for kids 8-12. Here's a 4-star review (their highest) from CM Magazine.

There isn't much research material available in English (or much in French either) about the Fort, so I made the best use of materials at hand, with many thanks to Fort York and the CNE archives! And of course, thanks to the York Pioneers!

Here's how to purchase Carter and the Curious Maze.

Here's the Book Trailer.

Read more about  Carter and the Curious Maze on this blog.