Blue Met comes to Westmount

The events at the Westmount Library will take place on three different days: On May 1, Day’s Lee will give a multimedia presentation of her book 'The Fragrant Garden'; on May 2, Shane Peacock will read from his new book 'Death in the Air', which stars a 13-year-old Sherlock Holmes; and on May 3, André Alexis will read from 'Ingrid and the Wolf'.

All three events are open to the public free of charge, and will take place in the Westmount Room at 10:30 a.m.

The readings are all a part of the Blue Metropolis Children’s Festival, celebrating children’s literature, itself a part of the 10th annual Blue Metropolis Montreal International Literary Festival.

“They’ve offered children’s authors before, but this is their first attempt at doing a whole children’s festival as part of it, which I think is wonderful,” said Wendy Wayling of the Westmount Library’s Children’s Department. “I think it’s a great opportunity for people to come visit authors they might not normally get to see.”

Day’s Lee has written short stories for children and for adults; a mystery story, 'The Red Pagoda', was nominated for the Arthur Ellis award for Best Short Story for 2006. Her picture book 'The Fragrant Garden' is about a little girl who works at a Chinese restaurant. “She’s going to read her book, but with the images projected on a screen,” said Wayling. “Then the children will be asked to do their own menus.”

Aubin at Atwater Library

At the same time as that event takes place, Henry Aubin will be reading from his book 'Rise of the Golden Cobra' at the Atwater Library. Aubin’s first novel is an adventure story set in Egypt in the 8th century BCE. The two readings are aimed at different age groups: Lee’s reading is recommended for children 7 and up, and Aubin’s for ages 11 and up.

Shane Peacock has written fiction and non-fiction for all ages. His first book about a teenaged Sherlock Holmes, 'Eye of the Crow', was shortlisted for numerous literary awards. 'Death in the Air' is the second book about the master detective’s youth. Wayling said that the story works by presenting the famous character in a new way: “You can see that he’s Sherlock Holmes, and he’s thinking about crimes and clues, but he’s still a teenager and has to go home to his parents.” Peacock will also be reading at 10:30 a.m. on May 3 at Babar Books on Greene Avenue, and at 1 p.m. at the Delta Hotel downtown.

André Alexis has written several books for adults, with his first book, 1997's 'Childhood', winning the Books in Canada First Novel Award and co-winning the Trillium Prize. 'Ingrid and the Wolf' is his first children’s book.

“I’m doing it for my children’s book club,” said Wayling. “I guess you could describe it as a modern-day fairy tale, where a young girl discovers she has a connection to a wolf who lives in Hungary.” Alexis will also be reading from his adult fiction at 3 p.m. at the Delta hotel.

Wayling said that dealing with the organizers of the Blue Metropolis has been easy, describing them as “very responsive.” Said Wayling, “They asked us if we would be interested in hosting an author. And we said ‘yes,’ because Ann (Moffat) and I had been to Blue Met events before, and they had always been well done ... I think it’s a good idea to have it in a local library, where the community can participate. I hope it goes well this year and continues next year, so we can participate again. I think you have to let it grow a bit, and get people used to it.”