Philippa Dowding
@phdowding.bsky.social
Children's author, poet, musician | Winner of the Governor General's Literary Award & The Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award | Writing & musical stuff | NEW: The Love Song of Mr. Byrd (2025/DCB) | pdowding.com
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Philippa Dowding
@phdowding.bsky.social
· Oct 25
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
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
January 20, 2026 at 4:00 PM
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
#music #wintersong #musician
Winter, by Philippa Dowding and Allister Thompson
from the album Fifth Season
thegatelessgate.bandcamp.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:18 PM
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
#music #wintersong #musician
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
@cormorantbooks.bsky.social #writing
January 13, 2026 at 4:05 PM
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
@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
December 24, 2025 at 5:19 PM
A story for your heart's desire the Christmas that you were six ... enjoy the Tin Foil Fairy❤️
"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
December 21, 2025 at 6:14 PM
"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
Reposted by Philippa Dowding
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 📚👍🏻
December 13, 2025 at 7:38 PM
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 📚👍🏻
Reposted by Philippa Dowding
Q&A with Philippa Dowding about her children's chapter book, THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD.
tinyurl.com/596uvj6w
@phdowding.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/596uvj6w
@phdowding.bsky.social
December 8, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Q&A with Philippa Dowding about her children's chapter book, THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD.
tinyurl.com/596uvj6w
@phdowding.bsky.social
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
@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
December 1, 2025 at 5:45 PM
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
@cormorantbooks.bsky.social
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
#writer #newbook #bookcookies #MrByrd #chapterbook @cormorantbooks.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 2:42 PM
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
#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
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:41 PM
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
"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
October 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
"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
October 25, 2025 at 7:24 PM
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
"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
September 29, 2025 at 3:06 PM
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
"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
@cormorantbooks.bsky.social #WOTS2025
September 23, 2025 at 2:24 PM
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
@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
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
August 14, 2025 at 2:24 PM
"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
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
Reposted by Philippa Dowding
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
August 5, 2025 at 1:46 PM
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!
Written by Canadians
Illustrated by Canadians
Edited by Canadians
Designed by Canadians
Published by Canadians
and Printed in Canada!
July 26, 2025 at 9:25 PM
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!
Written by Canadians
Illustrated by Canadians
Edited by Canadians
Designed by Canadians
Published by Canadians
and Printed in Canada!
"At twilight, the in-between time, anything can happen."
The first chapter of "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd" is now free on Bookmanager.com if you need a little love rn.
The first chapter of "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd" is now free on Bookmanager.com if you need a little love rn.
July 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
"At twilight, the in-between time, anything can happen."
The first chapter of "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd" is now free on Bookmanager.com if you need a little love rn.
The first chapter of "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd" is now free on Bookmanager.com if you need a little love rn.
Broadside
Sudden morning rises -
unsurprised by life, crisis,
whispering over the city,
in bells, in birds, in shadows
floating out the 10th floor window -
nothing returns to say goodbye -
only hello.
Swift, take me with you -
Read all of Broadside : phdowding.blogspot.com/2025/07/broa...
#poem
Sudden morning rises -
unsurprised by life, crisis,
whispering over the city,
in bells, in birds, in shadows
floating out the 10th floor window -
nothing returns to say goodbye -
only hello.
Swift, take me with you -
Read all of Broadside : phdowding.blogspot.com/2025/07/broa...
#poem
Broadside, a poem for July 6th, 2025
Broadside Sudden morning rises - unsurprised by life, crisis, whispering over the city, in bells, in birds, in shadows floating out the 10th...
phdowding.blogspot.com
July 8, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Broadside
Sudden morning rises -
unsurprised by life, crisis,
whispering over the city,
in bells, in birds, in shadows
floating out the 10th floor window -
nothing returns to say goodbye -
only hello.
Swift, take me with you -
Read all of Broadside : phdowding.blogspot.com/2025/07/broa...
#poem
Sudden morning rises -
unsurprised by life, crisis,
whispering over the city,
in bells, in birds, in shadows
floating out the 10th floor window -
nothing returns to say goodbye -
only hello.
Swift, take me with you -
Read all of Broadside : phdowding.blogspot.com/2025/07/broa...
#poem
Best question at today's online middle-school presentation: "How did the book 1984 influence your dystopia, OCULUM?" Wow. My answer: oppressive and cruel Regulus was influenced by Big Brother. And love and free thought are banned in OCULUM, as in 1984. THANK YOU, fun & such great questions! #writer
June 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Best question at today's online middle-school presentation: "How did the book 1984 influence your dystopia, OCULUM?" Wow. My answer: oppressive and cruel Regulus was influenced by Big Brother. And love and free thought are banned in OCULUM, as in 1984. THANK YOU, fun & such great questions! #writer
Reposted by Philippa Dowding
On June 11, I’ll be speaking at the monthly CANSCAIP members’ meeting @ 7 pm ET. Meetings are via Zoom, & you can contact @canscaip.bsky.social for membership options or a one-time guest invitation. I hope to see you there! #CANkidlit #kidlit #picturebooks #novels #writerscraft #fiction #nonfiction
June 3, 2025 at 3:17 PM
On June 11, I’ll be speaking at the monthly CANSCAIP members’ meeting @ 7 pm ET. Meetings are via Zoom, & you can contact @canscaip.bsky.social for membership options or a one-time guest invitation. I hope to see you there! #CANkidlit #kidlit #picturebooks #novels #writerscraft #fiction #nonfiction
Reposted by Philippa Dowding
Check out our website for a 25% discount on all our books. Stock up on your summer reading! www.cormorantbooks.com/Sales/Summer...
#BookSale #summersale #CanLit #IReadCanadian
#BookSale #summersale #CanLit #IReadCanadian
June 2, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Check out our website for a 25% discount on all our books. Stock up on your summer reading! www.cormorantbooks.com/Sales/Summer...
#BookSale #summersale #CanLit #IReadCanadian
#BookSale #summersale #CanLit #IReadCanadian
A hawk keeps swooping by my office window as I work. I can see his fluffy belly feathers, he's so close. Makes me want to visit SMJ Falconry in Yorkshire! www.smjfalconry.co.uk
Birds Of Prey Experiences & Services by SMJ Falconry
We offer you the opportunity to have personal, first-hand experiences with birds of prey and have a wide variety including hawks, falcons, kestrels, owls, kites and a few others. To enable us to provi...
www.smjfalconry.co.uk
May 27, 2025 at 4:09 PM
A hawk keeps swooping by my office window as I work. I can see his fluffy belly feathers, he's so close. Makes me want to visit SMJ Falconry in Yorkshire! www.smjfalconry.co.uk
Reposted by Philippa Dowding
🏆 The Adversary by Michael Crummey has won the 2025 Dublin Literary Award! 🏆
Nominated by Newfoundland & Labrador Public Libraries and published by Knopf Canada, this powerful novel takes the top honour in the award’s 30th year. 🎉
#DublinLitAward #DLA30yrs
Nominated by Newfoundland & Labrador Public Libraries and published by Knopf Canada, this powerful novel takes the top honour in the award’s 30th year. 🎉
#DublinLitAward #DLA30yrs
May 22, 2025 at 11:30 AM
🏆 The Adversary by Michael Crummey has won the 2025 Dublin Literary Award! 🏆
Nominated by Newfoundland & Labrador Public Libraries and published by Knopf Canada, this powerful novel takes the top honour in the award’s 30th year. 🎉
#DublinLitAward #DLA30yrs
Nominated by Newfoundland & Labrador Public Libraries and published by Knopf Canada, this powerful novel takes the top honour in the award’s 30th year. 🎉
#DublinLitAward #DLA30yrs
Reposted by Philippa Dowding
Roses are redde
Noble are the manatees
Yf we wante a bettir future
Teach artes & humanityes
Noble are the manatees
Yf we wante a bettir future
Teach artes & humanityes
May 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Roses are redde
Noble are the manatees
Yf we wante a bettir future
Teach artes & humanityes
Noble are the manatees
Yf we wante a bettir future
Teach artes & humanityes