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 (Oct/2025/DCB) | phdowding.blogspot.ca
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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
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
Here's a piece of music to celebrate the sustaining life of women in your life, whether mother, sister, daughter, friend. Enjoy Rivkah's Dance, with Allister T. @allistert.bsky.social
A piece of music to celebrate the sustaining life of women ...
Here's a photo of a cherry tree in my neighbourhood last year, in full bloom, scenting the air, filling our senses with wonder and delight...
phdowding.blogspot.com
May 9, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Here's a piece of music to celebrate the sustaining life of women in your life, whether mother, sister, daughter, friend. Enjoy Rivkah's Dance, with Allister T. @allistert.bsky.social
“A new friend is a scary thing, sometimes. You may have to change and adapt a little to make your friendship work.”
Bat is wise in the way of friends. "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd" is coming soon, request a digital copy for review on the blog. @cormorantbooks.bsky.social #writer #writingcommunity
Bat is wise in the way of friends. "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd" is coming soon, request a digital copy for review on the blog. @cormorantbooks.bsky.social #writer #writingcommunity
Introducing The Love Song of Mr. Byrd
Introducing The Love Song of Mr. Byrd , coming October 2025 from DCB Young Readers ! I'm truly delighted with this story, my latest and ...
phdowding.blogspot.com
May 7, 2025 at 1:58 PM
“A new friend is a scary thing, sometimes. You may have to change and adapt a little to make your friendship work.”
Bat is wise in the way of friends. "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd" is coming soon, request a digital copy for review on the blog. @cormorantbooks.bsky.social #writer #writingcommunity
Bat is wise in the way of friends. "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd" is coming soon, request a digital copy for review on the blog. @cormorantbooks.bsky.social #writer #writingcommunity
Spot the Spotted Owl. A little more wrought-iron whimsy from Toronto Island last week! #writingretreat #writer #torontoisland
May 3, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Spot the Spotted Owl. A little more wrought-iron whimsy from Toronto Island last week! #writingretreat #writer #torontoisland
Today in Whimsy: sweet wrought-iron bird art from Toronto Island! Who gets the worm? #ironart #chickadee #Toronto
May 1, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Today in Whimsy: sweet wrought-iron bird art from Toronto Island! Who gets the worm? #ironart #chickadee #Toronto
Voted! One PAPER ballot, folded, put in the (overflowing) ballot box. Not an electronic scanner in sight. The three poll workers each had different coloured PENS, so no mix-ups. Seriously old school, and I've never been prouder to be Canadian! VOTE everyone!
April 28, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Voted! One PAPER ballot, folded, put in the (overflowing) ballot box. Not an electronic scanner in sight. The three poll workers each had different coloured PENS, so no mix-ups. Seriously old school, and I've never been prouder to be Canadian! VOTE everyone!
Time out of the city for writing and a perfect window seat. Happy Saturday! #writer #writingcommunity
April 26, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Time out of the city for writing and a perfect window seat. Happy Saturday! #writer #writingcommunity
My sestina for poetry month, RESTORE:
Let us shine in the tide and ramble,
on the current, side by side, we begin.
Hold each fragment of us and restore
our shingled voices on the beach.
We murmur in susurration,
embrace our tides of imperfection.
Full Poem: phdowding.blogspot.com/2023/12/phil...
Let us shine in the tide and ramble,
on the current, side by side, we begin.
Hold each fragment of us and restore
our shingled voices on the beach.
We murmur in susurration,
embrace our tides of imperfection.
Full Poem: phdowding.blogspot.com/2023/12/phil...
April 25, 2025 at 3:11 PM
My sestina for poetry month, RESTORE:
Let us shine in the tide and ramble,
on the current, side by side, we begin.
Hold each fragment of us and restore
our shingled voices on the beach.
We murmur in susurration,
embrace our tides of imperfection.
Full Poem: phdowding.blogspot.com/2023/12/phil...
Let us shine in the tide and ramble,
on the current, side by side, we begin.
Hold each fragment of us and restore
our shingled voices on the beach.
We murmur in susurration,
embrace our tides of imperfection.
Full Poem: phdowding.blogspot.com/2023/12/phil...
Reposted by Philippa Dowding
May be a bit before it's truly green, but @friedawishinsky.bsky.social's message in her upcoming #MG #NF book KEEP OUR WORLD GREEN: WHY HUMANS NEED GARDENS, PARKS AND PUBLIC GREEN SPACES from @orcabook.bsky.social is important all year round. canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2025/04/keep...
Keep Our World Green: Why Humans Need Gardens, Parks and Public Green Spaces
Promoting children's and YA books by Canadian authors and illustrators
canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com
April 21, 2025 at 5:45 PM
May be a bit before it's truly green, but @friedawishinsky.bsky.social's message in her upcoming #MG #NF book KEEP OUR WORLD GREEN: WHY HUMANS NEED GARDENS, PARKS AND PUBLIC GREEN SPACES from @orcabook.bsky.social is important all year round. canlitforlittlecanadians.blogspot.com/2025/04/keep...
One year ago today I met the Governor General of Canada. What a great day and honour that was, that year went fast! @cormorantbooks.bsky.social #writer #firefly
Our amazing Governor General and Firefly
Author with the Right Honourable Mary Simon On April 18, 2024, I was honoured (so incredibly honoured), to meet the Governor General of Ca...
phdowding.blogspot.com
April 18, 2025 at 7:26 PM
One year ago today I met the Governor General of Canada. What a great day and honour that was, that year went fast! @cormorantbooks.bsky.social #writer #firefly