READ THIS: A Flock of Shoes by Sarah Tsiang ; art by Qin Leng Our Coverage Sponsored by Paul Mayer Attitudes
Paul Mayer's luxuriously, comfortable designs keep women coming back for multiple -- even dozens -- of pairs. Classic, yet contemporary and always comfortable, his shoes are an addiction that we highly recommend. A staple of the Paul Mayer collection is the simple ballet-flat, with true ballerina construction for a perfect fit that comes in a variety of colors and materials. A cult favorite is the cozy, a flat with lavender-scent infused soles adding style and fragrance to collector's closets as Paul's designs emerge in sophisticated design incarnations season after season in the most incredible hues, textures and modern innovations in luxury footwear because we know firsthand how incredibly brilliant he is. Mayer founded the brand in 2004 with partner, Jeff Levy. All shoes in the line are manufactured in Spain’s Valencia region, along the Mediterranean coast by a skilled staff of 12 artisans. They craft each pair of shoes with an old-world attention to detail that includes in-house embroidery, quilting and stitching as well as custom tanned leather. This allows the brand to cater to each retailer’s specific demands in with timely and consistent alacrity, with orders completed in an unheard-of 3 to 5 weeks. When not in New York, Paul can be found traveling to his myriad of stores across the country meeting his loyal clientele or vacationing in his favorite spot, the Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki Beach.
Paul Mayer is a Mover and Shaker:
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A love of shoes can happen at quite a young age, as many grown women can attest to! Whom You Know is delighted to begin our coverage of Annick Press with A Flock of Shoes, a short but sweet tale of a little girl's fascination with both her boots and her sandals and her overall understanding of how the seasons and fashions change during the year. As this publisher is in Canada, we know they experience even more extreme winters than we do here, and we love to celebrate Canada most now as it is the most wonderful time of the year, the Stanley Cup Playoffs!
Abby has sandals that are pink and green, so we know she is even channeling her inner Lilly. This book is simple and well-written, and it shows how much fun shoes can be. Everyday life with shoes is chronicled and beyond that, they take on a life of their own here, as the sandals can fly. So, Abby sends them a postcard, and the sandals write back. You don't have to be ages 2-5 to appreciate the relationship one can have with their sandals and boots, but if you know anyone in this age group that would, this makes a great gift! And, we won't tell if you are over 5 and enjoy it as well.
A Flock of Shoes is Recommended by Whom You Know!
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Where do Abby's sandals go in the winter time?
Abby loves her pink and brown sandals with the lime green trim, and she wears them wherever she goes. But as summer draws to a close, Abby's mom announces that it's time for the sandals to go. Abby is determined to keep them on -- until one day, while swinging at the park, her sandals flip off and fly away.
All winter long, Abby wonders what her sandals are up to. Postcards of sandy white beaches and glorious sunsets reassure her that they are having a wonderful time in far away places.
Come February, Abby realizes that she has also grown to love her cozy, comfy boots. As the warm weather comes, she watches sadly as they march off, but a swish in the sky announces the return of her pink and brown sandals -- all ready for another summer of fun.
Full of whimsy, this circular tale is enhanced by rich, evocative language and delicate illustrations that are sure to delight any young child.
Annick Press is recognized as one of the most innovative and cutting-edge publishers of fiction and nonfiction for children and young adults. With editorial offices in Toronto and Vancouver, Annick publishes over 20 titles per annum, which are distributed in North America by Firefly Books and licensed internationally. Annick also publishes e-book editions of select titles, which are available through Kobo, Sony, Barnes & Noble, Blio, Follett, and OverDrive. Watch our website for more information on e-book developments.
Founded in 1975 by Rick Wilks and Anne Millyard, Annick’s reputation was built on a commitment to literature for youth that remains our guiding philosophy to this day. Annick publications are dynamic and written to the highest literary standards. We encourage critical thinking and the development of a child’s inner resources so that, in addition to becoming confident, contributing members of their community, they are also engaged with society at large and their peers around the globe. Most of all, we are passionate about ensuring that our books be pleasurable, self-affirming, informative, and entertaining.
Annick publishes books for toddlers through to young adults. We’re widely recognized for picture books by such popular authors as Robert Munsch, whose book The Paperbag Princess has sold millions of copies around the world and continues to be a bestseller in 15 languages. Select Munsch titles are also available as board books (Mortimer) and as plays (Munsch at Play, Munsch at Play Act 2). Other popular picture book authors include Ruth Ohi (author and illustrator of the popular Chicken, Pig, Cow series), Kathy Stinson (Red Is Best, A Pocket Can Have a Treasure in It), and Hazel Hutchins (Mattland, Up Cat, Up Dog).
In recent years, Annick has become known for our award-winning middle grade non-fiction. Annick titles put an intriguing spin on topics from ancient history (Adventures on the Ancient Silk Road, Royal Murder) to modern science (The Great Motion Mission), and from animal behavior (Animal Snoops) to the compelling stories of people from around the world (Fatty Legs).
Annick’s non-fiction offerings include a number of successful series:
• The 50 Questions series takes a humorous look at scientific and historical topics such as fire (50 Burning Questions), poison (50 Poisonous Questions), underwear (50 Underwear Questions), and the environment (50 Climate Questions).
•The Jobs in History series invites kids to picture themselves in ancient civilizations from around the world, from Egyptian times (Pharaohs and Foot Soldiers) to ancient China (Warriors and Wailers).
•The We Thought of It series celebrates a variety of cultures, showcasing their amazing inventions and innovations, many of which are still in use today—such as sunscreen (A Native American Thought of It) and coffee (Latin Americans Thought of It).
Annick has a deep commitment to books for young adults, and we are proud to have published award-winning titles that speak to the issues young people deal with every day: drugs (In Ecstasy), bullying, relationships and sexuality (Leslie’s Journal; Dear Diary, I’m Pregnant), advertising and mass media (Made You Look), and depression (My Kind of Sad). Annick’s young adult fiction ranges from historical adventures (A Sword in Her Hand, The Hangman in the Mirror) and fantasy (Dennis Foon’s Longlight Legacy) to contemporary novels dealing with topics such as gambling (Double or Nothing), Stockholm syndrome (Held), and HIV (Chanda’s Secrets). Annick stories are frequently set outside of North America to offer readers a wider perspective on their world (Thunder Over Kandahar; Cry of the Giraffe).
Annick books have won prestigious awards and honors around the world, including the Michael L. Printz Honor Award for Allan Stratton’s Chanda’s Secrets, which was also adapted for the movie Life, Above All. Annick authors have also won the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-fiction for The Bite of the Mango in 2009 and Adventures on the Ancient Silk Road in 2010.
Annick is extremely active in the area of foreign rights. To date, we have licensed editions in over 15 languages and 40 countries. Annick also licenses adaptations for film, TV, stage, audiobooks, and e-books.
