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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Very honoured that THE WAR LANTERN has been chosen by The Children's Book Council (NYC) as a HOT OFF THE PRESS Anticipated Bestseller for October 2026! Thank you! More here: cbcbooks.org/cbc_book/the...

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Word on the Street Toronto is happening soon! I'm delighted to be signing THE WAR LANTERN, our first outing together. If you're at WOTS on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 12:30, please come say hello at the Cormorant Booth (#6).

Word on the Street Toronto signing information for Philippa Dowding, author of The War Lantern: Sunday, Sept 27th, 12:30 pm, Cormorant Books, Booth #6.

Cover of the new middle grade historical fiction, THE WAR LANTERN, by author Philippa Dowding. Title, name, and image of a ragged WWII Heinkel 111 bomber flying above the clouds.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD is a Telling Tales Festival Reading Selection for 2026! Thank you! This curated list of great Canadian children's literature is a resource for parents, guardians, and educators. More about Telling Tales and Mr. Byrd here: phdowding.blogspot.com @cormorantbooks.bsky.social

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Introducing THE WAR LANTERN, coming from DCB Young Readers, October 2026. This middle-grade historical fiction follows the lives of three children one day in 1941, when bombs fall, families vanish, and the war lantern burns. More: phdowding.blogspot.com @cormorantbooks.bsky.social

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD is a Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Book Spring 2026! Thanks to my publisher DCB and the CCBC and congrats to all! @cormorantbooks.bsky.social @kidsbookcentre.bsky.social

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

A little cherry blossom action at High Park in Toronto today. Happy May Day!

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Thank you to the SYRCA WILLOW AWARDS! "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd" is a Shining Willow 2026 nominee, congrats to all! willowawards.ca/ @cormorantbooks.bsky.social

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

The robins in the park yesterday reminded me it's spring! To celebrate, here's Bat and Byrd's origin story: One summer night, a bat and bird flew over my head then chirped & swooped & flew into a tree together. I couldn't stop thinking about them, and so a story was born! phdowding.blogspot.com/

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Celebrate friendship with THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD! An early reader chapter book about what it means to love your friend, right to the very end. For ages 6 to 9 (and 99), a gentle read-aloud for everyone. MORE: phdowding.blogspot.com @cormorantbooks.bsky.social

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

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

Photo of author Philippa Dowding and the cover of her book, The Love Song of Mr. Byrd (DCB Young Readers, October 2025). An invitation to meet her in person at the OLA Super Conference in Toronto on January 29, 2026.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

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

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

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

"The Love Song of Mr. Byrd", a new chapter book by Philippa Dowding. The image shows the book cover with bird and bat on a tree limb looking at each other. One shortbread "book cookie" with the cover imprinted on it in icing is placed on either side.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

"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

Illustration Copyright Caroline Clarke, from THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD, by Philippa Dowding (DCB 2025). Mr. Byrd stands dejected on the tree branch, while his friend Bat peeks at him from behind a leafy branch above his head.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

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

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

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

The cover of THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD, by Philippa Dowding. Art by Caroline Clarke. An inquisitive bird looks at a smiling bat on a tree branch.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

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

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

"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

IMAGE: The back cover of THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD, by Philippa Dowding, coming from DCB Young Readers, October 2025. A yellow cover with black type, an illustration of a sweet fallen feather by artist Caroline Clarke, the copy begins with the following words:

'A new friend is a scary thing, sometimes. You may have to change and adapt a little to make your friendship work.'
So says Bat to her new friend Mr. Byrd on one perfect summer twilight..." Further copy provided.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

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!

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 13/07/2025

"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.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

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

The cover of OCULUM (2018, DCB Young Readers), by Philippa Dowding. A middle-grade dystopia with themes of climate change, inequity, dystopia, and life in a post-apocalyptic world.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Spot the Spotted Owl. A little more wrought-iron whimsy from Toronto Island last week! #writingretreat #writer #torontoisland

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Today in Whimsy: sweet wrought-iron bird art from Toronto Island! Who gets the worm? #ironart #chickadee #Toronto

A mother bird feeds her three chicks. Wrought-iron bird art on a post, from Toronto Island, May, 2025.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Time out of the city for writing and a perfect window seat. Happy Saturday! #writer #writingcommunity

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Introducing "The Love Song of Mr. Byrd" coming Oct/2025 from DCB! A red maple tree branch, a summer twilight, an unlikely friendship, and the sweetest song of all. Press release, media copies, interview/review req & more on the blog: phdowding.blogspot.com #writer #kidlit @cormorantbooks.bsky.social

The cover of The Love Song of Mr. Byrd, by Philippa Dowding, forthcoming from DCB Young Readers, Oct. 25, 2025. Illustrations by Caroline Clarke.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Hurray for Henry's Apple! To celebrate the 16th birthday of my first book, The Gargoyle in My Yard, here's one of the best reasons to write books for young people: when a non-reader becomes a reader ... phdowding.blogspot.com/2012/11/henr... #writer #books #childrensbooks #gargoyles

The bright red cover of The Gargoyle in my Yard, by Philippa Dowding, published in 2009. The book is still in print.

An illustration of an apple core, to represent the apple cores from the story, The Gargoyle in My Yard (2009). Presented to Philippa Dowding, the author, by a young reader who loved the story.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Actual AI would remind us that ... we put about 2000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every day with our Web searches ... and every query to "AI" burns about ten times as much as every Web search. (p. 177) Can someone (without querying AI) please stop us. 😬😬😱 @timothysnyder.bsky.social

The cover of Timothy Snyder's book, ON FREEDOM.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

I've always suspected that #picturebooks are the toughest write of all. Now confirmed. It's more about what you don't write than what you do. Here's my daily stack from Toronto Public Library. #writer

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Thanks to The Writer's Union of Canada and their Ontario Writer's in the Schools grant today! WITS supports author's in-school visits with students, and it's a wonderful way to keep us all connected. We'll be talking about FIREFLY, see you soon! #writers #writersinschools

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Writer friends: have you re-read an older book of yours lately? I just read The Gargoyle in My Yard (2009) for an upcoming school visit. It felt like putting on an old coat and finding a photo of friends, a $2 bill, and a restaurant receipt in the pockets, all familiar yet possibly someone else's.

The cover of The Gargoyle in My Yard (2009), by award-winning Canadian children's author, Philippa Dowding

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

A break from the city in Algonquin Park this week, cold, beautiful, and quiet.

Two carved owls in an old tree stump, Blue Spruce Resort, Algonquin Park

Author and son skiing and snowshoeing on the lake, Blue Spruce Resort, Algonquin Park

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Dig out the car, or stay in with a book? Such a great weekend to be an introvert.

Snowstorm, Volvo, and Barbara Kingsolver's book: which do you choose?

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

"The soldier's fort is real & there was a battle between U.S. & British soldiers on April 27, 1813. The battle ended when the British blew up the Grand Magazine which resulted in the largest man-made explosion the world had experienced." My author's note from Carter & the Curious Maze (2016). Geez.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

I took up cello at 60! It's been a delight. Highlight: adding cello voice to a guitar ensemble recently.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Went with friends to see Canadian Stage production of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" yesterday. We knew what was coming, yet still left eviscerated. On the way home the discussion was: is the play still relevant 60+ years later? Thoughts?

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

View from my office window this morning: a wintry #Toronto back alley, dark snow clouds rolling over Lake Ontario. July is out there somewhere, too.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Spent today looking at sweet illustrations for my next book, a modern fable. I nearly wept, the illustrator did some lovely work. It's been a loooong wait for beauty, friends. More on my new title as soon as we have a cover! Here's my last book cover, OCULUM ECHO, from 2022...

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Q & A with Grade 7 students on Friday, my first for 2025! We're discussing FIREFLY (2021), my middle-grade book about homelessness, poverty, mental health, and hiding in plain sight in a big city. What's changed in 4 years? #writer #writingcomunity #kidsbooks

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

The first piece of mail in the house after a 4-week postal strike? My friend's FIRST published poetry collection! Watched some of these poems come to life in a writer's group long ago. Way to go, Nate!

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Astonished by this beautiful "frost line" on #TorontoIsland boardwalk this morning (left side is frost, right side has melted), so this #poem: Where the frost line forms, the very definition of demarcation, Hearth-line or sun-touch, fragility itself, we can only melt, or change, or love, or stay.

The frost line, demarcated by the sun, on the Toronto Island boardwalk this morning. Left is frost, right the frost has been melted by the sun.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

What am I reading for the first time? War & Peace, my friends. I'm settling in for a long, drizzly November of the soul.

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Philippa Dowding @phdowding.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

WIP on WWII now finished and with the publisher. It's been 18+ months of researching and writing a middle grade book about war, war, war. Sadly, the material is as relevant as it was 80 years ago. Blog post on writing war stories for kids: phdowding.blogspot.com/2024/11/work... #writing #kidsbooks

Bomber Command War Memorial, Hyde Park Corner, London

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