Books by Sheree Fitch

From one of Canada's most loved and lauded children's writers comes a new tale about the joy of making things, the strength of community, and the warm reach of generosity. This beautifully illustrated storybook blends poetry and prose, infused with Fitch's trademark wit and playfulness, to tell the story of Polly MacCauley, a bit of a mystery in her community of River John, who spends her time making wondrous things with wool. When Star, a very special lamb, is born on a nearby farm, Polly knows that with Star's wool she can make her "finest, divinest, wooliest gift of all." But the greedy Count and Countess of far-off Wooland have learned about the lamb's arrival, too, and are determined to add her to their flock. Will the good folk of River John join together to see that Star gets to her rightful home? Will Polly be able to finish her masterpiece? Darka Erdelji's gorgeous illustrations have just the right amount of whimsy, perfectly capturing the spirit of Fitch's touching yarn. Divided into nine short sections, this is a grand book to share aloud, or read alone. It will appeal to children of all ages. And to knitters, weavers, spinners and the warm-hearted everywhere.

With all the wisdom, humor and joy we've come to expect from Sheree Fitch, Kiss the Joy As It Flies, first published in 2008, marked the well-loved author's move from children's literature to adult fiction.Set in the fictional Maritime town of Odell, with a cast of exasperating but lovable characters, Kiss the Joy As It Flies promises to be a remarkable debut and a reader's favorite. Panic-stricken by the news that she needs exploratory surgery, forty-eight-year-old Mercy Beth Fanjoy drafts a monumental to-do list and sets about putting her messy life in order. Among other things (hide the vibrator!), she's determined to finally uncover the identity of her secret admirer; reconnect with long-lost friend and rival Teeny Gaudet; and, most importantly, get her hands on the note her father left before committing suicide all those years ago. But tidying up the edges of her life means the past comes rushing back to haunt her and the present keeps throwing up more to-do's. Between fits of weeping and laughter, ranting and bliss, Mercy must contemplate the meaning of life in the face of her own death. In a week filled with the riot of an entire life, nothing turns out the way she'd expected.

Sheree Fitch's poetry explores the realities of women's lives and the many kinds of shelter women give each other and create for themselves. At all stages of life and love, the women Fitch creates gain strength by sharing their anguish and their joy. As passionate about resilience as she is about suffering, Sheree Fitch carries her famous sense of humour even into life's dark corners. Who else but the creator of Mable Murple could conjure up Diana, the domestic acrobat who transforms her home into a circus, or Eve, the mother of us all, offering child-rearing tips? Women exploring the many meanings of their lives quickly adopted the first edition of In This House Are Many Women as their own. This enlarged volume augments that earlier collection with new poems characterized by strength, insight, and Fitch's irrepressible ebullience.

A timeless bedtime book. Captures that perfect moment when a child is tucked up in bed, spellbound by the voice of an older sibling or an adult sharing a special book'' (Books in Canada). Lyrical text, lit up by soft and gentle illustrations.