@phdowding
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
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
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.
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
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
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
A photograph of the cover of The Love Song of Mr. Byrd by Philippa Dowding with illustrations by Caroline Clarke, shows a robin and bat together in a tree. To the right is a smaller version of the cover printed on a shortbread cookie.
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 📚👍🏻
Thank you, Rebecca, I'm so glad you enjoyed the book. Yes, the time seems right for a little more love. Sing your song!
My pleasure, Deborah (really!).
Q&A with Philippa Dowding about her children's chapter book, THE LOVE SONG OF MR. BYRD.
tinyurl.com/596uvj6w
@phdowding.bsky.social
Thank you, Deborah! What insightful questions about Bat and Mr. Byrd, I enjoyed answering them.
thank you Rebecca!
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
"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.
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
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
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.
"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
Thank you Rebecca!
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.
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
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
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.
"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
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!
Thank you, Rebecca! I hope you like Mr. Byrd when you finally get to meet him.
"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.
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
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.
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
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
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
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