GREAT ACCOLADES: Innocent Heroes was nominated for several children’s choice book awards, and received positive reviews from Kirkus and Quill & Quire.

NEW COVER: The paperback edition will feature a brand new cover with photographic elements!

UNIQUE FICTION/NONFICTION BLEND: Fictional stories allow readers to be absorbed by the material without feeling like they’re learning, but the nonfiction element adds interesting information for those who want it.

ANNIVERSARY OF VIMY: This book will be published to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge in April 2017.

MEDIA SAVVY AUTHOR: Sigmund is a tireless and dynamic promoter through school visits and social media, and he has his own website and author outreach program.

SCHOOL AND LIBRARY MARKET APPEAL: This is a great fit for schools and libraries wanting kids to learn about Vimy Ridge and WWI. There aren’t many books for this age range about WWI, so this will be key for the anniversary.

DIVERSE CAST: One of the main characters is Cree, and nonfiction content will include First Nations soldiers role in the War.

RELUCTANT READERS: There is enough excitement and humour to grip even the most reluctant reader.

COMPELLING STORIES: These animals were incredible, and it’s impossible to be unmoved by their stories.

SIGMUND BROUWER writes for both children and adults. In the last ten years, he has given writing workshops to students in schools from the Arctic Circle to inner city Los Angeles. One of the writers in Orca’s Seven series, he has published well over 100 books for kids, from YA fiction to picture books to nonfiction, with close to 4 million books in print. He recently won the Arthur Ellis award for his book Dead Man’s Switch, which was also a finalist for the Red Maple. Devil’s Pass, from the Seven series, was shortlisted for the John Spray Mystery Award and the Red Maple. Sigmund and his family live half the year in Nashville, Tennessee, and half the year in Red Deer, Alberta. For more information, visit www.rockandroll-literacy.com.

Author Residence: Red Deer, AB and Nashville, TN

Author Hometown: Red Deer, AB

PRAISE FOR Innocent Heroes:

“Brouwer uses the assault on Vimy Ridge during World War I to highlight the bravery of both Canadian troops and the animals that served…a worthy introduction to the Great War.”—Kirkus Reviews

“[A]n exploration of the bonds between soldiers and beasts, coupled with an introduction to Indigenous issues for young readers.”—CM Magazine

“Don’t miss this one.” —Manhattan Book Review

“In the days before technology as we know it now, [animals] proved an essential ingredient to save human lives. A mix of fictional stories followed by a short biography of the real animal that served this is a great alternative to a straight textbook presentation of what the conditions were like during World War I.”—Recreational Scholar

“These stories [are] a revelation about how the world and wars worked before the advent of high-tech communications. Suddenly, history becomes gripping stuff, as if the horrors of cold, loud, damp, muddy trench warfare wasn’t gripping enough on their own. It’s about the triumph of the human spirit, and animals.”—Montreal Gazette

“The book is a winning combination of fact and fiction…”—Quill & Quire

“In one relatively short book, Brouwer […] entertains, educates, and touches the emotions.”—Historical Novel Society


PRAISE FOR Thief of Glory:

“War. Love at first sight. Rivalry. Human nature. Art. Brouwer (Broken Angel) weaves timeless themes into the story of a 70-year journey toward redemption…Thorough historical research, skillful use of foreshadowing, and keen insight into the human spirit make this one of Brouwer’s best.” —Starred Review, Publishers Weekly