The Memory Stone Illustrations by Joanne Ouellet Ragweed Press, 1998, Nimbus, 2003 Laura is having her first sleepover at her Aunt Pat’s and everything is different. There is no night-light, no breakfast cereal, and no television. Even the garden is full of scary bugs. Laura wants to go home. But then she and her aunt spend the day at the seashore and Laura is surprised to discover memories hidden behind simple things - like stones on the beach.       Illustrator, Joanne Ouellet, is an award-winning artist who has illustrated over fifty-five children’s books. Each Christmas, her watercolours travel throughout the world on UNICEF cards.

The 'seed' of the story: This book is based on two things in my life. One, my love of stones and pebbles; Memory Stones, I call them. I collect them everywhere I go. My window sills, deck and gardens are decorated with many.
     And two, when I was five years old I spent a week with my Aunt Mary and her family in Montreal. I had never met my aunt or been away from home before. I hated my visit ... and my Aunt. I didn't meet her again for forty years. Then I discovered that this woman I had hated all that time was actually an unusual, interesting and wonderful person. This revelation made such a huge impact on me and I wanted to write a story about how children see 'different'.
     While I was cooking the book in my head, one of my own nieces came to visit. She was angry about something and kicked several of my favorite Stones off my deck. I suddenly felt like my Aunt Mary. Voilà, a story was born!
     This was the hardest of my picture books to write. My brilliant editor, Charis Wahl, guided me through several versions until we ended up pretty much at the beginning again, but much better.

Reviews:

“MacDonald has written a funny, sweet story emphasizing that while there can differences in the same family, there can also be much to celebrate and remember.”

                              — The Sunday Daily News

“Unlike many of the oversized soft-covered children’s books which rely on silly rhymes and wild stories, The Memory Stone follows a much more realistic story line... (it) is well worth the time it takes to read and will easily inspire young children to seek out their own special rocks to remind them of the special days in their lives.”

                    — The Evening News

French edition

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Nanny-Mac's Cat
Illustrations by Marie Lafrance
Ragweed Press, 1995
(out of print but available in many public libraries)

Every Friday, Glynnis visits her grandmother, Nanny-Mac, and Patches, the cat. One day, Nanny-Mac breaks her hip and goes to the hospital. Will anything ever be the same? Glynnis doesn't think so, but as she helps Patches find a new home she discovers that some things never change - especially Fridays with Nanny-Mac.

Reviews:

“Beneath the surface of Anne Louise MacDonald’s elegant and subtle writing is a poignant story about coping with change and overcoming fears ... There’s plenty of cat books out there, but Nanny-Mac’s Cat is a superior breed.”

—  Kenneth Oppel for Quill and Quire

“Anne Louise Macdonald makes a fine debut as a children’s author. This engaging story is told simply and directly.”

     — Heather Ferguson for Resource Links

Awards Resource Links The Year's Best list Our Choice selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre

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The Dog Wizard Illustrations by Brenda Jones Ragweed Press, 1999 (out of print but available in many public libraries) Meg and her scruffy sheepdog, Denny, roam the neighbourhood in search of monsters lurking in puddles, wilderness hidden behind bushes and disappearing kingdoms. They keep running into dogs who seem to vanish after a trip to Portia's Pampered Pooches. One morning Meg discovers that Denny is gone, sent to Portia's by Meg's mother. Will Portia use her magic and make Denny vanish too? Can Meg get there in time to save him?

Awards Our Choice selection, Canadian  Children’s Book Centre

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