About Philip’s Books
Philip Roy has published 16 books in English thus far; (11 Middle Readers & 5 children’s picture books.) Half of Philip’s books have been translated into French. If you scroll down this page, all of Philip’s books can be viewed with full-length synopses and first chapter links for each novel. (For shorter descriptions of Philip’s books to date, see the bottom of this page.) Detailed options for buying Philip’s books, (including signed copies), are also listed at the bottom of this page.
Find synopses and chapter links for all of Philip’s books below:
The Submarine Outlaw Adventure Series (Books 1-8):
Submarine Outlaw. (Book 1.) Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-55380-058-3. e-Book ISBN: 9781553801450.
Submarine Outlaw takes readers on a unique journey when Alfred, a young boy who wants to be an explorer – not a fisherman, as his family demands – teams up with a junkyard genius to build a submarine that he sails around the Maritimes. When the submarine is mistaken for a Russian spy sub and chased by the coastguard, a thrilling high-seas chase ensues. The first prize winner of the Atlantic Writing Competition, Submarine Outlaw shows how any great goal in life requires patience, determination and hard work, but also how hard work on one’s dream can be a joyous and valuable experience. To read the first chapter of Submarine Outlaw, click on this link: http://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/submarine_outlaw_book_1
*Nominated for the Red Maple, Diamond Willow, Rocky Mountain, Ann Connor Brimer and Langley Boy Awards. First Prize in the Atlantic Writing Competition, Silver Medal for ForeWord’s Book of the Year, Selected for Best Books for Kids & Teens by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Submarine Outlaw (Book 1), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Journey to Atlantis. (Book 2.) Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2009. ISBN: 978-1-55380-076-7. e-Book ISBN: 9781553800743.
In this sequel to the best-selling novel, Submarine Outlaw, Alfred, the intrepid young submarine outlaw, once again sets out to sea in his homemade submarine. In Journey to Atlantis, Alfred and his crew, (his dog, Hollie, and his second mate, the seagull, Seaweed), sail across the Atlantic and enter the Mediterranean in search of the fabled lost island of Atlantis. Alfred must be both practical and trust his premonitions on many occasions to stay safe on this ambitious and far-reaching adventure. From a daring rescue of drowning fishermen to becoming involved in a skirmish between Canadian coastguard ships and Spanish fishing trawlers, from escaping an exploding WWII sea mine to colliding with a partially submerged container filled with toys, from turning the chase on bumbling pirates to an unscheduled camel trek into the desert, Alfred’s submarine voyage brings him closer and closer to the legendary island until one moonless night he finds himself a little too close for comfort. To read the first chapter of Journey to Atlantis, click on this link: http://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/journey_to_atlantis_book_2
*Nominated for the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Journey to Atlantis (Book 2), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
River Odyssey. (Book 3.) Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-55380-105-4. e-Book ISBN: 978-1-55380-117-7.
In the third volume of the Submarine Outlaw series, River Odyssey, Alfred sets off in his submarine up the dark and willful St. Lawrence River. With Hollie and Seaweed, his dog and seagull crew, Alfred follows the route of Jacques Cartier, nearly five hundred years before them, as they sail down the Strait of Belle Isle into the largest river mouth in the world. But the St. Lawrence is a treacherous river, concealing many dangers beneath its surface, not least of all the cursed and ghostly Empress of Ireland, a sunken ocean-liner that has claimed the lives of over a thousand people and that reaches up to entangle the sub as they pass. Alfred must sail to Montreal to confront the man who abandoned him at birth — his father. Only then will he escape the unfinished business that haunts him. But is the quest worth the danger? And why is Alfred plagued with bad luck? Is someone, or something, trying to turn him back? To read the first chapter of River Odyssey, click on this link: http://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/river_odyssey_book_3
*Selected for Best Books for Kids & Teens by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of River Odyssey (Book 3), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Ghosts of the Pacific. (Book 4.) Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-55380-130-6. e-Book ISBN: 978-1-55380-136-8.
Ghosts of the Pacific, the fourth volume in the best-selling Submarine Outlaw series, begins with Alfred and his crew of Seaweed, the seagull, and Hollie, the dog, undertaking a harrowing journey through the icy gauntlet of the Northwest Passage on the way to the South Pacific. Alfred wants to see those dark places of the earth where horrendous events have taken place. He sets his sights on exotic Micronesia—a beautiful place, but home to the nuclear testing of Bikini Lagoon; the Suicide Cliffs of Saipan; the airfields of Tinian, where the Enola Gay lifted off with the atomic bomb; and the Marshall Islands, which may conceal secrets to the mystery of Amelia Earhart’s final days. Yet even with these past tragedies in mind, Alfred discovers that the world is facing an even greater threat today. As they sail into the hot, hazy world of the Pacific, they encounter the ruthless killing practices of shrimp trawlers and an island of plastic the size of Texas. Along the way, Alfred, Hollie and Seaweed befriend the crew of an environmental protection ship, who help to inspire him to take on a new goal: to protect the oceans of the world. To read the first chapter of Ghosts of the Pacific, click on this link: http://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/ghosts_of_the_pacific_book_4
*Nominated for the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award, Selected for Best Books for Kids & Teens by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Runner-Up for the Green Book and New England Book Festival Awards.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Ghosts of the Pacific (Book 4), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Outlaw in India. (Book 5.) Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2012. ISBN: 978-1553801771. e-Book ISBN: 978-1-55380-178-8.
In Outlaw in India, the fifth volume in the best-selling Submarine Outlaw series, Alfred and his crew of Seaweed, the seagull, and Hollie, the dog, begin their exploration of India with a piece of bad luck when they surface behind a frigate and bring the wrath of the Indian navy down upon them. After a near fatal encounter off Kochi, Alfred befriends a ten-year-old homeless and illiterate, but highly intelligent boy, and is given the chance to explore the changing face of India through the eyes of one of its “Untouchables.” Discovering India to be an ancient land filled with extremes of beauty, wealth, tradition and danger, Alfred is tricked into making an overland pilgrimage to Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest cities. Along the journey he witnesses practices which deny human equality and dignity, but also happy events that celebrate the spirit of new beginnings, as personified in Ganesh, the Hindu god with four arms and the head of an elephant. Alfred cannot help falling in love with India, the most beautiful place he has ever seen. And for the first time, he leaves a part of himself behind. To read the first chapter of Outlaw in India, click on this link: http://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/outlaw_in_india_book_5
*Selected for Best Books for Kids & Teens by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Outlaw in India,(Book 5), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Seas of South Africa. (Book 6.) Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2013. ISBN: 978-1553802471. e-Book ISBN: 9781553802488.
In Seas of South Africa, the sixth volume in the best-selling Submarine Outlaw series, it has been over two years since the young explorer first set sail in his own submarine, with his dog and seagull crew. Now, almost seventeen, Alfred is on the cusp of switching from exploring the world to playing an active environmentalist role in protecting the sea that he loves so dearly. Brought into conflict with the pirate scourge that plagues Africa’s eastern shores, Alfred takes action against them, only to bring them into tireless pursuit of him. Escaping overland to Johannesburg, with a reckless young inventor from Soweto, Alfred discovers that the violence which taints the shores of the continent is deeply embedded in the life of South African society, so recently freed from apartheid. Despairing at the cruelty inflicted upon his friend, Alfred learns that the antidote to violence is not more violence, but the strength of one’s heart and an indomitable determination to improve the world, as exemplified in the life of Nelson Mandela. Armed with new inspiration, Alfred is ready to become the eco-warrior he was destined to be. To read the first chapter of Seas of South Africa, click on this link: http://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/seas_of_south_africa_book_6_chapter
*Selected for Best Books for Kids & Teens by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre and Resource Links‘ “Best of the Year 2013.”
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Seas of South Africa (Book 6), e-mail leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Eco Warrior. (Book 7.) Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2015. ISBN: 978-1553803478. e-Book ISBN: (ePub & MOBI): 978-1-55380-348-5. Kindle ASIN: B00R1Z9DKK. Web PDF: 978-1-897009-349-2.
In the seventh volume of the Submarine Outlaw series, Alfred takes his homemade submarine into the Southern Ocean to thwart the actions of the Japanese whalers. In Australia, he is mistakenly accused of sabotaging an oil tanker, forcing him to escape to Tasmania. There, he meets up with Merwin Hughes, an eccentric environmentalist, and together they travel south. They are followed along the way by a friendly blue whale and her calf, and a bond is established. Soon after, they encounter a tanker on its way to illegally refuel the whalers’ ships. When Captain Paul Watson arrives aboard the Sea Shepherd Society’s flagship, the Steve Irwin, to stop the whalers, Al must first try to save the mother and calf even as he helps Watson fight off the whalers. Al learns that the war to save the planet is being waged by dedicated individuals, each contributing in his or her own way, and that every action, large or small, matters greatly. To read the first chapter of Eco Warrior, click on this link: http://issuu.com/
*Winner of the Silver Medal for the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award for Young Adult Fiction; Nominated for British Columbia’s Red Cedar Book Award.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Eco Warrior, (Book 7), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Stealth of the Ninja. (Book 8.) Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2017. ISBN: 978-155380-490-1. e-Book ISBN: (ePub & MOBI): 978-1-55380-491-8. Web PDF: 978-1-55380-492-5.
Stealth of the Ninja, book eight in the Submarine Outlaw series, brings Alfred, our courageous and idealistic protagonist, to a whole new level of experience when he pilots his homemade submarine to Japan. Here, he visits a strange old man who lives on an abandoned freighter drifting on the sea. The man––a ninja, in fact––challenges Al to acquire greater physical strength and stealth. But it is also the time of the 2011 tsunami, and the giant wave capsizes and sinks the ship, taking his new teacher with it. Al barely escapes in his sub. Certain that the old man is still alive and trapped inside the sunken ship, Al faces the difficult decision of whether to attempt a most dangerous rescue. Should a seventeen-year-old put his life at great risk to save a one-hundred-year-old man? Or can one sometimes say that the risk is simply too great? Al must decide quickly. Time is running out. To read the first chapter of Stealth of the Ninja, click on this link: https://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/stealth_20of_20the_20ninja_20chapte/2
*Selected for Best Books for Kids & Teens by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
THIS BOOK IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT. Please e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com should you wish to be put on a waiting list for a future copy when the book is reprinted.
Submarine Outlaw Series Books in French––(La série un rebelle en sous-marin, Books 1-3):
Book 1, Un rebelle en sous-marin, (French trans. of Submarine Outlaw), Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2019. ISBN: 978-1-55380-553-3. e-Book ISBN: 978-1-55380-554-0. Web PDF ISBN: 978-1-55380-555-7.
Un rebelle en sous-marin is the story of a boy who dreams of becoming an explorer, not a fisherman like his grandfather before him. Charting his own course, he teams up with a junkyard genius to build a submarine that he sails around the Maritimes. The novel showcases the fascinating hands-on process of building a submarine, along with ocean navigation, high-seas chases, daring rescues, treasure hunting, and the building of meaningful friendships. Readers will identify with Alfred’s yearning for the adventurous life and the empowerment that comes from building and sailing his own submarine. They will fall in love with his quirky crew — an abandoned dog and a seagull that believes it is an eagle. The novel demonstrates how the best goals in life take patience, determination, hard work, and faith in yourself. It also shows how hard work on one’s dream can become an act of joy. The original English version of this French translation is a Red Maple, Diamond Willow, Rocky Mountain, Ann Connor Brimer, and Langley Boy nominee. Selected for Best Books for Kids and Teens by the CCBC, this novel also received the Silver Medal for ForeWord’s Book of the Year, and was the winner of the Atlantic Writers Competition.
Here’s the publisher’s synopsis in French:
Un rebelle en sous-marin raconte l’histoire d’un garçon qui rêve de devenir explorateur et non pas pêcheur comme son grand-père et toutes les générations avant lui. En mettant le cap sur ce rêve, il fait équipe avec un génie de recyclage et de réutilisage pour construire un sous-marin qu’il navigue autour des Maritimes. Le roman met en vedette le processus pratique et fascinant de la construction d’un sous-marin, en plus de la navigation en haute mer, des chasses à l’homme en haute mer, des missions de sauvetage courageuses, de la chasse au trésor et la fondation d’amitiés durables. Les lecteurs s’identifieront sûrement avec le goût de l’aventure d’Alfred et son sens d’indépendance et de fierté en construisant et en naviguant son propre sous-marin. Ils tomberont sous le charme de son équipage excentrique : un petit chien abandonné et une mouette qui se prend pour un aigle. Le roman nous montre comment les meilleurs objectifs dans la vie demandent de la patience, de la détermination, beaucoup de travail et la confiance en soi-même. Il nous montre également qu’un travail ardu pour réaliser son rêve peut créer tant de joie et de bonheur. Un rebelle en sous-marin est la traduction en langue française de Submarine Outlaw, le gagnant du prix littéraire Atlantic Writing Competition. To read the first chapter of Un rebelle en sous marin, click on this link: https://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/un_rebelle_en_sous-marin_chapitre_un
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Un rebelle en sous-marin, e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Book 2, L’île perdue d’Atlantide, (French trans. of Journey to Atlantis), Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2020. ISBN: 978-1-55380-599-1. e-Book ISBN: 978-1-55380-600-4. Web PDF ISBN: 978-1-55380-601-1.
In this French-language sequel to the first book in the prize-winning Submarine Outlaw/Un rebelle en sous-marin series, the sea of myth and legend beckons young submariner Alfred Pynsent to go to sea yet again. With his loyal crew of a dog and seagull, Alfred crosses the Atlantic and enters the Mediterranean in search of the fabled Minoan city of Atlantis. Advised by Ziegfried, genius and builder of the sub, to remain careful and scientifically-minded, Alfred must also listen to the words of Sheba, an island enchantress and loving mentor, to trust his premonitions. From a daring rescue of drowning fishermen to a skirmish between Canadian Coast Guard boats and Spanish fishing trawlers, from escaping an exploding WWII sea mine to turning the chase on bumbling pirates, Alfred’s search draws him ever closer to the mythical and mysteriously lost island. The original English version of this French translation was nominated for the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award. To read the first chapter of L’île perdue d’Atlantide, click on this link: https://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/l_ile_perdue_d_atlantide_chapitre_un.docx
BUY NOW To order signed copies of L’île perdue d’Atlantide, e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Book 3, Sous le Saint-Laurent, (French trans. of River Odyssey), Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2020. ISBN: 978-1-55380-656-1. e-Book ISBN: 978-1-55380-657-8. Web PDF ISBN: 978-1-55380-658-5.
In this sequel to the prize-winning French language young reader novel L’île Perdue d’Atlantide, Alfred sets off in his submarine up the dark and wilful St. Lawrence River. With Hollie and Seaweed, his dog and seagull crew, Alfred follows the route of Jacques Cartier, nearly five hundred years later, as they sail down the Strait of Belle Isle into the largest river mouth in the world. But the St. Lawrence is a treacherous river, concealing many dangers beneath its surface, not least of all the cursed and ghostly Empress of Ireland, a sunken ocean-liner that has claimed the lives of over a thousand people and that reaches up to entangle the sub as they pass. Alfred must sail to Montreal to confront the man who abandoned him at birth — his father. Only then will he escape the unfinished business that haunts him. But is the quest worth the danger? And why is Alfred plagued with bad luck? Is someone, or something, trying to turn him back? The original English version of this French translation was selected for Best Books for Kids and Teens by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. To read the first chapter of Sous le Saint Laurent, click on this link: https://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/sous_le_saint_saint-laurent_chapitre_1
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Sous le Saint-Laurent, e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Children’s Picture Books in English (The Happy the Pocket Mouse Series, Books 1-5):
Mouse Tales, (Book 1 in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series, written by Philip Roy and illustrated by Andrea Torrey Balsara). Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-55380-262-4.
Mouse Tales, the first volume in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series, has been read to tens of thousands of students in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, and has gathered a substantial following anxious to have the illustrated book in hand. Here, now, thanks to the artistic vision of Andrea Torrey Balsara, fans everywhere will delight in witnessing Happy and John in action. Readers of all ages will identify with Happy’s bedtime struggle after a long day, his request for a story to help him fall asleep, and his nighttime anxieties when he must come to grips with the wicked witch of Grimms’ Hansel and Gretel, the Big Bad Wolf, and his own imagination of the “Three Bears.” In a composite reading of the traditional tales, and with a few modern twists thrown in, Mouse Tales delivers a reading experience that suggests you cannot tell the goodness of a person simply by looking at them. Readers will be won over by the insatiably curious and determined little mouse, and his kind and endlessly patient friend, John. Mouse Tales proves that best friends come in all sizes, and guarantees a giggle.
This is the first tale in the Happy the Pocket Mouse picture book series, which is comprised of 30 stories, (and counting), in all. The series is about the exciting adventures of Happy––a curious, insatiable, adventure-seeking mouse––and his best friend, John. To view sample illustrations for this book, visit our “Happy the Pocket Mouse” page.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Mouse Tales, e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Jellybean Mouse, (Book 2 in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series), Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2014. ISBN: 978-1553803447.
Jellybean Mouse is the second tale in the exciting picture book series, Happy the Pocket Mouse. When a “boring” trip to the laundromat to wash their clothes frustrates Happy’s insatiable appetite for adventure, (and neither the skating rink nor the bowling alley can entice John away from their mundane task), Happy arrives at the laundromat in a funk, only to come face-to-face with his first jellybean machine. Thrilled with the discovery, Happy is confounded for a second time when John explains that he has only enough quarters for the wash. Refusing to give up, Happy makes a careful reconnaissance beneath the washing machines until he finds a quarter of his own. But the stingy machine conspires against the treasure-seeking mouse, steals his quarter, and refuses to release its jellybeans. Unwilling to accept defeat, Happy convinces John to tilt the machine until its sweet treasure spills out in abundance. No adventure is too small for a mouse with a prodigious appetite! To view sample illustrations for this book, visit our “Happy the Pocket Mouse” page.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Jellybean Mouse, (Book 2 in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Mouse Pet, (Book 3 in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series): Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2015. ISBN: 978-155380-443-7.
Mouse Pet is the third tale in the endearing Happy the Pocket Mouse picture book series. When Happy declares he wants a pet — to pat and feed and take for walks — his friend John says that it’s too much responsibility, that a pet needs lots of care and special attention. Not a mouse to give up easily, Happy insists that his pet will be no more trouble than Mrs. Farrell’s canary. But when Happy’s choice of pet turns out to have long furry legs, hooves and horns, John explains that you can’t keep that kind of animal in the city. Happy insists that they can just hide it under a blanket. Offering a compromise, John suggests a “teddy-pet,” to which, after some reflection, Happy agrees. After bringing his new pet home and settling in happily for the night, Happy suddenly declares that his pet requires a pet of her own. What sort of pet? John asks. Just a small one, Happy assures him, with shiny black fur and a pretty white stripe. To view sample illustrations for this book, visit our “Happy the Pocket Mouse” page.
*Selected for Best Books for Kids & Teens by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Mouse Pet, (Book 3 in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Mouse Vacation, (Book 4 in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series), Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2016. ISBN: 978-155380-479-6.
In Mouse Vacation, the fourth volume of the Happy the Pocket Mouse picture book series, Happy dreams of where their next adventure will take them. New York? Paris? New Zealand? Perhaps a pilgrimage to the Pyramids or the Taj Mahal? John suggest they compromise. Since vacations are expensive, they plan an overnight bus trip to visit the Tall Ships. Fortunately, Happy is enthralled, and Mouse Vacation reminds us that sometimes life’s greatest pleasures can be found in just the right balance of wonder and simplicity. Andrea Torrey Balsara’s brilliant artistry brings to life the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, the Great Pyramids, and other exotic locales with 32 pages of full-colour illustrations. To view sample illustrations for this book, visit our “Happy the Pocket Mouse” page.
*Selected for Best Books for Kids & Teens by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Mouse Vacation, (Book 4 in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Halloween Mouse, (Book 5 in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series), Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2021. ISBN: 978-1-55380-953-0.
Halloween Mouse is the long-awaited fifth book in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series. Gifting fans with this new and delicious “treat” for the eyes, artist Lisa Ferguson’s rich and nuanced illustrations express all the fun and humour of ‘All Hallows’ Eve,’ while giving voice to the fresh perspective of the ever-curious Happy, the pocket mouse, who regards the holiday with wonder. What does Halloween mean to a mouse who has never celebrated it before? Imagine Happy’s fright when the next-door neighbour hangs a ghost on her house. Witness his displeasure at the thought of dressing up and walking door-to-door to beg for treats. (What a nuisance! What are “treats” anyway?) Then, observe the transition in the sweets-loving mouse when he learns that treats mean candy, his very favourite thing. Suddenly, Happy can’t get out the door fast enough! But his best human friend, John, needs a costume, and the only face paint they can find is shoe polish. How can Happy get John ready for trick-or-treating before the other kids take all the candy? And what sort of costume will the little mouse wear? And what happens if you eat too much candy? Join John and Happy for a fun-filled night as John introduces Happy to his very first Halloween.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Halloween Mouse, (Book 5 in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Children’s Picture Books in French––(La série de Youpi, la souris dans ma poche, Books 1-4):
Les contes de Youpi, (French trans. of Mouse Tales, Book 1 in la série de Youpi, la souris dans ma poche), Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2018. ISBN: 978-155380-529-8.
Les contes de Youpi is the translation into French of the beloved children’s book, Mouse Tales. The first volume in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series has been read to thousands of students across Canada, and has gathered a substantial following. Here, now, French speakers and those learning French will be able to enjoy this endearing story, alongside the wonderfully vibrant illustrations of Andrea Torrey Balsara. Readers of all ages will identify with Youpi’s bedtime struggle after a long day, his request for a story to help him fall asleep, and his nighttime anxieties when he must come to grips with the wicked witch of Grimms’ Hansel and Gretel, the Big Bad Wolf, and his own imagined “Three Bears.” Readers will be won over by the insatiably curious and determined little mouse, and his kind and endlessly patient friend, Jean. Les contes de Youpi proves that best friends come in all sizes, and guarantees a giggle. To see sample illustrations from Les contes de Youpi, visit Mouse Tales in the English book section of our “Happy the Pocket Mouse” page.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Les contes de Youpi, (Book 1 in la série de Youpi, la souris dans ma poche), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Youpi et ses bonbons, (French trans. of Jellybean Mouse, Book 2 in la série de Youpi, la souris dans ma poche), Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2018. ISBN: 978-155380-540-3.
Youpi et ses bonbons is the translation into French of the magically delicious children’s book, Jellybean Mouse, the second book in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series. French speakers and those learning French will revel in this heartwarming story, alongside the incredibly rich and vibrant illustrations of Andrea Torrey Balsara. When a “boring” trip to the laundromat to wash their clothes frustrates Youpi’s insatiable appetite for adventure, (and neither the skating rink nor the bowling alley can entice Jean away from their mundane task), Youpi arrives at the laundromat in a funk, only to come face-to-face with his first jellybean machine. Thrilled with the discovery, Youpi is confounded for a second time when Jean explains that he has only enough quarters for the wash. Refusing to give up, Youpi makes a careful reconnaissance beneath the washing machines until he finds a quarter of his own. But the stingy machine conspires against the treasure-seeking mouse, steals his quarter, and refuses to release its jellybeans. Unwilling to accept defeat, Youpi convinces Jean to tilt the machine until its sweet treasure spills out in abundance. No adventure is too small for a mouse with a prodigious appetite! To see sample illustrations from Youpi et ses bonbons, visit Jellybean Mouse in the English book section of our “Happy the Pocket Mouse” page.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Youpi et ses bonbons, (Book 2 in la série de Youpi, la souris dans ma poche), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Un ami pour Youpi, (French trans. of Mouse Pet, Book 3 in la série de Youpi, la souris dans ma poche), Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2020. ISBN: ISBN: 978-1-55380-581-6.
Un ami pour Youpi is the third tale in the endearing French-language picture book series “Youpi, la souris dans ma poche.” When Youpi declares he wants a pet — to pat and feed and take for walks — his friend Jean says that it’s too much responsibility, that a pet needs lots of care and special attention. Not a mouse to give up easily, Youpi insists that his pet will be no more trouble than Mademoiselle Arcand’s canary. But when Youpi’s choice of pet turns out to have long furry legs, hooves and horns, Jean explains that you can’t keep that kind of animal in the city. Youpi insists that they can simply hide it under a blanket. Offering a compromise, Jean suggests a “teddy-pet,” to which, after some reflection, Youpi agrees. After bringing his new pet home and settling in happily for the night, Youpi suddenly declares that his pet requires a pet of her own. What sort of pet? Jean asks. Just a small one, Youpi assures him — with shiny black fur and a pretty white stripe. To see sample illustrations from Un ami pour Youpi, visit Mouse Pet in the English book section of our “Happy the Pocket Mouse” page.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Un ami pour Youpi, (Book 3 in la série de Youpi, la souris dans ma poche), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Youpi en vacances, (French trans. of Mouse Vacation, Book 4 in la série de Youpi, la souris dans ma poche), Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2020. ISBN: 978-1-55380-605-9.
In this fourth volume, now translated into French, of the beloved “Happy the Pocket Mouse” picture book series, Youpi and his human friend Jean debate where their next adventure should take them. Jean suggests a walk through the forest or a visit to the museum, but these are too lacklustre for Youpi and his thirst for excitement. When Youpi proposes a grand vacation to the likes of New York, Paris, Egypt or India, Jean reasons that those places are too expensive and that they will have to compromise. In the end, Youpi and Jean embark on an overnight bus trip to a seaport to view the Tall Ships, and Youpi is enthralled by these “ghosts of the past.” Andrea Torrey Balsara brings to life the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, the Great Pyramids, and other exotic locales with 32 pages of brilliant, full-colour illustrations. To see sample illustrations from Youpi en vacances, visit Mouse Vacation in the English book section of our “Happy the Pocket Mouse” page.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Youpi en vacances, (Book 4 in la série de Youpi, la souris dans ma poche), e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Historical Fiction:
Me & Mr. Bell, (Nimbus Publishing, Halifax, first published by Cape Breton University Press, Sydney, 2013.) ISBN: 978-1-927492-55-0. e-Book ISBN: 978-1-927492-57-4. MOBI: 978-1-927492-58-1.
Alexander Graham Bell, Baddeck’s most illustrious resident, and one of the world’s greatest inventors, is also famous for the greatness of his compassion. It’s 1908, and ten-year-old Eddie MacDonald shares the friendly inventor’s passion for solving problems and for taking long walks in the fields above Bras d’Or Lake.
But whereas Bell is renowned by many for being the smartest man in the world, Eddie is just a local farm boy who struggles to learn to read and write. After a few chance encounters, the elderly Bell befriends the young boy, and takes an interest in his struggle – encouraging Eddie to celebrate his successes and never give up.
When Bell’s long ambition for manned flight culminates in the Silver Dart soaring over Bras d’Or Lake, Eddie is inspired to find solutions to his own challenges. To read the first chapter of Me & Mr. Bell, click on this link: https://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/me___mr._bell_chapter_one
*Nominated for the Silver Birch Award for Fiction, the Canadian Library Association’s Book of the Year for Children, the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People and the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award. Selected for Best Books for Kids & Teens by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre and Resource Links‘ “Best of the Year 2013.”
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Me & Mr. Bell, e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Blood Brothers in Louisbourg, (Nimbus Publishing, Halifax, first published by Cape Breton University Press, Sydney), 2012. ISBN: 978-1897009727. e-Book ISBN: 978-1-897009-91-8. MOBI: 978-1-897009-92-95.
As the son of an officer, Jacques was expected to pursue a career in the military. In the spring of 1744, at the age of fifteen, Jacques and his father leave France for Louisbourg, the French capital of Île Royale, where Jacques would learn the military arts – a far cry from his books and music and the comforts of his mother’s home. In the Acadian forests that surround the French fortress of Louisbourg, a young Mi’kmaw man named Two-feathers watches the comings and goings of soldiers and citizens whose strange ways are a constant source of wonder. Two-feathers is hoping to find his father who, he has been told, is an important man among the French – they have never met. Jacques’ life in Louisbourg is a curious mixture of military duties in the unfamiliar and harsh environment, and frequent visits to the Governor’s apartments where he is teaching the beautiful young daughter of a visiting merchant to play the violoncello. From his discreet camp outside the walls of the fortress, Two-feathers lives off the land and watches the French, believing that he will know his father when he sees him. At night, he moves silently about the city, including the apartments of the Governor, where he befriends a beautiful young woman. The story culminates in the violent siege of Louisbourg in 1745. To read the first chapter of Blood Brothers in Louisbourg, click on this link: http://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/blood_brothers_in_louisbourg_ch_1
*Long-listed for First Nation Communities Read.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Blood Brothers in Louisbourg, e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Frères de sang à Louisbourg, Les Éditions Perce-Neige, Moncton, 2013. ISBN: 978-2-89691-122-6.
This is the French translation of Philip’s historical novel, Blood Brothers in Louisbourg, translated by Christian Roy, (no relation to Philip.)
As the son of an officer, Jacques was expected to pursue a career in the military. In the spring of 1744, at the age of fifteen, Jacques and his father leave France for Louisbourg, the French capital of Île Royale, where Jacques would learn the military arts – a far cry from his books and music and the comforts of his mother’s home. In the Acadian forests that surround the French fortress of Louisbourg, a young Mi’kmaw man named Two-feathers watches the comings and goings of soldiers and citizens whose strange ways are a constant source of wonder. Two-feathers is hoping to find his father who, he has been told, is an important man among the French – they have never met. Jacques’ life in Louisbourg is a curious mixture of military duties in the unfamiliar and harsh environment, and frequent visits to the Governor’s apartments where he is teaching the beautiful young daughter of a visiting merchant to play the violoncello. From his discreet camp outside the walls of the fortress, Two-feathers lives off the land and watches the French, believing that he will know his father when he sees him. At night, he moves silently about the city, including the apartments of the Governor, where he befriends a beautiful young woman. The story culminates in the violent siege of Louisbourg in 1745.
Here’s the publisher’s synopsis in French:
Traduit en français par Christian Roy, Frères de sang à Louisbourg est un roman d’aventure palpitant destiné principalement aux adolescents âgés de 14 à 18 ans. L’histoire se passe en 1745 à Louisbourg et traite du rapport père-fils tel que vécu par un Français et un Métis mi’kmaq qui ignorent leur condition de demi-frères. Ce roman s’adresse aussi aux adultes qui découvriront avec intérêt un pan de leur histoire. To read the first chapter of Frères de sang à Louisbourg, click on this link: http://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/freressangchapitre1/0
*Selected for the Communication Jeunesse List.
BUY NOW To order signed copies of Frères de sang à Louisbourg, e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page.
Middle Reader Fiction/Social Commentary:
The Kingdom of No Worries, Ronsdale Press, Vancouver, 2017. ISBN 978-1-55380-511-3. e-Book ISBN (ePub and MOBI): 978-1-55380-512-0. Web PDF: 978-1-55380-513-7.
The Kingdom of No Worries is the story of three young friends who aspire to create their own kingdom on a piece of land that emerges in the middle of the river that runs through their city. Inspired by their actions to create a democracy that is a model of social tolerance and global thinking, the surrounding community turns out in the thousands to participate in what becomes a cultural hub of the city. Over the course of one hot summer, the boys grapple to learn what a democracy is, and to oversee its demands. Alas, their nascent sovereignty is challenged by a civic order of eviction, by First Nations land claims, and ultimately by nature itself. Can the utopian dream be saved? The Kingdom of No Worries is an empowering tale that speaks to the archetypal dream that all children have to create their own world. To read the first chapter of The Kingdom of No Worries, click on this link: https://issuu.com/philiproybooks/docs/the_kingdom_of_no_worries_ch._1.doc
BUY NOW To order signed copies of The Kingdom of No Worries, e-mail us at leilamerl28@gmail.com, or visit etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. For other purchasing options, see the bottom of this page. (N.B. An audiobook of The Kingdom of No Worries was released in 2023 and is available via various sites, including Audible.ca.)
“Thumbnail” Summaries of Philip’s Books To Date:
Adventure Series––The Submarine Outlaw/Un rebelle en sous-marin Series:
The Submarine Outlaw series are tales of high adventure on the seas and waterways of the world, but also involve mythology, geography, ecology, invention and an embracing love of people, places, animals and things. The Submarine Outlaw series details the adventures of a young submariner, Alfred Pynsent, and his quirky crew of a dog and a seagull, as they circumnavigate the world. Although Al starts out as an explorer, he is becoming an active environmentalist in the course of his travels. The series includes the following 8 books: Submarine Outlaw, Journey to Atlantis, River Odyssey, Ghosts of the Pacific, Outlaw in India, Seas of South Africa, Eco Warrior and Stealth of the Ninja (Ronsdale Press). Philip’s ninth novel in the Submarine Outlaw series, Guardians of the Sea, is set on the west coast of Canada, and remains a work-in-progress.. The first three English titles in the Submarine Outlaw series are available in French as Un rebelle en sous-marin, L’île perdue d’Atlantide, and Sous le Saint-Laurent, respectively.
The Happy the Pocket Mouse/Youpi, la souris dans ma poche series, (illustrated by Andrea Torrey Balsara and Lisa Ferguson, respectively), is comprised of 30 stories (and counting) in all. The series is about the exciting adventures of Happy/Youpi––a curious, insatiable, adventure-seeking mouse––and his best friend, John/Jean. The first five published books in the series include Mouse Tales/Les contes de Youpi, Jellybean Mouse/Youpi et ses bonbons, Mouse Pet/Un ami pour Youpi, Mouse Vacation/Youpi en vacances and Halloween Mouse.
Historical Fiction––Me & Mr. Bell and Blood Brothers in Louisbourg/Frères de sang à Louisbourg:
Me & Mr. Bell is about a ten-year-old boy struggling with dyslexia who befriends Alexander Graham Bell and Helen Keller in 1908. It is a story about overcoming life obstacles, and perseverance. Me & Mr. Bell was nominated for four major awards: the Canadian Library Association’s Book of the Year for Children, the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, the Silver Birch Award in the Forest of Reading, and the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award.
Blood Brothers in Louisbourg/Frères de sang à Louisbourg focuses on the story of two adolescent brothers, one of French origins, and the other of Mik’maw and French descent, as they face the siege of Louisbourg in 1745. Blood Brothers in Louisbourg was selected for the long list of First Nation Communities Read, and its French translation, Frères de sang à Louisbourg, was nominated for the Communication-Jeunesse list.
Social Commentary––The Kingdom of No Worries:
A Middle Reader, The Kingdom of No Worries, is about 3 boys from the GTA who strive to create their own democratic country in the middle of a river one hot summer. Kirkus Reviews has called the novel “a parable for our times.” This novel is also available as an audiobook, and can be requested via your local library, and/or accessed via Audible.ca, audiobooks.com, and elsewhere.
OPTIONS FOR BUYING PHILIP’S BOOKS:
PRE-ORDERING BOOKS IN ADVANCE OF SCHOOL VISITS
We strongly encourage schools to purchase Philip’s books for their school libraries and/or classrooms well in advance of a visit. Indeed, advance preparation and exposure to Philip’s books always makes a huge difference. For parents and students who would like to pre-order signed copies of Philip’s books, (and have them delivered on the day of the visit), please contact Philip’s wife and publicist, Leila Merl, at LEILAMERL28@gmail.com, (and see steps 1-3 below.) Pre-orders need to be made a few days prior to Philip’s presentation so that books can be properly organized and inscribed beforehand. Digital pre-order forms for books are made available to educators to share with students, (so please ask Leila, or the educators in charge of the visit, for a form if you have not received one.) Please note: All books ordered after a visit do cost more due to shipping fees. When requesting books, please include: 1.) Your child’s full name, grade, and school 2.) Who you would like the book autographed for––(i.e. first name only (?), first name with last name(?), other name(s) (?), etc.) 3.) The title(s) of the book(s) requested. All books can be paid for by an e-transfer to LEILAMERL28@gmail.com.* If you have additional questions about pre-ordering, please e-mail Leila at LEILAMERL28@gmail.com. *(N.B. If you need to pay by cheque, VISA/MC or cash, just ask!) 🙂
OTHER TYPES OF BOOK ORDERS
For all others seeking signed copies of Philip’s books, (or you would simply like to order books directly through us), please e-mail Leila at LEILAMERL28@gmail.com, or visit our online bookshop: etsy.com/ca/shop/BooksbyphiliproyCA. You can also call us at 613-499-9485. Philip’s books can also be purchased through indigo.ca, amazon.ca, amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, BN.com, The Book Depository.com, and Waterstones.com. Philip’s books are additionally available via his publishers, Ronsdale Press, Nimbus Publishing, Les Éditions Perce-Neige, as well as through distributors including Raincoast Books/PGC, Library Bound (LBI), United Library Services (ULS), Whitehots, Tinlids, LitDistCo., GoodMinds.com, Baker & Taylor, Ingram, and SPD. You can also find Philip’s books at fine independent bookstores like Woozles, Tattletales, Carrefour Atlantic and The Puffin Gallery, Westminster Books, The Village Bookshop and the Wellfleet Booksmith at the Wellfleet Marketplace. (Our books can also be ordered in at your local bookstore if they are not already on the shelves.) If you are looking for museums that carry Philip’s books, please visit The Submarine Force Museum, The Antique Boat Museum, The Fortress of Louisbourg, The Alexander Graham Bell Museum National Historic Site, and The Bell Homestead National Historic Site. All of Philip’s books are printed in Canada on responsibly-sourced paper.
Please e-mail Leila at leilamerl28@gmail.com if you’d like to be added to our digital mailing list. (We’ll contact you whenever new titles are out!)