tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252615912024-03-06T20:49:18.483-08:00Sheryl McFarlane's Book BlogKids' Book News and Reviewsreadingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.comBlogger424125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-18583923045057943052011-07-06T09:20:00.001-07:002011-07-06T09:20:58.611-07:00My new site is upI've been busy building myself a new site which includes a <a href="http://sherylbooks.wordpress.com/">wordpress blog</a> and website rolled into one. I'm gradually transferring content. This is where all new posts will be located.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-83784273405461775802011-06-28T17:44:00.000-07:002011-06-28T17:44:40.287-07:00New site coming soon...Sorry for the lack of posts, but I'm in the midst of a website/blog move...I hope to have the new site up in a few weeks so watch for announcements.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-4415354071623062011-06-21T13:05:00.000-07:002011-06-21T13:05:31.607-07:00National Aboriginal Day and Summer Solstice TodayToday is the summer solstice, but also National Aboriginal Day. I'm hoping to get to a few of the activities to celebrate with my First Nations and Metis friends. Just about right now, a Salish Welcome Totem is being raised at the <a href="http://www.vnfc.ca/">Victoria Native Friendship Centre</a>. I'll be there in spirit, and will try to get down soon to take a picture of it for you.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-48058336053937026942011-06-20T10:45:00.001-07:002011-06-20T10:45:33.359-07:00Tall Tale Books<div class="zemanta-img separator"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/92596048@N00/967864096" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kids' Books" height="180" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1340/967864096_dfb1cdf587_m.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: 0.8em;" width="240" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 240px;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/92596048@N00/967864096">pattie74_99</a> via Flickr</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 15px;">Although Victoria, BC is not a particularly large city, we are lucky enough to have our very own children's book store, Tall Tale Books. Unfortunately, this fabulous little bookstore, like many other independents, is having a tough time these days. The owners aren't willing to give up though. Here's their plan...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 15px;">they've created a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 15px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><b><a href="http://talltalesbooks.ca/?page_id=1241">"Hero Society"</a> </b></span>which is open to any patron who agrees to pay a mere $10 a month in return for children's books of their choice. The idea is basically to give the store a guaranteed income so that it can keep going. Anyone can join, and even if you don't make it to Victoria regularly, you can save your store credits and cash them in any time. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"></span> <br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=c7446df0-f073-49cd-b142-2854821e1569" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-38652955425639040842011-06-17T16:05:00.000-07:002011-06-17T16:05:42.882-07:00Getting StartedLike most other professional writers with a focus on books for kids and teens, I'm frequently asked by family and friends to look at their stories and/or help them get published. But, writing a cute story simply isn't enough. Most amateurs aren't aware of just how much time, effort, and work goes into getting published, especially these days. Even very short manuscripts can require a dozen rewrites, and of course you have to find a publisher interested enough to take a chance on your work. Writing for kids is not something you can do just because you've got a little retirement time on your hands. It takes knowledge about the industry and a commitment to the craft of writing. Even if you decide to opt for the self-published route, you still need to follow the previous steps, but in addition, you will also need to find the services of a professional editor, designer, and illustrator or photographer for your book's cover (and, if necessary, interiors), possibly a computer expert (if you are going the e-book route) and you'll still need someone to handle promotion and sales. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XsTE6e3kL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XsTE6e3kL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>If all this is sounding a little overwhelming, you may want to check out Harold Underdown's "<a href="http://www.underdown.org/basics.htm">Getting Started</a>" pages. Underdown, is a former editor, and the author of <i>The Complet Idiot's Guide to Children's Publishing.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">His advice is solid gold.</span>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-55200575078637842522011-06-15T13:05:00.000-07:002011-06-15T13:05:03.981-07:00Canadian Children's BookCentre announces 2011 award short-lists<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC) is pleased to announce the finalists for the <b>TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse,</b> <b>Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction, Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People</b> and the inaugural <b>John Spray Mystery Award.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The books on these shortlists exemplify some of the best work by Canadian authors and illustrators. The Canadian Children’s Book Centre is proud to share these titles with you.</span></div><pclass=msonormal><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; text-transform: uppercase;">TD CANADIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AWARD</span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"> ($25,000)</span></b><i><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Sponsored by TD Bank Group<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Burn<i><br />
</i></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Alma Fullerton (Midland, ON)<br />
Dancing Cat Books<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Canadian Railroad Trilogy<i><br />
</i></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Gordon Lightfoot (Toronto, ON)<br />
Illustrated by Ian Wallace (Brookline, MA)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Glory Wind</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Valerie Sherrard (Miramichi, NB)<br />
Fitzhenry & Whiteside<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I Know Here<i><br />
</i></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Laurel Croza (Markham, ON)<br />
Illustrated by Matt James (Toronto, ON)<br />
Groundwood Books<br />
<br />
<b>Plain Kate</b>Written by Erin Bow (Kitchener, ON)<br />
Scholastic Canada<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span lang="FR-CA" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; text-transform: uppercase;">PRIX TD DE LITTÉRATURE CANADIENNE POUR L’ENFANCE ET LA JEUNESSE ($25,000)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Sponsored by TD Bank Group</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Le chasseur de loups-marins</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
Written by Claire Vigneau (Sherbrooke, QC)<br />
Illustrated by Bruce Roberts (Westmount, QC)<br />
Éditions Les 400 coups<br />
<br />
<b>Devant ma maison</b>Written and illustrated by Marianne Dubuc (Montreal, QC)<br />
Éditions La courte échelle<br />
<br />
<b>La fille d'en face</b>Written by Linda Amyot (St-Charles-Boromée, QC)<br />
Éditions Leméac<br />
<br />
<b>Oh ! la vache !</b>Written by Alain M. Bergeron (Victoriaville, QC), Édith Bourget (Saint-Jacques, NB),Colombe Labonté (Saint-Lambert, QC) and Guy Marchamps (Trois-Rivières, QC)<br />
Illustrated by Caroline Merola (Montreal, QC)<br />
Soulières éditeur<br />
<br />
<b>Xavier-la-lune</b>Written by Martine Audet (Montreal, QC)<br />
Illustrated by Luc Melanson (Laval, QC)<br />
Éditions Dominique et compagnie<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">MARILYN BAILLIE PICTURE BOOK AWARD ($20,000)</span></b><i><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Sponsored by A. Charles Baillie</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I Know Here<i><br />
</i></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Laurel Croza (Markham, ON)<br />
Illustrated by Matt James (Toronto, ON)<br />
Groundwood Books<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In Front of My House</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written and illustrated by Marianne Dubuc (Montreal, QC)<br />
Translated by Yvette Ghione (Toronto, ON)<br />
Kids Can Press<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Singing Away the Dark</b>Written by Caroline Woodward (Victoria, BC)<br />
Illustrated by Julie Morstad (Vancouver, BC)<br />
Simply Read Books<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Spork</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Kyo Maclear (Toronto, ON)<br />
Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (Montreal, QC)<br />
Kids Can Press<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Stanley’s Little Sister</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Linda Bailey (Vancouver, BC)<br />
Illustrated by Bill Slavin (Millbrook, ON)<br />
Kids Can Press<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">NORMA FLECK AWARD FOR CANADIAN CHILDREN’S NON-FICTION ($10,000)</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Sponsored by the Fleck Family Foundation<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<b>Case Closed! Nine Mysteries Unlocked by Modern Science </b>Written by Susan Hughes (Toronto, ON)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Illustrated by Michael Wandelmaier (Toronto, ON)<br />
Kids Can Press<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written and illustrated by Daniel Loxton (Victoria, BC)<br />
Kids Can Press<br />
<b><br />
Not Your Typical Book About the Environment</b>Written by Elin Kelsey (Pacific Grove, CA)<br />
Illustrated by Clayton Hanmer (Toronto, ON)<b><br />
</b>Owlkids<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Jody Nyasha Warner (Toronto, ON)<br />
Illustrated by Richard Rudnicki (Halifax, NS)<br />
Groundwood Books<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Watch This Space: Designing, Defending and Sharing Public Spaces</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
Written by Hadley Dyer (Toronto, ON)<br />
Illustrated by Marc Ngui (Cambridge, ON)<br />
Kids Can Press</span><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">GEOFFREY BILSON AWARD FOR HISTORICAL FICTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ($5,000)</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Sponsored by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Bilson Endowment Fund</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<b>Exiles from the War: The War Guests Diary of Charlotte Mary Twiss<br />
(Dear Canada)</b><br />
Written by Jean Little (Guelph, ON)<br />
Scholastic Canada<br />
<b><br />
Folly</b>Written by Marthe Jocelyn (Stratford, ON)<br />
Tundra Books<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Glory Wind</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Valerie Sherrard (Miramichi, NB)<br />
Fitzhenry & Whiteside<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Queen of Hearts</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
Written by Martha Brooks (Winnipeg, MB)<br />
Groundwood Books<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wild Geese</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Caroline Pignat (Kanata, ON)<br />
Red Deer Press<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">JOHN SPRAY MYSTERY AWARD ($5,000)</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Sponsored by John Spray<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Borderline<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Allan Stratton (Toronto, ON)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">HarperTrophyCanada<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Dead Bird Through the Cat Door<br />
(Megabyte Mystery)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Jan Markley (Calgary, AB)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Gumboot Books<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The Mystery of the Cyber Bully<br />
(Marty Chan Mystery)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Marty Chan (Edmonton, AB)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Thistledown Press<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A Spy in the House<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(The Agency)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Y.S. Lee (Kingston, ON)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Candlewick Press<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Victim Rights<br />
(Ryan Dooley Mystery)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Written by Norah McClintock (Toronto, ON)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Red Deer Press</span></div></pclass=msonormal>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-91135346519452668512011-06-14T10:48:00.001-07:002011-06-14T10:48:32.840-07:00Guardian's Top non-fiction picks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The Guardian posted their <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jun/14/100-greatest-non-fiction-books">100 top picks for non-fiction</a>. Sadly, there were quite a few of the titles that I hadn't read, but then I do tend more toward fiction, so I suppose I can be forgiven. Here are a few that I read, although I confess that when it came to Hawkings' <i>A Brief History of Time</i>, it was more of a "tried to read" kind of thing.<br />
<br />
It makes me wonder if anyone has put a similar list together for kid's non-fiction?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97801/41/18/5361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97801/41/18/5361.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97800/99/52/9750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97800/99/52/9750.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97800/99/52/6407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97800/99/52/6407.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97805/52/99/3661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97805/52/99/3661.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="125" /></a><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97801/41/18/3053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97801/41/18/3053.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="130" /></a><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97801/41/03/9824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97801/41/03/9824.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="129" /></a><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97801/99/53/8065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97801/99/53/8065.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="131" /></a><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97805/93/06/0506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97805/93/06/0506.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="122" /></a><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97800/99/53/3115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97800/99/53/3115.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="130" /></a><a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97800/07/20/5011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97800/07/20/5011.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="131" /></a><br />
<a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97801/99/53/8065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/books/data/covers/97801/99/53/8065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-75310096829765383722011-06-13T10:06:00.000-07:002011-06-13T10:06:11.206-07:002011 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards for Children.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>The</b> </span><strong style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.hbook.com/bghb/current.asp">Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards for Children's Books</a> are:</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hbook.com/Images/CommonImages/books/bghb/2011/blink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hbook.com/Images/CommonImages/books/bghb/2011/blink.jpg" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://www.hbook.com/Images/CommonImages/books/bghb/2011/benedict.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hbook.com/Images/CommonImages/books/bghb/2011/benedict.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><a href="http://www.hbook.com/Images/CommonImages/books/bghb/2011/pocket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.hbook.com/Images/CommonImages/books/bghb/2011/pocket.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fiction</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><i>Blink & Caution</i> by Tim Wynne-Jones (Candlewick) </div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nonfiction</span></span></b></span><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;" /><i>The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism, & Treachery</i> by Steve Sheinkin (Flash Point/Roaring Brook)</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Picture Book</span></span></b></span><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;" /><i>Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes </i>by Salley Mavor (Houghton)</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Honor Books are:</span></b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><b></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;" /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fiction</span></b></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><i>Chime</i> by Franny Billingsley (Dial)<br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;" /><i>Anna Hibiscus</i> by Atinuke (Kane Miller)</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; margin-top: 3px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nonfiction</span></b></span></span><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;" /><i>Into the Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea, and Air</i> by Stewart Ross, illustrated by Stephen Biesty (Candlewick)<br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;" /><i>Can We Save the Tiger? </i>by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Vicky White (Candlewick)</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span><br />
Picture Book</b></span></span></span><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;" /><i>Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night</i> by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen (Houghton)<br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;" /><i>Pecan Pie Baby </i>by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Sophie Blackall (Putnam)readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-59627408233769840702011-06-12T11:05:00.000-07:002011-06-12T11:05:58.202-07:00Simple writing exercise helps break vicious cycle that holds back black studentsOne of my colleagues mentioned this article in a list serve I belong to. It involves having students write for 15 minutes about something they believe is important. It could be good grades, a skill or talent or having good friends. The exercise was originally done with grade 7 students in a class that was a mix of white and black students and was intended to boost self-esteem. And guess what, it works. So, if your a teacher, check this out. <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/04/16/simple-writing-exercise-helps-break-vicious-cycle-that-holds-back-black-students/">Simple writing exercise helps break vicious cycle that holds back black students</a>.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-84357393150615785962011-06-11T08:00:00.000-07:002011-06-11T08:00:07.543-07:00It's the content that matters<div class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right;"><a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Margaret%2BAtwood" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Margaret Atwood" src="http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/126/16197851.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Cover of <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Margaret%2BAtwood">Margaret Atwood</a></span></div>It's always refreshing when you read a pragmatic piece about books. There's so much hype about platform that we sometimes for get that it's the content that's important...and as <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/no-e-books-without-authors-atwood-reminds-us/article1943785/page2/">Margaret Atwood points out in a Globe & Mail</a> piece published in March that I somehow missed, there's no content without authors! <br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=1980831d-3b45-4282-987e-552f16f37769" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-8411341097223523652011-06-10T16:55:00.000-07:002011-06-10T16:55:11.212-07:00Greg Pincus, "IT's June (and I'm Still in School)"<div class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kuehlschrankpoesie.jpg" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kuehlschrankpoesie" height="225" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Kuehlschrankpoesie.jpg/300px-Kuehlschrankpoesie.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 300px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kuehlschrankpoesie.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></div>I love Greg Pincus. He's just so enthusiastic as well as being a great poet. Check out his poem "<a href="http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2011/06/its-june-and-i-am-still-in-school-end.html">It's June (and I'm Still in School</a>)"<br />
<br />
Enjoy! <br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=776f6c13-7d2b-45fb-9d61-901baba59b5f" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-32686562358064071082011-06-10T14:54:00.000-07:002011-06-10T14:54:27.246-07:00the dark YA literature controversyThere has been such a flurry over dark YA literature this past week. I've added my two cents worth on my <a href="http://readingkidsbooks-teenreads.blogspot.com/2011/06/dark-ya-literature.html">teenreads blog</a>. Check it out.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-42193113970643502242011-06-07T19:32:00.000-07:002011-06-07T19:39:59.392-07:00ABC's of Team BC Legacy Project: connecting kids with books<div style="font: 14.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here's a very cool project that connects kids with books. Check it out, and if you can, participate. If BC is too far away, consider starting up a similar project in your home town. Share books and you will be sharing opportunities to grow, read, and learn.</span></span></b></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica;"><b> </b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">ABC’s of TEAM BC LEGACY PROJECT</span></b></div><div style="font: 10.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="color: #4f81bd; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Helvetica;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font: 10.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="color: #4f81bd; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A</span></b></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">thletes </span></span><span style="color: #4f81bd; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">B</span></b></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">elieving in </span></span><span style="color: #4f81bd; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">C</span></b></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ommunities </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Western Canada Summer Games August 5-14, 2011</span></i></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ABC’s of Team BC Legacy Project </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">is an initiative of the 2011 Western Canada Summer Games Team BC program. Team BC, in partnership with Literacy in Kamloops (LinK), will launch the “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bright Red Bookshelf” </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">project in Kamloops. The </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ABC’s Legacy Project </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">thletes </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">B</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">elieving in </span></i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">C</span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ommunities</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">) teams up with LinK to fill custom built bright red bookshelves placed in designated locations in Kamloops with new and gently used children’s books. Children can enjoy these books at the sites and take home free books.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Team BC Mission Staff will lead the collection of books, designated for children from birth to 12 years old, from Team BC athletes, coaches, managers, parents, partners and MLAs and deliver them to LinK who will deliver them to bookshelf location sites (Food Bank, homeless shelters, inner city schools, medical walk-in clinics, etc.).</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The initiative demonstrates the social responsibility and mobilizes the goodwill that Team BC members feel as participants in a multi-sport Games event and recognizes the needs in their home communities across the province.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In exchange for a donation, a Team BC sun pin will be provided to the donor.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Books can be given to a member of Team BC to provide to one of the Mission staff and can also be dropped off at PacificSport Regional Centres and Canadian Sport Centre Pacific Centres throughout BC (Nanaimo, Victoria, Whistler, Vancouver, Abbotsford, Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, and Fort St. John).</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The 2011 Western Canada Summer Games take place Aug. 5-14 in Kamloops and will bring together approximately 2,300 athletes competing in 18 sports, along with coaches, managers and officials from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territory.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Team BC will send 356 athletes aged 12 to 22 and 69 coaches to the 2011 Western Canada Summer Games. BC has won the Western Canada Summer Games Cup every year since the Games’ inception in 1975.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For more information contact </span></span><span style="color: #1738f5; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="mailto:legacy@teambc.org">legacy@teambc.org</a></span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Helvetica;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">BACKGROUNDER </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">PacificSport/ Canadian Sport Centre Pacific Addresses:</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>PacificSport Fraser Valley</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">2499 McMillan Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7R3</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>PacificSport Interior BC</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Tournament Capital Centre 910 McGill Road Kamloops, BC V2C 6N6</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre PacificSport Northern BC </b><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial;">3333 University Way Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Pomeroy Sport Centre PacificSport Northern BC </b><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial;">9324 – 96 Street Fort St. John, BC</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">V1J 0H6</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><i>(book drop-off locations)</i></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>PacificSport Okanagan</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">645 Dodd Road Kelowna, BC V1X 5H1</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>PacificSport Vancouver Island</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">900 Fifth Street (Bldg. 100) Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5</div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><b>Canadian Sport Centre Pacific (Victoria Campus) </b></span>Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence 4371 Interurban Road</div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Victoria, BC V9E 2C5</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>High Performance Training Centre @ Whistler Athletes' Centre </b><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial;">1090 Legacy Way Whistler, BC</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">V0N 1B1</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>CSC Pacific Vancouver Campus</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">1 Athletes Way</div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Vancouver, BC</div><div style="font: 12.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">V5Y 0B1</div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-50116366009526995112011-06-07T16:47:00.000-07:002011-06-07T16:53:04.015-07:00New British Children's Laureate appointed<div class="zemanta-img separator"><a href="http://www.daylife.com/image/0dOz00x3DLgr7?utm_source=zemanta&utm_medium=p&utm_content=0dOz00x3DLgr7&utm_campaign=z1" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 07: Author Julia Donal..." height="150" src="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dOz00x3DLgr7/114x150.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: 0.8em;" width="114" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 114px;">Image by <a href="http://www.daylife.com/source/Getty_Images">Getty Images</a> via <a href="http://www.daylife.com/">@daylife</a></span></div><div class="article" style="color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Good news for England. <a href="http://www.juliadonaldson.co.uk/">Julia Donaldson</a> has been named as the Children's Laureate for 2011-2013. With more than a hundred titles to her name, including </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Gruffalo</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The </span></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Snail and The Whale, What the Ladybird Heard</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, The </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Princess Mirror-Belle</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> books, and </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Running on the Crack</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">s. Donadson has written musicals, plays, poems and songs, and is a well known performer. The queen of rhyme is a welcome change, especially given her popularity with younger children. <i>The Guardian</i> reports that "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To have a children's laureate whose skill lies in appealing to pre-school children who, once hooked by what books offer, are more likely to enjoy reading and become readers for life, is an invaluable asset in the UK's efforts to improve national standards of literacy." </span></span></span></span></div></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TMZXvH4tL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TMZXvH4tL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></span>Donaldson celebrated the honor by including all seven previous children's laureates in an original rhyming poem!</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;">So Canada, when will you be stepping up to the plate and appointing a Canadian Children's Laureate?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=347641a8-1e6c-4178-9b05-22b61da54b85" style="border: none; float: right;" /></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-61369212465099909352011-06-05T12:05:00.000-07:002011-06-05T12:05:00.544-07:002011 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Book AwardsThe Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Book Awards have been announced.<br />
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Here are this year's winners.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="left" height="117" hspace="5" src="http://www.arts.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?vid=8047" width="100" /></td><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><h3 style="color: #2794a4; font-size: 1.308em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px;"><b>CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK AWARD </b></h3></b><b><i>Chester’s Masterpiece</i></b>By Mélanie Watt (Laval, QC)<br />
Published by Kids Can Press</td></tr>
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<img align="left" height="153" hspace="5" src="http://www.arts.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?vid=8049" width="100" /></td><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><b><h3 style="color: #2794a4; font-size: 1.308em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px;"><b><b>YOUNG ADULT / MIDDLE READER AWARD</b></b></h3></b><em>Half Brother </em></b>By Kenneth Oppel (Toronto, ON)<br />
Published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.<br />
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To find out more about this Ontario Arts Council Award, check out their <a href="http://www.arts.on.ca/Page4213.aspx">site</a>.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-63624836846515724902011-06-04T08:00:00.000-07:002011-06-04T15:41:29.903-07:00The 2011 Chocolate Lily Book Award Winners<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">PICTURE BOOK</span></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/61hizCBP+4L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/61hizCBP+4L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><b></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Winner</span> - <i>Fred and Pete at the Beach</i> by Cynthia Nugent</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 15px;">2nd Place</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"> -<i> Stanley's Beauty Pageant</i> by Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 15px;">CHAPTER BOOK</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/51n3YknW+8L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/51n3YknW+8L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Winner </span>- <i>Zach and Zoe Bully and the Beagl</i>e by Kristin Butcher</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2nd Place</span> - <i>Goldfish Don't Take Bubble Baths</i> by Trina Wiebe</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 15px;">NOVEL</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/51NBbH6WFPL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU15_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/51NBbH6WFPL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU15_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Winner </span>-<i> The Giant Slayer</i> by Iain Lawrence</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 15px;">2nd Place</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"> - <i>Bank Job</i> by James Heneghan and Norma Charles</span>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-56423509141287128072011-06-03T20:28:00.000-07:002011-06-03T20:28:32.035-07:00It's June (and I'm Still in SchoolI love Greg Pincus. He's so full of enthusiasm and he's a great poet and poetry advocate. Check out his "<a href="http://gottabook.blogspot.com/2011/06/its-june-and-i-am-still-in-school-end.html">It's June (And I'm Still in School)</a>" poem. If you're a teacher and are looking for something to entice kids given all the craziness of year end going on, have them write their own "June" poem.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-17495085819371924252011-06-03T08:47:00.000-07:002011-06-03T08:47:00.571-07:00How to Host a Skype Author Visit<div class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right;"><a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/company/skype" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image representing Skype as depicted in CrunchBase" height="47" src="http://www.crunchbase.com/assets/images/resized/0000/1387/1387v1-max-450x450.png" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="105" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: both; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 105px;">Image via <a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/">CrunchBase</a></span></div>Author school visits are a wonderful way to turn kids onto books. But, with tight budgets, a lot of schools simply can't afford the expense; unless they get creative. Author Skype visits are a less expensive alternative, and it's easier than you think. Most schools already have the equipment necessary and Margriet Ruurs has written an easy "how to" host an <a href="http://www.canadianteachermagazine.com/pdf/CTM-Sept10.pdf">author Skype visit</a> in <i>Canadian Teacher Magazine. W</i>hile you're there, check out a few of the other wonderful articles. <br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=5500c922-21cd-4b3e-be6a-23e8dbaedd90" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-59880896104547804822011-06-02T14:42:00.000-07:002011-06-02T14:45:10.900-07:00The Cat's out of the Bag: Pajama Press<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb07rEVk0f5t-FMUNHXf-CiVMb9N88cjlFTiov1s80_QVWloa-E6nr_iitDyWOrfmO3bFnqIdf95vDqAedIXZCnX0GSX3avxfGzQEnmXZyD__hQI0HhBGFuKh7FfJNyC-HcoyQA/s1600/pajama+pres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb07rEVk0f5t-FMUNHXf-CiVMb9N88cjlFTiov1s80_QVWloa-E6nr_iitDyWOrfmO3bFnqIdf95vDqAedIXZCnX0GSX3avxfGzQEnmXZyD__hQI0HhBGFuKh7FfJNyC-HcoyQA/s1600/pajama+pres.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My former publisher, Gail Winskill has started a new press. I'm super excited. They are starting out with three fabulous authors, who have all been edited by Ann Featherstone, my long-time editor. I just know that this new publishing house for children's titles will be great. </div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vA8BalG46zGUQtpKMxvEIR3ftABuriKXWGMd9eZ6utJwq0gQjYwSRnBwmcXgDqs-HktCBdqJHeO69EBH1YntKIfEqwhL5OJ6Eui8BCtWnjFQ17em-zoFlI5CCXxM_vVQ1in_Yg/s1600/PRESS+RELEASE.PAJAMAPRESS.MAY31.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vA8BalG46zGUQtpKMxvEIR3ftABuriKXWGMd9eZ6utJwq0gQjYwSRnBwmcXgDqs-HktCBdqJHeO69EBH1YntKIfEqwhL5OJ6Eui8BCtWnjFQ17em-zoFlI5CCXxM_vVQ1in_Yg/s640/PRESS+RELEASE.PAJAMAPRESS.MAY31.11.jpg" width="494" /></a>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-19138311456414356722011-05-21T11:36:00.000-07:002011-05-21T11:36:42.709-07:00Getting Books into the hands of kidsOne of the regular occurrences of being an author is the request for books. Most people aren't aware that we authors have to buy our own books and pay for shipping. Sadly, that means that most of us creators simply can't afford to support every charity request that comes our way. My colleague and friend Margriet Ruurs has come up with a clever solution. She's come up with a service called <a href="http://bookmatchmaker.blogspot.com/">Bookmatcher</a>. The idea is to match books with groups that are trying to get books into the hands of children, no matter where they are in the world. So, if you are in need of books to support children and reading, or if you have books to donate, this site is for you. Here it all is in Margriet's own words.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px;"><a href="http://bookmatchmaker.blogspot.com/2011/05/matching-books-to-readers.html" style="color: #993300; text-decoration: none;">Matching books to readers</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry" style="margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="post-header" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4550032683362100828" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0adYwKbptPoz0tCES96946WTsD4UY-0NqjltxuBCP4zNmOvxecayjOWlbBvL0Q-mBczFjiTnNS1qoUQ_MDyFUTC_w-Q6fBF5T3g6eU-sBXArGdb-n-sdhBRiB_KRE4nRrlSwE/s1600/book_250x251.jpg" style="color: #993300; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608940024784734338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0adYwKbptPoz0tCES96946WTsD4UY-0NqjltxuBCP4zNmOvxecayjOWlbBvL0Q-mBczFjiTnNS1qoUQ_MDyFUTC_w-Q6fBF5T3g6eU-sBXArGdb-n-sdhBRiB_KRE4nRrlSwE/s200/book_250x251.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976562) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative; width: 199px;" /></a><br />
Are you in need of books?<br />
If you run a program to get books into the hands of children, anywhere in the world, this is the place to come! As a service learning site, schools, libraries, organizations and individuals can find programs to support.<br />
<br />
To have your project approved, send details, including where, how and why you bring books to children. Once approved, your project will be shared online.<br />
<br />
If you are an educator, parent, librarian or any person wanting to help bring books and children together, check this blog, select the project of your choice, then contact that project directly to send books, school supplies or money.</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4550032683362100828" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;"><br />
</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4550032683362100828" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">If you have any questions, you can reach Margriet Ruurs at margrietruurs@hotmail.com<br />
</div></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><div class="descriptionwrapper" style="margin-bottom: 25px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 30px; padding-right: 30px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="description" style="color: white; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 0px;"><span>If you run a service program to get books into the hands of children, anywhere in the world, this is the place to come! Please scroll to 1st post for details.</span></div></div></span>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-2733581452360523382011-05-21T11:19:00.000-07:002011-05-21T11:19:42.028-07:00Help Slave Lake, AB rebuild their fire-devestated library<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">My son-in-law has been up fighting the fire in Slave Lake Alberta. In a phone conversation to us he spoke about how terrible the destruction was. What a nightmare for the people of that fire-devestated town. My heart goes out to them. One of their losses has been their new public library. I'm so happy to see that support from other libraries, publishers and book lovers has been pouring in. Please consider helping with:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">1) cash donations </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">which can be made through </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.slavelakelibrary.ab.ca/">www.slavelakelibrary.ab.ca</a> on their "Make</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> a Donation" link, or</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">2) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">donating new or nearly new books (they are asking for books no older than 2 years, probably to avoid musty cast-offs). These can be shipped to the Peace Library system headquarters for cataloguing and storage until a temporary library can be opened in Slave Lake.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><b>ATTN: Books for Slave Lake Library<br />
Peace Library System<br />
8301 -- 110 Street<br />
Grande Prairie, AB T8W 6T2</b><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><http: www.slavelakelibrary.ab.ca=""><br />
</http:></span> <br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=c232724e-d0e3-4bc8-99f2-d6bed2ff394f" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-85457145661243459142011-05-07T09:45:00.000-07:002011-05-07T09:45:07.187-07:00Support for libraries is linked to increased reading scores<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 1px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Guess what? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Support for libraries is important to learning. What we all knew intuitively turns out to be true. A group of American and Canadian researchers have found that when support for school libraries goes up, so do reading scores as well as learning measured in other ways. "School Library Research Summarized" can be found at the link below. It has also been turned into a booklet and a website. Both can be found here:</span><a href="http://library.mansfield.edu/impact.asp" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px;"><span class="s1">http://library.mansfield.edu/impact.asp</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">. Thanks to my colleague Brenda Kearns from the Canadian Society of Authors Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP for the heads up).</span></div></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-25530693997468719352011-05-06T17:52:00.000-07:002011-05-06T17:53:10.390-07:00Rules by Cynthia Lord<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OgsXFEHXL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OgsXFEHXL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">One of the problems with loving books is trying to keep up with reading everything that comes through the door! This is made worse by living in a tiny house with limited bookshelves requiring me to double the rows of books. I’ve had <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rules</i> by Cynthia Lord since it came out, but only recently rediscovered it in the back book row when I was doing a little book weeding. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Once I started<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Rules</i>, I couldn’t put it down. It’s an absolutely wonderful book, with insights into the lives of families coping with the challenges of autism that we can all learn from. The story is narrated by Catherine whose younger brother David is autistic. Catherine is a loving, but frustrated sister who is frequently responsible for looking after her brother while her mom works from her home office. The novel’s title comes from the rules Catherine makes for herself and those she makes for her brother. Rules like “When things get confusing, make a joke,” help her to cope with making new friends including Jason, the quadriplegic boy she meets at her brother’s physiotherapist’s office. More basic rules like “Keep your pants on! Unless Mom, Dad or the doctor tells you to take them off,” help her brother survive in the sometimes frightening and incomprehensible world around him. But, neither Catherine nor her brother can rely entirely on rules. When rules don’t work, Catherine has art to fall back on. When rules don’t work for David, he takes comfort in the words of Arnold Lobel. But sometimes something more is needed; sometimes, tolerance and love and humor are what gets you through the day. This is a book about all of those things…rules, art, language, love and tolerance and humor. This is a book you’ll want to read, </div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-1638259813366222712011-04-20T16:12:00.000-07:002011-04-20T16:12:48.144-07:00Oops. I missed my 5 year blogging anniversaryLife is crazy busy right now, so I've decided to cut myself a little slack. I'm taking a blogging vacation until things settle down a little. Feel free to peruse the past five years of posts (I actually missed my five year blog anniversary!). I'll still be tweeting and facebooking on occasion so I won't be disappearing entirely. Happy spring.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25261591.post-60265496394581061892011-04-20T08:00:00.000-07:002011-04-20T08:00:05.438-07:00Canadian Children's Book Week is here!<div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Don't forget that the <a href="http://www.bookweek.ca/">TD Canadian Children's Book Week</a> runs from April 30th-May 7th 2011. The theme this year is "Changing the World, One Child at a Time." Check out the <a href="http://themeguide.bookweek.ca/index.php">theme guide</a> for some great book recommendations. And watch for touring authors, illustrators and storytellers in your area.</div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And, if you or someone close to you has always wanted to become a writer, check out this year's story contest winners and the judges comments. They'll be posted at<a href="http://www.bookweek.ca/"> www.bookweek.ca </a>on May 4th.</div><div style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0