What's New!
Posted July 4, 2011
Rocky Mountain Book Awards
Exciting news and a wonderful honour! At the Edge has been nominated for Alberta's Rocky Mountain Book Awards. The award program invites grade 4-7 students across the province to choose their favourite book from a shortlist of 20 tiles drawn from areas of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Students have until April 19, 2012 to read a minimum of 5 books on the list. Results will be announced on April 23, 2012.
To learn more about the Rocky Mountain Book Awards and the nominated titles click here.
Posted May 20, 2011
My thanks to the staff and students of the Red Lake, Ontario region for hosting me during a visit in early May when I spent a day in each of three area schools: Golden Learning Centre, Ear Falls Public School, and Red Lake-Madsen Public School. My thanks to Margaret Vermette, principal of Golden Learning Centre, who invited me and shuttled me around, and to the other principals, teachers, librarians and students who made me feel so welcome
I had a grand time and there were many outstanding moments Here are a hand-picked few:
- The huge posters awaiting me at the entrance to Golden Learning Centre on the first day, each an accurate and stunning representation of one of my book covers. Wow! What a greeting. Thanks everyone in the school who helped.
- The ride from Balmertown to Ear Falls on a coolish, but clear morning. Thank you principal Debra Geary and her father, Gary, for driving me and giving me a hometown tour of the area.
- The delightful questions from students at every school. What an interest in writing you showed!. If there was an award for an especially clever approach, it would probably go to the grade 7 or 8 student at Red Lake-Madsen who asked a two-part question: 1) How many years have you been writing? 2) How old were you when you started? Good questions, but perhaps a third question was also being asked. It would only take a little math to figure out the answer.... Just how old are you?
- The grade 5/6 students at Ear Falls who were so pumped after reading segments of Survivors that they just had to illustrate their favourite stories. I loved your posters.
- A special thanks to Dylan and Jagger, students in the grade 2/3 class at Ear Falls, who created their own graphic novel after my visit. Picking up on a story I told of the time when I was their age and wanted more than anything to fly like Superman, these two students wrote and illustrated their own book featuring me as the superhero. Their book, Larry and the Dinosaurs, is on proud display in my writing office. Thanks guys, and thanks, too, to Shirley Demarais, the Ear Falls librarian who mailed their work to me. Outstanding!
To see pictures of Dylan & Jagger's work as well as others of my visit to Red Lake click here
Posted March 16, 2011
Congratulations to Winnipeg’s Luxton School. Interpreting the theme “The World According to Luxton” in their own special way, each K-6 class explored literacy from different angles, using art, video, drama, photography as well as writing. On February 17th the school held an open house to showcase their work. The giant 'Synergy' painting by Room 20 students shown on the home page was just one of the many creative products.
My thanks to Ellen Donogh, teacher-librarian, who invited me
to participate. Thanks as well to staff and students who made me feel so welcome. Special kudos to Mrs. Velychko and her students
- Adam, Jordan, Danielle, Danial, Miranda and Epiphany - who took me into their
Posted January 30, 2011
Building Bridges - Acadia School's Publishing
Project
Grade 7-9 students of Acadia School in Winnipeg are embarking on their own publishing project – an illustrated book highlighting the many cultures that comprise this diverse school. More than 50 students are involved, selected for their writing or artistic strengths or for their connections to a particular culture. Besides enhancing literacy and providing an authentic learning experience, the book project has broad social goals as well - to promote tolerance and empathy while at the same time celebrating the school’scultures.
At a kick-off session on January 20, I was invited to the school to share my own writing experiences and take students behind
the scenes of the publishing industry, showing them the various stages and many hands required to bring a book to completion. Judging
by the questions, the students’enthusiasm, and the staff standing solidly behind the project, the Acadia book is in good hands. Stay
tuned for a future peek at this student creation.
Thanks for inviting me to your school, Acadia!