author of more than a dozen books for kids & teens
23 Dec 2011 1 Comment
in News Tags: elfyourself, fun site, merry xmas
Here’s a quickie post. I came across this silly but fun site to “elfyourself“. So I did, and you can too! It’s so easy that it only took minutes. This free video will only be available for about 30 days, but if you want a more permanent record, you can buy it for under $5.
Merry Xmas.
22 Dec 2011 2 Comments
in News, Worthy Causes Tags: Alison Lester, Boori Mony Pryor, Children's Laureate, Shake a Leg
It seems that everyone is doing it, that is everyone except us!
Britain, the U.S.A and now Australia have each appointed Children’s Laureates to promote literacy and reading. Australia recently appointed Alison Lester and Boori Monty Pryor to a two year stint as Children’s Laureates.
Here’s a very cool book trailer I found based on Boori Monty Pryor’s collaborative book about cultural sharing.
The idea of a Children’s Laureate is to inspire children to read, to open up a rich and diverse world of story and literature to them, and to ensure that our children’s future is a literate one. Isn’t this something we all want? So when is Canada going to wake up? I can think of a few well-loved Canadian writers that would be perfect for the job. Watch out Harper…children’s literature advocates might be on your doorstep sooner than you think.
22 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in News Tags: Brian Selznick American Museum of Natural History
I haven’t been to New York City for a really really long time. This Wonderstruck virtual tour narrated by author and illustrator, Brian Selznick is a real teaser. It so makes me want to go back to NY to the American Museum of Natura History, which I remember being absolutely magical the only time I ever visited back when I was 18.
22 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in News Tags: December Solstice
Today at 05:30 it is the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere or the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere. We are on our way to spring!. Happy solstice.
21 Dec 2011 1 Comment
in News Tags: Edible Xmas tree, The Daily Buzz
Here’s one more Xmas tree, but this kind is for eating! It would make a fabulous centre piece for Xmas breakfast. I found this on The Daily Buzz.
20 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
My daughter thought that Ruby would make the perfect stocking stuffer. Unfortunately, Ruby was not so sure!
18 Dec 2011 4 Comments
in News Tags: BC, French Beach
It was a beautiful day yesterday, so we decided that a walk on French Beach was just the thing. French Beach is the first place along the west coast of Vancouver Island that is not sheltered by Washington’s Olympic Peninsula Washington. Beyond Sooke, French Beach is rainforest country, with big trees, dripping in moss and lichen, and waves that toss giant logs around as if they were mere matchsticks. At this time of the year it’s it’s deserted, and we virtually had the beach to ourselves. It’s a little piece of heaven.
17 Dec 2011 1 Comment
in News Tags: Stephen Miller, support the arts, Whale Sunset
If you’re on the lookout for fabulous and unique presents for you loved ones, forget the shopping mall; consider art. Artists need your support, and art makes wonderful gifts.
I love being abe to support artists in my community. I bought this beautiful piece by Stephen Miller for a birthday gift.
Stephen uses ultra thin wood veneers to create his gorgeous pictures. In this case, he used Black Walnut, Maple, Koa, Beech, Cherry, Arbutus, Bubinga, Dyed Koto, Dyed Anegre, Crotch, Honduras and Philippine Mahogany. He also made the frame which is solid wood and lovely.
Whale Sunset by Stephen Miller
17 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in News Tags: alasdair gray, jeanette winterson, kyo maclear, naomi klein, worldly success
Imagine what money might look like if writers and artists were in charge! Just for fun, here are a few currency ideas from society’s artistic side. These were my favorites but to see the whole 18, visit the Guardian.
John Gray ‘A £50 note showing five noble beasts facing extinction in the wild, to remind users of the loss of natural wealth that no amount of money can replace.’
Jeanette Winterson. Banknote Design for Sat Review
Alasdair Gray Banknote Design for Sat Review
Naomi Klein and Kyo Maclear; redefining worldly success
15 Dec 2011 Leave a comment
in For Educators, For Parents, News Tags: Bread and Jam for Frances, children's literature, Russell Hoban, The Mouse and His Child
from Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban, illustrated by his wife Lillian Hoban
I was saddened when reading about the death of one of children’s literature greats, Russell Hoban in the New York Times. The author will live on in his Frances books, which my children absolutely adored and which adults never tired of reading. Having grown up in a family of non-readers, I was first introduced to Hoban through his exquisite writing in The Mouse and His Child when took a children’s literature course in university. Hoban, who wrote more than 50 books for children (from tots to teens), went on to write for adults. Two of his better known books include: Turtle Diary (it was made into a movie of the same name) and his futuristic, critically acclaimed Riddley Walker which was once in the book pile on my bedside table, but which I never did get around to reading.
Sheryl McFarlane 