Announcing the new National Reading Campaign YouTube Channel. Watch well-known authors such as Terry Fallis, Robert Rotenberg and Brian Francis talk about what reading means to them.
New National Reading Campaign YouTube Channel
28 Sep 2011 Leave a comment
in Events, For Educators, For Parents, Worthy Causes Tags: Brian Franciis, National Reading Campaign YouTube Channel, Robert Rotenberg, Terry Fallis, the importance of reading
Proceeds from a children’s book, Sock Wars will support Raise-A-Reader
16 Sep 2011 Leave a comment
in For Kids, Helping Hands, News, Worthy Causes Tags: Canuck Place, Erika Quiroz, Hannah Christensen, literacy, Make A Wish Foundation, Raise a Reader, Sock Wars
The loss of a child is a difficult thing for any family, but the Christensen family of British Columbia have chosen to remember their son and brother, Jonah by raising funds for children’s charities. The Make-A-Wish-Foundation and Canuck Place (a pediatric hospice that provides palliative care children and support for their families) are two charities that have benefited from this family’s admirable efforts to cope with their grief by supporting others in need. Since Jonah’s dad was a magician, it was a natural to raise funds through magic shows. This year, the family has expanded their fundraising efforts to include a children’s book inspired by Jonah’s playfulness. Sock Wars is the story of a sister and brother who have fun even before the chores are done. Written by Jonah’s twelve year old sister, Hannah Christensen and illustrated by Erika Quiroz, this charming picture book is as joyful as it is heartfelt. This year, the proceeds from book sales will be donated to the Raise-A-Reader, a children’s literacy program that has raised millions in a little over ten years.
You can read an on-line version of Sock Wars but don’t forget to boost literacy in BC with a generous donation.
Gatekeepers and Quiet Censorship
15 Sep 2011 Leave a comment
in For Educators, For Parents, Help for writers, News, Worthy Causes Tags: gatekeepers, PW Genreville, quiet censorship, Rachel Maniij Brown and Sherwood Smith, YA lit
Publisher Weekly and their various blogs are a wonderful resource for writers and readers. Today in PW Genreville, I came across a most interesting article written by a couple of co-authors about an agent’s rejection. This, however, wasn’t the usual “no thanks” letter. In fact, Rachel Manija Brown and Sherwood Smith were offered representation, but only if they would nix the gay character in their novel or make him straight and remove all references to his sexual orientation. This was a “line drawn in the sand” issue for both authors who declined the offer. It was a serious enough issue that they decided to take it further with the above mentioned article. To be clear, these two published authors were not dissing the agent. After all, agents have to make a living, and their personal tastes did not enter into their offer. What the authors are saying though, is that this kind of gatekeeping is really not acceptable.
FYI, I’ve posted the comment I left at PW Genreville below. If you feel as strongly about quiet censorship and gatekeeping as I do, or as strongly as Manija Brown and Smith do, then you may want to weight in too, either here, or at PW Genreville.
I haven’t written anything thus far with gay characters, but I have noticed this kind of silent censorship lately and I find it particularly disturbing. Kids and teens need to be able to see themselves reflected in literature for a variety of reasons, many of which have been discussed as a result of the sweeping “darkness of young adult literature” generalization that was debated recently re: Wall Street Journal article. The bizarre need to whitewash literature is nothing new, but what is particularly insidious is that now, books may not even make it to publishers much less onto bookshelves. I hope you not only find an agent to sell your story, but a publisher who is willing to risk the wrath of a few narrow minded people in order to provide kids and teens with the literature they want and deserve to have access to if they so choose.
September 8 is International Literacy Day
08 Sep 2011 Leave a comment
in For Educators, For Kids, For Parents, Helping Hands, News, Worthy Causes Tags: ABC Life Literacy Canada, CODE, International Literacy Day, literacy, Literacy USA, Raise a Reader, UNESCO
Happy International Literacy Day! Today is a great day to celebrate literacy, but also to reflect on the riches that being literate has brought to each of us, our families and our communities. Of course it’s a great day for those of us who want to celebrate, but what about the one in five adults who aren’t literate? And what about the 67.4 million children who don’t have the chance to attend school? There are so many ways to support literacy in your community with programs like “Raise a Reader”, nationally through organizations like ABC Life Literacy Canada, Literacy USA and internationally via UNESCO and CODE. If we all do a small part to give others a chance to celebrate life with literacy, we’ll make our world a better place.
Tall Tale Books Needs Your Help
20 Jun 2011 Leave a comment
Tall Tale Books
Image by pattie74_99 via FlickrAlthough 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…they’ve created a “Hero Society” 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.
Sheryl McFarlane 