tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354589732024-03-13T12:55:52.998-07:00Sheryl McFarlane's News BlogCheck out Sheryl's latest newsreadingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-16146161984486982642011-07-06T09:21:00.001-07:002011-07-06T09:21:39.021-07:00My 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-35458973.post-81115049462113436072011-06-21T13:06:00.001-07:002011-06-21T13:06:30.416-07:00National 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-35458973.post-83176146294346253732011-06-14T10:46:00.000-07:002011-06-14T10:46:26.363-07:00The Guardian's top non-fiction list<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 />
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It makes me wonder if anyone has put a similar list together for kid's non-fiction?<br />
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</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-35458973.post-5061853119608930532011-06-13T10:11:00.000-07:002011-06-13T10:11:47.042-07:00Blink & Caution takes home the Boston Globe-Horn Book AwardHere's a shout out to Tim Wynne-Jones for winning the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for fiction. Way to go Tim!<div><br />
</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" height="320" src="http://www.hbook.com/Images/CommonImages/books/bghb/2011/blink.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-87435482322863385212011-06-07T13:40:00.000-07:002011-06-07T13:40:40.781-07:00Michael Hauge's 6 stage plot structureToday I'm trying to apply Michael Hauge's "6 stage plot structure" to the young adult novel I've been working on. He also has a wonderful "Story Concept Template" that I find useful. If you don't know who <a href="http://storymastery.com/">Michael Hauge</a> is and you have writerly aspirations, you may want to spend a little time on his website. You may even want to order a book or two. This guy is amazing. I took a two day workshop with him, and I would love to do more. He gets right the heart of your writing, doesn't mince words, and he's good. His credentials speak for themselves.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-35169735368905034422011-06-02T14:44:00.000-07:002011-06-02T14:45:46.299-07:00The Cat is Out of the Bag: Pajama Press<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j0ZE4fCYEgM/TegDPShX_cI/AAAAAAAAAjg/CB0rx-jV3SQ/s1600/pajama+pres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j0ZE4fCYEgM/TegDPShX_cI/AAAAAAAAAjg/CB0rx-jV3SQ/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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HKgr_uWCE6U/TegB6P9rMVI/AAAAAAAAAjc/0VabGaTnFfA/s1600/PRESS+RELEASE.PAJAMAPRESS.MAY31.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HKgr_uWCE6U/TegB6P9rMVI/AAAAAAAAAjc/0VabGaTnFfA/s640/PRESS+RELEASE.PAJAMAPRESS.MAY31.11.jpg" width="494" /></a>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-60337302676945311762011-05-21T11:22:00.001-07:002011-05-21T11:22:02.660-07:00Help 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 />
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<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.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-33245467591958470932011-05-08T10:03:00.001-07:002011-05-08T10:03:54.011-07:00Happy Mother's DayHappy Mother's Day to all you wonderful mom's out there, especially those who have taken the time to read to children.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-50226413015106855942011-04-20T16:15:00.001-07:002011-04-20T16:15:35.787-07:00Blogging vactionLife 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 few years of posts. 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-35458973.post-40086476810734378052011-04-17T09:36:00.001-07:002011-04-17T09:36:42.113-07:00My friend Margaret<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yesterday I visited my dear elderly friend Margaret in the hospital. She's had a stroke, and is making pretty good progress. But Margaret is a fish out of water in the hospital. She misses her books, even though she is still too weak to hold them. A smattering of magazines and a few soft covered picture books are not enough to feed Margaret's lively curiosity and active mind. She's one of those people who has read at least a book a day since forever. She can discuss Virginia Wolf, the latest Margaret Atwood, or the appropriateness of the ending of Lane Smith's <i>It's a Book</i>, with equal ease. Unfortunately, talking books don't work for Margaret as she is a little deaf and is in a room with several others.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Every Thursday since Margaret has been housebound (several years now) she has held a "salon" day where friends dropped by toting books and ideas. Lively discussions, wonderful snacks, and exotic teas have always been part of those Thursdays which I have missed since Margaret's illness. Still, Margaret is tenacious, and although she desperately wants to be home, with her books, and the lovely garden that her husband Ernst has created, Margaret is still with us. For that I am grateful. There aren't many people in this world as generous, kind, loving and cracker-jack smart as Margaret. Today after work, I will bring along my Kobo, and my boyfriend's iPad to see if either work for Margaret. I have my fingers crossed that one of them will do the trick.</div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-36428136997873094372011-04-14T11:20:00.000-07:002011-04-14T22:54:57.768-07:00Celebrate Teen Lit Day with Rock the Drop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Yep, it's Teen Lit Day</b></span> today, and there is no shortage of ways to celebrate. For ideas on how to make this day rock, check out <a href="http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Support_Teen_Literature_Day">YALSA (Young Adult Library Services)</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.readergirlz.com/tbd.html">readergirlz</a>, one of my favorite blogs, have come up with a pretty cool way to get the word out. It's called Rock the Drop! Here's what you do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. Visit their site (the link is above)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Download the same bookplate I've snagged below</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. Print it</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. Paste it into your favorite YA novel</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. Drop the book in a public place (bus stop, coffee shop, etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. Snap a photo </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7. Send it on over to readergirz AT gmail Dot com </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">8. check out their site to see the YA love</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">9. Thank the cool ladies at readergirlz</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">10. spread the word</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.readergirlz.com/TBD2011Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.readergirlz.com/TBD2011Banner.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8eWnuGXSOnM/TafcRGr__EI/AAAAAAAAAjY/5MPVnvDtd-A/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8eWnuGXSOnM/TafcRGr__EI/AAAAAAAAAjY/5MPVnvDtd-A/s320/image.jpg" width="239" /></a><br />
Here's my contribution. I left it in the lobby of my local rec. centre and it was gone when I finished my workout an hour later. I know that whoever has it will enjoy Miss Smithers by Susan Juby.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-11505752790033512432011-04-12T11:04:00.000-07:002011-04-12T11:04:38.078-07:00National Volunteer Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://volunteer.ca/files/img-proud-sponsor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://volunteer.ca/files/img-proud-sponsor.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://volunteer.ca/nvw/">This is National Volunteer Week</a>, a special time in the year to celebrate how important volunteers are in our community. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that volunteers make the world go around. So, be sure to let volunteers know how much you appreciate them no only this week, but every day of the year. And while your at it, consider becoming a volunteer yourself if you haven't already...become a big sister or big brother, offer to drive seniors in your community to appointments, help out with a school fundraiser, volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen, organize a beach or park clean-up, donate one on one time to a literacy group, or offer your building skills to Habitat for Humanity. There are endless ways that you can make our world a better place. Make a difference today. Volunteer!readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-35573462561269350132011-04-07T13:52:00.000-07:002011-04-07T13:52:53.576-07:00When work is good...Yesterday I started playing around with a new picture book manuscript over lunch but had to leave it to get back to what I'd been working on earlier. Last night I dreamed about poka dot pajamas and this morning I got up and the words to the yesterday's picture book flowed through my fingers onto the screen. Magic I tell you...pure magic. Of course, tomorrow when I look at it again, I'll see all the little flaws that will require painstaking and finicky editing, but for now, I'm thrilled.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-15921203649942447722011-04-05T11:34:00.000-07:002011-04-05T11:34:49.989-07:00Professional development is better with muffins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/517d7wqUvPL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEKaD4oJNlA/TZtfxOqttZI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/eMy7Dejrl3k/s1600/P1030264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QEKaD4oJNlA/TZtfxOqttZI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/eMy7Dejrl3k/s320/P1030264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>What a great morning. It started out at 5am. I was on Galiano Island visiting friends, but had to rush back to meet up with fellow author Julie Lawson for a little private professional development, and of course food; muffins and tea in this case. What fun. Be sure to catch Julie at the <a href="http://www.victoriachildrensliteratureroundtable.blogspot.com/">Victoria Children's Literature Roundtable </a>on Monday, and watch for her new book, <i>Ghosts of the Titanic</i>.<br />
<a href="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/517d7wqUvPL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/517d7wqUvPL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mAj9aWM0ptQ/TWhR0uc3gzI/AAAAAAAAAHk/cV34Picfbcw/s320/julie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mAj9aWM0ptQ/TWhR0uc3gzI/AAAAAAAAAHk/cV34Picfbcw/s200/julie.JPG" width="200" /></a>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-75204905135085063532011-04-03T10:06:00.000-07:002011-04-03T10:06:45.898-07:00Yikes...I missed International Children's Book Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ibby.org/typo3temp/pics/42eff8d3fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.ibby.org/typo3temp/pics/42eff8d3fb.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>Can't believe that I missed <a href="http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=269">International Children's Book Day</a> which was April 2, the birthday of Hans Christian Anderson.<br />
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I guess I was just too caught up in March Madness basketball and wedding stuff. More wedding venues coming up. Looking at a little community hall by a lake out of town, a friends farm, and then taking the ferry to Galiano Island where we'll check out a friend's place for the ceremony, and the community hall for the reception. So much to do!readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-54191806174864720392011-04-02T09:14:00.000-07:002011-04-02T09:14:21.766-07:00Weddings and BasketballToday is all about weddings and basketball...I can already hear you saying,"What?"<br />
<br />
It makes sense, honestly... In a few minutes I'll be heading out to the ferry to pick up my daughter & her longtime boyfriend ( I suppose I should be saying fiancé now that they are engaged) to look at wedding venues. As a former UBC basketball star, this 6 foot 8 inch sweetheart of a guy is very very into basketball. And, as it turns out, today is the showdown for "The Final Four" of NCAA March Madness; and will likely be some of the best college ball of the season. So, you see, weddings and basketball. They go together, at least in our family.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-74082039067873544572011-03-31T21:23:00.000-07:002011-03-31T22:39:04.324-07:00Poetry Month and Kidlitosphere Central<div class="zemanta-img separator"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colorful_spring_garden.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Garden with some tulips and narcissus" height="132" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Colorful_spring_garden.jpg/300px-Colorful_spring_garden.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="200" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 200px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colorful_spring_garden.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></div>April is an exciting month. Spring is in the air. The publishing world is aflutter with fabulous new books, and the entire month is a celebration of poetry. There are poets and poetry out there to inspire pretty much anyone and everyone. At <a href="http://www.kidlitosphere.org/poetrymonth/">Kidlitosphere Central,</a> more than a dozen Kid's Lit and YA Lit bloggers have stepped up to share all things poetry; from a Poetry Potluck to a Poetry Party...from EduHaiku to Teen Poetry, you'll want to check out the links. <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=12b22b34-ef00-4902-b727-b4fef6d7da94" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-3626263092272285792011-03-31T19:05:00.000-07:002011-03-31T19:05:12.394-07:00No more running...at least not for a whileMy running career, such as it is, is on hold...back to walking. Could be worse.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-75073666603494577652011-03-29T18:32:00.000-07:002011-03-29T18:32:09.640-07:00Jessie's Island, a best-seller since 1992<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Q70AJRB9L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Q70AJRB9L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a></div><span id="goog_11526595"></span><span id="goog_11526596"></span>Pleased as punch to hear that my second book, Jessie's Island, continues to make the The Association of Book Publishers of BC's best seller list. Not bad for a book that I published in 1992! <a href="http://books.bc.ca/">http://books.bc.ca/</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><strong></strong></span>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-16598416661307365332011-03-28T14:32:00.000-07:002011-03-28T14:34:16.148-07:00Don't miss BC Book Prizes Soirée 2011<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 12px;"></span><br />
<h3 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">BC Book Prizes Soirée 2011</h3><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Event Date(s)</strong></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tuesday, April 5, 2011</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Location</strong></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Listel Hotel, Impressionist Gallery<br />
1300 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC<br />
7:00 - 9:00 pm | free</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Event Description</strong></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img height="390" src="http://www.bcbookprizes.ca/images/uploads/BCBP2011_Soiree_evite_500w.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="400" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px;"></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The West Coast Book Prize Society invites you to the 8th annual<b> BC Book Prizes Soirée</b> on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at The Listel Hotel.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s a great opportunity to mix and mingle with nominated authors and BC’s vibrant literary community while supporting the <a href="http://www.bcbookprizes.ca/tour" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0073bb; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="BC Book Prizes On Tour program">BC Book Prizes <i>On Tour</i> program</a>.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Enter to win great door prizes and bid for weekend getaways, prize-winning books and many other treats in a fabulous Silent Auction while enjoying light refreshments from The Listel Hotel.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Finalist authors will sign copies of their books at the People’s Co-op Bookstore table.</div><hr style="background-color: #d0d0d0; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #d0d0d0; height: 1px;" /><h4 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The BC Book Prizes Soirée 2011 is made possible by the following sponsors:</h4><ul style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background-image: url(http://www.bcbookprizes.ca/themes/site_themes/bcbp/images/bullet-blue.gif); background-position: 0px 3px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 18px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Listel Hotel</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.bcbookprizes.ca/themes/site_themes/bcbp/images/bullet-blue.gif); background-position: 0px 3px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 18px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">People’s Co-op Bookstore</li>
<li style="background-image: url(http://www.bcbookprizes.ca/themes/site_themes/bcbp/images/bullet-blue.gif); background-position: 0px 3px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 3px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 18px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Please contact us if you’re interested in sponsoring the Soirée</i></li>
</ul></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-90919787618384737862011-03-25T12:50:00.000-07:002011-03-25T12:50:42.127-07:00Harper Government has fallenThe big news is that the Harper Government has fallen and Canadians will be going to the polls sometime in May. Now's the time to let your MP's know that the arts matter! Make your vote count.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-42613540142882499802011-03-25T10:39:00.000-07:002011-03-25T10:39:29.220-07:00Earth Hour is March 26 at 8:30 PM<div class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Earth-Hour-Logo.jpg" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The logo for Earth Hour" height="294" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Earth-Hour-Logo.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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Earth-Hour-Logo.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></div>Tomorrow is earth hour. Help the planet by unplugging for an hour. At 8:30 PM on Saturday March 26, people around the globe will be switching off their lights for Earth Hour. To find out more and to find out about other ways to help our planet, visit www.earthhour.org/<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=88651c00-4c51-4b7a-b588-664f6b7d2aef" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-70513960089084606342011-03-24T12:23:00.000-07:002011-03-24T12:23:32.998-07:00A terribly sad anniversary.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lightingtheirwayhome.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/michael-wayne-dunahee-4-years-old1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lightingtheirwayhome.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/michael-wayne-dunahee-4-years-old1.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>Today is a terribly sad; it's the 20th anniversary of the abduction of Michael Dunahee, a 4 year old boy who disappeared from a park in Victoria, BC. His parents appealed for information about their son again on this most difficult day. They still have no idea if he is alive or dead. I can't even imagine their anguish. My heart goes out to them and to the families of all children to have disappeared. Here is a <a href="http://missingchild.wordpress.com/missing-child-resources/support-groups/">site</a> where you'll find a few links if you want to support themreadingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-58002352278699892002011-03-21T11:12:00.000-07:002011-03-21T15:06:12.449-07:00Happy World Poetry DayHappy World Poetry Day! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">\</span>Celebrate by sharing a poem with someone you love, or with a stranger...an unexpected door just might open in your life.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="t0" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">A Leaf For Hand In Hand</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="t1" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"> By <a href="http://www.public-domain-poetry.com/authors.php?pdaid=7" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none;">Walt Whitman</a></span></span><br />
<hr align="left" color="blue" size="2" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #999999; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; height: 1px;" width="25%" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="t3a" style="color: black; font-family: tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">A leaf for hand in hand!<br />
You natural persons old and young!<br />
You on the Mississippi, and on all the branches and bayous of the<br />
Mississippi!<br />
You friendly boatmen and mechanics! You roughs!<br />
You twain! And all processions moving along the streets!<br />
I wish to infuse myself among you till I see it common for you to<br />
walk hand in hand!</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"></div>readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458973.post-11066104277599362812011-03-20T09:59:00.000-07:002011-03-20T09:59:57.246-07:00a walk with Val & our dogsHad an lovely walk with the awesome Val Wyatt, non-fiction editor for Kid's Can Press. Our dogs raced up and down the beach while we had a great chat. It's so refreshing to be able to talk to someone about the changes and trends in the business we both love and have spent so long working in.readingkidsbookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08179881738676411661noreply@blogger.com0