Titanic Reading

The one hundredth anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic is fast approaching and we are seeing the release of new books on the subject of this epic tragedy. As you know, the Titanic was billed as the "Unsinkable Ship," yet it went down and hundreds of people lost their lives. And, even though much has been written about the ship over the years, there continues to be huge interest in reading about it today.

For a list of recent Canadian books on the Titanic, check out the current edition of Book News, by the Canadian Children's Book Centre and see their section on maritime disasters.

What can we learn from these books? That no ship is unsinkable, that history is full of fascinating stories, and that kids are always keen to learn about them.

The Future of Books...

As a writer, I am more than curious about how e-books and other electronic technologies are changing the reading experience. I am especially interested in how today's young children are approaching reading.

On this note, I was fascinated to read a recent Globe and Mail article that included the sentence, "For some kids, an iPad is a book that doesn't work." If you'd like to read the article for yourself, go here.

It's a brave new world!

Canadian Teacher Magazine

Thank you to Margriet Ruurs for making me her interview subject for the current issue of Canadian Teacher Magazine! (And also for asking hard questions that made me think.)

If you'd like to read the article, please go here.

And for those of you who woke up to very chilly Vancouver temperatures this morning, stay warm. Grab a book, a warm cup of something and cozy up to a fireplace.

Cheers!

Seymour Elementary School

If you live in Vancouver, chances are you've heard of Seymour Elementary School and the primary teacher, Carrie Gelson, who spoke out recently about the needs of her students. (You can read Carrie's letter here.)

I had the privilege of meeting Carrie and her students today. I took my wildlife books and a collection of animal furs and skulls, and spoke to the children about local animals and how I write my nonfiction books. The children were brimming with questions and comments. I received an enormous hug from one of the boys, both on my arrival and my leaving.

I was so impressed with the school and am glad to have had the opportunity to see what a compassionate and caring community it is for the children who attend. Thank you to Carrie, and all the people at Seymour Elementary who have made the school a wonderful place to be!

If you'd like to read about their ongoing work, please go here.

What Writers Read

Our local writing association, CWILL BC, has begun a new series of interviews asking writers what they read. You can read the first interview, featuring Margriet Ruurs, here.

It's always interesting to see what books are on everyone else's bedside table.

Happy Reading!

Surrey Library Visits

I'm looking forward to visiting with children at two Surrey Libraries this week: Newton and Strawberry Hill Branches.

Thank you to Jennie Castleton for inviting me.

See you all soon!