Primary Literacy Day

I'm looking forward to meeting the Vancouver Primary Teachers on Friday at their Primary Literacy Day. What a great opportunity to celebrate the teaching and learning of our youngest students!

I'm working on my presentation and getting ready to talk about books and children. What could be better than that?

See you soon. Cheers!

Authorfest!

It was a real treat to speak to education students at UBC yesterday, at the annual Authorfest celebration of books and BC authors. Thank you to everyone who came out to hear us speak! I wish you the best of luck with your practicums and in your teaching careers.

One thing I wish I had said yesterday was to remember to read to your students. Read to them every day and twice a day if you can. There is nothing more important in school or literacy education than teaching children the power of the written word. To hear you read aloud to them, sends a very strong message. So get reading! :-)

Cheers!

It's Here!

I'm thrilled to announce my new book: Watch Me Grow! A Down-to-Earth Look at Growing Food in the City. It's full of beautiful Vancouver urban garden photos shot by Brian Harris. There are backyard chickens and rooftop bees, community gardens, front yard gardens, and earth-friendly tips for growing food wherever you live.

It's at Kidsbooks now. Very exciting!

Happy New Year!

It is a sunny, crisp day here in Vancouver, and the North Shore mountains are capped with snow. At times like this, it's easy to believe that I live in the most beautiful place in the world.

It's a perfect day to contemplate the start of 2011 and the challenges of the coming year.

I hope that your year is a happy and healthy one, full of family and friends and many wonderful things.

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

I wish you all a happy, festive holiday season!

Fall Writing...

Fall in Vancouver is an excellent time to be a writer. The skies are overcast, the rain falls and there is nowhere you'd rather be than hunkered down in your office, running your fingers across the keyboard.

I'm beginning to write a new book (one that I've been researching for a few months) and will be turning my full attention to this literary enterprise.

Blogging may be a little intermittent, as the book comes first. (But I'll squeak in a post when I can.)

Have a happy and productive fall, everyone.

Cheers!

Winter Conference — Tempting!

When I opened up my email this morning, I found a notice for the SCBWI Winter Conference in New York. SCBWI is the acronym for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and they host fantastic conferences.

I attended the Winter Conference some years ago and learned a lot about the American children's book market. It's tempting to go again. Not only is it professionally a good thing to do, but you get to visit NEW YORK! I love that city.

If you're interested, check out the conference link here.

I will contemplate attending, but I have a busy schedule this year that includes a book deadline, a writer-in-residence assignment, and some travelling.

Think about it. New York! Books! Very tempting.