Skype Author Visits

The current issue of Canadian Teacher magazine has an article in it which I wrote about author visits via Skype. If your school is interested in hosting such a visit, be sure to read it!
Go to: http://www.canadianteachermagazine.com/currentissue.shtml
Then scroll down to 'teaching with technology' and click on 'Using Skype to Bring Experts into the Classroom.

Eric Walters Creates Hope in Kenya

My colleague Eric Walters has been working very hard to build a place in Kenya for children to live and to learn. Check out his website: www.creationofhope.com to see how your school can help.

Here some of the students are using my book, along with hundreds of other books in the brand new library Eric has built for them!

Japanese edition of My Librarian is a Camel!

Today I received a Japanese version of my book My Librarian is a Camel! It is fun to see the book in a language I can't read.
I hope children in Japan will have fun learning about these unique mobile libraries around the world.

My School Book: Highlighted at Smithonian Blog

Just got word that the book blog of the Smithonian is highlighting My School in the Rain Forest. Have a look here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Margriet-Ruurs-Writer/394173124831?ref=ts

Sharing Books in Mongolia

I just resurfaced after six weeks in Asia working at international schools. I spent 2 weeks in Mongolia. We had an amazing time with my friend and colleague Dashdondog - a renowned Mongolian children's writer. He took us on a trip into the Gobi Desert. We shared stories, poems and books with children in many schools, in very remote places. I got to milk and ride a camel! We visited nomad families and drank camel milk tea in gers.
I loved seeing how much people in Mongolia value poetry. All children were able to recite poems, especially the works of Dashdondog whose writing is known to all people across the country.

The power of reading

After a fun week of readings and writing workshops in school across Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia I am now in Singapore. Just had a lovely brunch with teacher/librarians in whose school I will be this coming week. Of course we talked about... books! Here's an inspiring article about the power of reading aloud, sharing books:
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379/post/1190052519.html

Hope you try it, too!

International Schools

After a week in schools in South Korea I am now doing author presentations, writing workshops and staff workshops in schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I love the heat and soak it all up. What a privilege to see wonderful places and work with great kids. The schools place great emphasize on their libraries. Teachers, by and large, work with books and read to the students.
International schools mostly have well stocked bookshelves. Many students speak more than one language. In fact, it's not called ESL (English as a Second Language) here but rather EAL (English as an Additional Language). The other day I asked students how many of them spoke a second language. Not many raised their hand even though I knew that spoke more than one language. Then I realized I should have asked "how many of you speak at least two language" and they all raised their hands.
I'm sure that brings its own challenges for teachers but books are valued and used throughout the schools and the curriculum.

Fan site!

Wow, I now have my own fan page on Facebook! Makes me feel just like the Academy Award winners I just watched. A big thank you to Nicole in Nashville, TN who created my very own fan page. You can join here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Margriet-Ruurs-Writer/394173124831?v=wall to stay informed.

Best Bets for 2009

I was thrilled to learn today that Ontario Library Asociation (OLA) lists my book My School in the Rain Forest (Boyds Mills Press) as one of the Best Bets, nonfiction, for 2009:

"My School in the Rain Forest: How Children Attend School Around the World. Boyd Mills Press School in a jungle, school on a ship and school by radio are just a few of the fascinating ways children go to school around the world. Lots of photos and personalized stories add interest and make this a book that will help foster an understanding of other cultures."

Maupin House books

Check out my blog on the Maupin House website. This is one mighty publisher: big ideas, big hearts and they accomplish so much. Maupin House reminds me of Vancouver Kidsbooks: determined, dedicated people who truly care for teachers, kids and education. Hurray for them!

http://maupinhouse.blogspot.com/2010/03/turning-your-classroom-into-global.html