If you are a teacher/librarian you might like to follow this link for a new study on the impact of school libraries on children's learning:
http://library.mansfield.edu/impact.asp

School Visits

I just returned from school visits to Surrey and Kelowna. Spoke to some 4,000 kids during 9 days. Tomorrow I'll be in a Victoria school to speak to 8th graders about MY LIBRARIAN IS A CAMEL and MY SCHOOL IN THE RAIN FOREST.
Next school year (2011-2012) I will be in many schools across North America as well as international schools. In February 2012 I'm booked to speak at Wisconsin State Reading Conference. If you are in a school near Milwaukee and would like me to come, please let me know.

Book Reviews

INTERNATIONAL BOOK REVIEWS by Margriet Ruurs, as published in THE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATOR

The devastating tsunami that hit Southeast
Asia in 2004 was the source of many sad events. However, it also brought
forth a heartwarming story. A baby hippo was separated from its mother by
the tidal wave. The baby hippo found an unlikely but faithful companion. An
130 year old tortoise adopted the baby hippo as its own. Mzee, the tortoise
was not terribly friendly but became protective of the hippo, who was named
Owen, who relaxed and started to eat again. The story of these two unusual
friends, Owen and Mzee, was written down and photographed by Craig
Hatkoff and his 6 year old daughter Isabella. The large picture book is now
accompanied by a website with more details and activities for students:
http://www.owenandmzee.com/omweb/
Owen and Mzee, The Language of Friendship, by Isabella and Craig Hatkoff,
ISBN 0439899591

The same tsunami lead Canadian author Eric Walters to write his novel Wave, a juvenile fiction novel. Sam and his parents leave his sister behind in snowy New York to spend Christmas on the beach in Thailand.
Little did they know that their lives were about to change forever. The first
part of the story is written in the voice of 12 year old Sam, the latter part
in Beth’s voice - making this a book that will appeal to both boys and girls.
Once the tsunami hits, the book becomes a page turner.
Waves, by Eric Walters. Doubleday Canada, ISBN 978-0-385-66443-1
Also available as e-book.

Making Change, Tips from an Underage Overachiever, is the remarkable nonfiction book written by sixth grade student Bilaal Rajan. Bilaal, a Canadian, became interested in the plight of children around the world at age four. His book can serve as a how-to guide for children who want to help make the world a better place. Through examples of fund- and awareness raising and real life activities undertaken by children, they will see first hand how they can make a difference. With a foreword by the CEO of Unicef Canada and practical activities to visualize success, this book is a perfect guide to global awareness for children.
Making Change, Tips from an Underage Overachiever, by Bilaal Rajan. Orca
Books, ISBN 1554690013
Check out Bilaal’s website here: http://www.bilaalrajan.com/

A Mayan Library

In south-east Mexico is a small Mayan village. 137 children attend a, very poor, school here. It has no electricity and no running water. But the children are keen on learning. A group of US and Canadian volunteers has spent the past several years fundraising to build a small library for the school. Now the men of the village have made shelves and furniture from branches. The shelves are ready for books! Several authors, including Pam Withers, have mailed me their books in Spanish. I'm taking about 50 pounds of books, paper, pencils and other school supplies.
I can't wait to share books and stories with the children in this Mayan village!

W. Allan Hancock

Today I met Allan Hancock, the illustrator of Amazing Animals. He is a very nice guy. He and his family came to Salt Spring for our book launch. His paintings are now on display at Art Spring. It was a joy to meet him and to see his amazing art.

Amazing Animals - an amazing book!

YOU ARE INVITED!
To the launch of my newest book: Amazing Animals, The Remarkable Things Creatures Do. Published by Tundra and illustrated by W. Allan Hancock.
The launch takes place on Saturday March 12, 2 PM at ArtSpring on Salt Spring Island.
Join us if you can! Or order the book at your local bookstore.

Bring the World to your Classroom

If you are a teacher or a librarian, you might like to participate in my global bookmark exchange. Simply email me the number of children participating and I will link you to a group elsewhere in the world. Thousands of students in over 30 countries have already sent each other handmade bookmarks. On it they write one sentence (in English and in any other language they may speak) about their favorite book!
Have fun, share books, be creative and learn about the world!

School Visits in Shanghai

After 3 weeks of author presentations to international schools in Shanghai, I am home again. It was wonderful to see so many keen readers in China. The children and teachers were fabulous.
Now I'm looking forward to Christmas on Salt Spring.
Best wishes to you all! May 2011 be filled with good books!

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!