Happy Earth Week, my friends! Tech Support and I celebrated Earth Day by doing our annual “stick it in the ground and hope for the best” spring planting in the back garden. So far, the neighborhood bunny – affectionately known as DoG (Destroyer of Gardens) – has declared our new lupin delicious… which does not bode well for its survival. But she doesn’t care for the grape hyacinths, so we expect a frenzy of bees as soon as the weather breaks.
On to the news nuggets!
Earth Day Accolade for Polar
Polar was named a Recommended title in the 2024 Green Earth Book awards! It’s also a Recommended selection of the Orbis Pictus, and an Honour book in the Eureka! Awards. All of which I am incredibly grateful for, but if I’m being honest, this is the accolade that tickles me most:
Thank you so much, Storytime with Stephanie! Sir David, if you’re reading this, how would you feel about doing an audio edition of Polar?!
PJ Party at Hillcrest
A couple weeks back I did a PJ-Party-themed school visit for kids and their grown ups, and was it ever fun! I mean, I’m a writer – my office is down the hall from my bedroom. I go to work in “daytime PJs” practically every day. But I very rarely get to wear them when I’m at work in public!
My favourite part of the event, though, was when I managed to get all the grown ups joining in, as we pretended to be trees in the boreal forest. So. Much. Fun.
Countdown to Canadian Children’s Book Week
Book Week begins Sunday, and I am THRILLED to be touring for the very first time. True story:
My family moved to Yellowknife when I was in the middle of grade six. One of my best memories of that year was Nova Scotia author Sheree Fitch visiting my new class as part of Children’s Book Week! She recited some poetry from what would become There Were Monkeys in My Kitchen, and it changed my world. I’d already started writing my own stories for fun, but I’d never seen a real author in real life before. And she was a regular lady! If Sheree could do it, maybe I could, too?
I honestly cannot believe that I’m lucky enough to
- be a real author in real life
- be touring with Children’s Book Week
- have the opportunity to influence kids the way Sheree influenced me
This is what they mean when they say “dream come true.”
Most of my Book Week visits are at schools, which means private. But one is open to the public, and you can join from anywhere! Pickering Public Library is hosting a virtual visit with me on May 2 at 10:00 AM. You do NOT have to have a Pickering Library Card, but you do have to register:
The event is free and you can sign up here.
Science Rendezvous Kingston
Speaking of free events, I’ll be at Science Rendezvous Kingston again this year! It’s on May 10, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and it’s the biggest family-friendly science festival in Canada. Joining me this year are fellow children’s authors:
If you can’t join us in person, visit the event’s webpage, where you can download free STEM@HOME activities of all kinds.
Phew! I think that’s it for now. I hope you’re having an equally-excellent spring, and I’d love to hear about it! Share your updates in the comments.