Okay, if it weren't for the pandemic, this week a team of Canadian children's authors, illustrators and performers would be traveling across the country, meeting young readers as part of the Canadian Children's Book Centre's (CCBC) Book Week. I'm lucky to be part of this year's virtual roster!
I kicked off the week with a visit to Ecole Arthur Pechey in Prince Albert, Saskatechewan. There turns out to be an upside to virtual visits.... Tomorrow, apart from a return visit to Arthur Pechey, I'll be traveling to Cranbrook, BC., and by Wednesday, I'll be in St. John's, Newfoundland! All this adventure without having to worry about catching a plane -- or losing my luggage!
This morning, I worked with Mrs. Mercredi's Grade Seven class. The Grade Eights are at home this week, on account of the pandemic, so some may have been watching from their kitchens!
I began by asking the students if they'd ever met a writer before. Sarah said, "I think I met a writer before" -- but she wans't quite sure! I told the class they'd probably remember meeting ME! I also warned them they'd need a nap after my presentation! (If you've met me before, you'll know I'm on the peppy side!!)
I shared all my writing tips! I told the students how my writing is good for the environment -- because I RECYCLE. For example, I recyle students' names. Today, I met two young men named Grayson -- hey one of them is in today's pic. I had never met anyone named Grayson before -- so meeting two in one morning seemed like an auspicious sign! The Grayson in the pic got the answer right when I asked, "What is the cousin of writing?" Grayson said READING! Writers, as I told the students, need to do a lot of both these activities if they want to develop as writers.
When I talked about recycling names, a student named Sara said, "I heard J.K. Rowling gets names from graveyards." Super cool! Which makes me think that next weekend, we should all try to take a walk in a graveyard -- and bring our notebooks!
That's the thing .... writers are always writing -- even when it doesn't look like it. We also talked about the importance of trouble in a story, and how it's generally best to avoid causing trouble. Life sends us enough of it! But as I told the kids, if I hadn't had a somewhat troubled early life, why, I'd never have become a writer.
I'll be back at Ecole Arthur Pechey tomorrow. I hope tomorrow's classes will be as lively as today's. Thanks to Vice Principal Ms. Gunville for organizing the visit; thanks to Mrs. Mercredi for sharing your kids with me (and I love your name too, Mrs. Mercredi); thanks to the kids for getting my week off to an amazing start; and of course, thanks to the gang at CCBC for making Book Week possible for all of us!
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Comments
thank you for the presentation
thank you for sharing with us i wish that you have a good date.my favourite part was when you told us how to be a reader.
from grade 6 Primeau
thank you so much for the presentation i loved it and it will be so useful if i ever start writing.
hey this brooke from the presentation this morning just want to say you give me hope to make a comic book i am still thinking what to do my fav part of the presentation is everything
Hello, Monique thanks for the presentation. I really liked how you tell us all of your writing tips. I think they will be helpful in the future, Stay safe and keep writing awesome stories. hope you keep doing great presentations and inspiring many young writers.
Thank you for your presentation. and your books are. probably amazing id loves to read your books and. have a great year hopefully.
thank you for the presentation it inspired me. my favorite part of the presentation was when you were showing us your boxing moves. your work is beautiful stay safe
thank you for the presentation and teaching us to write, it's me Jam, the one with the "loser story" don't worry I took that as a complement. My favourite part of your presentation is when you told us about the monkey man. I read one of your books the one called "the taste of rain". FUN FACT: Scarlett is my best friend. Kk Bye-Bye
Thank you for your presentation today that you shared with our class. My favorite part of the presentation is when you made us laugh and sharing the story about you're mom being in the holocaust was very special. I was very impressed with how many books you have published and the dedication you have to writting. You are awesome, keep up the good work!
Thank you for the presentation. it was Awesome and intriguing, I love how it went. I liked when you talked about research, because I wanted to study on other people's Personality. you are a awesome Writer. I was focused on the Smartboard since it was so Good. Alright That's all I have to say Have a Nice day!
Thank you for that beautiful presentation. My favourite part is that you were a wrestler. Wish you have a great year and be safe and healthy.
Hi Monique! I am in grade 6 at Ecole Arthur Pechey Public School and I really enjoyed the presentation! I will be using your great writing tips now and in the future! I got a great idea for a book and was wondering if you could respond with your opinion.
The book idea is about a girl in 1938 who found a chest of in an old ship wreck that washed up on shore a few years before, the girl opened the chest and found at least fifty black pearls, she reached out her hands to grab the pearls and the second they touched her skin she transformed into a hideous monster. 30 years later a 13 year old girl named Rose went exploring in the forest and she saw the monster of the girl that transformed 30 years ago. when she ran back to her town nobody would believe her so she went on a quest to find the monster and figured out that it it was her grandmother that nobody ever mentioned.
Wow! Olivia! It sounds to me like you have an amazing imagination. I love your story idea -- especially the parts about the black pearls, and the grandmother nobody ever mentioned. Maybe Rose could be named after the grandmother -- but nobody ever explained that connection to Rose! Also, it's important that early on in your book, you include some clues -- subtle ones -- about the mystery that will be unfolded. Get to work!!
Thank you for the awesome presentation and telling your stories!
thank you for the presentation, thank you for teaching kids how to write my favourite part was the monkey man . the book i read by you was "the taste of rain" By the way Scarlett is my best friend ok bye
thank you for your presentation. and your books. are probably amazing id probably read all of your books. and your story. are amazing. and have a great year.
thank you for your presentation. and your books. are probably amazing id probably read all of your books. and your story. are amazing. and have a great year.
Hi, it's Nick from Arthur Peachy 6 Primeau! The presentation was really good I hope you can come back again soon!
thank you for the presentation, my favorite part was when you showed us your boxing moves, your work is beautiful stay safe
Hi, my name is Lauzon, thank you for the presentation you shared with my class today. My favorite part of your presentation is when you made us all laugh and when you shared the story about your mom being in the holocaust was very special. I am very surprised about the total amount of books you published, it encourages me to start writing in a journal. You are awesome, keep up the good work!!