Bookclubs for Kids

You know -- why should Oprah and her gang have all the fun? There is a growing interest out there in the great wide world in bookclubs for kids.


I talk a lot about Christianne's Lyceum -- just about the best place I know for bookclubs and reading and storytelling -- for kids of all ages.


In the summertime, the Vancouver Public Library offers a whole week of Canadian Book Camp. And CWC -- Creative Writing Society For Children, even goes one step further -- the kids finish each term by creating their OWN books.

Just recently read of someone in Langley, BC who has started up a new book club. A realtor by day, Anne Bishop is busy engaging kids in reading when she's not selling real estate. And the first book on her list came out of the brain of a friend of mine -- Lee Edward Fodi.

You can find an article talking about Annette and her bookclub HERE.

And if you know of another book club for kids -- why not post it in the comment section?

~kc

Seasonal Suggestions -- December 10th, plus a little pagan sun-worship...

A pagan pause to enjoy a recent mid-day sunset in Lions Bay. (Okay, it only felt like mid-day, but it WAS before 4:30, for goodness' sake!)

Still, the fire in the sky was worth every moment. My camera battery died after I squeezed off just a couple of shots, but these pictures are straight-out-of-the-camera -- not a touch-up in sight.

I plan to do Winter Solstice up right this year, with candles and fire and anything else I can come up with to appease the Sun, and encourage his return. The dark days are so long right now....

Now, back to a few festive thoughts to chase away the dark. Time for:




Okay, so my friend artist and illustrator Kirsti Wakelin told me about this very fun, FREE program a few months back -- maybe a year ago. I didn't try it for ages, and then started messing around with it one day when I was procrastinating some piece of work that _really_ needed to get done.

The result was I got hooked. When I realized I was using the program nearly every day to adjust, goo-ify or in some way play with the pictures I was using on this blog (and the others I contribute to), I signed up for the premium package.

The program is called Picnik, and if you are a photography lover -- nay, even a PhotoShop user, I defy you to try this program and not have a blast. It's fun, it's free -- and if you like it, spend the whopping $25 a year it'll cost you to go to the premium package. Support these people -- they put a whole lot of the fun into blogging (for me, at least) and if you have anyone near as nerdish as I am in your life, a premium package of Picnik would make a great gift. See the Christmas tree, above? Picniked.

(Disclaimer....the Picnik people don't even know I exist, beyond taking my money for their product. I've no reason to endorse them beyond sharing a good thing with you, dear reader. Now click that link and give Picnik a try!)

A quick final note -- author Chris Humphreys (you may know him as CC Humphreys) is doing a reading of his recent novel new novel: 'Vlad, The Last Confession' at the VPL, Central Library downtown, Alma van Dusen Room, on December 12th at 7.30. Guaranteed to add a little bite to your season!

~kc

Reading Break

..and the sun came out today!

Had a great visit this weekend with James McCann's CWC class. I stepped into his shoes for the afternoon on Saturday, and his students and I had an in-depth look through Ms. Zephyr's Notebook. We debated which character in the story was the most interesting and had an in-book scavenger hunt, among other things. The lesson was a near-disaster when the teacher (moi) got lost, but the class and their parents were wonderful, sympathetic and ready to stay a little later to make up for the tardy tutor.

Thanks to all for the warm welcome!

Tomorrow night at 7 pm brings the 'Getting Published' panel to the Alice McKay room in the downtown branch of the Vancouver Public Library. I'll be there with authors Ellen Schwartz, Alison Acheson, David Ward, Diane Haynes, Julie Burtinshaw and Elizabeth Shefrin. We'll be talking a bit about our own experiences getting published and answering questions from the audience. Co-sponsored by CWILL BC and the Vancouver Public Library. Hope to see you there.

~kc

Interested in Getting Published?

Have I got a panel for you.

On Monday,February 18th, 2008 at 7 pm, the downtown branch of the Vancouver Public Library (co-sponsored by CWILL BC) is hosting a 'Getting Published' panel, loaded with local children's and YA authors. I'll be joining Alison Acheson, Julie Burtinshaw, Diane Haynes, Ellen Schwartz, Elizabeth Shefrin and David Ward and the discussion (and Q&A) will centre on getting books for children and teens published.

Present company excepted, this is a whole lotta brain-power in one room, so if you have questions about writing for kids in Canada, the Alice McKay Room is the place to be on the Monday after Valentine's Day.

If you are interested, you can contact the library at http://www.vpl.ca/ for more details. Hope to see you there!

Dogblog:

In puppy news, Silas is getting under the skin of big brother Seamus. There is some serious discipline being laid down by my previously passive puppy onto the hardly repentant interloper. I've never heard Seamus growl before...

Silas is slowly learning his place at the bottom of the dog ladder, but spends most of his time bounding around, just happy to be alive. Today he chased a ping pong ball around the kitchen for more than an hour. At this moment, he is totally unconscious at my feet -- too tired to even curl up beside his golden idol, Seamus.

Oh, and it's snowing again. I think I've figured it out...in the last storm, the house was picked up and blown 3000 km east, and I actually live in Ontario now.

~kc