This week we celebrate Canadian Children’s Book Week to celebrate books, reading and the connections they bring. Many schools, libraries and bookstores are hosting local authors and having special events throughout the week to promote the wonder of stories.
The first Children’s Book Festival tour took place in 1977, organized by the newly-established Children’s Book Centre. It featured just eleven authors, taking them to schools across the country over seven jam-packed days. Today, that celebration, now called Canadian Children’s Book Week, includes dozens of creators and hundreds of events in a single week.
My own children’s books are available through online platforms for all school levels.
Each of these books deals with self-worth, friendship, love of family and the natural world, valuable lessons for all kids.
This year we celebrate and honour the contributions of authors and illustrators, who write books and/or produce art for children and young adults. From 4th – 10th February, libraries and schools will participate in discovering and learning about these special writers and illustrators around the country.
As literacy is the foundation of learning as well as developing kid’s imaginations, this week we celebrate the people, who make this possible. From the timeless classics to new stories, each narrative immerses our children into new worlds, whether factual, or fictional. Many narratives give life lessons, on friendships, self-esteem, as well as explore the natural world and more.
My own children’s books look at the detailed lessons above. In Rumble’s First Scare, a young monster discovers a new world and learns the art of scaring, in Ockleberries to the Rescue, your child will learn about forest animals, caring for the environment with a splash of magic. In Clickety Click, the protagonist finds her true self and in Creature Hunt on Planet Toaria, support and acceptance in friendships is related.
Most children know this delightful honey loving bear and his collection of friends and their adventures. The stories actually began as bedtime stories the author, A A Milne, told his son, Christopher Robin. Yes, the main character is named after his son! The character, a small boy has many adventures with his stuffed animals. It may surprise some people that the toys actually existed and are now housed in the New York Public Library. As you can see they are well loved.
The reason this particular story has stood the test of time is its overall theme, which is relatable in any era. That theme is the importance of forming solid, lasting friendships, the innocence and wonder of childhood, the value of friendship, and the simple joys of life.
Other books that have appealed to decades of readers include: Black Beauty, Treasure Island, The Water Babies, and The Wizard of Oz. All feature similar themes of friendship, courage, acceptance, love, and self esteem. These are importance life lessons. My children’s and YA books follow these principles too.
In my chapter book, Ockleberries to the Rescue, the foundation of the story is helping others, caring for the world around us and learning about the creatures inhabiting our world.
In my YA novella, Clickety Click the main theme is self-acceptance, embracing difference and welcoming friendship.
My other YA novella, Creature Hunt on Planet Toaria deals with courage, friendship, acceptance and pride in self.
This week we celebrate National Young Readers Week and Children’s Book Week, depending on where you live in the world. Stories are such a fundamental part of childhood. We can all remember our favourite’s, from fairy tales, to adventures, to the classics, all these narratives gave life to our imaginations. The character’s become real to us as the story is relayed, or read. There is also the actual benefits of reading stories, well known to science.
7 Benefits of Reading to Children
Supported cognitive development.
Improved language skills.
Preparation for academic success.
Developing a special bond with your child.
Increased concentration and discipline.
Improved imagination and creativity.
Cultivating a lifelong love of reading.
So, part from having that special time with your children, you are laying down the foundation for their future learning as well.
I have written two younger children stories with Rumble’s First Scare and Ockleberries to the Rescue. And older kids will enjoy Clickety Click and Creature Hunt on Planet Toaria. In all of these narratives, I delight, teach, and give a sense of self to the readers. You can find them all across the inline purchase sites, in several libraries and local bookstores. around Alberta.
TeenTober™ is a new, nationwide celebration hosted by libraries every October and aims to celebrate teens, promote year-round teen services and the innovative ways teen services help teens learn new skills, and fuel their passions in and outside libraries.
This is a wonderful initiative to engage and excite the ‘tech’ obsessed youth. Finding the world of imagination and it’s limitless possibilities is a good thing. You may (or may not) know I have two YA novellas in my repertoire. The first is Clickety Click – a fantasy centering around a main character, who finds that she is not what she thought and her coming to terms with her new identity. It deals with perception of self, self-esteem, and self-confidence.
The other novella is Creature Hunt on Planet Toaria – an alien world action adventure with four friends depending on each other and how their cooperation leads to a surprising adventure and an award.
I hope you will recommend these stories to your teens. Happy reading!
Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers 