I knew Susan Vreeland as the author of Girl in Hyacinth Blue, which I really enjoyed. So when I saw this title, I grabbed it.
I took the book with me on a trip to Haida Gwaii in northern BC, which turned out to be the perfect place to read it since The Forest Lover is the story of Emily Carr.

I did not know much about Emily Carr besides a few commonly known facts and her paintings.
I can’t imagine the amount and time and research the author must have spent to find so many little personal details. The book is historical fiction since it gives the characters dialogue, but it does read like nonfiction since it is so closely based on a real life.
You get to know Emily’s family, her parents and sisters. You travel along on her physical and her psychological journey as she grows both as a person and as an artist. In an era where women artists were not common, Emily travels throughout BC but also to England and France. She learns about life and about painting techniques. We see struggles in her personal life and in her strong, defiant character.
At first I had a little bit of trouble getting into the story but soon I was caught up in the person that was Emily Carr. Through the story I also learned much about aboriginal life on Canada’s West Coast (she was one of the few white people whom First Nations people embraced as a close friend). I learned about First Nations villages and homes, about potlatches and totems, food, fishing and much more.
All in all, I found this a fascinating book and admire the incredible amount of research done to bring Emily Carr to life on the pages.

June 20 is World Refugee Day.
If you have read my book Stepping Stones (illustrated by Nizar Ali Badr and published by Orca Book Publishers), you might enjoy a novel with a similar theme.

Inside Out & Back Again is a beautifully written free verse novel. I love free verse, if it is well done. And this Newbery Honor Book is lovely crafted, a tender tale told from the inside out. Much of the story is autobiographical. In her Q & A pages in the back of the novel, the author explains her own story and how she struggled with finding the right tone for this book. Free verse turned out to be the perfect voice.

Told in the voice of ten year old Há, this is a refugee story from Vietnam.
But it is more than that. It is the story of a close knit family, of loss and love. It is a story of the importance of brothers and how strong a mother can be. It is also the story of how resilient a child can be and how many obstacles for people face in life.

Treat yourself to this fascinating, beautiful read and share it with students to discuss refugees – now and in the past. This book is also winner of the National Book Award.
Harper, ISBN 978-0-06-196279-0

I’d like to share two books with you that are great for teachers, parents or anyone who wants to learn something new.

The first one is a great book for those wanting to learn more about writing for children. Whether you are an established writer or want to write your very first book for children, Marion Crook’s new book Writing For Children and Young Adults is a wonderful resource.
The book starts with the basics and covers just about every important aspect of writing: from planning and plotting to characterization, tense, voice all the way to dealing with rejections and contracts. The book deals with fiction as well as nonfiction and other genres. It gives details on such mundane aspects as your writing space and your income – important considerations for any writer. With a chapter on submitting, on multiple submissions and even on marketing this book is a perfect resource for all writers of children’s materials.

Writing for Children and Young Adults, Marion Crook
Self Counsel Press
ISBN 5199597058719241

Ever thought of learning Arabic? The written language looks daunting.
But in Sugar Comes From Arabic, author Barbara Whitesides starts simple, by looking at “scribbles” and breaking down the script to basics. Using samples like Harry Potter (for P) this book is great for classrooms with refugee children, so that others can learn their language. If you are involved with a support group to bring refugees to your hometown, this is a fun book to use so that you can perhaps learn to communicate better. It is also a great resource for any international school!

Sugar Comes From Arabic, A Beginner’s Guide to Arabic Letters and Words, Barbara Whitesides
Interlink Books
ISBN 978-1-56656-757-2

The Girl Who Writes, a picture book  by Richard Cole and K. Jane Watt.

My new favourite picture book is a delicate, powerful story of a girl who uses her imagination.
She reads every book she can get her hands on but soon realizes that she need to tell her own stories.
“I know that with a bit of ink and 26 letters, I can make new worlds,” she says.
With her head full of images of kings and dragons and far-away places, but also with the splash of salmon and beaver in a nearby eddy, she writes. Her teacher and a writing contest encourage her to keep writing, even if her father says that she needs to get her head out of the clouds.

Perhaps this is how writers are made. I know this could be my personal story.
But it definitely is a story that will resonate with all those who love to use their imagination and dream of new world. A great gift for your favourite writer-friend!

http://fentonstreet.ca/projects/the-girl-who-writes/

ISBN 978-0-9917146-1-2

Only a few months ago did I spot the amazing art work of Nizar Ali Badr. Nizar lives in Syria and posted photos of his art on his Facebook page. Somehow I glanced at one image and fell in love.
“This should be in a children’s book!” I thought.

It took me three months to make contact with Nizar who lives in Latakia, Syria and finds both his inspiration and art supplies on the beach. He collects rocks and arranges them into beautiful images.
I used some of those images to put them in a sequence. Then I wrote the text for the story which I imaged his art told. It is the story of a refugee family.

Thanks to the internet I was able to communicated with Nizar and one of his best friends. We discussed the possibility of making a book for children together. Then I contacted Orca Book Publishers who create beautiful books. They agreed that Nizar’s art makes amazing illustrations and contracted him to be the illustrator.

I can’t wait to hold the actually book in my hands as words, art and design come together.
Stepping Stones, A Refugee Family’s Journey will be out by mid October. Much of the proceeds will benefit refugee causes.

I hope you will be able to get a copy and share Nizar’s art.
You can order to now from your local book store or click here to order and to see the trailer:

www.steppingstonesthebook.com

The publisher will make available books at a special discount to any schools who would like to sell the book as a fund raiser for a refugee cause of their choice.

• Mem Fox, award winning author of Possum Magic says: “It’s exquisite! One can only pray that its message will spread and make the difference we need”.

• “Stunning, original artwork both childlike and sophisticated; a text that will both break and mend your heart.” Jane Yolen, Award winning author of Devil’s Arithmetic and The Stone Angel.

• KIRKUS review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/refugee-odysseys/
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/margriet-ruurs/stepping-stones-ruurs/

• ILA named the book a Notable Book For Global Society, 2017

• Quill & Quire article: http://www.quillandquire.com/omni/kidlit-spotlight-a-chance-discovery-online-led-author-margriet-ruurs-on-a-journey-to-her-altruistic-new-picture-book/

• Times Colonist: http://www.timescolonist.com/life/tale-of-refugee-family-s-flight-is-set-in-stone-1.2362119

• Canadian Teacher Magazine: http://www.canadianteachermagazine.com/article_2016_li_stepping_stones.html

• CM Magazine: http://umanitoba.ca/cm/vol23/no2/steppingstones.html

• http://picklemethis.com/2016/10/07/stepping-stones-and-the-journey/

• Fall 2016 BookNews, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, review by Sandra O’Brien: ‘… beautiful words are twinned with the most stunning artwork… I hope this beautiful book will reach the shelves of classrooms, libraries and homes throughout the world and be read and shared many times over!’

• http://49thshelf.com/Blog/2016/10/20/Stepping-Stones-A-Transnational-Literary-Journey

A Swiss concert pays tribute to Nizar’s art:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ7HC7zgDSg

• http://unpackingpicturebookpower.blogspot.pt/2016/11/interview-margriet-ruurs-author-of.html?spref=fb

• Publishers Weekly: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/72308-canadian-report-december-2016.html

• http://bcbooklook.com/2016/10/17/stone-warm-sober-hope/

• http://salsfictionaddiction.blogspot.ca/2016/12/stepping-stones-refugee-familys-journey.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+SalsFictionAddiction+(Sal’s+Fiction+Addiction)

• http://www.todaysparent.com/family/parenting/kids-books-about-refugees/

• http://www.hbook.com/2017/01/blogs/out-of-the-box/refugees-welcome-here-resources-and-booklist/#_

Kids often ask me “What your favourite book?”
I always tell them I don’t have just ONE favourite book – there are so many and all books are so different.
However, right now I do have a new favourite and I want to share it with you: 14 Cows For America by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez.
Why have I not seen this glorious book in every house, every school and bookstore? Everybody needs to read this amazing, TRUE story.

14 Cows For America is the touching story of Kimeli, a young Maasai warrior from Kenya. He goes to America to study. When he returns to his village, he brings with him the heart wrenching story of hatred and hurt, a catastrophe that happened in America on 9/11. The Maasai elders are shocked. How can anyone hate like that?
To the fierce yet gentle Maasai, cows are sacred. Cows ensure life.
And so they offer the greatest gift they can: 14 cows for America. To help the American people to heal. ‘Because there is no nation so powerful that it cannot be wounded nor a people so small they cannot offer mighty comfort.’
A true story – beautifully worded by the author, accompanied by breathtaking paintings of the beautiful Maasai people. This is a tale to treasure and share.

And for now, it’s my favourite picture book.
I ordered my copy from: www.betterworldbooks.com

http://www.14cowsforamerica.com

I feel very fortunate to have been selected to tour for Canadian Children’s Book Week this year. Book Week is an amazing event whereby 29 (this year) authors and illustrators travel across the country, reading and sharing their work with thousands of children and adults alike.
We each conduct presentations in schools and public libraries.
Funded by TD Canada and other sponsors, this program has tremendous impact on reaching and encouraging young readers. A writer from Nova Scotia might be send to the Arctic. An illustrator from British Columbia might get to share his art with children in New Brunswick or Quebec. I am touring, this year, in small towns in rural Ontario.
Each of us meets with hundreds of children who’ve been reading our books. We all show the process of how books are made and how these kids, too, can grow up to be the future generation of storytellers and artists.

I asked my fellow writers/illustrators on tour which book THEY are bringing with them, to read in planes, trains, busses and hotel rooms.
This is their eclectic list of titles. Have fun finding them and seeing what Canadian book creators are currently reading:

Had fun talking about books, reading, writing and the whole publishing process to nearly 2,000 students in 10 schools over 5 days in Kelowna BC.

Very nice to receive teachers’ comments like this one:

Thank you so much for visiting Glenrosa Elementary. My students were already amazing little story tellers but your visit brought the whole process to life and we have been writing stories ever since.

And to see the kids producing such fun art based on books and inspired by Ted Harrison!

As a writer of books for children there is nothing more fun than to share my books with kids. Author visits are popular at schools across North America, but also at international schools. I have been lucky enough to travel to international schools across Europe, Asia, Africa and beyond.
I have made some life-long friends among teachers and librarians who share my love to literacy and travel.
Highlights include bringing books to nomad children in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, reading stories to children in Lahore, Pakistan, handing out books to children in Myanmar and many others.
Attached is an article about my recent visits to schools in Kenya and Ethiopia. I love the added bonus of learning about different cultures and now also write a travel blog:

https://globetrottinggrandparents.wordpress.com

Visiting international schools has led me to write books of a more international nature. My latests books include titles such as Families Around The World and School Days Around The World. Coming out in 2017 will be Birthdays Around The World as well as The Elephant Keeper, a book about my visit to an elephant orphanage in Zambia.

As I plan my next tour of schools in the Middle East, I often pinch myself and marvel at the fact that I am so lucky to be able to combine my passion for writing with my passion for travel.