May 13, 2020
Did you ever wonder where authors get their ideas? Have you ever dreamed of being an illustrator or a novelist? Perhaps you are a teacher looking for techniques to increase the literacy skills of your students. Check out BiblioVideo, a new bilingual YouTube channel that introduces Canadian writers, artists and publishers. This channel is brought to you by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre.
Children will enjoy listening to authors such as Ruth Ohi read Chicken, Pig, Cow, or Vikki VanSickle read Teddy Bear of the Year. Join the authors as they talk about their books and explain where they found inspiration. Illustrator Qin Leng shares the magic of creation as she draws the dog from Norman, Speak!, by Caroline Adderson. Lesley-Anne Green shows us how to create the tiny felted creatures from Fox and Raccoon. Kids can do this, too!
Teens will enjoy listening to discussions about the writing process. In Writing and Feminism, Monique Polak shares her experiences and philosophy on creating fiction. She offers candid advice to young people who want to write: how do you do it, how does it work, what is the process of writing a book?
Teachers will enjoy Why Teach Graphic Novels in the Classroom, a fascinating look at the benefits of graphic novels. Educators may also like the book trailers, which can help them choose appropriate titles for students, such as This Place: 150 Years Retoldby several contributors. There are also non-fiction titles, such as The Boreal Forestread by author Lindsey Carmichael in a soothing, quiet voice that is lovely to listen to. New videos are posted daily.
Use this time to encourage budding writers and illustrators to learn from the professionals and develop their passion!
Blog post contributed by Sonja from our Blackburn Hamlet branch.