Yolanda Ridge

Children's Author

Nakusp

The next stop on my KLF tour – Nakusp!  What a spectacular village!  With a beautiful library!  Really – there are not enough exclamation marks to describe it and the kids were wonderful too (thanks in part to their very supportive teachers!)  A huge thank you to Susan and Patty for the warm welcome.  And a special thanks to Helen, the KLF co-ordinator, for arranging the visit for May 21st.  The day greeted me with a sunny two and a half hour drive and enough warmth for a walk along the lake after my library time.
Today it would have been a very different experience with a rainfall warning and road closures due to high winds last night.  Sending hugs to everyone in Nakusp – I hope to be back soon!
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Grade Reading

I have a new title – book reviewer!  I am thrilled to be working with Ann Norris and Darcy Pattison of Grade Reading.  My first reviews have now been posted, each on the appropriate grade level specific site.  Check them out!

Around one Log – 4th Grade Reading

I Came From Water – 2nd Grade Reading

Soon each grade will have it’s own review site with the aim of providing recommendations for contemporary, grade level books appropriate for common core.  I love their motto - Because reading changes lives.

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MUF interview with Lois Peterson

My latest post at From the Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors features an interview with Lois Peterson – one of my favourite Canadian authors.

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KLF Tour

Today, my tour with the Kootenay Library Federation officially began!  Over the next few months I will be visiting seven different libraries across the Kootenay region of BC, thanks to the KLF and the amazing organization of Helen Graham.

My first stop was Midway where I got to meet with over a hundred enthusiatic grade four and five students who just completed the Reading Link Challenge.

Congratulations to all the participants and thank you to all the students who attended my talk – you were a terrific audience!

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And the winner is…

…WILDSIGHT!

Many thanks to all the students, teachers, and parents who participated in my Authors for Earth Day visit at the Rossland Library!  And thank you to the Rossland Telegraph and the Rossland News for covering the event.  We had a great time discussing rules, reading “Trouble in the Trees”, staging a protest, and voting for our environmental organization of choice.  You can read more about it at A4ED and the Rossland News.

It was so much fun!  I would really like to do it again next year.  Please let me know if you would like to host an Authors for Earth Day visit (schools, libraries…) or sponsor a visit (companies, PTA committees…)  Thanks!

Happy Earth Day!

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Publishers Weekly Article on A4ED

I am so proud to be part of Authors for Earth Day!  Read more about the 2013 international event in this Publishers Weekly Article.

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Here’s a list of the Non-Profit Environmental Organizations on the nominee list for my visit;

The West Kootenay EcoSociety

Wildsight

Bear Aware BC

Stream of Dreams

These are all great, local organizations that are making a difference to the environment of  the West Kootenays.  I hope the students at MacLean are having fun learning all about them!

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Not an April Fools joke!

IMG_4088This photo was taken by my good friend, Jean-Michel Lemieux, near Jervis Bay in New South Wales, Australia.  I can’t wait to take it to my next author visit to show students how silly people can be about following rules… they even left their address!

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Save the Trees with Straw Paper Books

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The words of two beloved Canadian authors, Yann Martel and Alice Munro, have been now printed on straw.  Read more about it in the Globe and Mail or through Canopy - the environmental group  who collaborated with Random House to print collectors’ editions of Dear Life and Life of Pi on paper made from straw.   How cool is that?

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Earth Day at Rossland Library!

My Authors for Earth Day visit has been booked!

I will be visiting with grade two and three students from Maclean Elementary School at the Rossland Public Library on Wednesday, April 17th.  One hundred percent of my $250 visit fee will be donated to a non-profit environmental organization of THEIR choice.  Yes, that’s right – the students will be learning about the organizations and voting for their favourite.  I am currently trying to select the nominees.  It’s much harder than I thought it would be… there are so many people out there doing so many amazing things for the planet.
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Bertha Kennedy

Today I met over ninety grade 3-6 students at Bertha Kennedy School in St. Albert, Alberta.  Each group was wonderful – loud (when I wanted them to be), interactive, and full of great questions.  I want to especially thank their librarian who did an excellent job organizing my visit.  Enjoy the books!

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