As school library folks, you’ve likely heard about Canadian Independent Bookstore Day. This annual event has become a callsign for spring, a day in late April that gives us the chance to celebrate local indie bookstores and the Canadian creators that fill their shelves.

As a kids’ author, I thought I had seen everything until the Silver Birch Express ceremony. With twenty-five years of school presentations under my belt, I’ve met kids who sheepishly whispered that they liked my books, brash kids who boldly told me they hated reading and everyone in between.

The increase in the enjoyment level of an activity is proportional to the increase of freedom you give children to show up as themselves. If you work with young learners, then you know the challenge: keeping kids engaged, focused and genuinely connected to stories.

The Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP) is a not-for-profit national arts service organization founded in 1977. It offers professional development, promotion and support to many children and teen authors, illustrators and performers.

The first time I had the pleasure of meeting Maria Martella was at a conference in Toronto a few years ago. I can’t recall if it was Reading for the Love of It or the OLA Super Conference, but in all likelihood, it was both.

James Saunders: School Library Hero​ Danny Neville After many years of hearing about James Saunders, I finally had the pleasure of meeting him in person …