This week is TD Canadian Children’s Book Week 2007, bringing the magic of books and reading to children all across Canada! Victoria Miles the author of Old Mother Bear and Frieda Wishinsky the author of The Canadian Flyer Adventures were selected to participate in the tour this year.

TD Canadian Children’s Book Week is the single most important bilingual, national event celebrating Canadian children’s books and the importance of reading. Every November, thousands of children and adults participate in activities held in every province and territory across the country. Hundreds of schools, public libraries, bookstores and community centres host events as part of this major literary festival.

All of us at Raincoast are very proud to have Frieda and Victoria participating in this amazing opportunity. Victoria will be visiting schools in Ontario and Frieda in Newfoundland.

Victoria Miles offers presentations for Grades 1-12! Here is some information about the presentation that she offers focused around to her book Old Mother Bear:

Old Mother Bear (Grades 1 - 3)
Look up the word “bear” in any library catalogue and you could find hundreds of titles. But a book about an old bear, a very old bear? That would be a rare find. When Victoria Miles set her heart on writing a bear story, she had a particular bear in mind. An aged mother grizzly, and her last litter of cubs. In writing “Old Mother Bear”, Victoria explored what it means to be an old bear. Teamed up with Caldecott-honoree artist Molly Bang, Victoria and Molly viewed grizzly bears in the wild, a special experience she shares when presenting “Old Mother Bear”.

For those of you in Newfoundland who are lucky enough to hear Frieda speak here is some information about her presentations:

Frieda loves writing children’s books. Her picture books, chapter books and novels are full of humour and engaging characters. She makes history” come alive” for readers. Published in eight languages, her many books have won numerous international awards and acclaim. Frieda is an accomplished workshop leader and presenter, who consistently draws enthusiastic reviews from children and adults alike.

Frieda’s presentations and workshops are interactive, informative and curriculum-linked. She uses drama, storytelling, a lively Q&A period, and humour to engage her audience. She encourages kids to use their experiences and feelings to tell their stories and shows them how they can do that.

Both authors give amazing school presentations! If you are interested in having Victoria or Frieda come to your school contact me at and we can put you in touch!

For more information about Canadian Book Week visit the TD Canadian Children’s Book Week Website.

Happy Reading!