It's always a special thrill to see what a new illustrator is going to do with my work, and so I was very excited to get a sneak preview a little while ago of Susan Boase's first pictures for Lost Dog Bear. This will be the US edition with Henry Holt... and I've just remembered I'd forgotten to give the ms to my Australian publisher as promised. Abject apologies now in order!
But here is Susan Boase's own announcement - and a first picture:
I’m thrilled to announce… at SusanBoase.comhttp://susanboase.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lost_dog_bear_2009.jpg
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Saturday, May 16, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Fairfield Minuteman - A virtual visit at Burr School
Very nice to hear about the virtual visit from the other side!
An Australian children's author talked to the students at Burr Elementary School this spring using Skype, the software application that allows one to call free using computers and a video camera.
A large, about 6 by 6 foot, SMART Board set up in the library, provided the screen on which the students could see author Wendy Orr, whose book, "Nim's Island," had been read by many of the children in the school.
The book has also been made into a major motion picture starring Jodie Foster and child star, Abigail Breslin, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in "Little Miss Sunshine."
When children filed into the Library at 9:30 on the first Friday morning in May, it was already 11:30 in the evening for the author, who stayed up to talk to them and who pointed out to the children that it was almost Saturday in Australia.
"It's also fall, not spring," she said.
While the image on a Smart Board was fuzzier than the image might have been on a smaller screen, the live video did gave children a chance to see inside her office, with its many books and her sleeping dog-a perk not possible with most author talks.
The pooch somewhat reluctantly woke up to see the Connecticut children visible on Wendy Orr's computer, as the web cam on the library's Apple computer sent the children's images to Australia.
To read the rest of the article:
Fairfield Minuteman - A virtual visit at Burr School
An Australian children's author talked to the students at Burr Elementary School this spring using Skype, the software application that allows one to call free using computers and a video camera.
A large, about 6 by 6 foot, SMART Board set up in the library, provided the screen on which the students could see author Wendy Orr, whose book, "Nim's Island," had been read by many of the children in the school.
The book has also been made into a major motion picture starring Jodie Foster and child star, Abigail Breslin, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role in "Little Miss Sunshine."
When children filed into the Library at 9:30 on the first Friday morning in May, it was already 11:30 in the evening for the author, who stayed up to talk to them and who pointed out to the children that it was almost Saturday in Australia.
"It's also fall, not spring," she said.
While the image on a Smart Board was fuzzier than the image might have been on a smaller screen, the live video did gave children a chance to see inside her office, with its many books and her sleeping dog-a perk not possible with most author talks.
The pooch somewhat reluctantly woke up to see the Connecticut children visible on Wendy Orr's computer, as the web cam on the library's Apple computer sent the children's images to Australia.
To read the rest of the article:
Fairfield Minuteman - A virtual visit at Burr School
Monday, May 04, 2009
Midnight school chats
I don't know how many school talks I've done over the last twenty years, including quite a few online (text) chats, but last week was a bunch of firsts!
The Burr Elementary School in Connecticut has been doing Nim's Island for their One Book, One School program. (I've heard from a few schools around the world who've done this, and it gives me a thrill every time. There are so many wonderful books in the world that it's great honour to have one of mine chosen for a whole school to read. (Or, in the case of Rye State School, to encourage the whole town to read!)
However the Burr school wanted to follow up with an author visit, and as I couldn't zip across from Australia to Connecticut, we decided we'd do it with Skype. Of course, just as in the emails between Nim and Alex Rover, the ten hour time difference made this interesting. I did a trial run with the teachers first, so early in the morning here that I was still in my pyjamas (definitely the first time I've been videoed in pjs),but we did the actual talks at 9:30 am for the kids,and 11:30 pm for me.
There was something quite special about doing it so late, and also about inviting the kids into my messy writer's office as we talked. (This time I was properly dressed!)I put a table up beside my desk to spread out more books and things to show, and was able to turn the computer around so they could see the office itself. My little dog, Harry,was asleep on the couch behind me, and I gather it was quite a highlight when I brought him up to the camera to say goodnight.
Of course it wasn't the same as being physically in the same room, but it was far more than a second best. The feedback from the school and the kids has been wonderful, though perhaps the real test was simply how good the kids were - 50 minutes is a long time for kindergarteners to sit on the floor and pay attention at the best of times!
I think my author talks have just entered the 21st century - this is definitely something I'd like to do more of.
The Burr Elementary School in Connecticut has been doing Nim's Island for their One Book, One School program. (I've heard from a few schools around the world who've done this, and it gives me a thrill every time. There are so many wonderful books in the world that it's great honour to have one of mine chosen for a whole school to read. (Or, in the case of Rye State School, to encourage the whole town to read!)
However the Burr school wanted to follow up with an author visit, and as I couldn't zip across from Australia to Connecticut, we decided we'd do it with Skype. Of course, just as in the emails between Nim and Alex Rover, the ten hour time difference made this interesting. I did a trial run with the teachers first, so early in the morning here that I was still in my pyjamas (definitely the first time I've been videoed in pjs),but we did the actual talks at 9:30 am for the kids,and 11:30 pm for me.
There was something quite special about doing it so late, and also about inviting the kids into my messy writer's office as we talked. (This time I was properly dressed!)I put a table up beside my desk to spread out more books and things to show, and was able to turn the computer around so they could see the office itself. My little dog, Harry,was asleep on the couch behind me, and I gather it was quite a highlight when I brought him up to the camera to say goodnight.
Of course it wasn't the same as being physically in the same room, but it was far more than a second best. The feedback from the school and the kids has been wonderful, though perhaps the real test was simply how good the kids were - 50 minutes is a long time for kindergarteners to sit on the floor and pay attention at the best of times!
I think my author talks have just entered the 21st century - this is definitely something I'd like to do more of.
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