The Book Broads

Musician, Will Stoet.

(Vancouver, B.C.) – Bilingual children’s musician Will Stroet, a two-time Western Canadian Music Award nominee, wants to spark a reading revival on Family Literacy Day, Jan. 27. Stroet is offering a free download of his song, “Reading Revival,” from his new album “Walk ‘n’ Roll,” from Jan. 24-31 to encourage families to visit the library and read their favourite books.

Stroet was inspired to write “Reading Revival” and “Don’t Judge a book by its Cover” for his Okanagan, Fraser Valley and Vancouver library tours this past summer.  Both songs were huge hits with the hundreds of kids, parents and librarians Stroet performed for at more than 50 libraries this summer.

As a children’s performer, father and former teacher in Vancouver, Stroet understands the importance of supporting family literacy at school, in the community and at home. Both Stroet’s mother and grandmother were also teachers who believed music and reading encourage positive childhood development. Thanks to his mother’s enthusiastic efforts, by the time Stroet was three years old, he could recite around 50 songs and rhymes, and often performed them to the local merchants in his local Vancouver neighbourhood.

“In this digital age, it’s so important to build in daily reading time with your kids to get them hooked on books at an early age,” says Stroet. “I was inspired to write a song about some of my favourite books from childhood to get kids excited about reading. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Winnie-the-Pooh are classics that I’ll be sharing with my daughter when she’s a bit older. ”

Being both a teacher and musician, Stroet easily connects with kids and sings about themes such as reading, walking and bike safety, sports, vegetables, animals and personal hygiene. While the topics may seem typical of kids’ music, Stroet’s songwriting is clever, and refreshing with lively arrangements, appealing harmonies and, even some, face-melting guitar!

Stroet’s CDs are also popular teaching aids. He leads workshops for teachers about how to make learning more fun through using music in the classroom. He is also part of BC’s ArtStarts in Schools roster and has performed his highly entertaining show to enthusiastic young audiences at hundreds of libraries, schools and festivals in Canada.

Stroet is performing at Team Finn’s Finntastastic Fundraiser for the Ride to Conquer Cancer on Jan. 23 at 3:30 pm at Highlands Elementary School in North Vancouver; the Clearbrook Library’s Family Literacy Day on Jan. 29 at 12:30 pm; Mt. Seymour’s Family Snow Day on Jan. 30 at 11 am and noon; and West Vancouver Memorial Library’s Valentine’s Day on Feb. 12 at 10:30 am. He is also touring many of the schools throughout the Lower Mainland this spring.

To download “Reading Revival,” buy CDs and for a list of Will Stroet’s upcoming shows, visit www.willmusic.ca. You can watch fun music videos at www.youtube.com/willstroet, and connect with Stroet on Facebook and Twitter @willkidsmusic.CDs are also available on  iTunes and at select retailers in B.C.

As a former educator and now a musician for families, Will is an ideal subject for an interview. He is available to talk about literacy, music and how they go hand in hand! For more information or to arrange for interviews, contact:

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Kim here… and I think by now, you know I like to cook.  Just got the new book, The Vegetarian Collection, from Alison Kent and the Canadian Living Test Kitchen. I went through it a few times to choose the recipe to try – I landed on page 41 and decided to make Falafels. Soaked the chick peas, ground them up, added the ingredients, fried them, cut veggies and made sauces. Yum. The Little Book Broads got into the mix – did a taste test. Here is the video of our taste test. They were good. We made enough for school the next day, and made a snack for the teachers. The teachers loved the falafels too! Nice recipe and eager to try more!

Vegetarian Collection from Canadian Living Test Kitchen

Thanks for watching and reading. Happy eating!

Kim, on behalf of The Book Broads

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Here’s a fast podcast that captures a conversation we had this morning about literacy and kids, and the right and wrong way to encourage it.

 The Book Broads on Literacy for Kids: Download (94)

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The Book Broads are proud to present ReadUP TweetUP. This literacy event will rock the house at the Nanaimo Museum (100 Museum Way, Nanaimo) on Thursday, January 27, 2011 as Nanaimo’s social media community comes together in support of Family Literacy Day.  From 5pm-7pm avid readers and aspiring writers will all have the chance to meet a variety of published authors, enjoy the hospitality of event sponsors and do some fun activities while exploring the amazing exhibits of the Nanaimo Museum.

You can RSVP to the official online invitation here: http://tweetvite.com/event/ReadUPTweetUP

At this kid friendly event, guests will mix and mingle with authors and fellow readers. Confirmed special guests include:

·         Nanaimo’s favourite kindergarten teacher and author of 123 Kindergarten, the celebrated Barbara Allisen (http://123kindergarten.com/), shares her knowledge on the important skills required to become a reader.

.           Gabriola Island, author and illustrator Dianna Bonder (http://diannabonder.com/) will share a bit of her magic.   Her  most recent book is The West is Calling.

·         Rachel Dunstan Muller has written many books for kids and tweens and is a popular writer based in Ladysmith. (http://www.orcabook.com/contributorinfo.cfm?ContribID=322)

·         Lantzville resident and certified yoga instructor, Kathy Beliveau is the author of The Yoga Game. Perfect fit for the theme of literacy and play. Check her out at http://www.kathybeliveau.ca/

·         Nanaimo’s Charity Gosling will be on hand to talk about her newly released novel, The Guardian. http://cjgosling.wordpress.com/shadowlands%C2%A0series/.

We have not left out the adults… we have authors for them too. We believe that if kids see parents read, they will too!

·         Website guru George Plumley (http://ahundredquestionstoask.com/)  shares his latest book Website Design & Development: 100 Questions to Ask Before Building a Website.

.        Nick Daniels will be there. He is newish to Nanaimo and was a science writer and is now working on novels. His book, The Gentlemen’s Conspiracy is a thrilling and deep read and fun for the adults in the crowd. (www.nickdanielsbooks.com)

·         Novelist Chevy Stevens (http://www.chevystevens.com/) will be there talking about her fabulous novel Still Missing.

Guests will also have the opportunity to do alphabet art activities with Tara Gray from 4 Cats Nanaimo (http://www.4cats.com/StudioHome.aspx?Studio=Nanaimo) . Attendees will also get to play with their food with an alphabet themed chocolate buffet generously provided by the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory – Nanaimo (http://www.nanaimoloveschocolate.com/)

All guests are asked to bring unwanted books for donation. Children who donate a book will be given a free ticket to pick a used book to bring home to read at bedtime thus continuing this literacy focused day. Remaining books will be donated to this Books for Kids, an organization that takes pre-loved books, sells them and puts the money made back into the school libraries.

Special thanks to the Nanaimo Museum (http://www.nanaimomuseum.ca/) for providing the venue and to former Nanaimo resident, Wendy D (http://wendyd.ca/) for donating her services as official photographer. The Book Broads (www.thebookbroads.com) are Angela Crocker, Peggy Richardson (from Gabriola Island) and Kimberly Plumley (from Lantzville).

To register for this free event, http://tweetvite.com/event/ReadUPTweetUP. The official hashtag is #ReadUPTweetUP. Please register for the tweet-up or call 250-390-9285. Check out the poster for My Story, Your Story it features some other great literacy events that are happening at local libraries.

My Story – Your Story

Check here for more information about Family Literacy Day across the country… http://www.abclifeliteracy.ca/en/family-literacy-day

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For more information and/or to arrange an interview with any all of the authors and sponsors, please contact Kimberly Plumley at Publicity Mavens at 250-390-9285 or via email at kim@publicitymavens.com.

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The Book Broads are thrilled to be part of the Writers’ Trust Fundraiser featuring Margaret Atwood. We will be doing PR, podcasts, blogs and more to let people know about this event. Below is the press release that will give you more details.

Writers’ Trust Fundraiser Features Margaret Atwood in Vancouver, BC

Writers’ Trust Fundraiser Features Margaret Atwood

Renowned Canadian writer Margaret Atwood will narrate a theatrical performance based on her best-selling novel, The Year of the Flood, at a gala fundraiser in Vancouver for The Writers’ Trust of Canada an organization she helped to create in 1976.

The event, called “Margaret Atwood in Vancouver” will take place on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The event starts at 7 pm. Presenting Sponsor is Raymond James, media sponsor is The Vancouver Sun and the wine sponsor is Mission Hill.

The theatrical performance will dramatize Ms. Atwood’s novel, The Year of the Flood, with singers and actors from the original 2009 production reprising their critically acclaimed roles.

A cocktail reception in the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s rooftop ballroom will precede the performance. Guests will have the opportunity to mingle with celebrated Canadian writers including Ms. Atwood and fellow Writers’ Trust co-founder Graeme Gibson, author of The Bedside Book of Beast. Further literary guests will be announced closer to the event.

The event will feature a two-part auction of exciting collectors’ items.  Auction lots are one-of-kind items created by the donors, and include:

• A disposable camera filled with photographs taken by Margaret Atwood and signed by the author.

• 12 postcards of short imagistic poems by Lorna Crozier sent once a month, for one year, to the auction winner.
• A framed photograph of one of Karen Connelly’s Burma images, which have been exhibited in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and France, accompanied by handwritten text in a window beside the photo.

Preceding the event selected items will be auctioned through the online auction service eBay with some lots held back to be auctioned live by Maynards Auctioneers on the night of the event.

A limited number of tickets are available at the price of $175. Tickets can be ordered online at www.writerstrust.com, by phone toll-free 1-877-906-6548 or email ggunn@writerstrust.com

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For more information, please contact:

Genni Gunn, Writer’s Trust director at ggunn@writerstrust.com

Kimberly Plumley at Publicity Mavens at 250-390-9285 or via email at kim@publicitymavens.com

Ms. Atwood and Mr. Gibson are available for interviews.

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I have a super cool job. I don’t want to be braggy, but it is fun. As a publicist I get to work with amazing people, promote them and on the occasion, take them to their media events. Now, I love hanging with all my authors, but I have a special place in my heart (and stomach) for cookbook authors. On Monday and Tuesday this week, I got to hang out with Chatelaine Magazine’s new food editor, Claire Tansey. She took over the job recently when Monda Rosenberg retired.

Claire was so fun to work with… she get us as busy women who have tastebuds! She believes that a recipe that is in Chatelaine Magazine should use things that can be bought in any store… Toronto, Kitimat, Fort Saskatchewan, Sidney, Grand’Mere and others!

Here is a video I did with Claire to talk about the cookbook – it’s a bit shaky, because I had just bashed my hand on a glass door and it HURT! You will be pleased, I did not shed a tear. Enjoy the video and watch for a Chatelaine Modern Classic Cookbook give-away coming your way soon. I am off to go make crepes that Claire said I should have no problem making. Will let you know!

Have fun… and happy reading  and EATING!

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Grace, aged 9, gives her view on the book “It’s a Snap – George Eastman’s First Photograph” written by Monica Kulling and illustrated by Bill Slavin.

I will put my two cents in too. I really enjoyed this book. Love the story, the history and the illustrations. We had a great time reading it together and talking about how much cameras have changed. It’s great to look at our past to see how far we’ve come. Glad the kids get to see it was invented and not just bought at the store.

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The Blogworld & New Media Expo happens this week in Las Vegas.  Peggy and Angela will be there - sadly without Kim this time.  In this podcast, the Broads talk about the diverse and interesting schedule programmed by Deb Ng and make plans to  make lots of new friends and learn new things.  Peggy & Angela will be live tweeting, podcasting and blogging throughout the conference. Follow along on @TheBookBroads, @AngelaCrocker, @PeggyRichardson and the official conference hashtag #bwe10.

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We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner (in Canada we have ours in October – our friend Val, has a whole story on why, but that is for another day). We had a whack of people over: adults, kids and teens. Our teens, who are social and anti-social at the same time, brought their phones of course, but one of the teens brought, gasp, a book!

Not only did Netanya bring a book, she picked her outfit to coordinate with her book. She is such a clever girl. I had to get a picture of this book-loving fashion plate…

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Shifts in media can mean fewer opportunities for editors. Fewer traditionally-published books being created, newspapers publishing less and less content, and magazines are also changing. The question is – when the shift hits the fan… where are the new opportunities for street-smart Editors? The answer is technology.  On September 25, Kim, Peggy, Angela and special guest George Plumley will be doing a day long workshop on this for the Editors’ Association of Canada.  Hear our thoughts in this podcast as we prepare for this class.

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