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The Magic of Books in EdmontonCéline Gendron, Research and Information Services National Librarian Roch Carrier hosted the launch of this year’s Read Up On It at the Stanley A. Milner Theatre of the Edmonton Public Library. The evening started with a surprising performance by Les Bûcherons, an Edmonton band offering traditional French-Canadian entertainment that blends song and dance to re-create some old-time magic. Roch Carrier welcomed the children, teachers, librarians and members of the Edmonton Children’s Roundtable who attended the launch. He spoke about Read Up On It (RUOI), the National Library of Canada’s bilingual guide to Canadian children’s literature: "As teachers, librarians and children’s books enthusiasts, you know the power of the words and images on the development of language and imagination in children." He also thanked the National Literacy Secretariat, the Canadian Library Association, ASTED (Association pour l'avancement des sciences et des techniques de la documentation), and Mrs. Margaret McInall, who was representing the Canadian Federation of University Women, for their long-time support for Read Up On It. Mr. Carrier was followed by Alberta Senator Tommy Banks, who was delighted to be associated with the event. Children’s illustrator Kady MacDonald Denton then came on stage to talk to the audience about I Wished for a Unicorn, the book whose illustrations were chosen to grace both the cover and the inside pages of Read Up On It: The Magic of Books: "I was very keen to do these illustrations. I felt I understood this child… because I was a rather dreamy child myself. I used to spend hours lying on my back gazing at the ceiling…. you know, a white ceiling is beautiful. Anything can be imagined on it." Laurent Chabin, a writer from Calgary, read from Le collectionneur de vents, which was included in the 2001 edition of Read Up On It, The Nature of Words. Katherine Holubitsky, a writer from Edmonton, read a chapter from Last Summer in Agatha, a novel for youth ages 14-16. During the event, Mr. Carrier asked the audience to check under their seats: those lucky enough to find a sticker received copies of Last Summer in Agatha, courtesy of Orca Books, or books written by Laurent Chabin, provided by Éditions Pierre Tisseyre. After participating in a quiz based on Read Up On It, everyone enjoyed refreshments while authors and illustrators signed books made available by the bookseller Audrey’s Books. There were many sponsors and partners involved in making the evening such a success: Kids Can Press, who brought us illustrator Kady MacDonald Denton, Orca Books and Éditions Pierre Tisseyre, who generously provided books for the contest, the Edmonton Public Library, whose collaboration was invaluable, and particularly Michael Dell, who was so enthusiastic about bringing Read Up On It to Edmonton. To order your free copy of Read Up On It: The Magic of Books, contact the National Library of Canada at Read Up On It |
