Caldecott winner visits York House Junior Library

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Author / Illustrator Jon Klassen with Grade 2s

“Authorstrator” Jon Klassen arrived at our school last Thursday morning wearing his signature hat! Jon was on a North American tour to promote his newest book Sam and Dave Dig a Hole. View a promotional video here.

The Grade 2 girls enjoyed a rollicking session as Jon read his award winning hat books: I Want My Hat Back and That’s Not My Hat. Many of the girls wore hats to add to the fun. And a few girls honoured Jon’s visit with hand printed signs for his newest book.

The girls learned about the dual process of writing and illustrating a picturebook. Jon’s simple artwork came alive when he demonstrated how the placement of the eyes on an animal can evoke emotion. His characters have no mouths so can’t talk. The text represents their thinking (watch the video below).

Books for the girls were signed and personalized with a special JK illustration. The JS library also received an original image drawn by Jon especially for us!

First Nations Through the Seasons

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Julie Flett Meets the Grade 1s

Our Grade 1 girls have been learning about the First Nations people and their activities throughout the year. This study was inspired by the picturebook Wild Berries by Metis authorstrator Julie Flett.

The girls have worked in both their classroom and the library on this project. Activities included stations (music, art, wood, animals) to understand and explore the concept of First Nations in Canada.

In the library books by Julie Flett and other First Nations authors were read aloud with writing activities to accompany. In the classroom the girls did First Nations inspired art, and wrote about the First Nations. Together we made wild berry jam and each girl took a sample home to taste.

Our special activity was to meet Julie Flett in person! Julie shared her family history through her books. Family members and friends appear in her ‘true’ stories. She showed us her niece’s well worn moccasins that inspired some illustrations. Following the book presentation we gathered in the Atelier to create collage art just like Julie does for her illustrations. The girls will use this art as a book cover for their own story about nature.

Sheilagh Martin
Teacher Librarian, Junior School