Hockey Night in Baden and New Hamburg!

There was excitement in the air at the Baden and New Hamburg Branches of the Region of Waterloo Library on November 16, 2011. The New Hamburg Firebirds were on hand to read The Farm Team (and other hockey related books) with excited fans. Add a few exciting draw prizes, a little table hockey, hot chocolate and Gatorade, and you've got a recipe for one amazing night!

To view more pictures from Hockey Night in Baden, visit the New Hamburg Independent's November 18th blog entry at http://nhindependent.wordpress.com/

Let's Read comes to Linwood.

On November 2nd, Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin visited the Linwood Branch of the Region of Waterloo Library. For weeks, the Grade three classes from the Linwood Public School had prepared for this exciting day by reading Linda Bailey's Stanley the Dog series and The Farm Team in their classes. The sixty students were eager to meet this talented author and illustrator duo! Linda and Bill held their audience captive while they shared the "how-to" process of writing and illustrating.  


Linda quizzes the students on the characters in her books.



      

 

Linda and Bill share some of the secrets hiding on the pages.



Bill shares his thumbnail sketches with the group.



Bill produces an original sketch for the group, with tips
on drawing technique, particularly shading.



 

Bill Comes to KW|AG!

A full house of grade three and four students from St. Agnes and John Sweeney had a blast with Bill Slavin when he visited us at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery on November 1st. Bill entertained the audience with the story Stanley’s Little Sister, accompanied by his original illustrations. He spoke on how he became an illustrator, shared artwork from his early years, and passed around original illustrations from his graphic novel Big City Otto for the kids to see, up close and personal. Bill even gave a live drawing demonstration on light and shading using his beloved character Otto the elephant as an example, which is now on display in our Art Studio! The kids were full of great questions and eager to get their copies of The Farm Team autographed by Bill at the end of his presentation.

Bill Slavin speaking to a captive audience at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery.

Bill kindly shared with us why he loves his job:

"I was asked the other day what my age was when being interviewed by our local paper for my launch of my new graphic novel, Big City Otto. “What a strange question!” I thought to myself, did the quick math and came up with 52 – going on 14!

So this question got me wondering. “Does the interviewer think I’m too old to be starting comics?” It hadn’t really occurred to me earlier.

I really do have the best job in the world as an illustrator of kids’ books, and there is nothing I would rather be doing. Or at least, that was the case until I began working on my graphic novel – a lifelong dream long postponed. What I love about illustrating in general and comic-making in particular is the opportunity to combine my two favourite things, story-telling and drawing, into a single entity. And in comic-making there is even more drawing, more graphic story-telling than in picture books. Being an illustrator is all I have ever wanted to be – other forms of art have never really appealed. Illustration wasn’t simply a commercially expedient way to make a living from my art. It is my life.

And after more than thirty years of doing it I still roll out of bed each morning and into my work chair excited as the day I was 14 to be putting pencil to paper. I take an unabashed joy in what I do, and I expect I will never reach an age where I have outgrown the pleasure of drawing stories from my imagination."

Bill Slavin's graphic novel Big City Otto.

Bill Slavin and Linda Bailey at WPL

The Farm Team Illustrator Bill Slavin and author Linda Bailey entertained a packed auditorium at the Main Library on November 3rd. Attendees were treated to excerpts from the book, learned more about the creative process and learned how to draw a hockey-playing pig!

Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin are coming!

Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin, the author and illustrator of The Farm Team, are coming to Waterloo Region from November 1 - 3. If you would like to attend one of the author/illustrator visits contact the appropriate venue.


Tuesday, November 1st at 1:00 - Bill will be visiting the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery



Wednesday, November 2nd at 9:30 - Bill and Linda will be visiting the Linwood Branch of the Region of Waterloo Libraries


Wednesday, November 2nd at 1:00 - Linda and Bill will be at the Queen's Square Branch of the Cambridge Libraries



Thursday, November 3rd at 10:00 - Bill and Linda will be visiting the Grand River Branch of the Kitchener Public Library http://www.kpl.org/


Thursday, November 3rd at 1:00 - Linda and Bill will be at the Main Branch of the Waterloo Public Library http://www.wpl.ca/



We are going to keep our author and illustrator very busy! Don't forget to contact your library if you are interested in attending an author/illustrator event.


Linda and Bill have promised to share the secrets behind the creative genius that went into the creation of not only The Farm Team but also the Stanley books as well.


We hope to see you there!

And we're off!

The official launch of the 2011 Let's Read program was on Sunday, September 25, 2011 at Word on the Street in Victoria Park. Hundreds of kids and their families join us to make buttons and hear about the program.

In the afternoon, members of the Waterloo Siskins hockey team and their mascot, Captain Crunch, helped us to officially launch the program.

We gave away lots of treats, read some of the book and handed out free tickets for a Waterloo Siskins hockey game. Thanks Siskins!

We all had a great time at the launch and we hope you enjoy the book as much as we do.

2011 Let's Read Launch

Join us on Saturday, September 25th from 11:00 - 5:00 at Victoria Park in Kitchener at the Word on the Street Festival for the launch of our 2011 Let's Read title - The Farm Team written by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Bill Slavin. Let's Read will be launched at 3:00. Come and hear us read the book, hang out with some Waterloo Siskins hockey players and enjoy a sweet treat on us!


Check back here throughout the fall as we announce programs and events at your local library.

Fundraiser for Let's Read

A BIG THANKS to JM Drama, a local community theatre group.

Last night's proceeds from their current production - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - were donated to Let's Read.
Founded in 1983, JM Drama encourages and supports the arts in Waterloo Region. A group of us attended opening night last night and it was great fun. The show runs from August 11 - 13 and August 18 - 20. Tickets are available in advance at the Center in the Square box office or at the door.

Registry Theatre
122 Frederick St.

http://www.registrytheatre.com/

Grand River Rafting Adventure Winners!

Simply by checking out and reading "Chocolate River Rescue" from the Cambridge Libraries, children were entered into a draw for the amazing prize of a rafting adventure for a family of six down the Grand River, Cayuga Run, generously donated by Garth Potruff, owner of Grand River Rafting Co. The draw was held in March and our winner, Noor Aburaneh, 9, brought her family to share in all the excitement. Pictured from left to right, top row down, is Hiba, Aya and Khaled Aburaneh, Karen Murray-Hopf (Let's Read coordinator for Cambridge) Garth Potruff, Ibrahim, Aburaneh, Tamer Abuhweleh, winner Noor, and Abdullah Aburaneh.

Let's Read Contest winners at Waterloo Public Library

Waterloo public Library held a Let's Read colouring contest in which the children drew their favourite passage from Chocolate River Rescue. We had so many exciting entries that it was hard to chose winners. Congratulations to our Let's Read colouring contest winners Silvia G. age 11 ( entry at right ), Geentanjali S 8 (middle picture) and Sofia S. age 9 (last picture) .

Chocolate River Rescue Crossword Puzzle

Try out our crossword puzzle and see if you know everthing there is to know about Craig and Shawn and Tony and their adventures. Do the puzzle and bring the ballot into your local library and you could win a prize!

Winners will be contacted on Family Literacy Day - Thursday, January 27th!

Let's Read Author Visit and PD Day in Cambridge

With sirens wailing and a chance to sit in a real river rescue boat courtesy of Cambridge Fire & Rescue, it was an exciting afternoon for the children at the Queen's Square location of Cambridge Libraries.

A visit from award winning author Jennifer McGrath Kent, complete with a bookmark signing, was a highlight as children expressed how much they loved her book CHOCOLATE RIVER RESCUE.

And don't miss out on the chance to win a rafting experience with the Grand River Rafting Co. when you check out a copy of the book. Let's Read continues to run until January 31, 2011 and will be present at the Family Literacy Event at Conestoga Mall on Sunday, January 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

See you there!

Cambridge Libraries Chocolate River Rescue Adventures

Clemens Mill, Hespeler & Preston branches will be presenting special Chocolate River Rescue Family Storytimes on Tuesday, November 2nd from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Extra special feature at Preston will be a visit by a beautiful golden labrador training dog.

Drop in on Friday, November 5th between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. at the Queen's Square Branch of Cambridge Libraries for lots of Chocolate River Rescue action! Enjoy a visit by the Cambridge Fire & Rescue Squad and author Jennifer McGrath Kent. The afternoon will be rounded out with music, a craft, an I SPY contest and Search & Rescue Scavenger Hunt contest. Have a special bookmark signed by Jennifer, then get a Chocolate River button when you tour the gallery. And don't forget to put your copy of the book on hold for your chance to win a river rafting experience!

Let's Read Rendezvous!

Visit the Region of Waterloo Library for P.D. Day Fun on Friday, November 5th!

Join us for a Let's Read Rendezvous with a special guest reader and fun activities based on this year's title Chocolate River Rescue. Let's Read P.D. Day Fun is for Grade 3-6 and is free.

Let's Read P.D. Day Fun at the Ayr Branch Library (137 Stanley Street in Ayr)
Friday, November 5th from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Please register in advance at 519-632-7298 or ayrlib@regionofwaterloo.ca




Let's Read P.D. Day Fun at the New Hamburg Branch Library (145 Huron Street in New Hamburg)
Friday, November 5th from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Please register in advance at 519-662-1112 or nhlib@regionofwaterloo.ca

Let's Read Launch - We are off to great start!

We officially launched the 2nd Annual Let's Read program and announced our 2010 title at Word on the Street on Sunday, September 26th. A great time was had by all. There was singing and dancing, firefighters and chocolate, and a suspenseful reading by Mayor Carl Zehr. Here are few pictures of the party...

Read Chocolate River Rescue and WIN!

Adventure awaits at Cambridge Libraries with the launch of this year's Let's Read book choice, "Chocolate River Rescue". Check out the book and you will receive an entry for the GRAND PRIZE of a rafting trip down the Cayuga Run portion of the Grand River for six people, courtesy of Grand River Rafting Company of Paris, Ontario. With lots more events, contests and author visits happening, make sure you visit www.cambridgelibraries.ca for up to date Let's Read info.

Let's Read Again!

Grab a paddle and a life jacket and join us on the awesome Let's Read adventure. Let's Read is a family literacy initiative in partnership with Cambridge Libraries and Galleries, Kitchener Public Library, Region of Waterloo Libraries, Waterloo Public Library and Project Read. Together we will be working to get the families of Waterloo Region reading - reading the same book, reading together as a family, and reading together as a community.

We will officially launch our 2010 title at Word on the Street on Sunday, September 26. There will be lots of fun and suspense as we read Chocolate River Rescue by Jennifer McGrath Kent.

Check back here throughout the fall as we announce programs and events at your local library.

It's all over for Jacob Two Two Meets the Hooded Fang

The 2009 season of Let's Read ended with a bang at the Family Literacy Day celebrations at Conestoga Mall on Sunday, January 31st, 2010. Over the course of the program, 811 Waterloo Region families signed out Jacob Two Two Meets the Hooded Fang from their local library and over 700 people attended programs connected to Jacob Two Two.

Check out this space in March 2010 when we announced the 2010 title selection that will get families excited about reading together all over again!

Chutes and Ladders at WPL

Come and play a life-size game of Chutes and Ladders in honour of our Let's Read book Jacob Two-Two meets the Hooded Fang. An excerpt from the book will be read to participants and then the fun will begin. Please sign up with a partner.
Date: Saturday, Januray 23rd
Time: 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Ages: 5 to 10 years old
Place : Waterloo Public Library - Main Branch Auditorium
Registration: begins January 11th

Jacob Two Two Word Search

Hey Kids! Have a look at this Jacob Two Two Word Search. Print out the puzzle, find the words and take it into your local library for the chance to win a prize.