Authors, Students Celebrate Canada Book Day

Three Nova Scotia authors are visiting Grade 7 classrooms today, April 23, to celebrate Canada Book Day.

Books written by the authors are part of an Atlantic Canadian collection delivered to junior high schools this year to support the Active Readers initiative. The collection includes 17 titles written or illustrated by Atlantic Canadians.

"The collection is written by and about people in this area, which is important for our students so they know about their roots," said Education Minister Angus MacIsaac. "It's a perfect fit with Active Readers, which strengthens our students' reading skills as they continue their education."

Jill Bryant, author of Amazing Women Athletes, is visiting New Germany Rural High School. Alice Walsh wrote Heroes of the Isles aux Morts. She's visiting East Antigonish Education Centre. In the Woods author Pam Hickman is visiting Coldbrook and District School. The authors are all members of the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia.

"Putting these books in classrooms is a testament to the Department of Education's commitment to highlight and value Atlantic Canadian authors," said Ms. Hickman. "It's also a great way of bringing attention to the federation's Writers in the Schools program. Anything we can do to encourage students to read is a step in the right direction."

The Writers in Schools program brings Nova Scotia writers into classrooms to help inspire students to read and write.

Active Readers put more than 100,000 books in about 400 Grade 7 classrooms during the 2002-03 school year. Each classroom received 257 new books on topics ranging from astronomy and Maritime inventions to skateboarding and Vikings.

Active Readers builds on the Active Young Readers initiative, which has put more than 600,000 books in elementary schools across the province since September 2000. Elementary schools also received sets of Atlantic Canadian books in the fall of 2002.

Teachers from primary to Grade 7 have received professional development materials and workshops to support these literacy initiatives. Teachers at higher grades will get the same support as Active Readers expands.