Author Archives: Deborah Hodge

Seymour Elementary School

If you live in Vancouver, chances are you’ve heard of Seymour Elementary School and the primary teacher, Carrie Gelson, who spoke out recently about the needs of her students. (You can read Carrie’s letter here.)

I had the privilege of meeting Carrie and her students today. I took my wildlife books and a collection of animal furs and skulls, and spoke to the children about local animals and how I write my nonfiction books. The children were brimming with questions and comments. I received an enormous hug from one of the boys, both on my arrival and my leaving.

I was so impressed with the school and am glad to have had the opportunity to see what a compassionate and caring community it is for the children who attend. Thank you to Carrie, and all the people at Seymour Elementary who have made the school a wonderful place to be!

If you’d like to read about their ongoing work, please go here.

Fall Reading…

I just finished re-reading a wonderful book called, Passages: Welcome Home to Canada. It is a collection of thoughtful and inspiring essays by Canadian writers who were born in other countries. It includes articles by Shyam Selvadurai, Anna Porter, M.G. Vassanji and Moses Znaimer to name a few.

The first time I read Passages (a few years ago), I was writing my own thoughts on the topic: The Kids Book of Canadian Immigration. At that time, I read Passages (and many other books) strictly for research. On this second reading, I savoured the book and turned each page with enjoyment and contemplation. It is a lovely piece of work!

Another collection I am reading is a set of short stories titled, The Empty Family, by Colm Toibin — someone I had not read before but have heard about for a long time. These are beautifully written stories, set in Ireland, and full of poignancy, longing, melancholy and regret. I look forward to reading many more books by this writer. (He writes in a range of genres apparently — poetry, novels, essays and more.)

What are you reading this fall? Feel free to send your recommendations.

Word on the Street 2011

Watch Me GrowIt’s that time of year again, when literary events fill the calendar. This Sunday (Sept. 25) is the annual celebration of books, Word on the Street. In Vancouver, we never know if we are going to have blazing sunshine or rain and wind for this celebration. I’ve been there during both kinds of weather, and my fingers are crossed for warmer temperatures. (It can get pretty chilly with the wind whistling around the tents at Library Square.)

Brian Harris, creative partner and photographer for my most recent books, will be talking about Watch Me Grow! A Down-to-Earth Look at Growing Food in the City. Find him at the Raise-a-Reader Corner at 2:20 pm and hear about his ideas on photography, sustainability and using his talent for good works. Best of all, see his amazing photos!

I often present at WOTS, but am glad to be a spectator this year and have the chance to wander among the wonderful gathering of books, families, authors and readings. Hope to see you there!

Who Lives Here? with Shanghai Xiron


I recently received a letter from my publisher at Kids Can Press informing me of the happy news that my series, Who Lives Here? has been sold to Shanghai Xiron for Simplified Chinese rights. Hooray!

I am thrilled to know that young children in China will be able to turn the pages of these books and learn all about animals and their habitats.

I visited Shanghai a couple of years ago and had so much fun meeting elementary school students who were keen to say hello and practice their English. Maybe some of them will read these books. 🙂

Researching a New Book

When I was researching my recent books on small, local farms and urban gardens, I visited a wonderful community garden called, World in a Garden Project.

Like many of the gardens in the Vancouver area, they use earth-friendly practices to grow their food, and believe in showing children the growing process “from seed to table.”

If you are in the area and have children who might enjoy some gardening activities, you can check out a couple of their summer programs here.

This photo is from my book, Watch Me Grow! A Down-to-Earth Look at Growing Food in the City. It was shot by photographer, Brian Harris, and shows a boy harvesting rye at the World in a Garden community project in Kerrisdale.

Happy Growing!

Sunshine — and a Nomination!

I think summer may have arrived in Vancouver. Hooray! The past few days have been sunny and warm, leading me to believe I can finally pack away my winter sweaters.

Besides the sun, I have another reason to celebrate: Up We Grow! A Year in the Life of a Small, Local Farm has been selected as one of the five finalists for the Information Book Award of Canada. Hooray again!

I’m thrilled with the nomination, and delighted to be named in the company of such wonderful books: 50 Burning Questions: A Sizzling History of Fire by my friend and talented author, Tanya Lloyd Kyi; Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton; Canadian Railroad Trilogy by Gordon Lightfoot and Ian Wallace; and Canada’s Wars: An Illustrated History by Jonathon Webb. Congratulations, all! And a sincere thank you to the Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada for my nomination.

If you’d like to read more about the award, go here or here.

Sunshine and books! Could life get any better than this?

Beautiful Chesterman Beach

My friend and colleague, Adrienne Mason, has the great fortune to live and work in Tofino, BC, on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island. As well as writing children’s books and being the editor of Know Magazine, she is co-owner of a small, independent publishing company, Postelsia Press. They have just released their newest work, 18 Meditations on Chesterman Beach, — a beach near Tofino, which may be one of the most beautiful places on earth.

I can hardly wait to get my hands on the book. I know it will be fabulous (almost as good as being at Chesterman beach myself).

To order your own copy, or find out more about the book, go here.

Friends on the Radio

I recently listened to the interviews of children’s authors, Linda Bailey and Robert Heidbreder, on CBC’s North by Northwest show. Sheryl McKay is a wonderful interviewer and she was able to get them to talk at length about their writing process and why they do what they do. All three of them are friends of mine, so it was a real treat to hear them speak together.

Linda is a prolific writer and her works include Stanley’s Party and a number of other Stanley stories. Robert is a children’s poet, and the author of many books, including Drumheller Dinosaur Dance, shown above. (Dancing dinosaurs and partying canines. What could be more fun?!!!)

Find a copy of these books and maybe you’ll be inspired to pick up your pen!

Getting Back to the Garden…

It was a happy surprise this morning to open up the Globe and Mail this morning and see a review of my most recent book, Watch Me Grow! If you’d like to read the review and see the lovely photo of my young niece watering her windowsill garden, go here.

If you’d like to read more about the book, go here, and if you’d like some child-friendly gardening and growing activities for the kids in your life, go here.

Now, if only the sun would come out so that I could actually plant my garden. 🙂

Happy long weekend, everyone!

Mission Visits, Final Chapter

I’m back from Mission after visiting the last group of schools, and what lovely schools they were! Thank you to all the teachers and students who made my trip so enjoyable. It was a real treat to see the enthusiasm of the students and the dedication of the teachers.

If I were there today, I’d give you a lovely bouquet of spring flowers.

Thank you especially to Envision Financial for making it possible for a school district to hire an author to visit every school. This is a rare and worthy undertaking, and I am grateful! I know the teachers and students are, too.

Thank you, all!