World Read Aloud Day 2021

February 3, 2021 was World Read Aloud Day, and I celebrated by doing virtual author visits with eight schools across North America over two days. It was a wild ride, and so much fun. Each visit was a different experience. I had 100 second graders from New Jersey join a Zoom call from their homes. On another call I read to and answered questions from eight students from the Tsawassen First Nation in British Columbia. I did a Streamyard broadcast to ten Kindergarten classes in New York—that was something new for me, as I couldn’t see any of their faces while I spoke. I spoke with students in Texas, Kansas and BC.

Getting ready for the big day took some time. I wanted to make sure I had good lighting and an interesting, but not too busy background. Here is what my set up looked like. The odd white shape is a clip-on lamp covered with a pillowcase to create diffuse light.

I had wonderful, thought-provoking questions from the students. I’m almost always asked which is my favourite book of the ones I’ve written, and I always dodge the question! Some other questions: Why does Lauren have a sister? (Because the original student who inspired Lauren had a baby sibling.) Why is Dan so mad and mean? (Because he doesn’t understand how to be friends with someone who thinks differently than he does.) How long does it take you to write a book? (Anywhere from three weeks to seven years, depending on the book and depending on whether you are talking about a first draft or a completed book.)

One of the classes I spoke to was a lively French Immersion class in Victoria, BC. At the end of our Q and A, one of the students, Adelina McKean, showed me a drawing she made of me during the presentation. She later mailed it to me. Thank you, Adelina. I will keep it as a memento of WRAD 2021!