I write children's books because I want to tell a story, and I value opportunities to interact with children about what the story means to them. Speaking to school and library groups across the country is an important part of how I communicate with readers. My books are about ordinary kids who face extraordinary challenges and every child in the classroom can relate to that. I write about jealousy, friendship, death, loss and love, and I have found it's important to explore those themes with children. They need time to ask questions and to tell me about their own experiences, sometimes in very moving ways. My talks can be tailored to talk about any one book or about the writing life in general.

Younger Children:

For this age group I like smaller groups (no more than twenty-five, if possible), and I speak for 40-45 minutes. I keep the sessions interactive, informal and fun. I talk about how ideas come for books and use puppets and other visual aids.

"Beryl's presentation skills were exceptional. She quickly built a rapport with the children and kept them focused through the visit. No small task! She used just the right combination of props and facts to bring the story to life. I would not hesitate to invite Ms. Young back for another author visit and highly recommend others to do so." Librarian, Port Moody, BC

Older Students:

In my sessions for students in grades five to seven, I talk about my fiction and non-fiction books to groups of up to sixty students for 50-60 minutes. I include background to the book and read dramatic scenes using visual aids and a PowerPoint presentation where appropriate, allowing time for questions before beginning a discussion on issues arising from the books.

"Ms Young's presentation was outstanding when she came to our school. She was amazing with the students and made sure she answered all their questions. Her experience with children was evident and she showed patience and kindness to all of my students (and parents!) We talked about her visit and the book often." Grade 3 teacher, Vancouver, BC

Presenting my book about Roméo LeBlanc I hope to encourage children to learn about our political system through the experience of one Canadian. Charlie's story about British Home children inspires debates about the ethics of sending young children unsupervised to work in Canada, and fits well with school units on Citizenship and Immigration. Follow the Elephant encourages discussion about different faiths. My novel Miles to Go, set on the prairies in the 1940s, provides an opportunity for students to talk about family relationships and the meaning of friendship.

"Thank you for visiting our class. Your book is whizzing in and out of the library. Definitely a hot read! Your presentation was superb and your book has a broad impact." Grade 5 teacher, Calgary, Alberta

"Your book gave me a boost up and inspired me to write about my dog." Jason, Grade 6 student, Halifax, NS

Adult Groups:

I speak at teacher and librarian conferences, writing workshops and reunions of Home Children descendants.

General talks:

1. Between the Covers: real life into real books

I talk about the writing process from the exciting first idea through research, writing, editing, re-writing, artwork, finding a publisher, working with an editor and the satisfaction of bringing your story to readers. This can be given in a workshop format, allowing time for students to write and read their own work.

"I really appreciated Beryl's clear and enthusiastic manner. Her visual aids and showing us her edited manuscript were excellent." Teacher/librarian, Nanaimo, BC

2. Telling my Father's Story (when he didn't want me to)

I talk about discovering that my father had been a Barnardo's Home Child and how I made the hard decision to write a book about his life, when, like so many Home Children, he felt ashamed of his background. I discuss research techniques and show helpful websites.

With a Power Point presentation, I show slides and archival material taken from my book Charlie: a Home Child's Life in Canada. I encourage students and teachers to research their personal family histories.

"Beryl Young's books reveal a respect for research and proficient storytelling skill, all of which combine to capture the reader's interest and most often their heart." Chairman, Jasper Cultural and Historical Centre, Maple Creek, Saskatchewan

To book a school visit and discuss fees, contact me at
      beryl2young@gmail.com

To apply for funding for school visits, visit The Writer's Union
of Canada.