Presentation Transcript

1. Helena Aalto Saskatchewan Literacy Network Knowledge Exchange Conference November 24, 2010
2. Short—less than 100 pages Fast-paced Original stories Top Canadian authors
3. For adult learners Reading level grade 3 to 6 Stories for adults, not kids Engaging reading experience Accessible vocabulary and story structure
4. Also for fluent readers who are Too busy for full-length books On the go, commuters, travelers Fans of the authors
5. HOW IT ALL BEGAN Inspired by Quick Reads in the UK Brenda Livingston TPL Pat Campbell Grass Roots Press Margaret Eaton ABC Life Literacy Canada
6. ABC Life Literacy Canada VISION We envision a Canada where everyone has the literacy skills they need to live a fully engaged life. MISSION We inspire Canadians to increase their literacy skills. We connect and mobilize business, unions, government, communities and individuals to support lifelong learning. We achieve our goals through leadership in programs, communications and partnerships.
7. ADULT LEARNERS To provide adult learners with the tools and resources they need EMPLOYERS AND UNIONS To engage employers and unions to implement literacy and essential skills training in the workplace PUBLIC/MEDIA/INFLUENCERS To influence decision makers, opinion leaders and the public to understand and support adult literacy and lifelong learning LITERACY FIELD To collaborate with and support the literacy field by providing tools and resources
8. SERIES NAME CRISIS Quick Reads UK Quick Reads Canada Quick Reads US classroom literacy program
9. SERIES NAME CONSULTATION Project Advisory Group Literacy Practitioners Adult Learners AFLIG Librarians
10. SERIES NAME DEVELOPMENT Pathway Reads Read Up Page Turners (Turn Page Books) Brain Sparks Northern Lights Good Reads
11. WRITING GUIDELINES Widely diverse audience, including ESL Genre and style of author’s other books Assumptions about what readers know: provide background information
12. YES Engaging story to hook readers Plot twists, tension and pace Chronological narrative Few characters with distinct names Dialogue: identify speaker
13. NO Complex metaphors Leaps back and forth in time Shifts in points of view
14. PUNCTUATION Punctuation to guide meaning Period, comma, apostrophe, exclamation & question marks Not too many commas in a sentence Dash, colon, semi-colon, ellipses
15. WORD CHOICE Fleish-Kincaid formula for Grade 3-5 Familiar one and two syllable words, but too many short words is choppy Use three syllable words sparingly (unless very familiar)
16. EXPRESSIONS Idioms Colloquial words and phrases Swearing
17. SENTENCES & PARAGRAPHS Sentences 15 words or less Paragraphs 5 sentences or less Simple sentences: subject, verb, object
18. CHAPTERS Short: 6 to 10 pages Chapter breaks relate to content
19. CHALLENGING WORDS Tarpaulin Boa Discreet
20. COVERS Eye-catching Look like regular books Appeal to adult learners Also appeal to fluent readers  INTERIORS Legible font style and size Spacing between lines of text Wider margins
21. DEBORAH ELLIS The Breadwinner, Parvana's Journey, Three Wishes Political activist and philanthropist Lives in Simcoe, Ontario In from the Cold Realistic and poignant Homeless mother and daughter
22. GAIL ANDERSON-DARGATZ The Cure for Death by Lightning, A Recipe for Bees Lives in Shuswap, BC Personal interest in adult literacy The Stalker Thriller, adventure Vancouver Island setting
23. MAUREEN JENNINGS Detective William Murdoch series set in 1890s Toronto Murdoch Mysteries TV series Born in UK, lives in Toronto Shipwreck Set in1873 and modern day William Murdoch as a boy Strong plot and characters, historical details
24. RABINDRANATH MAHARAJ The Amazing Absorbing Boy, A Perfect Pledge, Homer in Flight Born in Trinidad, immigrated in 1990s, lives in Ajax, ON The Picture of Nobody Immigrant family in suburbs Impact of racism: humiliation, suspicion, revenge fantasies Brown skin = terrorist
25. LOUISE PENNY Inspector Armand Gamache mysteries Lives in QC Eastern Townships Personal interest in adult literacy The Hangman Set in fictional village of Three Pines, Quebec Armand Gamache story Many familiar characters
26. GAIL VAZ-OXLADE Til Debt Do Us Part on TV Bestseller Debt-Free Forever Lives in Toronto Easy Money Personal planning Day-to-day saving, credit card debt, “payday loans” No-nonsense advice, shoot-from-the-hip style
27. READING GUIDES Reading/Teaching Guide for each title Discussion questions, activities to enhance classroom and individual experience Free download on Grass Roots website
28. EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVES Experienced authors who understand the editing process Editor takes the blame: “Help me understand…” Queries may change author’s perspective on novel’s direction
29. EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVES Flexibility is part of the editing process Fiction doesn’t always follow guidelines Readers don’t read in gulps
30. EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVES Literacy-challenged readers often have good memories and notice slips in continuity Editor keeps chart of the details: dates, eye and hair colour, numbers, ages
31. MEDIA INTEREST Toronto Star Globe and Mail CBC Radio Saskatoon Star Phoenix Regina Leader Post …everywhere!
32. PUBLICITY & MARKETING Author tours Bookmarks, posters Website Literacy community outreach Advertising in publications read by literacy practitioners
33. FALL 2011 Joseph Boyden Marina Endicott Joy Fielding Robert Hough Anthony Hyde Frances Itani JOSEPH BOYDEN
34. MY FAVOURITE GOOD READS