Eric Walters, author of 93 novels and children’s books, including a current young adult best seller The Power of Three, presented in Wallaceburg on May 20 & 21.
Walters presented at the historic Jeanne Gordon Theatre in Wallaceburg during both days, and was hosted by the Chatham-Kent Library – Wallaceburg branch for an evening presentation on Monday, May 20.
Walters encouraged parent chaperones and teachers to take simple steps to improve student literacy.
He stated, “the number one way to make sure a boy reads is to have a male role model who also reads.”
Over 400 Wallaceburg students in Junior and Intermediate grades from AA Wright, DA Gordon, and HW Burgess Public Schools took part in captivating hour long presentations.
Topics were taken from Mr. Walter’s novels and his experiences while researching books, including walking across the country of Kenya, being attacked by a tiger, climbing a mountain, and playing 1-on-1 basketball with NBA alumni Jerome ‘Junkyard Dog’ Williams.
“The Susan Talach Book Fund, along with other community partners, were instrumental in bringing Eric Walters, a vibrant and engaging speaker, to Wallaceburg,” said Ben Hazzard, Principal of D.A. Gordon Public School. “It was the wish of the Book Fund to bring in authors and support childhood literacy across Wallaceburg through daytime and evening opportunities. These visits also allowed for additional transition visits to help the students from D.A. Gordon to meet with their friends at H.W. Burgess and A.A. Wright as we all move toward a new school structure for September 2014.”
Walter’s presentations were the final in a series of 15 presentations by some of Canada’s most renown authors and illustrators: Eric Walters, Jo Ellen Bogart, & Wallace Edwards.
Together these authors have received over 150 national and international awards including prestigious Governor General’s awards, UNESCO awards, and children’s choice awards.
These author visits were sponsored by the Susan Talach Book Fund, Wallaceburg and District Arts Council, Chatham-Kent Library – Walllaceburg Branch, and D.A. Gordon Public School.
– Contributed Story
