Overheard This Week

                         

I popped into the bakery to pick up a baguette the other day and two women ahead of me in line were chatting. I couldn’t help overhearing them. Well, technically, I probably could have shut them out, but eavesdropping is not against the law and one could even argue that it’s in the job description of writers everywhere. 

I gather one of the women was an artist of some kind (I’m guessing fabric art) and her creations were beautiful enough to elicit raves from her companion. “I could never make wall hangings like yours,” said one women to the other. “I can’t make anything,” she added. “I’m not at all creative.”

That’s not the first time I’ve heard someone claim they lack creativity. It’s probably not the first time you’ve heard it either. But the thing is, we are all creative. Every single one of us.

Just ask author Lois Peterson who launched her latest book a few weeks ago. Titled Creatively Human: Why We Imagine, Make and Innovate, the book is targeted at young readers, though I think it deserves a spot on everyone’s bookshelf, regardless of age. It’s an engaging and informative read showcasing the fact that we’re hardwired to make and create, and that the drive to do it is as old as humanity itself.

Our ancestors were weaving 12,000 years ago and using pigment to make paintings 17,000 years ago. Creativity is everywhere, Lois says, from graffiti to logos to flash mobs to splashy stage productions. In her book, young readers are encouraged to look at the world with an imaginative eye as they explore the origins and impact of ideas and inventions, arts and technology.  I loved the A-to-Z list of creative activities sprinkled throughout the text. It was also great fun to read some real-life examples of creativity too, like Ben Wilson who is known as the Pavement Picasso in London, England where he converts discarded gum into sidewalk masterpieces. . .  and a young girl name Mayhem who reproduces Oscar Award winners’ gowns out of common things like construction paper, gift wrap, tissue paper and foil.  

Lois came up with the book idea after going into schools and libraries to speak to children about writing and the creative process. During those sessions, someone would almost always say ‘I’m not creative.’ So, Lois decided to try a little exercise. She asked all of them to stand up. Then she began listing creative activities, asking them to sit down if they’d ever done them. She started with the obvious ones: who likes to draw, to dance, to sing? Who likes to build things or cook or garden? To paint? To collect and display treasures? To tell jokes and make people laugh? Inevitably, as she went down the list, one or two people would always be left standing. To those last holdouts, Lois would ask: did you choose your own clothes and dress yourself this morning? Because that is another creative act. And if anyone was still standing after that, she would ask them ‘have you ever told a lie?’ By then, the kids were all sitting down and most were probably laughing too.

But Lois had made her point that creativity is everywhere and everyone is creative.

Creatively Human: Why We Imagine, Make and Innovate by Lois Peterson is published by Orca Book Publishers and is available through your local independent bookstore.

I Read Canadian

 Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 2nd, is I Read Canadian Day. This national day is geared toward raising awareness and celebrating the richness, diversity and breadth of Canadian literature. Though the day is heavily geared toward celebrating Canadian books for young people, all Canadians are challenged to ‘Read Canadian’ for 15 minutes and to share their experience at their library, in their schools, at home with their families, or on social media. Leading by example is a great way to get young people to read. So here are a few titles for adult book lovers written by Canadian authors.

The Maid by Nita Prose

The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley

The Lost Kings by Tyrell Johnson

A Season on Vancouver Island by Bill Arnott

Fayne by Ann-Marie MacDonald

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall

Mindful of Murder by Susan Juby

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais

Happy reading!

I Read Canadian

I Read Canadian Day, which is coming up on February 17th, is a day to celebrate Canadian books, to acknowledge the writers and illustrators who create them, the publishers who get behind them, and the independent bookstores where you can buy them. The I Read Canadian initiative takes place this Wednesday in homes, schools, libraries and bookstores across the country. All Canadians are encouraged to read a children’s book by a Canadian author or illustrator for even 15 minutes.  

The initiative began two years ago as a collaboration between the Canadian Children’s Book Centre; children’s author Eric Walters; CANSCAIP (the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers) and the Ontario Library Association.

The goal is to raise awareness of all Canadian books and to celebrate the richness, diversity and breadth of Canadian literature. And this year, as we seek to connect while remaining physically distanced, the goal seems to resonate even more deeply.

If you’re a teacher, librarian, home schooler or simply a lover of books, you can register to participate at the official website here: https://ireadcanadian.com/day/   And at noon EST February 17th, a series of videos called I Write Canadian will premiere on the CCBC’s YouTube channel, Bibliovideo. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoRQbrmtvSYMRm1emqkhP8Q?sub_confirmation=1

Set aside a few minutes to check out the presentations. And remember to read Canadian for even a few minutes on February 17th!