With a combination of storytelling and reading from her published works, Sue Farrell Holler brings to students a message of perseverance and following your heart.
During her energetic presentation, Sue discusses her early life and the development of the writing habit. She encourages children to “write about what you know” by using real life situations, characters and settings, and explains how imagination can turn real events into fiction.
Writing and editing workshops also available.
Grades 4-8 - Novels (Prefer student groupings in Grades 4-6 and 6-8 or similar)
To set the tone of “Lacey and the African Grandmothers” and to focus the students, the presentation begins with hand drumming and the telling of the story of White Buffalo Calf Woman, a First Nation’s story that brings a message of hope and peace. It is also the basis of a chapter in “Lacey.”
Set on the Siksika First Nation, which is just east of Calgary, Lacey and the African Grandmothers tells the story of how Lacey Little Bird sought to use her sewing talents to help women in African who are raising their grandchildren because the parents have died of, or are sick with, AIDS. Although it is a novel, it was inspired by the true story of Lisa Jo Sun Walk.
Where facilities and equipment allows, the presentation includes a slide show that depicts the real places and the real people in the book.
Based on student/staff questions, discussion may move in several directions research, how to meld fact and fiction, the writing process, etc.
Curricular Tie-ins
Art and language arts: Research; blending fact and fiction; using real places and events to inspire writing, editing process
Social studies: Global community (citizenship), First Nations culture
Grades 4-6 - Picture Books
Although her books are for younger children, her presentation is particularly relevant for students in Grades 4-6 who are actively engaged in writing exercises as part of their language arts studies. With these older students, Sue often discusses the use of perspective in her picture books, both in art and text.
Students in this age group can usually understand personally the message of how perseverance can overcome obstacles. Also, Grade 4 was the year Sue unwittingly became a writer.
“Novel” presentation for Grades 5-8 also suitable for this age group.
Curricular Tie-ins
Art and language arts: Blending fact and fiction; using real places and events to inspire writing, editing process, use of perspective in art and text
K- Grade 3
Sue Farrell’s preschool picture books “To the Post Office with Mama” and “To the Pool with Mama” evoke feelings of love and trust between mother and child.
The stories work well on their own with younger students, particularly with those involved with field trips to the post office or the local swimming pool. With younger grades, she discusses parts of the book (cover, title page, dedication) and the roles of different people who make up a book (author, illustrator, publisher).
Sue uses photographs of the real settings and characters used as the basis for the illustrations of her books.
As well as reading from her published children’s books, Sue usually shares at least one unpublished story, and always includes several opportunities to respond to students’ questions.
Curricular Tie-ins<\b>
Field trips to the local pool and/or post office, noting details on the way and how they relate to the story.
Social studies: Both stories can be used in the “community” unit of the social studies curriculum. (Both picture books are set in Alberta.)
Possible activities: map-making - perhaps comparing to the map in the front cover of To the Post Office.
Science: Sensory education. To the Pool with Mama discusses how the pool feels, smells and sounds.
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Biography