Promoting literacy should be our focus from before our children are born until they leave secondary school. Teaching children to read and to love reading is the shared responsibility of every teacher, every administrator and every parent. Together, David Bouchard and Wendy Sutton explore how we can turn our homes and our schools into environments rich in literature and how we can model the love of reading for our children and our students.

British Columbia's best-selling author and most sought-after public speaker has presented to hundreds of thousands of educators, parents and students the world over. This former teacher and principal of 28 years champions literacy. His message is spelled out in his best selling books The Gift of Reading and For the Love of Reading.
"The greatest gift we can give our children is the gift of reading and there is no magic in giving it. There is no toy or program that will do the job for us. It takes time, commitment and most of all, fire. We cannot hope to light a fire in the hearts of others without a fire burning in our own. Light and stoke yours, then spread the flame fast and furious. Let literacy be your legacy."
Bouchard outlines individual roles and responsibilities in ascertaining that all children are given the gift of reading. He inspires like none other and leaves his listeners with a concrete plan and the rejuvenation needed to face literacy issues head on.
Born and raised on the Canadian prairie, the author of over twenty five best selling books now lives in British Columbia with his wife Vicki and their combined family of seven.
David Bouchard's books have won several prestigious awards, among them: the Governor General's Award for The Song Within My Heart in 2004 and the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry award for Voices From the Wild in 1997. If You're not from the Prairie is listed on MacLean's list of the Top Twenty Children's books in the history of Canada.
You can access his web page at www.davidbouchard.com.

David Bouchard's profile page

Wendy Sutton, professor emerita, taught both elementary and secondary school before joining the Department of Language and Literacy Education at the University of British Columbia. A well-respected presenter at conferences in Canada, the US and Great Britain, Wendy Sutton chaired many major committees as a member of the National Council of Teachers of English and contributed regularly to language arts journals. Still active at the university, she is now retired and serves as a language arts/children's literature consultant.

Wendy Sutton's profile page

• Commended, Resource Links, The Year's Best Books

"In a jargon-free style, Bouchard offers a comprehensive overview of what young people need to become independent readers."

VOYA

"If you need some fresh ideas to promote reading, this book is for you."

School Library Journal

"Presents a very down-to-earth approach to the effective teaching of reading."

"Bouchard does not shring from meeting some controversial issues head-on...Furthermore, searching questions threaded throughout challenge us to take action on both a personal and professional basis."

"This book should be on the reading list of every parent, teacher, student teacher and administrator."

Professionally Speaking

"An excellent book for parents and educators. It is written in easy-to-understand language for parents and caregivers, yet reaches the professional educator in a very meaningful way with solid, well-researched pedagogy."

"This book is a must for all adults who have responsibility for the care and education of children."

"Highly recommended."

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