Valerie Sherrard





Blue Spruce Nominee 2010

Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that New Brunswick child and young adult author, Valerie Sherrard, will be in Ontario in the coming months. 
 
Valerie would be delighted to plan a visit to your school or library.  Her rate is $250 per session, plus a flat rate of $50 per session toward travel and accommodations. 
 
Valerie has had honour books in both the Red Maple (Out of the Ashes) and White Pine (Kate) Awards.  Her work has also been nominated for the Snow Willow, Shining Willow, Manitoba Young Readers Choice, BC Stellar, Ann Connor Brimer, and Arthur Ellis Awards and recommended by the IODE Violet Downey Award.   
 
Here’s what Teacher-Librarian Bobbie Henley of Brantford has to say about this author: 
 
“When Valerie Sherrard came to BCI the students found her approachable, earnest and real.  Her offbeat sense of humour appealed greatly to all.  Feedback from staff and students was very positive!”  
 
Valerie is a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada, which offers a number of programs to assist schools and libraries in arranging author visits.  For details, please contact us.   

Published Works

Picture Books

There’s a GOLDFISH in my Shoe! 2009

There’s a COW Under My Bed!  2008 

Junior Novels 

Tumbleweed Skies 2009

Young Adult Novels

Watcher 2009

Searching for Yesterday, A Shelby Belgarden Mystery 2008 
Three Million Acres of Flame 2007 
Speechless 2007 
Eyes of a Stalker, A Shelby Belgarden Mystery  2006 
Sarah’s Legacy  2006 
Hiding in Plain Sight, A Shelby Belgarden Mystery 2005 
Sam’s Light.  2004 
Chasing Shadows, A Shelby Belgarden Mystery  2004 
KATE.  2003 
In Too Deep, A Shelby Belgarden Mystery  2003 
Out of the Ashes, a Shelby Belgarden Mystery  2002

Awards and Nominations

There’s a COW Under My Bed!

• Shortlisted for the Blue Spruce, 2010
• Shortlisted for the Shining Willow, 2010
• CCBC Best Books Selection, 2009

Three Million Acres of Flame

• CCBC Best Books Selection, 2009

Searching for Yesterday, a Shelby Belgarden Mystery

• CCBC Best Books Selection, 2009

Speechless

• OLA Best Bets Selection: Top Ten Junior Fiction, 2007
• Nominated for the Snow Willow Award 2009
• Nominated for the Ann Connor Brimer Award 2008
• CCBC Best Books Selection, 2008 
  

Sarah’s Legacy

• Nominated for the Red Maple Award 2008
• Our Choice Selection, CCBC 2007

Eyes of a Stalker, a Shelby Belgarden Mystery

• Our Choice Selection, CCBC 2007

Chasing Shadows, a Shelby Belgarden Mystery

• Shortlisted for the 2006-07 BC Stellar Award
• Our Choice Selection, CCBC, 2005

Sam’s Light

• Shortlisted for the 2006 Snow Willow Award
• Shortlisted for the 2006 Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award
• Best of 2004 list from Resource Links  
  

KATE

• Honour Book: White Pine Award 2005
• Recommended title, 2003, National Chapter of the IODE, Violet Downey Award
• Our Choice Selection, CCBC 2004 
  

Out of the Ashes, A Shelby Belgarden Mystery

• Honour Book: Red Maple Award 2003
• Finalist, Arthur Ellis Award, 2003
• Our Choice selection, CCBC, 2003 

Valerie’s Presentation Details

Grades JK – 3: Interactive talk about fun expressions and language, and students’ own creative abilities. Material is distributed to allow for audience participation during reading.

Grades 4 and 5: Interactive presentation about “time travel” through reading about different times and places. Brief comparison of life today versus the 1940/50s, and a short bits on literacy/writing and goal setting.

Grades 6 and up: I begin by telling students how my sixth grade teacher, Alf Lower, put me on the path to becoming a writer. Interactive bits: Short illustration on believing in oneself.  Variety of writing related topics, depending on the interest and grade level of the audience. Literacy discussion with a unique approach that gets a great response from students.

My presentations for all ages are as fun and interactive as possible since student interest remains highest when they participate. Generally, I close with a short reading from one of my books and a question and answer period.

I distribute a signed bookmark or postcard to each student.

I will present to:

Grades JK - 12.

Maximum number of students per session:

30 for JK to 1 
60 for grades 2 to 5 
80 for grades 6 and up 

I can be somewhat flexible on audience size but in my experience, smaller audiences provide the greatest benefit to students. 
  
I offer half and full day workshops for grades 5 - 12.  

Workshops are most productive if there is no more than a three grade span. 
Maximum participants for workshops: 15 
  
I also offer: 

Professional Development Workshops: Reluctant Readers; Promoting Literacy outside the Classroom 

Grade 12 Writers' Craft Workshops 
 
I am comfortable in a classroom or library.  I will also present in an auditorium or gymnasium, but only if a sound system is provided. 
 
I require a display table and a sound system for groups of over 40.  For workshops, an overhead projector may be needed.  A bottle of water is always appreciated.