Hugh Brewster
Biography:Being able to create books about history is a dream job for me since I’ve always been enthralled by history. When I was growing up in Georgetown, Ontario, our house was just around the corner from the town library. And I haunted its children’s section—reading sometimes four or five books a week. As an editor for Scholastic from 1972 to 1984 in both Toronto and New York, I was involved in the creation of Scholastic’s Canadian children’s publishing program as well as in the selecting of books for Scholastic’s school book clubs. Between 1984 and 2004 I was the Editorial Director and Publisher of Madison Press Books in Toronto. While there, I helped to create a number of successful books for young readers including Exploring the Titanic, which has sold over one million copies and two award-wining series: Time Quest and the I Was There, which feature such books as Secrets of the Mummies and In the Time of Knights. Other award-winning books that I edited and compiled include Polar the Titanic Bear, On Board the Titanic, Safari, Attack on Pearl Harbor, Secrets in Stone, First to Fly and Journey to Ellis Island. The first book that I actually both wrote and compiled was Anastasia’s Album: The Last Tsar’s Youngest Daughter Tells Her Own Story published in 1996. I had been lucky enough to go to Moscow in 1994 to see the last Tsar’s palaces and when I saw the letters and hand-colored photographs of Anastasia, I knew I had to tell her story. Anastasia’s Album won a number of awards including the Silver Birch and Red Cedar awards in Canada. This made me want to write more books and four more books followed over the next few years. In 2005, I decided to devote myself to writing full-time for young readers. Since then I’ve brought out On Juno Beach and At Vimy Ridge, which won the Information Book Award and Norma Fleck Award, respectively; Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose, a Governor General’s Award and TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award nominee; The Other Mozart and Breakout Dinosaurs. My newest book is Dieppe: Canada’s Darkest Day of World War II. Presentation Information:For some years I have made author visits in schools and libraries, as well as presentations and workshops at conferences and festivals. I find that talks work better than readings for non-fiction books and I like to bring visual aids that allow the audience to actually “touch” history. I also find that digital slideshows work very well. I can tailor the talks to the age level of the audience and make it appealing for both children and adults. Canadians Under Fire: Remembering Dieppe, Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach These books are subjects of great interest since so many Canadians have a direct family connection with World War I and II. Talks about them are particularly in-demand in the weeks before and after Remembrance Day. I bring photos and artifacts to aid in the talk and these are always well received. People often bring family mementoes and there are usually plenty of questions. The Dieppe story is particularly compelling since it also includes stories of daring escapes from prisoner-of-war camps. In schools I find Grades 4 and up most receptive. I also enjoy speaking to high schools, since the subjects are curriculum-related. I am happy to speak to large or small groups. My talks are also appreciated by adults and when I speak in libraries. I can tailor the talks to the age and interest-level of the audience. Carnation, Lily, Lily Rose Canada’s Dinosaurs Titanic Multi-Book Talk Book List / Discography:Dinosaurs In Your Backyard (Abrams, 2009) Dieppe: Canada’s Darkest Day of World War II (Scholastic, 2009) At Vimy Ridge: Canada’s Greatest World War I Victory (Scholastic, 2007) Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose: The Story of a Painting (Kids Can Press, 2007) Breakout Dinosaurs (Whitfield Editions, 2007) The Other Mozart: The Life of the Famous Chevalier de Saint-George (Abrams, 2006) On Juno Beach: Canada’s D-Day Heroes (Scholastic, 2004) To Be a Princess: The Fascinating Lives of Real Princesses (Scholastic, 2000) 882 ½ Amazing Answers To Your Questions About the Titanic (Scholastic, 1998) Inside the Titanic (Scholastic, 1997) Anastasia’s Album (Penguin, 1996) The Complete Hoser’s Handbook (Prentice-Hall, 1982) Awards:Anastasia’s Album To Be a Princess On Juno Beach At Vimy Ridge Breakout Dinosaurs Carnation, Lily, Lily,Rose Praise for Hugh Brewster:“We just wanted to send you a quick note to thank you for the presentation that you did for our grade 5 students of Edmonton Christian School. We have particularly noisy classes this year so that you managed to hold their attention for that period of time really speaks to how interested the students were in what you had to say. It was very educational, fun to listen to and sometimes even a bit gory [i.e., the guillotine] which really makes things gripping for grade 5 kids!” Kristy Horneman and Geraldine Vander Meulen “Thank you so much for your wonderful presentation at our library earlier this week! We received very positive feedback from the school as well – in the form of a delicious tray of cookies. It hardly seems fair – you did all the work and the library gets the cookies! Anyway, I enjoyed your talk very much, too. I learned a lot about the war, the Chevalier de Saint-George and ankylosaurus gas, among other things.” Elaine Jones, Librarian “Thank you so much for putting your life in danger today driving through torrential rain to get to Ryerson! I think the students really enjoyed your presentations and learned a great deal too. Several staff members have already made very favourable comments. Thanks also for taking the extra time to talk to the Grade 1's at the end of the day. They were thrilled to meet you and touch the dinosaur bones!” A. Martha Bere |
 Craft:author Genre:junior fiction, non-fiction Ideal Audience Size:30 – 40 Maximum Audience Size:75 Grades:Grades 3 – 12 Special Equipment:Digital projector and screen (or wall). Website:School Reading Fee:$157.50 per reading (includes GST) Public Reading Fee:$250.00 per reading (four readings covered by the Canada Council) Book Week Tour Contact:Janet Clarke |