Rona Arato in Quebec

My book week tour in Montreal was an exciting and rewarding experience. I made 12 presentations to schools and libraries in the greater Montreal area. The teachers, librarians and students were welcoming, enthusiastic and made me feel like a rock star.

I presented my book On a Medieval Day. I began each session by asking the audience what they knew about the Middle Ages. The answers were predictable: castles, knights, jousting and wars. I then explained that those answers applied to parts of Europe such as England and France, which was only a small part of the world. I explained that the Middle Ages in Europe are often referred to as the Dark Ages because there was little education or scientific advancement. I then talked about the same period being called “The Golden Age of Islam” in Arabic countries because of scientific and medical advances. I introduced the other stories from around the world: Baghdad, Mali, the Mayan Empire, Vinland, China, England, Venice, Spain and Japan, and read one of the stories out loud. Discussions following the readings were lively and generated some terrific responses from the kids.

I brought copies of my other books to show the children. Because I write both fiction and non-fiction, we talked about the differences between the genres. They asked about research. I emphasized that even in my fiction I make sure my information is accurate. I use reliable sources, especially on the Internet, and always cross-reference.

I had wonderful feedback from the teachers and librarians. They were thrilled to have an author talk to their students and told me that Children’s Book Week is a valued part of the school year. I felt honoured to be part of such an important educational activity.