December, 2009 - April 2010
CHARIS TOURS ONTARIO
with SPECIAL KING TUT PRESENTATION

TUT RULES!

Charis Brings Tut to Life

(well, almost!)

To coincide with the spectacular KING TUT exhibit at the AGO, Charis is touring a special King Tut version of her
Kids Who Rule presentation. Whether you are going to the exhibit or studying Ancient Civilisations, this memorable school visit will bring history to life.

Students will test their knowledge of Tut Trivia and learn more intriguing details about the boy-king as Charis delivers an entertaining, interactive look at her book. Kids Who Rule: The Remarkable Lives of Five Child Monarchs, spotlights the lives of five children who became rulers while they were still kids.

 

Students will:
• DISCOVER fascinating facts about King Tut’s daily life
• FIND OUT the truth about how King Tut died
• MEET Queen Elizabeth II, complete with crown, gown, and royal attitude
• LEARN the correct way to greet royalty with a quick lesson in bowing,
curtseying, and kowtowing
• PLAY the rollicking quiz game "Rule Your School"

 

THE ROYALS
King Tut
Mary, Queen of Scots
Queen Christina of Sweden
The Dalai Lama
The Last Emperor of China

 

THE GAME
• Why was Tut buried with 145 pairs of underwear?
• Why did someone try to poison Queen Mary’s dessert?
• Why did Queen Christina drink so much beer?
• Where did the Dalai Lama keep his elephant?
• Why was Emperor Puyi so hungry?

FIND OUT THE ANSWERS when your class plays RULE YOUR SCHOOL.

BOOK YOUR VISIT TODAY!

Suitable for Grades 3 to 6
To book a visit, contact Charis here
For more information, see School Visits

 
BENEFITS OF A SCHOOL VISIT WITH CHARIS COTTER
• ENHANCES curriculum: Ancient Civilisations, King Tut, World History
• SPARKS interest in reading
• PROVIDES innovative elementary teaching aids
• BRINGS FUN TO LEARNING!!!

November, 2009
CHARIS SCARES 600 KIDS TO CELEBRATE BOOK WEEK

Charis and the Silky Ghost took on Montreal school children during TD Canadian Children’s Book Week. Travelling by car, taxi and train, Charis took her ghost show to libraries, schools and bookstores. Her favourite experience was telling the ghost story about the Newfoundland Hag to the kids with the lights turned down. “The more scary I made it, the more they loved it. I had way too much fun,” laughed Charis. “It was exhausting and wonderful.

October, 2009
CHARIS on the RADIO
While Charis was touring her Ghosts presentation in Newfoundland she was interviewed by Angela Antle on CBC’s WAM (Weekend Arts Magazine) in St. John’s. Listen to the interview here.

October, 2009
NEW BOOK REVEALS SECRET WORLDS
OF FAMOUS CHILDREN’S WRITERS
The eagerly awaited Born to Write: The Remarkable Lives of Six Famous Authors is now available in bookstores! Charis tells the stories of their childhoods: what their parents were like, what made them write, what made them sad, what made them happy. Discover the answers to these intriguing questions:
• Was L.M. Montgomery an orphan like the heroine of Anne of Green Gables?
• Did E.B. White (Stuart Little) really look like a mouse?
• Did Philip Pullman run wild the way Lyra did in The Golden Compass?
• What made C.S. Lewis (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) write stories in an attic about a magical land where animals could talk?
• Why did Christopher Paul Curtis (Elijah of Buxton) climb out his window in the middle of the night?
• Why did Madeleine L’Engle (A Wrinkle in Time) hate boarding school so much? For more details about Born To Write, see Kids Books.

September, 2009
BOOK YOUR SPOOKY HALLOWEEN VISIT WITH CHARIS AND HER GHOSTS
Charis and the Silky ghost are gearing up for Halloween visits to schools and libraries in Ontario with her ghostly presentation based on A World Full of Ghosts. The book introduces 25 international ghosts eager to sweep into your world and haunt you in weird and wonderful ways. Beware the Barking Duppy from Jamaica! The Hungry Ghosts from China! The tree-climbing Brahmadaitya from India and the spine-chilling Ibambo from Africa! Discover ghostly traditions from around the globe and hear some goosebumping ghost stories as Charis and the Scottish Silky ghost celebrate the Scary Season in style. See School Visits for more information.

Charis perfrming as the Silky Ghost and reading her book, A World Full of Ghosts, in Chapters with children and parents looking on.

September, 2009
GHOST SIGHTINGS IN NEWFOUNDLAND
The Silky Ghost has been glimpsed at Chapters in St John’s and at several schools on the Avalon Peninsula! Employees at Chapters say they found their Children’s Section remarkably dust-free after Charis “appeared” there one Saturday afternoon to tell ghost stories from A World Full of Ghosts. Principals reported that their offices were suddenly tidy and school librarians were stunned. “Everything was cleaned up,” said a source who prefers to remain anonymous. “It was spooky!” The Silky ghost will continue to accompany Charis on tour in Ontario and Quebec this fall, dusting children and books at a school near you.

November 14th-21st, 2009
CHARIS TO TOUR QUEBEC DURING TD BOOK WEEK
Charis is thrilled to be one of the 29 authors, illustrators and storytellers chosen to tour Canada as part of TD Canadian Children’s Book Week in November, 2009. This year’s theme, “Gold Medal Reading,” is inspired by the 2011 Olympic Winter Games. In keeping with the focus on sports and reading, Charis promises to conduct an invigorating game of Ghost Ball at each school she visits. She is the only author who will be accompanied by a ghost: the Silky will be tidying messy classrooms and helping Charis to introduce Quebec kids to the international spooks in A World Full of Ghosts.

Fall 2009
BRING A REAL, LIVE GHOST TO YOUR SCHOOL!!
Charis and the Silky ghost will be visiting schools and libraries in Newfoundland, Toronto and Quebec throughout the scary season this fall: September, October, November. The Silky will explain how she cleans up your house while you’re sleeping and Charis will tell you about weird and wonderful ghosts from around the world. The Glorious Ghosts presentation is suitable for kids from Grade 3 to Grade 5, based on her new book, A World Full of Ghosts, illustrated by Quebec artist Marc Mongeau. See School Visits for more information.

April 26 to May 7, 2009
HACKMATACK TOUR
to NEWFOUNDLAND and HALIFAX
***UPDATE!***New Pictures from Charis' trip to Newfoundland and Halifax!! Scroll down.

Sponsored by Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award, Charis and the Queen visited Newfoundland and Halifax this spring, doing presentations about Kids Who Rule at schools and libraries, dropping into bookstores, signing books and teaching the correct way to bow and curtsey to royalty. Check out the pictures!

Newfoundland

TUESDAY, APRIL 28
Library Presentation 3:15 p.m. ***OPEN TO THE PUBLIC***
St. Lawrence Public Library, St. Lawrence (709) 873-2650

THURSDAY, APRIL 30
School Presentation 9:00 a.m.
Cabot Academy, Western Bay  (709) 598-2270

School Presentation 1:00 p.m.
Tricon Elementary, Bay de Verde (709) 587-2550

SATURDAY, MAY 2
The Queen Visits Chapters: 2 to 4 p.m.
The Queen will sign books, greet children and teach proper etiquette for meeting royalty
Charis Cotter will read from her books and answer questions
Chapters, St. John’s, 70 Kenmount Road, St. John’s (709) 726-0375

SUNDAY, MAY 3
The Queen tours St. John’s in a horse-drawn carriage
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Weather permitting, the Queen is looking forward with great anticipation to a horse-drawn tour of downtown St. John’s. Look for her on Water Street and at Bannerman Park!

The Queen has tea
at Sweet Relic bookstore: 3:30
While the Queen takes the pause that refreshes,
Charis will sign books.
Sweet Relic, 42 Powers Court, left side of Signal Hill Road (709) 739-4223

 

TUESDAY, MAY 5
School Presentation 10 a.m.
Holy Cross Elementary, 145 St. Clare Ave., St. John’s (709) 579-2267

School Presentation 1:30 p.m.
Holy Trinity Elementary, 1240 Torbay Rd, Torbay (709) 437-6433

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6
School Presentation 10:45 a.m.
Rennie’s River Elementary, 150 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John’s (709) 754-2690
Library Presentation 3:30 p.m. ***OPEN TO THE PUBLIC***
Arts and Culture Centre, St. John’s  (709) 737-3974 

THURSDAY, MAY 7
School Presentation 8:45 a.m.
Lakecrest School, 58 St. Patrick St., St. John’s (709) 738-1212

Halifax

FRIDAY, MAY 8
Hackmatack 2009 Award Ceremony
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. *** OPEN TO THE PUBLIC***
Pier 21, Halifax (902) 424-3774

September, 2009
They loved to read, they loved to write
Charis’s latest book about unusual children and their childhoods will be available in bookstores in September, 2009. Born to Write: The Remarkable Lives of Six Famous Authors tells the stories of six children’s authors: L.M. Montgomery, C.S. Lewis, E.B. White, Madeleine L’Engle, Philip Pullman and Christopher Paul Curtis. You can find out what they liked to read, what they did for fun, what broke their hearts, and what inspired them to write.

April‒May, 2009
Hackmatack takes the Queen to Newfoundland and Halifax
As part of this year’s Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award in Eastern Canada, Charis and the Queen are flying to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to make school and library visits. Then they will proceed to the Big Award Ceremony in Halifax. The Queen is very excited and she’s polishing her crown in anticipation!

March, 2009
The Ghosts Are Here!!
A World Full of Ghosts is now available at your local bookstore and library. Illustrated by zany Quebec artist Marc Mongeau, this book introduces 25 spooky ghosts from around the world. Skeleton ghosts in Alaska, hungry ghosts in China, gliding ghosts in Africa.  Meet ghosts who like to dance, ghosts who like to eat candy, and ghosts who just want to party all night long.

February, 2009
300-year old polyglot still learning new languages
Charis marked Black History Month by several special Wonder Kids presentations that focussed on the amazing accomplishments of Phillis Wheatley and Stevie Wonder. Maria Agnesi, the 300-year old host, kicked off the events by displaying her amazing talents at learning languages from the kids in the audience: Hindi, Punjabi, Ethiopian, Portuguese, Ukrainian, Jamaican and Polish, just to name a few!

February, 2009
Family Reading Time with George Smitherman, MPP
George Smitherman, MPP for Toronto Centre and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure in the Ontario Liberal government, holds regular Family Reading events at different schools in his constituency. On February 23, Charis and Maria Agnesi visited Rose Avenue School and entertained kids and their parents with the stories of Stevie Wonder and Phillis Wheatley from Wonder Kids.

January 27, 2009
Charis celebrates Family Literacy Day at Malvern Town Centre
On January 27, Charis and the Queen joined seven other children’s authors, illustrators and performers to celebrate Family Literacy Day at Malvern Town Centre, in Scarborough, Ontario. Three hundred and fifty kids participated from eight local schools. Charis did her “Kids Rule!” presentation twice. Thank you to Davpart, who organized and sponsored the event.

Watch out! The Ghosts are coming!

A World Full of Ghosts will be in the bookstores in March, 2009. Illustrated by zany Quebec artist Marc Mongeau, this book introduces 25 spooky ghosts from around the world. Skeleton ghosts in Alaska, hungry ghosts in China, gliding ghosts in Africa. Meet ghosts who like to dance, ghosts who like to eat candy, and ghosts who just want to party all night long.

November 2008
Exciting New School Presentations
Charis now has four different presentations she can do at your school based on her books. Choose who you’d like to meet — international ghosts, kings and queens, or child prodigies. Each school visit starts with an appearance from an intriguing character in full costume. The Queen gives lessons in greeting royalty, Maria Agnesi teaches how to say hello in seven languages, and the Silky will explain her ghostly housekeeping techniques.

The Silver Birch Award and Kids Who Rule!

Kids Who Rule was nominated for a 2008 Silver Birch Award. This is a book award where the kids decide who wins. Although Charis didn’t win the big prize, she and the Queen had a wonderful time going to parties, eating pizza and teaching kids how to curtsey.

To learn more about the award, click link below.

Ontario Library Association Forest of Reading

July, 2008

Charis and the Queen in Newfoundland

Charis and HRH appeared at the following libraries with their presentation Kids Who Rule:
July 15: Mount Pearl Public Library, Mount Pearl, 3 p.m.
July 16: A.C. Hunter Library, St. John’s, 2 p.m.

 

Here the Queen demonstrates proper bowing technique, and happy Silver Birchers learn to curtsey.

Come on down and learn the correct way to greet a monarch AND exactly how many dozen pairs of underwear King Tut needed for the Afterlife.

April, 2008

Hackmatack! Hackmatack! Hackmatack!

Exciting news! Kids Who Rule has been nominated for the 2009 Hackmatack Award! Like the Silver Birch, this is a students' choice contest and reading program, and it takes place in the Atlantic Provinces. Eager readers in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland will be reading about all those pint-sized kings and queens. Hooray! (says Charis) Nominations are fun!

School Visits in Newfoundland

Charis and the Queen are very excited to report that they will be making some guest appearances in several schools in Newfoundland in September 2008. Watch here for more details!

Winter/Spring 2008

Since Christmas, Charis and the Queen have taken their presentation based on Kids Who Rule to schools in Southern Ontario. They have been meeting lots of eager Silver Birch readers and entertaining them with curtsey lessons and “Rule Your School” – the quiz game.

School visits in Spring 2008

The Queen meets her royal friends from the District School Board of Niagara in St. Catherines

Holy Name Catholic School, Toronto
Diefenbaker Public School, Toronto
Blessed John XXIII Catholic School, Toronto
Bellwood Public School, Whitby
Holy Name Catholic School, Toronto
St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School, Oakville
District School Board of Niagara Silver Birch Celebration at Brock University, St. Catherines

Schools visited since January 2008

Frankland Community School, Toronto
Garden Avenue Public School, Toronto
Mother Teresa Catholic School, Ajax
Cottingham Public School, Toronto
St. Edward’s Catholic School, Willowdale

January, 2008

Hang on! This could be scary!

What’s Charis cooking up next? An illustrated book about ghosts around the world. Spooky, funny and sometimes downright terrifying, it seems that ghosts are just about everywhere. Watch for A World Full of Ghosts, coming in 2009.