American Children’s Author Julia Cook Sharing Seminar

23th April is World Book and Copyright Day. It is a symbolic date in world literature. It is the date on which several prominent authors, William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. This date was a natural choice for UNESCO’s General Conference, held in Paris in 1995, to pay a worldwide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone to access books – most beautiful invention for sharing ideas beyond the boundaries of humanity space and time as well as the most powerful forces of poverty eradication and peace building.

To celebrate this year’s World Book and Copyright Day, Boston International School invited American children’s author, Julia Cook to present insightful view about her years’ experiences in children’s “language” all along the IB programs (EY and PYP).

The author started with primary students and teachers. They were totally enchanted by the stories she read and the variety of topics discussed such as rules with the book “That Rule Doesn’t Apply to Me!”, the Power of Yet with “Bubble Gum Brain”, the use of cellphone and how it will impact students’ performance in their daily life and their grades, etc.

With EY students, Julia Cook started with a short jam using the microphone, and everyone in the auditorium was clapping and having a great time trying to follow the rhythm. She told the story “Jumping into the Kindergarten”. The story of Roo, the kangaroo, who starts kindergarten and what social-emotional skills he needs to enjoy his experience. She shared different tips with parents on how important 21st century life-skills to implement in their kids at home and in classroom so they can thrive and learn.

Teachers and parents who presented loved her way in giving voice to children’s problems and struggles using examples and key skills to behave well and develop healthy, positive relationships at home and in school.

Finally, through the three sessions, the author got the audience to participate in order to illustrate different situations where saying mean words could torn the person’s heart apart and what to do to put the pieces together, the example with the pencil or the big shoe versus the tiny one, … Indeed, effective examples and actively involving students to become lifelong problem solvers and more inspired in their daily interactions with their parents and others.