A few days ago we marked a new milestone in the number of e-books delivered to our young readers.  At 40,000 DRM free books downloaded, we estimate 5 to 6 readers per book, meaning we have likely reached over 200,000 readers.

Thank you to all the writers and illustrators who contribute books for the benefit of our readers.

This new milestone is motivating us as we approach the new school year.  The small group administering Sharing-Books has had a an abnormal number of personal disruptions this last summer.  So we look forward to settling in a new groove with renewed momentum this fall.  While "invisible" work like improving the database of the site and the content delivery has been performed during the last few months, this fall will see more visible changes to the site and to the business model we have followed so far.

Meanwhile, onwards to 50,000 downloads!

Labels: children books, children's ebooks, children's writers, e-books

For children who have dreamed of captaining their own boat, two days of fun await those attending the Hackney Wicked Festival. Now in its third year, the festival celebrates life on the canal this July 30th and 31st. Used for transportation during the Industrial Revolution, the canal had been central to industrialists and merchants of Hackney Wick, London. The area is now home to one of the largest community of artists in the world. When one watches the water from Forman's Smokehouse Gallery, you may even see a prehistoric, bulbous-headed fish leap from its murky depths. But that is not all there is to see. The gallery has now become the premier site to see up and coming artists using various modalities, against a backdrop of the developing 2012 Olympic stadium.

This Saturday, children will be invited to participate in a treasure hunt - a special treat for those inspired by the search for treasure in Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. On Sunday, visitors will have a chance to see a canal procession featuring the work of artists from five local primary schools. Throughout the spring, children have been working alongside artists on more than 150 narrow boats as they studied the history of the town. For our readers and ebook creators out of the area, you can share in the joy of boat design by downloading Sharing-Books' artist James Messer's pirate ship activity.

Of course, there is a delicious something for those adults who are exhausted by the seemingly ceaseless energy of the little ones in their care. Be sure to check out Forman's Fish Island for some tasty treats while you are there!

Labels: boats, children's activities, children's ebooks, Forman's Fish Island, Forman's Smokehouse Gallery, Hackney Wicked festival, narrow boats, ships

As the world looks at viable forms of environmental friendly energy, it is fascinating to look at the age of rail travel. Parents and grandparents alike will recall their first trip aboard the large locomotives, with their heavy half doors, and the sooty smell of the stations.



It seems particularly fitting then that playwright Mike Kenny has set his recent adaptation of E R Nesbit's The Railway Children in the heart of London's rail labyrinth. The old Waterloo Train Station has been transformed into a stage, supported by Artistic Director Kevin Spacey and the well-respected Old Vic Theatre company. Its story deals with issues of single parenthood and political refugees, while highlighting children's resourcefulness. It is a hopeful text for our children living in this rapidly changing world. Now this story is available to Sharing-Books readers so they too can share in this experience by reading our 1906 edition of Nesbit's tale.



For those in the York UK area, be sure to bring along the children to watch this play, as they will sure to be enthralled with its staging amid an authentic steam train. We highly recommend bringing your camera too to capture your children's delight. It will be a memory that your family can look back on with fondness, just as our forefathers did before us.

Labels: children's books, children's ebooks, energy, Mike Kenny, Nesbit, Old Vic Theatre, The Railway Children

In less than a week, the Vancouver chapter of Room to Read will launch its first summer read-a-thon for students to raise funds for a library in a developing nation served by Room to Read.  Sharing-Books is proud to support this event, and to have some of our authors donate their time to read for the children attending the launch this coming Sunday.

We are delighted that Lucas Spata, author of Philmore, Xebob and the Impossibility Theory, will be with us to read stories and share his experience.  Lucas is a cancer survivor who has devoted his writing to help children facing serious illnesses.  Lucas created a foundation that receives the proceeds from his books, and he devotes considerable effort to the cause of sick children.

A member of the Vancouver Canucks organization for several years, Lucas has appeared on The Daily, and he keeps inspiring initiatives to fight cancer.

Here is a great initiative in its second year:  GottaBook convinced 30 authors to write 30 poems for children in April 2010.  Click here to read the results of this collective creative effort.

Labels: children's books, Poetry

A second author who has committed to give his time to the Room to Read Vancouver Chapter read-a-thon is my friend Simon Dorey.  Simon has a great reading voice and a charming British accent.  His first Sharing-Books is Soxies, a fun story that explains the mystery of socks disappearing when washed.

I met Simon in 1992 when we worked together at a local technology company.  We have stayed in touch ever since and collaborated on a number of projects.  Simon's expertise is in corporate finance so it was natural for me to call him to help us when we started Sharing-Books.  Imagine my surprise when I called him to ask for his help and when after a pause he said: "Do you know that I write children books?"  I had no idea that this talented number cruncher also had a talent for inventing fun stories for kids.  This is one of those coincidences that we have learned to accept as not coincidental at all.

What was also valuable for us is that Simon had taken courses in children literature and knew the publishing industry's challenges with children books.  He had lived the frustration of an author wanting to connect with an audience.  He understood immediately what we were trying to achieve with Sharing-Books and he has been on our team ever since.

I know that those of you and your children who can join us on June 6 will greatly enjoy his readings.

Labels: children books, children's ebooks, children's writers, vancouver

As we posted earlier this month, our friends at the Vancouver Chapter of Room to Read will start a read-a-thon on June 6.  Three local Sharing-Books authors will be there to read books for the children attending.  The first one we want to mention is Andrea Azevedo.  Andrea's book The Little Suitcase was the inspiration that started the Sharing-Books project.  Andrea is the mother of two wonderful boys and she will no doubt connect in her usual playful way with the children present.

We encourage all our local friends to attend. RSVP.  You can find the event's details on this post.

Labels: Author, children books, Room to Read