mail	Vancouver, BC
ph	604-258-0134
e	danbarel@telus.net
web	www.danbar-el.com

Biography

Hello,

I am a children’s author who merrily travels around the country visiting schools as a storyteller, an educator and a presenter of very funny, if slightly goofy books.

I was born in Edmonton and grew up mainly in Ontario but have made my home in Vancouver since 1992.

My involvement with children began as a school age childcare worker, where I facilitated many creative projects like Over the Waves (an exhibition radio show for children in after-school programs that aired on Co-op Radio, Vancouver, 2000). Then I made a shift to working with younger children and became an Early Childhood Educator. I was a preschool teacher and now I am the creator and facilitator of Stories in Our Own Words (a preschooler program that records children's stories verbatim and then acts them out with classmates under each child's direction).

Writing and performing have been constant pursuits in my life. In the past, I have written professionally for theatre and sketch comedy and have performed in both genres across Canada. I have published poetry and had taken an active part in promoting poetry readings in Vancouver. Now, in conjunction with my school book presentations, I am developing an expanding repertoire of fables and tales that I bring into schools as a storyteller.

Book types: picture books, juvenile fiction, others

Guest speaker/presentation information

School & library presentations: understanding comedy, comedy writing, satire (in conjunction with my chapter books) ideal for grades 5-6 but can be adapted to include grades 4 or 7.

Storytelling for preschool and K up to grade 4. (presentation of my picture books included with appropriate age groups)

comedy writing workshops for grades 7 & 8.

School packages:
-presentations for grades K-6 all in a morning or
afternoon.
-presentations/workshops for grades K-8 in a whole day

A full information package including fees and recommendations can be sent to you upon request

For Adults:
"Stories in Our Own Words" Educator's Workshop - a fun, informal introduction of my storytelling program for preschool and kindergarten children based on the ideas of Vivian Gussin Paley

Presentation geographic range: Vancouver, Coast, Lower Mainland, Gulf and Vancouver Islands, Thompson Okanagan, Northern British Columbia, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, Kootenay Rockies, The Territories, Canada - beyond BC, USA

Presentation audience age groups: primary school, grades K-3, grades 4-6, grades 7-8

Published work

Things Are Looking Up, Jack, Orca Book Publishers, 2003

Things Are Looking Grimm, Jill, Orca Book Publishers, 2006

Alphabetter, Orca Book Publishers, 2006

Such a Prince, Clarion Books, 2007

"Long John" - a teleplay included in the story anthology
A World of Stories, Gumboot Books, 2008

It's All Greek to Me, Jack, Gumboot Books, 2009

Awards & recognition

Alphabetter
- 2008 Shining Willow Award nominee
- chosen by BC gov't to be distributed to 50,000 three
year olds in the province as part of "Ready, Set,
Learn" literacy program
- Ontario Library Assoc. - Best Bet, 2007
- shortlisted for 2007 Canadian Library Assoc.
Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's award

Things Are Look Grimm, Jill
- Winner of 2008 Silver Birch Express Award, 2008
- Recommended by Can. Toy Testing Council, 2007
- shortlisted for 2006 Canadian Library Assoc.
Book of the Year award

Such a Prince
- Blue Spruce Award Honour Book, 2009

Things Are Looking Up, Jack
- Best of 2003, Resource Links