mail	1522 Salsbury Drive Vancouver, BC V5L4B6
ph	604-258-0134
e	danbarel@telus.net
web	www.danbar-el.com

Biography

Rediscovering children�s books as an adult was an unexpected delight for me. In the same way, I suppose, as discovering that it�s much more fun to relate to children on their terms, all it took was a change in attitude, and a wonderful new world opened up for me. I am just in the first stretch of what I hope to be a long, exciting adventure as a children�s book writer.

I was born in Edmonton and grew up mainly in Ontario. I�ve made a home in Vancouver since �92.

I 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). Several years ago 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 direct).

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 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 book included with younger ages)

School package: 2 age-appropriate storytelling sessions; 1 book presentation; all in a morning or afternoon.

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

Now offering comedy writing workshops for grade 7&8

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