mail	Box 22 Bridge Lake, BC V0K1E0
ph	250-593-4362
web	www.beckycitra.com

Biography

Becky Citra is a retired elementary school teacher and the author of sixteen books for young children. She lives on a ranch in the rural community of Bridge Lake, B.C. Her interest in writing began when she was a child. An avid reader of The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, she started scribbling her own mystery series at 11 years old. She took a long break from writing when she became a teacher. However, reading wonderful books out loud everyday to young children in schools inspired her one day to give it a try herself - and she’s never looked back!

Her first books, School Campout, My Homework is in the Mail and Dog Days, drew on experiences right out of the classroom. A story in a magazine about young children immigrating to Upper Canada in the 1800's sparked her interest to do further research and her historical Max and Ellie series was born. She is currently enjoying the challenge of writing fantasy with her new series Jeremy and the Enchanted Theater.

Never To Be Told is her first novel for juvenile readers. The settings in the novel of the Cariboo in British Columbia and the city of West Vancouver are places she knows well and are very special to her. She loved the challenge of blending the two stories of Miranda and Asia, set in such very different times.

In Becky's most recent books, Sam's Ride, Whiteout and After the Fire, the main characters overcome challenges and build friendships.

When Becky is not writing, she keeps busy gardening, skiing, snowshoeing, riding horses and reading. She has a teenaged daughter named Meghan, a supportive husband Larry, a dog, a cat and five horses. Becky enjoys visiting schools and libraries to meet with her readers and talk about books and writing.

Book types: juvenile fiction, others

Guest speaker/presentation information

AUTHOR PRESENTATIONS
I bring over twenty-five years of experience as an elementary school teacher to my readings and workshops. I have taught children in grades kindergarten to grade seven. I have strong communication skills with children and present material that is highly appropriate and of interest for the various age groups. I use a variety of visual aids in my readings and involve the children in role playing, imagination games, questioning and active listening.


THE ENCHANTED THEATER
Grades one to three
Max: 40 students
45 minutes

This author reading is an exciting way to introduce children to the Enchanted Theater series, a time travel fantasy series of four books written at a grade two level. Jeremy and the talking cat Aristotle travel back in time into the ancient Greek myths, solving riddles, overcoming obstacles and meeting all kinds of scary monsters. I engage the children by using colourful props, including Zeus’s sparkly lightening bolt, the stuffed cat Aristotle, the Enchanted Theater Rule Book and Jeremy’s backpack full of magic objects that Jeremy uses to help him in his adventures. The students enjoy brainstorming and role playing imaginative ways to use the objects which include a ship’s flare, a sling shot, a flashlight, a pair of wacky sunglasses, an intriguing map and a ball of colourful yarn. One child is selected to dress up in Jeremy’s ancient Greek tunic! The readings from the books are interspersed throughout the presentation and are short, have lots of action and are of high interest. Teachers have found this presentation to be a great springboard for starting a literature or social studies unit on mythology and ancient Greece. I include a hand out with twenty-one ideas for using the series in the classroom. The presentation highlights the books Jeremy and the Enchanted Theater, Jeremy in the Underworld, Jeremy and the Golden Fleece and the latest release Jeremy and the Fantastic Flying Machine.




VOICES FROM THE PAST

Grades three to seven
Max: 60 students
60 minutes

This author reading focuses on the Ellie and Max historical series and the juvenile novel Never To Be Told (nominated for the Hackmatack and Silver Birch Awards.) The presentation begins with a gripping true story excerpted from an 1800’s account of pioneer life in Upper Canada. This story was the seed that sparked the Ellie and Max series. I read passages of high interest and excitement from two of the books and show the students the importance of solid research when writing historical fiction. Students enjoy the opportunity to view real artifacts from the 1800’s. Never To Be Told melds an historical story and a contemporary story. The students are intrigued by a series of slides of an abandoned homestead on the ranch where I live, with tantalizing glimpses of a real ghost. A suspenseful excerpt read from the novel compliments the slide show and highlights the connection between ideas and writing.


FEES:

One hour presentation $250
Second hour $150
Full day in school $500

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

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

Published work

After the Fire
Orca Book publishers 2010

Sam's Ride
Orca Book Publishers 2009

Whiteout
Orca Book Publishers 2009

Jeremy and the Fantastic Flying Machine
Orca Book Publishers 2008

Jeremy and the Golden Fleece
Orca Book Publishers 2007

Going Fishing
Why Is It Called Moose Meadow?
Two stories published in a literacy program called Scholastic Literacy Place
Scholastic Canada 2007

Never To Be Told
Orca Book Publishers 2006

Jeremy in the Underworld
Orca Book Publishers 2006

Strawberry Moon
Orca Book Publishers 2005

Jeremy and the Enchanted Theater
Orca Book Publishers 2004

Runaway
Orca Book Publishers 2003

Dog Days
Orca Book Publishers 2003

Danger at the Landings
Orca Book Publishers 2002

The Freezing Moon
Orca Book Publishers 2001

Ellie’s New Home
Orca Book Publishers 1999

School Campout
Scholastic Canada 1996

My Homework is in the Mail
Scholastic Canada 1995

Awards & recognition

1. nominated Rocky Mountain Award for Ellie's New Home
2. nominated Hackmatack Award for Dog Days
3. nominated Chocolate Lily Award for Strawberry Moon
4. nominated Hackmatack Award for Never To Be Told
5. nominated Silver Birch Award for Never To Be Told
6. nominated Red Cedar Award for Never To Be Told