The student on the left is Chris Wu and right Ian Murphy and Eric Walters. Submitted by Mother St. Bride School – North Bay
Grade 7&8 students at Mother St. Bride Catholic School were abuzz with excitement recently, eagerly waiting to meet popular Canadian author Eric Walters.
No stranger to teaching, Walters knows how to engage his young listeners. Once an elementary teacher himself, Walters began writing over 20 years ago in an effort to encourage his 5th grade students with their reading, incorporating some of his own knowledge and experiences into each character.
“Some of the books that Eric Walters writes have a strong focus on social issues,” says Shelly Warren, Special Education teacher for Mother St. Bride. “As a class, we’ve had some meaningful conversations about many social issues. Eric Walters has made that possible and easy for us.”
Upon meeting Walters at the Chapters, Warren immediately invited him to speak to her students. Together, the class read one of Walters more recent novels, Walking Home. “What’s great about this author in particular is the companion website provided in the novel,” Warren continues. “The website helps make the story come to life, a skill that doesn’t come naturally to everyone.” Many of the students have been inspired to read more of Walters’ books on their own. “He has so much energy when he presents,” remarked Britney, a student at Mother St. Bride. She enjoyed his books so much that she read Safe As Houses twice!
“What an incredible way for us as learners to meet an author we’ve studied and get behind the scenes explanations on the characters and story line, “says Sue Pigeau, a grade 7/8 teacher at the school. One student was so inspired; he made his very first novel purchase one of Walters’ books.
“The excitement that the children had to meet an actual author they had studied was beyond what I would have expected,” continues Warren. “He has made readers out of non- readers- what more could we ask for?”
Eric Walters’ novels have earned over 100 awards including the Ontario Library Association Silver Birch and Red Maple Awards as voted by over 100,000 students throughout the province of Ontario. He has now earned the vote as the #1 favourite author by the MSB Eagles.
For more information and a list of his books visit www.Ericwalters.net .
