Sometimes when you’re conducting storytelling workshops,  you might encounter children who are really really reluctant to get up in front of others and speak. And yet, public speaking is such an important life skill to have! I really dislike it when they insist on reading their stories or even having the paper version near by. […]

It’s funny how many adults and educators assume that children only want to laugh. They only want to have fun. I did too. When I first began school presentations I assumed that the funny stories would be the ones that would reach the children the best. That perhaps I’d have to coax them into being […]

Sometimes I look back over the places I’ve been and the conferences and festivals I’ve had the privilege of attending and I get a bit nostalgic. Singapore, Mexico, Iran, Pakistan, India, Denmark, Sharjah, Italy! The list goes on! Wow! I’ve really been a LOT of places! I remember the trips so fondly! Although at the […]

My goodness, it seems pretty hard to recapture the magic of picture books. They are so deceptively simple! And yet, I wonder if I haven’t sort of moved on. I’m looking at most of the picture books I find in libraries and thinking ‘meh’. And I watch my grandchildren’s reaction closely as I read picture […]

One of my daughters decided to use the picture below of me, as her profile pic. She thought it was absolutely hilarious. I have to admit that it is. I have to confess that I can’t stand watching videos of myself because I do make really goofy faces while I’m telling a story. You have […]

It’s always amazing to me how the real impact of what you do as a teacher has very little to do with the day to day remuneration or any sort of ‘recognition’ you receive. Humanity really comes down to being a big blob of interpersonal connections. I was having a conversation with a family member […]

So all that I’ve written so far is the preamble to the big event, the one that I was actually invited to keynote: Children’s Literature Festival in Karachi. The Children’s Literature Festival is an initiative begun by two very dedicated ladies: Baela Raza Jamil and Ameena Saiyid (the head of Oxford University Press) trying to […]

February 18th, A private school and the High Commissioner of Canada! I’ll never forget the presentations on this day! These kids were a lot older, I’d say close to fourteen and fifteen, and they understood English!!! You could see it on their faces! I first met this girl, so pretty masha Allah, with such a […]

First I must apologize for not blogging for so long. It was due to health issues and circumstances beyond my control. Here’s what I wrote while on tour:   February 16, Islamabad, Pakistan I think the most singular advantage I might have is the storytelling background. There’s something about my training as a storyteller that […]

I can’t help getting nervous before a big trip! There’s worrying about the physical toll the travel will have on me! (I’m not getting any younger!) And then when I arrive, it’s only natural that I’m worried a little about my safety. Just a few weeks ago there was an attack in the North western […]