Strange but true after over forty years serving as an educator, almost ten years to the day in May 2012, I decided it behooved me to capture some of the privileged events that had occurred in my longstanding career as an elementary principal. I mused, so many of these events that I experienced in my career virtually mirrored incidents that occurred when I was a student. As an adult, your reaction will likely be similar.
I started keeping jot notes as to some of the highlights during my last two years as full-time principal. I knew I wanted to retire in January of 2012. One of my reasons for writing non-fiction children’s books was to have a scenario in each book that references KIDS HELP PHONEÂ (CANADA). I am pleased to report that since the publication of my first book, in 2016, a portion of each book sold has been donated to Kids Help Phone.
I have always been a champion for the underdog and advice from KHP often gets kids out of trouble.
Speaking of trouble, I was one of those wayward teenagers who failed first year at Queen’s University twice. So I had to claw my way back into a Canadian University, several years later. I did this with a HUGE change in attitude and by earning exceptional grades in two extramural courses.
Zena’s Sixth Birthday- Lessons Learned was my first BILINGUAL book and dealt with Bus Safety. Actually were it not for alert thinking, bus driver, Karin Baril a child’s life would have been lost. This bilingual book continues to be very popular in the Ottawa market in large part due to Jessica Fleury’s poignant illustrations, and Savannah Foster’s french translation.
The popularity and success of this first book spurred me on to consider developing book #2.
I was fortunate as a number of teachers, parents, and principals purchased my books either contacting me directly or tapping into my website mrkool.ca
Writing children’s books successfully is not an easy task. I was blessde to have a handful of elementary principals who served as beta readers. Essentially, these folks were very candid in their feedback and provided me a number of strategies to improve the caliber of the text.
I have been privileged to have worked with a number of Vice-Principals who have given me the freedom to have a PRESENCE at school. I am out at the morning and evening busses and vans, assisting at each recess duty, and lastly visiting the classrooms on a daily basis. This also enables me to get to know the students on a virtual name to name basis. It was quite telling when a seventh grade male student once said to me, ” You are the first principal who knows my name, nobody else ever did.”
Of my six books written to date, the most popular one is my second one, Wild Times at Kool’s School-Lessons Learned! The reason for this is due to the keen interest in Bullying that Proud to Be Me a non-profit organization showed in granting me money to purchase a French and English copy of this book for over 120 OCDSB schools. This book features a verbal bullying scenario, crazy hair day, and a musical concert by Yaki. Since the book’s first publication, Yaki sadly, has passed away. RIP.
I have had considerable positive feedback from teachers who have purchased books for guided reading groups.
Another KUDO must be given to Art Book Bindery, a book publishing and printing company in Winnipeg, Manitoba, who launched my first four bilingual books. President Michael Schact and his co-workers were forced to shut down when COVID hit.
My third book, MS READATHON ROCKS KOOL’S SCHOOL was written because of encouragement by teacher Megan Redmond and her courage in dealing with MS daily and her contribution to adding a very important page for the book.
I would be remiss if I did not mention 3-4 important Ottawa business people who have been huge supporters of my books and Kids Help Phone. Lori Keay (JIM KEAY LINCOLN MERCURY), Geoff Walker ( WALKER REALTY), Robert Parent ( ORLEANS TOYOTA), and Greg Stewart ( PATHWAY HYUNDAI). They have purchased 25-50 of my books on a regular basis.
Writing down ideas for my fourth book, Christmas Events at Kool’s School-Lessons Learned! often saw me pecking away on my computer at 5:00 a.m. This is my most productive time of the day. As a writer you will have to determine what works best for you.
This very uplifting book features a number of pleasant events that occurred in this large rural school during the week before Christmas Break. Snag a copy and have a look.
I am blessed to have a very supportive family as well. They have offered their points of view regarding text, illustrations, and cover design. They have encouraged me when things got a little hectic.
My fifth book was released in 2021. It focusses on Halloween and points out a number of exciting events that make this Halloween highly memorable. Illustrator Joshua Stewart’s 24 water colored illustrations have been the main topic of discussion in the local artists’ community.
Kristina’s Fundraiser, my sixth book has proven to be highly popular in the Ottawa community. This evocative book is dedicated to CHEO employees at a local children’s hospital in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. It is a WIN-WIN book as the fundraiser was a huge success and Kristina’s health is now 100%
One of the common themes throughout each of the six books is the activity where children try and find mini Mr. Kool who is hidden in each page with a large illustration. This unique wrinkle allows children with non-reading skills to still have the book read to them and at the same time, they can search for mini Mr. Kool. In the meantime please share my website with family, fellow educators, and friends it is : mrkool.ca
HAPPY READING !