Valerie Sherrard

Background

The beautiful city of Miramichi has been my home since 1979. Before I began writing full-time, I worked in a variety of positions, including more than a dozen years as Executive Director of a group home for teens. When I decided to pursue a long time dream of writing, it was natural for me to begin with novels for this age group. I later expanded into picture books and middle grade novels.

I have been visiting schools and libraries across Canada since 2003. (I distribute a signed bookmark or postcard to all students at in person visits.)

My work has won, or been shortlisted for, a wide range of awards, including a Governor General’s Award, The Canadian Library Association Children’s Book of the Year, the TD Award, The Ann Connor Brimer Award, The Geoffrey Bilson Award, The Arthur Ellis Award and reader’s choice awards including the Hackmatack, Red Maple, White Pine, Silver Birch, Blue Spruce, Snow Willow, Shining Willow, Diamond Willow, Rocky Mountain, Stellar, and Manitoba Young Readers.

Publications

Please ask me if you would like recommendations for your classroom or library. All of my books are written for children and young adults, and several of them deal with subjects that may fit your syllabus. Some examples are: bullying, death of a sibling, folk tales, mysteries, friendship, historical (including the Great Miramichi Fire of 1825) and others. Several titles are Hi-Lo novels for reluctant readers, and I have published one novel in free verse.

Picture Books and Chapter Books

Cooper Clark and the Dragon Lady (Fitzhenry & Whiteside) (Early reader)
Down Here: 2015 (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)
Miss Wondergem’s Dreadfully Dreadful Pie: 2011 (Breakwater Books)
There’s A GOLDFISH In My Shoe 2009 (Tuckamore)
There’s A COW Under My Bed 2008 (Breakwater Books)

Middle Grade Novels:

The Rise and Fall of Derek Cowell (Dancing Cat Books)
Random Acts: 2015 (Penguin Canada)
Rain Shadow: 2014 (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)
Driftwood: 2013 (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)
The Glory Wind 2010 (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)
Tumbleweed Skies 2009 (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)
Three Million Acres of Flame 2007 (Historical novel about the Great Miramichi Fire of 1825.) (Dundurn)

Young Adult Novels:

Counting Back from Nine: 2012 (Fitzhenry & Whiteside) Free verse novel nominated for a GG Award
Testify: 2011 (Dundurn) Hi-Lo – also available in French (Je le Jure!)
Accomplice: 2011 (Dundurn) Hi-Lo
Watcher 2009 (Dundurn)
Speechless 2007 (Dundurn)
Sarah’s Legacy 2006 (Dundurn)
Sam’s Light. 2004 (Dundurn)
KATE, 2003 (Dundurn)
The Shelby Belgarden Mystery Series, books 1 – 6 (Dundurn)

What I Offer

Engaging and interactive presentations for students from grades one to eight. (For younger grades a puppet accompanies the author for both in-person and virtual visits.)

Talks are tailored to grade level and audience size (smaller is better but I will speak to groups as large as 75 for grades K – 3, and up to 100 for grades 4 – 9).

I will generally give a maximum of three full length presentations per day but may do four if younger groups are involved and the presentation times are shorter.

I also offer one full length presentation to a larger group followed by a half day workshop for up to 15 students.