Helaine Becker

Event Info: Children's Reading Tent at 5:10 PM

Helaine Becker has written over 40 books, including the best-selling A Porcupine in a Pine Tree, Looney Bay All-Starsseries, non-fiction including Magic Up Your Sleeve, Secret Agent Y.O.U., and Boredom Blasters, plus many picture books and young adult novels. She has been nominated for the Silver Birch Award four times and is the winner of two. Helaine now lives in Toronto. -- Adopt this Author

The Word On The Street wishes to acknowledge the financial assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts through The Writer’s Union of Canada in support of this reading.

Books

Juba This, Juba That

Traditional “juba” rhythms have a long history. They originated in Nigeria as hand-clapping games. People who were brought to the New World as slaves fought hard to keep their culture alive against terrible odds. They transformed “juba” rhythms into work songs that were passed down orally. Juba This, Juba That is based on one of the most popular songs. With its strong beat and read-along repetition, it will delight small children. Along with all the fun there’s also fascinating history and concepts including opposites and prepositions. Children will have fun discovering the story told in the art about a boy named Juba who follows a mysterious yellow cat on a magical, middle-of-the night adventure that leaves them both happy and ready for slumber.