Author Archives: English

What’s in a Name? And How Do You Pronounce It?

Living in Toronto with a name like “Mireille” makes for some interesting takes on how it is said. I’ve heard them all: Merell, Muriel, Murray, Merielle… and that’s those who at least try! I often simply get a blank stare meaning “this-does-not-compute” and they then proceed to go out of there way not to say my name. C’est la vie!

I know my name is hard to pronounce! And TeachingBooks.net knows it too! That’s why they asked me to record a fun tutorial on “How To Pronounce My Name”! Have a listen and give it a try. All the Mireille’s in the world will thank you 😉

When you’re nicely warmed up from pronoucing Mireille, have a go at saying Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, Jyotsna Sreenivasan and Tone Pavcek.

And you thought Mireille was tricky! Ha! 😉

School’s Out!

The 2015-2016 school year is almost out. Some will say “FINALLY”, while others (rarer) will say “ALREADY?”. I say “THANK YOU”!

Thank you to all the teachers, principals, librarians and students I had the pleasure of meeting this school year. I’ve been to 32 schools and met over 4000 kids from all across the province (and one school in Quebec too!). A big shout out to:

École Montessori OMS, Ottawa (ON)12891583_10153425073036825_3255106364682066242_o
John Fisher PS, Toronto (ON)
Maple Ridge PS, Pickering (ON)
École Petit Prince, Gatineau (QC)13423737_10153549187201825_4929822774828872608_n
École Étoile de l’est, Orléans (ON)
École Jeanne-Sauvé, Orléans (ON)
Owen PS, Toronto (ON)
Morse Street PS, Toronto (ON)
Dunlace PS, Toronto (ON)
Keswick PS, Keswick (ON)
E J James PS, Oakville (ON)
Max the Mutt College, Toronto (ON)CVTjheNU8AAf4FH
Duke of Connaught PS, Toronto (ON)
Palmerston PS, Toronto, ON
Doncrest PS, Richmond Hill (ON)
Ridgewood PS, Missisauga (ON)
Levack PS, Levack (ON)
Alexander PS, Sudbury (ON)
Ernie Checkeris PS, Sudbury (ON)
Chelmsford PS, Chelmsford (ON)
Lansdowne PS, Sudbury (ON)IMG_6441
Westmount PS, Sudbury (ON)
Walden PS, Sudbury (ON)
Rosedale PS, Sault Ste-Marie (ON)
Francis H. Clergue PS, Sault Ste-Marie (ON)
Toronto French School, Toronto (ON)
École L’Odysée, Guelph (ON)
Ventura Park PS, Vaughan (ON)
École St-Joseph, Blind River (ON)photo groupe Mireille Messier médias
École Georges-Vanier, Elliot Lake (ON)

Thanks to you, my year is filled with wonder, smiles and inspiration. I’m so very glad you have given me the opportunity to share my love of stories and writing with you and I cherish my good fortune. Who knew writing for kids would be so much fun? Truthfully, I had an inkling, but I’m glad to confirm that it’s true!

I wish everyone a splendid, book-filled summer and look forward to doing more school visits come 2016-2017!

Three Offshoots for The Branch

13256299_10153493163786825_8794800687235411450_nIt’s not even in stores yet and already I have some great news to share with you about my forthcoming picture book The Branch! Not only will it be available in English (Kids Can Press, September 2016) and in French (Éditions Scholastic, January 2017) but it is also now available in Dutch! Thank you to the KCP team for this new and exciting offshoot of The Branch!

The Branch – A Kirkus Stared Review

“Brimming with personality and passion, this protagonist is a joy to know.”
That’s what Kirkus Review, an American book review magazine established in 1933, said about my forthcoming picture book, The Branch.
They even gave it a STARED review.
Hooray!  How flattering!Capture d'écran 2016-06-07 14.57.44
You can read the review here!

Thank you, Keswick P.S.!

20160406_093253From the moment I walked into Keswick Public School from the snow storm outside, I knew it was going to be a good day.
The secretary knew who I was and seemed glad to see me. The teacher-librarian, Sheila Pollard, was there to greet me in a flash and had already set up a fantastic spot for the presentations (she even brought in some daffodils to brighten up the table!). 20160406_092900The halls were covered (and I mean COVERED) in beautiful art work from the students inspired from my books. The kids had read my books, they had questions, they were listening, they were smiling. And the teachers were too! It was nothing short of magical! I got as much from my visit at Keswick P.S. than the children did, I hope.
20160406_093021
Thank you so much for the warm welcome, Keswick. I hope to see you again soon!

Jumping For Joy!

Saut de joie!It’s here! My new picture book, Une bestiole à l’école, has finally arrived! I’m jumping for joy!

Une bestiole à l’école is my 20th children’s publication and, as luck would have it, it’s also the 20th book in the Clin d’oeil series published by Éditions de l’Isatis. How serendipitous, right? It also is the first book for my very talented illustrator Catherine Petit. I’m certain it won’t be her last!

I’d like to thank the entire team at Isatis for this wonderful new release. It’s a little gem, perfect for Spring, Summer and Fall!

CouvertureBestiole_haute

 

 

This story holds a special place in my heart. I wrote it after I witnessed an extraordinary event – a good friend of my daughter’s (whom I’ve always admired for her love of all animals) was holding a large bug. As all the other children shrieked and fussed, she stayed calm and showed them why this insect was beautiful. Within seconds, the crowd had changed attitudes and the bug was safe. It was a perfect little life moment and I hope I’ve managed to do right by it in this gentle and loving story.

Photo-le-16-03-10-a-11.10-AM-3
Already, I’m hard at work building a school visit about this book. I already have the giant version of the book (to make reading the story to large groups more fun) and I’m working on some fun bug-related activities about the importance of insects. Maybe a craft too. And for the more adventurous, I’m thinking of having a bug tasting. Who’s in? 🙂

 

Une bestiole à l’école

CouvertureBestiole_hauteWhen a bug lands in the schoolyard, the children scream and run away. But one little girl, a bit more courageous than the others, lingers. What is this little insect? What does it look like? Upon closer look, it doesn’t seem very dangerous at all!

A gentle story about well placed curiosity and the love of insects.

 

UNE BESTIOLE A L’ÉCOLE
Éditions de l’Isatis, 2016
Story by Mireille Messierdoublepage_bestiole
Illustrations by Catherine Petit
24 pages
3+ (JK-1)
ISBN : 978-2-924309-64-3
Hardcover
$11.95

Click here to invite the author to your school to present this book!

Click here to purchase this book!

Click here to watch the book trailer!

Prizes and distinctions for Une bestiole à l’école
Short-listed for the 2017 Forest of Reading Prix Peuplier

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I’m On the Cover!

The mailman made my day today. He delivered my copy of the Kids Can Press Fall 2016 catalog. I knew my upcoming picture book, The Branch, would be in it since it’s due out in September. But what I didn’t know was that it was featured on the cover! I looks amazing! Thank you KCP! And Thank you Pierre Pratt for the breathtaking illustrations!Photo le 16-03-07 à 8.47 AM