Brian Cretney

Readings

Brian Cretney divides his professional time in half. Half of his time, he teaches elementary school. The other half is devoted to school visits promoting literacy and creativity among children through multi-media, drama-driven presentations, often described by kids (K-8) as “fun”. Brian walks children through the process of creating a picture book (“From Brain to Book”) and shows how the work of an author is just like students’ writing at school. He then demonstrates some simple illustration techniques and gives examples of his own paintings, from rough to finished product.

The West Niagara News reports: “...the students were just totally engaged and wanted more.” Niagara This Week wrote: “It was with the control of a conductor that teacher and children’s book author, Brian Cretney, commanded the audience of children, parents and teachers...”

Teachers also benefit from Brian’s visits. With his solid background as a teacher, he provides extensive, curriculum-based resources to support classroom learning, ensuring that educators get maximum mileage out of his visit both before his arrival and after he leaves.

Brian wrote and illustrated his first picture book, Last In Line. It was nominated for the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario Writer’s Award (2008). He has also been nominated for the Eleanor M. Johnson Elementary Teacher Award (2007). His second picture book (forthcoming) is entitled Tooter’s Stinky Wish, to be published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside. He is married and has four young children.

Special Equipment:

LCD projector, screen, whiteboard or chart paper.

Workshops

Brian Cretney divides his professional time in half. Half of his time, he teaches elementary school. The other half is devoted to school visits promoting literacy and creativity among children through multi-media, drama-driven presentations, often described by kids (K-8) as “fun”. Brian walks children through the process of creating a picture book (“From Brain to Book”) and shows how the work of an author is just like students’ writing at school. He then demonstrates some simple illustration techniques and gives examples of his own paintings, from rough to finished product.

The West Niagara News reports: “...the students were just totally engaged and wanted more.” Niagara This Week wrote: “It was with the control of a conductor that teacher and children’s book author, Brian Cretney, commanded the audience of children, parents and teachers...”

Teachers also benefit from Brian’s visits. With his solid background as a teacher, he provides extensive, curriculum-based resources to support classroom learning, ensuring that educators get maximum mileage out of his visit both before his arrival and after he leaves.

Brian wrote and illustrated his first picture book, Last In Line. It was nominated for the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario Writer’s Award (2008). He has also been nominated for the Eleanor M. Johnson Elementary Teacher Award (2007). His second picture book (forthcoming) is entitled Tooter’s Stinky Wish, to be published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside. He is married and has four young children.

Special Equipment:

LCD projector, screen, whiteboard or chart paper.

Biography

Brian Cretney is a teacher, author and illustrator. He wrote and illustrated his first picture book, Last In Line. It was nominated for the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario Writer’s Award (2008). He has also been nominated for the Eleanor M. Johnson Elementary Teacher Award (2007).

His second picture book (forthcoming) is entitled Tooter’s Stinky Wish, to be published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside. He is married and has four young children.