International award-winning author Joan Marie Galat inspires local children
School children from Manchester Street School, Glen Oroua School and Feilding Intermediate were treated to an inspiring presentation by Joan Marie Galat, an award-winning Canadian author and speaker.
Known for books in science, nature, astronomy, and mythology. Joan captivated her audience with storytelling, engaging facts, videos, and writing advice. Though she primarily writes for adults, Joan has earned recognition for her children's science books. Writing for young audiences is a passion that stems from her childhood love of reading. Her books aim to spark curiosity, foster problem-solving skills and imagination.
Joan inspired students by highlighting the transformative power of writing, the value of reading, and the significance of literacy in exploring new ideas. She suggested that if you encounter a book that fails to capture your interest, you should select another until you discover one that genuinely, makes it impossible to put it down. Joan imparted the insightful advice, “If you want to be a writer, be a reader.” She also captivated the students with her juggling skills and noted that her abilities were learned from reading a book.
Her writing career at age 12 as a newspaper columnist and has since authored over 25 books. She encouraged the young students that “Everyone has stories worth telling and we should make the effort to remember and share them.” Her latest work, Mortimer: Rat Race to Space, was nominated for a 2024 Red Cedar Award. She also collaborates with major publishers like National Geographic Kids, Scholastic, and Simon & Schuster.
Joan, known as "star-lady," encouraged students to explore astronomy and emphasized storytelling through cultural narratives about stars. A highlight of her presentation was a video from her book launch, where her book, Dot to Dot in the Sky: Stories of the Aurora, was launched 175 metres via rocket and safely returned by parachute, providing an entertaining demonstration of science at the TELUS World of Science in Edmonton, Canada.
Joan embarked on a tour of New Zealand to inspire aspiring writers and readers. Marie Willis, the Programmes Leader at the Manawatū Community Hub Libraries, warmly welcomed her to Te Āhuru Mōwai, describing it as “a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about storytelling and writing.” The opportunity for students to meet an author in person inspires them to pursue their own journeys as future writers and readers.
For more information about Joan and her collection of books, please visit www.joangalat.com.
Joan Marie Galat award-winning Canadian author and speaker photographed holding her newest books at her presentation with Manawatū Community Hub Libraries at Te Āhuru Mōwai.