Article for Hanover Post 14 August 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SHORTCUT TO LEARNING
By Kimm Culkin, West Grey Library
The phrase “life-long learning” casts a huge shadow. Considering that most of us finish formal
education anywhere from our late teens to late twenties, we face five or six decades of deciding
what and how to fill in our scholastic and skills gaps.
I’ve attended course, seminars, workshops, panels. I’ve taken online instruction, compressed
programs and professional development events. But a few years ago, when my children were
younger, I tumbled to a remarkably efficient way to start learning any subject, no matter how
profound my ignorance. I started reading kids’ non-fiction.
The best of these are written by knowledgeable experts who are also skilled enough to simplify
concepts or skill sets without dumbing them down. They assume naiveté, not stupidity. And
most of these books are laid out in a lively, pleasing and logical way, so that the reader can
absorb the concept, see illustrations, and summarize learning without feeling overwhelmed or
condescended to.
The book that probably started me off on this route was a wonderful illustration-based book
called A Street Through Time: a 12,000-Year Walk Through History, written by Dr. Anne Millard
and illustrated by Steve Noon (Durham). Our family has borrowed this from the library three or
four times over the past five years. As the title suggests, we are witness to the changes made on
a single street near a river, from the Stone Age to “recent times” (about 1998). It’s a remarkably
effective way to understand history and the influences of humanity on its surroundings.
Origami for Kids [check title, author] (Elmwood) provides step-by-step instructions to this paperfolding art. Sneaky Art [author], also Elmwood, is a fabulous little how-to for creating
astonishingly deceptive items that could be one thing – like cupcakes – but are actually another
– like paper.
One young patron introduced me to the many drawing and cartooning books available through
West Grey libraries. Cartoon Cool by Christopher Hart (Normanby) and Funny Business by
Helaine Becker (Elmwood) offer step-by-step drawings of animals, superheroes and strip
cartoons that actually seem manageable.
Probably one of my favourites has been Emily Carr: An Introduction to Her Life and Work by Anne
Newlands. This is an amazing introduction to one of Canada’s iconic West Coast artist, who
had an unexpected (for me) connection to the Group of Seven. The author’s biographical notes
are accompanied by appropriate reproductions for that stage of Miss Carr’s life, and help the
reader understand the different influences, personal and professional, on her work. A gem.
With back-to-school close by, many adults feel the same yearning for the new-year, new start,
sharpened pencil and clean slate sort of feeling. Taking on a brand-new interest through books
for young audiences may help scratch that itch.
To find your perfect way to give, contact your area library. In West Grey, these are in Durham (519-3692107), Ayton (519-665-2342) and Neustadt (519-799-5830).