School Visit: Flip Flop Flapjack
Calling all young adventurers and curious minds! Let's discover the sweet story behind the first Stampede Breakfast 100 years ago — as told by the granddaughter of Alberta's legendary cowboy Wildhorse Jack. Ideal for kindergarten to grade three. Every booking includes a signed copy of Flip Flop Flapjack for your school, classroom or reading club.
Author Visit
Join Calgary author Brenda Joyce Leahy as she brings history to life, leaving your children informed, inspired and hungry for more! During the event, Brenda will read her acclaimed children's book, Flip Flop Flapjack, bringing the vivid characters and spirit of the Calgary Stampede to life. This is a wonderful opportunity for young readers to meet a local author, ask questions, and delve deeper into the captivating world of storytelling. Typically a 45-minute session.
Illustrator Visit
With a live drawing demonstration, Airdrie illustrator Melissa Bruglemans-LaBelle will help get those creative juices flowing! Through the delightful illustrations in Flip Flop Flapjack, your young readers will be transported to the colourful era of Alberta's pioneers, cowboys and cowgirls. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to watch an artist at work, ask questions, and see if they can identify the hidden symbolism in the storybook. Typically a 45-minute session.
Author & Illustrator Visit
Get the best of both worlds in a session that's guaranteed to wow your buckaroos. Let your children's imaginations soar as they embark on a literary and artistic adventure to the Calgary Stampede's first-ever breakfast! For a joint visit, we suggest 30 mins of reading/Q&A with Author Brenda and 30-mins of drawing with Illustrator Melissa.
Virtual Visit
If you'd like to include several schools or classrooms, we suggest a "Big Zoom" hosted by your Ed Tech/Central Library team — an economical and effective way to reach lots of students in one go! So step right up and saddle up for an extraordinary journey into the thrilling world of the Calgary Stampede's first pancake breakfast.
HOW TO BOOK
Please contact Ayesha at ayesha@redbarnbooks.ca or 587-432-4649. Please lock down a date before paying online. (To take it up a notch, you could offer a pancake breakfast in partnership with parent volunteers, a community group, or local business. Students can be encouraged to dress western for the event).
RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS
We love educators and are pleased to support the work you do! Visit our Teaching Guide section for discussion questions and colouring sheets (make as many copies as you like). Please tag us on social media @RedBarnBooksCA when you share your children's artwork and projects.
Books can be ordered through school and library wholesalers (ULS, Whitehots, Tinlids, etc.), local bookstores, or direct from Red Barn Books (use discount code EDUCATORS for 30 to 40% off). You can also use our School Order Form.
REVIEWS
"My class could not take their eyes off the author and her book! This book showcases Calgary’s history in a beautiful way and really demonstrates how Wildhorse Jack exhibited courage and benevolence." — Jessica Walker, Grade 2 Teacher, Calgary Classical Academy
"A fun read for Calgary Stampede fans. The playfulness of the text is emulated in the artwork of Melissa Bruglemans-LaBelle [who] obviously understands how to capture the colour and liveliness of the Stampede." — Helen Kubiw, CanLit for LittleCanadians book reviewer
"It was lovely to have [Brenda and Melissa] kick off our Read-A-Thon. Students and staff enjoyed listening to her story, Flip Flop Flapjack, and were very engaged." — Gwen Devetten, Vice Principal, St. Maria Goretti School
And the last word goes to Samarth, a Grade 2 student at Calgary Classical Academy:
“On May 12, Brenda Leahy, author of the book Flip Flop Flapjack, came to our school. She read the story with excitement and with emotion. I loved the part where she gave us cowboy hats and bandanas ... I like Wildhorse Jack’s nature because he does not care about winning, he only cares about sharing. He made pancakes in downtown and shared with everybody. He was the first person to appreciate and shake hands with the winner.” — Samarth, age 7
