Fort Simpson (Sep 22/06) - When it comes to teaching children how to read, David Bouchard has some practical advice.

Parents need to follow the three R's of reading with their children, ruling the T.V. and reaching into their pockets to buy books, Bouchard said.

Reading is a family affair for Lawrence Day Sr. left, Hilda, Lawrence Jr., Grace and Gabriel who all came out to meet author David Bouchard, far right. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Bouchard, a Canadian children's author, visited Fort Simpson on Sept. 12. His evening talk packed the cultural centre at Dehcho Hall as more than 100 adults and children came out to hear him speak and read excerpts from some of his 27 books. The visit was organized by the Open Doors Society Family Resource Centre with funding from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment's Healthy Children's Initiative.

Before the talk, Bouchard had a busy schedule in the village. He spent Monday afternoon at culture camp with Class 6. Students convinced Bouchard to try high-bush cranberries, which are the most sour thing he's ever tasted, Bouchard told the crowd.

Bouchard also spoke with all of the Bompas elementary school classes.

"He had those kids focused and engaged," said Val Gendron, the Open Doors Society' coordinator.

Bouchard's books were the best part of the visit for Tia Hardisty, 9. She won a copy of "The Elders are Watching."

Hardisty said she was surprised to find out that when Bouchard was small he couldn't read. Hardisty said she might consider becoming an author.

River Norwegian, 7, also became a fan of Bouchard's books. She came away from the evening talk with copies of both "Fairy" and "My Little Pigs."

The gift of reading is one of the most important things a parent can give to their children, Bouchard told the crowd in the hall.

"Reading is the best thing in your life because it opens doors," he said. "If you don't read, you are stuck."

Children should be encouraged to read because through reading, they can succeed both in school and society, they can travel and they will feel smarter if they are readers, Bouchard said.

It takes three things for children to be able to read.

Children need to be given time. They'll read when they're ready, he said. Parents also have to be role models and read the books that their children are reading. Finally, children need to be surrounded by books they can read.

Bouchard, who is Metis, didn't start writing until he was 38. "I realized I could do something great for aboriginal people," he said.

With a belief that culture and language run hand in hand, Bouchard is working on a series of books that will be both in English and an aboriginal language. The vision is to write books that will help people reconnect with their language, he said.

His most recent book "Nokum is my teacher" is in both English and Cree.