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Toronto author Kathleen Gauer writes books that encourage children to be imaginative, kind, and grateful. Published works include illustrated children’s books High in the Sky, For No Reason, The Wish Carvers, Bathtime Fun!, as well as poetry, and magazine and newspaper articles. Her fun, educational and inclusive picture books have been acquired in libraries across Canada, U.S.A., Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Kathleen worked as an associate editor for a Toronto community focus publication for 15 years and as an arts columnist for the Etobicoke Guardian newspaper. She retired as a Special Education Teacher’s Assistant with the Toronto District School Board after 29 years. When not writing or reading, this active grandmother enjoys spending time with family and friends, yoga, knitting, golf, travel, watercolour painting and singing in a community choir. She also volunteers with IBBY Canada’s (International Board on Books for Young People) Reading with Newcomer Children Program and does author visits and storytime programs in schools, libraries and other venues.
Reviewed by Sarah Stuart for Readers' Favorite
High in the Sky by Kathleen Gauer is an unusual story in that it tackles the question of boredom head-on and suggests how the imagination can be used to overcome that awful feeling. Beautifully illustrated by Sari Richter, the first picture shows a child who could either be a young boy with slightly longer hair, or a girl. Watching while the story is read to them by an adult, boys or girls will happily identify with the brightly striped tee shirt, fashionably distressed jeans, and trainers. Not only does the child look ready to explode, the whole room, from the tilted lamp and crooked photograph to the scared cat, is chaotic. All the drawings capture the excitement and the thrills outlined in the story. High in the Sky is a truly incredible book.
Parents, grandparents, and anyone who cares for young children will grab High in the Sky with glee. It is a book that is sheer fun to read, and at the back are two pages where follow-up activities are listed. One of them, perfect for bedtime or a rainy day, is counting the number of words that rhyme. I had wondered why some of the couplets did and others didn’t! Some are hidden, like plunk and spunk and high and pie. The magical secret lies in a tire hanging from a tree, which launches the child into space, onto a rollercoaster, into the jungle, skiing, or surfing. The only bounds are the imagination! This story by Kathleen Gauer is an absolute “must-have” picture book.
