What’s New: Making Books Accessible to ALL Children

Bruce Simpson is a kindergarten teacher and singer/song writer living in Hamilton, Ontario, who is committed to making books accessible to ALL children. 

Simpson is the author of Paislee and the Talking Tree. This book, beautifully illustrated by Rae Bates, is a heartwarming and engaging story for both young and young at heart readers. A little girl named Paislee learns that trees cans talk to people who are willing to listen. Sugar, the talking tree in her neighbourhood and Paislee become friends and experience a wonderous journey together. 

To make his book accessible to ALL children, Simpson made two braille copies and donated them the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) for lending through Canadian libraries via the interlibrary loan system. In addition, Simpson had the book translated into sign language and a video created (without audio) for the benefit of young readers who are deaf and posted it for free on YouTube. To access this version of the book, click here. 

To learn more about author, Bruce Simpson, and places to purchase Paislee and the Talking Tree, click here.