Kathy Knowles
Kathy Knowles was born in Toronto, Canada and received a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree from Queen’s University. She practiced nursing in various paediatric hospital settings including a year in Moose Factory, a Cree community in northern Ontario.
In 1989, Kathy and her husband, John, travelled to Accra, Ghana, West Africa with their four young children after John accepted a position with Sikaman, a Canadian gold mining company. Observing that Ghanaian children in their neighbourhood had no opportunities to read storybooks, Kathy started a weekly reading circle under a tree in their garden. This initiative led to the establishment of the Osu Children’s Library Fund, a non-profit Canadian organization, and the Osu Library Fund, a non-profit Ghanaian charity. Together, these organizations have built eight large community libraries in the Greater Accra region and have helped to create more than 200 libraries in Africa, mainly small-scale initiatives in schools and rural communities.
The family returned to Canada in 1993. Since then Kathy has volunteered on a full-time basis from her Winnipeg home with the support of dedicated volunteers. She also works in close partnership with Ghanaian library staff, local government officials and board members, and travels to Ghana twice a year.
Kids Books (4)
Synopsis:
Meet Ama!
This book introduces readers to simple vocabulary for parts of their body, such as eyes, ears, and arms.
Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic. The Nunavummi Reading Series is now offering books that explore a global perspective. This is one of those books, focusing on the daily life of people in Ghana, West Africa.
This book is a level 5 book in the Nunavummi Reading Series.
Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P level: B.
Curriculum Connections: Language and Literacy; Diversity; Identity
Recommended for ages 5-7.
Additional Information
20 pages | 6.50" x 7.00"
Synopsis:
What makes you happy?
This book celebrates everyday life in Ghana, West Africa, and helps readers identify different things that make them happy.
Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic. The Nunavummi Reading Series is now offering books that explore a global perspective. This is one of those books, focusing on the daily life of people in Ghana, West Africa.
This book is a level 7 book in the Nunavummi Reading Series.
Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P level: B.
Curriculum Connections: Language and Literacy; Diversity; Identity.
Recommended for ages 5-7.
Additional Information
24 pages | 9.00" x 6.00"
Synopsis:
Let’s learn about opposites!
This book helps children learn about the concept of opposites while celebrating daily life in Ghana, West Africa.
Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic. The Nunavummi Reading Series is now offering books that explore a global perspective. This is one of those books, focusing on the daily life of people in Ghana, West Africa.
This book is a level 6 book in the Nunavummi Reading Series.
Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P level: D.
Curriculum Connections: Language and Literacy; Diversity.
Recommended for ages 5-7.
Additional Information
30 pages | 8.00" x 7.90"
Synopsis:
Utak is from Nunavut. Peace is from Ghana, West Africa. They may be from different parts of the world, but many of the things they like to do are the same!
This book features common activities children might like to do, along with beautiful photographs of Nunavut and Ghana.
Educator & Series Information
This book is part of the Nunavummi Reading Series, a Nunavut-developed series that supports literacy learning while teaching readers about the people, traditions, and environment of the Canadian Arctic. The Nunavummi Reading Series is now offering books that explore a global perspective. This is one of those books, focusing on a child in Africa and another in Nunavut.
This book is a level 7 book in the Nunavummi Reading Series.
Nunavummi Reading Series books have also been officially levelled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Levelling System. This book's F&P level: C.
Curriculum Connections: Language and Literacy; Diversity; Identity; Indigenous Perspectives.
Recommended for ages 5-7.
Additional Information
16 pages | 7.80" x 7.80"