In the fourth of a four-book series now available, former North Battleford resident Kenneth William Budd will be in the city next week, one stop on a book tour marking the completion of the series.
While the series is written in the juvenile fiction genre, appropriate for Grades 5 through 9, it's also one that an older audience, especially prairie-raised readers, can enjoy and appreciate - a trip back to a time when some things were simpler.
SpringRush is the title of the fourth book, the story of an 11-year-old boy in a fictional community with a remarkable resemblance to the author's home town. Budd will be reading from his latest book Monday at Crandleberry's from 3 to 5 p.m. and at the North Battleford Library Tuesday from 10:30 a.m. until noon.
Born in North Battleford, Budd spent his first 14 years here before moving to Brooks, Alta., and almost every summer was spent at Cochin beach. He now lives in the Sunshine Coast area of British Columbia.
The Adventures of Buddy Williams series revolves around four seasons in the young protagonist's and his family's lives, starting with the first book, SummerWild. Set at a fictional lake retreat, reminiscent of Jackfish Lake, SummerWild was released in 2011.
It was followed up by FallGently in 2012, which takes young Buddy back to his home near the railroad tracks of a small city. By the end of the second book, Buddy has learned some lessons, but he has also been faced with events traumatic to a youngster.
WinterFree continues with more tough times for Buddy's family, leading up to some life changing moments in the final installment.
A retired teacher, Budd owns and operates SummerWild Productions, an independent book production company, through which he produces his own books as well as those of others. He began this venture after studying with the late W.O. Mitchell at the Banff Centre. He has now produced, published or written two dozen books. On of his productions is CARMANAH, Artistic Visions of an Ancient Rainforest, which won both the Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award and the Roderick Haig-Brown Regional BC Book Prize in British Columbia.
The Buddy Williams series is one Budd feels is worthy of study in classrooms, at home or in any other educational setting, including English as a Second Language class. From its inception, the author hoped the series would be entertaining and educational. He has, with writer and editor Robert David Marthaller, created a series of study guides to accompany the books, each unique to its particular book and its chapters.
With the study guides, Budd and Marthaller hope to support understanding and enjoyment of the novels as well as help students identify the "big ideas" and consider them in their own contexts.
The Adventures of Buddy Williams series are available for purchase at Crandleberry's in North Battleford and from Chapters Online. More information about the series, including student guides and bonus activities for the books, are available at www.summerwild.ca.
