Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that children’s illustrator and picture book author, Patricia Storms is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools for the coming school year.   

Patricia is taking bookings in Toronto and the GTA. Patricia can travel to destinations via TTC, taxis and GO Transit. 

Patricia would love to plan a visit to your school or library.  Her rate is $250 plus HST per session, plus the cost of public transit.

Patricia Storms is a picture book author, and a freelance cartoonist and illustrator specializing in humorous illustrations for children and adults. She works in educational and trade book illustration and loves to create funny, entertaining and whimsical illustrations for readers of all ages. Patricia painted three moose for Toronto’s Moose In The City outdoor art show, and she was also the artist for the 2008 TD Summer Reading Club. She is also the new cartoonist who draws the Chirp comic strip for Chirp magazine published by Owlkids.

Here’s what Ken Setterington, former Children and Youth Advocate for Library Services for the Toronto Public Library has to say about this illustrator: 

“Patricia has a wonderful way with the audience. At the launch of the TD Summer Reading Club, Patricia created a fun engaging illustration with those in attendance. She involved the entire audience and had everyone laughing while also thinking. She made the event fun and exciting.”

Patricia is a member of the Writers' Union of Canada, and so schools and libraries wishing to invite her may be eligible for a travel and fee subsidy to offset a portion of her cost. For details of this program, please contact us.

Books

The Young Person’s Guide to Grown-Ups, written by Monte Montgomery and illustrated by Patricia Storms. Walker Books, 2012

Snowy Science, written by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone, and illustrated by Patricia Storms. Scholastic Canada, 2011

Be a Writing Superstar, written by Joel Sutherland and illustrated by Patricia Storms. Scholastic Canada, 2010

The Pirate and the Penguin, written and illustrated by Patricia Storms. Owlkids Books, 2009

Edward and the Eureka Lucky Wish Company, written by Barbara Todd; illustrated by Patricia Storms. Kids Can Press, 2009 

13 Ghosts of Halloween, written by Robin Muller; illustrated by Patricia Storms. Scholastic Canada, 2007. 

Good Granny/Bad Granny, written by Mary McHugh; illustrated by Patricia Storms. Chronicle Books, 2007

Educational:

Benny’s Special Day,, written by Tara Harte and illustrated by Patricia Storms. Scholastic Canada, 2010

A Sticky Mess, written by Beth Critchley Charlton; illustrated by Patricia Storms. Scholastic Canada, 2006

Room 2B, written by R. J. Frampton; illustrated by Patricia Storms. Isobel and Friends. Storybook 9. AEON Institute of Language Education, 2006 

Fifty Little Penguins, written by Jack Booth; illustrated by Patricia Storms. Harcourt Canada, 2004

Presentation Details

I talk briefly about my love of drawing cartoons as a child, and this connectswith children in the class who are also interested in cartooning. I also talk about the job of illustrating books, and how I work with an art director to create the pictures for the words in a book. My presentation focuses mainly on drawing and creating characters. I tailor each talk to the age level of the group.  

In the first half of the session, using a marker and easel flip chart, I involve the children in a fun session of working together to create a cartoon character that could perhaps exist in a picture book. I invite the students to be my art directors, and they give me ideas of what kind of hair, eyes, nose, clothes, etc., to draw, in order to create their unique character. I find this really gets the kids thinking and contributing, feeling good about themselves and their ideas. It’s also a really good ice-breaker. 

Once the character is created, I then turn the tables on the kids and become the art director of a picture book. I tell them a short silly story (that I also write down on the flip chart) and encourage them to illustrate all or part of it. As well as walking around to give encouragement to the kids, I would also work up at the easel, to help those who may have some challenges with thinking of what to draw. 

At the end of the session I encourage the children to come up and look at my published works, as well as some of my original art. 

Grades I will present to: K to 8

Preferred maximum number of students per session: 60   

Venues you’re comfortable in:  a classroom or library is ideal

List any equipment or other requirements you have: Easel, flip chart, magic markers; and for the students, paper, pencils and erasers.